Uchigatana (打刀) swords deal a decent amount of damage and can attack multiple times, but have limited range. Kiwame uchigatana gain the ability to shield an adjacent sword from projectiles. The five starter characters are all swords of this type.

Bold indicates the character's appearing in Warriors

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In General

Dysfunction Junction: Many of the swords in this category have troubled pasts or extreme quirks, which results in a lot of clashing personalities.
Jack of All Stats: They have fairly balanced stat distribution.
Taking the Bullet: Kiwame uchigatana gain the ability to take projectiles for adjacent swords.
Vague Age: Compared to most of the other sword classes, the uchigatana have swords whose human forms take on a variety of different age ranges, with Kashuu Kiyomitsu, for example, both looking and acting like a teenager compared Nankaitarou Chouson, who looks more like an adult.

23, 24 – Nakigitsune (鳴狐)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nakigitsune_1_7.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
School: Awataguchi (粟田口)
Voiced by: Shintarō Asanuma (Japanese), Alison Viktorin (English)
Illustrated by: Kumita

Fox: "Well, well, since it has come to this, you may call me Nakigitsune, an Uchigatana from the Kamakura period. I'm the fox accompanying him!"

Nakigitsune: "......please take care of me."

Nakigitsune is a sword from the Awataguchi school. Nakigitsune rarely ever speaks, letting his pet fox speak on his behalf.

A Dog Named "Dog": After Kiwame, it's revealed that the fox's name is.... well, fox.
Animal-Eared Headband: He wears a headpiece with fox ears on it in his Kiwame form.
Animal Motifs: Foxes are his motif, same as Kogitsunemaru.
Asian Fox Spirit: His Kiwame form takes his fox motif up a notch into this, with him gaining a fox-eared headband, trailing ribbons that look like fox tails, and small blue and purple flames floating around him that may be fox fire. His fox also has three tails, which could mean that even if Nakigitsune isn't an actual fox spirit, his fox might be one.
Boke and Tsukkomi Routine: Nakigitsune and the fox seem to have this dynamic after Kiwame, with the fox still trying to talk in his owner's stead and Nakigitsune being annoyed and embarrassed by him.
Fox: "Hmmm......when I look at the field, my instincts tell me to dig it up..."
Nakigitsune: "Fox, don't."
Character Development: His fox writes letters to the Saniwa of Nakigitsune's Kiwame training until he stops his fox from writing the letters and writes them himself from that point on. He tells the Saniwa that their process is positive. He tells them about how he and his fox met and their relationship started and explains his reason why he always relies on the fox. Afterwards, he states that he's no longer a sword used for show and gains a new resolve to serve the Saniwa.
Cool Mask: He wears a black menpoo (a protective armored mask that covers the lower half of the face) that gives him a fox-like appearance. He's never seen without it. His mask does actually come off in his Kiwame form, but only in his Awakening portrait.
- In the manga anthology SQEX Formation, Izuminokami, Urashima, and Tsurumaru are curious as to what he look likes without his mask and attempt to take him by surprise when he has it off. However, he doesn't even take it off when bathing or eating. When his mask finally comes off in front of them, they find that underneath it is just another mask. According to his fox, it's a secret.
Commonality Connection: Despite his shyness, he'll open up (or try) to anyone who has fox motifs, such as his fox or Kogitsunemaru.
Last Request: If he gets destroyed in his Kiwame form.
"Thanks for everything, Fox. Tell Master that I did my very best."
Multiple-Tailed Beast: His fox gains two additional tails in his Kiwame form. While Nakigitsune doesn't actually gain any tails himself, he does have six ribbons trailing from his shoulders that give the impression that he has six tails.
Please Wake Up: If he gets destroyed in his standard form.
Fox: "Nakigitsune! Please open your eyes, please breathe, please stand up...! Ah, is it not working..."
Shoulder Pet: His pet fox is usually draped around his shoulders.
Shrinking Violet: According to the fox, Nakigitsune is awkward at socializing and lets his fox do most of the talk. In his first Kiwame letter, the fox tries to write the letters, until Nakigitsune stops him and starts writing from then on.
Voice for the Voiceless: His pet fox plays this role initially, being the one speaking for the silent Nakigitsune.
Talking Animal: His fox, which actually does most of the talking for both of them. The Saniwa and Kogitsunemaru are understandably creeped out by it.
Third-Person Person: After his Kiwame, he becomes slightly more talkative. And for some reason he refers to himself in third-person.
The Quiet One: Nakigitsune rarely speaks, so his fox talks for him. This is based on how the real Nakigitsune was never used in battle. His resume consists of sitting in display at Akimoto’s family residence for hundreds of years and then continuing to wallflower at the Tokyo National Museum. No wonder he is so difficult with people, since he has hardly ever stepped out of his glass case.
"Well Done, Son" Guy: In his Kiwame form, he becomes more eager for the Saniwa's praise.

63, 64 – Sengo Muramasa (千子村正)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sengo_1_6.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: High (Basic/Toku); Special (Kiwame)
School: Muramasa (村正)
Voiced by: Jun'ichi Suwabe (Japanese), David Wald (English)
Illustrated by: namaniku ATK
Live actor: Motohiro Oota (Musical)

"Huhuhuhu. I am Sengo Muramasa. Yes, that so called demon blade Muramasa. Huhuhuhu...."

An uchigatana suitable for battle with a fearsome killing blade made by the first Muramasa (Sengo Muramasa). His mysterious behavior is perhaps due to his legends of being long viewed as a demon blade. He is also a source of concern to Tonbokiri, who is also from the Muramasa school.

Adaptational Personality Change: He's made a great deal more camp and feminine in the musical, to the point where he would barely be recognizable as the same character if it weren't for his costuming.
Agent Peacock: The musical continuity makes him rather flamboyant, whereas in the browser game, he's fairly calm beyond his love for stripping. Regardless, he's a ferocious combatant and lives for battle.
Animal Motifs: His outfit, ear-like Hair Antennae, red eyes, and insatiable sexual appetite make it clear that he's modelled after rabbits. It's downplayed however, as the resemblance is subtle to the point that most fans wouldn't notice, and rabbits don't factor into his character otherwise.
Anime Hair: One of the most obvious examples. His bangs are defying gravity. It’s especially obvious in the musical continuity, where the costume designers do their best to replicate his unusual do, to … interesting results.
Anthropomorphic Personification: Instead of being a specific blade, he represents all blades forged by swordsmith Sengo Muramasa. He is treated as a real blade in the game's lore, though, which distinguishes him from other amalgamation swords such as Tomoegata Naginata.
Adaptational Relationship Overhaul: He is flirtatious with the Saniwa in the game and romantically fixed on them in Hanamaru. Conversely, in the musicals he is notably colder and speaks of him with bitterness and sarcasm. He's not too happy with the team being given a child to raise to adulthood and kill that same child to preserve history, no doubt.
Battle Strip: He has a habit of stripping, especially before or during battle.
Cloudcuckoolander: In Warriors, he thinks stripping with his comrades will help deepen their friendship.
Calling Your Attacks: He does this in one of his attacking lines, which is a reference to Myouhou Muramasa, Sengo Muramasa's most famous work which was associated with Nichiren Buddhism. It is also the Sanskrit name for the Lotus Sutra, the most popular and influential of the Mahayana sutras upon which many sects of Buddhism, including Nichiren, were founded.
"Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra!"
Camp Gay: In the musicals, his enthusiastic attraction towards other men is a big part of his personality. In the game and anime, he comes off as more Ambiguously Bi.
Character Development: For his Kiwame training, he decides to search for the truth about himself as the Muramasa Sword in Saga. He explains about one of his former masters, Lord Katsushige, who inherited the governance of the piece of the land and main clan. He heard a rumor about his former master how his former master robbed the land and used a Muramasa sword to kill a feudal lord and take over the main clan. He learns that rumors that humans spread are not true, and they don’t have to seek the truth. He realizes that no matter what everyone says about Lord Katsushige, he doesn’t think he’s the rumored villain what was told in legends. He tells the Saniwa through letters that he will hit his limits before he returns to the citadel.
Character Exaggeration: His love so stripping, believe it or not. While he does talk about stripping a great deal in the browser game, Warriors makes it something he talks about damn near all the time, with it being the subject of most of his Bond Conversations.
Establishing Character Moment: The Mihotose musical chooses to introduce him to the audience and to the Citadel with the very flashy, rocking, and suggestive song "Nuide Misemashou" (Let's Get Naked), and he doesn't let up once afterwards.
The Gadfly: His appearances in the musical continuity have him intentionally rile up his other teammates, most of all Tonbokiri. Sometimes crosses into The Tease with his Double Entendres towards Monoyoshi and especially Ookurikara.
I Am a Monster: To some extent, he believes this about himself because of his status as a "cursed Muramasa blade" and keeps arm's length from people so they won't get hurt. Mihotose has him feign disinterest in helping raise the Tokugawa household precisely because of this.
Incest Subtext: He's related to Tonbokiri as far as swords can be considered related, but Tonbokiri isn't safe from his flirting. During the musicals, its shown at first that his attraction to Tonbokiri is just sexual, but by the end of their second appearance it's all but stated that Muramasa may have fallen in love with him.
Last-Name Basis: He is only referred to as "Muramusa" and is never addressed by his first name. Even Tonbokiri, who comes from the same school calls him as such. The Mihotose musical also takes this into account, as all of his comrades call him by his last name. Subverted in the English dub of Zoku.
Pet the Dog: While he calls Tonbokiri a worrywart, he understands the concern when they are both from an infamous school of swords and does not blame him.
Playboy Bunny: His costume is meant to evoke it. The artbooks reveal that under the skirt and collar, he's basically wearing a corset, and he has a cotton bauble on his butt that resembles a bunny tail. Finally, his Hair Antennae resemble two rabbit ears, and in the anime they even twitch depending on his mood much like a rabbit's would.
Production Throwback: His outfit and hairstyle make him look like a Gender Flipped version of Muramasa the Third of Full Metal Daemon Muramasa, another nitro+ game NamanikuATK did designs for.
Red Eyes, Take Warning: He has red eyes, and there are many legends surrounding him about how he's a "demon blade" who drives his wielders insane.
The Rival: To Kikkou Sadamune in Zoku. He and Kikkou compete over the position of the Saniwa's attendant when Hasabe isn't around in the citadel.
Shameless Fanservice Guy: He often expresses a desire to take off his clothes, regardless of where he is or what he's doing. In Zoku, he is seen at the beach, naked with the other Touken Danshi.
Signature Laugh: He has a distinctive laugh of "Huhuhuhu", written in letters instead of katakana or hiragana. His actor in the musicals does a different more natural sounding laugh, but it is no less terrifying.

Sengo Muramasa (Warriors)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c3334c66_7a0e_481b_ad48_aa67297dc759.png

An uchigatana crafted by the first Muramasa (Sengo Muramasa) and highly effective in battle with his extreme sharpness. His mysterious demeanor may come from being long regarded by others as a demon sword.

In this game, he has a habit of wanting to remove his clothing, and is a source of worry to Tonbokiri, who is also of the Muramasa school and a member of the First Team.

Adaptational Personality Change: An odd example; While most of his personality from his browser game counterpart remains, he talks about undressing a lot more, is a lot more forthright, which is ironic given his profile says he's mysterious, and does his Signature Laugh a lot less. He is also concerned about the myths surrounding Muramasa blades, which he works to dispel in Chapter 5.
Ambiguously Bi: He is equally devoted to the Touken Danshi's ambiguously gendered Saniwa, but he constantly asks the other Touken Danshi to strip down with him and is clearly disappointed when they refuse. In one Bond Conversation, he refers to it as a show of friendship, but later calls Mikazuki a tease for joking about stripping, implying that his desire to strip down with the other Touken Danshi is not entirely pure.
Cloudcuckoolander: Believes taking off his clothes with the other Touken Danshi is a wonderful way to boost the camaraderie between them, and is shown to be genuinely disappointed when turned down by them.
Determinator: In his Bond conversation with Mikazuki, he mentions that sunny days in spring are ideal for stripping and invites Mikazuki to join him, only for Mikazuki to turn him down because his (supposedly) elderly constitution isn't up to braving the cold weather. Sengo then expresses disappointment that Mikazuki has used the exact same excuse the first 30 times he's asked, and wonders if Mikazuki ever intended to agree to strip with him.
Nice Guy: Despite his… eccentricities, he's genuinely kind and caring to the other swords, and looks out for their well-being.
Odd Friendship: Develops a friendship with Mikazuki Munechika, the leader of his team, once they get past him constantly asking him to strip off his clothes.

71, 72 – Kikkou Sadamune (亀甲貞宗)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kikkou_1_4.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
School: Sadamune (貞宗)
Voiced by: Masahiro Yamanaka (Japanese), Howard Wang (English)
Illustrated by: Homerun Ken

"I'm Kikkou Sadamune. The reason behind my name? ...Hehe. Perhaps I'll leave that to your imagination."

The sword of shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and one of the Sadamune school swords. Kikkou is extremely loyal to the saniwa through and through, though his eagerness to obey his master's orders may be partly due to certain tastes of his.

Badass in a Nice Suit: He wears a white suit into battle.
Casual Kink: He gets excited at the thought of neglectful play when you leave him alone for awhile. His Awakening portrait reveals that he wears shibari ropes hidden beneath his clothes in his standard form, which is quite telling of his hobbies.
Character Development: For his Kiwame training, he decides to travel to Edo. He explains that he was a sword of a shogunate clan. During his travels, he begins to feel lonely and fears that the Saniwa won’t read his letters to them. His former master, Lord Tsunayoshi, who helped push for reevaluation and was unfathomable for a shogunate family to be able to issue on large scale degrees. Afterward, he learns that the people more or less want to be ruled by others, their place in society determined by someone else. He the reason why the Tokugawa shogunate lasted so long was because instead of being a lone wolf in the wilderness, it will let people be more at ease. He’s glad to have the Saniwa as his current master and he will entrust his body to them.
Combat Sadomasochist: Subverted. He's a masochist and enjoys pain, but only if the Saniwa is doing the abusing. For example he screams in pleasure if the Saniwa pokes him (especially while he's injured), but is in obvious pain if enemies attack him.
Last Request: If he gets destroyed in his Kiwame form.
"Master...I was bad, so please scold me...please, punish me...because that'll mean I wasn't worthless..."
Meaningful Name: Named after the symbol that's engraved on his tang, a chrysanthemum in a hexagon, which resembles a tortoise shell. The word kikkou also refers to the "tortoise" style of shibari rope bondage, hence why he wears shibari ropes under his clothing in his standard form.
My Master, Right or Wrong: Like Hasebe, he'll take out any enemy and do anything for the Saniwa. Mostly because of his masochistic fetish though.
The Rival: To Sengo Muramasa in Zoku. He and Muramasa compete over the position of the Saniwa's attendant when Hasabe isn't around in the citadel.
Too Kinky to Torture: Averted, surprisingly. Despite enjoying BDSM and being a proud masochist, he does not enjoy being injured in battle, and only enjoys it when the saniwa is the one hurting him. Truth in Television, most practitioners of BDSM in real life do so under controlled, consensual conditions, and wouldn't like it so much if someone were to attack them with the intent to kill.
"Pain without love has no value!"
Something Else Also Rises: His line when he gets his Kiwame implies this. The Saniwa is not amused.
"Fufufufu...I have risen in various ways. To be specific... Hey! Where are you going!?"

81, 82 – Souza Samonji (宗三左文字)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/souza_1_0.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
School: Samonji (左文字)
Voiced by: Yuuki Tai (Japanese), J. Michael Tatum (English)
Illustrated by: Jiro Suzuki
Live actor: Yoshihide Sasaki (Stage Play)

"... Souza Samonji, present. Do you too, desire the Symbol of Conquerors in your service?"

A legendary sword that, having belonged to the Three Unifiers of Japan, is considered a sword of conquerors, though he had rarely gone into battle. He's always complaining about being treated like a Battle Trophy and is very condescending and cynical.

Animal Motifs:
- Peacocks symbolize beauty, grace and nobility since, when he was a sword, many war fords (Souza's previous owners) saw him as a Battle Trophy or a symbol of conquest and he was never used in battle.
- Butterflies are symbol of change, life and hope since, in the past, he was only used as a peace display and never in combat. His life changed after he gained a human form from the Saniwa to able to fight, a free-will and a new purpose to protect history.
Battle Trophy: As he belonged to powerful warlords, Souza's previous owners saw him mainly as symbol of conquest, rather than a battle tool. This is a source of angst for him, as subtly shown in his lines directed to the Saniwa. And doesn't seem to change even after Kiwame.
Character Development: He travels to Azuchi for his Kiwame training. He wants to overcome his former master, Oda Nobunaga in order to move on. He admits that his former master has such an impressive presence that one cannot run away from that shadow. Even though he can't overcome Nobunaga, that doesn't stop him from serving the Saniwa and to be useful in the battlefield and resolving that one day he will change.
Dark and Troubled Past: Had Oda Nobunaga's name engraved into him while in his possession once the latter defeated Souza's former master, was badly burnt during the Edo period to the point had to be reforged (this event also left him with a fire trauma), and thanks to his powerful owners, was always seen as a Battle Trophy rather than an actual combat sword, something he seems to resent.
Deadpan Snarker: When not complaining about the Saniwa treating him like a Battle Trophy, he's very sardonic and cynical. This extends to the stage play and the anthology, where he never misses a chance to make fun of Hasebe's serious Undying Loyalty, often comparing him to a dog.
The Eeyore: Like his brothers, he's not a very positive person, though it doesn't seem very obvious at first since he's always seen smiling. The stage play continuity does away with the smiling to make him even more wistful.
I Just Want to Be Free: Compares himself to a "caged bird". His line when he breaks (in his standard form) also confirms this wish:
"(...) Aah... At long last, freedom."
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Souza is sarcastic, blunt and abrasive towards most of the swords and the Saniwa (and doesn't change even after Kiwame) but he genuinely cares about his brothers, Kousetsu and Sayo.
Perpetual Smiler: Despite how upset and sad he looks, he's almost always illustrated with a wistful smile on his face. His appearance in the stage plays, however, make him more of a Perpetual Frowner, as he's always anxious about some part of his past.
Red Baron: "The Symbol of Conquerors." Refers to how he was used essentially as a status symbol for his previous owners, being an unusual take on this trope, since the title is almost entirely based around his possession by others than whatever deeds he'd done or his quality as a sword. In fact, Souza was hardly ever used in real combat at all.
Servile Snarker: He's very snarky and abrassive when he talks to the Saniwa. He becomes slightly more respectful after Kiwame, but it's because he's got used/resigned to be around the Saniwa at that point.
".....Ah, it looks like you're back....What's with that face? Were you expecting a kinder greeting? I'm not a dog waiting for his master to come, like that Heshikiri or Fudou Yukimitsu."
Stepford Smiler: His sprite shows him smiling and he speaks to the saniwa in a lighthearted tone, but most of his lines sound quite passive-aggressive, since he doesn't trust the saniwa won't just treat him like a Battle Trophy.
Tears of Remorse: It may be because the situation got to him, it may be because he had no personal grudge against him, or it may be because he finally empathized with Fudou, but the first play has Souza quietly start crying after he cuts down Mori Ranmaru.
Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Why Did It Have To Be Fire? Being burnt in the Edo Fires was very traumatizing for him.

85, 86 – Kashuu Kiyomitsu (加州清光)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kashuu_1_9.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda (Japanese), Garett Storms (English)
Illustrated by: Kumita
Live actor: Ryuuji Satou (Musical), Ryo Matsuda (Stage Play)

"Uhh. I'm the child beneath the river. Kashuu Kiyomitsu. I may be difficult to handle, but my performance is good."

Kashuu Kiyomitsu is one of the swords of Okita Souji of The Shinsengumi. He comes across as vain and very fixated on his appearance, but this is a hint at his insecurities.

He is one of the main mascots of the Touken Ranbu series, owing to being one of the five starter swords that the player can choose from when they start the game, alongside Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, Kasen Kanesada, and Hachisuka Koutetsu, though his mascot status is second to the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika.

He and Yamatokami are also the main focus characters of Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru.

