Who is Okada/Saburo from The Master Puppeteer and what is their importance?

Okada is a blind man who works as the master chanter at the puppet theater. He used to be Yoshida's master at the Takemoto Theater, but now works for Yoshida. He is a kindly old man who seems to genuinely care for the apprentices. He helps Jiro several times, and Jiro considers himself to be in debt to Okada for his favors. Okada is the one who admitted Jiro to the theater, and later he gives Jiro a script of his new play so the boys can practice. He also sees that Jiro does not know the way things are done at the theater and warns him to be more careful about stepping out of his place. Okada also seems to care deeply for Kinshi, which is what convinces Jiro that he will help when Kinshi is determined to help the night rovers. Jiro thinks of Okada as someone he can trust and rely on.