Shibaraku Tsurugibe is a wandering swordsman who allies with the protagonist early in their quest to save Soukaizan. His spiky brown hair, thin elongated mustache, thick eyebrows, large nose, and prominent hippopotamus-like jawline attract persistent teasing. He wears a red vest with twin black-and-yellow circular designs, a navy blue ronin outfit, straw sandals, and a white belt displaying a golden "N" insignia, complemented by bandaged wrists. Twin blades—a katana and wakizashi—hang at his side.

Shibaraku projects unwavering confidence in combat, declaring himself an invincible warrior, yet frequently undermines this image through buffoonish antics that cement his role as comic relief. Simultaneously, he mentors the protagonist in swordsmanship throughout their travels. He claims a past as Soukaizan’s shogun, though no evidence or local acknowledgment substantiates this, implying self-aggrandizement.

He pilots the dual-katana-equipped mecha Senjinmaru. Initially, summoning it required locating telephones—a tactical hindrance later resolved by support battleships for seamless deployment. In strategic tiered-province battles, he executes special sword techniques, occasionally announcing their names mid-fight. The kunoichi Himiko routinely mocks his facial features, provoking visible chagrin.

His ingenuity surfaces in overcoming obstacles, like devising stone sandals for scorching terrain. While humor stems from his exaggerated bravado and sporadic ineptitude, he demonstrates steadfast loyalty to the group’s missions across Soukaizan and the stellar realm Seikaizan.