"Humans simply want to live or want to die by the side of those they trust. That is all. We are plain and simple creatures."
Kotarou Katsura
Kotarou Katsura (桂 小太郎,Katsura Kotarō?) is the leader of a moderate Joui faction and a fugitive wanted by the authorities. He is also proficient in the art of escape from the Shinsengumi (formerly), penitentiaries and explosives.
He has long black hair halfway down his back (Okada Nizou wondered whether Katsura is really a man, for having such silky hair in Episode 58) that he either leaves loose or ties. He sports hazel eyes and has an attractive demeanor. Neptune Shoukaku in Episode 319 describes him as a dainty guy with effeminate and delicate features. He typically wears a blue kimono with a yellow sash. The fact that he typically wears a pale blue haori on top of his kimono and white socks with slippers suggests that he is particular about how he dresses and carries himself. He is never seen lying around or sitting in a unrefined manner, and he typically keeps his arms in his sleeves when not carrying anything. Since he is a wanted man, Katsura usually uses disguises to hide from Shinsengumi or to wander freely in public.
As a child, the bangs framing his face were chin length, with the rest of his hair tied in a high ponytail. He is shown wearing a pale green kimono and a darker green haori, a samurai outfit, and a white kimono (as a child).
Personality[]
Katsura's illogical decisions often suggest him to be a complete moron, though this may be a result of his lack of common sense rather than actual stupidity as in his childhood he was considered a talented genius who was able to attend a prestigious school without having the money to pay for it. Although he appears like an idiot most of the time in the series, he is very smart and sensible when serious circumstances arise. Katsura is hardly ever seen joking, which only serves to amplify the oddities of his character. He also has an extreme imagination and improvisation, as he sometimes does the voices of some inanimate objects and tends to have long and dramatic flashbacks and reflections out of pointless matters.
Katsura is also very persistent and kept pestering Gintoki to join him in his Jouishishi rebellion. He is a charismatic leader and commands great respect from his followers. One of his Joui followers described him as a man who cannot back down once he gets into high spirits over something. In fact, he was able to rally a big group of followers in a very short time during his prison stint in Episode 110.
Katsura's cute face
Thrifty in habit, he eats simple meals like soba, and once advised Elizabeth against eating strawberry milk and parfaits so as not to weaken the body and the spirit (see Episode 58), though he has a soft-spot for nmaibo (んまい棒, Nmaibo), a corn snack modelled after umaibo (うまい棒,umaibo).
Katsura cuddling Sadaharu
Katsura is very polite, usually adding the honorific "dono" to people. He takes great care not to offend any person. When he thought he offended the human punching bag, he gladly offered his "treasure", a borrowed Nintendo cartridge. Katsura also loves animals, especially the paw pads of dogs and cats.
Katsura has a soft spot for housewives (or fetish), especially widows, as shown in the Owee chapter when he was playing the dating simulation and his bond with Ikumatsu. Later on, he digresses on this soft spot by bluntly admitting that he does in fact has a fetish for unfaithful wives. During this digression, Gintoki points out that Katsura has always been shy about women, even as a kid, and mentioned his first crush being the neighborhood widow.
At the beginning of the series, Katsura hated the world not only for taking away Yoshida Shouyou's life, but also for the continued oppression of Earth by the Amanto and the complicity of the Bakufu. Fueled by grief and a desire for justice, he was initially willing to use destructive means to resist the regime, such as bombings targeting embassies. In his first appearance, he bombed an embassy owned by the Inuisei, who were the Amanto race to force Edo Castle to surrender using the Neo Armstrong Jet Cyclone Cannon. However canon sources - such as newspapers, news broadcasts, and even Shinsengumi reports - consistently report property damage rather than casualties. This suggests that Katsura’s actions were not reckless, but carefully calculated to avoid harming civilians. After witnessing Gintoki's choices and falling out with Takasugi after the Benizakura Arc, he decided to seek more peaceful solutions. It is also possible that his encounter with Ikumatsu and hearing about her past might have influenced him as well.