Anger Born of Worry: Toward Mikazuki in the "Great Invasion" event after Mikazuki disappears and forces him to chase after him. He admits to this fact if the player has him in Kiwame form.
Anguished Declaration of Love: If he gets destroyed in his Kiwame form.
"Even if I die... I'll love you..."
Attention Whore: Not so noticeable at first, but he often subtly fishes for compliments. For example, he says he's not good at scouting, even though he has the best scouting stats out of all the uchigatanas. It's more obvious in his First Year Anniversary line.
"Hey, after being a saniwa for one year you surely have known, right? About who's number one, I mean."
Agent Peacock: Very fixated on his appearance, and he even wears nail polish and high heels, but he'll still go into the fray alongside everyone else. However, despite his willingness to fight, he'll still complain about being made to do fieldwork or horsekeeping.
Berserk Button: Getting damaged, to the point that he snaps in his Awakening mode. Given that he firmly believes he should always look beautiful to be loved...
"Anyone who sees me naked... shall die...!"
- However he drops this after getting his Kiwame, finally realizing the Saniwa will still love him even if his appearance gets ruined.
Character Development: Following his Kiwame, he's much more emotionally open and has mostly moved on from his insecurities about Okita. He's also much more vocal about his affection for the Saniwa and a bit more crude and masculine in his speech patterns.
Character Tics: In the musical, he plays with his ponytail and hair when idle. Less so in the Trial Run.
Combat Stilettos: He wears high-heeled boots into battle.
Declaration of Protection: In the “Great Invasion” event, he makes a declaration of protection to Mikazuki Munechika after he resolves to sacrifice himself for the sake of the citadel. His dialogue varies slightly depending on whether it’s said before or after his kiwame training.
(pre kiwame) “Hey, what do you think you’re doing! Going out all by yourself… And what’s more, saying it’s fine if you’re broken!? Who the hell do you think you’d make happy doing this? … Ahh, if you say you still don’t get it, I’ll make you understand. You said you were the same as me. In that case… In that case, the thing I want to protect… is you! Too bad, but I’m not adorable enough to meekly follow every word you say! That is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika.”
(after kiwame) “Hey, what do you think you’re doing! Going out all by yourself… and what’s more, saying it’s fine if you broke!? If you can’t understand that no one would be happy with this.. You’ve gone senile. …Then, I’ll make you understand. …I’ll give you a taste of it. You said you were like me. In that case… The thing I want to protect is you! Too bad, but I’m not adorable enough to meekly follow every word you say! That is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika.”
Desperately Craves Affection: His obsession with being beautiful is because he equates being beautiful to being loved, and he thinks that if he's beautiful enough he'll never be abandoned. His fixation with being loved and his insecurities have historical basis: when Okita took him into battle in the Ikedaya Incident, Kashuu's tip was broken off during the battle and deemed irreparable, so Okita abandoned him. Word of God says that Kiyomitsu wholeheartedly welcomes any new master who would love him.
"If you're bothering to repair me, does that mean you still love me?"
Deuteragonist: While they are both advertised as main characters, he plays this role to Yamatonokami, who is more clearly defined as the protagonist of the first season of Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru. When Yamatonokami leaves for Kiwame training in season 2, he takes over as the protagonist, however.
Gratuitous English: Uses a lot of it in his Kiwame lines.
Green-Eyed Monster: In Hanamaru, he's jealous and cold toward Mikazuki after he manifests because he believes that the Saniwa won't love him anymore now that the most beautiful Tenka Goken is in their citadel. He gets better after Mikazuki reassures him of the Saniwa's love for him, and the two become friends.
Hidden Depths: At first he seems a very carefree guy who is a bit too much fixated on his appearance, until he gets damaged and starts blurting out about his abandonment issues and asking not to be discarded. At the same time, he's also mature enough to let go of most of his resentment towards Okita when sent to Ikedaya, surprising Nagasone.
I'll Kill You!: In his Kiwame form, he says this in his awakened sprite.
Inferiority Superiority Complex: The reason he's so fixated on looking beautiful (abandonment issues aside) is that he was born in the poorest and most oppressed part of Edo society, and he tries to come across as much of a refined beauty as possible so he won't be reminded of that.
Informed Attractiveness: His official profile says the mole on his mouth shows his indescribable, bewitching beauty.
Implied Love Interest: Kashuu and Yasusada's behaviour towards eachother in the musicals and anime is very romantically coded, to the point that newcomers to the franchise sometimes assume that Touken Ranbu is BL and Kashuu and Yasusada are the lead couple. Kashuu's frustration at Yasusada's inability to move on from Okita in particular often seems like jealousy.
Intergenerational Friendship: With Mikazuki Munechika in Hanamaru and The Musical. Mikazuki is over 500 years older than him, but almost always comes through when Kashuu needs comforting advice or to be reminded of his growth in the former, while in the latter, the two befriend each other throughout their journey on Mt. Atsukashi and act as co-centers to the Sanjou "idol" group. Their closeness is especially demonstrated when they perform duets together.
My Greatest Second Chance: He dresses himself beautifully to get his new master’s love and avoid abandonment.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Blue to Yamatonokami's Red, despite his color coding.
The Resenter: Towards Okita, for discarding him. He even refuses to call Okita by name, instead referring to him as "that guy". This is all a cover however, as the reason for his resentment is that he was hurt and heartbroken at being discarded.
Ship Tease: With Yamatonokami Yasusada in all of their appearances together. The pair are pretty much treated like a set, and Yamatonokami is the character who he’s most Tsundere toward.
- He gets a bit with Mikazuki in "The Great Invasion" event when he sets out to save Mikazuki from sacrificing himself for the sake of the citadel and declares that he wants to protect him in the end. He's also Tsundere toward him the entire time.
Series Mascot: One of the six mascots for the Touken Ranbu franchise, sharing this role with the four other starter swords and the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika. He's also co-mascots of the Tounyan Danshi series alongside Mikazuki Munechika.
Starter Equipment: One of the five swords the player can choose from when beginning the game. He's also the Saniwa's starter sword in the Hanamaru anime.
Sugar-and-Ice Personality: He can be pretty mean or dismissive to his fellow Touken Danshi but is often sweeter to the Saniwa due to desperately wanting to be loved by them.
Tsundere:
- Toward Yamatonokami Yasusada across all the continuities they appear in together. The two are very close, but they have a Vitriolic Best Buds dynamic going on, and Kashuu occasionally pretends to be indifferent toward him. In Toku Hanamaru, however, he's forced to accept the fact that he misses Yasusada when he leaves for Kiwame training.
- Toward Mikazuki throughout the entire "Great Invasion" event. He continuously calls him annoying and complains about having to take care of him, but he cares and is mostly angry because Mikazuki made him worry. He's more honest about these feelings should the player use his Kiwame form during these interactions thanks to his Character Development.
Vitriolic Best Buds: With Yasusada, as described in his profile and likely as a result of them both being formerly owned by Okita Souji.
"Has a close relationship with Yamatonokami Yasusada and often get into fights with each other. They may look like polar opposites but are actually very similar."

Kashuu (Musical Touken Ranbu)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/13ec20ff_6adc_4a89_b8b2_819109c17f0a.jpeg

Kashuu Kiyomitsu in the Musical Touken Ranbu continuity. He debuted in the trial performance, which would later go on to become the very first Touken Ranbu musical Atsukashiyama Ibun.

Attention Whore:
- His attention-seeking tendencies aren't limited to the Saniwa in this continuity; for example, in Atsukashiyama Ibun, he punishes Mikazuki Munechika for skipping training by making him say a cool line to make him and the others feel like he loves them, but emphasizes that he wants Mikazuki to make him feel loved especially.
- This played for laughs and drama in Shinken Ranbusai 2016, as he had a dream about the Sanjou and the Shinsengumi fighting over him.
Boke and Tsukkomi Routine: He plays the Tsukkomi to Yamatonokami's Boke, especially in their non-main story appearances where the two are allowed to be a bit more comedic.
Breakout Character: The combined star power of his character and the actor portraying him landed him the first series of 2.5D solo concerts ever, titled Kashuu Kiyomitsu Tanki Shutsujin.
The Bus Came Back: After appearing in four main story musicals (counting two reruns), he had a four year absence from the main stage, only appearing in side performances like and Kotobuki Ranbu Ongyokusai 2021 and Shinken Ranbusai 2022. He wouldn't return to the main stage until ~Michi no Oku Hitotsu wa Chisu~, which was announced for early 2024.
Color-Coded Characters: Took Imanotsurugi's spot as the representative for Red when grouped with the Sanjou school swords in Atsukashiyama Ibun.
Color Motif: Black and red, which shows up in all of his costumes without variation, though his associated penlight color is just red.
Immortal Immaturity: He's well over 500 years old, but has the mindset of a teenage boy and displays signs of immaturity, impatience, and stubbornness, particularly when it comes to empathizing with and imposing his ideals on others, all of which impede his ability to be a good leader to Touken Danshi who have different mindsets and upbringings from him.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Gets impaled through the stomach by a Kebiishi in Michi no Oku. Being a Touken Danshi, this injury isn't fatal, but it is enough to severely weaken him to the point of making his fellow Touken Danshi worry.
Intergenerational Friendship: With all of the Sanjou by the end of Atsukashiyama Ibun. They're all over 1000 years old except Imanotsurugi and Iwatooshi, who are revealed to technically be newborn Touken Danshi in Tsuwamono Domo, and he's roughly half their age, but they all learn to get along and become quite close.
The Leader: Of Squad 1 in the first musical. His hardheaded, "fight as one of the team even if it means death" method of leadership was inherited from the Shinsengumi, which clashes with his duty to take care of and carefully lead his teammates to victory. He's still very new to noticing the plights of his team, but he learns.
Locked Out of the Loop: Despite being a veteran sword, he manifested later than the Saniwa's first six swords in the citadel and was unaware of the failed mission that resulted in the death or possibly disappearance of one of them, as the remainder of the group and the Saniwa kept it a secret. In Michi no Oku, after being influenced by Ookanehira, he works up the nerve to ask Yamanbagiri Kunihiro about the early days of the citadel, although only wanting to hear the answer when Yamanbagiri is ready to share it.
Mr. Fanservice: He rivals Mikazuki Munechika for how blatantly fanservicey can be when it's time to dress up and be an idol.
Not Afraid to Die: Owing to the Shinsengumi's teachings, he feels that fighting on even in the face of death, whether it be for one's own death, the captains, or fellow warriors, is the way of the sword. This mindset puts him at odds with Ishikirimaru, who gets angry with him for his carelessness and neglect when Imanotsurugi is injured, as well as for his attempting to impose his ideals on the Sanjou, who, as swords, are very different from the Shinsengumi.
Only Sane Man: In Atsukashiyama Ibun, he's set to play team leader to the Sanjou, who are all too carefree and eccentric, leaving him struggling to wrangle them all together. It's downplayed later in the musical, however, as he has his Not So Above It All moments while they have their moments of clarity and give him the advice he needs to become a good leader.
Quickly-Demoted Leader: After his run as the Squad 1 leader in Atsukashiyama Ibun, Kashuu opens up the mission debriefing for Bakamatsu Tenrouden relieved of his duty in favor of Hachisuka Kotetsu. Kashuu's job is to help guide him throughout the mission.
Sheath Strike: He occasionally fights with both his sheath and his sword. Michi no Oku reveals that after manifesting in the citadel, he trained under Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who uses the same method of attack, suggesting that he learned it from him.
Ship Tease: He gets flirted with with all the Sanjou during the idol segment choreography, which culminated into the the Shinken Ranbusai 2016 story where the Sanjou swords kidnap him and makes him choose between them and the Shinsengumi swords out of jealousy. Turns out the latter instance was a dream… maybe.
Tsundere: To the entire Sanjou school in Atsukashiyama Ibun. He is put off by their antics, but he eventually comes to care about them, even if he is hesitant to admit it at first. In Shinken Ranbusai 2016, when asked to choose between Shinsengumi and Sanjou, he admits that he loves both equally.
"Well Done, Son" Guy: In the trial run of the musical, he really looks up the the Saniwa and tries his best to live up to Saniwa's expectations. His attitude resembles a teenager's here, making his case of the trope almost accurate.

87, 88 – Yamatonokami Yasusada (大和守安定)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yamatonokami_1_7.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
Voiced by: Mitsuhiro Ichiki (Japanese), Dallas Reid (English)
Illustrated by: Kumita
Live actor: Yuuki Torigoe (Musical), Kensuke Ueda (Stage Play)

"Yamatonokami Yasusada. Not easy to handle, but a good sword."

Yamatonokami Yasusada is one of the swords of Okita Souji from The Shinsengumi. He is usually very nice and easygoing but becomes very violent in combat. Still hasn't gotten over Okita's death, trying to emulate his clothing and mannerisms. He and Kashuu are the main characters of Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru.

Alliterative Name: Yamatonokami Yasusada
Beware the Nice Ones: He's normally a laidback and friendly guy, but when it comes to fighting, he's deathly and ruthless.
"Lose your head and die!"
Blood Knight: Despite his normally gentle appearance, he is quite hot-blooded in combat, and he actually giggles in a somewhat unsettling way when he's the leader of your party and you've reached a boss node. This is, of course, another trait of Okita Souji he's trying to emulate. Exaggerated after Kiwame, where he tries to move on from his past and becomes more devoted to the Saniwa, but is even more aggressive in combat.
Breaking the Fourth Wall: If left idle (in his standard form), he'll ask if you're playing a different game.
Character Development: In order to move forward with his life, Yamatonokami visits his former master, Okita Souji, for Kiwame training. Par for the course, Okita collapses and Yamatonokami laments over his eventual passing. He visits him on his sickbed, but Okita scolds him for doing so because he is well aware that Yamatonokami is in the middle of an important duty and is simply wasting his time seeing him. Yamatonokami then realizes that if he keeps focusing on the past, he won't be able to move on, so he decides it would be best to forget his former master and return once he can finally dedicate himself solely to the Saniwa as their sword.
Coat Cape: He wears his Shinsengumi haori on his shoulders in his Kiwame form.
Expository Hairstyle Change: He wears his hair down in his Kiwame form.
Implied Love Interest: The musicals and anime push him and Kashuu so hard that they're basically one kiss away from being canon. Those unfamiliar with the franchise sometimes mistake it to be a BL thanks his dynamic with Kashuu. He's also heavily implied to be in love with Okita Souji, but since Souji is dead and Yasusada's character development involves learning to move on from him, the dynamic with him is more "Implied Widower".
Lazy Alias: Yamatonokami goes under the pseudonym "Okizawa" (a portmanteau of his master Okita and a generic surname ender) when joining the Shinsengumi in Bakamatsu Tenrouden.
Letting Her Hair Down: His Kiwame form loosens his ponytail to reveal his shoulder-length hair.
The Protagonist: He's the main character of the first season of Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Despite his color scheme, he is Red to Kashuu's Blue.
Ship Tease: With Kashuu Kiyomitsu, and with his former master, in the anime, musicals, and the game itself.
Spell My Name With An S: Is it Yamatonokami or Yamato-no-kami?
Together in Death: If he gets destroyed in his standard form.
"Okita-kun... Finally... With you..."
Undying Loyalty: To his previous master, Okita Souji. As shown in-game, he hasn't gotten over Okita's death, to the point of dressing and behaving like him. Word of God says that he doesn't dislike the Saniwa, just that he doesn't want to attach to his new master so easily and fears that he'll end up betraying the memory of Okita by forming a new bond with the Saniwa. It's a constant source of angst for him in season one of Hanamaru, since while he does miss Okita, he wants to repay for the kindess the Saniwa has showed him; and in Bakamatsu Tenrouden, he is conflicted over giving him medicine for his illness so he could stay alive. He finally does become loyal to the Saniwa after Kiwame and his destroyed line shows it.
"Even in death... By your side..."

90, 91 – Kasen Kanesada (歌仙兼定)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kasen_1_2.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
School: Kanesada (兼定)
Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa (Japanese), Oscar Seung (English)
Illustrated by: Homerun Ken
Live actor: Takuma Wada (Stage Play, Kiden), Nanami Hiroki (Stage Play, Guden)

"I am Kasen Kanesada. I am a famous liberal arts sword who loves elegance. Pleased to meet you."

The sword of the Sengoku-era lord Hosokawa Tadaoki. He was named after the 36 Immortals of Japanese Poetry, but it was prompted by his master's execution of 36 retainers. His personality is thus a duality of arts and violence, which is also a reference to his owner's life.

He is one of the main mascots of the Touken Ranbu series, owing to being one of the five starter swords that the player can choose from when they start the game, alongside Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, and Hachisuka Koutetsu, though his mascot status is second to the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika.

Affectionate Nickname: Nosada by his brother Izuminokami, a reference to his swordsmith.^note
Alliterative Name: Kasen Kanesada
Badass Cape: In his standard form, he wears a black one with a flower decorative designs inside. In his Kiwame form, the inside of his cape resembles a morph butterfly wings.
The Berserker: Despite being a courteous man while in the citadel, Kasen has shades of this during battle, alluding to his owner Tadaoki, who had a violent streak. He gets notably enraged if injured in-battle (most swords brush it off, give a mild complaint or even give the attacker some credit) and curses the enemy to "die a thousand times", and when sparring in Internal Affairs, he apologizes to his partner for attacking with such brute force.
Blood Knight: Not to the extent of some other swords, but you probably wouldn't expect such a brutal attacking line ("Present your neck") from someone who goes on and on about grace and elegance.
Character Development: In his Kiwame training, Kasen decides to travel to Higo since he’s been invited as one of the guests by his former master, Lord Sansei Hosokawa. He’s aware it’s still from physical strength, but he’s planning to improve his culture sense of beauty. In his letters during this period, he let the Saniwa know that his training is fruitful, but he has a hard time writing poems about the results and that he has many things to learn from his former master. In his final letter to the Saniwa, he says he learned all he could from his former master, only getting more about him after he passed away. Afterwards, since he has completed his training, he decides to return to the Citadel and practice the skills he learned from his journey.
Combat Aestheticist: Is very passionate about elegance in combat. He's also a little exigent with the equipment he's given to.
Cultured Warrior: Fancies himself as one. According to Kasen, his specialties are Japanese poetry, tea ceremonies, and epicureanism.
Declaration of Protection: In the “Great Invasion” event, he makes a declaration of protection to Mikazuki Munechika after he resolves to sacrifice himself for the sake of the citadel. His dialogue varies slightly depending on whether it’s said before or after his kiwame training.
(pre kiwame) “Now then, what kind of poem would you like to hear? … You won’t answer, huh. I do not mind if you retreat into silence, but I am of the arts… Coming down to the palace of old, for all I look up at the sky The moon is still in hiding Even with the flowers in full bloom. For this many flowers to bloom out of season. It’s utterly horrendous. If that rich fragrance is trying to hide the moon… I will have you answer, even if it has to be by force! If the moon doesn’t shine in the Citadel, it will certainly lack elegance! This is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika.”
(after kiwame) “Now then, what kind of poem would you like to hear? … You won’t answer, huh. I do not mind if you retreat into silence, but I am of the arts… Coming down to the palace of old, for all I look up at the sky The moon is still in hiding Even with the flowers in full bloom. How about you lay this to rest already? My fuse is not as long as yours. If that rich fragrance is trying to hide the moon… I’d rather disperse it! Even if it has to be by force! My Citadel is the very definition of elegance because our moon shines there! That is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika.”
Intergenerational Friendship: At least physically, with Sayo Samonji in the recollections.
Know-Nothing Know-It-All: Subtly implied. His official profile says Kasen is a self-proclaimed cultured person. While his owner was known for being well-versed, what Kasen actually does to be considered cultured is... debatable.
Last Request: His line if he's destroyed in his standard form.
"Ahh... So this is the afterlife? I must write a poem... My brush... Someone, bring me my brush..."
Parting-Words Regret: If he gets destroyed in his Kiwame form.
"Though I call myself a sword of the arts, I cannot find words to impart to you in the end... I've failed as a poet..."
Series Mascot: One of the six mascots for the Touken Ranbu franchise, sharing this role with the four other starter swords and the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika.
Ship Tease: Like the other four starter swords, he gets this with Mikazuki Munechika in the browser game after being sent on a Rescue Mission to bring him back to the citadel. He declares that he wants to protect him, and that the citadel can't shine brightly without him there.
Starter Equipment: One of the five swords the player can choose from when beginning the game.
Tsundere: Shows traits of this on occasion, especially in the plays. Every time he claims not to like someone, it turns out he actually admires them but can't bring himself to admit it. The most obvious recipient of this is Kara-chan, but the Dategumi and even his former master are also examples of this to a degree.
Warrior Poet: A big part of his character; he talks often about writing poems (even his Last Request, as mentioned above, is related to it). Here's one of his lines when he's injured, in the citadel:
"...Ah, pardon me. I was too deep thinking of a poem, I didn't even notice."

Kasen (Warriors)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a8c75af2_1422_4067_b0da_b95c4ee5020e.png

An uchigatana crafted by the second Kanesada, also known as "Nosada." His name, Kasen Kanesada, comes from either the 36 Immortals of Poetry, or the 36 retainers who were executed by his owner, Hosokawa Tadaoki. Although he is a man of culture, he has a strong physique and a bad habit of using force to get by.

In this game, he is the leader of the Second Team and leads the Touken Danshi of the same unit.

