Age: 27
Birthday: August 10
Zodiac: Leo
Hair: Black (with purple highlights)
Eyes: Light Olive Green (bandage over left eye)
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 60 kg
Occupation: Leader of the Kiheitai
Hobbies: Smoking a pipe, playing a shamisen
A former comrade of Gintoki and Katsura, he is now a major antagonist and leads the radical Joui faction known as the Kiheitai. He is regarded by the Shinsengumi as 'the most dangerous man in both the Joui faction and amongst the radicals.' His distinctive features include a bandaged left eye, colorful kimono, eerie smile, and the pipe he frequently smokes.
He studied with Gintoki and Katsura at the same temple elementary school during their childhood. Together, they fought against the Amanto invasion during the latter part of the Joui war. After the war ended, he disappeared and later gained notoriety for assassinating many of the Bakufu's main officers and planning a large-scale coup d'état. Before his first appearance in both the anime and manga, it was mentioned that he had fled Edo and was hiding in Kyoto, though the exact timeline remains unclear.
He believes that the only way to save the world is to destroy the "rotten" post-Joui war society. Although he enjoys festivals, this preference stems from the opportunities they provide for large-scale terrorist attacks, indicating a near-nihilistic attraction to ruin. He also shows considerable insight, such as when he 'saw through Itou's heart' and planted him within the Shinsengumi ranks.
It can be assumed that he is as skilled a swordsman as Gintoki and Katsura, having fought alongside them as one of the 'heroes' of the Joui war. Additionally, he demonstrates considerable skill in playing the shamisen, as shown in a scene where he plays it with Bansai while conversing.
He is based on the historical figure Takasugi Shinsaku.