In Episode 64, it's shown how much his strategies have evolved. He now focuses on gathering information, influencing people from the inside, and slowly weakening the government through indirect means. He hosts what look like casual meetings with other Joui members, which on the surface, seem harmless, but in reality, are secret gatherings where fighters share updates, pass on intelligence, and plan on how to reach people in power. The goal is to build a network that can slowly rise through society, spread anti-Bakufu ideas, and eventually flip officials to their side in order to change the country from within. This suggests that Katsura has moles and deep agents embedded at many levels of government and society.
His sense of self-preservation started in his childhood. After his parents died from an illness, he was left roaming the streets together with his grandmother after they were stripped of their mansion. While visiting the grave of his parents, his grandmother told him that no matter how strong or great a warrior maybe, if he dies, he wouldn't be able to protect his country or anyone at all. So to be a great general, one must be more careful and more fearful in order to survive and lead the war. When his grandmother died, he was on his own until he met Sakata Gintoki and Takasugi Shinsuke. While studying under Yoshida Shouyou, he made a resolve to be "a samurai who is both more cowardly and stronger than anyone else" so he could protect his comrades. This resolve earned him the nickname "Runaway Kotarou".
Sorachi has stated that Katsura’s character "was conceived with a more austere version of Shiryu, the one from Saint Seiya, in mind" and that "He was born after shattering the latter’s image with a hammer and reattaching the pieces with scotch tape." [1] The relationship between Katsura and the Shinsengumi is also based on that between Lupin and Zenigata.
Strength & Abilities[]
Master Swordsmanship Specialist: Katsura is a genius master swordsman. In his childhood, he was under the tutelage of Yoshida Shouyou together with Sakata Gintoki and Takasugi Shinsuke. He learned swordsmanship from Yoshida Shouyou. Katsura uses a katana and is a highly skilled samurai. Part of the legendary "Joui 4", he earned the nickname "The Nobleman of Madness". This was evident once he decided to go all out on Shoukaku. He ignores defense and was capable of making offensive skills, and was even comparable to a rampaging beast.
Enhanced strength: Katsura has been shown to be really strong and possesses incredible levels of strength, demonstrated in the Rakuyou arc when he was able to cut off Shoukaku's arm, and when he was able to slam the latter's own spear into his stomach. He was also able to break Shokaku's spear with just a kick, and defeat him with a headbutt despite him having a hard head.
Enhanced Speed: Katsura has been shown to be really fast and agile and possesses great amounts of speed and reflexes, as shown when he was able to contend and fight on par with Shoukaku, one of the Three Mad stars of the Harusame, and the most agile and athletic of the group.
When Katsura was trained by Sarutobi Ayame as a ninja to save Elizabeth, according to her his speed doesn't fall behind a true ninja, and he was ranked B as his speed was good, but his awareness was moderate.
Enhanced Agility: Katsura has been proven to be really agile and has sharp reflexes, as proven when he was contending with Shoukaku. He was able to jump from building to building, and was somewhat even able to outmaneuver Shoukaku. In his fight against Hitsugi in Gintama: The Final, he also showed advanced agility and reflexes.
Enhanced Endurance: Katsura has shown a great amount of endurance, as seen during the Rakuyou Arc during his battle against Neptune Shoukaku. Despite being brutally injured by Shoukaku, he managed to get up and eventually defeat him.
Enhanced Durability: Katsura has been proven to be durable and resilient, such as being able to survive being cut down by Nizou in the Benizakura Arc, and when he was able to survive being slammed from building to building by Shoukaku. During the battle, he was shown to have a hard head, being able to defeat Shoukaku with a headbutt when both of them were heavily exhausted.
According to Gintoki, Katsura has never caught a cold because his body resists the cold. It turns out that his body can absorb viruses to the point where it strengthens his immune system, which turns him into Ill Smith.
Master Tactician and Strategist: Katsura is a crafty, creative, and highly intelligent individual, though his eccentric behavior often causes others to underestimate him. His genius is shown through the following:
He was known for his cleverness as a child, due to which he was able to obtain a scholarship to a distinguished military school despite being poor. He was also known as Shouyou's prodigy.
