These swords are well-balanced and easy to use, and can deal a lot of damage. Kiwame tachi have a chance to get a free beginning attack.
Bold marks the character's appearance in Warriors.
77, 78 – Koryū Kagemitsu (小竜景光)
Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku), Highest (Kiwame)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced By: Shinnosuke Tachibana
Illustrated by: Yoshiyuki Asajima
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced By: Shinnosuke Tachibana
Illustrated by: Yoshiyuki Asajima
"I'm Koryuu Kagemitsu. A wandering traveler roaming about in search of a master... I wonder, are you my master this time?"
A tachi made by Bizen Osafune smith Kagemitsu. The name comes from the Kurikara dragon engraved on its tang. Some of its many alternative names include 'Kusunoki Kagemitsu' and 'Nozoki Ryuu (peeking dragon) Kagemitsu'. A vagabond forever on a journey in search of his true master.- Aloof Ally: In Kousui; Although he's a nice guy overall and, at least at first, the most level-headed member of the group, he disregards Ookanehira's position as their team's leader for the mission and goes his own way for the majority of the play. At one point, he even walks away from Ookanehira without hearing him out, demonstrating how little he respects his word.
- Animal Motifs: Dragons, because his name comes from the Dragon King Kurikara, whose picture is tattooed on his neck.
- Badass Cape: Wears a black cape that's sky blue on the inside, and he's very much a Badass in a Nice Suit.
- Badass in a Nice Suit: He wears a suit with a loose lavender necktie into battle.
- Blood Knight: In one of his awakening quotes."I'll cut you down...you won't even feel it..."
- Cloudcuckoolander: Koryū in the musical continuity comes off as a bit spacey.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: He's an unfailingly nice guy with long, golden blonde hair.
- The Heart: Plays the mediator for Ookanehira and Nansen whenever they began to butt heads in Kousui.
- I Have Many Names: According to him, Koryuu has been given many names, such as Nankou Kagemitsunote , and Nozokiryuu Kagemitsunote . He doesn't mind being call either one.
- Off with His Head!: He intends to decapitate his enemies during battle."That head of yours, I'm taking it!"
- Only Sane Man: In Kousui, between Ookanehira and Nansen's bickering, Koryū acted as the mediator and was thus, comparatively, the only level-headed member of the group. However, by the midway point of the play, he had grown to become a big part of the problem the group was facing, with Ookanehira taking on the role of being the only sensible one instead.
- Sue Donym: In the play Kousui Sanka no Yuki, he takes on the name Ryuusuke while traveling with Yoshida Shoin.
79, 80 – Kōsetsu Samonji (江雪左文字)
Casual
- Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku)\\, Highest (Kiwame)
School: Samonji (左文字)
Voiced by: Takuya Sato (Japanese), Blake McNamara (English)
Illustrated by: Jiro Suzuki
Live actor: Teruma [2016], Yuusuke Seto [2017] (Stage Play)"I am called Kousetsu Samonji. Is there a day when fighting disappears from the world?"
- The Eeyore: He frequently says that the world of is full of sorrow.
- Badass Pacifist: Believe it or not, he's one of the strongest Tachis after reaching Toku.
- Character Development: For his Kiwame training, he heads to Sagami to meet again with his former master, Itabeoka Kousetsusai. In his letters, he notes his distaste for war despite his existence being that of a weapon, and seeks to quell this contradictory state. However, even after his training his view of war does not change, yet he has come to a conclusion that he needs to end his laments and instead fight on a bitter fight in a world where peace has yet to occur. With this conclusion, he heads back to the Saniwa's side, claiming he will walk through hell with them.
- Hime Cut: A male version. He has even bangs on either side of his face and long back hair.
- Irony: Despite his hatred of conflict, the manga anthologies like to poke fun at his talent at making high-quality troops. Furthermore, he has one of the highest stat distributions in the entire game and his rarity allows him three slots for equipment, making him quite good in battle.
- Martial Pacifist: Influenced by his master, who was a monk, Kousetsu prefers to solve things without violence, but will fight when necessary.
- Rare Random Drop: Is one of the four-petal tachis, along with Ichigo, Tsurumaru, and Uguisumaru.
- Reluctant Warrior: Really doesn't like fighting.
- Snow Means Death: He's often associated with ice and snow thanks to his appearance and name meaning "snowy bay". This trope is in play because his injured sprites resemble blood drops on snow.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Normally cool and cynical due to his dissatisfaction with the necessary violence they must partake in,
Word of God says he cares a lot about his younger brothers.
97, 98 – Yamabushi Kunihiro (山伏国広)
Kiwame
Rarity: High (Basic/Toku), Special (Kiwame)
School: Horikawa (堀川)
Voiced by: Tooru Sakurai (Japanese), Bryan Massey (English)
Illustrated by: Midoro
Live actors: Masafumi Yokoyama (Stage Play)
School: Horikawa (堀川)
Voiced by: Tooru Sakurai (Japanese), Bryan Massey (English)
Illustrated by: Midoro
Live actors: Masafumi Yokoyama (Stage Play)
"Kakakaka! This humble servant of Buddha is called Yamabushi Kunihiro! Each new day is another day for training!"
A tachi from the Kunihiro school, he is an enthusiastic and boisterous man who is nonetheless a very devout Buddhist.- Ascended Extra: While he has a few notable interactions in adaptations, he gets a rather well received supporting role in the stage play, playing mentor and father figure to Yamanbagiri.
- The Cameo: He can be seen sitting amongst the other Touken Danshi at the end of the first live-action film.
- Cool Big Bro: To the other Kunihiro swords, and especially to Yamanbagiri in the stage play series.
- Hidden Depths: In his recollection with Juzumaru, he's shown to be very open-minded of other's faiths and goals behind his eccentricity, to the point where he seems like a fully-realized Buddhist monk.
- Japanese Spirit: A very Hot-Blooded Warrior Monk who enthusiastically believes and engages in constant training of both the body and mind. He even gets a recollection where he stands in contrast with Juzumaru's Yamato Nadeshiko.
- Meaningful Name: The Yamabushi
are a group of ascetic monks who practice Shugendo Buddhism, hence why Yamabushi himself is such a devout Buddhist. - No Indoor Voice: His voice is rather loud and booming, especially if he's the one who speaks while the game loads."Uoooooooh! Touken Ranbu!"
- Sibling Yin-Yang: With Yamanbagiri. Yamabushi is enthusiastic and optimistic, while Yamanbagiri is more reserved and pessimistic due to his issues.
- Signature Laugh: His is a rather distinctive KA KA KA KA!
- Third-Person Person: His use of the archaic masculine pronoun "sesso" (which literally means "this humble monk") is often translated as referring to himself the third person as "this humble servant of Buddha".
- Warrior Monk: He is very dedicated to his faith and spiritual training. Unlike Kousetsu, he's much more enthusiastic about fighting and becoming stronger."I must train! As a monk, I have not trained nearly enough! Muscle...! I must build more muscle!"
107, 108, 109, 110, 111 – Higekiri (髭切)
Toku
Toku Ni
Toku San
Kiwame
Casual
Rarity: Medium (Basic); High (Toku/Toku Ni); Special (Toku San), Highest (Kiwame)
Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae (Japanese), Matt Shipman [Hanamaru];
Kyle McCarley [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Shirano
Live actor: Hiroki Miura (Musicial), Takamichi Sato (Movie), Nakamura Kangyoku (Kabuki)
A tachi who once belonged to the Minamoto clan, Higekiri is laid-back and somewhat forgetful due to the long life he's lived. Unlike his brother, he's less attached to the notion of representing the clan as their treasure, feeling those things don't matter in the present day.Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae (Japanese), Matt Shipman [Hanamaru];
Kyle McCarley [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Shirano
Live actor: Hiroki Miura (Musicial), Takamichi Sato (Movie), Nakamura Kangyoku (Kabuki)
"I'm a treasure of the Minamoto clan, Higekiri. Are you fine with being my master in the present age?"
He is a major player in the second live-action film.
- Aloof Big Brother: Actually averted. Higekiri cannot remember Hizamaru's name and is occasionally prone to teasing him, but it's clear that he loves him, even asking the saniwa to take care of him. The two brothers get along quite well when they're seen together, and Higekiri has several moments in Hanamaru and the musicals in which he displays clear affection for him.
- Animal Motifs: Doves in official material, due to him forming a connection to Hachiman in his Kiwame. Hachiman was the patron god of the Genji clan, and it was thought that doves were his messengers. In fanon however it's more common to find him associated with lions, due to his fluffy blond hair and fangs.
- Beware the Silly Ones:
- Like Mikazuki, he references his long life as a sword and has an almost childish personality. However, he is also very casual about the fact he's a sword whose names are backed by legends of demon-killing in battle. At Toku San, he has the highest Impulse (affects critical hit rate) and Killing Blow (affects the chance of Awakening) stats out of the tachis.
- In Zoku Hanamaru, he's still as spacey as he is in the browser game, but readily pulls out his sword when he sees Shishiou's Nue, fully intent on killing it.
- Birds of a Feather: He gets along remarkably well with Mikazuki due to their long lives and oddball personalities. In fact, they get along so well that Higekiri's able to figure out Mikazuki's thought process, something that allows him to figure out why he's so dead set on interfering with history in the musical.
- Cloudcuckoolander: His odd sense of priorities, or lack of them in some cases, causes worry for his brother.
- Coat Cape: He has a habit of wearing his jacket on his shoulders, whether in his normal outfit or his internal affairs outfit.
- Cute Little Fangs: Like his brother Hizamaru, he has them too.
- The Dividual: Of the Syndividual variety with his brother Hizamaru. While they have distinct personalities, they are rarely ever seen apart in the adaptations in which they appear, even manifesting at the same time in the second live-action film because Hizamaru didn't want Higekiri to go into battle alone.
