Here is a list of characters from The Way of the Househusband.
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Kuroda Family
"Immortal" Tatsu Kuroda
Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda (Japanese), Jonah Scott (English), Jose Arenas (Latin American Spanish)
Portrayed by: Hiroshi Tamaki
Tatsu is a former yakuza thug who has reformed into the loving House Husband that is seen today. He is happily married to a career woman named Miku.
- Accidental Pervert: While exercising with other women, he goes to get changed but accidentally walks into the women's changing room. While the women are quick to brush this off as a simple mistake, Tatsu is deeply embarrassed and physically injures himself as punishment.
- The Ace: He was one of the strongest members of the Yakuza. Tatsu once single-handedly decimated a rival gang with a lead pipe, which earned him the nickname "Immortal Tatsu".
- Given his PTSD from his time with the yakuza, he is something of a Broken Ace.
- Affectionate Nickname: Tatsu is affectionately called Tatchan/Tacchan (translated as Tatty by the main scanlators, and Tacchan by the official translation) by his wife Miku.
- Badass in a Nice Suit: Is usually seen wearing one with an apron over it.
- Badass Pacifist: After marrying Miku, Tatsu avoids conflicts as much as possible, although he can thrash someone if they cross the line. Tatsu himself invokes this, stating that he doesn't need to harm someone to protect Miku.
- Busman's Vocabulary: A lot of the series' humor related to Tatsu in particular comes from him contextualizing mundane situations in gangster terms, such as referring to a roomba that Miku recently received as an "obligatory gift" from work being an untested member of his "crew" who has to prove itself capable of actually cleaning their home, or referring to various yoga poses in ways that only an ex-yakuza could think to use.
- Character Catchphrase: "Being a house husband ain't no joke."
- Cloudcuckoolander: Tatsu's tendency to take every mundane task seriously qualifies him as this.
- The Comically Serious: Most of the series' comedy is from Tatsu doing ordinary, mundane tasks like shopping or housekeeping while sporting his yakuza swagger.Tatsu: Hey! C'mon! Pull yourself together, PoliCure blue ranger!!
- Confusion Fu: When he runs into trouble nowadays, acting so much like his new househusband self catches his opponents so off-guard that they can barely touch him.
- Cool Shades: He sports these almost every single day to any place he goes. Even the gym.
- Creature of Habit: As a former Yakuza, he still follows discipline and routine as if it were gospel. He's conditioned to accept the harshest of punishments (i.e. cutting off a finger or outright death) for the most minor of wrongdoings.
- Creepy Good: Tatsu gave up his past as Yakuza but he still has the mannerisms and fashion sense of one, suggesting corporal punishment like yubitsume when he makes a mistake and burying a broken figure in the garden. He is also a bit too chatty about his past experiences.Yoga instructor: What does this pose remind you of?
Tatsu: It's the "after the boss smacks you around with the flat edge of the blade to teach you some manner" pose. - Dark and Troubled Past: Tatsu himself states he grew up in one of the most violent parts of the world. A brief flashback indicates that Miku and Tatsu met each other for the first time when the latter had just finished a bloody fight. In later chapters, Tatsu is shown to be very paranoid, implying he is dealing with PTSD.
- The Dreaded: Tatsu's mere presence is enough to deter most Yakuza members. He made an intimidating first impression on Miku's father and the latter is still apprehensive around him.
- Dub Name Change: In the English dub of the anime, Tatsu's Title is changed to "the Immortal Dragon".
- Face of a Thug: Tatsu looks scary enough that every attempt of his to appear friendly makes normal civilians' blood run cold.
- Friend to All Children: While initially coming off as weird Tatsu is remarkably good with kids. Emphasized even further in the live-action drama where Tatsu goes out of his way to take care of and reassure any children he comes across.
- Graceful Loser: Tatsu tries hard to win in a Volleyball match but loses. He exchanges jerseys with the rival captain and the two teams pose for a group photo.
- Happily Married: To Miku, they love each other despite their different lifestyles.
- Hidden Depths:
- Tatsu played a lot of golf while escorting his boss, and still has the skills. Thing is, because of where he got his experience, he didn't learn how to win a game, but how to play to keep the boss happy.
- From what we see of Tatsu's memories he always took on the more domestic chores feeding and cleaning up for his boss in addition to being a brutal enforcer, which help explains where he learned the basics of housework and his philosophy behind it.
- House Husband: Tatsu takes care of house duties while Miku works as a designer. Tatsu takes his role very, very seriously.
