The hugely popular anime "Gintama" is a sci-fi comedy set in Edo's Kabukicho district. Its charming characters weave a story that's both funny and moving, and it's enduringly beloved, capturing countless fans. Among the many unique characters featured in the series is one called "Katsura Kotaro." In this article, we'll introduce 10 of Katsura Kotaro's charms!
Katsura Kotaro's Charm 1: A disappointingly handsome man? A dim-witted, serious personality
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Katsura has a very serious personality. His speech and mannerisms are typical of a samurai, and he is often seen calmly with his arms crossed. He strives to live frugally, and his favorite food is soba noodles, and he says that Nmaibo snacks are enough for him. However, in reality, he is quite airheaded. At first he appears as a strict character, but with each episode, his character gradually begins to break down. However, he is a very earnest and serious person. With his handsome features and ability to accomplish amazing things in a calm manner, fans often call him a "good-looking guy with a bad taste in his mouth."
Does he have a strong tendency to fantasize?
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Katsura has an extreme tendency to delusion, and sometimes his actions get out of control. Even when he was attending driving school to get his driver's license, as he approached an S-curve, he suddenly said, "Maybe there's a family of moles living under that curve," and fantasized about the family circumstances of that family. He eventually got out of the car and started talking to a traffic cone, imagining it as a mole. Katsura's fantasies are always so outlandish that no one can keep up. Incidentally, a woman named "Matsuko" often appears in his fantasies.
The Charm of Katsura Kotaro ② The Leader of the Joi Party! Nicknamed "Koutarou the Runaway"
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Kuta is the leader of the anti-shogunate "Joi Party" and is beloved by his comrades. He is also a first-rate swordsman, and once fought alongside the protagonist Gintoki Sakata and Takasugi Shinsuke during the Joui War. Katsura is nicknamed "Runaway Kotaro," "Mad Prince," and "Akatsuki of the Joui Patriots." Even when he is spotted by the enemy, he always manages to escape using his skillful (?) cosplay and disguises. He hides to avoid being found by the Shinsengumi, but they often run into each other...
He continued his radical anti-foreigner activities, but...
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Even after the end of the Joui War, Katsura continued his radical anti-foreigner activities for some time. He always carried a bomb in his pocket, and even Gintoki once told him to stop. He is treated as a wanted criminal, and the Shinsengumi will try to capture him if they find him. However, Katsura has recently said that "there are too many important things here," and is trying to change Edo in a different way. While he still invites Gintoki to join in the anti-foreigner activities whenever he gets the chance, he seems to have become much calmer than before. He is a compassionate person, and values the bonds he has with his comrades above all else.
Katsura Kotaro's Charm 3: Escape from pursuers! He's good at cosplay!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Katsura, who is always on the run from the Shinsengumi, is quite skilled at disguise. Viewers can clearly tell he's Katsura, but for some reason, the Shinsengumi don't recognize him. However, he often reveals his true identity by introducing himself as "I'm Katsura, not the wig." His disguises vary widely, and there are often times when you wonder if he's actually enjoying them as cosplay. Here's a selection of Katsura's cosplays.
Captain Katsura
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi/Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
His most common disguise is a pirate-style one called "Captain Katsura." Even when Gintoki calls him by his name, he replies, "It's not a wig, it's Captain Katura." He appears in episodes 13, "If You're Going to Cosplay, Dress Up Your Heart Too," and 15, "Pets and Owners Look alike."
Mario
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
He has also cosplayed as Mario. He looks sharp in his hat and overalls. He himself says, "I'm Katsuo, not Mario!" Far from being discovered by the Shinsengumi, Hijikata, a Nintendo fan, even asked to shake his hand.
He also cross-dresses!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
By the way, this is him in drag. He's beautiful. He's a handsome guy to begin with, so even in drag, he looks stunning and it suits him perfectly! Incidentally, in this outfit, his name was "Zurako," and he worked at a snack bar alongside Gintoki's drag counterpart, "Paruko."