The Leader: Of the Second Unit consisting of himself, Ichigo Hitofuri, Hyuuga Masamune, and Namazuo Toushirou.
Petal Power: Petals emit from his blade during his special attacks and attack string.
Real Men Cook: He's one of the Touken Danshi assigned to cooking for the entire citadel, along with Shokudaikiri, because most of its residents are unwilling to make dishes more complex than Onigiri.
Tsundere: Toward Ookurikara, as the two get into a spat in their Bond Conversation where they trade harsh words with each other before agreeing to have tea in the end.

91, 92 – Izuminokami Kanesada (和泉守兼定)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/izuminokami_1_0.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: High (Basic/Toku); Special (Kiwame)
School: Kanesada (兼定)
Voiced by: Ryōhei Kimura (Japanese), Robert McCollum [Hanamaru]; Robbie Daymond [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Shiramine
Live actor: Shotarou Arisawa (Musical), Tabuchi Rui (Stageplay)

"I am Izuminokami Kanesada. I'm cool and strong! Recently, I'm a popular sword."

An uchigatana (formerly classified by the game as a tachi) who was wielded by Hijikata Toshizou of The Shinsengumi. Izuminokami is a main character in Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu.

Affectionate Nickname: Horikawa calls him "Kane-san".
Badass Boast: His line when obtained introduces himself as strong, cool, and popular. He certainly lives up to the strong part at least, as his total Toku stats place him fifth out of the entire cast, beating out all but a few exceptional tachi. Justified in the latter case, however, as he was originally categorized as a tachi before being moved into the uchigatana category.
Badass Longcoat: He wears a Shinsengumi haori in his Kiwame form.
Berserk Button: In Katsugeki, Izuminokami doesn't like when people speak ill about the Shinsengumi. And with him and Mutsunokami at odds with each other, he hears it a lot.
Big Ego, Hidden Depths: He's proud and loud there's no denying, but he's a rather sharp thinker underneath. He refuses to dwell upon the past because he feels the memories that he has now are enough, and he recognizes Hachisuka's struggle to reconcile Nagasone's distaste for violence with his strength along with pointing out how similar both Kotetsus are in personality.
Big Little Brother: Is taller than Kasen, his actual brother, and especially Horikawa, with whom he has a closer relationship and more closely resembles, while being younger than both of them.
Can't Hold His Liquor: Implied by Horikawa's New Year's Greeting line, in which the latter asks that sake be drunk in moderation... and then says he's off to scold Izuminokami. In the Bakumatsu musical, even though he just takes one sip of alcohol, he easily gets drunk and passes out.
The Charmer: Judging from a few of his lines, he seems to fancy himself as this.
"What are you doing. Could it be... that you are charmed by me?"
Character Development: Izuminokami infiltrates the Shinsengumi and works alongside his former master Hijitaka Toshizou during his Kiwame training. He explains that his current form was forged to best suit his former master, so in order to overcome his current limits, he has to venture on this unavoidable path of self-discovery to better understand his very core or being. After witnessing Hijikata's tragic death, Izuminokami realizes his sentimentality for the past, as a famous sword during the samurai era, was what made him who he is and growing means surpassing that stage in his life. The age of swords maybe over, but Izuminokami knows he still has the Saniwa to serve and so he returns, ever confident he can fight as one of the finest blades of this era.
Coat Cape: He wears the Shinsengumi haori like a cape in his normal form - the sleeve is more noticeable in his battle art.
Combat Stilettos: After Kiwame, he wears high-heeled boots into battle.
End of an Age: His self-introduction mentions he was created in a time where swords made way to new weaponry, but he has no complaint about being born.
Expository Hairstyle Change: After Kiwame, he wears his hair in a high ponytail instead of wearing his hair down.
Guest Fighter: Appears as a playable character in the Granblue Fantasy x Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu collaboration event alongside Mikazuki Munechika and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro.
Honey Trap: In one chapter of the anthology manga, he attempts to seduce Nakigitsune so he can get his mask off and see what he looks like underneath. It doesn't work, but Nakigitsune does get flustered enough to be stunned into silence.
Manly Tears: Sheds these in his recollection skit with Horikawa, while they're both in Hakodate, remembering their previous master. In Katsugeki, after he catches a glimpse of his former master, he begins to shed tears of joy and sadness upon seeing Hijikata again, even if for a brief moment.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Much of Izuminokami's character is directly inspired by Hijikata himself.
Oblivious to Love: Whether Horikawa's affection for him is romantic or platonic is ambiguous, but whatever the answer, he's often written as having trouble understanding the depths of it, and the actions that Horikawa takes because of it. This is especially obvious in the musicals, but it also pops up in the two anime series and in the manga.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: In Katsugeki, Izuminokami is horrified by the destruction of Edo at the hands of the Revisionists. Blinded by rage, he takes out his anger on them and attempts to kill them all without coming up with a strategy.
Samurai Ponytail: His Kiwame form has him do up his hair instead of tying it low like usual.
Strong Family Resemblance: Played with; He and Horikawa are not related, but according to him, he was forged by a 12th generation swordsmith from the Kanesada school. Hijikata Toshizou requested that his sword have characteristics similar to his wakizashi (Horikawa), so this may be the reason why they have the same hair and eye colors. In contrast, compare him to his actual brother Kasen.
Temporary Online Content: Izuminokami Kanesada as a guest fighter in the Granblue Fantasy x Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu collaboration event, Katsugeki Touken Ranbu: Fate Horizon. The event first ran in 2017, introducing Mikazuki Munechika (SSR), Izuminokami Kanesada (SR), and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (SR) as playable units, but as of the end of 2023, 6 years later, it has yet to be reran or added to that game's side stories, meaning Izuminokami and the others are currently (and possibly forever) unobtainable for newer players. As well, the game failed to give him a 5 star uncap along with some of the other non-Cygames collaborative characters in 2023, further suggesting that his character will not be returning.
Those Two Guys: In the Hanamaru anime, he's always seen with Horikawa.
Trying Not to Cry: In the recollection with Horikawa regarding of their previous master, Hijikata:
Horikawa: "But Kane-san, you're crying, you know?"
Kanesada: "Shut up...!"
Unpopular Popular Character: A variant. He's well-liked as a person by the other swords in-universe, but his poetry is despised by everyone save for Horikawa, who is blinded by affection, and Iwatooshi, who has a similar personality and similar tastes to that of Izuminokami. Out of universe, most fans of Touken Ranbu love his poetry. In the musicals when he announces that he's about to recite some poem, he's always met with cheers from the audience.
Younger Than They Look: Despite looking like an adult, he's actually the youngest of all of the swords in the game as he was, historically, the most recent sword forged (in 1867). Because of this, he's often reckless and Horikawa always has to assist him. Even more so in the official High School AU manga, where he's shown to be a freshman.

93, 94 – Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki (陸奥守吉行)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mutsunokami_1.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
Voiced by: Kento Hama (Japanese), Jason Liebrecht [Hanamaru];
Ben Diskin [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Nitaka
Live actor: Shin Tamura (Musical); Aoki Jin (Stage Play)

"I'm Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki. Since I've went through all the trouble of coming here, I'll seize the world!"

The sword of Sakamoto Ryoma, the activist who played an important role in bringing about the Meiji Restoration and consequently the modernisation of Japan. He was the heirloom of the Sakamoto family until Ryoma took him when leaving the clan to join the anti-Bakufu cause. Sakamoto Ryoma preferred to use a gun for self-defense, leaving Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki as just a symbol of his owner's samurai status, but he doesn't seem to mind it and wholeheartedly embraces the new era.

He is one of the main mascots of the Touken Ranbu series, owing to being one of the five starter swords that the player can choose from when they start the game, alongside Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Kasen Kanesada, and Hachisuka Koutetsu, though his mascot status is second to the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika.

Mutsunokami is a main character in Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu.

Affectionate Nickname: Yamatonokami calls him "Mucchan" in The Musical. Also doubles as Ascended Fan Nickname because that's what the fandom has called him for years.
Animal Motifs: Fans associate him with dogs due to his upbeat personality and hairstyle resembling dog ears and tail (much like how Kogitsune's hairstyle resemble fox ears). He's also a Big Eater with Cute Little Fangs.
Boisterous Bruiser: He is always enthusiastic with everything he does.
"Mahahahaha! Leave it to me!"
Camera Fiend: In Hanamaru, he has a fondness for taking pictures with different kinds of cameras.
Character Development: For his Kiwame training, he decides to travel to Tosa and visits his former master, Sakamoto Ryoma in order to get stronger. He explains since he’s a sword of Tosa and the formed by the thoughts of the people who think about Ryoma, he will try his best not to overcome his limits. After talking with his former master, he realizes whether it’s a new or old tool to be used, it depends on usages. He’s aware his former master died after guns failed to protect himself, but states if they continue to use an old thing even when they know there are newer stuff, it will just limit their choices. He made a vow to the Saniwa that he will be the sword that fights carefully in the next era.
Coat Cape: He receives one in his Kiwame form.
Cute Little Fangs: Has very prominent canines.
Declaration of Protection: In the “Great Invasion” event, he makes a declaration of protection to Mikazuki Munechika after he resolves to sacrifice himself for the sake of the citadel. His dialogue varies slightly depending on whether it’s said before or after his kiwame training.
(pre kiwame) “...Haven’t you had enough of this? I’m a Touken Danshi, too, so I understand you’d steeled yer resolve. But… Sorry, man. Keeping silent and letting you go like that ain’t something I can reason for. The Touken Danshi called Mikazuki Munechika ain’t the type to let himself be bait. You really are an obstinate guy, ain’tcha. That’s why… Don’tcha go and think I’ll always just let myself be illuminated by that light! No matter how much you run away, I will always set off to grasp our moon! That is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika.”
(after kiwame) “... Haven’t you had enough of this? I’m Touken Danshi, too, so I understand you’d steel yer resolve. But… Sorry, man. I’m a pretty greedy person as well. I can’t give up on the things I’m aiming for. The Touken Danshi called Mikazuki Munechika ain’t the type to let himself be bait. You really are an obstinate guy, aren’tcha. That’s why… Don’tcha go and think that with that brave front ye’re puttin’ up I’ll always just let myself be protected by you! No matter how much you hide within the clouds, I will always set off to grasp our moon! That is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika.”
End of an Age: His introduction quote mentions that by the time he was passed to his most famous owner, Sakamoto Ryoma, swords had become outdated and replaced by modern weaponry. However, Yoshiyuki is fine with that and looks forward to seeing a new age.
"In Ryōma’s period, swords had already become old-fashioned. But hey, that’s the world for you."
Expository Hairstyle Change: After Kiwame, he wears his hair into a low ponytail instead of wearing his hair down.
Friend-or-Idol Decision: In Katsugeki, due to the Retrograde's interference, Mutsunokami finds himself stuck at a crossroad and must decide whether to save his former master from being killed or let the Fushimi Magistrate's Officer capture him. He chooses the former, even though it is mostly forbidden for swords to interact with their former owners.
Hidden Depths:
- Yes, he's loud, enthusiastic and overall acts like a big kid. But he also shows a surprisingly mature side when he calmly tells Nagasone (who at least in appearance looks older and usually acts more mature than Mutsukonami in his own lines), an old foe, that he should drop the sentimentality, and that trying to change the past won't work. And when he spars with Nagasone in the Internal Affairs, he says he prefers to exchange words rather than swords when trying to get to know someone.
- His musical counterpart seems to be carefree and always forward thinking, but his attitude hides a sense of melancholy (such as him constantly singing songs he heard in Tosa while alone) and his desire to live in the present is his way of respecting his former master's wishes.
Mangst: In The Musical, he expresses no emotion after witnessing the brutal death of his previous master Sakamoto Ryoma, dismissing it as not being the first time he had seen it because he was with Ryoma when he originally died. However, he later unintentionally reveals to Nagasone that he did grieve Ryoma, albeit privately, before running off stage to cry again.
The Nicknamer: He refers to Mikazuki Munechika as "Otsuki-san" in the Resistance Against The Great Invasion event.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: His Recollection with Nankaitarou Chouson and Hizen Tadahiro reveals that he manifested as a Touken Danshi based on his previous master Sakamoto Ryoma, and thus resembles him and shares some of his personality traits. Him resembling Sakamoto appears to be limited to the browser game lore, however, as Sakamoto looks like a normal human in the spin-offs.
A Rare Sentence: Lampshades his predicament while horsekeeping.
"Gahahaha, a sword on horse duty! How original!"
Reluctant Warrior: In the browser game, he expresses reluctance about fighting, but does what he has to do when sent out into battle. He loses this mindset after Kiwame training, however.
Sarashi: He wears the male version. It's only barely visible in his standard portrait, but it can be seen more clearly in his Awakening portraits.
Series Mascot: One of the six mascots for the Touken Ranbu franchise, sharing this role with the four other starter swords and the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika.
Sense Freak: In Katsugeki, Mutsunokami has found eating to be extremely enjoyable since his being brought to life. He even ate a fish to the bones because he didn't know he wasn't supposed to consume them.
Ship Tease: With Mikazuki in "The Great Invasion" event, as he sets out to rescue him from sacrificing himself for the sake of the citadel and declares that he wants to protect him.
Starter Equipment: One of the five swords the player can choose from when beginning the game.
Sword and Gun: Notably, the only sword to be Dual Wielding, and to use a non-bladed weapon. This is a reference to how he was made when guns were becoming more widely used. Also a reference to his most famous owner Sakamoto Ryoma, who was an activist for modernisation in the Bakumatsu era and favoured a gun over a sword for self defense.
Teeth-Clenched Teamwork:
- Towards the Shinsengumi swords because Sakamoto Ryoma was an anti-Bakufu activist and was constantly hunted (and eventually assassinated) by pro-Bakufu forces such as the Shinsengumi. He states he'd end up fighting with them sooner or later and his skit with Nagasone is quite hostile.
- In The Musical, Izuminokami is at odds with him not because Sakamoto Ryoma was his previous owner but rather because he can't understand why Mutsunokami showed no emotion after witnessing Ryoma being brutally murdered. The two are still forced to work on the same team together despite the tension between them.
Thou Shalt Not Kill: In The Musical, while Mutsunokami has no problem fighting and wounding the enemy, he never executes them because he believes that life should not be taken—not even when it comes to the lives of Historical Revisionists, the sworn enemies of the Touken Danshi. In order to save history, he is ultimately forced to break his code and shoot down Hijikata because Izuminokami couldn't bring himself to kill him.

95, 96 – Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (山姥切国広)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yamanbagiri_1_5.png

^Uchiban

]]

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
School: Horikawa (堀川)
Voiced By: Tomoaki Maeno (Japanese), Clifford Chapin [Hanamaru];
Alan Lee [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: ⑪
Live actor: Yoshihiko Aramaki (Stage Play, Film)

"I'm Yamanbagiri Kunihiro. ......What's with those eyes? Does the fact that I'm a duplicate bother you?"

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro is one of the Kunihiro blades, which was commissioned by an Ashikaga lord who admired the beauty of the original Yamanbagiri. He admits that he is a replica of the real Yamanbagiri, but vehemently defends his position as the masterpiece of Kunihiro, and wouldn’t hesitate to draw his blade at anyone who calls him an imposter wannabe or a fake. Noteworthy for being the only piece of his creator that is in the Kotou ("old sword") style.

He is one of the main mascots of the Touken Ranbu series, owing to being one of the five starter swords that the player can choose from when they start the game, alongside Kashuu Kiyomitsu, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, Kasen Kanesada, and Hachisuka Koutetsu, though his mascot status is second to the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika.

He and Mikazuki Munechika are essentially the protagonists of the first few stage plays before they had begun to shift focus on other sword groups. He is also a major player in the live-action film continuity.

Aloof Ally: He usually, or supposedly, doesn't like anyone he's forced to work with and tends to keep his distance from them. His aloofness is a bit more complex in The Musical, however, as it instead stems from his grief over the loss of a former teammate.
Ambiguous Situation: Discussed; During Kiwame training, Yamanbagiri spends years listening to the story of how the Yamanbagiri's got their names, with each interpretation differing. In one, Yamanbagiri Chougi was named after him after he was used to kill the Yamanba, whereas in another, Chougi was used to slay the Yamanba and was given the name, which was eventually passed down to the Kunihiro sword. Both exist, much to his confusion, as he only remembers being a copy of the Chougi and receiving his name from him. By the end, Yamanbagiri concludes that perhaps neither slayed the Yamanba and it was just a legend, after all.
Badass in Distress: The plot of the second film revolves around this, as he goes missing after being cursed by Shuten-Douji and essentially becomes the Big Bad's puppet for majority of the film, acting out and attacking his friends against his will.
Berserk Button: Really doesn't like being called a fake. He also dislikes being called "beautiful", since he understands they're complimenting the sword he's a duplicate of. Ironically, he is the only one who ever mentions his own status as a duplicate and often presses his own button.
"I'll make you regret slighting me because I'm a duplicate. Repent with your death!"
Big Little Brother: Horikawa is older than him by an unknown number of years, but Yamanbagiri is taller and much more mature-looking. In the official High School AU manga, he's a year younger than Horikawa.
Brainwashed and Crazy: He spends the majority of the second live-action film under the influence of Shuten-Douji after being cursed by him.
Character Development: He decides to get stronger for his Kiwame training not as a fake, but as himself. Throughout his training, he still confused about himself as a fake, but he begins to learn about the original Yamabagiri who slay a Yamanba and a Chougi sword with the same name before him. He finally realizes something after hearing tales from people about he killed the Yamanba or the real Yamabagiri killed the Yamabagiri, they both exist. In the end, he finally cleared his doubts as a fake and accepts he’s the masterpiece forged by Horikawa Kunihiro. He also accepts the Saniwa as his current master to serve and protect them.
Clone Angst: In a fashion, anyway. He is noted to be meant as a copy of a peculiar sword, which complexes him a lot. Interestingly, he is thought to be a masterpiece (and he acknowledges that) ^note; his design just isn't original.
Cloudcuckoolander's Minder: Is this to Mikazuki Munechika in the Stageplay adaptations.
Companion Cube: In Hanamaru he becomes attached to a sunflower toy and always carries it around.
Declaration of Protection: In the “Great Invasion” event, he makes a declaration of protection to Mikazuki Munechika after he resolves to sacrifice himself for the sake of the citadel. His dialogue varies slightly depending on whether it’s said before or after his kiwame training.
(pre kiwame) “...Come on out, Mikazuki Munechika! This seems like something you’d think of. You said this… was the same as me? How much did you think I’d been looking up at the moon? Did you think you’d protect the citadel by taking its place, by becoming some sort of decoy? … Don’t worry. I didn’t come here to save you. I will protect it. …I came here to protect it to the end! The Citadel with you in it that it! That is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika.”
(after kiwame) “Come on out, Mikazuki Munechika! I know the kinds of things you’d think of. You said this was the same as me? How much did you think I’d been looking up at the moon? Did you think you’d protected the citadel by taking its place, by becoming some sort of decoy? Don’t make me laugh. …Don’t worry, you obstinate geezer. I didn’t come here to save you. I will protect it. I will protect it to the end! The time I spent with you, and the Citadel with you in it, that is! That is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika.”
Disproportionate Retribution: He threatens to kill people because he thinks they look at him funny. Yes, he is that paranoid about people judging him for being a replica.
The Eeyore: He is not the most positive of people. Fortunately he grows out of it after Kiwame.
"This is fine. If I'm all in tatters, no one will compare me anymore."
Embarrassing Nickname: Chougi refers to him as "Replica".
Evil Sounds Deep: During his appearances as a HRA soldier in the stageplays, a deep vocal filter is applied to the actor's natural speaking voice. This also serves to hide his identity before he takes off his helmet, thus preserving the Shocking Twist.
Face–Heel Turn: In the stageplays, he eventually joins the the HRA as part of his search for a method to save Mikazuki from death.
Guest Fighter: Appears as a playable character in the Granblue Fantasy x Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu collaboration event alongside Izuminokami Kanesada and Mikazuki Munechika.
Heartbroken Badass: He becomes this in the stage play continuity after Mikazuki Munechika is dismantled.
Hey, You!: Calls the Saniwa this way and doesn't change even after Kiwame.
I Am Not Pretty: One of his lines tells the Saniwa to not call him beautiful, as he understands they're complimenting the sword he's a duplicate of. Funnily, he's still unconfortable after Kiwame....but this time it's because he's embarrased of being complimented.
I Am What I Am: In his MVP line:
"I am myself."
I Can't Believe a Guy Like You Would Notice Me: He is always genuinely surprised when the Saniwa recruits him and during some chores.
"Are you... sure I'm the one you want?"
In the Hood: Wears a cape with a hood that partially covers his face. This is on purpose, since he doesn't want people to compare him with the original Yamanbagiri. He ditches the hooded cape altogether in his Kiwame form, and although he still has it in his Internal Affairs clothes, he has unique art of himself with the hood off.
No Social Skills: Tends to keep to himself. In one of the stories in the SQEX anthology, he mentions that his brothers and the Saniwa are the only people he can talk to with ease.
Odd Friendship: With Mikazuki Munechika in the Stage Play adaptations in which they are teamed together. Their partnership is often the highlight of the Stageplays.
The Runt at the End: He certainly feels like he is in Katsugeki, despite being assigned the leader of the First Unit. His appointed team consists of treasured, well-known historical swords, while he stands there as an "unimpressive" copy of one.
The Lost Lenore: Mikazuki is his in the stageplays after Hiden.
Love Makes You Evil: In the stageplays, he leaves the citadel to search for a way to save Mikazuki. When he next surfaces we see that his search has led him to join the HRA. His exact feelings for Mikazuki are never elaborated on, but the other swords are certainly under the impression that they were romantic.
The Pig-Pen: He spent a lot of his time prior to his Kiwame training visibly covered in filth, wears a dirty cape, and doesn't mind getting covered in dirt while toiling in the fields. After his Kiwame, he takes better care of himself.
Rescue Arc: The second film is partially a rescue arc for him, as Mikazuki Munechika travels back in time to find and return him home, as do the other members of the team for both of them.
Series Mascot: While less so than Mikazuki Munechika and Konnosuke, he shares this distinction with the other 4 starter swords when it comes to promoting the series.
Single-Issue Psychology: His inferiority complex comes from the gaze of others, as he always thinks that the Saniwa would not acknowledge his strength as Kunihiro’s masterpiece, a worthy sword on his own, due to his status as a replica. He finally grows out of it after Kiwame.
Ship Tease: He and Mikazuki have such intense Ho Yay in in the stageplay continuity that after Mikazuki disappears even the other swords believe that Yamanbagiri is in love with him.
- He gets a bit toward Mikazuki in the games "Great Invasion" event, as he's sets out to save Mikazuki from sacrificing himself for the sake of the citadel and declares that he wants to protect him in the end.
Starter Equipment: One of the five swords the player can choose from when beginning the game.
Temporary Online Content: Yamanbagiri Kunihiro as a guest fighter in the Granblue Fantasy x Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu collaboration event, Katsugeki Touken Ranbu: Fate Horizon. The event first ran in 2017, introducing Mikazuki Munechika (SSR), Izuminokami Kanesada (SR), and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (SR) as playable units, but as of the end of 2023, 6 years later, it has yet to be reran or added to that game's side stories, meaning Yamanbagiri and the others are currently (and possibly forever) unobtainable for newer players. As well, the game failed to give him a 5 star uncap along with some of the other non-Cygames collaborative characters in 2023, further suggesting that his character will not be returning.
Undying Loyalty:
- Towards the Saniwa. Downplayed in his standard form, since he's insecure about being seen as a replica and believes he's not worthy of the Saniwa's kindness. But after Kiwame, he's more confident in himself and nicer towards the Saniwa, finally understanding that his master appreciates him for being what he is. His destroyed line shows it.
"I am...your....sword...."
- In the stageplays, he develops this towards Mikazuki to the point that even when all evidence points towards Mikazuki betraying the citadel and trying to murder Shokudaikiri, he refuses to believe Mikazuki did anything wrong. He even tries to fight the other swords to get them to stop attacking him!
Took a Level in Cheerfulness: Downplayed, but he notably becomes more confident after Kiwame training and overcoming his self-loathing. He even laughs in his 5th Anniversary line, after congratulating the Saniwa.