- Intergenerational Friendship: He's a member of the local homemakers association, and spends a lot of his free time with the other members who are mostly housewives twenty to thirty years his senior.
- Made of Iron: Takes a two-by-four to the head, and responds by commenting how sturdy it is.
- One-Man Army: On top of the story of how he got his nickname, when his past does come back to haunt him, he manages to fend off his attackers literally without even trying.
- Real Men Wear Pink:
- Downplayed; Tatsu likes housekeeping and being a house husband but his approach is more like cleaning a crime scene or completing missions for the clan. His apron is the only thing that can pass as cute.
- Continuing along those lines, when he learns flower arranging, he uses it to convey the experiences of being Yakuza, like the violence of the moment an excavator crashes through a rival office's wall, or the sense of fleeting life as your brothers-in-arms' lives slip away around you in a botched raid.
- The few glimpses we see of Tatsu in his former life imply that in addition to being a brutal enforcer he also took care of the domestic side of feeding and cleaning up after his boss.
- Red Baron: Immortal Tatsu, a nickname he got after busting ten rival yakuza's heads with a pipe in their headquarters.
- Retired Badass: Tatsu himself. Most of the comedy is derived from him leaving the life but not the lifestyle of the Yakuza e.g. treating a roomba like a new recruit to the gang.
- Retired Monster: Tatsu again; his comments about his past life and his known exploits show he was involved in the messier side of Yakuza business, and if his reputation is anything to go by, he was damn good at the messier side of Yakuza business
- Rugged Scar: One of his most notable features is the long, thin scar on his left eye. It adds to his scary yakuza look.
- Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Tatsu's relationship with his wife Miku. He is a stone cold ex-criminal while she is career-oriented with a large otaku streak. Best shown when both go shopping together, with him being frugal and her being more willing to splurge money.
- Serious Business: Thanks in part to his Yazuka background, he treats common household chores as if his life were at stake. Like treating doing laundry like fighting off a whole room of yazuka goons.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: From time to time, Tatsu's old life catches up to him in ways that are decidedly Played for Drama. When test-driving a car, he keeps hallucinating that random people such as a crossing guard and businessman are assassins out to kill him. Eventually, Tatsu's forced to pull over and get out of the car entirely.
- Slasher Smile: Tatsu's smile always suggests he's about to brutally murder someone.
- Supreme Chef: He attends cooking classes and is known to excel in that field. He can prepare food ranging from simple Japanese dishes to refined Caneles. Miku's mother finds that very impressive about him.
- Tattooed Crook: Or ex-crook, as the case may be. Like any good Yakuza, Tatsu has elaborate tattoos all over his back and arms. He makes a concentrated effort to cover them up these days.
- When She Smiles: Most of his smiles are terrifying, especially in the exercise class chapter. But every now and then, he shows a much cuter smile whenever something goes right in domestic life.
Miku Kuroda
Voiced by: Shizuka Itō (Japanese), Laura Post (English), Mayra Arellano (Latin American Spanish)
Portrayed by: Haruna Kawaguchi
Miku is Tatsu's wife and a career woman working as a designer.
- Badass Adorable: While it is played for comedy, she once clotheslines Tatsu so hard it sends him flying several meters through the air.
- Beware the Nice Ones: She can be just as equally and unintentionally creepy as Tatsu, as shown in Chapter 27. Tatsu also mentions that Miku can sometimes be scary when she is being frustrated.
- Cloudcuckoolander's Minder: Miku seems to make sure Tatsu acts at least somewhat normal. The only time Miku acts out is when she's around things related to PoliCure - and that time when she and Tatsu had nearly the same reaction to a cockroach in the apartment.
- Fangirl: She's a huge fan of the in-universe anime PoliCure and fawns over the merchandise.
- Genki Girl: Downplayed. Miku just seems energetic and a bit foolish at times for someone her age.
- Happily Married: Tatsu and Miku love each other despite their different lifestyles.
- It Runs in the Family: Her brutal cooking style comes from her father.
- Lethal Chef: There's a reason Tatsu does most of the cooking. Miku "cooks" by violently attacking her ingredients and tossing just about everything in the fridge into whatever dish she's making.
- Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Miku's relationship with Tatsu. He is a stone cold ex-criminal while she is career-oriented with a large otaku streak. Best shown when both go shopping together, with him being frugal and her being more willing to splurge money.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Miku looks very much like a younger version of her mother.