Sakamoto Tatsuma credits Katsura's tactical and strategic brilliance as the reason the Joui War lasted as long as it did, even implying he was the true leader of the Joui 4. While others relied on strength or charisma, it was Katsura’s planning, flexibility, and ability to strategically retreat that allowed the resistance to survive even in the face of overwhelming odds.
He is extremely good at information gathering thanks to his spy network. In episode 64, it's said his spy network extends to outer space and into the inner reaches of the Bakufu. In one chapter, we get a small glimpse of how far it reaches. While the Shinsengumi are still scrambling after just learning that explosives have gone missing from Banzou’s factory, an informant (a soba vendor) casually tells Katsura exactly where the Banzou gang is headed and what they’re planning. This contrast demonstrates how much faster and more effective his network is compared to official channels.
He maintains multiple safehouses throughout Edo. In Lesson 13, he is seen nursing an injured Gintoki back to health in a clean, well-kept house with a garden, suggesting he has access to secure hideouts. He is also occasionally shown walking openly in public without a disguise and taking on odd jobs. These details imply that Katsura enjoys a significant level of civilian support, with ordinary people either turning a blind eye to his status as a criminal or actively helping him evade capture. These sympathizers likely play a key role in keeping him a step ahead of the Bakufu. Sorachi has confirmed that, "As a wanted fugitive, he has no fixed abode anywhere. He’s always changing hiding places and wandering around in various places. Even though he is a bad person, Zura is still a revolutionary, so he finds people everywhere who are sympathetic to his ambition, willing to shelter him and support him."
He frequently escapes from his enemies using effective tricks - such as turning a Nmaibo (a cheap snack) into a makeshift smoke bomb or wearing a parachute under his haori. He also escapes from prison numerous times.
He occasionally incorporates food (curry or fried rice) into his fighting style so his enemies become quickly incapacitated from indigestion and severe diarrhea from consuming the food.
He used Takeshi's Famicom "Super Monkey Adventure" cartridge against the Shinsengumi.
In Lesson 173 it was shown he knew Yamazaki Sagaru was a spy sent to infiltrate the Joui the whole time. (In the anime this was changed to lengthen the episode).
In that same lesson, it was shown that Katsura has infiltrated and taken control of Akiba Neo, an underground city located beneath the capital. The area functions as a safe haven for outcasts and rebels, and is populated largely by otaku and engineers. The presence of engineers may explain the advanced technology Katsura occasionally employs throughout the series. He later uses the city to hide Gintoki and his Joui faction in the Rakuyou Arc, stating that the Bakufu has not yet penetrated the area.
His cunning is shown in Episode 110, where he told Suekichi he gained control of the prisoners and started a revolution in the gaol to change their lives for the better, while in actuality it was all a trick and he was planning to escape all along.
The true extension of his tactical abilities was displayed 2 years after the battle against Utsuro. Utilizing the wide information network at his disposal, he's able to uncover the Tendoushu's true plans and final whereabouts and piece together the events that occurred within the 2 years after the battle against Utsuro. Taking a high position as Prime Minister not only helped him rebuild Edo (with Shijaku's help) and gather extensive information, but also abolish the Shogunate, establish a constitution, and restructure the government. He also collaborated with the Shinsengumi to expose and eliminate corrupt officials within the new government by publicly disavowing them as enemies and disbanding them, while secretly repurposing them as double agents. The Shinsengumi infiltrated opposition factions, gathered intelligence, tracked their movements, and helped elminate them. Toward the end of his reign, he even planned to stage an assassination attempt at the hands of the Shinsengumi so that he can pass power onto the next generation. His forward planning and prescience enabled his allies to remain informed and strategically positioned for the coming battle.
Engineering Specialist: He is shown to be quite good at technology, as evidenced by the following:
He is a bomb specialist.
He is one of the few to own a personal computer (an Apple laptop as shown in Lesson 85), he frequently spends time on forums and sends people spam messages to join the Joui on cellphones.