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (Musical Touken Ranbu)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/0dd12fa9_a5de_472e_ba60_c8039cbb2271.jpeg

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro as he appeared in Musical Touken Ranbu. He debuted in the play Kousui no Sanka Yuki.

Adaptational Personality Change: Yamanbagiri Kunihiro in the musical is pretty darn different from his game counterpart. Instead of being moody, rude, and a loner, he's eccentric, cryptic, and a bit teasing, and also a bit more social, particularly after Kousui no Sanka Yuki. His angst over being a copy of a famous sword also doesn't come up in his character, despite being a major focal point in his original browser game counterpart, with his internal conflict stemming from the death of one of his teammates and his feelings of responsibility for it.
Aloof Ally: He's introduced as being one in Kousui Sanka, as he's distant, secretive, and unconcerned about whether Hizen sticks around with him or not, despite the fact that they are on the same team. Thanks to his Character Development, however, he becomes more open and friendlier, and actively hangs out with his teammates in Michi no Oku.
Character Development: He becomes more open and friendlier following the events of Kousui Sanka due to Ookanehira's influence helping him heal a little from his grief.
Cloudcuckoolander: The musical continuity has an interesting take on Yamanbagiri in that it focuses less on him being insecure about being a copy of a famous sword and more on him being cool, mysterious, and distant, almost eccentrically so. He also inexplicably opens several shops during the events of Kousui while the plot descends into chaos and seems unbothered by the whole thing because he already knew the timeline Ookanehira and the others were sent to fix was doomed from the start.
Connected All Along: While his introductory event made no mention of it, Michi no Oku reveals that he has not only known Mikazuki Munechika and Tsurumaru Kuninaga since the citadel's inception (he was the fifth sword to manifest after them), but they were also on the same mission when the starter sword broke, and both experienced similar grief and trauma as a result of the incident.
The Gadfly: A lot of his antics and dialogue in Kousui Sanka involve him provoking Ookanehira and Hizen Tadahiro, who are both quick to anger.
Happy Flashback: He triggers one that doesn't even directly involve himself, as watching Aterui and his partner spar reminds him of the better times in the citadel, when Mikazuki Munechika and Tsurumaru Kuninaga used to playfully spar together in a similar way.
Heartbroken Badass: He was devastated by the loss of one of his teammates, to the point where he was willing to sacrifice himself in order to join him in death. He gets better by the end of Kousui Sanka after being rescued by Ookanehira and his team, though, and, by Michi no Oku, appears to be on the path to healing from his grief.
Hidden Depths: He has a talent for traditional artforms, including ukiyo-e and wagasa. He took up these hobbies to honour a sword, heavily implied to be Kasen Kanesada, who broke on a mission gone wrong.
Hidden Heart of Gold: It's no secret that he isn't at all a bad person, but he gets strangely defensive when Hachisuka points out how kind it was of him to not only let Tsurumaru go off on his own so that he could meet Mikazuki, as he'd wanted to do since the mission began, but that he also ordered Suishinshi Masahide, who had also been wanting to get answers from Mikazuki, to follow Tsurumaru for the same reason.
Hypocrite: He advised Ookanehira that it is a captain's responsibility to ensure that everyone returns home safely, which he internalized after losing one of his teammates and experiencing grief over it, but he almost caused Ookanehira to experience the same grief by attempting to senselessly sacrifice himself for the sake of Ookanehira's team. After returning to save him, Ookanehira calls him out on his hypocrisy.
In the Hood: He still wears a hood by default, and it is included in all of his idol outfits, even when it makes no sense for him to wear one. However, unlike his browser game counterpart, it doesn't seem like he wears a hood to hide his face.
The Lost Lenore: The unnamed broken sword. That said, he seems to be healing from his grief over him by Michi no Oku.
Mythology Gag: In the musical Kousui, he opens an oil-paper umbrella shop and even uses it to fight in a dance battler-like fashion. This is a reference to the stage play, in which dancing with oil-paper umbrellas occurs at the end of each play.
Sheath Strike: He occasionally fights with both his sheath and his sword. Michi no Oku reveals that after manifesting in the citadel, he trained under Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who uses the same method of attack, suggesting that he learned it from him.
Power Trio: With Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Mikazuki Munechika, although a Downplayed example. While all three are among the earliest swords in the citadel, are close, and have implicit trust in each other, allowing them to work as a team without having to say anything, it is less of a proper trio and more of a "two plus one" group because Mikazuki and Tsurumaru are closer to each other than Yamanbagiri is to either of them due to the two having manifested earlier and established a friendship long before he appeared.
The Reliable One: Deconstructed. Being the fifth sword to manifest overall, he is among the first forged swords in the citadel and has earned the implicit trust of the Saniwa, to the extent that he has been selected countless times to lead group sorties. However, when it comes to guiding the younger generation of Touken Danshi, his unresolved guilt over the death of one of his companions in the very first mission he led makes him doubt his reliability and leads him to make some rather hasty decisions when teaching them, one big one of which nearly gets him, Hizen Tadahiro, and Ookanehira's group trapped in an abandoned world with murderous time-displaced zombies in Kousui Sanka. He gets better by the end of the play, however, thanks to Ookanehira’s guidance (if you can call it that) and seems to be on the path of not only healing from his grief, but also regaining confidence in himself.
Throwing the Fight: Played for Laughs in the second act of Michi no Oku; When he competes against Suishinshi in a hand sumo match, the height difference between them is too great to be fair, and Kashuu and Mikazuki, who are supposed to be on his team, say that it makes them want to root for Suishinshi instead. He then stands up and walks away, letting Suishinshi win by default.
Together in Death: He attempts to sacrifice himself so he can be reunited with his deceased teammate in death, but is saved by Ookanehira and the others before he can go through with it.
Worthy Opponent: Because he is a more experienced veteran in the citadel than the newly manifested Ookanehira, Ookanehira regards him as such, and he encourages him to grow up strong so that he can surpass him someday.

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (Warriors)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/15fcf815_abee_473e_bdbb_dee00250dd09.png

An uchigatana said to be modeled after the spiritual sword "Yamanbagiri." He has a chip on his shoulder for not being an original sword and hates being called beautiful, so deliberately dresses in a shabby manner.

In this game, he is appointed as the leader of the Fifth Team and although he is fully capable, he is a bit cynical.

Bedsheet Ghost: Namazuo and Hyuuga mistake him for a ghost because of his cloak. He only realizes this after an oblivious Hasebe approaches him about the "ghost" and offers to exterminate it for them.
Broken Ace: He's actually a strong and capable leader, which is why the Government of Time and the Saniwa have chosen him to be unit leader several times, but he's deeply insecure about his status as a copy, which Chougi constantly reminding him of doesn't help.
Ineffectual Loner: He finds the other residents of Honmaru annoying, but admits that he has to rely on them to get things done.
Inseries Nickname: Chougi always refers to him as "Fake-kun," even after they become "friends".
Kind Hearted Cat Lover: He rescues a cat Mikazuki mentioned was trapped in a tree, but is embarrassed about having to admit it.
The Leader: Of the Fifth Unit consisting of himself and Yamanbagiri Chougi.
Sheath Strike: He fights with his scabbard just as much as he does his blade.

101, 102 – Hachisuka Kotetsu (蜂須賀虎徹)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hachisuka_1_6.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)\\; High (Kiwame)
School: Kotetsu (虎徹)
Voiced By: Kazuyuki Okitsu (Japanese), Ian Sinclair (English)
Illustrated by: Teruko Arai
Live actor: Kensuke Takahashi (Musical)

"I'm Hachisuka Kotetsu. I'd be happy if you didn't assume I was a counterfeit."

Hachisuka is one of the Kotetsu Swords, getting his name as the treasure of the Hachisuka Clan. Extremely proud, he hates there are so many counterfeit Kotetsus that cause his own value to be questioned.

He is one of the main mascots of the Touken Ranbu series, owing to being one of the five starter swords that the player can choose from when they start the game, alongside Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, Kasen Kanesada, and Kashuu Kiyomitsu, though his mascot status is second to the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika.

Absurdly Sharp Blade: As a part of him confirming his authenticity, he'll mention this, as it was what Kotetsu blades were coveted for. In history, his authenticity was proven in a cutting test where he sliced cleanly through two corpses.
Big Brother Instinct: Toward Urashima, who he treats far kinder than Nagasone.
Big Brother Worship: Not that he'll ever admit it, but according to Word of God, Hachisuka secretly admires Nagasone for his swordsman skills and bravery.
Bling of War: Just look at that gold armor.
The Bully: He verges on this in the official manga by coldly reminding Nagasone every time he sees him that he's a counterfeit and driving him away when he sees Nagasone bonding with Urashima.
Character Development: For his Kiwame training, he decides to go to Awa with the Hachisuka family in order to get stronger and to be admired by everyone. Even though he still has an emotional attachment toward the Hachisuka family who kept him for so long when he was a sword. He wants to seek the power as the true Kotetsu, not as a sword of a Hachisuka. Throughout his training, he realizes the power and kindness are the sources to be stronger.
Combat Stilettos: He wears high-heeled boots into battle.
Declaration of Protection: In the “Great Invasion” event, he makes a declaration of protection to Mikazuki Munechika after he resolves to sacrifice himself for the sake of the citadel. His dialogue varies slightly depending on whether it’s said before or after his kiwame training.
(pre-kiwame) "You might call me naive for it, but… I’ve come to pick you up. If you want to laugh at me, feel free. No matter how many times I ask you anything, the moon always just laughs. I think these actions are very like you. I was asking myself whether I’d even be able to do the same. What I wish for is… Moon, please reflect your light! And please, quietly illuminate our Citadel again! That is the scenery I wish to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika."
(after kiwame training) "You might call me naive for it, but… I’ve come to pick you up. If you want to laugh at me, feel free. No matter how many times I ask you anything, the moon always just laughs. I think these actions, these feelings of yours… are very like you. I was asking myself whether I’d even have been able to do the same. I’ve got that chance right here. That is what I wish for. In order to face myself… Moon, please reflect your light! And please… gently illuminate or Citadel again! That is the scenery I want to protect. My story. Come, Mikazuki Munechika."
Expy: Physically, of Aries Mu from Saint Seiya. They have the same shade of long pink hair and green eyes, and both wear gold armor.
Fantastic Racism: He is prejudiced against counterfeit Kotetsu swords (like Nagasone), who tend to be of lower quality than actual Kotetsu swords (unlike Nagasone, however).
"... These such things, how about leaving them to the counterfeits?"
The Fashionista: In Hanamaru, he appears to be an excellent designer. He helps Shishio with his Super Touken Danshi outfit by borrowing pieces of clothing from the other Touken Danshi in order to impress Mikazuki.
Freudian Excuse: There are so many fake Kotetsus floating around that it is difficult even for sword appraisers to identify the real ones. That’s why Hachisuka dresses in Bling of War and needs to adamantly proclaim that he is real, and doesn’t want to get involved with his elder brother who is deemed a fake.
Full-Name Basis: With everyone in Bakamatsu Tenrouden, except Izuminokami Kanesada. It does a good job of emphasizing how straitlaced he is compared to his teammates. Later musicals reveal that he’s like this toward everyone.
Hidden Depths: The man is a surprisingly heavyweight drinker. When we see him stuck with a mug of sake as big as his forearm in Bakamatsu Tenrouden, he nearly gulps down the whole thing in one go.
Jerkass Has a Point: An interesting meta example. Obsessive he may be over his authenticity as a Kotetsu, his maxed-out Toku Rank stats make him one of the strongest uchigatana, which is fitting as original Kotetsu swords were coveted for their legendary sharpness. This is ultimately subverted because Nagasone, who's a well-made counterfeit, has even higher total stats.
Living Drawing: If he enters Shinken Hissatsu in his Kiwame form, he summons what looks like a painted tiger as backup.
Locked Out of the Loop: Despite being a veteran sword, he manifested later than the Saniwa's first six swords in the citadel and was unaware of the failed mission that resulted in the death or possibly disappearance of one of them, as the remainder of the group and the Saniwa kept it a secret.
Lonely Rich Kid: The musical explains his demeanor as more socially awkward than outright malicious. He's lived his life as a treasured display sword and has difficulty understanding swords who lived more practical lives, like the ones owned by the Shinsengumi.
Out of Focus:
- He is one of the main mascots of the series due to being one of the five starter swords, but is treated with the lowest priority when it comes to promoting the franchise as a solo character and appears in the fewest adaptations.
- Similarly to the other starter swords, he was given a focus event of sorts in the browser game, with his coming in the form of Special Investigation: Tenpou Edo. However, compared to the other starter swords who had a bigger influence on the event they appeared in and more interactions with the involved newly introduced swords, he is actually barely featured in the story, which focuses primarily on Suishinshi Masahide and Minamoto Kiyomaro and the dynamic they have.
Panthera Awesome: Like Urashima, A spiritual tiger can be seen by Hachisuka's side in his Kiwame awakened sprite.
Pet the Dog:
- He’s very kind and protective of Urashima, which was one of his only redeeming qualities before more was known about him.
- In the musical, he realizes that the Shinsengumi swords being being sent to the time period of their old masters was a terrible idea and feels sympathetic for them. He also spares Nagasone the heartache of executing Kondou Isami by cutting off his head himself.
- He's also surprisingly quite calm and humble toward Mikazuki Munechika during their interactions in the Resistance Against The Great Invasion event even before his Kiwame training gives him his Character Development, with it culminating into Ship Tease from his end where he declares that he wishes to protect him.
Series Mascot: One of the six mascots for the Touken Ranbu franchise, sharing this role with the four other starter swords and the primary mascot Mikazuki Munechika.
Ship Tease: He gets a bit toward Mikazuki Munechika in the "Great Invasion" event, as he's sets out to save Mikazuki from sacrificing himself for the sake of the citadel and declares that he wants to protect him in the end.
Starter Equipment: One of the five swords the player can choose from when beginning the game.
Took a Level in Kindness: At the end of his kiwame training, he realizes the importance of kindness and the need to show more kindness in his life.
Tsundere: A non-romantic example towards Nagasone; he acts cold and harsh towards Nagasone, but according to Word of God, Hachisuka secretly admires him.

105, 106 – Nagasone Kotetsu (長曽祢虎徹)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nagasone_1_8.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
School: Kotetsu...? (虎徹...?)
Voiced By: Tarusuke Shingaki (Japanese), Christopher Sabat (English)
Illustrated by: Teruko Arai
Live actor: Yuu Imari (Musical), Gaku Matsuda (Stage Play)

"I'm Nagasone Kotetsu. I'm a fake, but I'm set to outdo the real thing. Please take care of me."

The sword of Isami Kondo, the leader of The Shinsengumi. He is a counterfeit Kotetsu which irritates his "brother" Hachisuka. He is also something of an enemy to Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki due to their respective owners being on opposite sides in the political struggle leading up to the Meiji Restoration, and Isami Kondo was blamed and executed for Sakamoto Ryoma's assassination. He has a mostly outgoing personality that believes actions mean more than words.

Historically, the blade Nagasone Kotetsu was stated to be a wakizashi, but was chosen to be made a uchigatana by NitroPlus to better fit the legends about Isami Kondo owning a uchigatana.