Koutarou Katsura's Charm #4: His Pet is an Alien Creature, Elizabeth!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Katsura has a pet. It's an alien creature named Elizabeth, and she's always with him. She looks like a white penguin, but she's 180 cm tall. She's slightly taller than Katsura, so she makes quite a presence when standing next to her. At first, he was just a pet by Katsura's side, but now he serves as an excellent right-hand man, assisting him in battles. He's also cute-looking, and is as popular as Sadaharu as a mascot character for Gintama. There are also many character goods on sale.
He makes an excellent combination with Katsura!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
As they're always together, Gintama and Katsura have an excellent chemistry. When Katsura was imprisoned, Gintama used a drill from his mouth to dig through the ground at high speed, helping him escape. Contrary to his appearance, he can also sharpen swords and do anything else. She's also strong enough to carry Kagura and Shinpachi while running. It's useful in actual combat, isn't it?
It's actually a costume!? What's inside...?
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi/Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Elizabeth generally doesn't speak, instead holding up a placard to communicate. However, she occasionally speaks. The voice sounded like that of an old man, and the characters were quite surprised. By the way, the cast members are referred to differently each time, such as "an old man who was just around the corner," "an old man who makes the anime," or "an old man who is supervising," etc. If you look closely, you can even see human legs with leg hair... Incidentally, Katsura says, "I know you're rambling on about when I'm not around."
Charm of Katsura Kotaro 5. His short-haired version is so cool!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Katsura usually has long hair, but at one point in the series, he cuts it short. In the wildly popular feature-length arc "Benizakura Arc," Katsura is attacked by Nizo Okada, who has been powered up by the mechanical weapon "Benizakura." Katsura's life was saved by the temple school textbook he had in his pocket, but Okada, mistakenly thinking he was dead, cut off Katsura's hair and took it home as a triumph. The short-haired version is quite rare, and incredibly cool!
See him with short hair here!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
His hair, which usually reaches down to his back, is now shoulder-length. Viewers loved this look, and Katsura's fanbase skyrocketed. Short hair suits him! Perhaps because it's a serious battle, his expression is more serious than usual, making him even cooler. The contrast from his comedy episodes is irresistible. It's also wonderful to see him fighting alongside Gintoki. At the end of the "Benizakura Arc", he defeats the enemy together with Gintoki. At the end, he shouts at Takasugi, "I'll cut you down with all my might!" and hides himself with a parachute. It was a wonderful scene that showed his friendship with Gintoki.
His hair grows back quickly
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
By the way, when Katsura first appeared after the "Benizakura Arc," his hair quickly grew back to its original long length. In the Q&A section of the original comic, a reader once asked, "If wigs grow back so quickly, are they sexy?" In response, author Sorachi-sensei said, "Even though it's a short period of time in real life, it's a long time in the manga." "By the way, wigs are sexy. In fact, all men are sexy."
Koutarou Katsura's Charm 6: His Famous Quotes!
While the characters in "Gintama" have many famous quotes, Katsura's quotes are particularly powerful. Since he usually relies on comedy, his quotes in serious situations really hit home.
"You can always run away, but there are some things you can only do now."
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
This is a famous quote from Zurako. This quote from Katsura, known as "Katsura the Runaway," really resonates with me. Katsura and Gintoki once worked as Zurako and Paruko at the gay bar "Kamakko Club." When Gintoki tried to run away, they made this comment out of concern for the family situation of the manager and his son.
"Gintoki! Don't change."
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
These are the words he spoke to Gintoki in the Benizakura Arc. He fought alongside Gintoki, feeling saddened by the change in his former ally Takasugi. He spoke this during the two of them fighting. "It'll be quite a pain to kill you. I'd rather not," Katsura continues. To which Gintoki replies, "Damn, when you change, I'll be the first to cut you down." It's a great scene that really shows the bond between the two!
The Charm of Katsura Kotaro 7. Preaching about the Joi movement through rap?
