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Main Characters
The Protagonist
A survivor of an unnamed village wiped out by the Tokugawa Shogunate, later adopted into the Kurasu Clan and the Veiled Edge. Alongside their Blade Twin, they faithfully served the organization until their mission to steal intelligence aboard the Black Ship off the coast of Yokohama went awry. They later abandon the Veiled Edge to search for their missing Blade Twin and become a ronin.
- Been There, Shaped History: While they don't have a direct hand in those events, the protagonist has nonetheless been at the forefront in some of the most famous events to occur during the Meiji Restoration, including the formation of the Shinsengumi. It's even possible for them to possibly join them, albeit in a temporary fashion since their main goal first and foremost is to find and stop their Blade Twin.
- Easily Forgiven: Many characters are oddly quick to forgive the protagonist for their transgressions, even if they were enemies. Matthew Perry for example holds no ill will toward them when they meet again and even requests their help in dealing with an assassination plot. Even Ine forgives them for assisting Kusaka in killing British soldiers, not realizing the soldiers established a treatment center for cholera victims as opposed to a supply depot like Kusaka assumed, though she still gives them a tongue-lashing.
- Fighting Your Friend: They cross blades with many of their allies due to siding with one group over the other. Unlike most examples, the characters are understanding of their motives since they are a ronin, though they will sometimes try and ask the protagonist to stop and reconsider fighting them. This becomes especially prevalent in Chapters 2 and 3 where tensions between the Pro and Anti-Shogunate factions are now at an all-time high.
- Foil: With their Blade Twin. Although both survived the massacre of their home village, the protagonist never indicates a personal hatred toward the shogunate and can side with those aligned with the shogunate, albeit so they can reform it from within. This puts them at odds with their Blade Twin, who is so consumed by hate they pit not only the foreigners against the shogunate, but even the Pro and Anti-Shogunate factions to start a bloody war.
- Master of All: They can wield almost every possible weapon in the game with incredible efficiency, as well as learn a variety of combat styles. They even learn their Blade Twin's own combat style in the postgame.
- No Name Given: They are never referred to by name nor are they given a name at any point. In the Character Creation menu, both they and their Blade Twin are called "Veiled Edge 1" and "Veiled Edge 2".
- Professional Killer: They are this, both as a Veiled Edge assassin and as a ronin. With the Veiled Edge, their primary goal was to destroy the shogunate through covert operations. As a ronin, they're simply a wandering sellsword offering their services to anyone asking for them.
- Second Love: Becomes this for Fumi Sugi after Kusaka's death if you romance her. They may also become this for Sana Chiba, who gives up on Ryoma after realizing she's not worthy of standing at his side.
Blade Twin
A survivor of an unnamed village wiped out by the Tokugawa Shogunate, later adopted into the Kurasu Clan and the Veiled Edge. Alongside the protagonist, their fellow Blade Twin, they served the Veiled Edge until the mission to steal intelligence aboard the Black Ship off the coast of Yokohama went awry. Although revealed to have survived their injuries at the hands of the Blue Demon, the Blade Twin stands in opposition to the protagonist in pursuit of unknown goals.
- Dark and Troubled Past: They lost their family and friends to the Tokugawa Shogunate. The incident still haunts them to the point it's their Freudian Excuse and motivation for starting a war that will see the shogunate burn to the ground.
- Final Boss: The last boss to be faced in the game.
- Foil: With the protagonist. Although both survived the massacre of their home village, the protagonist seemed to have never developed a burning hatred toward the Tokugawa Shogunate as the Blade Twin did. They're also very harsh and aloof whereas the protagonist is described as being more "soft-hearted" and kinder. Furthermore, the protagonist works with groups who want to change the shogunate either by force or via internal reforms whereas the Blade Twin wants to see it utterly destroyed and manipulates everyone to start a war to fulfill those ambitions.
- He Who Fights Monsters: The Blade Twin is so consumed by their hatred toward the shogunate they are willing to start a bloody war that will consume all of Japan, even causing tragedies like the one that turned them into who they are now. They only come to realize this in the ending, either in their dying moments or when the protagonist points this out to them after defeating them in their climactic duel.Protagonist: You'll become just like the people we hated.
