Kondou Isao commands the Shinsengumi police force in Edo, known for his kind-hearted and trusting demeanor toward subordinates. This fosters fierce loyalty, rooted in his leadership style: he sees himself as a comrade dedicated to preventing the loss of friends rather than a traditional commander. His childhood unfolded at a monkey-god-worshipping temple school, where he displayed troublesome behavior like uprooting neighbors' daikon radishes, sparking rumors he was raised by monkeys. The chief priest took him in, hoping Kondou would become his successor if he ceased stealing. After rescuing children held hostage by loan sharks during a land dispute, he returned to find the temple burned down. The priest forbade his return, prompting Kondou to leave the area. He later joined Kanchou's dojo in Bushuu, recruiting both Okita Sougo and Hijikata Toushirou. Relocating the entire dojo to Edo to forge a career, he formed the foundation of the Shinsengumi. Physically, he stands 184 cm tall, weighs 80 kg, and has dark brown hair and eyes, with blood type A. Kondou persistently stalks Shimura Tae, Shinpachi's sister, earning him the moniker "Gorilla-stalker." His fixation began when Tae declared she would love her boyfriend even with a hairy butt. She frequently retaliates physically against his advances. Characters often call him "gorilla" due to his hirsute appearance—a label he resents but occasionally uses self-referentially. Within the Shinsengumi, Kondou relies on Vice-Commander Hijikata Toushirou to settle the troops before delivering instructions. During the Shinsengumi Crisis Arc, Itou Kamotarou describes him as honest, pure, and unsullied. Hijikata calls him the organization's soul, with members serving as swords to protect him, emphasizing they joined specifically to follow Kondou and that the Shinsengumi endures as long as he does. His leadership faces pivotal tests. When condemned to execution alongside Matsudaira under Nobu Nobu’s reign, he entrusts Gintoki with a message for the Shinsengumi—urging Hijikata and others to keep moving forward and protect Edo even if the group disbands. His commitment to comrades surfaces in his creed: "If you don't like your comrades, then put the gun down and walk away. That's all you can do." Personality analyses vary: some cite ESFJ traits like warmth, responsibility, and charisma, while others suggest ISFP or Enneagram Type 8w9 ("The Challenger"), emphasizing assertiveness, independence, and confrontational leadership. Regardless, he balances selflessness with occasional obliviousness to others' flaws—a duality Okita Sougo identifies as both strength and weakness. In the Yagyuu arc, Kondou vows to become Shinpachi’s brother-in-law, claiming Shinpachi is the only person he would entrust the Shinsengumi to, though Shinpachi rejects this. He appears as a supporting character in spin-offs like the upcoming "3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei" and is portrayed by Kankurō Nakamura in live-action adaptations. The character draws loose inspiration from the historical Shinsengumi commander Kondou Isami.