- Forgetful Jones:
- He has trouble with remembering names, whether it's one of the many names he's been known by or his own brother Hizamaru's name.
- In the manga anthology SQEX Formation, he can only remember other characters' names through mnemonics; Higekiri is able to remember Horikawa's name because he bought him sweets, and he is finally able to remember Hizamaru's name because "hiza" means knee.
- Downplayed somewhat in Katsugeki where Higekiri does call Hizamaru by name and only jokingly gets it wrong in a teasing manner.
- I Have Many Names: "Higekiri" is only one of the names he's been known by throughout history, and he makes various references to these other names (even if he can't exactly remember what those names are). Some of these include "Sun-Nashi" (Missing Sunnote ), "Tomokiri" (the Friend Slayer, or Equal Cutter), "Shishinoko" (Lion's Cub) and "Onikirimaru" (Demon Slayer).
- Mellow Fellow: He's a fairly laid-back guy, justifying his mellow demeanor by claiming that most things don't matter to him much after living as a sword for over a millennium.
- Perpetual Smiler: In contrast to Hizamaru, which adds to his more carefree attitude.
- A Rare Sentence: Hangs a lampshade on being an Animate Inanimate Object when he's sent out to do fieldwork. He also suggests that if he becomes an expert at it, maybe his name should be changed to "Zassougiri" (Weed Cutter)."Ahahaha, I've been a sword for a thousand years but...This is the first time I'm doing fieldwork."
- Vocal Dissonance: His voice is somewhat high, making him sound more like a young teenager than an adult.
112, 113, 114, 115 – Hizamaru (膝丸)
Toku
Toku Ni
Kiwame
Casual
- Rarity: Medium (Basic); High (Toku); Special (Toku Ni), Highest (Kiwame)
Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto (Japanese), Christopher Wehkamp [Hanamaru];
Joe Zieja [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Shirano
Live actor: Akira Takano (Musicial), Ryosuke Yamamoto (Movie), Kichitarō Kamimura (Kabuki)"I am a treasure of the Minamoto Clan, Hizamaru. Has my brother arrived here yet?"
He is a major player in the second live-action film.
- Animal Motifs: In official material, butterflies. This motif started appearing around the same time as when Higekiri's dove motif appeared, and his dove motif was eventually revealed to be connected to his kiwame. As Hizamaru has yet to recieve his kiwame, it's unknown (but very possible) if his butterfly motif will be connected in the same way. In fanon however, he is often associated with snakes due to his green hair and fangs.
- Big Brother Worship: He greatly admires Higekiri, with most of his lines being about his "anija" in some way, and he constantly strives to gain Higekiri's approval. Unfortunately for him, Higekiri's forgetfulness and generally ditzy personality makes it difficult for him to return his feelings in full. This is based off Yoshitsune's admiration for his elder brother Yoritomo, who was one of his owners.
- Cloudcuckoolander's Minder: Has shades of this towards Higekiri, between asking the saniwa if his brother isn't being a bother and expressing reluctance at leaving his brother behind at the citadel, implying that Higekiri probably isn't aware of important events or dates, and chiding Higekiri for giving out New Year's money to every single person they meet.
- Determinator: In his Awakening mode:"I can't afford letting my loss affect my elder brother's honor!"
- The Dividual: Of the Syndividual variety with his brother Higekiri. While they have distinct personalities, they are rarely ever seen apart in the adaptations in which they appear, even manifesting at the same time in the second live-action film because Hizamaru didn't want Higekiri to go into battle alone.
- I Have Many Names: Like Higekiri, "Hizamaru" is only one of the names he's been called throughout history and he regularly makes references to those other names. These include "Makuragami" (On the Cushion), "Kumokirimaru" (Spider Slasher), "Hoemaru" (Howler) and "Usumidori" (Light Green).
- Incest Subtext: His Big Brother Worship, plus some of his interactions with Higekiri in Hanamaru, may imply that his love for his brother goes beyond platonic. Unfortunately for him, Higekiri seems to be Oblivious to Love.
- Not So Stoic: Discussed when sent to spar with Iwatooshi. He tries to intimidate Iwatooshi and taunts him, but later loses composure and feels ashamed for being immature. Iwatooshi surprisingly reassures him it's fine, as immaturity shows he still has a heart.
- Oddly Visible Eyebrows: His bangs look semi-transparent to show off his eyes and eyebrows behind them. Humorously, the wig his actor wears in the musical stays faithful to this look.
- Only Sane Man: He is assigned to a team with the Sanjou in Tsuwamono Domo, and, much like Kashuu Kiyomitsu in Atsukashiyama Ibun, struggles to wrangle them in as the most outwardly level-headed member of the group. But unlike Kashuu, he also has to deal with the added challenge of monitoring Mikazuki Munechika, who has a tendency to go off and do his own thing, in addition to keeping his equally carefree brother Higekiri in check. This trope is lampshaded toward the end of the play when Hizamaru begins to wonder if he's too uptight, before declaring that he can also be carefree and cartwheeling off the stage.
- Perpetual Frowner: In contrast to Higekiri, which adds to his more straight-laced demeanor.
- Averted in Katsugeki where he's shown to have a more sunny disposition, particularly when interacting with Higekiri.
- In the musical, he is more serious to than his brother Higekiri, but it's Played for Laughs because no one takes him seriously and his attempts to keep the group in-line and focused on their mission falls on deaf ears. In the end, he begins to wonder if he's too uptight and decides he'll start being more carefree, too.
- Satellite Character: To his brother Higekiri. The two are rarely seen apart in any work, and even in adaptations where he is able to engage with other characters, Higekiri and his need for his approval are at the forefront of most of his motivations and dialogue. Most of the reverse isn't true for Higekiri, though, due to the fact that he often forgets he has a brother in the first place.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: One of the most obvious cases in a game that already has a few instances of this trope, as reflected in their opposite personalities, stats, and appearances.
- Sorry That I'm Dying: If he gets destroyed:"Elder brother... Once again, we will be separated..."
122, 123 – Shishiou (獅子王)
Kiwame
Casual
- Rarity: High (Basic/Toku), Special (Kiwame)
Voiced by: Ryōta Ōsaka (Japanese), Blake Shepard (English)
Illustrated by: Bantya Shibano"The name's Shishiou. My black lacquered tachi is cool too, right!? I'll be super active, so use me a lot, okay? Heheh."
- Animal Motifs: Associated with lions, since that's essentially what his name means. It gets to the point where if you leave him alone as you secretary for a few minutes, he'll mutter a bored sounding "Gao~".
- Commonality Connection: He was once wielded by an old man, which helps him bond with "elderly" Touken Danshi like Kogarasumaru and Mikazuki Munechika in the spin-offs.
- Deathbed Confession: If broken in Kiwame form, he admits to never having been used in battle before being summoned to the Saniwa's citadel."Before I disappear..., can I tell you something…? Before coming here... I never... had the chance to go to real battle... So I…"
- Fashionable Asymmetry: There's quite a bit of this going on with him. In his regular outfit, he wears a different kind of glove on each hand and one leg of his pants is shorter than the other, and in his internal affairs outfit he seems to have rolled up one leg of his pants just to keep the effect.
- Freudian Slip: Since he was so attached to his former owner, who was an old man, he'll sometimes address the Saniwa as "old man" by mistake.
- Genki Boy: He's very excitable and always seems to be in a good mood.
- Height Angst: According to Word of God, he's conscious about his height.
- Nemean Skinning: He wears the skin of a dead nue over his shoulder, since according to legend, his real-life owner killed one. However, his damaged portrait implies that the nue might still be alive.
- Nice Guy: Word of God describes him as being kind and having a strong sense of justice.
- Smug Super: He's a nice guy, but he's also very cocky, even complaining about not being chosen as the team's leader if he's put on a team as a member. In Kiwame form, however, he admits that he was never used in a real battle before being summoned into Honmaru, implying that he's overcompensating with his attitude."A new comrade has arrived. I don't think he's as good as me, though."
- Undying Loyalty: He was very attached to his former master and talks about him a lot. Even after his Kiwame training, this aspect of his character doesn't change.
124 – Kogarasumaru (小烏丸)
Casual
- Rarity: Highest (Basic/Toku)
Voiced by: Soichiro Hoshi (Japanese), Greg Ayres (English)
Illustrated by: Towoji Honojiro
Live actor: Yuki Tamaki (Stage Play, Movie), Ichikawa Shun'en II (Kabuki)"My name is Kogarasumaru. To battle foreign foes is my destiny. Even after a thousand years, that will not change."
He is a major player in the second live-action film.
- Animal Motifs: Crows. His name literally means "little crow" and he wears crow feathers in his hair.
- Anime Hair: His hair somehow resembles a pair of wings.
- Cloudcuckoolander: At least in Hanamaru. He consistently reminds people that they can revere him as father, seemingly not noticing that no one, except two of the Tantou, take him seriously and think he's a weirdo.
- Commonality Connection: He instantly bonds with Shichiseiken in a recollection due to their status' as the oldest swords in the citadel.
- Facial Markings: He has two black dots on his face, one below each eye, but it isn't clear if these are moles or just part of his makeup.
- Fashionable Asymmetry: One of his sleeves is much longer and wider than the other.
- The Fatalist: Strongly believes he is led by fate.
- The Gadfly: In one recollection, he has fun messing with Shishiou.
- Hime Cut: Turns out to have this hairstyle once his hair is down in his yukata sprite.
- Meaningful Appearance: Unlike Kogitsunemaru, he appears as a small child due to the "Ko" Kanji in his name, despite being one of the game's oldest swords.
- Muscles Are Meaningless: He appears to be a fragile child, lithe and little, but according to Internal Affairs dialogue, he can apparently hand Ookanehira's ass to him during sparring.