He was able to master the use of the Super Matsui Stick RX within a few seconds of getting it.
In Episode 223, he guides Matsudaira through the building occupied by terrorists by feeding him live updates and building layout data via cellphone. He also plants mechanisms capable of tracking Matsudaira's altitude and disrupting the terrorist group’s radar net, preventing them from detecting movement within the structure so Matsudaira can rescue his daughter.
He immediately knew how to pilot a Gunsam without prior experience in Episode 234.
Disguise Master: He is a master of disguises:
When he dressed up as a pirate, Katsura called himself "Captain Katsura".
He dressed as a soccer player and called himself "Captain Katsura" yet again.
He has disguised himself multiple times as a traveling Buddhist Monk.
While having an interview, Katsura just wore a Groucho glasses disguise.
In Episode 60 it was shown that when he managed to escape from Nizou, he hid and disguised himself as Elizabeth.
He also has his own custom Renho disguise, which is also a spacesuit.
He also went by the name "DJ Ozura" as his rapper identity, but Kondou Isao saw through it.
When Katsura was crossdressing, he went by the name "Zurako" (ヅラ子).
In Episode 98, Katsura called himself "Katsuo" (カツオ) when he cosplayed as Mario during the Bentendo Owee event.
In Episode 120, he went by the not-so-clever alias of "Joey (Joui) Katsura" when he was working undercover as an Amanto in an exclusive Amanto-only restaurant which discriminated against humans, with the intention of forcing it to close down by blowing it up before the extremist factions could come and cause trouble.
He quickly disguised himself as a waiter when hiding in Ikumatsu Ramen Store.
He disguised himself as a maid called "Ichihara Ezurako" in order to spy on Matsudaira.
He disguised himself as a Shinsengumi member called "Hashira Afuro" during the Afro Arc, and he was not recognized by anyone.
Relationships[]
Mentor[]
Yoshida Shouyou: Katsura studied under Shouyou together with Gintoki and Takasugi and joined the Joui Patriots to fight for his freedom after he was arrested under Sada Sada's orders. The Tendoshu forced Gintoki to choose between saving either Shouyou or Katsura and Takasugi, with their teacher sacrificing himself in order to save Katsura, and his friends' lives.
Katsura and Gintoki have known each other since they were children. They usually fight alongside each other, so they can be considered very close friends. Gintoki always calls Katsura by the nickname "Zura", which literally means "wig", even though Katsura prefers his real name. Katsura always tries to recruit Gintoki to his organization, but ultimately fails as Gintoki isn't interested in fighting anymore. Through continued interaction with him, he has grown more benevolent and now seeks peaceful methods to bring down the Bakufu. After witnessing Gintoki being forced to execute Shouyou by the Tendoshuu during their capture in the Joui war, he understands the regret Gintoki has for killing Shouyou in order to save him, and his friends' lives and also to keep his promise to Shouyou. He even told Takasugi in the Benizakura arc that he too wanted to destroy the world; yet Gintoki, who has more right to be angry at the world than anyone else, still chooses to endure it, and they should honor his decision. When Utsuro/Shouyou's identity became clear, he told Gintoki that he will not let him take the burden of killing their Sensei again, and it was now his turn to shoulder that burden.
Sakamoto Tatsuma: They fought in the Joui war together with Gintoki and Takasugi and are good friends. Although they haven't interacted with each other much after the Jouishishi war, they are still on good terms as seen in the Renho arc. Sakamoto gave Elizabeth to Katsura as a pet. Sakamoto knew about Katsura's childhood as well, when the former discussed who is the strongest in the group among the Joui rebels during the war. He defended Katsura when the men implied he was cowardly, saying they would have lost the war without Katsura, revealing his admiration and understanding of Katsura.
