While inevitable due to the Cast Full of Pretty Boys and the story being in part about the bonds forged between them, the production plays up the close relationships between the Touken Danshi, even teasing dynamics between swords who viewers wouldn’t even expect to be remotely interested in each other. Some of these interactions border on Homoerotic Subtext, which drives audiences wild.
Examples
Mikazuki/Kogitsunemaru
- Mikazuki Munechika and Kogitsunemaru are probably the closest they've been in any continuity they've appeared in together, as Kogitsunemaru comes across as very attached to Mikazuki, and Mikazuki praises him as well.
- In one performance of Flower in Tsuwamono Domo, Kogitsunemaru holds Mikazuki’s hand as he pulls him through the crowd.
- A significant portion of Tsuwamono's plot revolves around the initially one-sided conflict between Mikazuki and Kogitsunemaru, as Kogitsunemaru overhears Higekiri and Hizamaru's discussions about Mikazuki doing shady things and being asked to watch over him by the Saniwa, eventually discovering that Mikazuki had been manipulating the events of the time period behind the scenes. Kogitsunemaru decides to end their friendship and kill him for supposedly betraying the Saniwa and being no better than historical revisionists, which Mikazuki appears to regret but still fails to communicate his goals clearly until Higekiri intervenes. He even refers to them as an unusual pair because they have the common goal of wanting to protect history. Kogitsunemaru is also visibly upset when Higekiri reveals what Mikazuki has been doing, emphasizing his displeasure that Mikazuki has chosen to take on all that responsibility by himself. In the end, the two come to an understanding and quietly reconcile, with Kogitsunemaru agreeing to that they should protect history in the ways they see fit.
- Early on in the play, Kogitsunemaru suspiciously asks why Mikazuki didn’t put them on the same team together, which Mikazuki responds to by immediately jokingly jumping to the conclusion that Kogitsunemaru doesn’t want to be separated from him, which Kogitsunemaru vehemently denies as not being what he meant.
- With the rerun of Atsukashiyama Ibun, the two were given a duet called “Timeline” with shippy lyrics and choreography that ends with Kogitsunemaru tenderly leaning on Mikazuki. The performance was especially heartwarming as the actors were clearly happy to finally be able to perform the song together after missing their chance in 2018 Paris due to Kogitsunemaru’s actor having surgery.
Mikazuki/Tsurumaru
- Tsurumaru Kuninaga was introduced into the musical continuity having a unique, initially one-sided, and also unexplained connection with Mikazuki Munechika where he seemed to know about and be complicit in the role Mikazuki has taken on from Tsuwamono Domo onward. While that's all well and good, his one-sided connection also seems comes off as one-sided affection at times due to how often Tsurumaru wistfully looks up at the crescent moon in the sky and talks to it as if it were Mikazuki himself (and given the circumstances, it just might be).
- In Kishou Hongi Tsurumaru calls Mikazuki the least boring person he knows, which is huge coming from him considering his obsession with surprises.
- The two wouldn't interact onscreen until Kotobuki Ranbu Ongyousai, where it was established that the two have a close relationship, so much so that they have in-jokes with each other. They also have many other moments with each other during this event:
- A special moment is set aside for the two to dance. Mikazuki is standing on a lower stage platform beneath Tsurumaru, and as he begins to dance, light shines down on them both. Mikazuki then turns to face Tsurumaru and gestures for him to dance in response. At the end of the segment, Mikazuki pulls out his sword, and as he lowers it, Tsurumaru gradually fades back into the shadows. The performance clearly has some symbolic meaning about the relationship between the two that has yet to be uncovered in the main story.
- During the song's "friend" lyric of the second half performance, Tsurumaru and Mikazuki turn and gesture toward each other and switch positions, their actors also visibly cheesing at each other and adding to the light-heartedness of the interaction.
- During the MC segment of the performance, Tsurumaru and Mikazuki take the stage and talk to each other, with Tsurumaru implying that he has long wanted to fight alongside Mikazuki in the modern era and has many questions for him. Why he’s wanted to fight with Mikazuki specifically is questionable. Because he finds him so interesting? Either way, the two are shown to be close, and Tsurumaru is uncharacteristically calm and attentive when speaking to him.
