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.
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3, 4 – Mikazuki Munechika (三日月宗近)
Uchiban
Kiwame
Casual
- Rarity: Highest (Basic/Toku), Godly (Kiwame)
School: Sanjou (三条)
Voiced by: Kosuke Toriumi (Japanese), Vic Mignogna [Hanamaru];
Todd Haberkorn [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Sata
Live actors: Mario Kuroba (Musical), Hiroki Suzuki (Stage Play, Film), Onoe Matsuya II (Kabuki)"Mikazuki Munechika. They call me Mikazuki on account of the many patterns on my blade. Please take care of me."
A tachi made by Sanjou Munechika, a swordsmith from Heian era. He's one of the Five Heavenly Swords (Tenka-Goken
), and is reputed as the most beautiful of them. As a touken danshi, he has the elegance like that of a Heian noble. He's tolerant of others' misgiving, and he's very at-his-own-pace.
As of current, he is Touken Ranbu's primary Series Mascot and as such has appeared in every major adaptation of the game, playing a big role in them as either a main character or major supporting character.
- Adaptational Angst Upgrade: He's probably the Touken Danshi who is subjected to this the most. Prior to the Great Invasion event in 2022, which solidified him as a canon Stepford Smiler years after the browser game was released, there was little to no indication that he was anything other than a probably lazy, probably perverted, and mellow old man figure who is secretly a badass. Despite this, most adaptations depict him as a stepford smiler by default, carrying many burdens beneath his whimsical demeanor, with the only notable exceptions outside of the anthologies being Hanamaru, Katsugeki (although not much is known about him there in general), and Reimei, at least until the plot about Yamanbagiri Kunihiro going missing happens.
- Adaptational Dye-Job: Mikazuki's eyes are dark blue gradient to light blue with a golden crescent shape under his pupils to reflect the way the night sky looks◊. While animated adaptations usually faithfully recreate this design, live-action adaptations typically make his eyes a solid blue color, either light blue or dark blue, with no crescent shape outside of promotional images.
- Adaptational Seriousness: Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu takes a comparatively more serious approach to his character, with his quirks from the browser game mostly being implied. Funnily enough, the unintentional consequence of this was viewers expecting there to be a reveal about Mikazuki secretly being a bad guy.
- Ambiguously Related:
- For years, it was unclear if any of the other Sanjou swords in the browser game actually knew Mikazuki due to their lack of in-game interactions despite being from the same school. Mikazuki wouldn't interact with another Sanjou sword in-game until Kogitsunemaru's Kiwame training, which indicated that they likely have a close, if not somewhat antagonistic, relationship. This is averted in the promotional materials and spin-offs, which treat the Sanjou school like a group of friends.
- Tsurumaru Kuninaga was forged by the son (or grandson) and disciple of Mikazuki Munechika's swordsmith, Gojo Kuninaga, but you wouldn't know it from the browser game alone due to a lack of in-game interactions between Mikazuki and Tsurumaru, and the fact that Tsurumaru’s school is unlisted in his profile. The spin-offs attempt to address this by consistently depicting Mikazuki and Tsurumaru as friends, implying that the two swords are linked, but no work explicitly states the relationship between their forgers or how this connects them as swords.
- Badass in Distress:
- Subverted Trope; In the Resistance Against the Great Invasion event, Mikazuki goes missing after giving his fellow Touken Danshi a chance to retreat away from a particularly large Historical Revisionist. However, the starter swords quickly realize that, rather than being captured by the enemy, Mikazuki purposefully chose to use himself as bait to attract the invaders to him, fully intending to perform a Heroic Sacrifice. The starter swords then set out to find him and forcibly return him home.
- In the Katsugeki x Granblue Fantasy collaboration, Mikazuki goes missing after being sucked into the latter's world, and it's later revealed that he was absorbed by the primal beast Amatsumaula while protecting the blacksmith and his apprentice.
- Bait-and-Switch Character Intro: When Mikazuki is first summoned in Hanamaru, the entire room explodes into light, knocking the doors off the hinges, and giving the impression that he's going to have a badass introduction... Cut to a few minutes later (or the next day in the show), and he's next seen in his Uchiban outfit, casually drinking tea with Uguisumaru before introducing himself, giving a better inkling of the type of laidback person he is despite his status as one of the five great swords.
- Bash Brothers: Most frequently depicted as being such with Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, Tsurumaru Kuninaga, and Kogitsunemaru across many continuities.
- Beware the Nice Ones: He's laid-back, friendly, forgiving, and always willing to lend an ear and words of wisdom to his fellow swords. He is also a Tenka Goken and has been shown to be quite strong, with his opponents never lasting long in battle against him.
- Beware the Silly Ones: More so in some of the spin-offs, which play up his more eccentric traits. When he breaks from his Cloud Cuckoolander tendencies, he is shown to be quite deadly.
- Big Damn Heroes:
- In the final episode of Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu, he appears with the First Unit to assist the Second Unit in fighting off the Historical Retrograde Army. However, unlike the rest of his team who arrived together, Mikazuki was given a solo, badass entrance in a hurricane of cherry blossoms.
- The Resistance Against the Great Invasion event begins with Mikazuki giving the players team a chance to retreat after they're curbstomped by a group of invaders. He then lures the invaders away from the citadel while using his power to further conceal it from them.
- Birds of a Feather:
- He's often depicted as having a good relationship with Kogitsunemaru throughout the Touken Ranbu continuities due to Kogitsunemaru also being a tachi forged by Sanjou Munechika with a mellow disposition.
- Mikazuki andUguisumaru are depicted as having a friendship in both the live-action film and "Hanamaru" because they are long-lived Heian era swords with mellow dispositions and a fondness for unwinding while sipping tea.
- Mikazuki instantly bonds with Higekiri in Tsuwamono because of their long lives and the eccentricities that have resulted from them. Their connection allows Higekiri to be the only one who understands why Mikazuki is so set on interfering with history.
- Bling of War: His default outfit and his more elaborate Kiwame attire after being sent off for training. It's a wonder how he moves around in it on the battlefield.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: In-game, he's implied to be a brilliant swordsman, which is confirmed by all of his appearances in the adaptations. Despite this, he'd rather spend his time lounging around and drinking tea while the others do the heavy lifting, and openly wonders why the Saniwa makes the swords toil in the fields.
- Call-Back: Even if the player doesn't complete the "Great Invasion" event, Mikazuki will still reference back to it in his post-Kiwame expedition line where he reassures the Saniwa that he will return, implying that they are concerned he will run off and attempt to sacrifice himself again.
- Casual Danger Dialogue: Even when getting heavily damaged, he'll still be laughing (although later he does point out that it's not the time to be laughing)!
- Character Catchphrase: While he had only used it once during the loading screen in Touken Ranbu, the other adaptations have taken to making "Brilliant, Brilliant" note the character's coined phrase.
- Character Development: It comes in two forms:
- At the end of the Resistance Against the Great Invasion event, after a final conversation with each other the Starter Swords and realizing how much they’ve grown, he realizes that it was himself that hadn't been able to change, which is why he had found it acceptable for him to sacrifice himself. His Kiwame was released soon after, suggesting that his revelation about growing and learning to look to the future prompted it.
- He loses some of his distance and appears happier after his Kiwame training, developing a greater appreciation for life as well as Honmaru and its inhabitants. He also becomes somewhat more affectionate toward the Saniwa than usual, saying at one point that he wants to make them smile by defeating the enemy.
- Character Exaggeration:
- He's only implied to be a little eccentric in the browser game, but the spin-offs tend to take that and run with it, often exaggerating it to the point of him being unruly when he's not being serious.
- While both Hanamaru and Warriors portray Mikazuki as being lazy, Warriors makes him profoundly so, to the point where the other Touken Danshi are shocked when he offers to help them clean. Warriors also makes him a big fan of napping, possibly making him the biggest sleepyhead of all Mikazuki portrayals, whereas his browser game counterpart only mentioned napping twice.
- His old age and what extent it affects him is exaggerated for comedic effect in some spin-offs, at times be showing him suffering from common afflictions seen in old people, like back pain and crackling bones, despite looking about as young as any other tachi. Lampshaded in the live-action movie makes a joke about this when Mikazuki himself starts to complain about his hips and the Saniwa playfully calls him out on lying.
- Cloudcuckoolander: His extremely laid-back nature makes him come across as this at times. The spin-offs tend to exaggerate it for comedic effect.
- Color-Coded Characters: When grouped alongside the other Sanjou swords, his associated color is a deep blue.
- Conditioned to Accept Horror: In Zoku Hanamaru, he gladly accepts Shishiou's offer to borrow his Nue to warm himself with, while everyone else, including Ookurikara, looks on in horror knowing how frightening a Nue is.
- Cosmic Motifs: As a sword known for its crescent-shaped patterns on the blade, he's strongly associated with the moon and is implied to derive his spiritual power from the moon itself, especially after Kiwame training. His family crest is also a double down-facing crescent moon with a dot at the points of the largest crescent, representing a star.
- Costume Evolution: His default outfit has changed several times throughout the spin-offs, often being simplified to allow for more difficult animations in animated adaptations or shortening the sleeves for ease of movement in live-action.
- Cultured Warrior: Mikazuki is presented as this in most, if not all, of his appearances in the adaptations. It's especially played up in the musical.
- Dance Battler: In the musicals, live-action movie, and stage plays, his fighting style incorporates traditional dances into his movements.
- Death Seeker: In the "Great Invasion" event, he views his breaking as a sort of karma for all the swords he'd broken up until that point, which drives him to attempt to sacrifice himself for the sake of the citadel. The starter swords come to his rescue before he can go through with it.
- Dirty Old Man: He has several suggestive voice lines in the browser game that persist even after Kiwame training. However, this aspect of his character is almost never portrayed in the spin-off, which instead focus on making him a wise, eccentric, and mysterious grandfather figure to the other swords. The most the viewer gets is him seemingly hitting on Izuminokami in a Katsugeki bit by calling him "Iro-otoko" or a "Ladykiller," but he doesn't clarify what he meant by that when Izuminokami asks.
- Exotic Eye Designs: His irises have a gold crescent-moon design right under his pupils.
- Equippable Ally: Temporarily during the "Great Invasion" event after reverting to back to sword form. One of the five starter swords brings him to assist their team in a final standoff, and he further empowers the wielder in a special cutscene.
- Face Death with Dignity: Whether broken before or after Kiwame training, he has a blasé attitude toward his death, rationalizing it as inevitable."Well, all things are doomed to perish one day. That day happens to be today - that is all there is to it."
- Fashionable Asymmetry: Mikazuki wears a diagonally tied tasseled headband that droops down the left side of his head to balance out his longer bang on the right side of his face.
- The Fog of Ages: He's well over a thousand years old and will comment on the fact that he's likely forgotten some things about his past with age in his Kiwame training letters.
- Friend to All Living Things: He is shown to be pretty popular with animals across the different Touken Ranbu continuities, starting with horses in the browser game.
- Gameplay and Story Integration: Mikazuki Munechika can drop from the boss node in 4-4 Kyoto, referencing his swordsmith Sanjou Munechika, who was born in Kyoto and founded the Sanjou school there, giving the sword ties to the city as well.
- Gameplay and Story Segregation: As a sword named "Mikazuki" ("crescent moon"), he is strongly associated with the moon and night sky as a character, with it being implied that his spiritual powers are drawn from the moon itself after he temporary became a part of it during his Kiwame journey. However, due to the browser games mechanics, he is nerfed in the same way as the other tachi during night battles, making him less effective in these missions. The spin-offs ignore this.
- Glowing Eyes: The crescent shapes in his irises glow in Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru, whereas in Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu and Warriors, his entire iris glows when he's in serious mode.
- Guest Fighter: Appears as a playable character in the Granblue Fantasy x Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu Crossover event alongside Izuminokami Kanesada and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro. His being the highest rarity is carried over into that game as well, as he appeared as the first event SSR character in that game, mirroring the fact that he was the first 5 petal rarity sword in Touken Ranbu.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Subverted; He attempts to pull one during the "Great Invasion" event to protect the citadel, but is rescued by the starter swords before he can go through with it.
- Hidden Depths:
- He's mostly a laid-back guy with a knack for teasing lines. Still, for someone who says he does not mind losing, he holds back on complimenting his sparring partners with anything better than "so-so", while other swords usually commend their partners or talk about how they still have much to improve themselves. This suggests he might be a bit more competitive than he's willing to show.
- His kiwame send-off line is also a tad harsher than one would expect: Mikazuki calmly comments that he hopes the traveling character comes back, but if they die on the way (the words he uses can be translated to "die a miserable death"), it's the end for them. The English translation has toned down this aspect of his personality considerably.
- On another note, it demonstrated in several of the adaptations that Mikazuki's Cloudcuckoolander tendencies are a front and he's much more competent and knowledgeable than he leads others to believe.
- A number of adaptations have shown that Mikazuki will go to many lengths to protect the citadel and history, even if it casts him in a bad light with the other swords or will potentially result in his death. This is made canon to the browser game during the event Resistance Against the Great Invasion, which focuses on Mikazuki attempting to make a Heroic Sacrifice for the sake of the citadel, with him only being saved from his suicide by the starter swords.
- I Always Wanted to Say That: Says this almost word-for-word during his Game Start voice-line:"Ahahahaha, come closer... I've always wanted to try saying those words."
- Iconic Item: His tasseled headband, which becomes a mainstay for all of his costumes in the musicals. He loses it for a much larger and longer tassel attached to his Kanmuri after his Kiwame training.
- Indifferent Beauty: Played With. He is said to be the most beautiful sword of the five Tenka Goken, and his appearance definitely reflects this, but he generally doesn't make a big deal out of it or seem to care about anything other than the Tenka Goken title itself. There are a few minor examples that avert this in all his appearances across Touken Ranbu media, one of which is only debatably canonical:
- In an anthology comic, he casually declines to compete in a beauty pageant alongside the other Touken Danshi because he knows they have no chance against him.
- In the musical, he refers to his blade as "beautiful" in the Bragging Theme Tune "Touken Ranbu," which is essentially a self-acknowledgment of his own beauty given that his blade is himself.
- Informed Flaw: Played for Laughs, as Mikazuki will occasionally claim that he can't do certain things because of his old age, when in reality, he's just as young-looking and fit as any other sword in the citadel, and it's really just an excuse for him to slack off.
- In-Series Nickname:
- Calls himself and is also called by others Jiji which translates to Gramps.
- In the "Great Invasion" event, all of the starter swords refer to him as "Moon" ("Tsuki") toward the end of the event, usually metaphorically and in reference to his name, although Mutsunokami outright calls him as "Otsuki-san". In Touken Camp, Shichiseiken refers to him this way as well.
- Intergenerational Friendship: With Kashuu Kiyomitsu in Hanamaru. He's more than 500 years older than him, but almost always shows up when Kashuu's feeling down to bond with him and give him advice, whilst also reminding him of his growth.
- Journey to Find Oneself: His Kiwame training has him travel the entirety of his 1000-year lifespan to renew himself after his long life caused him to deteriorate. According to his third letter, he became the moon for a period during his trip, which is implied to be the reason for the spiritual power he was granted upon returning.
- Large Ham: He has his moments, such as when he enters Shinken Hissatsu in his Kiwame form and commands his opponent to "Take a good look" before attacking.
- Laser-Guided Karma: If he's broken after Kiwame, he rationalizes his death as unavoidable given all the swords and people he has killed. The only thing that appears to bother him is the fact that the Saniwa will mourn his death."I have killed many... I have broken many... That I break, myself, cannot be helped... However, to make Master grieve... That makes me sad..."
- Leitmotif: His attendant BGM shares a melody section with Honebami's.
