Shitan stands tall and handsome with long, straight dark purple hair partially obscuring his face, striking purple eyes, and nearly androgynous features. His original attire featured a light purple blanket over his shoulders, a floral-patterned purple haori, a brown scarf, and black pants, typically barefoot. After joining Fena's crew, he adopted a black ninja ensemble with dark indigo leather chest armor, shoulder and arm guards, a leather archery glove, dark purple-black pants tied with a purple-black waist bow, purple leg guards, and black boots, completed by a samurai helmet with a single horn and a black men-yoroi facial armor including a mustache piece. His final design replaced the chest armor with a dark purple ninja top bearing a vine imprint and a black undershirt covering his stomach, altering the waist bow to red. For casual wear, he favors an indigo haori with vine and flower imprints over a purple buttoned shirt, a purple-grey waist ribbon, grey ankle-length pants, and zori sandals. He wields a bow and arrows, later supplemented by a short ninja sword.

Initially projecting an aloof and easygoing demeanor, Shitan harbors profound loyalty and protective instincts, especially toward Yukimaru. He deeply values his friends, prioritizing their safety above all. An experienced womanizer, he exhibits familiarity with sexual tension and interpersonal dynamics. His protectiveness manifests as wariness toward Fena; secretly calling her a "witch" under orders from Goblin Island's leader, Yukihisa. This distrust originated from Yukihisa's warning about Fena's mother driving a man mad and the directive to kill Fena if she endangered Yukimaru. Shitan's animosity shifted when Fena confronted him directly, denying being a witch and expressing her desire to journey with friends. Her earnestness and Yukimaru's trust in her led to his acceptance.

Shitan shares a close bond with Yukimaru, forged in their past. As a child struggling with archery, Yukimaru advised him to "listen to his arrow" and aim where it wanted to go – counsel Shitan later gave Fena. He witnessed Yukimaru as the sole, severely injured survivor of the Hope tragedy, an event intensifying his protective devotion. While Shitan's brother, Kei, criticized this loyalty as weakness, Yukihisa viewed it as strength. When Yukimaru was wounded protecting Fena, Shitan blamed her, though they reconciled after Yukimaru's recovery. His relationships with crew members Makaba, Tsubaki, and the twins Enju and Kaede reflect camaraderie and mutual respect.

As the group's archer, Shitan is an elite warrior renowned for exceptional precision and effectiveness with his bow. The foundational advice from Yukimaru about listening to the arrow defines his formidable technique, demonstrated when instructing Fena. His observational skills extend beyond combat to interpersonal dynamics.

Shitan's name, meaning "Rosewood," references fragrant tropical timber used in furniture and musical instruments, reflecting his layered nature – a striking exterior with underlying depth.