- Not only does Tsurumaru steal Mikazuki’s “You’re all so cute” Fanservice line in Shinken Ranbusai 2022, but he says Mikazuki is amazing after garnering a huge audience reaction.
- When Tsurumaru finally makes his debut in the audio drama Honmaru Hanamaru Koyomi, part of his story revolves around his relationship with Mikazuki, as he nostalgically recalls them planting the Saniwa's favorite plum blossom tree together (the plum blossom tree first seen in Akashi's skit in Utaawase). This story also makes it clear that Tsurumaru has taken Mikazuki's absence harder than any other character Mikazuki has interacted with (that we've been shown), with his mental health taking a huge hit. He abruptly cuts Suishinshi off when he tries to ask him about Mikazuki, and later stares up at the plum blossom tree from noon until dusk as he remembers a conversation he and Mikazuki had about it in the past.
- In all of Tsurumaru's onscreen interactions thus far, he has a softer tone when speaking to Mikazuki than how he usually speaks to the other characters, even to the Saniwa, seemingly switching up his demeanor for Mikazuki alone.
- Mikazuki is one of the other characters Tsurumaru refers to as "kimi," while others are "omae" or referred to by name (only Ookurikara as "Kara-bou"). The only other character he refers to as "kimi" is the Saniwa himself.
- Michi no Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu is a lot for both characters and could alternately be described as "Mikatsuru have problems, both with each other and with their mental health" The Musical.
- A flashback depicting their happier times of playfully sparring and joining hands reveals that Mikazuki and Tsurumaru were once very close, all but outright stated to be best friends at some point during the citadels history. However, an incident and Mikazuki's departure from the citadel destroyed their relationship, to the point where Tsurumaru almost never shows kindness to Mikazuki when they are in person. He now refers to Mikazuki as "Temē," which is incredibly hostile, instead of the more affectionate "Kimi," and attacks him for answers when they are reunited in person for what's implied to have been the first time in a long time after beating up Suishinshi to lure him out. But Tsurumaru is shown to be very Tsundere for Mikazuki because, in spite of his hostility and resentment, he still shows care for him. The play's ending strongly suggests that Tsurumaru is lashing out at him because he dearly misses him, as Tsurumaru sees a hallucination of Mikazuki at the citadel and melancholically murmurs, "Hana no Utena," Mikazuki's signature song, after the illusion disappears. The main story ends with Tsurumaru wondering if he's not supposed to sing it, implying that he believes he can't sit on the metaphorical flower pedestal with Mikazuki.
- Speaking of the flashback, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro is the one who triggers the happy times flashback with them after witnessing two historical figures sparring, not Mikazuki or Tsurumaru themselves, with the framing suggesting that the historical pair made him nostalgic for their past. The historical characters eventually exit the scene, leaving Mikazuki and Tsurumaru to their moment while Yamanbagiri observes and sings nostalgically. Neither of them acknowledge Yamanbagiri in the flashback, implying that he either used to watch them from a distance or that they were too immersed in their own special moment to notice him.
- Just before Tsurumaru attacks Suishinshi to bait Mikazuki into coming out, he sadly advises Suishinshi to snuggle up to Mikazuki until he gets tired of it, since he can't do it himself anymore.
- The play also reveals that they both have Dance Battler fighting styles because of the amount of time they spent together. The similarities in their fighting styles are especially evident when Tsurumaru fights Mikazuki, as they use many of the same moves to attack, defend against, and evade each other, and later are almost completely in sync when taking down a Kebiishi.
- The two perform two duets in the play, one in the first act and the other in the second act:
- The first act's song is fairly shippy, with Tsurumaru singing longingly about Mikazuki leaving the citadel and asking when the moon sword vanished, as if to escape from his grasp. He also sings about trying to fill a hole in his heart left by Mikazuki's absence and looking over to see the blade that reflect his heart. The choreography ties in with the lyrics, with Mikazuki purposefully avoiding Tsurumaru despite telling him to get closer, and when Tsurumaru reaches out to grab Mikazuki after they face each other, Mikazuki moves out of his reach again. Mikazuki also shakes his head when Tsurumaru asks in his lyrics if he should pursue him. In the scene following this, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro appoints himself captain of the mission for when they return to the time period so that Tsurumaru can go meet Mikazuki.