Takasugi Shinsuke: He and Takasugi met in childhood before meeting Yoshida-sensei and Gintoki. Takasugi who is about to be disowned by his Samurai family would often hang out in a temple. Katsura would visit him and even offered onigiri. Both of them would often talk about what it's like to be samurai and would be curious later on upon seeing Yoshida Shoyou and Gintoki. After the war and the death of their teacher, all of them lost sight of each other. Katsura was just like Takasugi (wanting to destroy the world) only to change his mind after being reunited again with Gintoki and learning to love the people in Edo. During the Benizakura arc, he tried to convince Takasugi to renounce his violent activities but failed as Takasugi only desired destruction. Although seen frequently looking out for him in flashbacks, he later claimed that he never liked Takasugi to begin with but still considered him as a comrade. Katsura and Gintoki swore that the next time they meet, they would do everything to take him down. During the escape, he mentioned to Gintoki that they all started at one place yet ended up far away from each other. After Takasugi realized why Gintoki saved them for their master's will that has been passed to them to move on, Katsura may seemingly reconcile with him.
He is always accompanied by Elizabeth from Episode 15 onwards, and he is very attached to him and went to his rescue when he was "kidnapped" in Episode 44. Katsura's affection for Elizabeth is so great he refuses to acknowledge that Elizabeth is just a man in sheets despite seeing a picture of the chubby man in an x-ray in Episode 129. Katsura is overprotective of Elizabeth, as he'll pursue any person who injures him. Even when it was discovered that "Monday Elizabeth," or Eren, was part of an alien empire with plans to invade and conquer Earth, Katsura still refused to speak out against him, and their goodbye is heavy with emotion. It's also revealed that the true Elizabeth is the Amanto Prince, Dragonia, who had lost his memories and was brainwashed by the Renho into becoming one of them.
Kagura: In Episode 44, he wanted to have the red ninja suit, which usually is for the leader of the team. Kagura told him that red is her color and she should be the leader. She commanded Katsura to call her "Leader" which he always did ever since. She also said that the color yellow fits him well, and he should always bring curry with him, thus having the title "Curry Ninja". He mentioned to Gintoki that she would make a good samurai, much to her dismay. Kagura calls Katsura "Zura" just like Gintoki. In the Benizakura Arc, Kagura was one of the people that was shown to be important for him.
Shimura Shinpachi: They are very respectful to each other, but at times Shinpachi wonders about Katsura's lack of common sense. Just like the other two members of Yorozuya, he does seek advice from Katsura every once in a while. In the Benizakura Arc, Shinpachi was one of the people that was shown to be important for him.
Hasegawa Taizou: Despite their vastly different backgrounds, Hasegawa becomes one of Katsura’s more unexpected yet genuine allies. He affectionately refers to Katsura as "Zuracchi", and the two are seen casually hanging out together, usually with Gintoki dragged along. In one Gintama ending sequence, they’re even shown drinking together. While Hasegawa lacks revolutionary ideals, he respects Katsura’s convictions, and Katsura in turn seems to enjoy his company in a rare, unguarded way.
Shijaku: A prominent figure in the Altana Liberation Army and a former Amanto (Oukuku) prince, Shijaku becomes one of Katsura's most significant allies following the conclusion of the war against Utsuro. In Silver Soul Arc, they meet at the graves of former shoguns Tokugawa Shige Shige and Tokugawa Nobu Nobu, where they reflect on the cost of war and discuss the growing influence of the Tendoshu’s new religion, Tengenism. Their shared goal of dismantling the Tendoshu leads to deeper collaboration. It's revealed Shijaku helped Katsura rebuild Japan by calling in foreign aid and reparations from several countries, and Katsura thanks him for his help and asks him to support Japan alongside Soyo.
Gengai Hiraga: While never officially stated, Katsura appears to have a working alliance with Gengai. In Episode 223, Katsura, disguised as "Ezurako", assists Matsudaira during a terrorist takeover by feeding him live updates and navigation data on his cellphone. He receives information about the interior layout of the building, including the current altitude, and uses specialized tech to disrupt the terrorists' radar system. When asked how he acquired such advanced tools, Katsura replies that he’s "acquainted with Edo’s number one mechanical master," clearly referring to Gengai. This suggests that Gengai not only supplies Katsura with technology but may also be part of the underground network supporting the resistance.