Adaptational Slimness: Both his stage and musical actors are on the slim side compared to how big and muscular he is.
Animal Motifs:
- Subtly, tigers. The name Kotetsu contains the character for tiger and his blade was passed off as a Kotetsu with a forged signature. Thus, his appearance has a more noticeable motif akin to that of a tiger, as shown by his layered hair and eye color.
- A blazing spiritual aura resembling a phoenix can be seen behind Nagasone in his Kiwame awakening sprite, which is also said to be a symbol of death and rebirth.
Blood Knight: A downplayed variant, but he enjoys fighting to prove himself. This may be a reference to the contrasting interpretations of the Shinsengumi: romanticized in popular culture, but also criticized by historians as ruthless killers.
Character Development: For Kiwame training, Nagasone travels to the Bakumatsu Period to visit his previous master, Kondo Isami. Nagasone strikes up a conversation with Kondo, who proudly boasts about owning a genuine Kotetsu and attests to its authenticity because of its fine craftsmanship and the quality of the blade. Despite knowing otherwise, Nagasone gains something from their exchange and comes to realize that being a fake shouldn't matter. So long as the sword has the properties that its master seeks and fulfils the master's desires, it can rival that of the real thing. After obtaining the answer he sought out, he returns to the citadel with a newfound resolve to serve the Saniwa.
Clone Angst: He's actually a counterfeit Kotetsu (albeit, a very well-made one). Subverted in that he doesn't mind the fact that he is a fake, but he does have to cope with Hachisuka's disdain of him. He does mention the fact a lot though, as well as mentioning that it can't be helped.
Cornered Rattlesnake: References a variant of this in his duel quote:
"Ever heard of the phrase 'a cornered rat will bite a cat'?"
Disowned Sibling: A light-hearted example happens in his Recollection with Minamoto Kiyomaro. Since they were both forged by the swordsmith Minamoto Kiyomaro, Kiyomaro is his real brother, rather than Urashima and Hachisuka. However, Kiyomaro tells Nagasone it's okay to keep referring to himself as a Koutetsu, essentially disowning him as a Minamoto Kiyomaro blade, since it would mean they can be separate Touken Danshi and dispel any awkwardness between them.
A Father to His Men: As the sword of the Shinsengumi's commander, he tries to be this for the other swords owned by Shinsengumi members. In the musical, the other Shinsengumi swords greatly respect him, even the brash Izuminokami.
Flower Motif: Chrysanthemum. In Asian culture, it symbolizes death, and grief for loved ones.
Impossibly-Low Neckline: He may be wearing a shirt for Internal Affairs, but it still has a deep neckline.
Hidden Depths: In the musical, it's revealed that while he cherished his time with Kondou (hence why he keeps the Kotetsu name), he does not adhere as strictly to the rules of the Shinsengumi as one might expect (especially notable since Kashuu adhered so strongly to them in the previous musical that Ishikirimaru scolded him for endangering Imanotsurugi). When a surprised Hachisuka asks why he disregarded them to retreat from a battle, he says that the rules didn't save the Shinsengumi from their downfall.
- He is also the only other Touken Danshi who is even somewhat willing to understand Mutsunokami's attitude towards his master, although he struggled with it at first; and urges Izuminokami to understand him as well. This reflects their better relationship here than in the games, where he's more hot-headed with Mutsu.
Kill the Ones You Love: Only barely averted in the end. Kondou, with his execution botched, asks Nagasone to complete the job instead; the guy almost goes through with it, if not for Hachisuka backhanding him and taking on that burden himself.
Not So Above It All: A much more serious take on the trope; for all his apparent maturity and calmer attitude, in one recollection he considers changing the past to save his master Isami Kondo from being shot by Ryoma Sakamoto, a sort of action that only the more immature swords (such as Imanotsurugi and Namazuo) are tempted by, even when they know they shouldn't. When Mutsunokami calls him out on it, he doesn't take the scolding well in the slightest and bitterly tells him to shut up.
Not So Stoic: In the manga anthologies, he's shown to be quite sensitive to the remarks of others that don't have to deal with his counterfeit status. His attempts to be a mentor and leader figure to the Shinsengumi swords also result in this response from him due to their colorful personalities working against it. In Bakamatsu Tenrouden, he only really breaks down at the end of the musical, where he's saved from having to execute Kondou and told not to shoulder his burdens.
Perma-Stubble: Has stubble on his chin, making him look more masculine compared to the other characters despite actually being much younger than most of them.
Rare Random Drop: For a long time, he was only available as a very rare drop after fighting Kebiishi, and even then was considered a rarer drop than Urashima, who was similarly obtained. Currently, they are both only obtainable via forging.
Stepford Smiler: The Depressed type. Despite seemingly ignoring Hachisuka's open dislike of him and trying to prove that he is worthy of being a Kotetsu despite being a counterfeit, and his line when he breaks proves it. In the musical, Izuminokami says it outright that Nagasone is rather depressed, even if he doesn't show it.
"I-is this...how it ends? A fake will only rot away as a fake, huh..."
Slasher Smile: He smiles like this in all three of his battle sprites.
Strong Family Resemblance: Inverted. He looks nothing like his "real" brother Minamoto Kiyomaro, not even in terms of clothing style, despite being from the same school, due to manifesting with Influence from the Shinsengumi and Koutetsu reflecting in his appearance, whereas Kiyomaro adheres to the design philosophy of the Edo shinshintou trio.
Walking Shirtless Scene: His default look. Surprisingly, his casual clothes cover up more of his chest than his usual attire. His Kiwame outfit also covers most of his chest, only for his damage portrait to show it off anyway.
Younger Than They Look: It may be hard to believe, but he's the second-youngest sword after Izuminokami. While he isn't as reckless, his immaturity actually shows through in his recollection with Mutsunokami, and it reflects how he's a counterfeit of an sword that's supposed to be older (true Kotetsu swords predate him by almost two centuries).

116, 117 – Ōkurikara (大倶利伽羅)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ookurikara_1_1.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: High (Basic/Toku); Special (Kiwame)
School: Hiromitsu (広光)
Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa (Japanese), Chris Ryan (English)
Illustrated by: Komiya
Live actors: Takuma Zaiki [2017]; Hikaru Makishima [2019] (Musical), Hiroki Ino (Stage Play); Ayanagi Shou (Stage Play, Guden)

"...I'm Ookurikara. I don't have anything else to say. I don't plan on getting friendly with you."

An uchigatana (formerly classified by the game as a tachi) who was wielded by Date Masamune. He prefers being alone and working alone.

Adaptational Nice Guy: In both Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru and The Musical, while still cool and distant, is portrayed as being more friendly than the borderline Jerkass he is in the browser game.
Affectionate Nickname: Shokudaikiri calls him "Kara-chan", while Tsurumaru calls him "Kara-bou".
Aloof Ally: Very aloof, since he refuses to get along with the Saniwa or the other swords, but he'll still fight alongside everyone anyway.
Animal Motifs: Dragons, because his name comes from the Dragon King Kurikara, whose picture is tattooed on his left arm. In his Kiwame form, his tattoo turns into an actual dragon in his Awakening portrait.
Animated Tattoo: When Awakened after Kiwame training, his dragon tattoo comes to life and off his body◊.
Catchphrase: "I don't plan on getting friendly with you.". To the point it's always the first thing he says to the swords talking to him and according to Mitsutada, he even says it to the enemies before cutting them down.
Character Development: He travels to Sendai Domain for his Kiwame training. He meets his former master, Masamune Date and explains to the Saniwa that he was supposed to be by his former master's side during war camp, however there was no war. After that, he realizes he needs a master in order to become stronger and finally accepts the Saniwa as his current master.
Dying Alone: His line when he's destroyed indicates that he's fine with this.
"I will fight alone... I will die alone... That's just fine with me."
Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears an armor guard and gauntlet on his right side in his Kiwame form.
Good Is Not Nice: Definitely one of the rudest swords and makes no effort at being courteous, but does what he's assigned without question. He doesn't change even after Kiwame.
Hidden Depths: While very antisocial, he believes in working hard and that others should work hard, even manipulating Taikogane during fieldwork to do so.
Ineffectual Loner: He's always stating that he doesn't want to get along with the Saniwa and the other swords, but his more social friends, like Mitsutada, often force him to come out of his shell. Lampshaded in his Kiwame letters, when he realizes that he does need a master in order to become stronger as a sword.
I Work Alone: He states outright that he doesn't plan to be friendly with the Saniwa or the other swords, and clearly prefers to be alone. Highlighted by the fact that his idle text (even after Kiwame) is "Ah, this is fine," while the other swords' idle texts express dissatisfaction when being ignored by the Saniwa. This comes back to bite him in the ass during his Kiwame journey, as he realizes he does need a master in order to improve as a sword. After Kiwame, he'll (begrudgingly) obey to the Saniwa, but he'll still be antisocial with his fellow swords
Loners Are Freaks: Whether in the original game or the spin-offs, his asocial behavior is always called out by the other, more sociable Touken Danshi, and he is subsequently forced into unwanted social situations.
No Social Skills: According to Kasen in his recollection with Sayo, Ookurikara isolates himself out of awkwardness rather than sheer antisocial. This might be true, since after Kiwame Ookurikara tries to get along with the Saniwa, but comes off as awkward, surly and unsure of what to say. Highlighted by the fact that in his Kiwame idle text he actually sighs in relief after the Saniwa ignores him
Perpetual Frowner: He rarely smiles, even when he is genuinely happy about something.
Pet the Dog: In his fieldwork recollection with Mitsutada, he finally agrees to help with the fields after Mitsutada says it's for the sake of making everyone happy. He also congratulates the Saniwa in the first anniversary and seems less cold to them in a Saniwa's third anniversary
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Color-inverted with Shokudaikiri, despite being the one with red color theme he's the quiet and calm one of the two.
The Stoic: His default state is indifference, although on rare occasions he’ll be mildly annoyed or outright anger. That's pretty much the extent of his emotional range unless he's going through an Adaptational Personality Change.
Vitriolic Best Buds: With the rest of the Dategumi, save for Taikogane Sadamune. He's as cold and distant toward them as he is with the others, but they're still his closest, longest-standing friends.

Ōkurikara (Musical)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_1795.jpeg

Ookurikara as he appears in Musical Touken Ranbu. He debuted in the play Mihotose no Komoriuta.

Adaptational Nice Guy: While he's still cool and distant, or at least, he tries to be, he's far less of a jerk than his browser game counterpart due to being a lot softer with his teammates
Butt-Monkey: He takes some pretty embarrassingly one-sided beatings in Shunpu Touri, first by Tsurumaru and then the Historical Revisionists. And then he gets forced into a bunch of situations he doesn't want to be in for the laughs at his expense. The play may as well be called "Humbling Ookurikara, The Musical".
Ineffectual Loner: In Shunpu Touri. Despite his strong desire to work alone, he is actually rather weak and ineffective on his own, and his impulsivity makes it worse. As a result, he is forced to rely on the far more capable and experienced Tsurumaru. Justified, as the musical takes place right after he manifested in the citadel and depicts the first sortie he was sent on, which didn't give him much time to hone his skills.
I Work Alone: As is typical of his character, he prefers to keep his distance from the others and make his own decisions, though this is usually futile because they always forcefully include him in things.
- This is a major plot point in Shunpu Touri, which takes place shortly after he manifests in the citadel. Tsurumaru spends the majority of the non-Date Masamune-focused parts of the story trying to convince him that he needs to rely on others and have someone watch his back. However, it is unclear how much he has been helped by the advice, as while he has grown stronger as a result of Tsurumaru's interference, he still insists on doing things alone and only reluctantly accepts the help of others.
- The Mihotose musical implies that one of the reasons why he prefers to work alone is because if he becomes attached to someone and develops a deep bond with them, it will bring him more pain and the guilt of being unable to save them.
No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Ends up on the receiving end of one by Tsurumaru to teach him that he needs to be stronger in order to survive in their citadel. The beating leaves him knocked out for several hours.
Not So Stoic:
- For most of Mihotose no Komoriuta, Ookurikara is distant and cold to the main cast. This changes a little when Gohei, a soldier he trained for years gets killed; as the man lay making his dying speech, Ookurikara is visibly distressed and breathing harder.
- In Shunpu Touri, he looks visibly distressed at how deep Tsurumaru gets into his Hysterical Woman role.
Rage Breaking Point: In his Souki with Tsurumaru, he snaps after believing that Tsurumaru was killed by the Historical Revisionists and nearly dies avenging him.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: In the absence of Shokudaikiri and Taikogane, he's the cool and collected Blue Oni to Tsurumaru's energetic and outgoing Red Oni. For their Souki performance, however, this is color-flipped; Ookurikara's costume is primarily red, while Tsurumaru's has a blue top and blue coloring on his sleeves.
Tsundere: A platonic example toward Tsurumaru, who he pretends to be distant toward to keep up his loner persona, but does actually show that he cares about him when it counts:
- In Paraiso, he is the only one of their teammates who sees through Tsurumaru's villainous facade and tries to figure out why he is taking on so much responsibility for himself, despite the fact that it is hurting him. And then, at the end of the musical, he catches an injured Tsurumaru as he falls and tells him not to break, which was his way of telling him not to push himself any further.
- He spends most of Shunpu Touri being dismissive of Tsurumaru, but after believing the Historical Revisionists killed him, he flies into a blind rage and risks his life executing them to avenge him.
- Part of their dance routine in "DARA DARA DANCE" is him futilely trying to beat up Tsurumaru.
Vitriolic Best Buds: With Tsurumaru Kuninaga since Paraiso. Tsurumaru beats him unconscious after he manifests in the citadel, and Ookurikara is generally as cold and distant toward him as he is to any other, but they are longtime friends who understand each other and have had their bond strengthened after their adventure in Shunpu Touri, allowing Ookurikara to become somewhat of a confidant to the grieving and secretly emotionally closed-off Tsurumaru.

Ōkurikara (Warriors)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/3d391c12_166e_4336_a9cd_6129ed2fa239.png

An uchigatana said to be crafted by Hiromitsu of Soshu-den. He prefers to be alone and dislikes having to get along with others more than necessary. However, since he was bestowed to the Date clan, in this game he is called "Kara-chan" by Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, and "Kara-bo" by Tsurumaru Kuninaga, both of whom are members of the same Fourth Team and he has been friends with for years.

His tattoo is of the dragon king Kurikara, an incarnation of Acala.

Aloof Ally: By far the rudest and most socially distant sword in the citadel, even with longtime friends Shokudaikiri and Tsurumaru. That doesn't stop the other swords from attempting to force their friendship onto him, which often ends with him giving into their demands just to get them off his back. His attitude remains unchanged by the end of the game.
Hidden Depths:
- In Chapter 2, he looks as bothered by the Date Masamune situation as Tsurumaru and Shokudaikiri do, although he doesn't let it get in the way of his mission.
- When he sees Namazuo looking down about the fact that they can't go home, he looks a little sad (or as sad as Ookurikara can look). Then, after they are transported home thanks to Omokage's sacrifice, he lingers behind momentarily and looks down, indicating that he feels a little bad for Omokage.
Informed Loner: He wants to be a loner, and thinks of himself as such, but the other, more sociable swords won't leave him alone. Even Hasebe and Yamanbagiri Chougi, who tend to be more distant with the other swords, take a liking to spending time with him despite his attitude and protests. He also willingly hangs out with the other swords on occasion, often times just to get Tsurumaru and Shokudaikiri off his back.
Oblivious to Hatred: Not him, but to his annoyance, every sword who attempts to spend time with him appears to be oblivious of or blatantly ignores the fact that he wants to be left alone. It's borderline a Running Gag in his Bond Conversations.
Perpetual Frowner: His default expression is a scowl and it rarely ever shifts to anything else.
The Quiet One: He doesn't have much to say and spends most of his time exasperatedly exhaling or staring at the other Touken Danshi in annoyance when they approach him.

118, 119 – Heshikiri Hasebe (へし切長谷部)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heshikiri_1_3.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku), High (Kiwame)
Voiced By: Tarusuke Shingaki (Japanese), Aaron Roberts (English)
Illustrated by: Komiya
Live actor: Masanari Wada (Stage Play, Film)

"My name is Heshikiri Hasebe. If it's an order from the master, I will accomplish anything you wish."

One of Oda Nobunaga's favorite swords. His name Heshikiri comes from the incident where a servant angered his owner Oda and hid behind a table to no avail because Oda used Hasebe to slice through the table and kill that servant. Because of that incident and of Oda's general ruthlessness, Hasebe can get a bit wary about what a master asks him to do, but otherwise he's serious, dutiful and very eager to please the Saniwa.

He's the Saniwa's assistant in Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru, played a big role in Stage Play: Touken Ranbu, and is a major player in both of the live-action Touken Ranbu movies.

He is also a playable character in Touken Ranbu Warriors.

Adaptational Nice Guy: A hardass control freak no matter the continuity, but some adaptations make him a smidge nicer to his fellow Touken Danshi when the Saniwa isn't involved.
Ambiguously Bi: The Saniwa in the first live action movie continuity is explicitly male, and Heshikiri Hasebe is no less devoted to him than he has been to any other version of the Saniwa, even coming across as a Crazy Jealous Guy due to his reactions to Mikazuki restricting visits to the Saniwa to himself recently, while no one else seems to mind all that much. When Mikazuki makes a joke about how devoted he is, he even attacks him.
Attention Whore: According to Word of God, he wishes to become the Saniwa's favorite sword, but he's subdued about it and never mentions it to the Saniwa directly. Flanderized in Hanamaru, where just about everything that Hasebe does that isn't following the Saniwa's orders is to gain and keep the attention of the Saniwa. He also does not like anyone who takes his master's attention away from him and comments as such when the citadel gains a new sword. He's more open with these feelings after Kiwame, though.
"A new sword, is it. Well, it won't be as useful as I am though."
Badass Preacher: He dresses like a Catholic priest in his Kiwame form. This is a reference to how Yoshitaka Kuroda, one of his owners, converted to Christianity later in life, as well as showing his Character Development by accepting Oda Nobunaga's decision to give him to the Kuroda clan.
Because You Were Nice to Me: Revealed to be the reason he never voluntarily mentioned the family that owned him for the majority of his existence. After Nagamasa's death, his good memories of the Kuroda family became so painful that he tried to forget them all and only spoke bitterly about his first master Nobunaga.
Blood Knight: Behaves calmly normally but gets fired up in battle and laughs when he gets injured.
Calling Your Attacks: He does this in one of his attacking lines, which is a reference to how Nobunaga allegedly cut through the shelf and killed the servant just by pressing down.
"Pressure Slash!"
Catchphrase: "If it's an order from the Master..."
Character Development: For Kiwame, he decides to travel to Azuchi and confronts his former master, Oda Nobunaga. Despite his deep grudge toward Nobunaga, he is aware he can't interfere with history. Afterwards, he fully understands that he was given as a gift to the Kuroda family as an offering of good will. He can now put his past and worries to rest and gains a new reason to live for the Saniwa.
Crazy Jealous Guy: Flanderized in the Hanamaru anime, where he doesn't want anyone else to interact with the Saniwa. He wants to gain and keep the Saniwa's attention and immediately antagonizes anyone who'd try to take the attention away from him (Such as Mikazuki in Hanamaru, Kiyomitsu in the anthology and Tomoegata in-game). He doesn't even change this outlook after Kiwame.
Control Freak: Comes off as this in the anime due to wanting the best for the Saniwa and getting mad at the other swords when they goof off.
Determinator: Insists that he can still go on even when severely injured.
Fragile Speedster: He's the fastest uchigatana by some margin and places 6th even among tantous. Prior to Hakata's introduction, when fully equipped, Hasebe was the fastest sword, period. On the flip side, he has one of the lowest leadership stats among uchigatana, making him relatively vulnerable to damage.
Hidden Depths: Hasebe shows extreme loyalty to his current master and only mentions Nobunaga to insult him, but his recollections and anime show he feels more than he cares to admit for both of his former masters.
Hates Being Alone: His biggest problem is that he has severe abandonment issues. This is part of why Hasebe resents Nobunaga — he believes the man abandoned him because he was passed down to someone who wasn't even one of his ministers or retainers.
(Standard form) "I will wait for you forever if you ask me to. As long as you come back for me in the end."
(Kiwame form) "I will wait for you forever if you ask me to. That's because you will come back for me without fail."
Last-Name Basis: He prefers being called "Hasebe", because Heshikiri reminds him of his previous master, Oda Nobunaga.
Married to the Job: Is single-mindedly devoted to the current Saniwa and is much more distant with the other swords.
My Master, Right or Wrong: He has a clear dislike for his previous master, Oda Nobunaga, but he would still carry out his orders. It's implied that he'd have the same attitude towards the Saniwa no matter what they might order him to do.
"What shall I do for you? Retainer killing? Temple burning? By all means, take your pick."
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When Hasebe doesn't simply brush off Nihongou's accusation of his disloyalty to the Kuroda and actually exposes his feelings about the past.
The Resenter: Towards Nobunaga, his previous master. However, it's not because of his ruthlessness or the fact that he used Hasebe to kill a servant over a Disproportionate Retribution. In fact, Hasebe resents him because Oda passed him to someone who wasn't even one of his ministers, which he interprets as abandonment. In Hanamaru it is suggested that his feelings for Nobunaga are not complete hatred.
Single-Issue Psychology: His grudge against Oda Nobunaga, which is the focus of a great number of his lines in the game and even affects his relationships with the other swords. One of Mitsutada's idle lines mentions that he'd probably get along with him but it's hard to approach him because he's always griping about Nobunaga. In the Kuroda Family recollections, Nihongou accuses him of having this. According to him, Hasebe is always complaining about how terrible Nobunaga was, forgetting that he was also owned by the Kuroda clan once. At the end of the recollection, Hasebe reveals to Nihongou that he liked the Kuroda family and he was very devoted to their shared master but now they must both follow the Saniwa. Nihongou is surprised at Hasebe's words but accepts them and calms down.
Sorry That I'm Dying: If he gets destroyed in his Kiwame form.
"I am deeply sorry... I did not want to be discarded by my master once again. So I'll be going on ahead. Let us meet again in hell some day."
Stepford Smiler: Though his usual sprites give him a calm smile, his recollections show that he is obscuring a great deal of unresolved issues related to abandonment and the ephemeral quality of human life.
Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Nice and polite to the Saniwa and cold and businesslike to everyone else.
Supporting Leader: Has this role in Hanamaru. He is the second sword to come to the Citadel and often acts as the Saniwa's liaison.
The Rival: An one-sided one with Tomoegata Naginata in their recollection about the Saniwa. He really doesn't trust him just because he doesn't have a history and is very attached to the Saniwa. In the stage play, he and Fudou are at each other's throats instead due to their different outlooks on Nobunaga.
Undying Loyalty: Towards the Saniwa. Even if he doesn't agree with doing chores not fitting for a sword (fieldwork or horsekeeping), he'll still do it anyway. And as he dies, his main worry is that his Master's wish might not be fulfilled without him there.
"Enemies who stand against my master will be killed!"
Who Wants to Live Forever?: Admits that if he could have died when his previous master Kuroda Nagamasa died, he would have.

