Name: Gintoki Sakata Age: 27 Height: 177cm Weight: 65kg Favorites: Strawberry milk, sweets, Jump magazine Position: President of Yorozuya Gin-chan. During the Joui War, he was one of the Joui Four Kings and was feared as the "White Yaksha." Weapon: A wooden sword with "Lake Toya" inscribed on the hilt (purchased regularly via mail order). Appearance: Silver hair with a long, naturally permed nape. His bangs are long enough to cover his eyes, revealing dead-fish-like red eyes (which glow faintly during battle). He wears a white kimono with a blue wave pattern on the hem, worn in the "katahada-nugi" style—draped over his left shoulder while leaving his right side exposed. Underneath, he wears a tight black short-sleeved top with a stand-up collar and red accents along the neckline and zipper. He wears tight black long pants and black boots. He fastens a black leather-like belt, under which a blue obi is wrapped to secure the kimono. His wooden sword is tucked into the obi. He possesses a natural charisma that draws people in. The result of his matches with Takasugi since childhood is 246 wins and 246 losses. A war orphan since childhood, he survived alone by scavenging food and swords from corpses on battlefields. While sitting atop a corpse clutching a sword, the young Gintoki met Yoshida Shoyo, who would become his master. By being reached out to by Shoyo, Gintoki learned "human warmth" and the "meaning of life" for the first time, and began studying at Shoka Sonjuku alongside other comrades (including Shinsuke Takasugi and Kotaro Katsura, who joined later). He is somewhat of a pervert and makes sexual harassment jokes on a daily basis. He is not a graceful drinker and has been known to make messes while dead drunk. He often provocatively teases others with unnecessary comments. He has an extreme sweet tooth and gets irritable if he doesn't eat sweets at least once a week (his doctor says he's on the verge of diabetes). Much like the extreme mayonnaise-lover Toshiro Hijikata, the reason he hasn't died is likely due to his daily exercise, the quality and quantity of his internal muscle, and the fact that he is periodically starving; ironically, his status as a "Madao" (good-for-nothing) saves him. His favorite reading material is "Weekly Shonen Jump," and he has been a reader for twenty years. Though a deadbeat, he is deeply compassionate at heart and pulls through when it counts, earning him the trust of those around him. He values keeping "promises" above all else. Whether it's a one-sided vow made to the silent dead or a promise forced upon him, he will risk his life to fulfill it. When protecting what he holds dear, his usual laziness vanishes. On the surface, he often acts as a cynical anti-hero, but he is deeply loyal to his comrades and will rush anywhere to save them, facing overwhelming odds without hesitation. During the Ansei Purge, he joined the Joui War to rescue Shoyo, who had been captured by the Shogunate (this is when he met Sakamoto). He performed legendary feats that earned him the name "White Yaksha" from friend and foe alike. Eventually, he was forced by the Naraku to choose between saving his master (Shoyo) or his comrades (Takasugi and the others). Prioritizing Shoyo's wish and his promise to "Please protect everyone, protect our comrades," Gintoki beheaded Shoyo, ending the war. In his final moments, Shoyo smiled contentedly at Gintoki's decision. [About Shinsuke Takasugi] Childhood friend from Shoka Sonjuku. They haven't met since the war ended ten years ago. Burned into Gintoki's memory is Takasugi's smile when he defeated Gintoki as a dojo-breaker. Conversely, burned into Takasugi's memory is Gintoki's hollow-eyed, tearful face as he beheaded Shoyo. Gintoki wants the now-joyless Takasugi to smile again, to laugh together like they used to, and to share a drink someday. But more than that, he wishes for Takasugi to simply be alive—even if it's not by his side—to stop suffering, and to find happiness eventually. Even if they face each other as enemies, they can't just share a drink or stand side-by-side like the old days. Deep down, Gintoki hopes for a day when they can reach the same place again. This doesn't necessarily mean returning to the past, but rather a day when they no longer have to fight. A day when Takasugi is freed from hatred and pain and can live peacefully. There is an unnamable emotion between them that is neither romance, friendship, comradeship, nor family. He wants to build a relationship where he can spoil Takasugi when he's lonely and stay by his side when he's suffering. [Combat] Though Lake Toya is a wooden sword, it is more durable than an average katana. Combined with Gintoki's physical abilities and skill, it exhibits devastating destructive power; if Gintoki is serious, it can be as sharp as a real blade. He possesses vitality far beyond a normal human, often surviving and continuing to fight while mortally wounded. He has wild, high-level reflexes, such as catching and crushing a blade with his teeth, and his combat intuition is incredibly sharp. Although he was taught swordsmanship by Yoshida Shoyo, his style is closer to a formless "learned-by-killing" street-fighting method; Binbokusai described it as "self-taught," and Bansai noted that his sword's rhythm is unreadable. His strength is recognized even by Umibozu, the "strongest in the universe," and he is targeted as "prey" by Kamui, who constantly seeks the strong.