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Katsura often performs his own raps. (According to him, "It's not rap, it's Katsurap!") The song is called "Joi ga ★ JOY" by "DJ.OZURA." It first appeared in episode 88 of the anime, "The Best Part of a Mixer is Before It Starts." Perhaps he was hoping to impress at the mixer, but he showed up dressed as a rapper with a boombox in hand, beating out a rap rhythm. The lyrics were "Now is the time to do it, ZURA. Now is the time to do it, ZURA. Joy, joy, Joy, Joy, I'll be the divine punishment for you, you fool," and the song was intended to spread the word about the Joi movement. Ishida Akira, Katsura's voice actor, doesn't sing any character songs, but in this Katsura Rap he shows off his lively singing voice. A rare find!
Katsura Kotaro's Charm 8: What type of woman does he like? "Married Woman"
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
According to Gintama, Katsura's ideal type is "married women"! During his ninja training, he tried to buy an erotic magazine specializing in married women, and during a Gal Game battle, instead of winning the game, he tried to win over the heroine's mother (a widow). By the way, his first love was a widow living nearby.
Did they have a good relationship? His relationship with Ikumatsu
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi/Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
An episode with Ikumatsu, the owner of the ramen shop "Hokuto Shinken," also became a hot topic. Ikumatsu is a widow who lost her husband in a terrorist attack by anti-foreigner patriots, and she hates them. By chance, she meets Katsura. At first, she dislikes Katsura, but after seeing his honest personality, she begins to trust him and for a while hides him in her home. It seems that Katsura and Elizabeth continue to use Hokuto Shinken after that.
Then it was discovered! Actually, I Like NTR (Cuckold)
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
When Gintoki asks how far he's gone with Ikumatsu, Katsura becomes unusually distraught. He then powerfully proclaims, "I don't love married women! I love NTR (Cuckold)!!" He then continues, "And it's not Ikumatsu-dono that I'm in love with. It's the taste of Ikumatsu-dono's soba!!"
Katsura Kotaro's Charm 9: His Tragic Past...
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi/Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
In fact, Katsura has a tragic past that is revealed throughout the story. He lost his parents at an early age, his mansion was confiscated, and he and his grandmother were homeless as a child. After his grandmother died, he refused all adoption applications and became the head of the Katsura family at a young age. He was told that "a samurai should raise himself," so he did all the cleaning, laundry, and cooking by himself.
"Koutarou the Runaway" is a lesson learned from his grandmother
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
Koutarou's grandmother teaches him that "the most important quality a commander needs is to be the most cowardly person on the battlefield." The lesson is that in battle, if the general's head is taken, the battle is lost, so it is important to survive by being more afraid than anyone else. However, after finding himself all alone, he realizes that even if he survives alone, cowardice alone will not allow him to escape his loneliness or survive the night. For this reason, he vows to become a samurai who is more cowardly than anyone else and stronger than anyone else, so that he can protect his comrades.
The Charm of Katsura Kotaro #10: Rare lines included in the Unbelievable Voice CD!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
A while ago, a game called "Gintama: With Gintama! My Kabukicho Diary" was released for the Wii. As a pre-order bonus, it came with a voiceover CD titled "He's Going To Say This!? Gintama's Unbelievable Voice CD." This CD surprised fans at the time, featuring the six characters - Gintoki, Katsura, Takasugi, Kondo, Hijikata, and Okita - uttering lines aimed at young girls and lines that would never have appeared in the original work. Katsura is no exception, and includes some extremely rare lines such as "Myaaa," "You had my share of the pudding that was served at school lunches back in the day, right? Give it back," and "Yes, sir! Here's a special Hijikata!" A must-listen for Katsura fans!
A summary of the charms of Katsura Kotaro!
Source: Gintama © Hideaki Sorachi / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, BNP, Aniplex
That's the charm of the "Gintama" character, Katsura Kotaro! He's a very serious character, but it's funny how he unconsciously plays the role of a comic relief. However, when it comes to fighting, he gets serious, and many fans seem to be captivated by this contrast. His relationship with his pet Elizabeth is also a hot topic. As "Gintama" is finally reaching its climax, Katsura will likely be in the spotlight as well. We're looking forward to seeing how things develop!