- Light 'em Up: In the spin-offs where he is shown to have additional powers, like in "Katsugeki" and "Warriors," he can use his sword to project deadly light beams that resemble crescent moons. This is emphasized by his Granblue Fantasy portrayal, where his playable unit is Light element.
- Lightning Bruiser: While this is true for all tachi in the browser game, it is often exaggerated in spin-offs for him specifically, as he is shown to move so quickly when fighting that he leaves an afterimage of himself or speed lines behind. Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu x Granblue Fantasy depicts him moving so fast during his Charge Attack that it almost looks like he's teleporting.
- The Lost Lenore: Becomes this to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro after he's dismantled in the 5th stageplay.
- Lunacy: In the spin-offs and eventually the browser game itself, his powers are heavily associated with the moon and implied to be drawn from the moon itself.
- Meaningful Appearance: He is a sword that was forged during the Heian period and was inherited by numerous noble families throughout his long life. As a result, he dresses like a nobleman from the Heian period, although his outfits differ. By default, he is dressed in a kariginu, which is a loose garment worn as casual wear by the Heian nobility to facilitate mobility during hunting. On the other hand, his Kiwame outfit is modeled after the sokutai, a much more formal garment worn only by courtiers or aristocrats.
- Meaningful Name: His name translates to "crescent moon" in English as a reference to the tempered crescent-shaped patterns on his blade. He is strongly associated with the moon because of this; his associated crest is a double crescent moon, being reflected in his outfit, and his sheath is decorated with the different phases of the moon.
- Mellow Fellow: Notable for how calm and carefree he is most of the time, which leads to Casual Danger Dialogue during battles.
- The Mentor: Takes a few swords under his wing across the different continuities.
- In Musical: Touken Ranbu, he acts as a mentor figure to Iwatooshi, coming to him in his time of inner conflict and guiding him toward a resolution to those conflicts.
- In Touken Ranbu Stage, he starts off as an eccentric mentor figure to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, although they eventually grow into being more like friends and equals.
- In Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru, he becomes a mentor figure to Kashuu Kiyomitsu after Kashuu gets over his jealousy toward him, coming to Kashuu when he's feeling insecure or internally conflicted and reassuring him about his growth.
- In Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu, Izuminokami Kanesada seeks his advice following a particularly dangerous mission, and Mikazuki later reassures him of his goal, implying that they have a trusting mentor-student relationship. This is also hinted at in the Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu x Granblue Fantasy collaboration, in which Mikazuki vetoes Izuminokami's decision not to invite the crew on a particularly dangerous mission, and Izuminokami relents after Mikazuki subtly challenges him to argue against his choice.
- Mono no Aware: Mikazuki's voice lines in the browser game suggest that he appreciates the beauty of things like cherry blossoms and fireworks because they are fleeting, just like human lives. This is also implied to be at least part of the reason he's so blasé about his own death if broken, as everything is meant to come to an end.
- Never Bareheaded: Even in his most casual attire, he is never seen without some sort of headwear.
- New Job as the Plot Demands: In the official High School AU manga, Mikazuki alternates between being a student, a teacher, and the school's principal depending on the chapter.
- New Powers as the Plot Demands: During the Great Invasion event, he suddenly gains the ability to create a massive barrier that covers and hides the entire citadel, when prior to this event, there was no evidence that he possessed this ability, with the only indication that he could create shields at all being in his SSR unit from the (probably) non-canon Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu collaboration with Granblue Fantasy in 2017. After this event and Kiwame training, he has yet to demonstrate this ability as a unit.
- Nice Guy: While his voice-lines can come across as condescending at times (which the spin-offs ignore), he is otherwise a kind and gentle person who would give his life to protect anyone in the citadel if it came to it.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: In some spin-offs, his silliness is often played up, usually to hide his more cunning side.
- Odd Friendship:
- He has a mellow and laidback personality but somehow always manages to find a good friend in the energetic prankster Tsurumaru Kuninaga across all of the continuities.
- He also becomes close to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro in the stage play adaptations despite their very different personalities.
- Old Master: In a number of spin-offs, he is portrayed as a seasoned veteran with far more experience protecting history and dealing with the Historical Revisionists than any of his unit's other formidable members, and he imparts his wisdom gained from his old age and experience onto the newer manifested swords.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: A few of his post-Kiwame training voice lines suggest that the Saniwa is still fussing over him over his Heroic Sacrifice attempt.
- Perpetual Smiler: Rarely, if ever, seen without a smile on his face. He smiles even more after his Kiwame training, and seemingly more genuinely, reflecting his Character Development.
- Power Glows: He is said to be imbued with spiritual power after returning from Kiwame training, which is reflected in how his katana glows in battle.
- Pre-Explosion Glow: When he's first summoned in Hanamaru, his soul causes the Saniwa's shikigami to glow brightly, and then it explodes into a blinding light so powerful that the doors fly off their hinges.
- Rare Random Drop: A sword with the highest rarity (5 sakura petals) in-game, and for a while he was the only sword in the game to have that rarity until Juzumaru came along.
- Rescue Arc: The "Great Invasion" story is centered around saving him from sacrificing himself for the sake of Honmaru. The starter swords go after him and bring him home once their mission is completed.
- Rhyming Names: An unintentional example, but his name rhymes: Mikazuki Munechika.
- Senior Sleep-Cycle: He's a Touken Danshi with the mind of an elderly man, so the stereotype that the elderly are prone to dozing off comes up frequently in his character, albeit more so in some of the spin-offs than in his browser game counterpart, who only mentions taking a nap in his idle voice lines before and after Kiwame training.
- Ship Tease:
- He is subtly teasing toward the Saniwa and doesn’t seem to mind when they feel him up unless he’s injured. He also, for some reason, tells them that Bigger Is Better after being poked by them.
- He also gets a bit of ship tease with Tsurumaru Kuninaga across continuities, starting with the first season of Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru, where there's even a shot or Tsurumaru helping him get changed.
- He gets ship tease with all five starter swords during the "Great Invasion" event, as they go on a mission to save him from sacrificing himself, declare that the citadel won't be the same without him (using varying degrees of flowery language), and eventually declare that they want to protect him in the end.
- Shout-Out: His original line on the loading screennote , which should be very familiar with players who play a certain other game:"The admiral is in the base... Hahaha, as expected, that is not quite right, is it?"
- Secret-Keeper: Played for Laughs. His Internal Affairs conversion with Akashi Kuniyoshi has him catching Akashi slacking off, only promising to not tell on him as long as he doesn't tattle on him for also slacking off.
- Series Mascot: The primary face of the Touken Ranbu franchise since its launch in 2015. As a result, he is used to represent the franchise in almost every way (with the five starter swords and/or Konnosuke filling in when he isn't), is the game's icon, appears in every opening movie, and appears in every adaptation. He also appears on the covers of all official anthologies and manga, and he is the primary mascot of official merchandise series such as Tounyan Ranbu(along with Kashuu Kiyomitsu) and Wanpaku! Touken Ranbu (together with Konnosuke).
- Stealth Hi/Bye: In several of the adaptations, he makes of habit of wandering off when no one is looking and reappearing when they least expect it.
- Stepford Smiler: He's almost always shown smiling, though some spin-offs add a more melancholic twist to his carefree personality, often treating it as a front for the deep sadness he has within himself. The "Great Invasion" event confirms that even his browser game counterpart isn't quite as happy as he seems to be, as he comes off as a Death Seeker who was willing to sacrifice himself to atone for all the swords he'd broken up to that point. He gets better thanks to the influence of the starter swords.
- Sword Beam: In Katsugeki, Mikazuki's sword produces golden crescent shaped beams with every slash. It becomes a double crescent, resembling his crest, when he executes his Finishing Move. His moves in Touken Ranbu Warriors also have this effect.
- Talking Weapon:
- During "The Great Invasion," he reverts to his sword form after being dragged back to Honmaru, but he can still communicate normally.
- In the second live-action film, Kotone, who can hear the voices of tsukumogami, is able to communicate with him while he's still a sword.
- Tareme Eyes: In Hanamaru, his eyes are notably drawn to be a bit droopier when he's relaxing around the Citadel, possibly to mirror his carefree mannerisms. They become sharper when he's in a serious mood.
- The Tease: He has a few teasing voice-lines. For example, some of his dialogue when you click on him implies that you're feeling him up. He's fine with this, even after Kiwame training. There's also..."Well, for both people and katanas, the bigger the better. Is that not so?"
- Temporary Online Content: Mikazuki Munechika as a guest fighter in the Granblue Fantasy x Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu collaboration event, Katsugeki Touken Ranbu: Fate Horizon. The event first ran in 2017, introducing Mikazuki Munechika (SSR), Izuminokami Kanesada (SR), and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro (SR) as playable units, but as of the end of 2023, 6 years later, it has yet to be reran or added to that game's side stories, meaning Mikazuki and the others are currently (and possibly forever) unobtainable for newer players. As well, the game failed to give Mikazuki a 5 star uncap along with some of the other non-Cygames collaborative characters in 2023, further suggesting that his character will not be returning.
- Took a Level in Cheerfulness: He seems a lot happier after his Kiwame training and appears to have developed a greater appreciation for Honmaru and its residents.
- Took a Level in Kindness: While he wasn't too much of a jerk, to begin with, he loses some of his coldness and distance after his Kiwame training, as he genuinely commends the sword he's sparring with on their abilities and seems to appreciate the company of everyone in Honmaru."The people, swords, and the citadel are all here. That's enough for me."
- Tsurime Eyes: Unlike in Hanamaru, where his eyes were noticeably droopy unless he was in serious mode, his eyes in Katsugeki are sharper by default, further emphasizing his more serious portrayal.
- Undying Loyalty: Like most swords, he is very loyal to the Saniwa, but he expresses it in ways that they and the other Touken Danshi disapprove of, such as disobeying orders and doing dirty work without their permission in order to protect them and the citadel.
- Unknown Rival: Ookanehira has a beef with him because he is one of the Tenka Goken, but despite the fact that he is currently the only Tenka Goken to acknowledge Ookanehira in-game, which he only does after Kiwame training, he appears indifferent to him at best, and teasing to him at worst, depending on how his sparring finish line is read. Even in Hanamaru, where he is more directly subjected to Ookanehira's hostility as a result of his Tenka Goken status, he is unbothered and tells him that he is too obsessed with the title.
- Uniqueness Value: He was the first sword in the game to be introduced as a 5-petal rarity, the highest rarity in the game at the time due to his status as a Tenka Goken. 7 years later, he would become the first 5-petal rarity sword to Kiwame, also becoming the first to be promoted to the 6-petal Godly rarity status. To reflect this, his kiwame heavily ties into the event "The Great Invasion", which essentially served as a build-up to his going on his Kiwame to improve himself after stagnating for years.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Kogitsunemaru's post-Kiwame sparring lines with Mikazuki imply they have this sort of relationship in-game.
- Vocal Dissonance: Physically, he looks like a young pretty in his late twenties at the oldest, but speaks like an old man, especially after Kiwame training. Justified, considering that he is an old man—at least old in years and mindset.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: After his Kiwame training, Mikazuki gets a voice-line where he admits to usually doing whatever he wants. This aspect of his character is particularly noticeable in the musical, stage play, and even film continuity, where he doesn't tell anyone what he's going to do before pulling off some extreme plot to resolve the story's issue in his own way. Because of his unpredictable, often shady, and rash actions, it's almost always assumed that he's betraying the Touken Danshi before they figure out what's going on.
- Weird Moon: The distraction he creates to hide the citadel away from approaching invaders takes the form of an unnaturally large, mist-covered moon◊.
- Willfully Weak: Downplayed but implied to be the case in the browser game. He's a good unit, but certainly not the nigh unstoppable gorilla tier unit that he's portrayed as in every adaptation. The Great Invasion event strongly implies that he is more powerful than he lets on, especially with the revelation that he has additional supernatural abilities that he, for some reason, doesn't use on the battlefield, despite their utility.
- Wolverine Publicity: As he is the face of the Touken Ranbu series, he is frequently plastered on the covers of spin-off Manga and anthologies, regardless of what roles he plays in them.
- World's Most Beautiful Woman: In a world of beautiful swords, his is said to be the most beautiful of the five great swords of Japan, with this being reflected in his human form as well. This gets lampshaded in one of the early anthologies, where he opted not to compete with Kashuu and the others for the title of "Most Beautiful Sword" because it wouldn't be a competition if he did.
Mikazuki (Touken Ranbu Stage)
- Bash Brothers: With Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, the character he is most closely associated with in this continuity. He also shares moments with Tsurumaru Kuninaga, particularly in Muden.
- Birds of a Feather: He and Tsurumaru Kuninaga are both Heian Period swords with laid-back personalities, perhaps a little too laid-back for their comrades' liking. It's a small wonder that they get along so well when they appear together.
- Cloudcuckoolander: In his less serious moments, he's a very silly and affable old man whom Yamanbagiri and the others frequently struggle to wrangle in. This aspect of his personality is portrayed in a tragic light when it is revealed that it is simply a mask for all of the stress he is experiencing as a result of the time loop.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: For a sword; The Time Government orders the Saniwa to dismantle him in Hiden, which is shown to be a slow and painful process. His dismantling is even reflected in his appearance, as everything about him loses color, including his hair, eyes, and even his clothes, until he's almost completely white. That said, it doesn’t kill him, as the loop always resets before it can.
- Deuteragonist: He plays this role to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro’s protagonist in the first few stage plays and in the first stages anime adaptation.
- Expository Pronoun: He uses the pronoun "Onushi" to refer to everyone, which is a polite and humble way saying "You" and was often used by Samurai. He is the only version of Mikazuki Munechika who speaks like this, as Mikazuki in the browser game and other adaptations uses the rougher and more casual "Omae," with only one instance of "Onushi" being used with Kogitsunemaru during sparring, where he uses formal language in general. It's unclear why he speaks like this, though it could be a reference to him being a more traditional Heian-era sword.
- Fate Worse than Death: Currently his fate as of Hiden. He is forced to live out the Honmaru's peaceful days and eventual downfall as the events of the plays repeat in an apparently never-ending loop, with him always doomed to be dismantled at the end of it all, only to be sucked back to the beginning before he can die. It is unclear whether he can be saved from this fate, and Yamanbagiri has attempted to break him out of the loop, but failed to do so.
- "Groundhog Day" Loop: In Hiden, it's revealed that he's been trapped in one for quite some time, with each additional performance of each installment being another loop that he has gone through.
- The Lost Lenore: He's not technically dead because he's doomed to be trapped in a time loop, but he's gone for the time being, and while all of the other Touken Danshi are devastated by his loss, Yamanbagiri is the hit the hardest by it and still hasn't moved on from him.
- The Mentor: He serves as a mentor figure to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, who has a number of insecurities and personal hang-ups that he is concerned about.
- Palette Swap: When the Saniwa begins dismantling him, he loses all of his colors, with his clothes, hair, and eyes all turning white. Only his sandals and scabbard retain their colors, despite the fact that they are also a part of him.
- Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory: He is the only one who keeps his memory of the loop when it resets, which gradually begins to take its toll on him mentally.
- Ship Tease: In this continuity, he is extremely close to Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, and their relationship and dynamic are the focal points of several plays. When the truth about his situation is revealed to everyone, Yamanbagiri doesn’t take it well at all, and Mikazuki becomes The Lost Lenore to him after he disappears.
- Time Loop Fatigue: Mikazuki has gone through the events of the story several times, and the effects of reliving Honmaru's downfall over and over have begun to wear on his mental state over time, exacerbated by the fact that he is the only one who remembers each loop and how it ends before it resets.