- The second duet has vaguer lyrics, but there is a lyric of how wanting to be loved (sung by Mikazuki) and wanting to love (sung by Tsurumaru) are two sides of the same coin (sung together), and wanting love to bloom. The duet also has pretty shippy choreography, with Tsurumaru bowing down to Mikazuki and later pointing at him when he sings “I finally met you.” Other parts of the choreo also changes slightly with every performance, with the two high-fiving or outright joining hands depending on the day. On the March 25th performance, Mikazuki grabs Tsurumaru’s hand and spins him around during the part of the choreo when they were supposed to spin around each other.
- Tsurumaru's Tsundere attitude toward Mikazuki is further highlighted in the ending theme song "Touken Ranbu". After Mikazuki touches his shoulder, he initially throws him off in annoyance, but it’s followed up in a playful moment where they point at each other.
- Michi no Oku has the two wearing matching tuxedos, with the only differences being color palette, accessories, the diamond pattern on Mikazuki's lapel, and the gold stripes down the sides of Mikazuki's pants.
- Michi no Oku isn't the first time that Mikazuki and Tsurumaru were given matching Live outfits, as Tsurumaru's third layer from Paraiso is a visual rehash of Mikazuki's Sexy Backless Outfit from Tsuwamono Domo, with the only differences being the color palette, the placement of the crest (Mikazuki's is bottom left, Tsurumaru's is top right), part of the pants design, and obviously Tsurumaru's accessories, which were carried over from his original costume as always.
- Doubles as Mikazuki/Suishinshi Hoyay. Tsurumaru and Suinshinshi sing in the song "Flame Dance" about two shadows being illuminated by the moon, which casts them in a blue light that is commonly associated with Mikazuki and is also seen in the main story. Needless to say, Mikazuki is currently the only sword in the musicals (and the Touken Ranbu series as a whole) associated with the moon, which reflects Tsurumaru and Suishinshi's roles in the main story, as two Touken Danshi associated with and influenced by Mikazuki Munechika. Tsurumaru even points at Mikazuki during one rendition of the choreography.
- Along with having matching outfits, the acrylic stands for Mikazuki and Tsurumaru's live outfits are intended to be positioned together, which the official account demonstrates in this tweet
showing off the merch. The way they're posed would also allow the stands to be positioned back to back.
Mikazuki/Other
- There are some Hoyay elements to Mikazuki and Yasuhira's tragic friendship in Tsuwamono Domo:
- Mikazuki serenades Yasuhira as he offers him the lotus flower, which Yasuhira is too stunned to accept. We later learn that the two became friends over many, many different timelines while admiring the beauty of the lotus flowers together; Yasuhira simply cannot remember because it hadn’t happened for him yet.
- In their final conversation before Yasuhira departs to willingly sacrifice himself to save the future, he asks Mikazuki to promise to place a lotus flower, a symbol of their friendship and shared fate, on his grave. This scene contains a lot of held back tears, pained laughter, and pure pain, as they both understand the gravity of their responsibilities, as well as Yasuhira's realization that he will never see Mikazuki again. Mikazuki, on the other hand, says he will keep his promise, but he is aware that he will have to continue guiding Yasuhira and Yoritomo, two people he has grown to care about, to their deaths indefinitely.
- Kashuu and Mikazuki, in particular, received some tease during the Sanjou + Kashuu Kiyomitsu run of performances because they were co-leaders of sorts, often performing duets such as Utsukushii Higeki in concerts. As well, in every Sanjou + Kashuu performance of MISTAKE, Mikazuki feels Kashuu up, which Kashuu encourages by touching his hand and sending a flirty smile back at him.