- Stronger Than They Look: She looks like an average businesswoman, but she has sent Tatsu flying on several occasions when she struck him in response to some of his antics.
Himawari Kuroda
Played by: Tamaki Shiratori
Tatsu and Miku's daughter, exclusive to the live-action drama.
- Canon Foreigner: She's exclusive to the live-action drama and to add a parent-child/family dynamic to the story.
- Only Sane Man: Plays this role in a more straightforward fashion compared to her mother, constantly asking questions about her father's...eccentricities.
- Parent with New Paramour: Tatsu is only her stepfather, but they're just as fond of each other as if they were blood related.
- Wacky Parent, Serious Child: Compared to her parents, she is much more... "normal".
Others
Masa
Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu (Japanese), Andres Paul Ramacho (English), Eduardo Garza (Latin American Spanish)
Portrayed by: Jun Shison
Tatsu's former underling, who still looks up to his aniki even after all these years.
- Best Friend: Evolves into something resembling this to Tatsu over time, being generally the most important person in Tatsu's life after his wife, and being the first person he calls when he needs a second person for something. He also spends several issues being on casual outings with the Kurodas, like visiting restaurants or having movie nights.
- Butt-Monkey: Especially in the live-action, where Tatsu, Boss, and Lady Boss all slap him whenever something happens.
- Character Development: While following Tatsu, he starts taking steps to get his life in order, such as getting out of bed early and cleaning his apartment. After a while, he starts to genuinely enjoy it for its own sake, and becomes just as homely as Tatsu.
- Delinquent Hair: He has blond hair and often wears the Hawaiian shirts characteristic of yankii, though he's a bit older than most delinquents.
- Dirty Coward: When Masa is being harassed by some rival thugs, he decides to hide behind Tatsu. Tatsu promptly yells at Masa to not drag other people into his own problems.
- Insane Troll Logic: Believes that the way of the Yakuza and that of the house husband are one and the same and decides to follow Tatsu. Given how many yakuza in the series are like Tatsu he might not be that off.
- Lazy Bum: Tatsu call him a legendary wasteman when he shows him how to relax.
- Men Can't Keep House: As the complete opposite of Tatsu he doesn't tidy up his apartment. Though thanks to Tatsu's guidance, he's taking steps to change that.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Tatsu manages to rope him into his domestic hobbies and pursuits, such as building an adorable chair as a DIY project, or growing herbs for cooking.
- Sidekick: Becomes this to Tatsu.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Picks a fight with a larger group of yakuza, refers to Tatsu as aniki (usually translated as bro), acts like the two are close, and assumes he'll immediately help him with the fight. Tatsu has no memory of who he is the second time they meet, indicating that he probably wasn't as important as he thinks he was.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: While he's usually the resident Butt-Monkey, one chapter has Tatsu and another yakuza fight over who has saved more money by quitting smoking. Masa points out that he doesn't smoke and never has, causing everyone to bow down in awe.
Torajiro
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya (Japanese), Ben Pronsky (English), René García (Latin American Spanish)
Portrayed by: Kenichi Takitō
A former Yakuza boss who is forced to retire from his life of crime because Tatsu dismantled his gang while he's in prison, and now runs a crepe food truck.
- Commonality Connection: He and Tatsu are both former Yakuza who share a similar interest in food and cooking, especially confectionery. Thus, despite their unpleasant history (Tatsu had destroyed Tora's gang while the latter is in prison), they quickly settle their dispute with a Cooking Duel, and after a few more petty squabblings, the two end up becoming Vitriolic Best Buds.
- Dub Name Change: In the English dub of the anime, Torajiro's Title is changed to "the Steelfist Tiger".
- Fallen-on-Hard-Times Job: While Tora was in prison, Tatsu decimated his former gang. With no one in the criminal underworld to return to, Tora was left to work in a confectionary food truck.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Tora is a former Yakuza who is said to rival Tatsu in strength, but he's very passionate about sweets and other delicacies, and makes a living selling crepes. He also likes cute rabbits, if his stall's logo indicates anything.
- Red Baron: Bareknuckle Tora.
- The Rival: He's antagonistic towards Tatsu and frequently challenges him to various battles. Since his challenges are non-violent, Tatsu is usually willing to engage with him.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: He and Tatsu would often fly into heated arguments and competitions over petty subjects, but given the nature of their battles, their fights are hardly fueled by genuine animosity. And the riverside sauna trip they went to in Chapter 69 shows that they quite enjoy each other's company despite their bickering. Tora's sister certainly sees Tatsu as his friend.