Mikazuki (Musical Touken Ranbu)
- A Day in the Limelight: The main installments Tsuwamono Domo and Michi no Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu place major focus on his character, as well as his internal conflict.
- Adaptational Dye-Job: Mikazuki's actor, Kuroba Mario, wears light blue contacts for the majority of his performances, but they occasionally have a faint yellow hue around the pupils to mimic Mikazuki's crescent moon shape. Promotional images tend to enhance the crescent shape in his eyes◊.
- All-Loving Hero: Deconstructed. He has boundless compassion for and associates himself with those who have gotten the short end of the stick throughout history, and tries to save as many of them as he can without changing history by recruiting them to the Mononobe. This is portrayed as being a flaw, however, because him constantly allowing himself to get close to the "losers" causes more harm for him than it does any good, especially when said "losers" refuse his help or cannot be saved, with a man he failed to recruit to the Mononobe even warning him that his affinity for getting involved with "losers" may result in him becoming one of them. He seems to know this, however, as he replies that he just does what he can and leaves without pushing the issue.
- Aloof Ally: Downplayed in Michi no Oku; Despite being on a mission in the same time period, he keeps his distance from Tsurumaru's (and later, Yamanbagiri's) team and only occasionally pops in to interact with them the first time being when he attracts Kebiishi to their location and momentarily stops to help them before wandering off again, the second time when Tsurumaru lures him out by attacking Suishinshi, and the third in the climax when everyone is fighting the Kebiishi, although that time he seems conflicted on helping them and only does so when becomes clear that they'll die if he doesn't. The last time he encounters them is by chance before they separate for good at the end of the play.
- Ambiguous Situation: Even after he makes a physical return in Michi no Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu after a six year (main story) absence, many aspects of his character are still shrouded in mystery, such as what his role as the mechanism entails and now, what he's searching for by looping across different time periods.
- Back-to-Back Badasses: Most often with Kogitsunemaru, but also with Tsurumaru Kuninaga in Michi no Oku.
- Barehanded Blade Block: One of his defensive maneuvers is to grab an enemy's weapon before they can hit him with it. He has even demonstrated this ability against the Kebiishi, who tend to be faster than the other Touken Danshi.
- Birds of a Feather: Higekiri and he click right away because of their similar flighty and carefree personalities. Their shared experiences and bond also enable Higekiri to approach him with genuine empathy rather than automatically assuming the worst when he begins to engage in dubious activities such as altering history.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Mikazuki is kind-hearted and a bit silly, but he's no slouch on the battlefield, being one of the oldest and most experienced swords in both age and manifestation order within the citadel, allowing him to be a formidable fighter who dispatches Historical Revisionists and later even Kebiishi with ease. He's also shown to be quite relentless during "friendly" sparring matches, as he attacked Iwatooshi without provocation to help him discover his true feelings, with no guarantee that Iwatooshi would react in time to avoid being sliced and diced into pieces, and almost beheaded Akashi Kuniyuki.
- Brainwashing for the Greater Good: In Tsuwamono Domo, though it's never explained, it's strongly hinted that he used possessed Yoritomo's sword to force him into following his plans because he was unable to convince him in the same way that he had Yasuhira. Tokyo Kokoro Oboe also suggests that he did something to Suishinshi's head that distorted his perception of reality and also made him able to communicate with him as just a voice in his head. All of this was done for the greater good, however.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: In Atsukashiyama Ibun, he is strong and experienced, but he maintains the appearance of being a clueless old man when it comes to most tasks, doesn't listen to orders so he can do his own thing, and slacks on his duties in the citadel, with Kashuu saying he only takes flower duty seriously. This trait diminishes in him later in the series, as he chooses to leave the peaceful comfort of the citadel sometime after Tsuwamono Domo to embark alone on an ongoing, harrowing mission that requires him to be on his toes at almost all times.
- The Bus Came Back: After appearing in three main story musicals note , he had a six year absence from the main stage, only appearing in side performances Shinken Ranbusai 2018 and Kotobuki Ranbu Ongyokusai 2021 and having minor video and voice cameos in Kishou Hongi and Tokyo Kokoro Oboe. He wouldn't physically return to the main stage until ~Michi no Oku Hitotsu wa Chisu~, which was announced for early 2024.
- Cannot Spit It Out: He claims he doesn't believe in words because they are full of lies, whereas fighting and dancing are more honest. Even in a direct confrontation, he stubbornly refuses to speak up even when his own life and reputation is on the line and so Higekiri ends up doing it for him.
- Character Catchphrase: His horse duty line from the browser game, "You're so cute/Cute little one," note was turned into a fanservice line during concerts starting from Atsukashiyama Ibun. There's also "Yokikana, yokikana," which he says more often.
- Characterization Marches On:
- Mikazuki's early scene in the Trial Performance showing how he doesn't get fieldwork is replaced with him playfully using the hoe as a running springboard in Atsukashiyama Ibun, better reflecting his easygoing personality. The field duty scene was later completely cut out of Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 Paris in favor of him and Kogitsunemaru practising a song and dance before they talk about their impending mission. He also makes passive-aggressive remarks about the Saniwa during this discussion, hinting at a darker side of his character.
- Mikazuki becomes more mature and refined in Tsuwamono Domo and subsequent musicals, although he still has his occasional light-hearted and comedic moments. This was invoked by the director himself, who felt that the original portrayal of the character did not fit the vision of Mikazuki that the production desired.
- Being the only character whose characterization shifted significantly between the two acts, Mikazuki was much goofier, energetic, and unhinged during the Live segments in the Trial Performance/Atsukashiyama Ibun, Shinken Ranbusai 2016, Shinken Ranbusai 2017 than he was in the main story, also often using an exaggerated, loud voice for comedic effect. However, since Tsuwamono Domo, even though his idol counterpart is still more playful, the unhinged aspect of his character has substantially diminished, and by Michi no Oku, his characterization is much more in the realms for how Mikazuki would (probably) act if he was an idol. As well, the exaggerated voice has stopped being used entirely.
- Character Signature Song: "Hana no Utena," from Tsuwamono Domo, specifically the second rendition, as represents his mindset and the tragic role he has taken in history. From the Live section of the musicals, "Endless Night," his solo from Atsukashiyama Ibun.
- Cloudcuckoolander: He can be a bit flighty when he's not being serious or mysterious.
- Commonality Connection: He's shown to have a strong bond with Kogitsunemaru, which
Word of God explained as the result of the two being fellow swords forged by Sanjou Munechika. - The Constant: It is revealed in Tsuwamono Domo that he has been repeatedly traveling back in time to influence historical events and ensure that history unfolds as intended, making himself one of the few certain existences during the Genpei War. Because of this, he is also able to empathize with Yasuhira and Yoritomo, both of whose lives during this time are known to have occurred, which makes his role in ensuring their deaths all the more painful for him.
- Cosmic Motifs: As usual, Mikazuki is associated with the moon, particularly the crescent moon, because of his name. From Kishou Hongi onwards, the moon is associated with him in a different way, as it is used to indicate that he is present in a time period and influencing the story's events offscreen.
- Cruel to Be Kind: He believes that kindness takes many forms, and sometimes it involves doing something that could harm someone in order to help them. In this state of mind, he advises Iwatooshi to come clean to Imanotsurugi about his nonexistence, knowing that it will hurt him but will also help him come to terms with himself.
- Cultured Warrior: Mikazuki is one the oldest and most traditional swords who has a hobby of dancing, singing, and acting out historical events. Higekiri and Hizamaru even mention that he exudes a dignified air that distinguishes him from swords raised in samurai clans, but this doesn't hinder him from being a proficient fighter in the slightest.
- Dance Battler: His fighting style is distinguished by the way he incorporates traditional dances into his movements.
- Dark Secret: In Tsuwamono Domo, the fact that he had been traveling throughout history independent of the Saniwa's power to ensure that the Genpei war happened as historically intended. By Michi no Oku, it's no longer a secret, however, as nearly everyone, including the Saniwa, seems to be aware of what he's been doing.
- Dramatic Wind: After Tsuwamono Domo, every time he is mentioned, the wind can be heard, often accompanied a crescent moon emerging from behind the clouds. In Michi no Oku, when Tsurumaru is beating Suishinshi to lure him out, the wind becomes more and more dramatic as Mikazuki gets closer to them.
- Establishing Character Moment: Mikazuki's first shown goofing off while doing fieldwork, showing his easygoing nature.
- Fashionable Asymmetry: A few of his Live costumes are styled like this.
- In the second form of his Atsukashiyama Ibun Live outfit, he wears a layered sash on his left leg.
- His third form in Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018 Paris is cropped to expose his right shoulder, which is decorated with a fabric shoulder guard.
- His first form in Michi no Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu has a coat that is longer and fur-lined only on the right side. His third form also only has a suspender on the right side.
- Fighting Your Friend: Several times.
- In Atsukashiyama Ibun, he attacks Iwatooshi without warning to help him uncover and confront his feelings about the situation involving Imanotsurugi and his inability to let go of his former master.
- In Tsuwamono Domo, he almost fights Kogitsunemaru to the death because Kogitsunemaru thinks he's deliberately changing history, but Higekiri breaks it up in time.
- In Michi no Oku, Tsurumaru baits him into a physical confrontation to understand what he’s doing after he left the citadel.
- Five Stages of Grief: Denial.
- He was on the mission where one of his teammates was killed in battle, but unlike Yamanbagiri Kunihiro and Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who are still mourning their friend's death but appear to have accepted it and are attempting to move on, he is firmly in denial that they are gone and apparently believes they are alive and alone somewhere.
- He also extends this denial to the humans he encounters, as his conversation with Aterui implies that he has repeated their encounter countlessly to persuade Aterui and his comrade to flee from their execution, despite being rejected every time as they always choose to accept their loss and die.
- Flower Motifs: Beginning in Tsuwamono Domo, lotus flowers became associated with Mikazuki because they symbolized the friendship he developed with Yasuhira as they admired them across innumerable timelines. Lotus flowers eventually came to represent Mikazuki in general because they are beautiful and delicate flowers that bloom perennially, calling to mind Mikazuki, a renowned, beautiful sword that has persisted for over a thousand years.
- Foil: Set up to be one to Tsurumaru Kuninaga.
- Mikazuki Munechika has a dark color palette, mostly wearing dark blue, while Tsurumaru mostly wears white.
- 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.
- 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.
- Friend to All Children: In Michi no Oku, he reluctantly befriends a young boy named Yahiko after visibly avoiding him, most likely because he knew Yahiko would die soon after their meeting. Despite his grief, he valued their friendship and presented a lotus flower to his corpse as a symbol of it, just as he had to Yasuhira after his death.
- The Ghost: He becomes this in the main story after Tsuwamono Domo, frequently being mentioned by characters and working behind the scenes, but not directly interacting with anyone well, not physically, anyway, as he communicates with Suishinshi as a disembodied voice in Tokyo Kokoro Oboe before showing up as a projection. He wouldn't physically return to the stage until Michi no Oku Hitotsu wa Chisu.
- God Guise: In Michi no Oku, Yahiko misidentifies him as the Tohoku deity Arahabaki after he saves him and his father from the Historical Revisionists, and eventually everyone from the time period starts to refer to him as such, with Mikazuki going along with it. Given that Aterui also referred to him as Arahabaki in the previous loop and he has looped the time period multiple times, he likely is identified as the deity in each loop and probably doesn't see the point in trying to clarify who he is anymore.
- Good Old Fisticuffs: Mikazuki is equally adept at swordplay and hand-to-hand combat, at times using his fists to fight off Historical Revisionists and, more rarely, other Touken Danshi. He also really likes to strike people using a combination of his fist and the hilt of his sword.
- "Groundhog Day" Loop: It's strongly implied that he's inducing this for himself across various time periods in search of something.
- Heartbroken Badass: Like Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, he never moved on from the (supposed) death of one of his teammates during a mission gone wrong.
- Hidden Depths: Shinken Ranbusai 2018 shows that he can be just as fired up about competitions as the other Touken Danshi can be, as he was the one who suggested they hold an East-West Showdown to determine which region has the best festivals and is shown to be whole-heartedly participating all throughout.
- Hypocrite: He urges Iwatooshi to treat Imanotsurugi like a mature person by telling him the truth about him not existing historically, but when it comes time for Mikazuki to come clean about the shady things he's been up to, he clams up because he doesn't want the Saniwa to be burdened by what he has to do to protect history, essentially not treating the Saniwa as emotionally mature enough to handle it despite the position he's in.
- Iconic Item: He wears his signature tasseled headband with every costume save for Uchiban.
- Immortal Immaturity: A variant. He's well over a thousand years old, and unlike most characters associated with this trope, he acts about as close to his age as he can by acting like an old man and has moments of wisdom. That said, his old age doesn't mean he isn't emotionally immature in some regards, as he struggles with communication, reaching out to others, and letting things go, which leads to many problems in his personal relationships.
- Innocently Insensitive: Possibly. At the end of the mission in Shimabara, he instructs one of the Mononobe to deliver the message "Don't push yourself too hard" to Tsurumaru, presumably knowing all of the traumatizing events Tsurumaru and his team witnessed and contributed to, as he was also present and influencing the events, albeit offscreen. It's unknown whether he meant it mockingly, but Tsurumaru took it that way and told the Mononobe to essentially tell him to "shut the fuck up."
- I Will Find You: Michi no Oku implies that he's been looping time periods looking for the allegedly broken sword so that they can return to the citadel together.
- The Leader:
- Like in the browser game (and the spin-offs, for that matter), he is all but outright stated to be the leader of the Sanjou school and is treated as the face of their group, but he doesn't make much of an effort to assert his authority over his fellow Sanjou in the main story, most likely due to his laidback personality. The closest he gets is ignoring Imanotsurugi's role as team leader of the mixed group in Tsuwamono Domo a few times for the sake of his mission and making decisions on his behalf.
- As idols, Mikazuki has a more clearly defined leadership role among the Sanjou, as he's always treated as the center of their group and apparently established and enforces that the school follows.
- Leit Motif: Every time he appears after Tsuwamono Domo, the melody of "Hana no Utena" plays in the background.
- Living Macguffin: In Michi no Oku, he becomes this to both Suishinshi Masahide, who wants to find, help, and understand him, and Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who wants him to confront him and convince him to abandon his mission and return to the citadel. In the meantime, he has his own thing going on independent of both of these characters.
- Mayfly–December Friendship:
- Whenever he goes back to the Genpei War, Mikazuki always makes time to genuinely befriend Yasuhira, which also allows him to tell him about his fate and ask him to play his part without force to ensure a good future.
- He reluctantly befriends Yahiko knowing the boy is destined to be killed soon after they meet.
- Mikazuki considers all of the people he recruits to the Mononobe to be his friends despite their short human lives.
- The Mentor: In both Atsukashiyama Ibun and Tsuwamono Domo, he serves as a mentor figure to Iwatooshi, helping him in addressing the problems he's facing in each play and giving him advice on how he can overcome them.
- Moveset Clone: Downplayed. Mikazuki and Tsurumaru use extremely similar techniques when they fight and are both Dance Battlers, with the only differences between them being that Mikazuki’s moves tend to be more precise and elegant, whereas Tsurumaru is a more direct and aggressive, and that Tsurumaru uses both a sword and sheath to fight. This is explained by flashbacks to the early days of the citadel, when the two spent a lot of time together and trained together, suggesting that they not only developed their skills together but also that Mikazuki may have had a significant role in Tsurumaru's training, as Tsurumaru's moves are shown to be clumsier than they are now, while Mikazuki was already shown to be a skilled fighter.
- Mr. Fanservice: Not in the main story, but during lives, he whole-heartedly embraces this role and takes full advantage of his Sexy Backless Outfit in the stripped down version of his costume.