- A minor example here, but it can’t be a coincidence that whenever Mikazuki Munechika is absent from a performance, both Kogitsunemaru and Tsurumaru Kuninaga, two characters he gets ship tease with, are always used to fill in for him during song numbers he would have performed in. Tsurumaru even steals one of Mikazuki’s iconic phrases during an audience greeting.
- While the two characters virtually have no relationship beyond knowing each other in the main story, Mikazuki Munechika and Hachisuka Koutetsu flirt with each other a lot in the second act of Michi no Oku, Hitotsu wa Chisu due to their actors being very good friends in real life, frequently holding hands during the dance portion of Hyakken Kenran or otherwise messing around in flirty, improv-y ways.
- Kashuu Kiyomitsu almost always makes a habit to hit or poke Mikazuki’s butt with his bachi (Taiko drum stick) during Michi no Oku’s flame dance segment.
Saniwa/Other
- Everyone is extremely attached to the Saniwa and is constantly seeking his approval. Yes, his. The Saniwa in this continuity is a man, which makes Hasebe's obsession with being considered his number one quite curious. Kashuu as well, although less so, since it seems more like he wants the approval of a father figure in his case. Maybe.
- Mikazuki in particular cares about the Saniwa so much that he became a tragic Time God to spare him the unpleasantness of dealing with the messier aspects of correcting history. As well, in Tsuwamono, Higekiri very nearly confesses Mikazuki’s feelings for the Saniwa on his behalf, saying, "To me, the Saniwa is…" but Mikazuki interrupts him before he can say anything more.
- Quite a few of the Touken Danshi's songs are love songs dedicated to the Saniwa. Whether they're meant to be for the Saniwa in the main citadel or the Saniwa audience is unclear.
- Kogitsunemaru’s affectionate loyalty to the Saniwa remains in this continuity, to the point where he’s even willing to kill Mikazuki because he believes he’s betraying him.
- In Shinken Ranbusai 2017, Kogitsunemaru gets mad at Mikazuki and the others for touching his hair and threatens to beat them up, claiming that the Saniwa is the only one allowed to touch his hair.
Other/Other
- Yamanbagiri is strongly attached to whoever the broken sword is, as he is still devastated by his death and even attempts to sacrifice himself at the end of Kousui to be with him in death. When he is saved from his sacrifice, he says they will have to wait a little longer, implying that he still intends to reunite with him eventually. As well, his solo song in the second half of the performance has affectionate and lonely lyrics that are strongly implied to be about the unidentified sword.
- Kogitsunemaru asking Kashuu if he wants to be princess carried.
- In this continuity, Tonbokiri and Sengo Muramasa—despite being "brothers"—get a lot of ship tease, to the extent that one might wonder if Muramasa is in love with Tonbokiri, and if Tonbokiri is gradually beginning to feel the same way throughout their appearances in the series. The production team has no issue pandering to the audience with this either, as they were among the few pairs chosen to get a Souki performance.
- Similarly to the Saniwa in the browser game, Akashi Kuniyuki oddly comments on how soft Kotegiri Gou's hands are. Tsurumaru then uses the same line against him after tricking Akashi into shaking hands with him.
- It appears that the Touken Danshi can't go more than a few songs without serenading, caressing, or being generally affectionate. Some of them even hold hands, regardless of their relationship in the main story, assuming they have one at all. This is particularly noticeable during duets. The chemistry between even characters who have never had any significant interactions with each other is incredibly.
- Kashuu has been flirted with and caressed by every Sanjou during the idol performances of Atsukashiyama Ibun. Hilariously, this would lead to the Sanjou fighting over him in Shinken Ranbusai 2016, which turned out to be a dream… that everyone remembers for some reason.
- Mikazuki/Hizamaru and Higekiri/Kogitsunemaru get extremely flirty with each other in the 2018 Shinken Ranbusai performance, with Kogitsunemaru and Higekiri holding each other's faces while looking dangerously close to kissing, while Mikazuki and Hizamaru sang face to face while making teasing motions at each other.