- My God, What Have I Done?: At the end of the game, the Blade Twin realizes how far they've fallen, either hallucinating seeing Edo in flames just as their village was in their dying moments or when they see a pair of children pushing a cart across the street and the protagonist points out those kids will suffer just as they did when the shogunate destroyed their village if the Blade Twin's plan succeeds. In the former ending, the Blade Twin thanks the protagonist for stopping them before they went too far.
Ryoma Sakamoto
A former member of the Tosa clan, Ryoma is one of the protagonist's most firm allies and closest friends, first meeting them shortly after their arrival in Yokohama.
- But Now I Must Go: If you complete the game and Ryoma survives, he'll leave Japan to see more of the world, starting with America. The post-credit scene even shows him walking through the streets of New York City.
- Foregone Conclusion: Zigzagged. If you're familiar with Japanese history, then you'll know Ryoma is fated to die at the Omi Inn. On the other hand, it's possible to save Ryoma, though you'll have to jump through a few hoops to do so.
- Heel–Face Turn: Downplayed. Ryoma is a heroic character who genuinely wants what is best for Japan and is in fact a Token Good Teammate among the Anti-Shogunate faction in Chapter 1. Kusaka's actions in Chapter 2 disgust him to the point of doubting whether they are in the right. This doubt ends up helping him when he meets Kaishu Katsu, a sabaku who wants to change the shogunate from within.
- Historical Domain Character: One of many real-life figures to be featured in the game, if not one of the most important due to his role in shaping Japan's future in the Meiji Restoration.
- Spared by the Adaptation: If you complete all his Bond Missions up to the Omi Inn Incident and reach Ronin Level 6, Ryoma will actually survive his assassination.
Tobaku (Anti-Shogunate Faction)
Genzui Kusaka
A retainer of the Choshu Clan and one of the expulsionist leaders in Yokohama.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: Elects to commit seppuku in the aftermath of the Kinmon Gate Incident, rather than allow himself to be captured by the Shimatsu Clan forces or the Shinsengumi.
- Character Death: Alongside Taka, his death cannot be avoided. It doesn't help he's Doomed by Canon, as Kusaka historically committed suicide in the Kinmon Gate Incident.
- Doomed by Canon: Anyone familiar with the Bakamatsu period will know that even if you side with the anti-shogunate, Genzui's death cannot be avoided.
- Freudian Excuse: He lost his family to cholera, which was seemingly introduced to Japan when their western neighbors arrived. Naturally, this led to understandable resentment and hate for foreigners, which has since become exacerbated as tensions between the Japanese populace and the corrupt Tokugawa Shogunate increases.
- The Lost Lenore: Becomes this for his wife Fumi following his death in Chapter 3.
- What the Hell, Hero?: In Chapter 2, Kusaka leads an assault on a British diplomat in Edo. Said assault involves setting the construction site Alcock is in ablaze, putting countless Japanese workers there at risk. This incident alienates Ryoma, who is not at all happy with how far he's gone.
Sabaku (Pro-Shogunate Faction)
Taka Murayama
A premiere courtesan in Yokohama's red-light district. Unbeknownst to many, Taka is a sabaku supporter who attempts to keep the peace in Yokohama.
- Ambiguous Situation: Her relationship with Naosuke Ii. It's clear that Taka adores Naosuke greatly, enough that she wears the hairpin he gave her wherever she goes, but it's never made clear whether theirs is a romantic relationship or a platonic and friendly one. It is implied that Naosuke might have romantic feelings toward her, with her hairpin becoming his Tragic Keepsake he keeps on his person.
- Foil: With the Blue Demon, a shinobi also loyal to Naosuke. As Taka is a non-combatant, she focuses her methods on subterfuge and blackmail to help keep the peace in Yokohama, whereas the Blue Demon enforces Naosuke's will and kills anyone who opposes him. While Taka is loyal to Naosuke, the lengths he goes to destroy the tobaku become too much for her to stomach and goes against him by freeing Fumi, although she did so as to not let Naosuke "disgrace" himself any further. Manabe follows his orders down to the letter, showing no hesitation in killing Taka for her "betrayal" and coming to Naosuke's defense in Chapter 1 when the tobaku come for his head despite Naosuke giving him no such orders.
- Hooker with a Heart of Gold: She's a courtesan, but is one of the most kind-hearted people you'll ever meet in the whole game.
- The Lost Lenore: Can become this for the protagonist if they romance her. Unlike Ryoma, Taka's death cannot be avoided.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: She frees Fumi before Naosuke can order her death to demoralize the tobaku. In response, Manabe kills her for her "treachery", even though she did so because she felt Naosuke was going too far and didn't want him to disgrace himself any further.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: In the climax of Chapter 1, Taka helps free Fumi so she can deliver Shoin Yoshida's will and testament to his students. Unfortunately, this act costs her her life and is killed by Manabe for her "betrayal".
- Tragic Keepsake: Her hairpin becomes this for Naosuke, made all the more bittersweet in that the hairpin was a gift from Naosuke himself.
Naosuke Ii
A daimyou and tairou of the Tokugawa Shogunate and one of the central figures of the sabaku faction. Known to some as the Red Demon, he's hellbent on ensuring peaceful relations between Japan and foreign governments. By any means necessary.
- Ambiguous Situation: It's implied Ii has romantic feelings for Taka, having given her an expensive hairpin that she wears wherever she goes. It's unclear whether Taka reciprocates or simply considers him a dear friend.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: Played with. Historically, Ii was assassinated at the Sakurada Gate, though the shogunate insisted he was killed in his own home. While he can die in the Sakurada Gate incident, the protagonist can opt to spare him instead, though doing so only delays his death. Sometime after Sakurada Gate, the Blade Twin assassinates him in his own home.
- Doomed by Canon: Like Kusaka, Ii's death is a historical event that cannot be avoided, even if you spare him.
- Knight Templar: Ii is a man driven by his ideals, which often serve as the driving force of his actions in dealing with the tobaku. While somewhat lenient, he eventually goes to extreme lengths to demoralize or outright destroy the anti-shogunate factions by ordering not only Shoin Yoshida's execution, also Fumi Sugi's, Kusaka's wife and an otherwise ordinary civilian. This causes Taka to defy him and free Fumi, an act deemed a "betrayal" by Ii and Manabe even though she did so because she didn't want Ii to disgrace himself any further.
- Red Baron: Infamous known by the tobaku faction as the Red Demon for his strict, if not outright draconian laws and severely punishing those who try and harm the very fragile peace in Yokohama, particularly the expulsionists who are hellbent on removing the foreigners.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Like many, Ii is frustrated by the shogunate and even more by the imperial court, who at one point send an edict stating that the foreigners must be removed, either willingly or by force. Ii destroys the edict, believing Japan is not ready to deal with their Western neighbors and their superior firepower.
- Tragic Keepsake: The hairpin he gave Taka becomes this after he orders her death.
Other Characters
Sana Chiba
Also known as Chiba Sanako, she is the first daughter of Chiba dojo's headmaster and a "suitor" of Ryoma's.
- Action Girl: Granted, she's a low-key example since she's not involved in the major conflicts happening throughout the game, but Sana is capable of holding herself in battle. She really gets to show her chops in her Bond Mission in Chapter 3 where she helps the protagonist defend Princess Atsuko from a bunch of kidnappers.
- All Love Is Unrequited: With Ryoma. It's clear she loves the man dearly, despite him not feeling the same way. When the protagonist beats her after agreeing to a duel proposed by Ryoma to stop her advances, she runs away in tears. Her personal questline sees her realize that Ryoma is destined for greater things as he helps shape Japan's future whereas she finds herself unable to offer or contribute anything meaningful enough to warrant staying by his side.
- Hopeless Suitor: Very much so. Her Establishing Character Moment sees her eagerly approaching Ryoma, assuming he's come to the dojo to propose, despite the fact Ryoma pushes Sana's instructor and the protagonist in front of her. She eventually realizes Ryoma doesn't reciprocate her feelings, nor can she stand at his side as she is now and finally decides to stop pursuing him. That said, it's also implied she develops a crush on the protagonist instead, given how she fervently insists they visit the dojo, though compared to how she pursued Ryoma, she's more subtle and less aggressive about her affections.
