magatsu taito

Among the Ittō-ryū's finest swordsmen, Taito stands out. Born a peasant, he took up the sword to avenge his sister, who was killed in childhood by a samurai. Taito is one of the rare swordsmen who has fought Manji and lived to tell the tale. He has also fought alongside Manji at times. He can be considered a kenshi, a swordsman not from the samurai class. His lover, a prostitute named O-ren, was killed by Shira. He left the Ittō-ryū but remains friends with Anotsu. Due to knowing Shira seeks Manji, Taito ends up following Manji around. Despite frequent arguments, Manji and Taito share a relatively friendly relationship. In the end, Manji allows Taito to confront Shira. Even though Shira desires to kill Manji, he lets Taito take him. Eventually, Shira loses his remaining hand to Taito and presumably falls to his death. Later, troubled by something Shira said, Taito meets up with Anotsu and eventually rejoins the Ittō-ryū. Taito wields a unique triple-sectioned sword named Grand Turk. The main blade resembles a gladius; the second is a smaller, shorter sword hidden within the handle, and the third is a spear-head-like dagger concealed within the second blade. Interestingly, this weapon lacks a sword guard. Taito first appears in Conquest part 1 and is first named in Fanatic part 1.