Yagyuu Kyuubei: Since Kyuubei had more frequent appearances than Katsura, the latter became very jealous stating that their characters are overlapping each other for the dead-serious/eggheaded character, though Gintoki has mentioned many times that their characters don't overlap. Despite this, Katsura was ranked as the more popular character of the two. Despite this, they get along during her birthday or when they got lost on an unknown island during the Ryuuguujou Arc.
Tokugawa Shige Shige: When Shige Shige lost his memory, Katsura took him into his Joui faction and taught him how to be a cool leader. However, Katsura got defeated by Shige Shige and the members of Katsura's Joui faction thought of Shige Shige as a true leader, including Elizabeth. Katsura and Shige Shige decided to compete with each other to see who can get Soyo Hime's head to become the true leader. However, it turned out it was all an act and both were aware of each other's true identities the whole time. Shige Shige told Katsura that the next time they meet, one of them will lose their head, and the survivor must be the one to change the country. Despite being enemies, they have the same will to change Edo into a better place. Katsura mourned his death before learning that Kondo was also about to be executed in five days later during Nobu Nobu's reign.
Kondou Isao: When Kondo was the commander of the Shinsengumi, he and Katsura were rivals. Kondo was always shown chasing after Katsura and they would always fight over similar nicknames such as Fruit Punch/Chinpo Samurai. In Episode 88 they lost their memories and become friends (temporarily), and both mentioned that "I have a feeling that I was a person who protected the world peace. So we must've been comrades." Apparently they have the same peaceful goals, despite being enemies once. They worked together during the Farewell, Shinsengumi Arc in order to fight the enemy forces that ambushed them. Also, Katsura shielded Kondo before Sasaki Isaburo shot him, taking the hit instead, much to Kondo's worry.
Matsudaira Katakuriko: They were enemies before the Shinsengumi was disbanded by the new Shogun Hitotsubashi Nobu Nobu, after Shige Shige died after being poisoned by Tendoshu assassins. Katsura first assisted Matsurdaira while he was undercover as the maid Ezurako, to gain intel on the "God of Destruction". However, Matsudaira's daughter was taken hostage by some Joui terrorists the following day. After Katsura assisted Matsudaira in rescuing his daughter, Matsudaira spared Katsura afterward. During Nobu Nobu’s reign, after the Shinsengumi had been disbanded, both Director Matsudaira and Chief Kondō were sentenced to be executed in five days. At the same time, Nobu Nobu and the Mimawarigumi targeted Tae, Gintoki, Heiji, Haji, and former Vice Chief Hijikata. In response, Katsura sacrificed himself to protect them all - risking everything to prevent the execution of Kondo and Matsudaira. He had already made a vow to the late Shogun Shige Shige to carry on his peaceful ideals should the wise Shogun ever fall. True to that promise, Katsura called a truce with the Shinsengumi in order to save Edo - and the Earth itself - from the Tendoushu and the corrupt Bakufu.
Hijikata Toushirou: Formerly a wanted man due to his involvement in anti-Bakufu activities, Katsura was frequently pursued by the Shinsengumi, particularly by Hijikata. Following the death of Shogun Tokugawa Shige Shige and Nobu Nobu's takeover, Katsura and the Shinsengumi began to form an alliance after Katsura rescues Matsudaira and Kondo from prison after they were sentenced to death by Nobu Nobu, while Elizabeth rallied the Joui and Shinsengumi together to save their leaders. In the aftermath, Katsura suggested that the Shinsengumi and other factions still loyal to Shige Shige, such as the Mimawarigumi, withdraw from Edo. At the time, the city had fallen under the control of Tokugawa Nobu Nobu, making it dangerous for those who opposed his rule. Katsura emphasized that their departure was necessary not only for their survival but also for the protection of Edo’s citizens. Hijikata agreed with Katsura’s suggestion and followed his orders. Hijikata also supported Katsura's plan to fake his death at the hands of the Shinsengumi as "Donald Zurump."