- Uniqueness Value: He was the first non-Tenka Goken to be introduced with the Highest Rarity (beating Ookanehira's release by nearly a month), with his rarity stemming from the fact that he is a legendary sword that is believed to have laid the foundation for the formal art of nihontou, starting the trend that would lead to the creation of other swords in a similar style.
- Unknown Rival: Ookanehira has one-sided beef with him, but unlike with the Tenka Goken, where he resents them out of jealousy for not being considered one of them, his reason for being snarky toward Kogarasumaru is unknown. Kogarasumaru doesn't return the sentiment, as far as the players are shown.
- Winged Humanoid: After Kiwame training, he gains a pair of black wings as a reference to his name and crow motif.
126 – Nukemaru (抜丸)
Casual
A tachi passed down from the Taira of Ise. His name is derived from an incident where he is said to have slipped out of his scabbard and killed a giant serpent by his own will. He's also been called 'Kogarashi' because he is said to have dried up a large tree one night by simply leaning against it. A swallowtail butterfly who tells of the impermanence of all things.
- I Have Many Names: His current name derives from the fact that he slipped from his scabbard to drive a serpent away. He also had a previous name, "Kogarashi," which came from his overnight withering of the tree he was leaned against.
130, 131 – Tsurumaru Kuninaga (鶴丸国永)
Kiwame
Casual
Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku), Highest (Kiwame)
Voiced by: Soma Saito (Japanese), Ricco Fajardo [Hanamaru];
Mark Whitten [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Izumi
Live actors: Toshiyuki Someya [2016, 2019-Current], Kento [2017-2019] (Stage Play); Kurumu Okamiya (Musical)
Voiced by: Soma Saito (Japanese), Ricco Fajardo [Hanamaru];
Mark Whitten [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Izumi
Live actors: Toshiyuki Someya [2016, 2019-Current], Kento [2017-2019] (Stage Play); Kurumu Okamiya (Musical)
"Yo. I'm Tsurumaru Kuninaga. Are you surprised that somebody like me came here so suddenly?"
A tachi made in the Heian period by a student of the blacksmith who crafted Mikazuki Munechika. Due to being removed from his resting place so many times, he has a love for surprises.- Adaptational Friendship: In the original browser game, the two don't have a personal relationship, but it's become standard practice for the spin-offs to show that he either has or develops a close relationship with Mikazuki Munechika. Similar to the Dategumi, this actually has a historical basis: not only was the Mikazuki Munechika forged by Tsurumaru's forgers mentor and father (or grandfather), but the Tsurumaru Kuninaga blade also bears striking resemblance to the Mikazuki, leading to speculation that Tsurumaru Kuninaga was either directly modeled after it or that it was used as a reference during Tsurumaru's creation.
- Affectionate Nickname: Shokudaikiri and Taikogane call him "Tsuru-san". Buzen Gou also uses this nickname for him in the musical.
- Alternate Self: He has two selves in the Touken Ranbu Stage continuity, one played by Toshiyuki Someya and the other by Kento.
- Ambiguously Related: Tsurumaru Kuninaga was forged by the son (or grandson) and disciple of the Sanjou's swordsmith, Gojo Kuninaga, but you wouldn't know it from the browser game alone due to a lack of in-game interactions between them and Tsurumaru, and the fact that Tsurumaru's school is unlisted in his book description. The spin-offs attempt to address this by consistently depicting Mikazuki and Tsurumaru as friends, but the efforts to bridge the Sanjou and Gojo schools are also, for some reason, typically restricted to interactions with Mikazuki alone; when he does appear in a work with other Sanjou, he rarely, if ever, interacts with them in a particularly meaningful way, if he interacts with them at all.
- Animal Motifs: Cranes. He has the kanji for "crane" in his name, and he regularly mentions how similar he looks to a crane thanks to his all white clothing.
- Back-to-Back Badasses: Most prominently with Mikazuki Munechika in several of the adaptations.
- Bling of War: He returns from Kiwame training with fancy but bulky armor, which does not appear to impede his movements in battle in the slightest.
- Boisterous Bruiser: Portrayed as this in Katsugeki.
- Borrowed Catchphrase: He steals Mikazuki's "Brilliant, brilliant" catchphrase in Muden, much to Mikazuki's surprise.
- The Cameo:
- Appeared as a cameo character in the Granblue Fantasy x Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu collaboration event Katsugeki Touken Ranbu: Fate Horizon alongside several other Katsugeki characters, but unlike Mikazuki Munechika, Izuminokami Kanesada, and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, he was not released as a playable unit. Instead, his sword was temporarily available for trade in the event shop, coming with a Fate Episode for Tsurumaru that unlocked at the max level.
- He also appears in the film adaptation, but his face is either obscured in the shots in which he appears or he is only heard offscreen.
- Character Catchphrase: "Are you surprised?"
- Character Development: Defied. As part of his quest for self-discovery, Tsurumaru returns to Kamakura to see one of his most well-known masters, Lord Houjou Sadatoki, the man who stole from his previous master's tomb. After observing him, Tsurumaru begins to wonder what his nature is, realizing he doesn't know the answer and wondering if he's obsessed with surprises in order to reject peaceful days, rebelling against what his former masters struggled so hard to obtain in life. In the end, he concludes that, regardless of the reason, there is no point in attempting to change his nature at this point, and that the best he can do is provide his current master with peaceful days while interrupting them with surprises in moderation, returning home nearly unchanged from how he was when he left.
- Connected All Along: The browser game took a little longer than the spin-offs to reveal that Tsurumaru is familiar with Ookurikara and Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, owing to the fact that all three were previously owned by the Date clan. Dialogue between him and the characters was added to the game after the addition of Taikogane Sadamune, who was also owned by the Date clan and is very close with all three of them.
- Cool Old Guy: Having been forged in the Heian era, he is one of the oldest swords and is this by default due to his laidback personality, though unlike fellow Heian swords like Mikazuki Munechika, or even earlier swords like Kogarasumaru, he doesn't lean into this trope as much in the browser game due to his youthful characterization, and in the adaptations, how senior he actually considers himself, or if he considers himself senior at all, depends on whose writing him, with some writers making him out to be more of a manchild instead. That being said, he at least considers himself to be senior to his friends Mitsutada, Ookurikara, and Taikogane regardless of the continuity, affectionately referring to them as "[insert nickname]-bou," which is how older men refer to younger boys.
- Coy, Girlish Flirt Pose: He does this at Mikazuki Munechika in episode 10 of Hanamaru.
- Does Not Like Spam: Send him out to do fieldwork with Mitsutada, and he reveals that he can't stand vegetables, particularly their smell. Fans theorize that it may have to with the scent of fresh earth, like when he was stolen from his owner's grave.
- '80s Hair: His hair is cut into a mullet-style.
- Hellish Pupils: In Katsugeki, his pupils become vertically slit to emphasize the excitement he feels in battle.
- Iconic Item: In Hanamaru, his COOL sunglasses. They have since become defictionalized and sold as both the original sunglasses and as a necklace due to their
memetic nature. - Immortal Immaturity: He is nearly a millennium old, but he exudes a youthful vigour and charm that rivals some of the younger generations of Touken Danshi. Some adaptations, such as Stage Touken Ranbu, exaggerate this aspect of his personality, making him come across as an unruly manchild in non-serious situations.
- Irony: Cranes are believed to give their owners longevity, but Tsurumaru didn't. Instead, most people that owned him died not long after they acquired him. Tsurumaru himself, however, does have longevity, as he was created in the Heian era and has remained intact until now.
- Manchild: Tsurumaru is very playful and mischievous in the stage play and Warriors continuities, frequently wrecking havoc and pissing Hasebe off.
- The Nicknamer: He calls Shokudaikiri "Mitsu-bou" and Ookurikara "Kara-bou," "Bou" being a term of endearment for young boys. He also never says it in the browser game, but the musical reveals that he calls Taikogane Sadamune "Sada-bou."
- Not Drawn to Scale: An odd example mainly because of his footwear. Tsurumaru's official height is listed as being 177 centimeters, presumably not accounting for the height his trademark geta sandals add because he's drawn to be the exact same size both with and without them on. That said, official height charts count the sandals toward his height, raising the question of how tall he's actually supposed to be. The anime adaptations (and promotional materials for the musical, for some reason) also tend to make the same mistake of failing to account for the height added by the sandals, resulting in him being smaller than other tachi such as Mikazuki Munechika, who is 180 centimeters, despite the fact that the sandals should make them the same height.
- Old Soldier: In Katsugeki and The Musical, Tsurumaru Kuninaga is presented as a seasoned citadel defender with a great deal more experience than the other characters he joins in handling the Historical Revisionists and protecting history. Being nearly a millennium old, he is also among the oldest swords and has accumulated wisdom that he imparts onto the younger members of his groups.
- Odd Friendship:
- Given that Tsurumaru is typically sociable and energetic, and Ookurikara is a moody, brooding loner, Ookurikara is probably the least likely person Tsurumaru could get along with. However, they have a friendship that dates back to when Tsurumaru was most likely owned by Date Masamune, or at the very least by the Date clan, and they usually are depicted as being very close in a way. Even in spin-offs where they aren't depicted as being particularly close, Tsurumaru forces interactions with the unwilling Ookurikara anyway.
- Aside from the Dategumi, he is often shown to have a close bond with the mellow Mikazuki Munechika in the spin-offs (or is revealed to have had a close relationship with him in the past, such as in Toumyu and Katsugeki) despite their vastly differently personalities.
- Out of Focus: Even though he's a Date clan sword, he rarely interacts with Taikogane Sadamune after his introduction in Zoku, despite the fact that the majority of those interactions are Dategumi-focused, and is mysteriously absent from the Dategumi-centric ending song.
- Palette Swap: His clothes and hair turn black in the stage play after he is temporarily corrupted by the historical retrograde army.
- Perpetual Smiler: Rarely, if ever, seen without a smile on his face.