Heshikiri Hasebe (Warriors)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ff92c21f_634a_48bc_afe4_24e5afc08e77.png

An uchigatana crafted by the swordsmith Hasebe Kunishige. His name comes from the time Oda Nobunaga used him to slice apart a cupboard when a tea attendant was hiding beneath it. He is very loyal to his master and yearns to be his master's favorite, but never mentions it. He doesn't mind doing the dirty work.

In this game, he is the leader of the Third Team and leads the Touken Danshi of the same unit.

Adaptational Nice Guy: While his browser game counterpart isn't a bad person in general, he has a cold and businesslike demeanor toward anyone who isn't the Saniwa. In "Warriors", however, he's actually quite friendly toward a number of Touken Danshi and has a pleasant demeanor when he's not pissed off about something or acting like a control freak. He also encourages the less sociable Touken Danshi to interact with the others for the sake of unity within Honmaru, and generally looks out for the needs of his housemates.
Control Freak: He takes his role as team leader far more seriously than the other team leaders, and is stricter with his members, particularly Omokage, not that they always listen.
- He took on most of the responsibilities for keeping the citadel from falling into decay in the Saniwa's absence, mainly with the hope of impressing them when they return. He also chastises the other Touken Danshi for not doing their part, but becomes annoyed when they do too much. After noticing this, Mikazuki jokingly accuses him of monopolizing the chores for Saniwa's approval, which he tries to refute but fails miserably.
Hey, You!: He refers to Omokage as "You" throughout their early missions, emphasizing his dislike and distrust of him as he tags along with them. It isn't until later, after some couseling from Yagen and Tomoegata, that he begins to trust Omokage and address him by name.
Hidden Depths: Despite his usual serious demeanor, he‘s just as capable as the other Touken Danshi of being excitable about things he likes, as evidenced by his Bond Conversation with Kasen Kanesada where he enthusiastically requests that Kasen accompany him to the lake for an early morning bath and extols the benefits of doing so. He also shows child-like excitement when Kasen agrees to go. He also is shown to be exceptionally happy about receiving a good omen in the form of a tea stem standing upright in his cup.
Pet the Dog: While he claims to do what he does for the sake of their missing Saniwa, there are times when he is shown to genuinely care about the other Touken Danshi:
- Several of his Bond Conversations depict him warming up to the other swords and either helping them out, or agreeing to spend time with them (albeit reluctantly in some cases). He also thanks Tonbokiri for forcing him to take a break from his duties.
- When Hyuuga and Namazuo inform him of alleged ghost sightings, he takes it seriously and asks Yamanbagiri for his help in dealing with it (while unaware that Yamanbagiri was the alleged "ghost" that they kept seeing). In their follow up Bond Conversation, he wholeheartedly and obliviously commends Yamanbagiri for helping to keep the peace in Honmaru by dealing with the "ghost".
- In one of his Bond Conversations, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro recalls Hasebe covering him with a blanket after he muttered under his breath that it was cold.
Ship Tease: Surprisingly, with Omokage of all people. Omokage begins to seek Hasebe's approval after joining the Third Team, and Hasebe treats him with hostility because he dislikes how emotionless he is. When he does eventually warm up to Omokage and accept him as a member of his team, he becomes a Tsundere whenever the other Touken Danshi point this fact out to him. He's also the only one who tries to verbally tell Omokage to stop his Heroic Sacrifice, whereas Mikazuki and the others accept his decision. As well, in the secret ending, Tomoegata points out that Hasebe seems happier than usual as they go to meet Omokage, which he denies in Tsundere-esque fashion.
Sugar-and-Ice Personality: While he's definitely nicer than his browser game counterpart (and, arguably, his other spin-off counterparts), he's still gentler to some Touken Danshi than others. For example, despite Ookurikara's aloof demeanor and desire to be left alone, Hasebe is pleasant toward him and obliviously tries to force interactions between them, whereas he is stricter with Namazuo and Tsurumaru because they are Honmaru's biggest troublemakers.
Super Gullible: If his Bond Conversations with Namazuo are any indication, it's easy to manipulate him into acting a certain way by mentioning how the Saniwa would perceive him.
Team Dad:
- While they aren't on the same team, he plays the role of a strict father figure to Namazuo. He only lays off some when Namazuo suggests that their master might not appreciate his constant nagging, only for Namazuo to be put off by his sudden change in attitude and ask him to go back to his old self.
- He is also strict with Tsurumaru, who is far older than him, but also far more immature.
Undying Loyalty: Like his browser game counterpart, he is deeply devoted to the Saniwa and strives to be their favorite. Even after they vanish, his attitude remains unchanged, as does his belief that he is competing for the Saniwa's attention with the other Touken Danshi.
Tsundere: He starts behaving this way when the other Touken Danshi point out that he's begun to warm up to Omokage.
We Want Our Jerk Back!: In his third Bond Conversation with Yagen, they discuss how he's become more approachable and less strict over time, and Yagen warns him not to mellow out too much, lest he lose what makes him Hasebe.
Workaholic: He works tirelessly to keep the citadel clean and secure, primarily for the sake of their missing Saniwa. This becomes the subject of his Bond Conversation with Tonbokiri, who devises a plan to persuade him to take a break for once.

128, 129 – Doudanuki Masakuni (同田貫正国)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/doudanuki_1.png

^Uchiban

^{Kiwame Form}

^Casual

Rarity: High (Basic/Toku); Special (Kiwame)
Voiced by: Tooru Sakurai (Japanese), Cris George (English)
Illustrated by: AKIRA
Live actor: Naoki Takeshi (Stage Play), Nakamura Takanosuke (Kabuki)

"I am Doudanuki Masakuni. We're weapons, so being strong should be good enough. You know, simple and sturdy, or something?"

A sword of the Doutanuki school of sword smithing that emerged during the violent Sengoku period when there was strong demand for cheap and strong weapons. The Doutanuki swords were not meant to be works of art as Japanese swords typically were. Instead, they were sturdy, cheap and easily replaced. Formerly classified by the game as a tachi, he was later re-classified as a uchigatana.

Advertised Extra: In Kabuki, despite being heavily featured on the poster and in promotional material, he doesn't contribute much to the overall story. Justified, however, as according to Word of God, the only reason he was added to the line-up in the first place was so his simpler design could balance out the flashier swords he's grouped with.
Animal Motifs: Fans (And Honebami) tend to associate him with the tanuki, since part of his name sounds like the word for the animal but is written with different kanji.
Affectionate Nickname: He refers to Honebami as "Bami". Honebami in turn refers to him as "Tanuki". He objects to being called Tanuki but it comes across as rather half-hearted.
Badass Longcoat: He gains one in his Kiwame form.
Blood Knight: He considers himself a weapon and nothing else.
Boisterous Bruiser: He's more than a bit grouchy during his interactions at the citadel, but when it comes to fighting he becomes very enthusiastic.
Boring, but Practical: As a Doudanuki school sword, he was made to be a strong and sturdy weapon instead of a work of art. Doudanuki himself definitely ascribes to this philosophy, repeatedly saying that it doesn't matter if he's not pretty as long as he's a fully functional weapon.
Character Development: He decides to go through a training journey in order to become stronger as a sword. He is aware that other Touken Danshi visited their former master for their training, but he has no memories of his previous masters since he was made of all the broken "Doudanuki" swords that were used in battle. Throughout his journey, he watches many samurai wield their own versions of the "Doudanuki" sword to kill or commit suicide. He realizes samurai choose their Doudanuki because they are drawn to its strength. It's not by their swordsmith's name,or beauty, but power when used. He decides he must get stronger to this end, and he will let his current master of his result after training.
Covered with Scars: In Zoku Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru, he has scars all over his body except the back side when he is seen bathing with the other Touken Danshi.
Hollywood Homely: He's supposedly not as good looking as most other character, to reflect his status as a sword built for power and nothing else. He's certainly not a Bishonen, but the number of fans he has in Touken Ranbu's LGBT Fanbase proves that his looks still appeal to plenty of people.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's a brash Blood Knight who views himself as nothing but a weapon, but it's shown repeatedly across all mediums that he is capable of kindness and caring for his teammates. In particular, he seems fond of Honebami and Otegine, having a number of friendly interactions with them both in the game and with Honebami in the stage plays. He also seems to have become protective of Yamanbagiri in the later stage plays, having to be held back from beating Chougi senseless when he insults him.
No Indoor Voice: Uncoincidentally, he shares the same voice actor with Yamabushi.
Odd Friendship: With Honebami, who is his complete opposite in looks and temperment.
Rugged Scar: He has two across his face. Such malformations are rare in the game and serve to accentuate his self-appraisal as a crude, functional weapon instead of a work of art.
Spell My Name With An S: The reading of his first name was changed from "Doutanuki" to "Doudanuki" in the August 25, 2015 update. His lines were re-recorded and a line was added to his book description lampshading the change:
"In stage plays, I'm traditionally called Doutanuki, but in my birthplace my name is read Doudanuki. Call me however you please."

154, 155 – Nansen Ichimonji (南泉一文字)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nansen_1.png

^Uchiban

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku); High (Kiwame)
School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Kengo Kawanishi
Illustrated by: Shinov Mimori
Live actor: Tanimizu Riki (Stage Play), Shiotsuki Shuu (Stage Play, Guden)

"The real me is supposed to be a tall, terrifying Touken Danshi who can silence even a crying child. But... how did it come to this... It's that curse! The cat's curse... meoow!... *purr*"

A work of the Fukuoka Ichimonji School, its inscription was lost due to the shortening it underwent. There is an anecdote about the blade cutting a cat that touched it cleanly into two and so it is also called Nansen Zanmyou (Nansen Cat-slasher). Originally, he is supposed to be a terrifying sword warrior whose large build could silence even a crying child... however, everything turned out the way it is now because of the cat's curse. Or so he claims...

Aloof Ally: In the play Kousui. He dislikes Ookanehira and doesn't take his designated position as leader seriously because of his inexperience, and thus goes his own way for the majority of the play to watch over Li Naosuke whether it's beneficial to the mission or not.
Animal Motifs: Cats. Cats are often symbolized good luck and bring positive results in Japan. His name comes from a blade cutting a cat that touched it cleanly into two and has several traits related to cats.
Character Development: Rather than breaking the curse after going Kiwame training, he instead comes to accept it as part of himself and allows himself to be treated as a cat.
Curse: He tends to mention a "cat's curse", which implies that the reason why he acts like a cat is because he was cursed after he killed one.
Curtains Match the Window: Downplayed. Nansen's hair and eyes are different shades of gold.
Dumb Blonde: He toes the line of being a Rare Male Example in the play Kousui.
Embarrassing Nickname: Chougi refers to him as "Cat Killer".
Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears an armor guard on his right shoulder and his sash on his left side.
Freakiness Shame: Considers his curse to be this, as it makes him act and talk like a cat. Fortunately he gets over it after reaching Kiwame.
Iconic Item: His choker collar that resembles a cat's bell collar.
Last Request: If he gets destroyed in his standard form.
"I wanted...To get rid of my curse...Meow...This must be divine retribution...Meow."
The Runt at the End: He was the first Fukuoka Ichimonji sword to be implemented into the browser game, but is the only one with a low rarity, being a Medium (2 petals) sword while the rest of his school are Special-Highest rarity. He also is the only one who isn't a tachi, which could also explain his low rarity. ^note
Shut Up, Hannibal!: He doesn't take Chougi's taunts laying down, saying that while he himself ended up possessed because he killed a cat, Chougi killing a monster has made him one on the inside as well.
Supernatural Gold Eyes: He has golden eyes which is also one of the symbolism traits for cats.
Took a Level in Cheerfulness: Does this after Kiwame, finally having learned to accept his cat's curse. Such as allowing the Saniwa to treat him like a cat and stopping using his curse as an excuse anytime his feline instincts kick in.
Verbal Tic: He has a habit of saying "Meow" or cat related sounds at the end of his sentences.
"I can feel myself grow stronger... meow!"

158 – Yamanbagiri Chougi (山姥切長義) (UNMARKED SPOILERS!)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chougi_1_1.png

^Uchiban

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Kengo Takanashi
Illustrated by: ⑪
Live Actor: Mizuki Umetsu (Stage Play, Movie)

"I am the original that was forged by Chougi, Yamanbagiri. In light of the operation in Jurakutei, this honmaru's abilities have been highly evaluated, and as a result I've been assigned here, but...well."

The original Yamanbagiri and the real identity of the mysterious hooded man. For tropes relating to the hooded figure, go back to the main character page.

He is a major player in the second live-action film, as well as a playable character in Warriors.

Ambiguous Situation: Yamanbagiri Kunihiro’s Kiwame letters raise doubts about who was the first sword to be called "Yamanbagiri," as his own recollections of being named after Chougi are at odds with the stories he heard from travelers, who say that Chougi was named after him. In the end, Kunihiro concludes that it's likely that neither of the two events—in which he slays the Yamanba, or Chougi did, leading to them earning the name—actually happened, and that it likely doesn't matter due to the ambiguity of the legends created by men. That said, we still don't know Chougi's side of the story or if his recollections match what Kunihiro discovered.
Badass Cape: Similar to Yamanbagiri's except he wears a sliver hooded cloak cape that matches to color of his hair and vest.
Badass in a Nice Suit: As an Osafune school sword, he follows their outfit trend and wears a suit into battle.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: While he has his niceties with the Saniwa and is polite to them in their face, he's actually rather passive aggressive with Yamanbagiri Kunihiro and Nansen, trying to make them feel inferior compared to himself.
Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears one glove and the other a gauntlet.
Foil: To Yamanbagiri Kunihiro in a few ways:
- Kunihiro is insecure about being a copy and compares himself negatively to others, whereas Chougi is self-assured and boastful about being the original, treating others, particularly Kunihiro, as if they were beneath him.
- Kunihiro is cold, distant, and occasionally rude, but has a good heart underneath it all, while Chougi is "polite" to mask his Jerkass personality.
- Chougi has a tidy appearance, whereas Kunihiro is pretty much as close to The Pig-Pen as the artists will allow him to get.
- Kunihiro has blonde hair, Chougi has silver/white hair.
- Kunihiro's incorporates a warm color to brighten it up (Orange), whereas Chougi's color scheme incorporates a cool color (Dark blue).
Jerkass: He's completely antagonistic to both his copy Kunihiro and Nansen, taunting the former for his replica status and the latter for cutting down a "mere cat" and the speech quirk that resulted from it.
Identical Stranger: Downplayed; He and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro resemble each other because the latter is a copy of him. However, they are easily distinguished by their hair and eye colors.
Inferiority Superiority Complex: He feels the need to assert his status as the original "Yamanbagiri" to others, as well as a genuine monster killer. When he doesn't get the response he wants from a Kiwame Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, he's sent into a furious cursing tirade after the latter leaves.
Irony:
- For as much as he boosts his superiority over Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, he isn't treated as being all that much more special than him in the game itself, with the two being the same rarity, Medium, only one petal away from being the lowest rarity in the game.
- It also took so long for him to be introduced into the browser game/storyline that by the time he showed up, everyone had accepted Yamanbagiri Kunihiro as the Yamanbagiri both in and out of the universe. As a result, whenever he appears in an adaptation, he almost always plays second fiddle to his copy.
One Sided Rivalry: With Yamanbagiri Kunihiro. Kunihiro is already insecure about being a copy, so any efforts Chougi makes to establish himself as superior to him are entirely self-serving since Kunihiro won't argue back. After Kiwame, however, Kunihiro is more confident in himself and doesn't entertain him, making Chougi come off as the insecure one instead.
One-Steve Limit: Averted. He and the copy Yamanbagiri share the same name except they have different last names. The fandom gets around this by simply referring to him as "Chougi" so as not to confuse him with the copy Yamanbagiri who is still referred to by his given name, a response Yamanbagiri Chougi himself would likely resent. Interestingly, in Warriors, everyone refers to him as "Chougi," whereas Kunihiro is referred to as "Yamabagiri," and he shows no reaction to the distinction.
Parting-Words Regret: If he gets destroyed.
"...Why, you... Damn... Damn, damn, damn! Why... I..."
Perpetual Smiler: In the browser game and Warriors, he's rarely seen without a cocky smirk on his face. He only loses it when he's injured.
Pet the Dog: If he spars with a post-Kiwame Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, he'll admit he had a meaningful time when it's over.
The Proud Elite: He is very, very boastful of his pedigree, rubbing it in the face of the other swords.
Satellite Character: Not in the original browser game, but whenever he appears in a spin-off, which is often after his introduction, he's most often used in reference to his one-sided rivalry with Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, with little focus being given to him as an individual character. It wasn't until his musical debut in Hanakage that his character was put in a story that had nothing to do with Kunihiro.
The Real Remington Steele: The real Yamanbagiri, introduced long after the copy bearing his name is established in the game canon.
Walking Spoiler: For obvious reasons. The name of his voice actor alone should betray his identity.

Yamanbagiri Chougi (Warriors)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cb1ef41d_4111_45d0_85d6_b3b9017f1bf6.png

An uchigatana forged by Chougi, but of a different lineage from the main Bizen Osafune school. He is evenly matched with Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, who is his copy. Beautiful but proud, or to be more precise, self-confident and unafraid of others.

In this game, he is assigned to the same Fifth Team as Yamanbagiri Kunihiro.

Adaptational Nice Guy: Downplayed Trope; He's still rude to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro and refers to him as a "Fake," but he's a lot gentler to him in this game than he is in past works. By the end of the game, the two have even come to a mutual understanding and can be called "friends”.
Loners Are Freaks: He makes an effort to avoid contact with the other Touken Danshi, only engaging with them when it is essential to their mission. However, the other, more social Honmaru residents make constant attempts to force a friendship, and since he is forced to live with them, he often has no choice but to give in and humor them.
One-Steve Limit: Averted Trope; Both "Yamanbagiri's" appear in this game, and they end up on the same team. To differentiate between them, the other Touken Danshi calls him "Chougi," whereas Kunihiro is referred to as "Yamanbagiri."
Pet the Dog: While he pretends not to care about the other Touken Danshi's feelings, he does express annoyance at Mikazuki when he finds out that he stole some of the snacks Shokudaikiri had prepared for everyone and advises him to apologize.
Small Name, Big Ego: He has a big ego and boasts his superiority to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro due to being the original "Yamanbagiri," and often looks to the other Touken Danshi to reinforce this, but not only does no one care about the "Real vs Fake" issue except for himself and Kunihiro, but even the Saniwa was dismissive of it by always picking Yamanbagiri Kunihiro to be the team leader over him.
Tsundere: A non-romantic variant toward Yamanbagiri Kunihiro. He’s often passive-aggressive toward him and acts as though being around him is a nuisance, but he spends a lot of time with him beyond what is required of them as a team, to the point where Tsurumaru even asks why he’s alone when he shows up without Kunihiro in their Bond Conversation. It's also evident that he cares about him, which the other Touken Danshi notices but Chougi refuses to accept or admit out of pride.

160 – Buzen Gou (豊前江)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/buzen_1_7.png

^Uchiban

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
School: Gou (江)
Voiced by: Taku Yashiro
Illustrated by: Honami Tsuda
Live actor: Yūta Tachibana (Musicial)

"Gou no Yoshihiro's work and famous piece, Buzen Gou. Apparently there's a guy who can sing and dance... Well, in any case, I don't intend to lose when it comes to running."

An uchigatana and Gou no Yoshihiro's work and famous piece.

