Kichiei was a Tenjin; a upper rank prostitute (geisya) in the okiya (geisha dwelling) of Kyoto Shimabara called Kikyoya, and she was close to Fukucho jokin (assistant vice commander) of Shinsengumi, Goro HIRAYAMA who belonged to MITO group (SERIZAWA group).
吉栄は京都嶋原の置屋桔梗屋の天神（芸妓）で水戸派（芹沢派）の副長助勤平山五郎の馴染みだった。