- Mysterious Protector: In Kishou Hongi, it is revealed that Mikazuki Munechika has recruited people from different eras to help the Touken Danshi in completing their mission to protect history, with these people being dubbed the Mononobe, or "servants of spirits." They can be anyone, from a nameless recurring background character to a historical figure who has been removed from his historical role, such as Nobuyasu.
- Mythology Gag: The close-up shot of him opening his eye in the "BE IN SIGHT" music video shows a golden crescent shape under his pupil, a nod to Mikazuki Munechika's original character design.
- The Needs of the Many: Inverted. A number of his Mononobe recruits were historically meant to die, but he saved them because their survival would have no lasting impact on history. On the other hand, he allows and even contributes to the deaths of over 37,000 other people because saving them would have drastic consequences.
- Non-Linear Character: Tokyo Kokoro Oboe heavily implies that he became this as a result of his travels through time to correct the flow of history, transforming him into The Constant who is able to exist across various eras, potentially including ones that haven't happened yet from other characters' perspectives.
- Old Soldier: Despite not looking the part, he considers himself to be an old man and is among the citadel's most formidable, experienced, and oldest Touken Danshi, the latter being in both age and manifestation order. By Michi no Oku, he's shattered all records for badassery, to the extent that even the Kebiishi find him difficult to deal with when they go after him for his repeated loops through time.
- One-Man Army: He can usually repel a group of Historical Revisionists on his own, and by the play Michi no Oku, he has developed to the point where he poses a threat to the Kebiishi, effortlessly being able to handle even multiple Kebiishi, whereas other Touken Danshi have been shown to struggle to take down just one even when working as a team.
- Open Secret: Michi no Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu reveals that, with the exception of Ookanehira and other recent arrivals to the citadel, everyone has been made aware of Mikazuki's solo ventures through time and feel (more or less) comfortable leaving him to it.
- Pet the Dog: Mikazuki is an odd example. He is not a bad person and is not viewed as such In-Universe; rather, he is a Necessarily Evil force that commits moral questionable deeds in order to ensure that history unfolds as intended, with this role of his being deemed tragic. Nevertheless, he still has his tender moments despite playing this part:
- In Tsuwamono Domo, Mikazuki goes against his role as the protector of history and allows Yoshitsune and Benkei to go free despite both having to die historically, since their survival is only one of the many potential outcomes of the timeline.
- In Kishou Hongi, after recruiting Tokugawa Nobuyasu to the Mononobe, he sent him in to assist the other Touken Danshi in completing their mission, indirectly (or possibly intentionally) helping Nobuyasu reunite with his Parental Substitutes Sengo Muramasa and Tonbokiri, who had long believed he had died.
- In Paraiso, after ensuring the deaths of 37,000 people, many of whom were innocent and even children, he sends his recruit to rescue the rebellion's only survivor, who just happened to be the human child the other Touken Danshi befriended. He also has his recruit to advise Tsurumaru, who had been struggling with inner turmoil throughout the play, not to push himself too hard on his behalf.
- The majority of his recruits to the Mononobe are historical "losers" who either lost their roles, were forgotten in the flow of time due to failing to make an impact in history, or were spared from certain death by him or another person. He assigns them these roles not only to facilitate the work of the other Touken Danshi, but also to ensure that they are remembered in some way in a history that has forgotten them.
- Poor Communication Kills:
- In Tsuwamono Domo, many grievances and suspicions about Mikazuki would have been cleared between him, Kogitsunemaru, and the Saniwa if he had simply been open about what he was doing, but as Higekiri points out, not saying what needs to be said is just an inherent trait of his.
- He has yet to tell Suishinshi what his mission is or what the role he has assigned him entails, which has caused him a great deal of confusion and anxiety, to the point of having nightmares.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The mellow, graceful, and collected Blue Oni to Tsurumaru's wild, energetic, and aggressive Red Oni.
- Reverse Arm-Fold: Mikazuki occasionally stands like this to reflect that he's supposed to be an old man.
- Sexy Backless Outfit: His third forms in Atsukashiyama Ibun and Tsuwamono Domo have his upper back exposed.
- Shared Family Quirks: He is from the Sanjou school, who don't think of themselves as siblings but are known for having similar eccentricities that revolve around being enigmatic, easygoing, and, as Tsurumaru puts it, impossible to surprise.
- Ship Tease: Most prominently with Kogitsunemaru and later Tsurumaru Kuninaga, as listed on the musicals Hoyay page.
- Signature Move: One-handedly blocking an attack from behind by holding his sword over his shoulder, which he usually does while kneeling and without looking.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: He wanders off multiple times in Tsuwamono Domo to quietly adjust the timeline, which the watchful audience may catch, but the Touken Danshi don't notice until after he's long gone, much to Hizamaru's increasing annoyance. At one point, he even leaves during a song number while everyone is distracted.
- Stepford Smiler: Very much so. He keeps up the facade of being a jovial old man around the other Touken Danshi, but is filled with unprocessed grief over not only the loss of an old friend from the citadel's early days, but also the other friends he is unable to save as he loops through various time periods. His grief is a primary motivator for the majority of his actions, as he left the citadel in search of something to try to reclaim those old days, while also attempting to save as many people from the past as possible without disrupting the flow of history.
- Sweet Tooth: He carries tea cakes and manju in his kimono for himself and also hands them out to other Touken Danshi.
- Talking through Technique: Mikazuki prefers to let fighting (or dancing) do the talking when it comes to conversation. After all, he believes that they're far most honest than words can be.
- The Voice: As an incorporeal being, he can communicate with others as a disembodied voice.
- Voluntary Shapeshifter: In the 2020 rerun of Bakamatsu Tenrouden, he shapeshifts into a cat to warn Okita Souji about the impending execution of Kondo Isami.
- Weird Moon: Played With. The crescent moon associated with Mikazuki from Tsuwamono Domo onward on it's own isn't strange, but what is strange is that it only shows up when Mikazuki is around, usually accompanied by the harsh sound of wind. In Tokyo Kokoro Oboe, Suishinshi realizes that since making contact with Mikazuki Munechika, he has always seen a crescent moon in the sky, implying that Mikazuki and the odd moon are somehow supernaturally linked.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: In Tsuwamono Domo, it is revealed that Mikazuki has repeatedly returned to the Genpei War to ensure that things go as planned by convincing or threatening brothers and friends to kill each other, all by himself, without telling anyone what he is doing or why, until Higekiri figures it out and exposes the truth to Kogitsunemaru. While cruel and clearly taxing on him emotionally because he grew to care about Yasuhira after befriending him across so many timelines, he does it to protect history and has kept it to himself because he doesn't want the Saniwa to become involved in something so unpleasant, thus choosing to handle all the dirty work without his consent.
- We Used to Be Friends: Flashbacks to the citadel's early days reveal that he was once very close to Tsurumaru Kuninaga, as they manifested around the same time and spent a lot of time together as a result, so much so that they developed nearly identical fighting styles. However, while Mikazuki's exact feelings for Tsurumaru are unknown beyond him occasionally acting distant toward him, Tsurumaru is extremely resentful of him, with it implied throughout the story that they had a fundamental disagreement in the past that resulted in the breakdown of their friendship.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: After being put through the emotional wringer for several plays both on and offscreen, Mikazuki is shown warmth and kindness by a child named Yahiko, who tells him he doesn't have to listen to his suffering and embraces him, only for Yahiko to be killed off shortly after this interaction, with Mikazuki being able to do nothing but watch as it happens.
Mikazuki (Live Action Film)
Keishō
- Adaptational Dye-Job: His actor Hiroki Suzuki wears dark blue contacts while portraying the character. He also doesn't have a crescent moon under his pupils by default, though they're sometimes edited in for dramatic shots.
- Adaptational Personality Change:
- Mikazuki is portrayed in the first film as mysterious, mission-oriented, and socially distant outside of his close relationship with the Saniwa, and Yagen and Yamanbagiri's comments about him imply that he has always kept to himself. This is the opposite of how Mikazuki is typically portrayed; while he can be quite secretive and mysterious, he is also fairly pleasant, approachable, and playful, and he forms a wide range of friendships with a variety of Touken Danshi across the different continuities.
- Mikazuki's reaction to being reunited with Honebami Toushirou and the news of his memory loss is also rather stoic. In contrast, in their browser game Recollection, Mikazuki's reaction to Honebami was one of the few times he seemed to be genuinely excited about something, and he was audibly hurt when Honebami couldn't remember him.
- Aloof Ally: He appears to have no desire to make friends with his teammates and is far more affectionate toward their Saniwa. Yamanbagiri, who is pretty socially distant himself, even suggests that this is how he has always been. But in the end, it becomes clear that he really does care about them, to the extent that he sends them back to what he presumed was the safety of Honmaru so that he can perform the Heroic Sacrifice that he had been planning since the start of their mission alone.
- Alternate Self: He is played by the same actor as in the stage plays, but the is a different version of Mikazuki Munechika due to the film being set in a different continuity.
- Bad Liar: Downplayed, as he isn't bad at lying; rather, his comrades are so used to his clever deceptions that they can sometimes guess whether he's intentionally trying to divert their attention from something or is telling them the truth. If what he's saying is too obvious to be deceptive, they assume he's telling the truth, even if his actions are suspicious. However, their guess this time around was incorrect, as Mikazuki really was keeping the Saniwa away from the other Touken Danshi for a reason.
- Dance Battler: His movements in battle are graceful, resembling dances seen Kabuki Buyō and Kamigata Mai.
- Informed Flaw: When attempting to persuade Oda Nobunaga to abandon his efforts to defy his fate, he mentions that he used to only care about his own safety, but has learned to care about others. He says this despite Mikazuki never being shown or implied to be selfish or self-preserving at any point in the film, as he risks his reputation and life to protect the Saniwa's secret and their mission, making it unclear at what point he was supposed to have had and grown out of either of these flaws.
- It's All My Fault: He felt extremely guilty that his momentary carelessness had caused the Historical Revisionists to interfere with their original mission, which was exacerbated by the Saniwa, whom he deeply cares for, attempting to accept responsibility for his mistake. Even Uguisumaru's assurance that it was no one's fault couldn't ease his conscience, prompting him to resign as the Saniwa's attendant out of shame.
- Loner-Turned-Friend: Outside of his friendship with the Saniwa, Mikazuki is portrayed as a loner who keeps to himself and is very mission-oriented, maintaining a cool distance from the other Touken Danshi throughout the film. It isn’t until the final confrontation that he and the other Touken Danshi come to an understanding and they begin a friendship.
- The Lost Lenore: Downplayed. He was the most affected by Saniwa's "death" and is still thinking about him after the time jump to the introduction of the new Saniwa, but he appears to have come to terms with his grief by the end of the film.
- Right-Hand Hottie: He is the Saniwa's secretary in the first film. He briefly resigns from this role out of guilt, but returns to it by the end.
- Secret-Keeper: In order to prevent the Historical Revisionists from learning about the Saniwa's fading magic and Oda Nobunaga's true death, he’s forced to keep these secrets from his fellow team members, which makes them distrust him, and, at one point, want to kill him because they believe he’s trying to change history by keeping Oda Nobunaga alive. Fortunately, the truth surfaces before they have the opportunity to confront him.
- Skewed Priorities: Played for Laughs; In the first live-action film, he kicked the asses of a few Historical Retrograde army men because they dared to wear shoes inside Oda Nobunaga's residence. The camera then pans down to show that he removed his sandals before going inside to fight.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: While he cares for them all the same, he maintains his distance from the other Touken Danshi in Honmaru throughout the film, with Yamanbagiri and Yagen mentioning that he has always kept to himself. However, he has a very close and affectionate relationship with the Saniwa, revealing a side of himself that the audience is more familiar with when he is with him.
- Super-Strength: In the final confrontation with the enemy Oodachi, Mikazuki blocks one of it's blows with his blade one-handedly, and without exerting any effort.
Reimei
Mikazuki Munechika from the second live-action film. He is a different Mikazuki Munechika from the first film, as it’s set in a different Honmaru.- Alternate Self: He is this to the Mikazuki Munechika from the first film, as while the two films take place in the same continuity, he is from a different citadel.
- Badass and Child Duo: He ends up in this sort of dynamic with a high school student named Kotone when he travels back to 2012 to look for a missing Yamanbagiri Kunihiro. She becomes his temporary Saniwa, while he serves as her bodyguard of sorts.
- Dirty Old Man: Implied. After some girls mistaken him for an actor and start fangirling over him, he says they can look at and touch him, which an annoyed Kotone briefly scolds him about.
- Fish out of Temporal Water: Averted. He goes back in time to 2012 to search for Yamanbagiri, but even though he is an ancient sword, he finds it easy to adapt to and take advantage of the conveniences of modern life with the help of Kotone.
- Invisible to Normals: He has the ability to make his presence invisible to everyone except his temporary Saniwa Kotone and other Touken Danshi, which allows him to guard Kotone at school without disrupting her class.
- The Protagonist: While he was a major central character in the first film, but is outright the protagonist here, alongside Kotone, having the most screen time of the Touken Danshi and with the plot focusing on his mission to rescue Yamanbagiri Kunihiro.
- Odd Friendship: He has a very close relationship with the moody and introverted Yamanbagiri Kunihiro and spends much of the film trying to find and rescue him so they can return to their citadel together. However, unlike in the stage continuity which depicts their relationship developing over time, the audience never learns how or why the two became so close due to the lack of a backstory between them, as well as because of the limited number of in-person interactions they have, the majority of which feature Yamanbagiri Kunihiro under Shuten-Douji's control and not acting as himself.
- Summon to Hand: Inverted. Mikazuki is able to teleport to his sword after throwing it at the enemy.
- Super Power Lottery: He is shown to have additional powers that he did not have in … well, any other Touken Ranbu work, such as the ability to teleport and mind control people into doing what he wants. This is in addition to standard Touken Danshi powers like super strength, speed, super senses, and inhumane stamina and durability.
Mikazuki (Warriors)
In this game, he is the leader of the first unit and leads the Touken Danshi of the same unit.
- Apologetic Attacker: Apologizes to the enemy after performing his ultimate attack, saying that he can't give up either.
- Armor-Piercing Question: After spending several missions protecting him, he asks his former master why he doesn't just let the enemy kill him and be done with it if all he intends to do is flee like a coward. This is exactly what Hidetada needed to hear in order to man up and fight back, likely as Mikazuki intended.
- Bash Brothers: Outside of his unit, he has special dialogue when partnered with Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Omokage.
- Blood Knight: Zig-Zagged. He says he's having fun after winning a duel, laughs merrily during combat, and rushes the player along if they leave him idle, reminding them that old men can be useful, too. On the other hand, in his focus chapter, he subtly bemoans how often his team has to fight and would rather finish the mission without having to fight anyone, suggesting he only enjoys fighting on his own terms. This could just be his laziness talking, though.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: He's wise and a skilled warrior, but he's also notoriously lazy, preferring to lounge, nap, and eat snacks than do anything, much to the annoyance of his housemates. Regardless, the other Touken Danshi respect and defer to him when the citadel makes major decisions, and the player can see why throughout the story, as he is not only strong and the chosen leader of the first unit, but he also unravels the game's mystery before anyone else does.
- Character Exaggeration: His sleepiness and laziness were only implied in the browser game, but they are his most prominent characteristics in this game, with his laziness so profound that he is infamous for it in the citadel.