Affectionate Nickname: Refers to Matsui as "Matsu" and Kuwana as "Kuwa". He calls Inaba "Ina-san".
Badass Boast: In his awakened mode:
This is the speed of sound!"
Big Brother Instinct: The role he plays to the other Gou swords makes him come off as a protective and kind older brother figure, even though none of them seem to see themselves as brothers (or at least, never explicitly say so as the swords from other schools tend to). This is especially the case when it comes to his relationship with Matsui, as in their Recollection, Buzen readily comforts Matsui after the latter is heavily injured and dwelling on an unspeakable past. The Musical expands on this better, as he supports Tsurumaru's decision to make Matsui face his traumatic past so he can be there for him this time and help him in overcoming it.
Color-Coded Characters: Amongst the Gou school, his signature colour is red.
Cross-Cast Role: In Gou on Stage, the macho Buzen Gou plays Hamaji, a female character, when the Gou swords decide to put on a play... and does a poor job because he isn't convincing as a girl and forgets that he's supposed to be gentle, feminine, and shorter than the other characters. It's Played for Laughs all the way through.
Face Your Fears: Even though he is typically very kind, in the musical Paraiso, he supports Tsurumaru's decision to have Matsui confront his tragic past by forcing him take part in the Shimabara Rebellion because he thinks that people should face their fears and learn from these experiences rather than dwell on them.
Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears one armor guard on his right arm and one separate sleeve on his left arm.
Flat Character: Compared to some of the other Gous, his characterization is fairly straightforward: he loves running, is generally upbeat, and is an all-around nice and supportive guy, particularly toward his fellow Gous. Aside from that, he currently lacks any other notable quirks or implied hidden depths found in other swords from his school.
Fire-Forged Friends: In the musicals, he's been on pretty good terms with Tsurumaru Kuninaga since their harrowing mission together in Paraiso.
Foreshadowing: His cryptic Book Description about how no one has seen him despite being a famous work of Gou no Yoshihiro being proof of him being the genuine article indirectly sets up the reveal of the real reason Kotegiri Gou is so obsessed with making the Gou swords Touken Danshi who can sing and dance, which is revealed in a Recollection to be because the existences of swords forged by Gou no Yoshimitsu are often doubted unless acknowledged by people in authority.
Four-Temperament Ensemble: Choleric to Kotegiri's phlegmatic, Kuwana's sanguine and Matsui's melancholic, being the most macho and aggressive.
Fragile Speedster: He claims he's one of the faster uchigatana swords.
Identical Stranger: Downplayed Trope; Because of his hairstyle and color, and red eyes, he looks quite similar to Kashuu Kiyomitsu, although they aren’t too difficult to distinguish from each other due to their outfits.
Mr. Fanservice: In the musicals, he is incredibly charming and flirtatious with the audience during Lives, earning him the nickname "the nations boyfriend" by his fans. As for costumes, he tends to wear outfits that show off his toned midriff.
Nice Guy: His most prominent trait is that he wants to help the other Gous with their emotional problems while expecting nothing in return. He and Matsui went through the exact same trauma during the Shimabara Rebellions, but he considers his own feelings of less importance. He also participates in lessons with Kotegiri even though he's not actually interested in singing and dancing, simply because he wants Kotegiri to be happy.
The Nicknamer: Has a nickname for everyone he meets, but usually only shortens it to "[insert name]-san." For example, "Ina-san."
Oblivious to Love: Seems to be completely unaware of Matsui and Kotegiri's implied crushes on him.
Red Eyes, Take Warning: Strongly averted, he's one of the kindest and laidback characters in the game. The only time this trope would apply is if you were an enemy of the battlefield.
This Cannot Be!: If he gets destroyed.
"I've stopped... No, is this... The other side?"

166 – Nankaitarou Chouson (南海太郎朝尊)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nankaitarou_1.png

^Uchiban

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
Voiced by: Kenji Nojima
Illustrated by: becco
Live-acted by: Daiki Miyoshi (stage play)

"After everything, I too have become a member of this place. I am Nankaitarou Chouson. If that is too long for you, call me Chouson or something similar."

Sword of Takechi Hanpeita with a very studious and intellectual personality. He researches swords like his smith and fancies himself the "sword doctor".

Badass Bookworm: This guy does not joke about being a scholar; he'll talk about losing himself in books if he's left idle on the main screen and apparently he leaves piles of books all over the place. His design, especially his internal affairs outfit, strongly resembles the typical fashion of a Meiji-Shōwa era student or author.
Badass Longcoat: A crisp and proper type A flavor of Kimono Fanservice with a long coat past the knee. None of this affects his ability in battle.
Can't Hold His Liquor: According to Word of God, which soon found Memetic Mutation status among the fandom.
Gentleman and a Scholar: He positively screams this trope with his gentle demeanor and "sword doctor" intelligence. Specifically, his research focuses on the nature of the Touken Danshi, with a particular interest in the manifestation process and why some Touken Danshi adopt the appearances and traits of their former masters.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: He shares his name and "occupation" as a "sword doctor" with the smith who created him, and has inherited many of his personality traits. Mutsunokami speculates that he also physically resembles him, although the appearance of his smith is never shown to the players, so this is unclear.
Overly Long Name: His name has the longest pronunciation out of the entire cast at an impressive 11 morae. There's a reason he lampshades this and requests to only be called by his surname.
Power Trio: With Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki and Hizen Tadahiro in the browser game.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Quite obviously Blue to Hizen's Red. They're even Color-Coded for Your Convenience.
Soft-Spoken Sadist: Despite his overall mannerism, he actually has hitokiri tendencies and is perfectly capable of ruthlessness on the battlefield, though not to the extent of Kasen.
You're annoying, so I'm cutting you down. Is that clear?
Stealth Insult: For all his gentleness and courteousness, he seems capable of throwing a particularly subtle shade at Mutsunokami's capability if they're assigned to sparring. If he's left injured in the main screen, his line suggests he doesn't trust the saniwa's capability of taking care of the injured.
Mutsunokami-kun, your battle techniques will benefit from a little bit of research.
Trap Master: The trap nodes in his event, which take away the boss's moves and have no effect on the player's team, are his invention. He also calls himself the "trap doctor" for this.
Verbal Tic, ne?

172 – Kuwana Gou (桑名江)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kuwana_1.png

^Uchiban

^Casual

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
Voiced by: Kent Itou
Illustrated by: Tsuda Honami (津田穂波)

"I'm a famous blade produced by Gou no Yoshihiro, Kuwana Gou. I face the earth in order to win in battle. Agriculture is a discipline that requires you to face off against nature in its entirety, after all."

An uchigatana crafted by a swordsmith from Etchuu Province, Gou Yoshihiro. He used to belong to the 2nd lord of Ise Kuwana Domain, Honda Tadamasa. Agriculture is a study regarding all things in nature. His passion towards research can sometimes comes off as argumentative, but the person himself does not realize it.

Affectionate Nickname: Buzen refers to him as "Kuwa" sometimes. Counts as a Punny Name, because though the "Kuwa" Kanji in his name means "Mulberry Tree", the word can also mean "Hoe" (the farming tool, not the slang term).
Ambiguously Gay: In the musical, the characters find out that the "girl" Kuwana was hitting on is actually a guy, which he knew all along but didn’t care about.
Color-Coded Characters: Amongst the Gou school, his signature colour is yellow.
Eyes Out of Sight: He's the only character has his bangs completely cover his eyes. The only time one of his eyes is shown is his awaken sprite. This led to his character not being able to have a major role in the same Musical Touken Ranbu special that introduced Matsui. His planned role was cut down to just an appearance at the curtain call because the costumers couldn't figure out how to make the wig see-through in time.
Farm Boy: His sword was owned by a family of farmers before it passed into the hands of a samurai, and as such he has the personality of a hardworking and humble farmer. He goes into combat without complaint, but actually dislikes fighting, and if it were up to him he would retire from battle and spend his days tending the citadel fields.
Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears half of a jacket/arm guard combination on right arm.
Hero Worship: Tonbokiri was the signature weapon of Honda Tadakatsu, who was Honda Tadamasa's father. As such he has great respect for him and expresses excitement every time they interact. Tonbokiri is also the only person that the normally-casual Kuwana refers to with honorifics.
Why is Tonbokiri-sama the only one I refer to with that honorific, you ask? Well, that's because Tonbokiri-sama is Tonbokiri-sama, of course.
Iconic Item: Ski goggles.
Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: He claims to be able to speak to the earth, and sometimes stops to ask the earth's permission before making a decision. Yokai and spirits definitely do exist beyond the Touken Danshi in the Touken Ranbu universe, so he could actually be talking to something, but we never have any confirmation if the presence he's talking to is real or if he's just being a Cloud Cuckoo Lander.
Nice Guy: A different flavour of niceness compared to Buzen, but an incredibly humble and relaxed guy without a mean bone in his body.
Opaque Lenses: He wears ski goggles to conceal his eyes in combat and the only time one his eyes is shown is his awaken sprite.
Supernatural Gold Eyes: As seen in his awakening sprite, his eyes are yellow, and he's a kind of yokai. However, he doesn't have any evil or trickster tendencies as is normally associated with this trope; Instead the colour represents his connection to earthy things.

174 – Suishinshi Masahide (水心子正秀)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/suishinshi_1.png

^Uchiban

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
Voiced by: Atsushi Abe
Illustrated by: Tetsu Kurosawa

The first shinshintō blade ever forged, a sword created in a time of peace who wants to prove the value of blades of his generation.

A Day in the Limelight: Special Investigation: Tenpou Edo serves as both his debut event, as well as a focus event for his character.
All-Encompassing Mantle: Most of his body and a good part of his face are concealed under a cloak.
Anthropomorphic Personification: Similar to Sengo Muramasa, there are no anecdotes about a specific sword named Suishinshi Masahide, as he instead serves as a representative of all blades forged by swordsmith Suishinshi Masahide, hence why he shares the name of his smith. He is treated as a real blade in the game's lore, though, which distinguishes him from other amalgamation swords such as Tomoegata Naginata.
Color Motif: Like his fellow shinshintō blades, he's heavily associated with purple, but a darker purple to distinguish him from Kiyomaro's light purple and Taikei's blue-violet.
Expository Pronoun: Because he is constantly maintaining a facade of being cool and formal around the Saniwa, he usually uses the formal pronouns "Waga" and "Watashi" when speaking; however, when his mask slips, the more boyish and casual "Boku" can be heard.
Fanboy: When he first meets Magoroku Kanemoto, he turns out to be a big fan of him and performs a thorough evaluation of his sword. This confuses Magoroku, because, according to his own admission, there are rarer swords with legends attached to them in the Citadel that Suishinshi should be more interested in, despite the latter's claim that old swords like his are important study due to his being the forefather of the shinshintou.
Guest Fighter: His event only allows players taking part for the first time to only bring a team with 5 swords so he can tag along.
Like Father, Like Son: Said to have strongly manifested with the qualities of his swordsmith. They even have the same name due to him being a representative of Masahide's works.
Nervous Wreck: For all the talk about how he must become stronger and affirm the value of new swords, he's not a completely confident fellow, at times displaying this tendency when faced with battle.
Real battle?… A-alright, let's go!
No Mouth: He wears high-collared jackets that obscure his mouth, even in internal affairs clothing, and hides his mouth with a scarf for his casual clothing. It's only seen when he's in awakening.
Non-Standard Character Design: Downplayed, as he mostly fits the design motif of shinshintō swords, but he's the only one that doesn't have colored hair like his peers Kiyomaro and Taikei.
Power Trio: Downplayed; Together with Minamoto Kiyomaro and Taikei Naotane, they represent the three great swordsmiths of the Edo period. However, while he and Kiyomaro debuted as being quite close and mention each other in their voicelines, neither of them mention Taikei, and Taikei's own profile reveals that he wants to befriend Suishinshi, implying that they aren't yet that close as a trio.
Real Men Hate Sugar: Invoked in his Fatigue Recovery line, as he pretends to not want the dango to keep up his facade of being mature and serious, only to immediately complain when the Saniwa takes it back.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Red to Kiyomaro's Blue; he takes his shinshintō status very seriously, constantly claims he needs to prove his worth as such and is louder and more aggressive in battle.

Suishinshi (Musical Touken Ranbu)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c2787dc5_59f2_4a4e_b00f_3334a0c112c1.jpeg

Suishinshi Masahide as he appears in Musical Touken Ranbu. He debuted in the play Tokyo Kokoro Oboe.

Adaptational Angst Upgrade: He is put through the wringer and is a little sadder than his browser game counterpart because of his involvement with Mikazuki Munechika, the king of adaptational angst upgrades in Touken Ranbu. Compare that to his browser game counterpart who, beyond worrying about besmirching the reputation of shinshintō and keeping up appearance because of it, is comparatively pretty normal and angst-free. Heck, his concern about being a shinshintō blade rarely even gets brought up in this adaptation due to the focus on his Mikazuki-related conflict.
Breather Episode: Gou on Stage serves as this for him as a character, since instead of angsting about his mission (although he did do that very briefly), as he has been since Tokyo Kokoro Oboe, he gets to have a bit of fun and participate in a harmless play with his friends.
Beware the Nice Ones: As much as he wants to help Mikazuki Munechika, he wasn't afraid to fight him to get the answers he needed, and he persisted even when it was clear he couldn't beat him. It turned out to be a dream sequence, though.
Break the Cutie: One of the most earnest and pure-hearted Touken Danshi in the citadel, he has the misfortune of getting involved with Mikazuki Munechika and is put through pretty severe psychological torment all throughout Tokyo Kokoro Oboe. He does get a little better in the subsequent installments, but is still angsting over his role mainly out of confusion.
Butt-Monkey: Tormented mentally by whatever Mikazuki did to his brain, gets his ass kicked by Mikazuki in a dream, gets dragged into whatever relationship mess Mikazuki and Tsurumaru have going on which results in him being beaten up by Tsurumaru to bait Mikazuki into a confrontation, and when he's finally able to meet Mikazuki again in real life like he wanted for so long to finally get answers, Mikazuki leaves without offering him an explanation, much less giving him any thought, leaving him to carry on with his role-related angst.
Color-Coded Characters: For Lives, his associated color is a dark purple similar to his outfits, dubbed "Sumire" to distinguish it from Hachisuka, who is also associated with purple. Ironically, these colors look almost indistinguishable when viewed through the penlight.
The Chosen Many: He's one of the many Touken Danshi Mikazuki chose to help him with his mission, the others being Kiyomaro and, quite possibly, all of the Gou swords if Matsui has any inkling that he knows Mikazuki means anything. However, Suishinshi appears to be the one closest to Mikazuki himself, as Mikazuki reached out to him before influencing the others, and Tsurumaru only acknowledges Suishinshi's involvement with Mikazuki despite presumably knowing about the others.
Expository Pronoun: When referring to himself, he usually uses the boyish and casual pronoun "Boku", but when grouped with the older swords, he switches to the formal "Watashi".
Foreshadowing: While debatably canon, Shinken Ranbusai 2022 has him interact quite a bit with Tsurumaru Kuninaga, with Tsurumaru seemingly knowing about Suishinshi's involvement with Mikazuki and trying to help him understand his role better. This would serve as a subtle setup for their interactions in Michi no Oku, where Tsurumaru is fully aware of Suishinshi's role and essentially acts like a back pusher for him to Mikazuki after losing faith in his own ability to stand by Mikazuki's side anymore.
Full-Name Basis: He's a very formal speaker and call everyone by their full name no matter what.
I Will Find You: He's made it his mission to help, if not save, Mikazuki from whatever he is going through. Unfortunately for him, Mikazuki doesn't want to be found or saved because he's too preoccupied with his own mission to search for something, or potentially, someone, that he has lost.
Locked Out of the Loop: Mikazuki Munechika chose him and Kiyomaru to be the link between the past and the future. Unfortunately for him, Mikazuki gave him this role without ever telling him what it meant, and he doesn't even get the chance to ask questions when they finally happen upon each other in person because Mikazuki is too preoccupied with his own mission.
Nice Guy: He's very kind and has a strong sense of duty and justice, which is why he wants to make it his mission to assist, if not save, Mikazuki from his tragic role. Tsurumaru even refers to him as one of the kindest swords in the citadel while beating him up to goad Mikazuki into coming out and confronting him.
No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Ends up on the receiving end of one by Tsurumaru Kuninaga when he beats him up to goad Mikazuki Munechika into a confrontation. He doesn't get done in as badly as Ookurikara, however, as at least he's still conscious by the end of it.
No-Respect Guy: In a different way than, say, Ookanehira. Though less frequently than his browser game counterpart and for a different reason, he attempts to maintain a cool and formal demeanor when around older swords, but he does a poor job of concealing his real personality, and they baby him regardless.
Sixth Ranger: To the Gou sword group after they all become involved with Mikazuki Munechika in Tokyo Kokoro Oboe. They even include him as a cast member in their play in Gou on Stage.
Teens Are Short: He's only a teen in mind and spirit, but he's extremely short, which proves to be a problem during games like hand sumo and carrying a ball between his and a much taller Touken Danshi's heads to the finish line during the second act games in Michi no Oku.
Troubled, but Cute: Being a conduit for Mikazuki's time shenanigans really fried his brain, to the point of distorting reality for him. He seemingly gets better by Gou on Stage, but he remains burdened by the duty he's been assigned but doesn't fully understand, not helped by the fact that the guy that assigned it to him won't talk to him.

176 – Minamoto Kiyomaro (源清麿)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/minamoto_1_8.png

^Uchiban

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
Voiced by: Kenji Akabane
Live actor: Motohiro Oota (Musical)
Illustrated by: Shibano Bantya

"I'm Minamoto Kiyomaro. I'm a blade forged by Minamoto Kiyomaro, known as one of the three great smiths of Edo. Hope you'll look after me."

An uchigatana forged by Minamoto Kiyomaro, was known as one of the three great smiths of Edo alongside Suishinshi Masahide and Taikei Naotane.

A Day in the Limelight: Special Investigation: Tenpou Edo serves as both his debut event, as well as a focus event for his character.
Anthropomorphic Personification: Similar to Sengo Muramasa, there are no anecdotes about a specific sword named Minamoto Kiyomaro, as he instead serves as a representation of all blades forged by swordsmith Minamoto Kiyomaro, hence why he shares the name of his smith. He is treated as a real blade in the game's lore, though, which distinguishes him from other amalgamation swords such as Tomoegata Naginata.
Color Motif: Purple, as is part of the color palette of swords associated with his faction as a whole, although a brighter purple to distinguish him from Suinshinshi's dark purple and Taikei's neon blue-violet.
Curtains Match the Window: Downplayed. Minamoto's hair and eyes are different shades of purple.
Last-Name Basis: Called "Kiyomaro" by everyone, likely to avoid confusion due to the name "Minamoto" being associated with quite a few historical figures.
Like Father, Like Son: Said to have strongly manifested with the qualities of his swordsmith. They even have the same name due to him being a representative of Kiyomaro's works.
Mellow Fellow: Compared to Suishinshi, who is concerned about how he is perceived as a representative blade of the shinshintou and spends most of his time maintaining a professional persona, Kiyomaro is both laidback and always in high spirits.
Parting-Words Regret: If he gets destroyed.
"Ending up like this.....I wonder why....."
Power Trio: Downplayed; Together with Suishinshi Masahide and Taikei Naotane, they represent the three great swordsmiths of the Edo period. However, while he and Suishinshi debuted as being quite close and mention each other in their voicelines, neither of them mention Taikei, and Taikei's own profile reveals that he wants to befriend Suishinshi, implying that they aren't yet that close as a trio.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Blue to Suishinshi's Red; he's more laid-back and less adamant about proving his worth as a shinshintō blade.
Trademark Favorite Food: Trademark Favorite Drink — He enjoys drinking tea with snacks.

178 – Matsui Gou (松井江)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/matsui_1.png

^Uchiban

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
School: Gou (江)
Voiced by: Shun'ichi Toki
Illustrated by: Tsuda Honami
Live actor: Hiroki Sasamori (Musical)

"Matsui Gou, forged by Gou no Yoshihiro. Compared to singing and dancing, I'd say I'm better at spilling and splashing. Spilling what? Why, blood, of course."

A work of Gou no Yoshihiro and most famously owned by Matsui Okinaga, he is noticeably more battle-ready than the rest of his brothers as an unabashedly and literally bloodthirsty warrior.