- Power Glows: He returns to the citadel with new spiritual power as a result of Kiwame training, which cause his blade to glow white and emit feathers in reference to his crane motif.
- Power Trio: With Shokudaikiri Mitsutada and Ookurikara, along with Taikogane Sadamune acting as the Tagalong Kid of the group.
- Rare Random Drop: As a special rarity sword (four sakura petals). Easier to obtain than, say, Mikazuki Munechika, but saniwas, especially the new ones, most likely won't be seeing him unless they get lucky on smithing.
- The Slacker: Not as much as some other swords, although in-game he complains about being assigned certain chores, calling it "dumb work" when asking the Saniwa what they want him to do next, and is shown to occasionally slack off in some of the adaptations.
- His laziness is somewhat expanded upon in Warriors, in which Hasebe notes that he frequently oversleeps, he's forced to admit that he drops assignments he doesn't enjoy, and also requires Mitsutada to coerce him into helping till the fields due to his dislike of dirt. He also asks Shokudaikiri or one of the other handier swords to do his laundry for him rather than doing it himself.
- Ship Tease: Has gotten a bit with Mikazuki Munechika over the many spin-offs they've both appeared in.
- He gets a bit with Mikazuki Munechika in season 1 of Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru. There's even a scene of him helping Mikazuki get dressed.
- In the stage play Muden, he tells Mikazuki that he's having fun because when he's with him, the surprises never stop coming. This is significant, given how important surprises are to Tsurumaru. He also dusts off a rock for Mikazuki to sit on, despite not caring enough to do so for himself as the one dressed in white. Tsurumaru also admits after Mikazuki’s disappearance that he feels lonely without him.
- His debut in the musical Kishou Hongi sets up him having a special relationship with Mikazuki Munechika, continuing on the trend of the two being connected in some way. It all comes to a head in the play Michi no Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu, where it's revealed that they were once very close, to the point where they adopted the same fighting style, but had their friendship fall apart in an unexplained incident that left Tsurumaru behaving very much like a Tsundere ex toward Mikazuki.
- Sixth Ranger: To the second unit of Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu. He doesn't join the team until episode 5 and is also the final addition to the unit.
- Slasher Smile:
- He has one in the game while in his Awakened state.
- In Katsugeki, he is portrayed as a rather bloodthirsty warrior since he seems to enjoy killing the Retrograde army and prolonging their suffering during battle.
- He has one in the game while in his Awakened state
- Skewed Priorities: In his line if he's destroyed, he seems to be more worried about his clothes than himself."What a bummer...with these robes dyed completely in red...I don't resemble a crane anymore."
- Sword Beam: In Katsugeki episode 13, Tsurumaru's takes the form of a wing, going along with his crane motif. This is also used in his Warriors ultimate attack.
- The Trickster: Loves to surprise people.
- Utility Weapon: Tsurumaru is often shown using his sword as a cane to support himself when not using it in battle.
- The Prankster: His love of surprises isn't limited to jumping out and scaring people; in the adaptations, he also sets up traps for people to stumble into, much to their annoyance.
- Vocal Dissonance: Tsurumaru, who is a very pretty teenager looking man, has a deep and manly voice with a rough way of speaking, making it a bit jarring to hear.
Tsurumaru (Musical Touken Ranbu)
- Adaptational Angst Upgrade: While retaining his basic comedic and often whimsical character, the musical depicts him as a complex, morally gray yet tragic figure who takes on all of the responsibility and the mental strain of his groups mission all on himself while maintaining a carefree smile. This is in stark contrast to most depictions of Tsurumaru, who has a genuine lighthearted demeanor rather than using it as a front to mask his inner sorrow, and who, on top of having a love for the battlefield, has hidden depths for being "wise" due to his longevity that he only shows in certain circumstances.
- Anti-Hero: More so than most Touken Danshi, as he firmly leans into the idea of doing whatever it means necessary to preserve history, even if it means waging a war and murdering innocents who were historically meant to die or ensuring that their deaths happen. He doesn't enjoy playing such a villainous role, however, and breaks down near the end of Paraiso because of it.
- Apologetic Attacker: He tells Suinshinshi "No hard feelings" just before very nearly breaking him in an attempt to force Mikazuki to confront him.
- Borrowed Catchphrase: In Shinken Ranbusai 2022, he borrows Mikazuki's audience greeting line from Shinken Ranbusai 2018, but also steals Mikazuki's fanservice line "You're so cute" note with it, which was originally said by him in the browser game (during horse duty) but was repurposed to be an audience fanservice line during performances from Atsukashiyama Ibun onward."Alright then, I'll be borrowing that guy's words from 4 years ago. Masters, can you vow to, from hereon too, keep loving this Citadel?! You're so cute."
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: He's eccentric, and his methods for protecting history are questionable, but there's a reason the Saniwa trusts him so much: he's a veteran sword with a lot experience whose odd methods actually work.
- Cannot Spit It Out: When it comes to people, he prefers to act on or bottle up his feelings rather than admit to them outright. Unfortunately for him, this means he can't tell Mikazuki that he misses him directly, instead telling him that the Saniwa is saddened by his disappearance during their confrontation. He also ultimately let's Mikazuki leave him behind again at the end of Michi no Oku, only giving him the parting advice not to push himself too hard, but his hallucinating Mikazuki by his side again back at the citadel reveals that that was the last thing he wanted.
- Change the Uncomfortable Subject: In Honmaru Hana Koyomi, when Tsurumaru gets asked about the plum blossom tree that has been growing in the citadel since its founding, he confidently starts explaining how he dug the tree's hole. However, when Suishinshi asks about Mikazuki Munechika's role in planting the tree, the conversation quickly turns awkward as he solemnly confirms. Suishinshi tries to speak again after a long, uncomfortable silence, but Tsurumaru abruptly cuts him off and says they should start pruning the tree.
- Changing of the Guard: Invoked in the story, as he is abruptly forced to take Mikazuki's position as one of the citadel's main pillars following Mikazuki's sudden departure sometime after the events of Tsuwamono Domo. This is hammered home in side story performances, where Mikazuki has been absent in recent years to reflect his disappearance and Tsurumaru becomes a large presence in his stead, taking on his leading roles and often filling in for him during group musical numbers where Mikazuki would normally sing. Tsurumaru also takes the lead in the (almost) full Touken Danshi version of "Touken Ranbu" during Suehirogari, just as Mikazuki did in Kotobuki Ranbu Ongyoukusai.
- Character Catchphrase: "Like boom and then kapow!" whenever he's describing a plan, much to the confusion of his teammates.
- Characterization Marches On: Tsurumaru Kuninaga in Kishou Hongi is a very different character from Tsurumaru in Paraiso, as he is more light-hearted, playful, and caring toward his teammates, which is more consistent with how Tsurumaru is usually portrayed in most media. Despite being a subsequent main installment, the Tsurumaru that appears in Paraiso is a broken Stepford Smiler who hides his true feelings behind a mask of lightheartedness and is spartan towards his teammates, with this portrayal becoming the official, or at least consistent, characterization in later installments.
- Combat Pragmatist:
- Played for Laughs; In Kotobuki Ranbu, he pulls a spider from his robe and throws it at Otegine to distract him during a sparring match.
- In clashes with his fellow Touken Danshi, he uses his sword, sheath, grabs, kicks, and fists to gain the upper hand, whereas they only attack him with their sword.
- Connected All Along: While he was only introduced as having a relationship with Mikazuki Munechika, Shinken Ranbusai 2022 included a throwaway line between him and fellow veteran Yamanbagiri Kunihiro revealing that they had worked together on previous missions. Michi no Oku later revealed that not only do the three recognize each other as the third, fourth, and fifth swords manifested during the citadel's inception, but that they were all on the mission Yamanbagiri mentioned in Kousui Sanka, where Yamanbagiri's comrade broke, and that they were all traumatized by the incident.
- Cultured Warrior: In the musical continuity, he is a strong fighter who also enjoys performing graceful storytelling songs and dances for the Saniwa in his spare time. He also heads the summoning ceremony in Uta Awase, which results in the manifestation of Matsui and Kuwana Gou.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: In Shunpu Touri no Sakazuki, he introduces a freshly manifested Ookurikara to the citadel by "playfully" beating the living hell out of him without warning and without giving him an opportunity to defend himself, and then leaves him unconscious on the ground for several hours. He even makes several attempts to actually stab him with his sword.
- Dance Battler: His movements in battle makes it look like he's dancing as well as fighting.
- Dead Person Impersonation: In Paraiso, after Amakusa Shirou is prematurely killed by the Historical Revisionists, he takes on his name and role in the Shimabara Rebellion along with Hyuuga Masamune to ensure that history proceeds as intended.
- Easily Forgiven: No matter how far he goes, no one seems to hold grudges against him for long, with even Matsui, who he put through the trauma of reliving the Shimabara Rebellion again, but this time as a human who is helping to do the killing, only holding his until the end of the Paraiso before dropping it when he realizes what Tsurumaru's intentions were.
- Establishing Character Moment: Tsurumaru has a fairly casual conversation with the Saniwa following his debut song, in which he repeatedly interrupts him and establishes that they've known each other long enough for this type of interaction between them to be "normal." This conversation also reveals Tsurumaru's carefree and somewhat unruly personality.
- Evil Laugh: Laughs maniacally while beating Ookurikara unconscious in Shunpu Touri no Sakazuki.
- Everyone Has Standards: He does not take kindly to Emosaku ratting out the rebels to the Shogunate, and holds the fact that he started the war over his head. He even goes so far as to reveal to him that he will be the only survivor of the rebellion, just to emotionally scar him, and refuses to let Emosaku clear his conscience to him whenever he tries, as he believes his reasoning for starting the war doesn't matter.
- Experienced Protagonist: Tsurumaru Kuninaga is pretty much the main character of Paraiso and he is revealed to be one of Honmaru's oldest swords in terms of both age and length of time living there and protecting everyone. This doesn't mean waging a war and ensuring the deaths of thousands of people is any easier for him, however.