- Character Shilling: In Chapters 5 and 6, regardless of their individual feelings toward him, all of the team leaders gush about Mikazuki's dependability and essentially hand over the game's central mystery to him because they believe in his ability to solve it in their place. Even Omokage praises Mikazuki immediately after taking a moment to declare that everyone in the citadel is wonderful. Their admiration for Mikazuki ends up being justified, as he does manage to figure everything out after spending most of the game subtly piecing everything together. It's also hinted that Mikazuki has been looking after everyone in the citadel since before the story began, which further explains why they trust him so much.
- Commonality Connection:
- He bonds with Tsurumaru 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.
- Averted with Ookurikara, with whom he attempts to bond over the symbols carved into their blades, but it doesn't work out due to Ookurikara's animosity toward him and desire to be alone. His persistence in learning more about Ookurikara's only makes Ookurikara more annoyed with him.
- Cool Old Guy: His character still emphasizes his longevity, and while his eccentricities are toned down somewhat in comparison to how he behaves in most adaptations, he still fills in the "cool" factor by being a skilled warrior who is also mellow yet kind, wise, and a bit of a trickster.
- Dissonant Laughter: Tends to laugh during battle, but chastises himself for inappropriate laughter if he takes significant damage or is hit by an enemy's special attack.
- Establishing Character Moment: The first voiced cutscene he appears in shows him turning off a music box after waking up from a nap, with Tonbokiri approaching and fussing over him getting enough rest, with this being the first hint that he's considered elderly.
- The Fog of Ages: Zig-zagged; He's well over a thousand years old and will occasionally claim that aging has caused him to become forgetful, but it's unclear whether this is true or just an excuse to get out of or get away with doing things.
- Foreshadowing: Mikazuki waking up from a nap in the games opening sequence became this for the entire story, as most of the timelines the characters travel to are revealed to have taken place in a Dream World created by Kurokage, rather than reality.
- Friend to All Living Things: He befriends a kitten that began to wander around Honmaru, which becomes the subject of his Bond Conversation with Yamanbagiri Kunihiro and Tomoegata.
- The Heart: Of the citadel as a whole. Everyone seems to rely on him, and he is shown rallying everyone together and keeping them focused during cutscenes. Sengo Muramasa even lampshades this in his unique Partner voice line for Mikazuki.
- Hidden Depths:
- Mikazuki is a slacker who enjoys being looked after by others, but not at their expense. This is addressed in his Bond Conversation with Tonbokiri, where he gently reminds him not to push himself too hard after noticing him spending a considerable amount of time attempting to lighten his burdens in the citadel.
- He will also do work without being forced to, such as in his Bond Conversation with Omokage. In that same Bond Conversation, he also teaches Omokage the fundamentals of fieldwork, even though it increases the amount of work he has to do himself.
- In a Bond Conversation between Yagen Toushirou and Yamanbagiri Chougi, the two discover that Mikazuki is incredibly skilled at the game of Shogi—so skilled that he defeated every opponent in the citadel while maintaining an ice cold poker face the entire time. After losing to him (and Tsurumaru, the runner-up), Yagen and Chougi are left to nurse their bruised egos while simultaneously being in awe of him.
- Impractically Fancy Outfit: Mikazuki wears his iconic and impractical-looking blinged-out dark blue kimono, but unlike in most spin-off works, the impracticality of his outfit is briefly addressed in a Bond Conversation with Yagen and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, where Yagen says Mikazuki's kimono became disheveled, and he, Ichigo, and Tonbokiri had to rush in to help him fix it. Yamanbagiri says that Mikazuki is the only one who wears everyone out with what he wears, implying that it's a recurring problem.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Played for Laughs, In his Bond Conversation with Yamanbagiri Chougi, it's revealed that he stole some of the snacks Shokudaikiri prepared for everyone. In Tsurumaru's Bond Conversation with Omokage, Tsurumaru stole some of his snacks while pretending to be Omokage pretending to be him.
- The Leader:
- Of the first unit consisting of himself, Sengo Muramasa, and Tonbokiri.
- He appears to be this to the entire citadel, as the other Touken Danshi appear to trust his opinions and defer to him when it comes to making big decisions. In their Bond Conversation, Tonbokiri also points out that he looks after them and rallies them all together, with Sengo referring to him as The Heart of their citadel.
- Mellow Fellow:
- As usual, he is quite calm and collected most of the time, taking everything thrown at him in stride and with an unwavering smile. It's notable, however, that his chillness is not exaggerated to the point of him being a Cloudcuckoolander because of it, as it often is in some adaptations, and he is just as serious about things when need be as he is laidback about unimportant things that will come to pass.
- Compared to Tonbokiri, he seems unfazed by Sengo's urge to strip down, and even laughs about it in his Selected as Partner (Same Team) voice line. He also joins in it and jokingly says they should bear everything for the enemy, much to Omokage's disapproval.
- My God, You Are Serious!: Apparently thought Muramasa was joking about asking him to strip down with him, despite Muramasa apparently asking him 30 times by his own estimate.
- Not Afraid to Die: When Konnosuke tells him that if they continue into the dream realm, there will be no way for them to return, he says that they've always been prepared to die in battle, as it was their fate as an Honmaru cast adrift without a master.
- Oblivious to Hatred: Well, not hatred, per se, but he takes harsh words from the other more asocial swords, notably Ookurikara and Yamanbagiri Chougi, in stride and tries to befriend them anyway.
- Odd Friendship: Being assigned to the same unit by the Saniwa, he ends up developing a friendship with the eccentric Sengo Muramasa, despite how often he asks him to strip down.
- Senior Sleep-Cycle: He is the only Touken Danshi in the citadel whose advanced age is highlighted in his character, and he likes sleeping a lot, being able to fall asleep just about anywhere.
- The Slacker: He serves as the citadel's center in the absence of the Saniwa, acting as a sort of leader to the other swords, who in turn are shown to respect and rely on him. However, his leadership position doesn't stop him from trying to shirk his responsibilities in favor of napping and drinking tea, which a few of the other swords call him out on in their Bond conversations. Mikazuki's laziness is so notorious in their citadel that Hasebe is taken aback when Mikazuki asks where a broom is and asks him to repeat his question because he thinks he misheard him.
- The Smart Guy: In Chapter 3, he says that it's an old man's job to sit quietly and think about things, and when given this time to think, he figured out everything that's going on before anyone else did; that Omokage's lost part is influencing the plot, that the alternate timelines that are being erased are actually dreams rather than actual parts of history, and that the Time Government assigned them to these missions in the first place because they're an incomplete, and therefore disposable, honmaru. Even Konnosuke, who works for the Time Government and thus has greater access to information, is impressed by his deductions. It's easy to see why the other team leaders were relying on him to unravel all of story's major mysteries.
- Stepford Smiler: Implied; While he is usually laughing and rarely seen without a smile on his face, Muramasa points out that he is often silently pondering and thinking, with Mikazuki agreeing that he broods to himself. Yagen also mentions in their Bond Conversation that Mikazuki has been looking pale lately, and concludes that he is pushing himself too hard.
- Sticky Fingers: Played for Laughs, as he has no qualms about taking food without permission;
- In his Bond conversation with Yamanbagiri Chougi, he is chastised by him for stealing the snacks Shokudaikiri made for everyone.
- In his Bond conversation with Tomoegata, he is also revealed to have stolen fish meant for dinner to give to a kitten visiting Honmaru, and he laughs it off rather than apologizing for inconveniencing everyone.
- Sword Beam: At the end of Shinken Hissatsu, he uses his sword to create a crescent moon-shaped beam. It also explodes after creation, causing damage to all Historical Revisionists who are unfortunate enough to be caught inside it.
- Sword Lines: During more damaging attacks and special moves, his sword lines change to gold and/or blue.
- The Tease: Sengo Muramasa accuses him of being a tease when he jokes about wanting to strip naked, knowing how badly Muramasa wants him to.
- Tragic Keepsake: He attends to the music box his citadels Saniwa left behind after their disappearance.
- The Trickster: Not quite as much as Tsurumaru, but there are hints. In his Bond Conversation with Namazuo, he suggests that Namazuo get tea and snacks from Shokudaikiri so that they can be comfortable while he tells him about his long history with Honebami, only to not tell him much of anything when they actually meet up. After the fifth time Mikazuki pulls the same trick and Namazuo falls for it, Namazuo realizes Mikazuki is simply using their gatherings as an excuse to get treated, which Mikazuki denies by claiming his memory has simply become foggy with age. Namazuo doesn't fall for it.
Mikazuki (Kabuki)
Mikazuki Munechika as he appears in Kabuki Touken Ranbu. He debuted in the play Touken Ranbu: Tsuki no Tsurugi Enishi no Kiri no wa.
- Ambiguously Gay: When Kobaihime confesses her love for him, he looks unimpressed and mildly annoyed, but when his former master Yoshiteru does the same, he looks shy and taken aback. It's unclear whether this reaction is because he has romantic feelings for Yoshiteru or because of his lingering feelings of loyalty to him as his former master.
- Kill the Ones You Love: Ultimately is forced to kill his former master Ashikaga Yoshiteru to preserve the flow of history after the Historical Revisionists sabotage Yoshiteru's assassination.
- Long-Haired Pretty Boy: Like every other short-haired Touken Danshi in the cast, he was given long hair to fit into the Kabuki setting.
- Oblivious to Love: He doesn't notice Kobai-hime's obvious feelings for him until she outright confesses.
- Tragic Bromance: Assuming their relationship is meant to be read platonically. He travels back in time to ensure the death of his former master, Ashikaga Yoshiteru, after the Historical Revisionists sabotage his assassination, and while he already had a lingering attachment to Yoshiteru because he was once his sword, Yoshiteru develops feelings for Mikazuki after spending time with him and even asks him to become his vassal in a love confession-like fashion. Mikazuki, of course, refuses to accept due to understanding his duty to history is more important than his personal feelings, and is forced to kill him himself. It's made even more tragic when Yoshiteru realizes Mikazuki is the personification of his beloved sword during the climactic battle.
- Perpetual Frowner: Unlike other versions of Mikazuki Munechika, who are always shown smiling, this version of Mikazuki never smiles. Ironically, he has a wider emotional range than most Mikazuki's, especially when it comes to expressing his grief.
- The Protagonist: Of the play Tsuki no Tsurugi Enishi no Kiri no wa, which primarily focuses on him and his relationship with his former owner Ashikaga Yoshiteru.
- You Don't Look Like You: Mikazuki's design has undergone significant changes in this continuity to better fit into the Kabuki setting, to the point where he would be unrecognizable as himself if not for the combination of his color palette, crest, iconic headband, and hair antennae being carried over.
5, 6 – Kogitsunemaru (小狐丸)
Kiwame
Casual
- Rarity: High (Basic/Toku), Special (Kiwame)
School: Sanjou (三条)
Voiced by: Takashi Kondo (Japanese), Chuck Huber (English)
Illustrated by: Sata
Live actor: Ryo Kitazono (Musical), Daisuke Iwasaki (Musical - Atsukashiyama Ibun 2018), Ukon Onoe II (Kabuki)"Although I might be big, my name is Kogitsunemaru. No, I'm not joking. I'm certainly not a fake, either. I'm small! Even though I'm big!"
- A Little Bit Beastly: Prior to his Kiwame excursion, he appeared completely human, albeit with fangs and hair tuffs that resembled fox ears. Following his Kiwame, however, he leans more into being a Beast Man, as his Awakened form transforms him into a fox-like beast-human hybrid, complete with claws, fur, black sclera, and red irises.
- Ambiguously Related: Aside from the browser game confirming that he and Mikazuki Munechika know each other, it's unclear what his relationship is with Ishikirimaru, the only other Sanjou sword in the browser game with a confirmed existencenote with whom he never interacts. Spin-offs treat them as being friendly, however.
- Also to Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who, by Touken Ranbu's usual logic, should be his nephew or grandnephew because their swordsmiths are related. However, not only do they not interact in the browser game, but the spin-offs often make no effort to establish any special connection between them even on the rare occasion that they do interact in them.
- Ambiguous Situation: The nature of his relationship with Mikazuki is unclear in the browser game, with their sparring interaction making it appear outright antagonistic as Kogitsunemaru asks if Mikazuki will break him after implying that Mikazuki wasn't holding back in their fight. In stark contrast, their interactions during fieldwork duty seem much more peaceful. As well, Mikazuki also employs more formal and archaic language when talking with Kogitsunemaru, who is the only other sword that Mikazuki is shown referring to as "-dono" (the other being Juzumaru, in the browser game at least)note . When combined with Mikazuki's use of "Onushi" when referring to Kogitsunemarunote , it's possible that they have a more formal relationship than the close Those Two Guys dynamic often seen between them in the adaptations.
- Animal Motifs: Foxes, even more so than Nakigitsune; his hair is shaped like fox ears, he has prominent canine teeth and he regularly talks about brushing his fur/tail (despite not having either of those). After he undergoes his Kiwame training, he even wears a white fluffy scarf resembling a fox's tail and his Awakened form has him take on a fox-like beast-human appearance.
- Anime Hair: Not as extreme as most examples, but parts of his hair do stick up to resemble fox ears.
- Beware the Nice Ones: His lines to the Saniwa are very playful and polite, but once he gets injured or awakens, he shows a much more violent and wild side. This is especially prominent in the musical, where, in contrast to Mikazuki's graceful yet lethal Dance Battler fighting style, his style is more straightforward and aggressive.
- Bigger Is Better: He seems to think the opposite after Kiwame training."From old times on, the small has been valued higher than the big. Whether that be the ‘small luck’ omikuji strip, or this little fox."
- Birds of a Feather: He's often depicted as having a good relationship with Mikazuki Munechika throughout the Touken Ranbu continuities due to Mikazuki also being a tachi forged by Sanjou Munechika with a mellow disposition.
- The Cameo: In Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu episode 6, he makes a brief voiced appearance eating snacks alongside Mikazuki Munechika when Izuminokami goes to Mikazuki's room for advice.
- Cloudcuckoolander: He comes across as fairly grounded up until he starts talking about his fur and tail and appears to enjoy having the Saniwa groom him like a pet, as if he were a real fox of some kind. That said, considering that he can transform into a demonic fox-human hybrid after Kiwame training, it's possible that he really is a fox, and the players don't get to see the full extent of it because of the browser games limitations.
- In the musical, he's just as carefree and eccentric as the other Sanjou, along with being pretty obsessed with his fur.
- Color-Coded Characters: When grouped alongside the other Sanjou swords, his associated color is a yellowish orange, similar to the color of his outfit. In the musical, his character color is yellow.
- Cute Little Fangs: Ties in with his fox motif.
- Elemental Weapon: When Kogitsunemaru awakens after his Kiwame training, a blue fox fire-like flame envelops his katana, tying into his fox motif.
- Gentle Giant: Despite his name, he's one of the tallest characters, but also one of the politest and most charming. Just don't hurt the Saniwa or any of his fellow swords in front of him, or be anywhere near him when he's injured or awakening in battle.
- Face Death with Dignity: If broken before Kiwame, he tells the Saniwa to not let his death bother them because death will befall us all someday.
- Formal Characters Use Keigo: He has a tendency to use formal language regardless of who he's speaking with or what mood he's in. In the musical (as well as in the browser game for Mikazuki), he also uses the archaic honorific "-dono"note to show respect to his fellow Sanjou and Tsurumaru, whereas in Hanamaru, he uses "-san" for non-Mikazuki characters.
- Ironic Name: He often points out that even though his name means "little fox", he himself isn't exactly little."Why am I called a "small fox" despite being so big? ...It's modesty."
- Mellow Fellow: He's soft-spoken, calm, and unfailingly polite. Even when Awakened in battle, he only seems slightly angrier, despite his portraits indicating◊ otherwise◊."Let us fight at leisure. Composure is of utmost, utmost importance."