Okita Sougo: Formerly a wanted man due to his involvement in terrorist activities against the Bakufu, Katsura was constantly attacked by the Shinsengumi, especially Sougo, who would shoot his bazooka at him. Later, when Katsura rescued Kondo and Matsudaira, and a war between the Mimawarigumi, the Tendoushu, and the combined forces of the Yorozuya, Shinsengumi, and Katsura's Joui faction started, they become allies, with the Shinsengumi working alongside the Joui. Their alliance remained intact despite Okita appearing to act as an assassin targeting "Donald Zurump," as this was later revealed to be a ruse. Okita had been secretly cooperating with Katsura from the beginning, the plan being to stage a fake assassination to protect him from actual attempts on his life. Okita praises Katsura as the most dangerous of the Joui, and allies with him not only to rebuild Edo, but also to prepare for the battle against the remnants of the Naraku.
Sasaki Isaburo: Isaburo underestimated Katsura's skill when the wise Joui rebel sacrificed himself to save Gintoki, Tae, Heiji, Haji, and Hijikata, along with all the people who were inside the bar - all of whom had grown disillusioned and had been oppressed under Nobu Nobu’s regime. Sasaki accidentally shoots Katsura after the latter shields Kondo from the shot with his body. However, once it is revealed that the Mimawarigumi had also been secretly plotting against the corrupt Bakufu in honor of their late true leader, Shogun Shige Shige, the alliance between the Joui faction and Shige Shige’s loyalist forces - the Shinsengumi and the Mimawarigumi - strengthened further. Once Matsudaira and Kondo were saved, Sasaki and his allies retreated, but sadly, Sasaki sacrificed his life to save Nobume and his half-brother, Tetsunosuke. Katsura and his allies later mourned his death.
Katsura encounters Ikumatsu as he was on the run from the Shinsengumi in Episode 39. He is shown to be sympathetic over the death of Ikumatsu's husband, who was killed during a conflict involving the Jouishishi. Katsura would use Ikumatsu's ramen store to place an interview with the news reporter. In the Benizakura Arc, Ikumatsu was one of the people that was shown to be important for him. In Chapter 431, he admitted that he's in love with Ikumatsu's soba. After Katsura's run-in with the Shinsengumi in Episode 39 and the events that took place in that Episode, Katsura has been seen to periodically dine at Ikumatsu's place. Many other characters, including Gintoki and Ikumatsu's brother-in-law, have suggested that Katsura has romantic feelings for Ikumatsu, with Gintoki even asking Katsura if he had ever slept with Ikumatsu. Each time, Katsura responds with a flustered and over-exaggerated dismissal of the idea, implying that he does in fact have feelings for her. He also insists that Ikumatsu only has feelings for her deceased husband.
Enemies[]
Hitotsubashi Nobu Nobu: Much like Sada Sadas, he for allyied himself with the Tendoshu, killing Shige Shige, disbanding Shinsengumi and deciding to behead their Director Matsudaira and Chief Kondo, even killing the loved ones and the people who had nothing to do with it heartlessly. While disguising himself as a hostess, Katsura made his move, rescuing the people who were threatened by Nobu Nobu's tyranny. Katsura later befriends Nobu Nobu after the character redeems himself. After Nobu Nobu's death, Katsura is seen visiting his grave 2 years after he died.
Katsura kotarou sakamoto tatsuma and shinsuke takasugi vs. enshou
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Trivia[]
According to Sorachi, Katsura is modeled after Kido Takayoshi who went under the name Katsura Kogoro 桂小五郎, a man known as "Runaway Kogoro 逃げの小五郎" due to his remarkable ability to evade Bakufu authorities and survive numerous assassination attempts during the Bakumatsu period.
In the Japanese drama "Shinsengumi!" that Sorachi-sensei used to get some of his ideas from, he would always be known to elude capture.
Gintoki calls Katsura by the nickname Zura (ヅラ). The term is a shortened form derived from Katsura.
Katsura is the only male character who never becomes one of Shimura Tae's victims.