Hibari Torii
Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese), Melissa Greenspan (English)
Portrayed by: Izumi Inamori
Formerly the co-leader of the Torii Group, now works at a supermarket after her husband's death and the group's disbandment.
- Adaptation Name Change: Her surname was changed to Eguchi in the live-action, and her husband is still alive.
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!: Hibari was the co-leader of an entire Yakuza group, so she's used to commanding respect and being in charge. While she may be on hard times now, having to make a living as a supermarket employee, she still carries herself with the same attitude and won't accept someone looking down on her in any situation.
- Fallen-on-Hard-Times Job: After her husband died and the Torii Group disbanded, Hibari was left with nothing and had to take a job at a supermarket to provide for herself and what few members of the group stuck with her.
- Impractically Fancy Outfit: Hibari still wears her full kimono even as a supermarket employee. This proves to be a hindrance on the job with her large sleeves knocking over canned goods while she stocks the shelves.
- Kindhearted Cat Lover: Torii loves cats and is very excited to visit a cat cafe. In chapter 89, when someone in the neighborhood lost her cat, Tatsu invites Torii along because she "knows the most about cats in this area". Note that despite being a stern Yakuza's wife, she's actually quite a nice person who tries her best to not let her former subordinates be left jobless by getting them jobs in the supermarket, and apologizes to Tatsu when she accidentally charges one of his shopping items twice.
- Pet the Dog: Since she didn't want her former subordinates to be jobless, she got them jobs at the supermarket.
- The Queenpin: Inasmuch as she can be a queenpin of such an Oddly Small Organization.
- Related in the Adaptation: In the manga, Boss is unrelated to Hibari and her husband is a Posthumous Character.
- Rich in Dollars, Poor in Sense: Due to being a former yakuza boss, she isn't exactly used to having to work a day-job. She has a habit of putting the cans in the wrong places and having trouble ringing people up.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Always seen in a kimono, and commands respect as a lady (or at least she used to).
Kikujiro Eguchi/"Boss"
Voiced by: Hōchū Ōtsuka (Japanese), Jason Marnocha (English)
Portrayed by: Naoto Takenaka
Tatsu's former yakuza boss. Hibari's husband in the Live-Action Adaptation.
- Bald Head of Toughness: Subverted since his wife is clearly the tougher one.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": He's just called "Boss", and even in the live-action his wife is the only one to use his name.
- Henpecked Husband: It's clear that his wife rules their household.
- Named by the Adaptation: In the manga he's just called "boss".
- Never My Fault: Whenever his wife scolds him for something, he turns around and blames Masa for it, usually with a slap.
- Related in the Adaptation/Spared by the Adaptation: In the manga, he's unrelated to Hibari and her husband is a Posthumous Character.
- Retired Monster: Boss was as ruthless as any crime leader, even threatening to shoot Tatsu for minor mistakes, but has since retired from engaging in any criminal activity.
Yukari Omae
Portrayed by: Tina Tamashiro
A college student working at a cafe, exclusive to the live-action drama.
- Canon Foreigner: Like Himawari, she's exclusive to the live-action drama and to serve as a potential love interest for Masa.
- Hidden Depths: Worked as a rapper at night.
Bob
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese), Gogo Lomo-David (English)
One of Tatsu's neighbors. An African American who immigrated to Japan because he loves Japanese culture.
- Does Not Like Spam: Bob doesn't like to eat meat he considers undercooked. After helping Tatsu cook Japanese-style barbeque, he admits he can't eat steak cooked that rare.
- Every Japanese Sword is a Katana: Bob seems to think so, as he enthusiastically calls the knife Tatsu pulls to cut with a katana.
- Japanese Honorifics: In the English dub, Bob is the only character to use honorifics in his speech, highlighting how much he loves Japanese culture by trying to adopt it in everyday life.
- Occidental Otaku: Bob loves Japanese culture, going so far as to immigrate to Japan to live it.
- Stock Foreign Name: "Bob" is one of the most common names in the United States, being a variation of "Robert". It's a stock name in Japan for black men.
- Token Minority: Bob is the only foreigner in the cast, and an African American at that.
- Too Dumb to Live: Bob is introduced in the series cooking barbeque in his apartment on a wood grill with the windows closed. He could have died of smoke inhalation if Tatsu hadn't barged in.
