TV Special
Description
Kotarō Katsura, also known as Zura, Zurako, or Captain Katsura, emerged from the Joi War era. Born into poverty, he lost both parents to illness as a child and grew up under his grandmother's care. She taught him that a leader must survive to protect others, earning him the childhood nickname "Runaway Kotarō." Despite hardship, his intellect secured him a scholarship to the elite Koumukan military school. There, he first met Shinsuke Takasugi and Sakata Gintoki. The trio later trained under Yoshida Shouyou, forging a bond that defined their paths. During this time, Katsura vowed to become "a samurai both more cowardly and stronger than anyone" to shield his comrades.
A core member of the Joui Four with Gintoki, Takasugi, and Sakamoto Tatsuma, Katsura battled the Amanto invaders and the Bakufu. His strategy prioritized minimizing casualties through tactical retreats, setting him apart. After their defeat and Shouyou's execution, Katsura founded the Anti-Foreigner faction (Jouishishi), initially employing violent tactics like bombings and sabotage. His methods evolved; witnessing Gintoki's life in Edo and connecting with civilians like ramen shop owner Ikumatsu Nishiki led him to pursue change without needless bloodshed. He shifted focus to covert operations, intelligence gathering, and political reform, believing the country could be reshaped peacefully.
Katsura blends gravitas with eccentricity. He speaks formally, often derailing conversations to follow his own tangents, and favors outdated humor, using phrases like "Bye-bee" or crafting dramatic fictional tales. A lack of common sense contrasts his sharp intellect; he masters technology—building bombs, hacking systems, piloting spacecraft—yet fails to recognize obvious figures like the amnesiac Shogun. He frequently adopts absurd disguises—pirate outfits, crossdressing as "Zurako," impersonating Mario—to elude the Shinsengumi, though these rarely succeed. Unwaveringly dedicated, he funds operations through odd jobs, from construction to television appearances. He harbors a fondness for animals (especially paw pads), snacks like nmaibo sticks, and maintains a rumored attraction to older women, particularly widows.
In combat, Katsura wields exceptional swordsmanship honed under Shouyou and possesses remarkable endurance, allowing him to withstand brutal injuries and defeat foes like Neptune Shoukaku via headbutt. He demonstrates tactical ingenuity, deploying unconventional weapons such as curry inducing indigestion or nmaibo sticks doubling as smoke bombs, and carries escape tools like parachutes. His "Runaway Kotarō" epithet reflects his evasion expertise. He shares a profound bond with Elizabeth, a mysterious creature received from Sakamoto. His relationships with Gintoki and Takasugi are marked by shared trauma and ideological clashes; he persistently recruits Gintoki for Jouishishi activities, while his rift with Takasugi over methods culminates in the Benizakura Arc confrontation. They reunite during later conflicts like the Rakuyou and Silver Soul arcs.
Post-war, Katsura becomes Japan's first Prime Minister. In this role, he drafts a constitution emphasizing citizen responsibility, distributing it via magazine inserts, and combats corruption through staged assassination plots with allies like the Shinsengumi. He continues facing assassination attempts, dispatching attackers with bombs and the retort "You are...FIRED!" His character draws inspiration from Meiji-era statesman Katsura Kogorō. In spin-offs like *Class 3-Z's Ginpachi-sensei*, he appears as a class representative skilled in piano, maintaining his blend of solemnity and absurdity.
A core member of the Joui Four with Gintoki, Takasugi, and Sakamoto Tatsuma, Katsura battled the Amanto invaders and the Bakufu. His strategy prioritized minimizing casualties through tactical retreats, setting him apart. After their defeat and Shouyou's execution, Katsura founded the Anti-Foreigner faction (Jouishishi), initially employing violent tactics like bombings and sabotage. His methods evolved; witnessing Gintoki's life in Edo and connecting with civilians like ramen shop owner Ikumatsu Nishiki led him to pursue change without needless bloodshed. He shifted focus to covert operations, intelligence gathering, and political reform, believing the country could be reshaped peacefully.
Katsura blends gravitas with eccentricity. He speaks formally, often derailing conversations to follow his own tangents, and favors outdated humor, using phrases like "Bye-bee" or crafting dramatic fictional tales. A lack of common sense contrasts his sharp intellect; he masters technology—building bombs, hacking systems, piloting spacecraft—yet fails to recognize obvious figures like the amnesiac Shogun. He frequently adopts absurd disguises—pirate outfits, crossdressing as "Zurako," impersonating Mario—to elude the Shinsengumi, though these rarely succeed. Unwaveringly dedicated, he funds operations through odd jobs, from construction to television appearances. He harbors a fondness for animals (especially paw pads), snacks like nmaibo sticks, and maintains a rumored attraction to older women, particularly widows.
In combat, Katsura wields exceptional swordsmanship honed under Shouyou and possesses remarkable endurance, allowing him to withstand brutal injuries and defeat foes like Neptune Shoukaku via headbutt. He demonstrates tactical ingenuity, deploying unconventional weapons such as curry inducing indigestion or nmaibo sticks doubling as smoke bombs, and carries escape tools like parachutes. His "Runaway Kotarō" epithet reflects his evasion expertise. He shares a profound bond with Elizabeth, a mysterious creature received from Sakamoto. His relationships with Gintoki and Takasugi are marked by shared trauma and ideological clashes; he persistently recruits Gintoki for Jouishishi activities, while his rift with Takasugi over methods culminates in the Benizakura Arc confrontation. They reunite during later conflicts like the Rakuyou and Silver Soul arcs.
Post-war, Katsura becomes Japan's first Prime Minister. In this role, he drafts a constitution emphasizing citizen responsibility, distributing it via magazine inserts, and combats corruption through staged assassination plots with allies like the Shinsengumi. He continues facing assassination attempts, dispatching attackers with bombs and the retort "You are...FIRED!" His character draws inspiration from Meiji-era statesman Katsura Kogorō. In spin-offs like *Class 3-Z's Ginpachi-sensei*, he appears as a class representative skilled in piano, maintaining his blend of solemnity and absurdity.