In one episode, Katsura’s email handle is revealed as "Die_Elite@bocomo.ne.jp", an address Gintoki gives to Sasaki as a joke when asked for his contact. Instead of leading to a personal inbox, the address redirects to a Joui affiliated website clearly operated by Katsura, subtly reinforcing his anti-elitist, anti-authoritarian ideology.
He is shown to mistake his basic vocabulary easily, just as when he mistook "nakama" (which means comrades) into namaka, manaka (main character of Ichigo 100%), and ManaKana (which is a Japanese girl group composing of twin girls).
In Episode 112, on his birthday, he made a short Katsuratama segment (parody of Gintama).
In the real history, Ikumatsu was originally a Geisha who later became Katsura's wife.
Episode 234 has Katsura piloting a mech visually similar to the RX-78-2 Gundam. This may be a casting gag as Akira Ishida previously voiced Athrun Zala from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
In the Hulu English Dub, Katsura’s nickname Zura is changed to Cobra.
In Tales of the Rays, Katsura appears as a playable character in the second collaboration event with Gin Tama. During which, he gains an original arteset.
In the same collaboration event, Yuri Lowell from Tales of Vesperia gains a costume of Katsura through the mirrage arte "爆裂義翔剣", as both characters are vigilantes to their respective authorities.
Quotes[]
"It's not Zura, it's Katsura!" (ヅラじゃない、桂だ)
(To Sakata Gintoki) "Your right arm isn't enough to carry the burden, from now on I'll be your left arm."
(To Kiheitai) "'I can't die before I see the dawn of Edo, if Edo is woken by rude people like you, it will get upset, you've got no need to see tomorrow's sunshine so rest in peace."
(To Takasugi Shinsuke) "Takasugi, do you know how many times I have also wanted to reduce this world to smoldering ashes? However, that man has always endured it... Gintoki... He who has the most reason to hate this world has always endured it. "
(To Takasugi Shinsuke) "If you hate this country, then destroy it. But if you hurt the people living in Edo, then I cannot allow you to indulge yourself."
(To Sakata Gintoki) "Gintoki, there are things in this world that won't go your way! Forget about the country, I can't even change one friend"
(To Sakata Gintoki) "Gintoki, don't change, it'll take too much effort to kill you"
(To Suekuchi) "I am a revolutionary, I came to revolutionize this hell"
(To Sakata Gintoki) "Who do you think you're talking to? My eyes may have failed me but I can still properly see, I can still see the path we must take"
(To Otohime) "Just like how you've been longing for him over these many years, that man inside the chamber, lying within that deep darkness, always been longing for you too, shining like a pearl so you wouldn't lose your way"
(To Fumiko and Yorozuya) I'm not cooperating with you! And I am not fighting as a Joui patriot defending his planet! I'm going to save my friend! I may have a hundred doubts, a thousand doubts, but I choose to believe in the drink we shared. That's how a friendship between men works. He must have his reasons. He must have been forced into his current situation. In that case, I will cross the galaxy and rivers of blood to save him!"
(To Sakata Gintoki) "You're always blaming your natural perm for your cowardice. You're a pitiful man."
(ToElizabeth) "It doesn't matter if you're in a dark place or at the farthest reaches of the universe! I told you that I've got your back!"
(To Kondou Isao) "Please lend me your strength so that we may protect this country."
(To Hijikata Toushirou) "People prattle on about ideals, convictions, and whatnot when in safe place, but only when we're on the verge of death do we first realize that we simply wish to live beside the ones we trust and die by their sides. That's all we, as humans, really care about."
(To Neptune Shoukaku) "Don't you know? Sticks always come with balls."
''
Gintama The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya[]
(To Enmi) " A Samurai won't fall to the same trick twice!"
(To Gintoki) " Gintoki.. We've lost so many comrades over the years, and we were overcome with grief every time it happened. We kept living our lives thinking that those days were behind us. But you, we.. Have ended up back here yet again, didn't we?"
(To Gintoki) " Gintoki! We will clear up a path for you! That's why, don't do this for the future or the past! Do this for the time we live in! Open up a path to the 'present!"