- "Timeline" was added to the song list for Shinken Ranbusai 2022, but it was performed by a variety of sword pairs depending on the performance, some of whom had never interacted before (on screen, anyway) or had no historical background with each other, adding to the pairings' diversity. This could also imply that the song isn't inherently romantic, as the lyrics aren't explicitly so either, but the choreography remained somewhat shippy, albeit changing slightly depending on the combination of characters:
- Among the pairs that have some basis:
- Ookanehira and Oodenta Mitsuyo’s performance created a foe yay shipping dynamic between the two, as Ookanehira canonically hates every Tenka Goken (save for Juzumaru) due to not being considered one of them.
- Horikawa Kunihiro and Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, as well as Nagasone Kotetsu and Hachisuka Kotetsu performed the song, with it being unclear whether it was supposed to be an example of the song being performed platonically or Incest Yay Shipping considering these pairs consider themselves to be brothers. Then again, the production does ship Sengo Muramasa and Tonbokiri, who are also brothers of a sort…
- Another variation has Horikawa Kunihiro perform the song with Izuminokami Kanesada, who he is all but explicitly stated to be romantically interested in.
- Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Buzen Gou, who were on the same team together in Paraiso.
- Kogitsunemaru and Imanotsurugi, who are both Sanjou school swords who grew close to one another as characters and performers throughout the musicals, also sing the song together on the last day of Shinken Ranbusai.
- The song was also sung by Tsurumaru Kuninaga and Suishinshi Masahide together, which may have had some justification given their interactions (symbolic and otherwise) during the concert and the introduction of Suishinshi into the main story about Mikazuki Munechika all the way back in Tokyo Kokoro Oboe—a story that Tsurumaru had long since been involved in as well. Even if the song is taken platonically, though, the lyrics aren't at all indicative of their relationship, which makes it odd, and borderline crack. Unless, of course, one were to read it as Tsurumaru substituting for Mikazuki, who the lyrics make more sense about from Suishinshi’s perspective, in his absence. Tsurumaru even sings Mikazuki's lines and assumes Mikazuki's position on stage, lending credence to the theory.
- Murakumo Gou and Suishinshi Masahide both interacted in Tokyo Kokoro Oboe and were assigned differing roles by Mikazuki Munechika.
- The other combinations make little sense, as they have neither interacted nor have a historical basis, leading to crack pair shipping central:
- Murakumo Gou and Ookanehira
- Matsui Gou and Hizen Tadahiro
- Akashi Kuniyuki and Buzen Gou
- Tonbokiri and Kuwana Gou
- Imanotsurugi and Minamoto Kiyomaro
- Yamatonokami Yasusada and Minamoto Kiyomaro
- Akashi Kuniyuki and Sohayanotsurugi
- Yamatonokami Yasusada and Urashima Koutetsu
- Hyuuga Masamune and Nansen Ichimonji
- Samidare Gou and Koryuu Kagemitsu
- Among the pairs that have some basis:
- In the 2022 Shinken Ranbusai performance, Tsurumaru and Imanotsurugi hold hands before Tsurumaru pulls him into his arms and strokes his face seductively. He also manages to sneak in a chest grope as Imanotsurugi pulls away. As it turns out, this is the choreo for every performance of the song, and the two affectionately caress each other every time.
- In Shinken Ranbusai 2018, Kogitsunemaru announces that the teams will wait for Tomoe's response on which region has the best festivals, specifically turning to Mikazuki for agreement, possibly because Mikazuki initiated the competition and requested Tomoe's response first. Mikazuki agrees and approaches him with a warm smile as Kogitsunemaru turns to face him, both grinning and chuckling at each other. The two can then be seen off to the side inaudibly discussing something while most of the rest of the team (save for Imanotsurugi and Iwatooshi, who are also discussing something off to the side) focus on talking to Tomoegata about his decision.
- The framing of for the story of Kotobuki Ranbu Ongyousai is the Mikazuki Munechika and Kogitsunemaru reminiscing on past sorties/musicals, and as a result, they appear in many songs together. They even duet in both of Kogitsunemaru's songs from Tsuwamono, which were originally solos.
- In the rare instance that you’re a Tsurumaru/Horikawa shipper, the two duet “Chronicle” together in Shinken Ranbusai 2022.
