Akesato was a Tenjin; an upper rank prostitute (geigi; a woman who gives fun with a song, a dance or a music instrument at a feast) in Kyoto Shimabara, and was close to the head of Shinsengumi, Keisuke YAMANAMI.
明里は京都嶋原の天神（芸妓の位）で新選組総長山南敬助の馴染みだった。