- Face Your Fears: His plan for helping Matsui Gou recover from the trauma over the Shimabara Rebellion was to have him side with the Shogunate and actively participate in the mass murder of innocents, just as he was used to do when he was still an inanimate sword without a choice in the matter. Tsurumaru acknowledges that this is a horrible way to help him, but Buzen, of all people, agrees with his method of exposure therapy, since he believes that people should face his fears, and because he can now be there for Matsui this time and help him process his grief.
- Faking the Dead: He briefly pretends to be dead as a "joke" after being injured by the Historical Revisionists. He apologizes after seeing Ookurikara's reaction.
- Fighting Your Friend: In Michi no Oku, he purposefully beats up Suishinshi, his teammate, in order to draw Mikazuki Munechika into a direct confrontation, knowing that Mikazuki, who was watching from a distance, would intervene.
- Foil: To Mikazuki Munechika.
- Mikazuki's color palette is dark, with him mostly wearing dark blue, whereas Tsurumaru primarily wears white.
- Although they approach their mission similarly—preferring to work alone and taking on most of the emotional weight of their missions while maintaining a carefree exterior to conceal the strain they feel—Mikazuki tries to handle everything on his own to spare others the unpleasantness of the lengths he must go to protect history, while Tsurumaru forces others to face these same painful things head-on in order for them to grow and better cope with their roles as the protectors of history.
- Mikazuki tends to take on a lot of responsibility by listening to other people's pain, whereas Tsurumaru tends to shut other people out so he doesn't have to hear what he doesn't want to hear.
- Both of them exhibit a degree of hypocrisy in their positions. Mikazuki attempts to shield others because he believes that they are not emotionally capable of bearing the responsibility, even though he advised Iwatooshi to treat Imanotsurugi like an adult when he reveals the truth about his non existence to him. Tsurumaru, on the other hand, angrily criticizes Mikazuki for treating the rebels of the Shimabara Rebellion like a statistic in an effort to preserve history, despite the fact that he not only actively led these same individuals to their deaths for the same reason but also made his teammates follow suit, with the justification that it is their duty to preserve history no matter how painful it is.
- Freudian Excuse: He's a pretty ruthless mentor who borders on being a Jerkass at times because he lost a close friend and teammate during a mission gone wrong and wants to strengthen the newer additions to the citadel so that they don't make the same mistakes his team did.
- Good Old Fisticuffs: At least when facing off against other Touken Danshi, he uses his fists as well as his sword and sheath.
- Heartbroken Badass: Michi no Oku reveals that he has also been devastated by the loss of several friends from the early days of the citadel, losing one possibly due to death and another to a potentially futile mission in which he constantly puts himself in danger of being killed and refuses to (or likely cannot) let anyone accompany him on, not even Tsurumaru himself, despite their close relationship, which caused their friendship to sever and left Tsurumaru both lonely and full of resentment.
- Hypocrite: In Paraiso, he goes on an impassioned rant against Mikazuki Munechika for treating the thousands of people who died in the Shimabara Rebellion as statistics in order to preserve history. This is despite the fact that Tsurumaru actively contributed to the deaths of these people for the same reason, and even forced his teammates to do the same because it is their "duty" as Touken Danshi despite their despair at the situation.
- Iconic Item: His idol costumes are always accessorized with the golden choker and half gloves with matching wristbands from his default outfit.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Downplayed; Tsurumaru Kuninaga in the musical continuity is not a very nice person in between all of his joking and eccentricities, as he rudely interrupts people, is dismissive of other people's feelings in the face of their suffering, violent, and blunt. To summarize, his portrayal here is a bit harsher than previous portrayals, but his softer moments reveal that he primarily behaves this way because he believes it is required of him in his role of protecting history, and he thus tries to toughen his teammates so they can better cope with their own roles in the same manner. As well, when not on a mission, he tends to be more relaxed and friendly… well, usually.
- The Leader: As one of the oldest swords in the citadel and one of the Touken Danshi that the Saniwa trusts and relies on the most, he is always chosen as the leader whenever the Saniwa sends him on a group sortie, even getting picked over Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, another seasoned veteran of the citadel, in Michi no Oku. He also serves as this to the citadel as a whole in the absence of Mikazuki Munechika, who left the citadel some time ago for a solo mission.
- Mangst: After maintaining a carefree demeanor for his team for the majority of the musical, Tsurumaru finally has the opportunity to break down and vent his frustrations at the end of the play, with only Ookurikara, his trusted, longtime friend, present to witness it.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: In Michi no Oku, it's revealed that he planted a crane feather on Mikazuki Munechika which looks completely ordinary but acts like a tracking device, allowing him to sense when Mikazuki is nearby. The technology behind this is never explained, making it unclear if it's a technological advancement from 2205 or if he has some kind of supernatural powers, which wouldn't be that out of the ordinary in the setting given Ishikirimaru's inexplicable ability to detect evil and Mikazuki Munechika's own unexplained and largely ambiguous set of powers.
- Moveset Clone: Downplayed. He is a Dance Battler who uses techniques that are very similar to Mikazuki Munechika, with the only differences being that he fights with a sheath (as do his counterparts in other adaptations) and that his style is more direct and aggressive. This is especially evident when they fight each other in Michi no Oku, as they use similar moves to attack and evade each other, as well as appear to predict each other's counter-moves. Yamanbagiri Kunihiro's flashback to the citadel's early days shows the two sparring together, with Tsurumaru's moves being clumsier than Mikazuki's, implying that they not only trained together, but that Mikazuki played an significant role in helping Tsurumaru develop his fighting style.
- Mr. Fanservice: Being linked through the narrative isn't the only thing he has in common with Mikazuki Munechika; he also fully embraces his role as a fanservice idol during performances, taking full advantage of his Sexy Backless Outfit or exposed shoulders in the same way Mikazuki did previously. In Shinken Ranbusai 2022, he even steals Mikazuki's fanservice line to further drive the audience (and his fellow Touken Danshi) crazy.
- Old Master: He's a veteran in the citadel, having manifested as the Saniwa's fourth sword after Mikazuki Munechika, and he can stand as a one-man army against hordes of Historical Revisionists. He's also literally one of the citadel's oldest swords, being over a thousand years old by the year the story is set, although unlike Mikazuki, he doesn't act the part.
- Out of Focus: While Kishou Hongi is the musical he debuts in and he's the leader of the team, he isn't actually given much to do compared to his teammates, with his role in the story being fairly inconsequential due to how much time he spends offscreen. He would go on to play a much bigger role in the subsequent installment Shizuka no Umi no Paraiso, which also sets up his role in the series' bigger narrative.
- Pet the Dog: Played With; Tsurumaru isn't that bad of a person despite his actions, mostly being a broken individual who occasionally lashes out because of his trauma, strengthens the citadel through Tough Love, and decidedly becomes a Necessarily Evil force because he knows what it costs to protect history almost better than anyone else who remains in the citadel. Still, he has his tender moments despite the pricklier aspects of his personality:
- He's no different from the other Touken Danshi in that he genuinely cares about the Saniwa. One of the reasons he's so upset about Mikazuki endangering himself by continuing on in what he believes is a futile mission is that it's making the Saniwa sad, and he does what he can to keep the Saniwa distracted and happy.
- He seems genuinely concerned when he checks on an injured Akashi in Kishou Hongi.
- In stark contrast to his aggressive handling of Emosaku, he is gentle with Amakusa Shirou's corpse, placing him in a proper resting pose, most likely because he knew Shirou was just as much a victim of Emosaku's pointless war as any of the other rebels.
- When Urashima discovers the purpose of their mission in Shimabara, he is sincere and regretful in his apology, but he stands firm on his belief that they have to carry out the mission in order to preserve history.
- After all of the chaos his team has been through in Paraiso, he gives them one last reassurance that the young boy they befriended will be safe in the hands of the recruit Mikazuki sent to save him before sending them home.
- In Shunpu Touri no Sakazuki, He apologizes to Ookurikara for making him think he died, acknowledging that he took his "joke" too far.
- In Michi no Oku, he passively apologizes to Suinshinshi for attacking him and helps him to his feet. He also gets pretty pissed and challenges the Kebiishi after it injures Kashuu Kiyomitsu, despite being gravely injured himself.
- Rage Breaking Point: After spending the majority of Paraiso pretending to be indifferent toward everything happening around him or his role in the rebellion, he finally snaps after the death of the older brother, lashing out at Mikazuki Munechika (who is represented by a crescent moon in the sky in this scene) for his supposed apathy toward the victims of the Shimabara Rebellion."Are you kidding me? "There are those in the flow of history who have a tragic role to bear?" What is history to you? The ones whose names went down in history aren't the only ones who made it, you know…?! Help them! Save them! All 37,000! They're not just a number! Each had their own life! They were alive! Take them with you. Take them to the tranquil sea, to Paraiso! If you can do it, then do it!"
- Red Oni, Blue Oni:
- The energetic and outgoing Red Oni to Ookurikara's calm and collected Blue. For their Souki performance, however, this is color-flipped; Ookurikara's costume is red, while his has blue accents.
- He's also, perhaps formerly, the aggressive and energetic Red Oni to the mellow yet eccentric Mikazuki Munechika's Blue Oni.
- The Reliable One: Deconstructed. As one of the Saniwa's first forged swords, he, along with Mikazuki Munechika and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, is one of the Touken Danshi most trusted by the Saniwa. As such, he bears a great deal of responsibility for maintaining order in the citadel, rearing new recruits, and preserving history, and is often sent on the toughest missions as a result of his long years of experience. However, the weight of his responsibility has taken a toll on his mental health, which worsens with each installment, and he can't bring himself to tell anyone about his problems because he subconsciously believes he has to be a strong leader or the villain if necessary in order to nurture the citadels growth. To make matters worse for him, Mikazuki—likely the only person who could fully understand him and his burden—has also decided to leave the citadel in his hands in pursuit of his own mission, leaving him lonely in his burden and full of resentment toward him.
- Remember the New Guy?: He was officially introduced into the continuity with the musical Kishou Hongi, which explained his absence from previous musicals as being because he was on a particularly long mission, but subsequent installments would reveal that he had been in the citadel since it's inception, being the fourth Touken Danshi that the Saniwa manifested.
- Secret-Keeper: He is one of the few characters who is aware of the citadel's dark secret surrounding the breaking of the citadel's starter sword and keeps it hidden from later generations of swords to shield them from the grief, while also subjecting them to rigorous training so that they can grow up strong and avoid repeating the incident.
- Sexy Backless Outfit: His third form in Paraiso exposes his upper back.
- Sheath Strike: He fights with his scabbard almost as much as he does his blade, often in a Dual Wielding-type fashion.
- Ship Tease: Heavily with Mikazuki Munechika from his debut in Kishou Hongi onward. For the many specific examples, see the musicals Hoyay page.
- Stepford Smiler: He tends to put on a carefree facade and keep all of his burdens to himself, but is quietly crushed by the weight of the responsibility he takes on.
- Suddenly Shouting: Tsurumaru is very fond of doing this, whether it be to add levity to the mood, to add emphasis to what he's saying, or because he's royally pissed off about something.
- Talking through Technique: Tsurumaru follows Mikazuki's philosophy that fighting is a better way to communicate than words when trying to understand someone's true feelings. It’s Played for Drama when they battle and, after clashing swords and inflicting harm onto each other, realize and accept each other's intentions.
- Tough Love: It's difficult to see at first, but Tsurumaru has good intentions for all of the pain he causes his teammates in Paraiso, as his goal is to toughen them up so they can better cope with their roles in protecting history. Matsui Gou gets the worst of it when Tsurumaru brings him along on the Shimabara mission, knowing full well that Matsui is still traumatized by the events he witnessed when he was still a sword. He later forces Matsui to side with the Shogunate, which means he must participate in the murders of innocent women and children again, but Buzen Gou realizes Tsurumaru only did this so Matsui could confront his troubled past and grow from it.
- Training from Hell: He is known for subjecting newly manifested swords to brutal training methods, having trained Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, who manifested shortly after him in the early days of the citadel, as well as Kashuu Kiyomitsu. In Shunpu Tori, the audience sees his idea of "training" when he beats Ookurikara unconscious in order to prepare him for the hardships of being a Touken Danshi, which actually proved successful given Ookurikara immediately resolved to get stronger after tasting defeat for the first time.
- Troubled, but Cute: And how. Despite his gentle and innocent appearance, as well as his outwardly energetic and sociable personality (when he is not in serious mode), Tsurumaru is severely damaged, with his mental health seeming to deteriorate even more with each major installment he appears in.
- Tsundere: He has very complicated feelings for Mikazuki Munechika following what was heavily implied to have been a fundamental disagreement between the two that led to the collapse of their once very close friendship. He acts very aloof or hostile toward him whenever they interact in the present, giving the impression that he resents him at first. However, he is actually lonely in the citadel without Mikazuki, and he even has hallucinations about their happy times together and talks to the moon as though it were Mikazuki. As well, right before beating Suishinshi up to bait Mikazuki into a confrontation with him, he regretfully tells Suishinshi to snuggle up to Mikazuki until he gets tired of it because he can no longer do so.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With Ookurikara. To give you an idea of their relationship, he welcomes him to the citadel by beating the snot out of him and leaving him unconscious on the ground for hours before returning to dig a hole to presumably bury him alive. Ookurikara is also cold and distant toward him, rejecting Tsurumaru's attempts to be buddy buddy with him, but their Souki journey and interactions in Paraiso show that they're each other's confidant at least among those that remain in the citadel, with Tsurumaru able to show Ookurikara a side of himself that he doesn't reveal to any of his teammates when he breaks down after the elder brother's death.
- Vocal Dissonance: Even more so than usual, especially when it comes to his incredibly deep singing voice due to his actors youthful appearance.
- We Used to Be Friends: Tsurumaru and Mikazuki were once very close, but an incident and Mikazuki's departure from the citadel severed their bond. In the present, Tsurumaru openly resents Mikazuki, but secretly still deeply cares for him and mourns the loss of their once close relationship.
Tsurumaru (Warriors)
A tachi featuring a white robe reminiscent of a crane, crafted by Gojo Kuninaga, a swordsmith from the Heian Era. Despite his graceful appearance, he has a witty and whimsical personality. As he believes that "life needs surprises so that the heart does not die first," he often surprises his friends. However, he has not forgotten how to fight.
In this game, he is the leader of the Fourth Team and leads the Touken Danshi of the same unit.
- Age Insecurity: In his Bond conversation with Mikazuki, they talk about this, as Tsurumaru feels depressed that Muramasa doesn't understand old-fashioned Heian-era games due to being forged after the Muromachi period. This forces Tsurumaru to come to terms with not only the difference in their eras but also the fact that he's an old man. He gets over it in the end, however, as he realizes that their duty to teach the younger generation traditions of old so they aren't forgotten.
- Bash Brothers: Outside of his unit, he has special dialogue when partnered with Mikazuki Munechika and Hyuuga Masamune.
- Cloudcuckoolander: He has a few quirks, such as his wanting to surprise people in outlandish ways and being socially oblivious.
- Combat Parkour: Tsurumaru's special moves often involve him performing aggressive airborne gymnastics while fighting. Shokudaikiri likens his movements to those of a dancing crane.
- Commonality Connection: He bonds with Mikazuki over Heian-era games due to being the only swords in the Citadel that are from the period where they were most often played. They also play them together, though off-screen.
- Cool Old Guy: He's the game's second oldest Touken Danshi after Mikazuki Munechika, having lived for over a millennium by the year the game is set, but you'd never know it from how spry and mischievous he is. His age also doesn't pose an issue on the battlefield in the slightest.
- Feather Motif: Tying into his crane motif, feathers appear during his sword slashes during his special and ultimate attacks before his final slash reveals a large white wing.
- Forgetful Jones: It's unclear whether he's forgetful in general or as a result of his long life, but Tsurumaru mentions forgetting things and even forgets that he set up traps in the summer storage room, only remembering when Kasen accidentally reminds him.
- Hidden Depths: Despite his immaturity, he can be quite perceptive when he wants to be:
- When Hyuuga asks how he feels about his time as a sword with many owners, he expresses his confusion as to why humans were obsessed with acquiring them and that he was deeply unsettled by the things they'd done to each other just to have them in their possession.
- He tells Namazuo the dark story of how the citadel fell by using childlike representations in place of the swords that participated in these events, likely because Namazuo is himself quite childlike, although he doesn't skimp on the unpleasant details. He then encourages Namazuo to come up with his own ending to the story and praises him for the optimistic ending he'd given it.
- Despite his love of surprises, he also enjoys simple things like sakura-viewing parties and whole-heartedly invites Yamanbagiri along to join him and Mikazuki for one in their Bond Conversation.
- In a bond conversation between Yagen Toushirou and Yamanbagiri Chougi, Tsurumaru is revealed to be really good at shogi and would have defeated every competitor in the citadel if Mikazuki hadn't been the overall champion, placing him in second place. Yagen and Yamanbagiri, who had been so keen to compete against everyone, were shocked by how strong he ended up being and were left to nurse their bruised egos after their defeats.
- Immortal Immaturity: Nearly a millennia-old by the time the year the game is set, but still acts much younger than he is compared to the other swords forged in the same period as him and earlier. In his bond conversation with Mikazuki, he is confronted with the fact that he is, indeed, old when he can't relate to Sengo Muramasa about Heian-era games due to the latter being forged after the Muromachi period, long after the height of these games' popularity.
- The Leader: Serves as the leader of the fourth unit, consisting of himself, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, and Ookurikara.
- Oblivious to Hatred: While Ookurikara doesn't hate him, he is rude to him and actively avoids him. Despite this, Tsurumaru strides effortlessly through his thorny walls, only expressing disappointment at his inability to surprise him.
- Power Trio: He's the leader of the Fourth Team, consisting of himself, Shokudaikiri, and Ookurikara, continuing the trend of the three all being grouped.
- The Slacker: While he was only implied to be a slacker in the browser game, it’s expanded upon here, as he is forced to admit that he tends to drop tasks that he doesn’t find fun, and Mitsutada has to coerce him into helping with fieldwork due to his dislike of dirt. He also asks Mitsutada and the other swords to do his laundry instead of doing it himself.
- In his Bond Conversation with Mitsutada, he derails a potentially depressing conversation about Masamune to talk about Zunda Mochi, giving Mitsutada the idea to make it under the impression that they would make it together, only to try to trick Mitsutada into making it for him when later approached about it.
- Stealing the Credit: A light-hearted example; In his Bond Conversation with Yagen Toushirou, he fabricates a story about how he vigorously cleaned his clothes until they were pristine again after being forced to do field duty Shokudaikiri, only to act dodgey when Yagen inquires about his method for getting his clothes so clean so that he can replicate it. In their follow-up conversation, Yagen reveals that he found out through Ichigo that Tsurumaru doesn't wash his own clothes, instead relying on other, more handy swords like Shokudaikiri to do it for him, and he confesses that he only lied because he liked how Yagen praised him for it. Tsurumaru then attempts to ask Yagen to do his laundry for him, but Yagen abruptly rejects him before he can finish his sentence.
- Sword Beam: Similarly to Katsugeki, his sword slash during Shinken Hissatsu resembles a gigantic crane wing and causes damage to foes caught in it.