- Mr. Fanservice: Both his default outfits have his chest and abs on display, more so with his Internal Affairs outfit which also displays his muscular arms. He even offers to carry the Saniwa in his arms at times.
- My Own Grandpa: Part of his Kiwame training has him assist in his original sword's forging.
- Orange/Blue Contrast: He and Mikazuki Munechika were both designed and drawn by the same artist, and they have these color palettes, with Mikazuki representing the blue side and Kogitsunemaru representing the orange. However, whether the color contrast reflects in their personality is highly dependent on the adaptation, as their in-game personalities are actually fairly similar in temperament, with both being calm and not without their eccentricities.
- Power Glows: His katana glows a faint blue color after his Kiwame color.
- Rare Random Drop: Despite having a 3 petal rarity, he is one of the more difficult swords to get because he only drops in one node, and has the same elusive four hour timer as Mikazuki.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: While he has red eyes normally, they become this combined with Black Eyes of Crazy and Hellish Pupils when he Awakens in Kiwame form.
- Ship Tease: He is all but explicitly stated that he is in love with the Saniwa after his Kiwame training, even asking if they will love his wounds if he is injured. As well, even before Kiwame training, he addresses them as "Nushi-sama," an archaic way of saying "Master" that wives traditionally use to their husbands, although it’s unclear if he means it in that way.
- Trademark Favorite Food: He seems to be fond of fried tofu, which ties into his fox motif since fried tofu is the favorite food of kitsune according to Japanese folklore. During internal affairs, he'll ask if they're growing beans for fried tofu, and one of the lines from his special Nendoroid background also has him mention it.Kogitsunemaru: If I've become like this, then I can eat a big piece of fried tofu.
- Undying Loyalty: He's affable and loyal to the Saniwa to a fault.
- Uniqueness Value: Despite being a legendary sword, his rarity before Kiwame training is only High (3 petals)note . However, the browser game compensates by making him as difficult to obtain as swords of higher rarity, giving him the same elusive four hour timer as Mikazuki Munechika and making him only drop from one node.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: His post-Kiwame sparring lines with Mikazuki imply they have this sort of relationship in the browser game.
Kogitsunemaru (Musical Touken Ranbu)
- Ambiguously Gay: Even though the Saniwa in this continuity is a man, he still views him the same way as he does the Saniwa in browser game.
- Bash Brothers: With Mikazuki Munechika, who he has a strong bond with due to Mikazuki being a fellow tachi forged by Sanjou Munechika.
- Big Eater: One of the substories in the musical Uta Awaase Kyouran describes his obsession with abura-age, which got to the point where he would eat ten of them in one sitting. Eventually, the Saniwa became annoyed by his excessive eating and forbade him from eating any more of them, which he obeyed out of shame, but the greed in his heart couldn't be quenched, and it eventually split off into its own person who would steal abura-age and pin the blame on the original Kogitsunemaru.
- Cloudcuckoolander: He has his own fair share of quirks, like his obsession with his nonexistent fur and his occasionally almost childlike naïveté.
- Cloudcuckoolander's Minder: He tries to be one to Mikazuki Munechika, but Mikazuki ends up doing whatever he wants anyway.
- Commonality Connection: He's shown to have a strong bond with Mikazuki Munechika, which Word of God explained as the result of the two being fellow swords forged by Sanjou Munechika.
- Color Motif: As an idol, his signature color is yellow, which is incorporated into all of his costumes and his penlight.
- Fighting Your Friend: In Tsuwamono Domo; Despite their close relationship, Kogitsunemaru had no qualms fighting Mikazuki with the intent to kill him because he believed he was betraying the Saniwa and attempting to alter history, by his own words making Mikazuki no better than the Historical Revisionists. If Higekiri hadn't intervened, he would have succeeded, but given that Mikazuki was also on the verge of killing him, he would have perished in the process along with him.
- Immune To Jumpscares: At least in terms of Tsurumaru's attempts to surprise him. Tsurumaru even goes so far as to say that all Sanjou are impossible to surprise, implying that this, along with their laid-back nature, is ingrained in them.
- Irony: He references his "Shall we dance?" in-game voice line almost anytime he goes into battle, but unlike Mikazuki Munechika and Tsurumaru Kuninaga, he doesn't have a Dance Battler fighting style.
- Mr. Fanservice: Not as much as Mikazuki Munechika, but his first outfits third layer was midriff-baring to show off his toned stomach, and in Shinken Ranbusai 2017, he tells the Saniwa in the audience that only they can touch his precious fur, which gets the audience hooting and hollering.
- Shared Family Quirks: While the Sanjou school swords don't appear to consider themselves siblings, they are known around the citadel for having similar eccentricities that revolve around being enigmatic, easygoing, and, as Tsurumaru puts it, impossible to surprise.
- Ship Tease: He has a very close bond with Mikazuki Munechika due to both being Sanjou swords, which can be read as Ship Tease. For the many specific examples, see the musicals Hoyay page. There's also his loyalty with the Saniwa, who he treats the same way as he does the one from the browser game.
- Super Gullible: Due to his earnest and inherently kind nature, he is very easy to manipulate.
- Undying Loyalty: To the Saniwa, to the point where his loyalty to him supersedes any close friendship he has with Mikazuki when he begins to think he's betraying him, even being willing to kill Mikazuki over it.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Similarly to Iwatooshi, he has not been seen or mentioned in the main story since Tsuwamono Domo, and unlike Imanotsurugi, who left the citadel for Kiwame training, there is no reason for it. Assuming Uta Aawase Kyouran 2019 is intended to be canon due to the introduction of Matsui Gou and Kuwana Gou through them, that would have been his last official appearance in the main storyline.
13 – Oodenta Mitsuyo (大典太光世)
Casual
- Rarity: Highest (Basic/Toku), Godly (Kiwame)
School: Miike (三池)
Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa (Japanese), Tyler Walker [Hanamaru];
Kaiji Tang [Katsugeki] (English)
Illustrated by: Shirow Miwa
Live actor: Izono Dai (Stage Play), Raita (Musical)"...I am one of the Tenka Goken, Oodenta Mitsuyo. Should you not keep me sealed up?"
- Adaptation Dye-Job: Oodenta's eyes are red in the game and Katsugeki, but changed to red-violet in Zoku.
- Art Evolution: He's drawn in a much cleaner and refined style after Kiwame training, to the point where he almost doesn't look like the same character.
- The Cameo: He made two brief animated appearances in one version of the browser game's opening movie "Anata to Watashi to," alongside the other Tenka Goken. This version was eventually replaced by another that returns to focusing more on Mikazuki Munechika and the Starter Swords, though a portion of his original cameo was retained for the sequence that plays just before the opening movie begins.
- The Eeyore: Takes the cake as the most melancholic Tenka Goken of the four currently available in the game. He gets better after Kiwame training.
- Finishing Each Other's Sentences: He and Sohayanotsurugi do this in their recollection.Oodenta Mitsuyo: "The spiritual defense of the shogunate..."Sohayanotsurugi: "...Is our responsibility."
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: He is one of the Tenka Goken, which is a sword of high status, if not the highest status in the Touken Ranbu universe, but he has no self-esteem about it, claiming that only his name is worthy of the title and otherwise viewing himself as an ornament that should be sealed away. It's only after Kiwame training that he has more confidence in his status as one of the five great swords and works hard not to sully their name."I'll have you know the true value of one of the Tenka Goken!"
- Irony: His powers are capable of killing just as easily as healing.
- Power Incontinence: He's aware of just how dangerous he can be. He even demonstrates it in his awakening sprite with a divine aura trailing from his blade. In terms of stats, he has the strongest attacking stat at Toku."You don't seem to understand the reason why I've been sealed!"
- Rare Random Drop: Like the other Five Great Swords, he has a high five-petal rarity.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Dangerous to just be around, and his dull red eyes reflect that. In Katsugeki, his eyes glow bright red when he is ready to unleash his true strength.
- Scare the Dog: Animals tend to be afraid of his spiritual power, so he's reluctant to even go near the citadel's horses. One episode of Hanamaru focuses on the other swords helping him get used to animals, and in turn helping the animals get used to him.
- Self-Deprecation: Constantly remarks about how he's not good for much else besides curing disease.
- Slasher Smile: In Katsugeki, he makes a very intense and dreadful one when he's ready to eliminate his enemies in battle.
- Super-Strength: In Katsugeki, He grabs a Retrograde mook by the neck and throws him hard to the ground, killing him instantly.
- Took a Level in Cheerfulness: To say he's "cheerful" is a stretch, but he's a lot happier and more optimistic after Kiwame training, having finally realized his worth as a sword that has helped people.
15 – Sohayanotsurugi (ソハヤノツルキ)
Casual
Rarity: High (Basic/Toku)
School: Miike (三池)
Voiced By: Ryota Asari (Japanese), Kyle Phillips (English)
Illustrated by: Shirow Miwa
Live actors: Yuta Iiyama (Stage Play), Masaki Nakao (Musical)
School: Miike (三池)
Voiced By: Ryota Asari (Japanese), Kyle Phillips (English)
Illustrated by: Shirow Miwa
Live actors: Yuta Iiyama (Stage Play), Masaki Nakao (Musical)
"Soyahanotsurugi the Replica.... I'm a copy of Sakanoue's treasured blade. Let's get along."
A protective sword of Tokugawa Ieyasu, he was initially buried with his master in order to grant him spiritual powers. As with Oodenta, he was forged by Miike Denta Mitsuyo.- Clone Angst: He's a copy of Sakanoue's prized blade of the same name, and he can be quite self-deprecating when discussing himself, blaming all of his flaws on his status as a copy and reminding the Saniwa that he's not the same blade that Sakanoue created. However, he differs from Yamanbagiri in that he is generally pretty casual about his status as a copy rather than moody and depressed and can come off as upbeat, at least until he is alone.
- Historical In-Joke: His very loosely-hanging breastplate is a reference to how Tokugawa Ieyasu also wore an ill-fitting breastplate.
- Overly Long Name: Try saying that five times fast. Points for it being written in a long katakana form, rather than kanji.
- The Resenter: According to a recollection with Monoyoshi, he doesn't think very fondly of their previous master Ieyasu, referring to him by one of his less flattering nicknames.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: Contrast him with Oodenta, and it's night and day.
- Took a Level in Cheerfulness: After Kiwame training, he returns to the citadel much more confident and happy after coming to terms with himself thanks to Tokugawa Ieyasu entrusting him with the country's protection with his dying breath.
17, 18 – Juzumaru Tsunetsugu (数珠丸恒次)
Casual
Rarity: Highest (Basic/Toku), Godly (Kiwame)
School: Aoe (青江)
Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa (Japanese), Aaron Dismuke (English)
Illustrated by: Towoji Honojiro
Live-acted by: Gaku Takamoto (stage play)
School: Aoe (青江)
Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa (Japanese), Aaron Dismuke (English)
Illustrated by: Towoji Honojiro
Live-acted by: Gaku Takamoto (stage play)
"I am Juzumaru Tsunetsugu. Through the long years, as people's values have changed again and again, I have fixed my gaze on the true meaning of Buddhism."
One of the Five Great Swords of Japan and formerly owned by the great Buddhist reformer Nichiren.- The Cameo: He made two brief animated appearances in one version of the browser game's opening movie "Anata to Watashi to," alongside the other Tenka Goken. This version was eventually replaced by another that returns to focusing more on Mikazuki Munechika and the Starter Swords, though a portion of his original cameo was retained for the sequence that plays just before the opening movie begins.
- Eyes Always Shut: His eyes are always closed; none of his in-game art shows him opening them, not even when he's damaged. He still doesn't open them after achieving kiwame status....unless he goes Shinken Hissatsu.
- Graceful Ladies Like Purple: While not a lady, he's a feminine and ethereal sword whose color scheme is mostly purple to show for it.
- Humble Hero: He is by far the most humble of the four Tenka Goken introduced thus far, which earns him kindness from the likes of Ookanehira, who is surly toward the other members of his group, and Onimaru, who is far more willing to have a productive conversation about their being Tenka Goken with him than with Mikazuki, with whom he was far more blunt. In the latter case, it could be because Onimaru has known Mikazuki for a longer period of time,note and that Juzumaru's approach to the conversation was different, however.
- Meaningful Name: His name comes from the term for Buddhist prayer beads or juzu. It is said that when Nichiren received the tachi, he hung his prayer beads on it.
- Meditating Under a Waterfall: Not many things people remember him for in Hanamaru aside from the infamous fanservicey waterfall training scene.
- Mr. Fanservice: In addition to getting a Sexy Soaked Shirt scene in Hanamaru, said scene also features shots focusing lovingly on his lips.
- Noodle People: His artist depicts him as unrealistically thin and lanky, giving him this appearance. Hanamaru, surprisingly, doesn't correct this when adapting his character design to the show's art style, even emphasizing his thinness with how he's posed◊.
- Rare Random Drop: He bears the distinction of having an extremely high five-petal rarity, making him one of the rarest swords in the game.
- Sexy Priest: While already as attractive as any other sword, Hanamaru gives him a Mr. Fanservice appeal.
- Sexy Soaked Shirt: Gets a scene during his Training from Hell sequence in Zoku Hanamaru where he stands only in drenched and translucent undergarments under a waterfall.
- Vocal Dissonance: He has a distinctly feminine appearance but quite a deep and masculine voice to contrast it.
- Warrior Monk: Like Kousetsu and Yamabushi, he's a devout Buddhist, and in his case this is because his most famous owner was the Buddhist reformer Nichiren. Though he isn't as reluctant to fight as Kousetsu is, he seems to have some doubts about his religion due to his nature as a sword:"...A tool that cuts down people is protecting the way of the Buddha. I wonder if this state of affairs is a mistaken one..."
- Workout Fanservice: Again, the Hanamaru waterfall training sequence.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: A Rare Male Example. He's gentle, soft-spoken and very polite most of the time and leans towards pacifism, but also holds strong belief in his religion, is determined to "lead others to the right path" and "punish evil and bring about righteousness", as well as a tough as nails combatant mechanic-wise.
21 – Onimaru Kunitsuna (鬼丸国綱)
Casual
Rarity: Highest (Basic/Toku)
School: Awataguchi (粟田口)
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa
Illustrated by: Niθ
Live Actor: Hayashi Kotetsu (Musical)
A sword forged by Awataguchi Kunitsuna and the fourth of the Five Great Swords to be introduced in-game. A spiritual sword that wanders relentlessly in search of demons and his master. The holder of spiritual tales that among others include warning his master in their dreams, and moving on his own and cutting things. Although he dislikes to be involved in matters that do not concern his objectives, he is also quick to empathize.School: Awataguchi (粟田口)
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa
Illustrated by: Niθ
Live Actor: Hayashi Kotetsu (Musical)
"......Onimaru Kunitsuna. I saw it in the dream. A demon will come in front of you."
- Adaptational Nice Guy: He's a lot softer and less mission-oriented in the musicals.
- Ambiguous Situation: According to some sources, he and Tsurumaru Kuninaga have crossed paths as swords numerous times throughout history, leading fans to anticipate interactions between the two once he was added to the browser game. However, the two had no interaction in-game, making it unclear whether they met in the Touken Ranbu universe.
- Brutal Honesty: He quite bluntly tells Mikazuki that the Tenka Goken have no kinship with each other other than being lumped into the same category.
- The Cameo: He made two brief animated appearances in one version of the browser game's opening movie "Anata to Watashi to," alongside the other Tenka Goken. This version was eventually replaced by another that returns to focusing more on Mikazuki Munechika and the Starter Swords, though a portion of his original cameo was retained for the sequence that plays just before the opening movie begins.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Along with being nicer than his browser game counterpart, he's also a bit eccentric and a little flighty in the musicals.
