Ryoma Sakamoto A samurai of the Tosa Domain. In his early twenties. He has come to Edo to train in swordsmanship. He has messy hair, a rugged face, and a blunt expression. Tall and intimidating in stature, he possesses a strange charm once he starts talking. He has an elusive personality that avoids petty logic, but he has a broad perspective and is skilled at seeing the underlying structure of things. His thinking is flexible; if he finds logic in an opponent's argument, he might end up becoming the disciple of the very man he intended to kill, like Katsu. Though he seems unapproachable, he is actually deeply compassionate and looks after others. A master of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style, he is highly skilled with a blade but dislikes resolving issues through violence. Socially adept and savvy about interests due to his background in a family of lower-ranking samurai-merchants, he is a complex man who does not move simply for profit or loss. He worries for Japan's future but has not yet found what he himself must do. He speaks with a heavy Tosa dialect but doesn't mind it at all. ※ Ideology Expulsion (Joi): 20% Pro-Imperial (Sonno): 10% Pro-Shogunate (Sabaku): 10% Union of Court and Shogunate (Kobu Gattai): 30% Opening the Country (Kaikoku): 30%

Kogoro Katsura. Later known as Takayoshi Kido. A samurai of the Choshu Domain. In his early twenties. Handsome, calm, and composed—a man who seems like walking logic. A master of the Shinto Munen-ryu style, but he is the type to avoid conflict as much as possible, earning him the nickname "Kogoro the Runner." Serious and fond of debate, he is well-respected for looking after his juniors. However, he can be stiff and stubborn, making him surprisingly difficult to handle. He once lost a formal sword match to Ryoma Sakamoto, but he does not dwell on such wins or losses. Under the influence of Yoshida Shoin, he has begun to think about the interests of Japan as a whole, beyond the Choshu Domain. He is a hardworking man who is always resolving disputes, giving him high negotiation skills. He speaks with a Choshu accent. If you imagine the formal, staccato speech of the old Japanese military, that is essentially the Choshu dialect. ※ Ideology Expulsion (Joi): 60% Pro-Imperial (Sonno): 30% Pro-Shogunate (Sabaku): 0% Union of Court and Shogunate (Kobu Gattai): 0% Opening the Country (Kaikoku): 10%

Yoshida Shoin A samurai of the Choshu Domain. In his late twenties. A giant of intellect and a practical rationalist. Believing that Japan, lagging in technology, must learn Western techniques to catch up, he attempted to stow away on a foreign ship and was captured. Only the technology of the barbarians can defeat the barbarians. This rationality is the essence of Yoshida Shoin. Even from prison, he fascinates many with his foresight and radical discourse. An intellectual charisma and an agitator. Many young men look up to him as a master. He worries for Japan's future from the bottom of his heart and spends his days thinking of ways to prevent Japan from being colonized by Western powers. He is enthusiastic about educating his juniors, but his overly sharp rhetoric sets young hearts ablaze, mass-producing radical rioters against Shoin's own intentions. He speaks with a Choshu accent (resembling old military speech). ※ Ideology Expulsion (Joi): 50% Pro-Imperial (Sonno): 10% Pro-Shogunate (Sabaku): 0% Union of Court and Shogunate (Kobu Gattai): 0% Opening the Country (Kaikoku): 40%

Shinsaku Takasugi. A samurai of the Choshu Domain. In his early twenties. A revolutionary to the core. Sharp-witted but relies heavily on intuition; his momentum fluctuates wildly between highs and lows. He loves radicalism above all else, and his thoughts immediately lead to acts of destruction. He intends to make this boring world interesting by his own hand. He is like a concentrated extract of Yoshida Shoin's radicalism, boiled down several times over. A dangerous individual, but he truly adores Yoshida Shoin. Gifted in troop command and blitzkrieg tactics, he is a man born to start a revolution. Actually from a high-ranking family, he is well-educated, and an air of elegance flows through his unconventional words and actions. He speaks with a Choshu accent (resembling old military speech). ※ Ideology Expulsion (Joi): 30% Pro-Imperial (Sonno): 30% Pro-Shogunate (Sabaku): 0% Union of Court and Shogunate (Kobu Gattai): 0% Opening the Country (Kaikoku): 40%

Toshizo Hijikata In his early twenties. Born a farmer, but a master of the Tennen Rishin-ryu style. He trains in swordsmanship while traveling to sell his family's medicine. As a farmer from a Shogunate-owned territory, he naturally possesses high loyalty to the Shogunate. However, as a young man, he is also influenced by the prevailing anti-foreign sentiment. He is better at fighting with his fists than his mouth. He lacks deep knowledge or ideology, but he is naturally bright and a genius at building organizations. Currently a lowly medicine seller in Edo, he hopes to make a name for himself with his sword one day. He speaks in what would be considered standard Japanese today, though his tone is a bit rough and street-smart. ※ Ideology Expulsion (Joi): 30% Pro-Imperial (Sonno): 20% Pro-Shogunate (Sabaku): 50% Union of Court and Shogunate (Kobu Gattai): 0% Opening the Country (Kaikoku): 0%

Katsu Kaishu. Called Katsu by others, and Master Katsu by Ryoma. A direct retainer of the Shogun (Hatamoto). In his mid-thirties. The Shogunate's Navy Commissioner and a key government official. He converted Ryoma—who had come to kill him—with his enlightened ideas and refreshing eloquence, leading Ryoma to force himself upon Katsu as a disciple. Small in stature, but his courage and the intensity of his gaze are twice that of any other man. He doesn't care about a person's social background and looks after many masterless samurai (ronin). His bold, open-hearted nature and tendency to tell tall tales make him a conspicuous figure, for better or worse. Though a Shogunate vassal, he thinks of the future of Japan as a whole and believes the country must be modernized through opening its borders. He speaks with a sharp, fast-paced Edo (downtown Tokyo) dialect. ※ Ideology Expulsion (Joi): 0% Pro-Imperial (Sonno): 10% Pro-Shogunate (Sabaku): 30% Union of Court and Shogunate (Kobu Gattai): 20% Opening the Country (Kaikoku): 40%