- The Prankster: Because he enjoys surprises and surprising others, he also enjoys his fair share of pranks. This is emphasized in Warriors, where he is called out in multiple Bond conversations for some pranks he pulled, such as filling Honmaru with grasshoppers or boobytrapping the shelves after becoming bored with moving the other swords' items into the storage room. Kasen claims he even reinforced the boobytraps he'd set up so the items placed on the shelf would be harder to find.
- The Trickster: So much so that if the topic of a Bond Conversation is someone getting into mischief in the citadel, he is almost always named as the or one of the culprits.
- Troll: While his intentions behind his pranks appear to be light-hearted, they tend to annoy or frustrate the other Touken Danshi rather than entertain them. For example, while pulling a prank where he pretends to be Omokage pretending to be him, he puts a frog down Tonbokiri's shirt as a show of friendship. When Omokage informed the others of his prank pulling, he claims they all sighed resignedly in response due to already being used to his nonsense.
148, 149 – Azuki Nagamitsu (小豆長光)
Casual
Rarity: High (Basic/Toku), Special (Kiwame)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Yoshihisa Kawahara
Illustrated by: Homerun Ken
A tachi said to be Uesugi Kenshin's beloved sword. Although there are many versions of how he received his name, he speaks about how his name came about when a red bean got split into two when it hit the blade. A well caring childminder, as well as a sweets craftsman, however he does not suit with his favorite apron.School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Yoshihisa Kawahara
Illustrated by: Homerun Ken
"I am Azuki Nagamitsu. Do you... like sweets?"
- Affectionate Nickname: "Atsuki", as Kenshin likes to call him.
- Badass Cape: Wears a burgundy cape on his right shoulder and he's very much a Badass in a Nice Suit.
- Badass in a Nice Suit: He wears a suit and necktie into battle.
- Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears an armor guard on his right shoulder.
- Friend to All Children: Especially fond of children according to his Citadel lines, his breaking quote, and his interactions with Kenshin. When you've been gone for a while, Azuki also mentions that he looked after the kids in the interim.
- Real Men Wear Pink: He enjoys making sweets (especially for children), and he even wears a pink apron as part of his Internal Affairs outfit.
- Strange-Syntax Speaker: His speech is rendered as all hiragana, which normally shows that a character is childish. Taking his personality into account, it may just be him intentionally slowing his speech so children can follow what he's saying.
- Sweet Tooth: He likes eating and making sweets, especially dango. Fitting, since his first name means "red bean" and red beans are often used to make various Japanese sweets.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Like Kenshin, he takes a particular liking to sanshoku dango, which is also featured as a charm on his person in his official art.
156, 157 – Chiyoganemaru (千代金丸)
Casual
Rarity: High (Basic/Toku), Special (Kiwame)
Illustrated by: namaniku ATK
Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki
Said to be one of the treasured swords from the royal family of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Although the blade is thought to be made in Japan, it's form differs from the conventional Japanese Katana with a unique single hand handle. Should you lend an ear to his voice, which resembles the lapping waves, you will be lulled into Uchina Time.Illustrated by: namaniku ATK
Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki
"Chiyoganemaru. I was born in Yamato, but raised in Ryūkyū. I have been tentatively classed as a tachi, but don't be too bothered about that. I dislike being confined to the boundaries of Japanese katana."
- Accent Slip-Up: He has a natural Okinawan accent, but he tries to cover it up with modern Tokyo dialect. It slips during one of his Citadel lines.
- Borrowed Catchphrase: He made the common phrase "Everything will work out" his own.
- Character Development: He goes off to Kiwame training to better understand his role, and through this discovers that he was never a sword that performed any impressive feats in combat; rather, he was always a sword that was offered to the victorious, and thusly was never able to the share fates of his previous masters. He also discovers that his catchphrase "Everything will work out" means that if one continues doing what's right, the right path will emerge. However, survival is necessary, and for his current master to do what's right, he must protect them and strive for their sake. Regarding how this has impacted his mindset in other ways, though, he returns home essentially the same person he was when he left.
- Curtains Match the Window:He has matching aqua hair and eyes.
- Elemental Weapon: After returning to the citadel after Kiwame training, he gains the ability to emit water from his blade.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: In his "Obtained" voice over, since he’s categorized as a tachi in-game, as well as in real life."I've been categorized as a tachi, but pay it no mind. I dislike being sorted within the framework of Japanese swords."
- Martial Pacifist: He dislikes fighting and advises the Historical Revisionists to flee when sent into battle, but he will kill them if left with no choice.
- Mellow Fellow: His Citadel lines always emphasize taking things slow, and of the entire lineup he's certainly among the most easygoing.
- Undying Loyalty: After being sent off to Kiwame training, his third letter reveals that even as a sword he tried to keep his former master from committing suicide, but failed to do so, and so Ryūkyū fell with him.
180 – Sanchoumou (山鳥毛)
Rarity: Highest (Basic/Toku)
School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue
Illustrated by: Suda Ayaka
Live actors: Mao Yuuki (Stage Play, Guden)
A tachi crafted by Fukuoka's Ichimonji School. Excels in commanding, he spearheads the Ichimonji Clan. The atmosphere of the blade pattern that has been described by several sources to be as captivating as engraved flame and red pupil was so cherished by the Uesugi Clan that they kept this sword in a private collection for hundreds of years, enveloping it in a mysterious veil.School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue
Illustrated by: Suda Ayaka
Live actors: Mao Yuuki (Stage Play, Guden)
"Ah, have I been called by the little bird? I am one sword of the Uesugi Clan's selection of thirty five, Mumei Ichimonji. I am called Sanchoumou. Have my clan's birds assembled here?"
- Animal Motifs: Refers to the Saniwa and other swords as "birds" and the Citadel as "the nest."
- Badass in a Nice Suit: He wears a white suit into battle.
- Cool Shades: He wears a pair of sunglasses into battle.
- Let's Get Dangerous!: In his Awaken mode."Yes... It's about time I became serious."
- The Leader: He's considered the "head" of the Ichimonji family of Touken Danshi, but is quite lax and humble about his position.
- The Nicknamer: He has a habit of given people nicknames. He calls the Saniwa, "little bird", and Nansen, "family's kitten".
- Off with His Head!: He intends to decapitate his enemies during battle."Behead!"
- Uniqueness Value: He is a member of the Ichimonji family, a family of precious swords, and is also one of the Uesugi Clan's thirty-five hand-picked swords, prized specifically for his beautiful hamon. This manifests as him being Highest rarity (five petals) when he's implemented.
182 – Kokindenju-no-Tachi (古今伝授の太刀)
Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku)
School: Yukihira of Bungo Province (豊後国行平)
Voiced by: Daisuke Hirakawa
Illustrated by: Shikimi
Live-acted by: Ryō Tsukamoto (stage play)
School: Yukihira of Bungo Province (豊後国行平)
Voiced by: Daisuke Hirakawa
Illustrated by: Shikimi
Live-acted by: Ryō Tsukamoto (stage play)
"As poets praised blossoms…… Kokindenjunotachi, here."
- Affectionate Nickname: "Kokin" by Jizō.
- Animal Eyes: Due to his snake theme, his eyes resemble that of snakes with dull yellow pupils.
- Badass Longcoat
- Big Brother Instinct: Really looks out for Jizō; he is heartbroken when Jizō chooses to protect fake Gracia over him, he asks for his brother's whereabouts if promoted to attendant, and when given any food item, he tells the player to give it to Jizō instead.
- Cain and Abel: Cain to Jizō's Abel – he and Kasen have to knock him out by force so they can take down the alternate universe Gracia. Jizō gets better. Outside of this incident, the two don't seem to have any animosity for each other.
- Exotic Eye Designs: Has black sclerae and the first and only character with a sclera color other than white.
- Finishing Each Other's Sentences: If he's assigned to sparring with Jizō.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… - Gorgeous Gorgon: Unnaturally pale skin, scale and snake tattoos, snake eyes, and one of the sexiest swords.
- Hime Cut: Straight hair, two even jaw-length sideburns and two shoulder-length sideburns.
- I Have Many Names: A.k.a. "Kaze".
- Modesty Shorts: Since his skirt is slit outrageously high, he wears shorts underneath, though this does little to stem the leg-baring.
- Mr. Fanservice: One of the most obvious and blatant examples – a lithe, femininely sensual man clearly serpentine in a Snakes Are Sexy way, coupled with a sexy schoolgirl outfit and copious leg-baring to show off the snake tattoos.
- Overly Long Name: Ties with Sohaya as having the longest written name out of the entire cast at 7 characters. In terms of pronunciation, his name is 9 morae, losing to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro and Shokudaikiri Mitsutada at 10 and Nankaitarō Chōson at 11. Most likely the reason his brother just calls him "Kokin".
- Sailor Fuku: The collar of his top plus the pleated skirt gives his outfit this impression.
- Sexy Whatever Outfit: His battle gear looks like a sexed-up schoolgirl uniform – a skirt with a slit up to his hip, ridiculously short booty shorts underneath, plus a plunging neckline.
- Snake People: He looks very serpentine – snake-like eyes, unnaturally pale skin and scale-like markings along his body.
- Speaks in Shout-Outs: True to his name, he repeatedly quotes from the Kokin Wakashū every other line.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Due to his and Jizō's snake motif, they both have very pale skin.
- Warrior Poet: He is obsessed with poetry, to the point where he regularly recites at random.
188 – Nikkō Ichimonji (日光一文字)
Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku)
School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu
Illustrated by: Suda Ayaka
He is the left hand of the head of Ichimonji Clan, Sanchoumou. He will successfully complete all the orders given to him. His name comes from his origin as the treasured sword of the Nikkou Gongen shrine.School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu
Illustrated by: Suda Ayaka
"Historical records in my right hand, a conch warhorn in my left. Nikkou Ichimonji, here at your service."
