sentence: roles the mikado , baritone - the big '' cat '' of japan nanki-poo , tenor - the son of the mikado yum-yum , soprano - the ward of titipu 's lord high executioner pitti-sing , mezzo-soprano - yum-yum 's sister peep-bo , soprano - yum-yum 's sister pish-tush , tenor - the '' coolest '' gentleman of japan ko-ko , baritone - lord high executioner pooh-bah , bass - lord high '' everything else '' katisha , contralto - spurned elderly suitor of nanki-poo also 6 gentlemen of japan and 3 ladies of japan casting is intended to be interracial , with the mikado , katisha and pooh-bah specifically singing in african-american musical styles .