Katsura Kogorō was the legendary young leader of the Chōshū Ishin-Shishi who, along with Ōkubo Toshimichi and Saigō Takamori, became one of the three key figures of the Meiji Restoration after they forged an alliance between former enemies Chōshū and Satsuma. After witnessing young Himura Kenshin's impressive performance in the Kiheitai, Katsura recruited the fourteen year-old swordsman into his service as a hitokiri in Kyoto and acts as the Battōsai's immediate superior during the Bakumatsu.
Appearance[]
Katsura is a young man with black hair tied back into a ponytail and some handing in the front, and thin eyebrows.
Katsura wears a black hoari over a black shirt, white pants with vertical black lines, white socks, sandals, and carries two swords on his left hip.
Personality[]
Though known throughout history as a ruthless radical leader unafraid to sacrifice people for his goals and the betterment of the nation, Katsura was nonetheless a particularly scrupulous person who would eventually give up his prominent government seat in protest against unwarranted military expansion. He was an open-minded and worldly person, as exampled in his desire to open Japan to the greater World Stage.
In Rurouni Kenshin, Katsura Kogorō is characterized as an intellectual, wise and benevolent mentor to the young Kenshin and frequently regrets the necessity of staining such a naive child's hands and soul with blood. He attempts to appeal to Kenshin's buried humanity, first by asking him to play a larger political role (which Himura declines) and then by asking Kenshin's mysterious companion Yukishiro Tomoe to serve as a calming "sheath" for Battōsai's sharp, harsh nature. Though it is unclear what his role was historically in planning at the Ikeda-ya, but in the manga, the relatively moderate Katsura admits having been against the radical burning of the city.
Relationships[]
- Takasugi Shinsaku - Katsura's best friend and compatriot, who was originally the first to recruit Himura into the Kiheitai. While a rambunctious and optimistic man, Shinsaku still served as a voice of reason for Katsura at times, even up to his imprisonment and death from tuberculosis.
- Himura Kenshin - Katsura's closest subordinate (other than his lieutenant, who was killed), Katsura felt tremendous guilt for plunging Kenshin into a life of a miserable murderer by hiring him as his assassin as well as being indirectly the cause for Tomoe's last days of turmoil as well.
- Yukishiro Tomoe - While initially suspicious of her eccentric mannerisms and unknown motive, he gradually began to see her as the gentle soul she was and hoped that she would serve as Kenshin's voice of reason. Like with Kenshin, Katsura felt supremely guilty about indirectly causing of the deaths of her fiancée and herself at the Battōsai's hands.
- Ikumatsu - A geisha who was Katsura's lover and later his wife, Kogorō would spend a great deal of time with her even while balancing the burdens of heading the Chōshū Ishin-Shishi, remarking that "even a great warrior has time for love." After the Kinmon Incident, when Katsura was forced to go into hiding, he took Ikumatsu with him.
- I'izuka - Originally trusted as Katsura's loyal subordinate, he was revealed to have been a spy for the bakufu who had spilled the ishin shishi's secrets to the Shogunate's agents and had been behind the deaths of many of his supposed comrades. After discovering his treachery, Katsura had I'izuka assassinated by Shishio Makoto.
Abilities[]
Besides his significant skills as a statesman, