Genji Togashi is one of the first students introduced and becomes a central figure among the first-year class at the private school Otokojuku. He is the son of Genzo Togashi, a former Japanese navy pilot who was a wartime comrade of the school’s principal, Heihachi Edajima. After his father’s death, Genji was raised by his older brother, Genkichi. When Genkichi enrolled at Otokojuku and was killed months later during an event known as the Great Trembling Conquest of the Unified Eight, Genji swore revenge against the third-year student Daigouin Jaki, whom he initially blamed. This loss became the driving force behind his decision to enroll in the school three years later.

Physically, Genji is a tall and well-built young man with a rough and aged appearance. He has long, disheveled black hair, dark brown eyes, and a prominent scar over his left eye. He also sports a pencil mustache, which contributes to his older look. He almost always wears the standard Otokojuku uniform, rarely buttoned up, and is never seen without his school cap, which he keeps as a precious memento of his late brother. He also wears bandages on his wrists and waist, where he conceals a knife.

Genji’s personality is defined by a brash, aggressive, and hot-headed nature. He is a natural delinquent with a loud mouth and a rebellious streak, often finding himself the subject of jokes or the target of instructors’ punishments. Beneath this rough exterior, however, he possesses a good heart and is unquestionably loyal to his friends. He is famously known as the guts of Otokojuku, a title earned through his incredible willpower, tenacity, and refusal to ever give up, even when facing overwhelmingly stronger opponents. He is prone to acting recklessly and letting his temper get the best of him, but he is also surprisingly resourceful and pragmatic in a fight, relying on street smarts when technical skill fails him. While later parts of the story portray him more often as comic relief alongside his classmate Toramaru Ryuji, his core bravery and fighting spirit remain intact when the situation demands it.

Genji’s primary motivation throughout the early story is to avenge the death of his older brother. This desire for revenge is what pushes him to endure the brutal trials of Otokojuku and to constantly seek out the third-year student he holds responsible. As the narrative progresses, his motivations broaden to include protecting his new friends and proving his worth as a man and a student of the school, even though he is often outclassed by his more technically skilled peers.

Within the story, Genji serves as one of the core members of the first-year team. He is Tsurugi Momotaro’s best friend and a constant companion, often acting as a foil to Momotaro’s more stoic and capable nature. He has a strong rivalry and frequently fights alongside Toramaru Ryuji, with whom he shares a similar gut-based fighting philosophy. His confrontations with Hien, a handsome fighter from the Kanto Great Student Alliance, also form a key part of his personal rivalries.

Over the course of the series, Genji undergoes notable development. He begins as a grief-stricken and angry young man obsessed with revenge. Through his friendship with Momotaro and his experiences at Otokojuku, he learns to channel his aggression and finds a new family among his classmates. Although he becomes more of a comedic figure later on, his transformation from a brooding avenger to a loyal, if bumbling, brother-in-arms is a consistent thread. His resilience is legendary, and he famously boasts with such confidence in his own stubborn refusal to die that he claims all the cockroaches on earth will perish before he does.

Despite lacking formal martial arts training, Genji is a formidable fighter who has developed his own street-fighting style called the Brawler Killing Style. This style focuses on knifing, dirty tactics, and, above all, incredible endurance. Key techniques include the White-Tooth Blade-Catcher, which allows him to stop a blade with his teeth; the Ball Crusher, which is exactly as described; and the Volunteer Bombing Kill, a suicidal technique where he straps dynamite to his chest and charges at the opponent. He also develops several combination moves with Toramaru, such as the Boar Leaping Jumping Body Cannon, which uses a rubber slingshot to launch Toramaru at an enemy. His ultimate asset is not a technique but his unbreakable spirit, enabling him to survive punishments like boiling oil baths and the Human Watermelon Bash, where he is buried in sand while a blindfolded opponent tries to slash his head.