- Calling Your Attacks: He does this in one of his attacking lines, It is a shout used in some competitions and martial arts in Japan. The phrase seems to represent the sound of tearing cloth or even be compared to a woman's scream. In Aikido, the following meaning is also given: "The shout that cuts away barriers or impurities, thereby uniting opposites; symbolizing the sword of life which cuts things together, as opposed to the sword of death which further divides and separates.""Reppaku no Kiai!"
- Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears half of a jacket/arm guard combination on his left arm.
- My Name Is Inigo Montoya: He says this in battle."If it is master's orders, we will depart to the front lines at once. Nikkou Ichimonji, here I come!"
- This Cannot Be!: His line if he's destroyed."Ghn...! A single wing...! It, cannot...!"
198 – Ichimonji Norimune (一文字則宗) (UNMARKED SPOILERS!)
Casual
Rarity: Highest (Basic/Toku)
School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Toshihiko Seki
Illustrated by: lack
Live-acted by: Aya Ouka (Stage Play, Guden), Taiki Naito (Stage Play)
School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Toshihiko Seki
Illustrated by: lack
Live-acted by: Aya Ouka (Stage Play, Guden), Taiki Naito (Stage Play)
The true identity of the Inspector of Keiō Kōshū Special Investigations.
- Flower Motifs: Chrysanthemums, to the point that even his hair is drawn to slightly resemble the petals of one. Chrysanthemum translates to "kiku" in Japanese, The Kiku-Ichimonji swords were a group of swords forged in 1208 on order of the Emperor. Norimune was the first of these swords to be forged.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Despite first appearances, he's a good person who wants to look out for those he sees as needing guidance.
- Team Dad: Or Team Grandpa, seeing how often he's referred to as an old man. He's treated as a somewhat grandfatherly figure to the other Ichimonji swords, and he takes it upon himself to mentor Kashuu Kiyomitsu, even referring to Kashuu as "son". Kashuu in turn refers to him as "old man".
- Trickster Mentor: Tries to teach Kashuu Kiyomitsu that there's more to life than being loved by being as vague and annoying as possible.
- Walking Spoiler: The fact this is a "true identity" entry makes him this, as does his actual sprite.
202 – Himetsuru Ichimonji (姫鶴一文字)
Casual
Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku)
School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Kōtarō Nishiyama
Illustrated by: Suda Ayaka
Live-acted by: Sumiki Sayato (Stage Play, Guden)
School: Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字)
Voiced by: Kōtarō Nishiyama
Illustrated by: Suda Ayaka
Live-acted by: Sumiki Sayato (Stage Play, Guden)
A sword that is said to be smithed by Fukuoka Ichimonji School. A treasured sword of Uesugi Kagekatsu. A princess named 'Tsuru' appeared in the dream of the sword's polisher, pleading not to be shortened - or so the legend says.
- Affectionate Nickname: He affectionately refers to Kenshin Kagemitsu and Gokotai "Kenken" and "Goko."
- Animal Motif: Cranes, as his name contains the Kanji for crane, and he is named after a princess named "Tsuru" who appeared in a sword polisher's dream and begged him not to shorten his sword. As a result, his character design subtly references cranes, with his hair resembling a pair of wings and a crane motif on his Yukata in casual attire.
- Anime Hair: His hair resembles a pair of wings during Shinken Hissatsu.
- Don't Call Me "Sir": Despite the fact that "princess" / "hime" is in his name, he dislikes being addressed as such.
- Dream Walker: He can divine dreams and implies that he also has this ability. If broken, he reassures the Saniwa that they'll meet again in their dream.
- Friend to All Children: He adores the child-like tantou, especially the ones associated with the Uesugi like Gokotai and Kenshin, and believes that is the privilege of children to be coddled.
- Green-Eyed Monster: He is envious of Douyo Ichimonji because the latter is regarded as a royal treasure, whereas he is merely an important cultural asset.
- Meaningful Name: His name is pretty straight forward, as he was named after the princess named Tsuru from the legend associated with his sword, hence "Himetsuru."
- Pun: In his Citadel line, he makes a pun on his name that also references the other crane motif sword in the citadel."If I give you the princess (hime) would you give me an O (maru)?" note
- She Is the King: Inverted and downplayed. He's obviously not a ruler, but Nikkou refers to him as "Princess" nonetheless and speaks to him very formally due to the "hime" in his name.
- Shout-Out: He threatens the Saniwa not to shorten him in his Citadel (Injured) voice line, referencing the legend in which a royal polisher was ordered to shorten his sword but dreamed that a beautiful woman begged him not to.
- Sleepy Head: Implied. He speaks in a drowsy tone all the time, and one of his Honmaru voice-lines has him proclaiming that he's not sleeping... while sounding like he's falling asleep. This could be a reference to his sword's legend, in which a beautiful woman met a sword polisher in his dream and begged him not to shorten his sword.
204 – Fukushima Mitsutada (福島光忠)
Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya
Illustrated by: Raita Kazama
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya
Illustrated by: Raita Kazama
- Cool Big Bro: Despite the fact that Shokudaikiri is his senior, he regards him as a cute little brother and wants to be seen as a big brother to him.
- Face Death with Dignity: If broken, he tells the Saniwa not to grieve him because he was already lost long ago after being burned.
- In Touch with His Feminine Side: While he isn't interested in growing flowers, he enjoys arranging them, decorating with them, and giving them as gifts.
- Mellow Fellow: He outright says that Mitsutada's are easygoing and doesn't seem to have much negativity about anything.
- Something about a Rose: He is shown holding a rose in his character art, and rose petals surround him when Awakening.
212 – Sasanuki (笹貫)
Rarity: High (Basic/Toku)
Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi
Illustrated by: higanbachi
—>"I'm Sasanuki. Heh, I guess even if someone throws me into a bamboo thicket or the sea now, I'd be able to get back on my own. That goes even if me failing makes you want to throw me out. ...Hah, of course I'm joking."
Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi
Illustrated by: higanbachi
—>"I'm Sasanuki. Heh, I guess even if someone throws me into a bamboo thicket or the sea now, I'd be able to get back on my own. That goes even if me failing makes you want to throw me out. ...Hah, of course I'm joking."
- Dark and Troubled Past: His smith threw him into the bamboo thickets and then into the sea because he didn't like the way he came out. Some of his voice lines suggest that he is still traumatized and/or bitter by it.
- Meaningful Appearance: His anachronistic Internal Affairs attire looks reminiscent of male beach wear, calling back to his obsession with oceans and "catching the waves."
- Meaningful Name: Named "sasanuki" because he was used to cleave through bamboo leaves.
- Stalker without a Crush: Says he'll just come back if the Saniwa throws him out because he now has a human body. Downplayed, however, because it's just him projecting his smith's rejection of him onto the player.
216 – Haccho Nenbutsu (八丁念仏)
Rarity: High (Basic/Toku)
School: Kobizen (古備前)
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya
Illustrated by: sushi from Nitroplus (すし/ニトロプラス)
School: Kobizen (古備前)
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya
Illustrated by: sushi from Nitroplus (すし/ニトロプラス)
"I'm Hacchou Nenbutsu. For some kinda reason my name is all mixed up, and my smith is also different from my legends. Saying it myself, but like, I'm like a Touken Danshi who has lots of vague things about him. Well, let's become more and more prosperous!"
- Amazing Technicolor Population: He has one of the more unnatural skin tones of the Touken Danshi, inexplicably appearing to be an ashen gray-red color.
- Chromatic Arrangement: He has blue hair and a blue color scheme, whereas his Kobizen brothers Ookanehira and Uguisumaru cover red and green, respectively.
- Keet: Downplayed, but qualifies as one of the tachi with a more cheerful personality due to how energetic a number of his voice lines are.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Compared to his brothers who hide their insecurities behind a mask of overconfidence or by projecting, he's pretty open about the fact that he doesn't feel up to par and admits that Ookanehira and Uguisumaru are stronger than him when he spars with them.
- Insistent Appellation: He's the only sword who addresses the Saniwa as "employer" rather than "master," "general," or any other commonly used title.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: He acknowledges that he was added as part of the game's 8th Anniversary celebration because his name is Hacchou, which sounds like "Hachi," the Japanese word that means "8."
- Out of Focus: As a Kobizen sword due to Uguisumaru and Ookanehira not actually acknowledging his existence as one of them in the browser game, despite him considering them his brothers. He doesn't have any recollections with them, they don't mention him at all in their dialogue, despite mentioning each other, and while he has unique dialogue for them during sparring, they don't have any for him, not even after Kiwame training.
- Shared Family Quirks: Having an inferiority complex seems to run in the family, but unlike Ookanehira and Uguisumaru, Hacchou doesn't try to hide it.
220 – Jikkyuu Mitsutada (実休光忠)
Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu
Illustrated by: Fuji Mitsuya
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu
Illustrated by: Fuji Mitsuya
"I am Jikkyuu Mitsutada. As I was burned twice, my memory is pretty unreliable, but if that's alright with you..."
- Badass in a Nice Suit: As an Osafune sword, he follows the school's dress code of wearing a suit with minimal armor.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Downplayed, as he appears to have a good understanding of who he is, but being burned twice did a number on his memory, such as remembering who owned him previously.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Not as bad as, say, Oodenta, but he openly tells the other swords that sparring with him is unlikely to be beneficial, and he wonders if he wasted their time once it's over.
- I Have Many Names: He was originally named Mikumo Mutsutada, but became Jikkyuu Mitsutada under the ownership of Miyoshi Jikkyuu.
- Mellow Fellow: Despite his traumatic past, he is probably one of the most calm and easygoing swords about everything, never losing his cool unless he's on the battlefield.
- Scars Are Forever: Unlike Ichigo Hitofuri and other swords that have been said to have been damaged by fires in the past, he has visible burn scars in his body from the Honnouji Temple and Osaka Castle fires. Uniquely, these scars are also shaped like flames.
