Character Profiles
The following are character descriptions that I gathered from the anime.
Please note that there maybe manga/anime differences, from what I gather the
manga is a bit more "heavy" unlike the anime which is fairly light at first
until it gets more serious towards the end. The anime is continued in the
later release of Kurono-san's "Peace Maker Kurogane", however there are
overlaps between "Shinsengumi Imon Peace Maker" (SIPM) which is more
introductory and "Peace Maker Kurogane" to the anime release.
Ichimura
Tetsunosuke 市村鉄之助
Page of Hijikata
Seiyuu: Kobayashi Yumiko 小林由美子
Ichimura Tetsunosuke is a 15 year old strong-willed boy who had wanted to
join the Shinsengumi to avenge his parents who were killed two years before
the start of this story. His only living relative is an older brother
Tatsunosuke. His nickname is "Tetsu" and is usually mistaken for a very
young kid, certainly not 15! Indeed this was a problem for him when he first
signed up but through the help of Okita Souji he eventually becomes part of
the Shinsengumi. His love interest is Saya a young mute girl in Shimabara.
Tetsunosuke's journey as Hijikata's page is a long and hard road, couple
with the fact that the young man early on in the series has misguided
notions of whom and what he fights for.
Simply put I love Tetsunosuke. As a fan of the Shinsengumi, I am awed by his
"Shinsengumi wannabee" conviction. He is perhaps your typical boy who wants
revenge but in the end, the young boy grows up and matures, able to clearly
define what his purpose is through the help of his friends and experiences
as a Shinsengumi member.
Name:
Ichimura Tatsunosuke 市村辰之助
Accountant under Yamanami
Seiyuu: Ueda Yuuji 上田祐司
Tatsunosuke is the big brother of Tetsu and joins the Shinsengumi
reluctantly to support both of them. Since Tetsu is his the only one left of
their family, he feels the burden of how to properly take care of Tetsu.
Tatsunosuke is a bit of a worry wort when it comes to his younger brother,
so much so that at times he hinders Tetsu's growth into maturity. Although
Tatsunosuke is also plagued by the death of their parents, Tatsunosuke is
the type to play things safe, to let things be so that he and his brother
can live their lives in peace.
Tatsunosuke I think is a sweet guy, however, I also believe that he's kind
of a weak man as is constantly shown by his comedic appearances asking for
pardon to everyone who Tetsunosuke crosses. He's not the type to take charge
unless absolutely necessary.
Kondou Isami
近藤勇
Kyokuchou (Commander)
Katana: Kotetsu Nagasone
Seiyuu: Hashi Takaya 土師孝也
Kondou Isami is the Commander of the Shinsengumi. He was the head of the
Shieikan dojo back in Tama, Edo (Tokyo) and was the master of the Tennen
Rishin Ryu. Most of the core members of the Shinsengumi trained under him
and followed him from Edo to Tokyo to establish peace in the city. For the
most part of the series, he is portrayed as a kind man to most everyone he
meets. Unlike his Vice-Commander Hijikata, when there is a chance for
relaxation he allows his men to do so. He seems to be a forgiving man, at
least to his comrades, but when he is on duty he gets seriously deadly.
Name: Hijikata
Toshizo 土方歳三
Oni Fukuchou (Demon Vice-Commander)
Sword: Izumi no Kami Kanesada 和泉守兼定
Seiyuu: Nakata Jouji 中田譲治
Known as the "Demon Fukuchou" or Demon Vice-Commander, Hijikata Toshizo
lives up to that reputation. He is a strict man who is feared by not only by
outsiders, but other Shinsengumi members. He comes across as cold-hearted
and easily annoyed. He is very close to Okita Souji and is a good friend of
Kondou. Initially he rejects Tetsunosuke's entry into the Shinsengumi but
eventually accepts him as his page after he saw Tetsu's determination. There
is perhaps a softer to the Demon Fukuchou.
Name: Yamanami
Keisuke 山南敬助
Vice-Commander
Seiyuu: Inoue Norihiro 井上倫宏
Yamanami Keisuke is also a Fukuchou (Vice-Commander) in the Shinsengumi,
however he is Hijikata's opposite such that Yamanami is more gentle and
soft-spoken. He is very wise but still when it comes to how to run the
group, he and Hijikata end up disagreeing frequently. Although Yamanami is a
kind person, this same kindness occasionally catches him off guard, making
him doubt at some of the things the group has done and is currently doing in
Kyoto.
Name: Okita
Souji 沖田総司
Ichi-ban-tai Kumichou (First Troop Captain)
Katana: Kikuichimonji 菊一文字
Seiyuu: Saiga Mitsuki 斎賀みつき
Okita Souji is a bit of a lateral person. He is usually kind and loves
children, which is probably why he and Tetsu get along so well. Souji is
always smiling and usually have Saizo the pig with him as a pet, however
under that smile there is a certain sadness about him that came out when at
one point he compared himself to Tetsu while having a spat with Hijikata. As
a swordsman, he turns into a completely different person. He becomes fierce
and without mercy.
As history dictated, Okita is probably one of the more drastic figures in
the Shinsengumi. Even in PMK where he is generally shown as a fun and happy
young man, there is definitely times where we all think the opposite.
