TV-Series
Description
Kiji Mitsuba is a supporting character in the series and serves as the supervisor of Building 3 at Nanba Prison, one of the largest and most secure correctional facilities in the world. He holds the rank of chief alongside other prominent guards like Hajime Sugoroku and Samon Gokuu. His character is heavily inspired by the Japanese folktale of Momotaro, where he represents the pheasant, a theme reflected in his alias and visual design. The name Kiji itself is a direct reference to the Japanese word for pheasant.
In terms of appearance, Kiji is a tall and striking figure, standing at 185 centimeters. He has long, dark blue hair with light blue tips and distinctive red bangs, which he often wears in a ponytail adorned with feather-like accessories. His eyes are a sharp canary yellow, and he is known for his heavy and meticulous makeup, most notably his violet eyeshadow and lipstick, which complement his gold earrings. True to his self-image, he wears a heavily customized version of the standard prison guard uniform. His jacket extends to his ankles, and he accessorizes with a turquoise feather boa and high-heeled boots, which together create a flamboyant and theatrical silhouette.
Kiji possesses a complex and often contradictory personality. On the surface, he is a strict, impatient, and short-tempered individual, prone to nagging those around him. His bossy demeanor is so pronounced that he has been described as an unwanted maternal figure among the supervisory staff. He is obsessively conscious of aesthetics and has an extremely high opinion of his own beauty, a level of pride that can easily be interpreted as narcissism. This bias extends to others, as he has a clear preference for handsome individuals and can be dismissive of those he deems unattractive. For instance, during his time supervising the inmates of Cell 13, he famously criticized Uno’s appearance, rating his face a mere two points.
Despite this seemingly shallow vanity, Kiji is not a superficial character. He deeply resents people who judge others arbitrarily without knowing their true circumstances or character. He has shown genuine warmth and kindness not only to his fellow guards but also to inmates and even former enemies. He is fiercely protective of the prisoners under his charge, particularly Honey and Trois, largely because he has invested effort into managing their appearance. His tendency to worry about them is a significant part of his character, and he often acts as a voice of reason or a "breaker" for the foolish antics of those around him. He serves as the brain of many operations, specializing in teaching prisoners the knowledge they need for their eventual return to society.
Kiji's role in the story is primarily that of a supporting authority figure and combatant. He is first prominently featured during the New Year's Tournament, where he competes in a Hyakunin Isshu card game against the inmate Seitarou Tanabata, only to be humiliatingly defeated by the young man's photographic memory. Later, when Hajime is suspended, Kiji is one of the chiefs assigned to take over supervision of the troublesome Cell 13, which he does with a characteristic mix of informative lectures and impatient nagging.
His key relationships are varied. He has a notably antagonistic relationship with his fellow chief Hajime Sugoroku, whom he frequently nags for his aggression and constant smoking, a habit that creates mutual animosity between them. He shares a deep, thoughtful camaraderie with Kenshirou Yozakura and a respectful history with Samon Gokuu, having been a chief alongside them since their days as sub-chiefs. He also has a difficult past with Shin Sauzando, having been in charge of the troublesome individual's education, a period that left Shin with a visible aversion to him. In a surprising twist, he is shown to have had a good relationship with the antagonist Enki Gokuu in the past, which adds complexity to his motivations during later conflicts.
Throughout the narrative, Kiji undergoes subtle but meaningful development. Initially presented as a vain and nagging superior, his character gains depth as he demonstrates a fierce loyalty to his comrades. He publicly admonishes another guard, Mao, for slandering Samon, revealing that his concern for his colleagues runs deeper than simple workplace politeness. During the Building Five dungeon arc, he is captured but remains defiant. When confronting the deluded Ruka Gojou, who is obsessively imitating Enki, Kiji shows surprising psychological insight and sympathy, slapping him not out of anger but to break his dangerous delusion and acknowledge the sincerity of his feelings for Enki. This moment highlights his ability to see past surface behaviors to the motivations beneath.
In combat, Kiji is a formidable fighter. His main weapon of choice is a massive, four-bladed chakram, a large, sharp throwing disc. He has demonstrated the ability to use this weapon to create powerful whirlwinds capable of neutralizing incoming attacks, such as the flames produced by the inmate Musashi. This proficiency, combined with his strategic mind and physical prowess, makes him a vital asset to the prison's security. His development culminates in a more grounded and reliable role, where he moves from being merely a flamboyant guard to a cornerstone of support for his fellow staff members, tasked with protecting what Enki left behind.