- Commonality Connection: Discussed several times with his character. He believes that swords that have no direct association with each other (for example, being from different branches of the same school or being classified in the same group but having no direct association) should feel no familiarity with one another. He feels the same way about other Awataguchi and is perplexed by Midare's attempts to be close to them because he is from a later branch of the school.
- Eyepatch of Power: Like Shokudaikiri, he wears an eyepatch that covers his left eye. In his casual outfit, he replaces it with a headband that covers his eye.
- Flat Character: Even by Touken Ranbu's standards, the main aspect of his character can be summarized as "The Tenka Goken that only cares about slaying demons". This is possibly the intention behind his character, however, as he explicitly tells the player that's all he's good for and dislikes anything that doesn't involve his objectives.
- Friendship Denial: While he doesn't seem to dislike them, he claims to have no kinship with the other Tenka Goken other than that they share the same title and doesn't understand why others treat them as if they should all be together because of it. That being said, he does soften up on Mikazuki after he reminds him that they've met before, Juzumaru after explaining that there's probably a reason why the Tenka Goken were summoned into the citadel, and Oodenta when he realizes that the only thing they can bond over is alcohol.
- Friend to All Living Things: In the audio play Honmaru Hana Koyomi he finds an injured bird, names it Akizakura, and nurses it back to health.
- Gentle Giant: In the musicals only, which depict him as being softer and nicer than his browser game counterpart.
- Guyliner: He wears pink eyeshadow.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Not to the degree of Oodenta, however, he will occasionally claim that he is only good for slaying demons and useless at everything else.
- Hidden Depths:
- If injured, sent on Horsekeeping duty, or sent to do Fieldwork, he'll complain about his clothes getting dirty or ruined, suggesting that he cares about his appearance to some degree.
- While he dismisses the Tenka Goken as a group, he appears to value the title, and he has a unique Sparring voice line for them in which he reminds them of its worth.
(JP) "Being called something like the Five Swords under Heaven, of course we have to be strong."(EN) "Gotta make sure not to sully the reputation of the Tenga Goken, you know." - Horned Humanoid: He has a single horn growing from his head that is still visible in his Internal Affairs and Casual outfits, implying that its not an accessory. It also looks a little stubbier in those outfits, suggesting that he files it down.
- Irony: During his bond conversation with Mikazuki, he bluntly tells him that he would feel more kinship with Oodenta or Dojigiri because they are both demon slayers. When it comes to the actual Recollections with Oodenta, they have nothing to talk about, with the majority of their conversations being spent in an extended awkward silence.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: He's a famous Oni-slaying sword who only really cares about slaying Oni.
- Sexy Backless Outfit: For some reason, he wears a top that only covers a third of his torso, with his belts covering the rest. His damaged and Awakened sprites demonstrate the negatives of wearing such an outfit to battle, as he has multiple slashes on his back by the end.
- The Quiet One: Like Oodenta, it doesn't appear that he has much to say. It is played up to a somewhat humorous degree in their three recollections where there is largely silence and little said between them.
25, 26 – Ichigo Hitofuri (一期一振)
Kiwame
Casual
Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku), Highest (Kiwame)
School: Awataguchi (粟田口)
Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru (Japanese), Josh Grelle (English)
Illustrated by: Shikiyuri
Live actor: Daisuke Hirose [2016-2021] (Stage Play), Reo Honda [2021-present] (Stage Play, Movie), Kunishima Naoki (Musical)
School: Awataguchi (粟田口)
Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru (Japanese), Josh Grelle (English)
Illustrated by: Shikiyuri
Live actor: Daisuke Hirose [2016-2021] (Stage Play), Reo Honda [2021-present] (Stage Play, Movie), Kunishima Naoki (Musical)
"I am Ichigo Hitofuri. I am the only tachi crafted by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu. The Toushirous are my younger brothers."
The only Tachi forged by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, so he is the older brother of all the "Toushirou"s. A polite and humble young man who's shown to be concerned with his little brother's well-being.He is a major player in the second live-action film.
- Affectionate Nickname: His younger tantou brothers call him "Ichi-nii".
- Big Brother Instinct: He often asks the Saniwa to take care of his younger brothers when he can't do so himself, clearly showing that he cares a lot about them all."I will be going. While I am not around, please take care of my brothers."
- Big Brother Mentor: In his sparring interactions with the other Awataguchi swords, he acts like a patient teacher (Hakata even refers to sparring sessions with him as "the Ichi-nii Check"). It's also apparent in his line when you choose him to be the captain of the team."It's the same thing as leading my brothers."
- Character Development: After Kiwame training, he accepts that his memories, as well as his former self, were lost with the burning of Osaka Castle, and that he can no longer return to being the person he once was due to how foreign they are to him now that he has been re-tempered. Despite this, he has no regrets, believing that if he stays with the Saniwa, he will eventually stop worrying about what he lacks and will be able to devote himself entirely to serving them.
- Go Out with a Smile: If broken in Kiwame form."I burned once, and what followed after was a life that somewhat lacked a sense of reality... But now, that too is over... At the very least, I wanted to show you a genuine smile in my final moments..."
- Green-Eyed Monster: Not an extreme case, but he seems to be displeased about the Saniwa having lots of swords in the citadel. His previous master, Hideyoshi was a connoisseur collector of swords and it was a symbol of his power to be able to attract many followers who make gifts of swords for the sake of winning his favour. Word of God says that he actually does mind the growing collection of swords that compete with his for the love of the Saniwa. Somewhat Hilarious in Hindsight because a great number of the new additions are Toushirous. However, he gets over it after his Kiwame training."Collecting swords...? No, I have no complaints about it."(after Kiwame) "Collecting swords...? No, a bigger family is more than welcome."
- Hidden Depths: According to Word of God he has issues about his Loss of Identity and Hates Being Alone, but because he's too nice he says nothing about it.
- Humble Hero: Shown to be quite humble, akin to Haruna. He even thanks you when he gets MVP.
- Loss of Identity: Since his former master, Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi wasn't tall, Ichigo was adjusted to his current form. Word of God says that he has a fear of drifting away from his past identity where the heights of his glory and bond with his previous master Yoshimitsu lie."As I grow stronger, I feel like I’m becoming a different person from my past self...No, although I wonder if it’s a good thing."
- In the musical, he goes through this again when "Kage" is falsely identified as the real Ichigo Hitofuri by a sword appraiser, leading to his loss of status and identity as "Kage" becomes more and more real due to people's beliefs. As "Kage" gains Ichigo Hitofuri's colors, he also begins to lose his, with his clothes and hair eventually turning completely black and his eyes gray after being deemed a "fake". He gets better when he is finally able to prove that he is the real Ichigo Hitofuri, however, with "Kage" being banished back into Tsukumogami form.
- Massive Numbered Siblings: The majority of the tantous (and two of the wakizashis) are his younger brothers.
- Meaningful Name: Hitofuri means "one blade" and Ichigo can be translated as "once in a lifetime".
- My Master, Right or Wrong: Ichigo would carry the Saniwa's orders no matter what he's ordered to do. He's also reminding his younger brothers to obey and have faith in the Saniwa's motives.(to Namazuo, in their Osaka Castle recollection) "Let's believe. In our current master."(if his brothers undergo Kiwame training) "To match the master is in a sword's nature."
- Princely Young Man: He even wears a cape.
- 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.
- Stepford Smiler: According to Word of God, he tries his best to act mature for the sake of his younger brothers and the Saniwa.
- Uniqueness Value: Being the only tachi crafted by his forger, it's fitting that Ichigo's rarity in-game is Special.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Why Did It Have To Be Fire? Being burnt in the Osaka Fires was very traumatizing for him. If he's destroyed, he has an Heroic BSoD about it."Aah... the world is burning... I'm returning, into those flames..."
Ichigo (Warriors)
It is said that his name comes from the fact that Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, who is known as a master tanto maker, made only one tachi in his lifetime. He is adored by the Toushiro brothers, and they refer to him as their oldest brother "Ichi-nii." He is always kind and has a gentle smile on his face, but sometimes an expression with a hint of sadness appears.
In this game, he is assigned to the Second Team along with Namazuo Toushiro.
- Big Brother Instinct: He is obviously very affectionate and protective of Yagen and Namazuo, but he also acts this way about Hyuuga Masamune because of the tantou's childlike appearance and mannerisms. In the ending cutscene before Touken Danshi are sent back to the citadel, he's seen comforting both Namazuo and Hyuuga.
- Cool Big Bro: To Namazuo and Yagen. Fussing over them is in his nature, and when they begin to act more self-disciplined to lighten his burdens, his response is to fuss over them even more to ensure they aren't pushing themselves too hard. He also takes on a brotherly role to Hyuuga Masamune.
- Face Death with Dignity: When faced with the prospect of dying while destroying the dream timeline created by Kurokage, he is not afraid for his own life, with his first instinct being to consult Konnosuke to ensure that no other Touken Danshi will have to suffer the same fate.
- Hidden Depths: For as gentle and motherly as he can be, he can also be rather stern when it comes to doing business in the citadel and making sure that everyone is on task, which Mikazuki points out about him in their Bond Conversation after being scolded about his laziness.Mikazuki: Goodness… You look so gentle, but you are truly a stern taskmaster on the inside.
- Hypocrite: A light-hearted example; In their initial Bond conversation, he chastises Mikazuki for wanting to snooze instead of attending to his duties, only to later be caught sleeping himself, much to his embarrassment. It ends on a positive note, however, as the two come to an understanding about taking time to oneself and agree to temporarily put work aside to relax together.
- Improbable Use of a Weapon: During his ultimate attack, he uses his Tachi like a rapier in Death by a Thousand Cuts fashion.
- Stepford Smiler: According to his profile, he hides his inner sadness behind a gentle smile.
- Team Mom: His caring nature extends to everyone in the citadel, and in one of his Bond Conversations, he even claims that they've become like a family.
53, 54 – Ookanehira (大包平)
Kiwame
Casual
- Rarity: Highest (Basic/Toku), Godly (Kiwame)
School: Kobizen (古備前)
Voiced by: Yuki Ono (Japanese), Jeremy Inman (English)
Illustrated by: Komiya
Live actor: Sho Katou (Stage Play)"I'm Ookanehira. Discovered by Ikeda Terumasa, a blade of elegant craftsmanship. Among the most beautiful swords that exist, and yet..."
- Always Someone Better: To him, Doujigiri Yasutsuna represents this since, in addition to being a member of the Tenka Goken—a group of the five greatest swords that Ookanehira longs to be a part of but isn't considered to be in—he is also the only person who can match him in terms of being the purported champion of all swords, leading Ookanehira to feel inferior.
- Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: He's crude to the Tenka Goken and Kogarasumaru (barring Juzumaru) during spars, but ends up getting his rear handed to him.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: For all the bickering that he and Uguisumaru do in the stageplays, when the citadel is invaded he immediately seeks out Uguisumaru to check that he's okay, and fights by his side for the duration of the battle.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: Admits that he likes the Master because they have faith in him despite not being part of the Tenka Goken.I want to repay those who see my value, that's all.
- Big Ego, Hidden Depths: While he's surly and arrogant, he does work hard for the citadel and enjoys doing Internal Affairs tasks without complaint or snark in spite of his pride.
- Character Development: For Kiwame training, he passes the days without any big events happening and is forced to admit that even though he was recognized for his beauty he rarely was used in combat. He returns with a resolve to surpass the Tenka Goken with his own power instead of sulking about his lot in life.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Implied in his unique response to Mikazuki Kiwame's default Sparring Start voice line.Mikazuki: My Master is watching, you see. Just for a bit I will go all out.Ookanehira: My Master.
- Elemental Weapon: When Awakened after Kiwame training, his blade looks like it's engulfed in a stylized flame that spawns red butterflies.
- Establishing Character Moment:
- Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears half of a jacket/arm guard combination on his left arm, while his right arm has a glove and shoulder guard.
- Fiery Redhead: Has dark red hair and quite a temper.
- The Fighting Narcissist: He is very boastful of the fact that he is considered one of the grand champions of all swords and even tells the enemy that they should feel honored to be struck down by him.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Despite his front of denial and his claims that he's superior to them, he's horribly jealous of the Tenka Goken for their statuses as the five greatest swords, lamenting his inability to become one of them due to being discovered too late. Even after his Kiwame training, which boosts his confidence and re-energizes his determination to outperform Doujigiri, he still whines about the Tenka Goken and is rude to them.
- Hidden Depths: Zoku Hanamaru expands on his insecurities a little more, as Mikazuki and Uguisumaru speculate that they don't just have to do with him not being a Tenka Goken. He uses his pride to cover up his insecurities, even rejecting Mikazuki's offer to assist him in battle because he misinterpreted it as him looking down on him. It's later revealed that he fears not being perceived as strong.
- Zoku Hanamaru He's also portrayed as an earnest worker, and will follow instructions even if it means it'll take him longer to get the job done.
- Horrible Judge of Character: When Ookanehira first meets them, he immediately assumes that the Tenka Goken are The Proud Elite and judges them harshly, but their personalities show that they're anything but; Oodenta is insecure despite his high status, Juzumaru is humble, and Onimaru openly doesn't feel any kinship with the other Tenka Goken and doesn't understand why they need to be regarded as a group because they share the same title. Mikazuki is the only one of the four who has a condescending tone in some of his voice lines, but he never brags about his Tenka Goken status, only mentioning it once in his obtained line. His character is more centered around him being an old man. In the end, it comes off more that Ookanehira is projecting because of his jealousy.
- Hypocritical Humor: If the Saniwa sends one of the swords on Kiwame training, he'll mock them and say that only weak swords would go through that. He's aware of the irony after he gets Kiwame himself.(in standard mode) Doing things like going on travels is something weak swords do.(after he returns from Kiwame training) I went on a journey to find myself. Laugh all you want.
- I Just Want to Be Special: He's not considered a Tenka Goken, but believed to be matched in beauty to become one of them. For this reason, he tries to prove himself to be good as, if not better than a Tenka Goken to the Saniwa.
- Immortal Immaturity: He, like all Touken Danshi, possesses a brand of immortality that will likely allow him to live forever so long as his sword remains in tact, but his longevity has done little to improve his personality, as he is quite ill-tempered, jealous, and immature despite his adult appearance.
- Inferiority Superiority Complex: Toward the Tenka Goken; As the supposed champion of all swords alongside Doujigiri, he feels superior to them, but he is also extremely insecure that he isn't considered one of them, causing him to lash out.
- Jerkass with a Heart of Gold: Generally loud and surly, which the Saniwa has apparently called him out on if his dialogue is any indication, though he does have softer aspects as explained in Big Ego, Hidden Depths.
- Last Request: If he's destroyed in his standard mode."I hope that I...can die beautifully..."
- Manly Tears: While the player cannot see them because of his static sprite, he apparently cried after having his ass handed to him by Kiwame Uguisumaru, but vehemently denies it.
- Pet the Dog: Of the Tenka Goken swords, he's shocked by Juzumaru's more humble attitude towards him (as he sees it compared to the others) and treats him politely.
- Single-Issue Wonk: His bitterness over not being one of the Tenka Goken, which he doesn't move on from even after his Kiwame training.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Subverted; Some do consider Ookanehira to be the champion of all swords, alongside Doujigiri, and one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful sword; however, after beginning his Kiwame training, he discovered that he does not have any particular feats or legends attached to his name, and that he was only able to persist as a champion of swords because of that. He takes this revelation in stride, however, and it only serves to boost his determination to surpass Doujigiri.
- Unknown Rival: He considers himself a rival to the Tenka Goken (And Kogarasumaru, for some reason), though they appear to be largely indifferent toward him and don't have any unique voice lines toward him except Mikazuki after his Kiwame training. It's currently unknown if his direct rival Doujigiri Yasutsuna returns the sentiment of the rivalry.