Name: Nagakura
Shinpachi 永倉新八
Ni-ban-tai Kumichoi (Second Troop Captain)
Katana: Ujishige 氏繁
Seiyuu: Yamaguchi Kappei 山口勝平
One of the great comedic trios, Nagakura Shinpachi is a short young man with
a bandage on his nose. Usually he is seen hanging around Harada and both of
them are usually causing mayhem for Tetsu or just being 'loud' in general.
Nagakura likes to brag that he is older amongst the other captains and that
he is a good swordsman, which is true as his skills compares to that of
Okita and Saitou.
Name: Saitou
Hajime 斎藤一
VA: Matsuyama Takashi 松山鷹志
Position: 3rd Squad Captain
Sword: Kunishige 国重
The third captain of the Shinsengumi claims to be able to see the dead and
speak with them. He usually has his mala beads with him and prays for the
dead. His sword skills are first rate and usually fights Okita to a draw. He
likes to dress in black and is quite a loner. He takes a liking to
Tetsunosuke and also shares zaru soba with him. Although his
characterization at times might come across as bland, he does get some good
action and is occasionally quite funny in his own way.
Name: Toudou
Heisuke 藤堂平助
VA: Toriumi Kousuke 鳥海浩輔
Position: 8th Squad Captain
The youngest amongst the Captains, Todou Heisuke is a fun good looking young
man. He is good friends with Harada and Nagakura. He's a die-hard for cute
young boys especially Tetsunosuke. When he gets back to the Mibu
headquarters, he completes the comedic trio!
Name: Harada
Sanosuke 原田左之助
VA: Nomura Kenji 乃村健次
Position: 10th Squad Captain
Harada is a big man with a big heart. He'll readily protect those who are in
trouble, however he is just as quick as to have fun with them along with
Nagakura. He is part of the comedic trio. Unlike the others, his specialty
is using the spear. He's also committed seppuku before but survived and
likes to show it to everyone proudly.
Name: Yamazaki
Susumu 山崎烝
VA: Sakurai Takahiro 櫻井孝宏
Position: Spy
Susumu is the main spy for the group. He reports to Hijikata any enemy
activities especially the Choshuu clan. His does not seem very happy being a
ninja but no one knows this excepts for his sister Ayumu. In Susumu's mind,
he treats himself as a samurai. He is aloof and keeps up faces to work
effectively. In PMK he is quite young which adds to the complexity of his
character. Eventually Susumu develops a good relationship with Tetsu.
Name:
Yamazaki Ayumu 山崎歩
VA: Nagashima Yuko 永島由子
Position: Cook
She is known as "Ayu-nee" to the Shinsengumi members. She seems to be the
only woman living with the Shinsengumi at the Mibu headquarters. Her main
job is to cook for the group but she is also a kunoichi (lady ninja). She is
very a very caring person to everyone especially Susumu who is her brother
that she worries about the most.
Name:
Saizou サイゾー
VA: Takahashi Mikako 高橋美佳子
Position: Pig
Everyone's favorite ill-tempered pig! Although Saizou is a pig, Saiou is one
of the most memorable characters in the anime for his rather fiesty
personality. He dislikes Tetsunosuke it seems and seems to only be happy
when he is being cared for by Okita.
Name: Yoshida
Toshimaro 吉田稔麿
VA: Suwabe Junichi 諏訪部順一
Position: Choshu leader
He is one of the Choshuu leaders that is an enemy of the Shinsengumi. A very
calm, intelligent but cruel man, he is the one who plans to throw Kyoto into
chaos and topple the current government. He is also a dark figure in
Tetsunosuke's past. Interestingly enough, the character design of Yoshida
Toshimaru is very similar to Hijikata, even their names are similar and some
of their personalities.
Name: Suzu Kitamura
北村鈴
VA: Yuka Imai 今井由香
Position: Yoshida's page
Like Tetsunosuke, Suzu is a young man who had someone close to him taken
away by violence. In order to avenge this person he decided to become
Yoshida's page and by some twist of fate ends up being a friend of
Tetsunosuke. Eventhough this boy is Choshuu, he is one of my favorite
characters in PMK.
Name: Sakamoto
Ryoma 坂本竜馬
VA: Ebara Masashi 江原正士
Position: Tosa member
Sakamoto Ryoma is a gun handling man from Tosa who does not seem to be in
alliance with either Choshuu nor the Shinsengumi, although he is a wanted
man by the Shinsengumi. He bears an uncanny resemblance to Tetsunosuke's
father which is why Tetsunosuke is so taken by him.
Name: Saya 沙夜
VA: Takahashi Mikako 高橋美佳子
Position: Geisha in training (Maiko?)
Saya is a mute young girl who is undergoing Geisha training in Shimabara
under Akesato. She is a very sweet girl who is Tetsunosuke's love interest.
Name:
Akesato 明里
VA: Neya Michiko 根谷美智子
Position: Geisha at Shimabara
Akesato is a woman who lives a double life. During the day time, she is a
Geisha in Shimabara who is visited frequently by Yamanami but at night she
is a kunoichi who goes against the Shinsengumi.