In terms of appearance, Kiji is a tall and striking figure, standing at 185 centimeters. He has long, dark blue hair with light blue tips and distinctive red bangs, which he often wears in a ponytail adorned with feather-like accessories. His eyes are a sharp canary yellow, and he is known for his heavy and meticulous makeup, most notably his violet eyeshadow and lipstick, which complement his gold earrings. True to his self-image, he wears a heavily customized version of the standard prison guard uniform. His jacket extends to his ankles, and he accessorizes with a turquoise feather boa and high-heeled boots, which together create a flamboyant and theatrical silhouette.
Kiji possesses a complex and often contradictory personality. On the surface, he is a strict, impatient, and short-tempered individual, prone to nagging those around him. His bossy demeanor is so pronounced that he has been described as an unwanted maternal figure among the supervisory staff. He is obsessively conscious of aesthetics and has an extremely high opinion of his own beauty, a level of pride that can easily be interpreted as narcissism. This bias extends to others, as he has a clear preference for handsome individuals and can be dismissive of those he deems unattractive. For instance, during his time supervising the inmates of Cell 13, he famously criticized Uno’s appearance, rating his face a mere two points.
Despite this seemingly shallow vanity, Kiji is not a superficial character. He deeply resents people who judge others arbitrarily without knowing their true circumstances or character. He has shown genuine warmth and kindness not only to his fellow guards but also to inmates and even former enemies. He is fiercely protective of the prisoners under his charge, particularly Honey and Trois, largely because he has invested effort into managing their appearance. His tendency to worry about them is a significant part of his character, and he often acts as a voice of reason or a "breaker" for the foolish antics of those around him. He serves as the brain of many operations, specializing in teaching prisoners the knowledge they need for their eventual return to society.
Kiji's role in the story is primarily that of a supporting authority figure and combatant. He is first prominently featured during the New Year's Tournament, where he competes in a Hyakunin Isshu card game against the inmate Seitarou Tanabata, only to be humiliatingly defeated by the young man's photographic memory. Later, when Hajime is suspended, Kiji is one of the chiefs assigned to take over supervision of the troublesome Cell 13, which he does with a characteristic mix of informative lectures and impatient nagging.
His key relationships are varied. He has a notably antagonistic relationship with his fellow chief Hajime Sugoroku, whom he frequently nags for his aggression and constant smoking, a habit that creates mutual animosity between them. He shares a deep, thoughtful camaraderie with Kenshirou Yozakura and a respectful history with Samon Gokuu, having been a chief alongside them since their days as sub-chiefs. He also has a difficult past with Shin Sauzando, having been in charge of the troublesome individual's education, a period that left Shin with a visible aversion to him. In a surprising twist, he is shown to have had a good relationship with the antagonist Enki Gokuu in the past, which adds complexity to his motivations during later conflicts.
Throughout the narrative, Kiji undergoes subtle but meaningful development. Initially presented as a vain and nagging superior, his character gains depth as he demonstrates a fierce loyalty to his comrades. He publicly admonishes another guard, Mao, for slandering Samon, revealing that his concern for his colleagues runs deeper than simple workplace politeness. During the Building Five dungeon arc, he is captured but remains defiant. When confronting the deluded Ruka Gojou, who is obsessively imitating Enki, Kiji shows surprising psychological insight and sympathy, slapping him not out of anger but to break his dangerous delusion and acknowledge the sincerity of his feelings for Enki. This moment highlights his ability to see past surface behaviors to the motivations beneath.
In combat, Kiji is a formidable fighter. His main weapon of choice is a massive, four-bladed chakram, a large, sharp throwing disc. He has demonstrated the ability to use this weapon to create powerful whirlwinds capable of neutralizing incoming attacks, such as the flames produced by the inmate Musashi. This proficiency, combined with his strategic mind and physical prowess, makes him a vital asset to the prison's security. His development culminates in a more grounded and reliable role, where he moves from being merely a flamboyant guard to a cornerstone of support for his fellow staff members, tasked with protecting what Enki left behind.