Katsura Kotaro

Height: 175 cm
Weight: 56 kg
Birthday: June 26
Age: 20s
Favorite Food: Soba noodles
Blood Type: AB

A slender young man with sharp features characterized by long, straight black hair. He is the leader of the anti-shogunate faction, the "Joi Party."

He is childhood friends with Gintoki Sakata and Shinsuke Takasugi, having studied together under Shoyo Yoshida, and they were comrades-in-arms during the Joi War.

He bears the epithets "The Mad Prince," "The Dawn of the Joi Patriots," and "Kotaro the Runner." Due to his surname and long hair, his old acquaintances like Gintoki, Takasugi, and Tatsuma Sakamoto call him by the nickname "Zura," but his standard catchphrase is to retort each time, "It's not Zura, it's Katsura."

In the early days, he was seen retorting at Gintoki, but recently he is more often the one being retorted at by those around him. However, in serious situations, like Gintoki, he is a person who can be decisive when he needs to be.

Like Gintoki and Sakamoto, when conversing, he often talks on and on about his own agenda, seemingly oblivious to whether he's listening to the other person, frequently touching a raw nerve. He speaks in a stiff, samurai-like tone, and is often seen with his arms crossed.

He advocates frugality and lives on a simple diet, with soba as his favorite food, but on the other hand, he has a strong interest in worldly affairs and material desires. However, at heart he is kind and cannot abandon people in trouble. Initially, he repeatedly engaged in radical activities to overthrow the shogunate, but he has since turned to a moderate faction, saying, "I've accumulated too many things that are important to destroy." Still, whenever he gets the chance, he tries to persuade Gintoki to return to his side.

Since childhood, he has been the leader who reined in and managed the rampages of Gintoki and Takasugi, and even now, he possesses a charisma that attracts and unites many patriots and prisoners. He is also quite athletic, with swordsmanship on par with Gintoki, and together they served as the rearguard during the Benizakura arc. According to Ayame Sarutobi, "His speed is in no way inferior to a ninja." This ability comes in handy when being pursued by the Shinsengumi.

For better or worse, his facial expressions change less than other characters, and he is less prone to panic compared to others.

However, even if his expression doesn't show it, his actions can sometimes be erratic.

In preparation for attacks by the Shinsengumi, he always keeps timed bombs (reusable bombs) and "Umai-bo" puffed corn snacks, which double as smoke screens and emergency rations, hidden in his pocket. The bombs have shown enough power to destroy an Amanto tank, but the ones he normally uses only have enough effect to stall pursuers, so it seems he uses different types for escape and combat. Also, for some reason, he has antibodies to various pathogens, and according to Gintoki, "He's never even caught a cold since we were kids."

He is very fond of animals and dotes on the mysterious alien creature "Elizabeth," who is both his pet and partner. He seems to really love the paw pads of dogs and cats.