Affectionate Nickname: Buzen refers to him as "Matsu", the first kanji in his name, which means "Pine Tree."
All Love Is Unrequited: Just like Kotegiri, it's heavily implied that he may have romantic feelings for Buzen. Whatever the case, it's most likely unrequited, with Buzen only seeing the other Gous as friends and teammates.
Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Manages to fit this better than Tall, Dark, and Handsome thanks to his feminine beauty and comparatively average height.
Big Brother Worship: If he doesn't have romantic feelings for Buzen, then his admiration for him may be explained by the fact that Buzen is like a older brother to all of the Gou swords despite them apparently not being considered related.
Blood Knight: Despite his squeaky clean appearance, he's quite eager for battle.
Blood Lust: And how! This guy is obsessed with blood, either his own or enemies', which leads to much hilarity, unintentionally or not, of his enjoying getting nosebleeds among other things.
Broken Tears: In Paraiso, he breaks down after witnessing the death of the young boy and receiving one final harsh reminder that this is the cost of protecting history.
Coat Cape: He wears his jacket over his shoulders into battle.
Color-Coded Characters: Amongst the Gou school, his signature colour is blue.
Combat Sadomasochist: Due to his Blood Lust tendencies, he enjoys showering in the blood of both himself and the enemies.
Driven to Suicide: In the musicals, his guilt and inner conflict about his role in the Shimabara Rebellion reaches a breaking point when rather than kill some rebels to preserve history, he stops fighting in the middle of battle and allows them to strike him instead, fully intending to die by their blades. Fortunately, it becomes an Interrupted Suicide when Buzen dashes in and saves him.
Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: Just one part of his vampire motif.
Fashionable Asymmetry: The lock on the right side of his face is longer than the one on the left.
Full-Name Basis: In The Musical, he exclusively refers to Tsurumaru Kuninaga by his full name, no matter the context.
Hidden Depths: As literally bloodthirsty as he is, he doesn't want to shed the blood of companions, and only likes his own or enemies' blood. He's also heavily traumatized by his role in the Shimabari Rebellion, in which he was used to massacre potentially thousands of innocent women and children. It's implied that his masochism stems from believing that he needs to shed his own blood as penance for the innocent lives he took.
Icy Blue Eyes: To go with his viciousness on the battlefield and his cool stoicism off it.
Kuudere: He very clearly displays affectionate and friendly behaviour towards the Gous, especially Buzen, but it's in a more understated way, and for the most part he covers up the depths of all his emotions, not just his sweeter side, with a cool exterior.
Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Lapses into Kumamoto accent during bursts of aggression.
Our Vampires Are Different: He's Actually Not a Vampire, but his design and personality has a clear vampire motif.
Overdrawn at the Blood Bank: He seems to bleed at the drop of a hat, excitement is seemingly all it takes for blood to start dripping out of his nose. The implication of this trope is strong if he's a frequent MVP…
Matsui: This nosebleed? Oh, it's proof of my happiness.
Vocal Dissonance: His voice is surprisingly deep for someone with such a pretty face, and it often shocks new fans to hear it for the first time.
What the Hell, Hero?: In Paraiso, he wordlessly punches Tsurumaru Kuninaga for his dismissive attitude immediately after witnessing the brutal murder of the boy they all befriended.
Wouldn't Hurt a Child: A problem he faces in the musicals. As a sword he was used to execute innocent women and children in the Shimabara Rebellions, which infamously had no survivors. Now that he has emotions and a human body, he finds himself unable to carry out the mission of murdering rebels in order to preserve history, those same women and children included.

184 – Jizō Yukihira (地蔵行平)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jizou_1.png

^Uchiban

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
School: Yukihira of Bungo Province (豊後国行平)
Voiced by: Toshinari Fukamachi
Illustrated by: stone.
Live-acted by: Yuzuki Hoshimoto (stage play)

"This too, is karma... Jizou Yukihira, repaying this favour..."

Amazing Technicolor Population: Jizou isn't just pale; he's paper white, emphasizing his snake-like features.
Animal Motifs: Snakes, at least when it comes to his appearance. He's pale, long and lanky, with yellow eyes and patterns on his face and neck that resemble snake scales.
Anime Hair: One side shoulder length, other side shaved with two braids braided straight back on the shaved side…
Asian Rune Chant: His lines include Buddhist mantras.
Cain and Abel: Abel to Kokin's Cain – he's fiercely protective of an alternate universe Hosokawa Gracia, forcing Kokin and Kasen to forcibly hurt him to take her down. He gets better. Outside of this, he and Kokin are on fairly good terms.
Big Brother Instinct: Little Brother Instinct – the ruckus involving fake Gracia aside, he does love and care about Kokin, even going so far as to ask any sparring partner who's not Kokin himself not to cause him any unnecessary trouble.
Composite Character: Why he has two sword forms – he represents more than one blade bearing the same name. He only uses one, but references both in his dialogue and also speaks for both of them.
Cross-Cast Role: In the stage play, he was the first Touken Danshi to be played by a woman and currently holds the distinction of being the only Touken Danshi portrayed by a woman in the main citadel. ^note
Dude Looks Like a Lady: In the stageplays, due to being played by an actual lady.
Finishing Each Other's Sentences: If he's assigned to sparring with Kokin.
Kokin: Though I'm sure you know I'm not fond of fighting…
Jizō: It's fine as long as this blade is of use…
Noodle People: Like Kokin, he is drawn to be unnaturally long and lanky.
Sailor Fuku: As per Yukihira dress code.
Snake People: He's also serpentine in design, though less so than Kokin.
Strong Family Resemblance: Like Kokin, he also has very pale skin, an unnaturally long and lanky body, and yellow eyes, making his character design very snake-like.
Third-Person Person: A variant. When speaking, he never uses first-person pronouns, only occasionally referring to himself as Jizou or using language that implies he is speaking for multiple people. This is because he manifested as two swords named Jizou Yukihira and represents both of them despite being a singular Touken Danshi.
Warrior Monk: True to his namesake, he's a devout Buddhist and brings up the Jizō Bosatsu often.

192 – Samidare Gō (五月雨江)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/samidare_1.png

^Uchiban

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
School: Gō (江)
Voiced by: Shou Karino
Live actor: Shogo Yamazaki (Musical)
Illustrated by: Sushi

"I'm Samidare Gou, a famous blade produced by Gou no Yoshihiro. Hm? You mean this? You could say that I wear this out of respect for my former master. But my feelings for another man of the same era are stronger. That's right, the man who created so much poetry in my name..."

An uchigatana smithed by the Etchu province smith Gou Yoshihiro. A famous sword that embodies the natural scenery and has followed a glorious history. However, within his words his feelings towards the haiku poet who lived in that same era and composed his name are visible. "Clouds drift to and fro, like a dog urinating, an autumn shower."

Affectionate Nickname: Refers to Murakumo as "Kumo-san".
Animal Motifs: Dogs, in reference to his former master Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who had a fondness for them. He also wears fake dog ears and a tail out of respect for him, and occasionally barks.
Color-Coded Characters: Amongst the Gou school, his signature colour is purple.
Curtains Match the Window: He has lavender hair that matches his eyes.
Last Request: If he gets destroyed.
"My dreams... wandering the desolate fields..."
Living Emotional Crutch: Is a downplayed one to Murakumo, being the only person who can comfort him during one of his depressive episodes and make his stomach aches go away.
The Stoic: He's pretty unflappable.
Unfortunate Name: Samidare itself isn't too bad, meaning "Early Rain". But with his dog motif and his own love of poetry, it turns his entire character into a reference to a famous poem by Matsuo Basho, in which the poet compared rain to the warm, damp feeling of a dog urinating.
Warrior Poet: Like Kasen and Kokin, Samidare is interested in writing poems before or after the battle, depending on his mood and inspiration.
"A wonderful poem springs to mind."
Ship Tease: With Murakumo, if the tropes above weren't already an indication. Their close relationship is probably a reference to their owners being lovers.

200 – Murakumo Gō (村雲江)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/murakumo_1.png

^Uchiban

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
School: Gō (江)
Voiced by: Takuya Eguchi
Live actor: Seiichiro Nagata (Musical)
Illustrated by: Tsuda Honami

"I'm Murakumo Gou, a famous blade forged by Gou no Yoshihiro. But my former master was made out to be a villain, and I'm basically worthless anyway. ...Where's Ame-san? As long as I can be with him, that's enough."

He was smithed by the Etchu province smith Gou Yoshihiro. A famous sword that embodies the natural scenery and has followed a glorious history. However, his former master is often treated as a villain and Murakumo himself has been sold for dirt cheap…… For the underdog, / healing even stomach pain / an autumn shower.

Affectionate Nickname: Refers to Samidare as "Ame-san".
Animal Motifs: Dogs, more specifically Shiba Inu, just like Samidare. He even barks.
Color-Coded Characters: Amongst the Gou school, his signature colour is pink.
Curtains Match the Window: He has light pink hair that matches his eyes.
The Eeyore: Between his ramblings about how worthless he is and his constant complaints about how much his stomach hurts, he's rarely happy unless he's with or talking about Samidare. Even his anniversary sprite has him looking depressed.
Heroic Self-Deprecation: He has serious self-worth issues thanks to what happened to his master and his subsequent selling for a low price. He even cries because of how worthless he sees himself in his and Samidare's recollection.
Living Emotional Crutch: Downplayed. Samidare is the only one who can comfort him and ease his stress-induced stomach pains. However, he is perfectly capabable of being independant, and in the musicals is shown to have made good friends with the other swords, especially Kuwana. Samidare just happens to be the one who he is closest too.
Rose-Haired Sweetie: He is sweet and kind to those around him even when feeling unwell.
Ship Tease: A lot with Samidare. In the musicals, they can be seen snuggling with eachother in certain scenes. Their owners were also lovers, and seeing as swords often take on traits of their owners...

210 – Inaba Gō (稲葉江)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/5bb5258b_8eaa_4d25_9f87_a082ba2ec1ff.png

Rarity: High (Basic/Toku)
School: Gō (江)
Voiced by: Shunsuke Takeuchi
Live Actor: Igarashi Takuto, Morita Mahiro
Illustrated by: Hagiya Kaoru (萩谷薫)

Affectionate Nickname: Buzen refers to him as "Ina-san".
Color-Coded Characters: Amongst the Gou school, his signature colour is Black.
Canon Immigrant: Was introduced in the musical continuity several years before he was finally implemented in the game.
Distinguishing Mark: Has a beauty mark under his eye.
Disproportionate Retribution: He calmly asks the Saniwa if they want to be struck down when they poke him.
Hunk: Taller and buffer than even Kuwana, a reference to his real sword being the longest and thickest of all known Gou works.
Irony: He is called the sword of success, and yet his former masters only achieved success after he was no longer in their ownership.
Non-Standard Character Design: His jacket is black with green lapels, a reversal of all the Gous released before him. He also has more of a Visual Kei inspired fashion sense, whereas the other Gous are designed to resemble an Idol group.
Uniqueness Value: Downplayed. He was regarded as one of the best swords in the world during the Edo Period and is now regarded as a national treasure in Japan, as stated in his introduction and obtained voiceline. Given his status, or perhaps his former status, he should be eligible for Special or Highest rarity status. However, his in-game rarity is only High, which will increase to Special after their Kiwame training. It may be justified from a gameplay standpoint, though, as he is an uchigatana, and Highest rarity status currently seems to be limited to tachi (with the exception of Shichiseiken, a tsurugi), with Special rarity also being treated as nearly exclusive to the tachi class these days. Perhaps to make up for it, he and Tomita do share the distinction of being the highest rarity swords in their school, as the other six Gou swords are Medium rarity.
What Happened to the Mouse?: In the musical continuity, Kotegiri saved him from the Historical Retrograding Force back in 2019, and that play hinted that he would eventually be given a proper character introduction. But after that, not only have other Gou swords been added to the citadel before him, but in 2023 they were even given a play called Gou on Stage in which none of the other Gou swords made any reference to him, making it unclear what exactly happened to him after Kishou Hongi.
You Don't Look Like You: In his first appearance in the musicals, he was a slim young man with bushy long hair and flowing ragged clothes. In the game, he's a neatly combed Hunk. Possibly justified, as in the musicals he was a spirit without a physical form who had been corrupted by the HRA. Kotegiri hints that he may show up with a proper form in the musicals eventually, although it's unknown if he'll have the same appearance as his game self then.

218 – Ishida Masamune (石田正宗)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_1784.png

Rarity: High (Basic/Toku)
Voiced by: Shun Horie

A classic example of a Masamune sword. Because of many deep incisions on the blade he is also called Kirikomi Masamune. As a sword bearing the name of Ishida and as a work of Gorou Nyudou Masamune, he is excited to show his abilities.

Cool Big Bro: As a fellow Masamune sword, he is considered the elder brother of Hyuuga and Kyougoku, and Hyuuga views him as this, although Kyougoku has a tendency to tease him.
Strong Family Resemblance: Downplayed Trope; Although they are not blood relatives, he is considered Hyuuga Masamune's older brother because they are from the same school, and he looks more like his "younger brother" than most "related" Touken Danshi tend to.

224 – Magoroku Kanemoto (孫六兼元)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/f245d585_dce3_442d_b2ca_2798ccafc55e.png

Rarity: High (Basic/Toku)
School: Unlisted
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita
Live Actor: Shuya Sunagawa (Stage Play)
Illustrated by: lack

This sword made by Kanemoto is known for the three cedar-line hamon, "Sanbonsugi". In an age where the art of smithing swords made for killing was slowly diminishing for various reasons, this blade became the blade of choice for those who still made killing their profession. He has a weakness for good sake, good food, righteousness and humanity, as well as a few troublesome things.

Blood Knight: He is a killing sword and is not afraid to remind others of it, as well as to remind other swords of their true nature.
If you strike at me, I will strike back, assassinations and skirmishes are my fortes. Samurai, ronin, bodyguards. With one famed blade in hand, do they kill as trade or for a dream? The star to killers, the supreme-grade well-cutting sword, Magoroku Kanemoto, that's me.
Dark Is Not Evil: He dresses entirely in black and embraces his role as a killer, but he is on the side of good, helping to preserve history under the Saniwa's orders.
Foreshadowing: In his Recollection with Ningen Mutotsu, it's hinted by the latter that more Nosada swords will appear in the Citadel eventually.
Icy Blue Eyes: He is a Touken Danshi with a talent for killing and his eyes are so icy blue that they almost appear to be glowing.
Sworn Brothers: Considers himself to be the sworn relative of the Nosada swords, such as Ningen Mukotsu, who was his Yari.

226 – Goke Kanemitsu (後家兼光)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/75eab877_acbf_40b7_bd25_4e52e6e8718a.png

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama
Illustrated by: Oyo

A sword made by Kanemitsu, a swordsmith of the Bizen Osafune school. A sword beloved by Naoe Kanetsugu, who supported the Yonezawa clan with Uesugi Kagekatsu as their lord. The sword takes its name from the fact that after Kanetsugu's death, his widow, Ofune no Kata, presented it to the Uesugi family. He has an easy-going relationship with Himetsuru Ichimonji, with them calling each other "Gocchin" and "Otsuu".

Badass in a Nice Suit: Like all Osafune swords, he wears a suit with the jacket draped over one of his shoulders.
Big Eater: Implied. He talks about food and feeding others a number of times in his voice-lines, with this being his obtained line:
"I'm Goke Kanemitsu. You're my new master? I'll only fight if you provide meals to one's heart's content. Ah, not mine, but the Uesugi swords'."
Genki Boy: A downplayed example; He's quite playful and talkative, giving the impression of a carefree and excitable young adult, but he also has serious moments, especially in battle.
Inseries Nickname: He's nicknamed "Gocchin" and requests that the Saniwa call him that, too.
Large Ham: Prone to shouting upon entering battle.
Nice Guy: When given bento, he wonders if there will be enough for everyone, and if it is broken in battle, he advises whoever is left to leave no one behind and get everyone out instead of worrying about himself.
The Nicknamer: He refers to Himetsuru as "Otsuu".
Ship Tease: With Himetsuru, and how. He says that he's most happiest when brushing Himetsuru's hair, he refers to himself as a "warrior of love" when manifested, he has a crane motif in his clothing despite habing no associations with Cranes in his personal history. His nickname for Himetsuru, Otsuu, is a also reference to the name of the crane from the Crane Bride fairytale, which could be interpreted as Goke seeing Himetsuru as a wife.
Slipknot Ponytail: His hair becomes undone in his Awakened sprite.
Weaksauce Weakness: He's allergic to cats, and this includes Gokotai's tigers. He is also the only Touken Danshi in the series known to have allergies of any kind.
Vocal Dissonance: Not normally, but when he gets serious in battle, his voice becomes quite deep, in contrast to his usual youthful and light-hearted tone. His Book Description voice-over implies that this is just a front he puts on, however, as he can turn it on and off on a whim.

230 – Tomita Gou (富田江)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_1453_9.png

Rarity: High (Basic/Toku)
School: Gou (江)
Voiced by: Ono Kensho
Illustrated by: Tsuda Honami

A sword made by Gou no Yoshihiro, a swordsmith from Etchu Province. He was named after Tomita Ippaku, a close aide to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and a member of his magistrate. Due to its high-quality craftsmanship, the sword was considered one of the best swords in the world during the Edo period - alongside Inaba Gou. He is truly the prince of Gou swords.

Color-Coded Characters: Amongst the Gou school, his signature colour is White.
The Ghost: Inaba mentioned him in his citadel dialogue long before he was added to the game.
Hair-Contrast Duo: He has blonde hair and is calm, polite, and comparatively optimistic, as opposed to Inaba, who has black hair, is blunt, and is rather gloomy due to his past.
Humble Hero: He's regarded as the greatest Gou sword under the heavens, and was once considered the best sword ever during the Edo period, but he doesn't dwell on his status in his voice lines, even asking the player if it will suffice after introducing himself.
Non-Standard Character Design: He is dressed far more formally than his fellow Gou, who are dressed to resemble members of an idol group, or even Inaba Gou, who looks like a member of a Visual Kei group, befitting his status as the Prince of the Gou swords.
Princely Young Man: He is known as the Prince of the Gou Swords because he was regarded as one of the best swords in the world during the Edo Period. He definitely looks and acts the part as well, dressed in white and gold with a coat cape, heeled boots, a fancy gold shin-guard, and having a reserved, soft-spoken demeanor.
Uniqueness Value: Downplayed. He was regarded as one of the best swords in the world during the Edo Period and is now regarded as a national treasure in Japan, as stated in his introduction and obtained voiceline. Given his status, or perhaps his former status, he should be eligible for Special or Highest rarity status. However, his in-game rarity is only High, which will increase to Special after their Kiwame training. It may be justified from a gameplay standpoint, though, as he is an uchigatana, and Highest rarity status currently seems to be limited to tachi (with the exception of Shichiseiken, a tsurugi), with Special rarity also being treated as nearly exclusive to the tachi class these days. Perhaps to make up for it, he and Inaba do share the distinction of being the highest rarity swords in their school, as the other six Gou swords are Medium rarity.

232 – Taikei Naotane (大慶直胤)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_modal_001_nomal.jpeg

Rarity: Medium (Basic/Toku)
School: Unlisted
Voiced by: Inoue Yuuki
Illustrated by: Kushiro Kuki

Anthropomorphic Personification: Similar to Sengo Muramasa, there are no anecdotes about a specific sword named Taikei Naotane, as he instead serves as a representative of all blades forged by swordsmith Taikei Naotane, hence why he shares the name of his smith. He is treated as a real blade in the game's lore, though, which distinguishes him from other amalgamation swords such as Tomoegata Naginata.
Be Yourself: In his Recollection with Suishinshi Masahide he tries to persuade him to be himself because no one cares if he presents himself a certain way and he's just stressing himself out for nothing. His efforts fall flat, though, because Suinshinshi wants to be perceived as mature and dignified and stubbornly refuses to let it go. In the end, he compromises by telling Suishinshi to come to him if he's having trouble because he wants to be his friend.
Cute Oversized Sleeves: He wears long sleeves in his default and Internal Affairs outfits to emphasize his sweet, childlike personality. He unzips his sleeves in his usual outfit to wield his sword.
The Ghost: Briefly mentioned by Kiyomaro at the end of Special Investigation: Tenpou Edo if Suishinshi was recruited to the citadel first, and in Kiyomaro’s Book Description line.
Hidden Depths: His Recollection with Suishinshi reveals that he doesn't really care about how people view shinshintou blades and doesn't see the need for Suishinshi to maintain his dignified persona as the forefather of the shinshintou since nobody else cares that much, either.
Immortal Immaturity: His personality is fairly innocent and childlike. He even throws mild tantrums when he's annoyed.
Like Father, Like Son: Said to have strongly manifested with the qualities of his swordsmith. They even have the same name due to him being a representative of Naotane's works.
Maniac Tongue: His default and Internal Affairs sprites show him sticking out his tongue to emphasize his playful and childlike nature.
Rare Random Drop: Compared to Suinshinshi Masahide and Minamoto Kiyomaro who can be obtained for free after completing Special Investigation: Tenpou Edo, he is only obtained through limited time smithing campaigns, sharing a 1:30:00 timer with many, many other low rarity swords.

Characters / Touken Ranbu Uchigatana

Sengo Muramasa (Warriors)

Kashuu (Musical Touken Ranbu)

Kasen (Warriors)

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (Musical Touken Ranbu)

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (Warriors)

Ōkurikara (Musical)

Ōkurikara (Warriors)

Heshikiri Hasebe (Warriors)

Yamanbagiri Chougi (Warriors)

Suishinshi (Musical Touken Ranbu)

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Characters / Touken Ranbu Uchigatana

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Sengo Muramasa (Warriors)

Kashuu (Musical Touken Ranbu)

Kasen (Warriors)

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (Musical Touken Ranbu)

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (Warriors)

Ōkurikara (Musical)

Ōkurikara (Warriors)

Heshikiri Hasebe (Warriors)

Yamanbagiri Chougi (Warriors)

Suishinshi (Musical Touken Ranbu)

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