- The Rival: To Doujigiri Yasutsuna, and the other Tenka Goken.
- Tsundere: In their recollection, Uguisumaru teases him that he is one for the Saniwa for wanting their attention, to his denial. If left idle, he wonders if his personality drove them away.
- World's Most Beautiful Woman: Downplayed; Some consider Ookanehira to be the most beautiful sword, which he mentions in his Game Start voice line, but unlike Mikazuki Munechika, this is not emphasized much in his character. As well, his human form is more handsome than beautiful.
Ookanehira (Musical Touken Ranbu)
- Adaptational Nice Guy: He still harbors some animosity toward the Tenka Goken for not being accepted as one of them and takes pride in his status as a well-known and beloved sword, viewing it as a symbol of his superiority, but he is far more cordial with them than he is depicted to be in the original game. In fact, he actually gets angry at Tsurumaru for suggesting that they return to the citadel without Mikazuki Munechika when there are Kebiishi lurking around the time period they were visiting.
- Always Someone Better: Yamanbagiri Kunihiro to him due to being a sword that manifested in the citadel before he did, giving him more time to grow strong and gain experience. Also, of course, he still has his one-sided rivalry with the Tenka Goken, being visibly grumpy when Kashuu points out just how strong Mikazuki is.
- Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: Played for Laughs. During a hand sumo match in act 2, he brags about being the Yokozuna, or grand champion (sumo wrestler) of all swords right before his match with Mikazuki Munechika, one of the Tenka Goken, and ends up losing by embarrassingly slipping and falling right into his arms. The other Touken Danshi, some even his own teammates, laugh at him for his overconfidence.
- Cannot Spit It Out: Inverted Trope, as he's very open about his feelings, even if he has to swallow his pride first to express them, and he gets frustrated by other characters who can't just say what's on their mind.
- The Heart: He unintentionally plays this role in Michi no Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu because of how honest, forthright, and pure his mindset is, to the point where his presence is purposefully limited in some capacity due to how easily he would resolve many of the play's conflicts by forcing the other characters to come out and confront their issues, both with each other and the issues they internalized.
- Idiot Hero: Compared to most other team leaders in their respective introductory plays, he is very immature, lacks leadership skills, is impulsive, and inexperienced, which is exacerbated by his being a newly manifested Touken Danshi. Still, he's a good guy with the best of intentions.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Being a newly manifested sword, he has no idea about Mikazuki's role as the mechanism of time and why he's allowed to move freely without being under the Saniwa's command.
- Naïve Newcomer: Being a somewhat newly manifested sword who has no idea about Mikazuki's role, he ends up asking a lot of questions in place of the audience in Michi no Oku. Not that he always gets the answers he desires due to how vague everyone in the know is.
- No-Respect Guy: Maybe even more so than his counterpart in browser game, since despite his fame and status, he often gets handed the short end of the stick and isn't exactly taken seriously most of the time.
- Suddenly Shouting: He gets angry very easily and is prone to shouting.
- Worthy Opponent: He ends up seeing Yamanbagiri Kunihiro as one at the end of Kousui due to Yamanbagiri being a veteran sword with more experience, and he vows to one day surpass him.
55, 56 – Uguisumaru (鶯丸)
Kiwame
Casual
- Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku), Highest (Kiwame)
School: Kobizen (古備前)
Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara (Japanese), Jerry Jewell (English)
Illustrated by: Shirano
Live actor: Takahisa Maeyama (Stage Play), Tomoki Hirose (Film)"I am Kobizen's Uguisumaru. I don't really know where my name came from, but, well, please take care of me."
- Animal Motifs: Associated with the warbler. Specifically, the Japanese brush warbler, known in Japan as "uguisu". In Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru, he can even perfectly imitate its call.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: He's jealous of Ookanehira, but there are moments in both the anime and the stageplays that show he clearly cares for him as a person. Notably in the stageplays he spends most of his first appearance teasing Ookanehira, but the moment the citadel is attacked the teasing stops and he and Ookanehira turn into Bash Brothers, fighting by his side and joyfully declaring him a brother-in-arms
- Birds of a Feather: He develops a friendship with Mikazuki Munechika in Hanamaru due to them both being gentle, Heian era Touken Danshi with a love of relaxing and drinking green tea.
- Character Development: For Kiwame training, he passes the days without any big events happening and admits that despite his longevity, he never earned any praiseworthy recognition. He admits that this is why he was so fixated on Ookanehira, who is a fellow Kobizen school creation that was celebrated as the grand champion of all swords yet never able to step out Doujigiri's shadow. Watching him be so fixated on a title brought unbearable frustration, as he projected his own feelings of inferiority onto him. Finally accepting himself, he returns to the Saniwa with a more serene outlook at life, and also talks about Ookanehira a lot less than he used to.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Apparently, he feeds the horses in the citadel with rice balls.
- Deadpan Snarker: He showed hints of this in Hanamaru (especially the dub) toward Hasebe, calling him the Saniwa's pet. He's even more snarky towards Ookanehira in their interactions.
- Foreshadowing: His citadel line about wishing that people wouldn't care so much about what others think of them was actually, among the many references by name, to Ookanehira and his complex about the Tenka Goken. After Kiwame, it's revealed he was saying this to himself, who's secretly envious of Ookanehira."Who cares about what other people say?" The one who wanted to hear those words was me.
- Hidden Depths: He hints that people should cherish their lives and not waste them over trivial things like battles or conflicts. His sword, while very old, was initially forged with severe defects; it was considered almost a miracle that he lasted for centuries without breaking until he was repaired much later.
- I Just Want to Be You: Has a degree of this towards Ookanehira, to the point of observing his movements and habits and always talking about how great he is. After Kiwame he learns to accept himself.
- No doubt the fact that, since getting a remodel, he's taken so many levels in badass he's broken the scale has helped his self-esteem.
- Last Request: His line if he's destroyed in his standard form."On my death anniversary... please offer some tea."
- Rare Random Drop: One of the rare four petaled tachi that can only appear in the later stages, if not for a lucky smith.
- Reluctant Warrior: Has shades of this, though nowhere near Kousetsu's extent. Uguisumaru's lines in battle imply that he would much rather be somewhere else, likely drinking tea, instead of fighting. He even goes near the Thou Shalt Not Kill territory in some of them, outright saying he does not like to kill, telling the enemy to value their lives, and in his Awakening line he says it would be better if the opponent escapes.
- Satellite Character: Deconstructed. While he has a personality, much of his character prior to Kiwame training revolved around talking about Ookanehira, wanting the Saniwa to know things about Ookanehira, what Ookanehira would do, and other things to the point where it became a meme in the fandom until Ookanehira actually appeared in the game. His Kiwame letters explain this, as he was fixated on Ookanehira due to his own insecurities about being a sword with not noteworthy feats to his name despite his longevity. When he comes back from training, now having grown as a person, he talks about Ookanehira much less and focuses on himself.
- Shipper on Deck: To Mikazuki and Yamanbagiri in the stageplays.
- Stalker without a Crush: Towards Ookanehira. Flanderized in Hanamaru, where he has a habit of following Ookanehira around and write down in his observation journal about his daily routine without him noticing.
- Stepford Smiler: Before his Kiwame, he seemed calm and mature, if a little obsessed with Ookanehira, a fellow Kobizen sword. However, it is revealed through his Kiwame training that his obsession stemmed from his own feelings of inferiority, which he projected onto Ookanehira, who was also insecure about not being recognized as a Tenka Goken despite being celebrated as the grand champion of all swords. He gets better after Kiwame training, and no longer cares what others think of him.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Trademark Favorite Drink — loves to drink green tea.
57, 58 – Akashi Kuniyuki (明石国行)
Casual
Rarity: High (Basic/Toku), Special (Kiwame)
School: Rai (来)
Voiced by: Ryouta Asari (Japanese), Micah Solusod (English)
Illustrated by: Hazuki Futaba
Live actors: Hiroki Nakada (Musical)
School: Rai (来)
Voiced by: Ryouta Asari (Japanese), Micah Solusod (English)
Illustrated by: Hazuki Futaba
Live actors: Hiroki Nakada (Musical)
"Hello, excuse me. I'm known as Akashi Kuniyuki. Nice to meet you. Well, go easy on me, alright?"
An extremely lazy tachi from the Rai school who makes it clear how unmotivated he is about anything.- Aborted Arc: Possibly for him alone. In the musical Kishou Hongi, Akashi is implied to be involved in (or at least aware of) the plot involving Mikazuki Munechika, as Mikazuki appears to speak to him before his team's mission begins, and he later criticizes Mikazuki for supposedly altering history before realizing what he is doing. However, not only is his involvement never explained, but the plot involving Mikazuki moves forward without him, and he is missing from the lineup of Michi No Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu, which is described as the story's turning point and features Mikazuki. The most he's gotten recently is a rather brutal sparring match with Mikazuki in Kotobuki Ranbu Ongyousai, which is pretty plot irrelevant.
- Commonality Connection: Has a brief moment of this with Mikazuki Munechika in their fieldwork Internal Affairs dialogue; Both are lazy bums who would rather laze around than do field work, and when Mikazuki catches him slacking off, he promises not to tell on him if Akashi doesn't tell on him for slacking off as well. It is implied that they worked together to complete their tasks on time afterward.
- Deadpan Snarker: His Lazy Bum tendencies help making his lines quite directly snarkier than the other swords'. For example, his line when he's injured and idle in the Citadelquote or when he's sent to do fieldworkquote.
- Doting Parent: Of course to Hotarumaru, but the anthology comics suggest that he wants to be this for Aizen as well, but is refused at every turn due to Aizen's need to look independent.
- Hypocritical Humor: One of his Citadel lines which references his protegees Hotarumaru and Aizen can easily be seen as this. He asks you to take good care of them, after all... he is their guardian.
- Lazy Bum: He freely admits that he never feels like doing anything. He says it's part of his character.
- Lightning Bruiser: The tachis are this when compared to the oodachis, but Akashi stands out, despite his lazy personality, as he is the sword with highest mobility before toku with basic mobility of 43, and after toku, he is as fast as Sayo with mobility of 49.
- Parental Favoritism: Though not actually a parent, he is Hotarumaru and Aizen's guardian, and blatantly favors Hotarumaru. Their smiths were father and son, hence the relationship with Aizen and Hotarumaru.
- Pet the Dog: In Hanamaru, despite his lazy attitude, he helps an injured mother tanuki get her leg out of a bear trap, and he gets along with her cubs very well. He even takes the blame for them destroying the crops and gives them some medicine and food while taking care of them.
- Sorry That I'm Dying: His line when he's destroyed is an apology to his favorite protege, Hotarumaru."Sorry, Hotarumaru... it doesn't look like I'll be coming... home..."
73, 74 – Shokudaikiri Mitsutada (燭台切光忠)
Kiwame
Rarity: High (Basic/Toku), Special (Kiwame)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Takuya Sato (Japanese), Marcus D. Stimac (English)
Illustrated by: Mitsuya Fuji
Live actor: Keisuke Higashi (Stage Play)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Takuya Sato (Japanese), Marcus D. Stimac (English)
Illustrated by: Mitsuya Fuji
Live actor: Keisuke Higashi (Stage Play)
"I'm Shokudaikiri Mitsutada. I can even cut through a bronze candlestick holder... Yeah, that's really not cool at all."
A tachi who was wielded by Date Masamune. He's very concerned with how "cool" he looks at any given time, but otherwise pleasant.- Affectionate Nickname: Taikogane calls him "Micchan"; Tsurumaru calls him "Mitsu-bou".
- Badass in a Nice Suit: He wears a suit and necktie into battle. The official artbook even reveals that under his tailcoat, he wears another Waistcoat of Style.
- The Cameo: He appeared in the game's original opening movie "Mugenranbushou" alongside several Tantou who accompanied Mikazuki Munechika in battle. While this opening sequence was eventually replaced with "Anata to Watashi to," in which he only appears in a cast lineup as a 2D sprite, his original cameo was reused for the sequence that plays just before the opening movie begins.
- Embarrassing First Name: Shokudaikiri literally means "Candelabra Cutter", which Mitsutada isn't that happy about.
- Eyepatch of Power: A homage to the fact that the real life Date Masamune only had one eye.
- Hidden Depths: Behind the vain streak, the World 7 recollections reveal he's a thoughtful individual who enjoys having a human body because it allows him to be helpful to others.
- Last-Name Basis: Most characters call him "Mitsutada" because of the embarrassment he feels at his first name. Tsurumaru and Taikogane's nicknames for him, "Mitsu-bou" and "Micchan," respectively, are also derived from his surname.
- Mellow Fellow: His vanity aside, he's a fairly laidback guy and is unfailingly kind to whoever he meets.
- Mighty Glacier: He's one of the slowest tachi swords, but he had the highest attack stat out of the entire group upon the game's release. Currently he is tied for the second-highest.
- Mysterious Past: The fanbase loves to expand on his past, because he never mentions that he was destroyed, and is awfully chipper despite the negative things that has happened to him.
- Nice Guy: The reason he wants to cook a meal good enough to ease up the tension between Ookurikara and Kasen? He does it because Sayo confides to him that he was troubled by their hostility.
- The Nicknamer: Calls Ookurikara "Kara-chan", Tsurumaru "Tsuru-san", and Taikogane Sadamune "Sada-chan".
- Power Trio: With Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Ookurikara, along with Taikogane Sadamune acting as the Tagalong Kid of the group.
- Real Men Cook: He will offer to cook for you in his CG after he finishes fieldwork and mentions in a Recollection with Sayo that the best thing about having a human body is that he's able to cook. In Touken Ranbu Hanamaru, he, along with Kasen, are the designated cooks in the citadel, with this also being the case in Touken Ranbu Warriors.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Color-inverted with Ookurikara. Despite being the one with dark blue color theme he is the talkative and cheerful one of the two.
- Rule of Cool: Actively tries to invoke this, though constantly mentioning his own desire to be cool may result in the opposite effect.
- Shared Family Quirks: Fukushima considers him his younger brother, even though Mitsutada is older, and they have similar temperaments, being calm and cool nice guys. In his book description, Fukushima even says that Mitsutada swords are inherently laid-back.
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Notably, regarding the "dark" part, that he wears black from head to toe, is a homage to the fact that the actual blade has been burnt into nearly completely black.
- Team Chef: He's often the one who cooks for other characters. This is a reference to how Date Masamune liked to cook in real life.
- Team Mom: Sayo even lampshades how Mitsutada is the person who keeps the Date clan swords together. During a series of recollections, he acts as a parental figure to both Sayo and Taikogane.
75, 76 – Daihannya Nagamitsu (大般若長光)
- Rarity: Special (Basic/Toku)\\, Highest (Kiwame)
School: Osafune (長船)
Voiced by: Shin-ichiro Miki
Illustrated by: Yoshiyuki Asajima
Live actor: Shota Kawakami (Stage Play)"A pleasure to meet you. I am Daihannya Nagamitsu. I am the masterpiece of Nagamitsu, a swordsmith of the Osafune school."
- The Alcoholic: In few of his lines, he appears to be interested in drinking alcohol."Drinking makes one's wisdom surge."
- Badass in a Nice Suit: He wears a suit and necktie into battle.
- Cultured Warrior: Speaks of enjoying works of art.
- Fashionable Asymmetry: He wears an armor guard on his left shoulder and a decorative one on his right leg.
- The Tease: In some of his dialogues, he has a habit of flirting with or teasing other people."Hobbies? Let's see... how about to seduce someone like you? Hahaha, did I surprise you?"
