Nobunobu Hitotsubashi, later known as Tokugawa Nobunobu, is the fifteenth shogun of the Edo shogunate in the Gintama series. He is the son of Hitotsubashi Narinari, a member of one of the three branch families of the Tokugawa clan. Initially introduced as the ambitious and ruthless head of the Hitotsubashi faction, he serves as a major antagonist for a significant portion of the story. Nobunobu is depicted as cold, calculating, and sadistic, a product of his upbringing in a political family that had lost influence after the Joui Wars. He is driven by a desire to seize power and replace the reigning shogun, Tokugawa Shige Shige, whom he views as weak. His early motivations are rooted in personal ambition and a belief that only he can restore Japan’s strength without reliance on the Amanto (aliens). To achieve his goals, he aligns with the shadowy Tendoshuu, a group of Amanto who manipulate the shogunate from behind the scenes, and employs ruthless tactics that involve sacrificing allies and civilians alike. After Shige Shige’s assassination, Nobunobu ascends to become the fifteenth shogun.

His role in the story is that of a political rival turned ruler. He initially opposes the Tokugawa government and later becomes the de facto leader, presiding over a regime that dismantles the Shinsengumi and institutes the harsh Mimawarigumi police force. However, his development takes a dramatic turn during the Rakuyou and Silver Soul arcs. Upon becoming shogun, he gradually realizes that the Tendoshuu have been using him to further their own agenda, and that his own faction has left him isolated. He begins to question his methods and the emptiness of his victories. By the final arc, he experiences genuine growth, abandoning his selfish desires and working alongside former enemies like Gintoki Sakata and the remnants of the Shinsengumi to protect Edo from the Altana Liberation Army. In a selfless act, he attempts to broker peace and is mortally wounded by a stray bullet, using his last words to rally the warring factions toward a ceasefire. He dies with a smile, having found redemption and a sense of purpose beyond power.

Key relationships include his father Narinari, whose fallen status fuels Nobunobu’s ambition; his political rival Shige Shige, whom he despises yet ultimately mirrors in his final sacrifice; and figures like Sasaki Isaburo, who serves him but later betrays the Tendoshuu. He also develops a grudging respect for the protagonists, especially Gintoki, who physically clashes with him but later aids his change of heart. In terms of abilities, Nobunobu is a skilled swordsman, capable of decapitating a standing opponent with a single strike. He is also politically astute, able to maneuver within the treacherous court environment. His most notable trait, however, is his capacity for change, moving from a petty tyrant to a tragic figure who gives his life for the country he once sought to dominate.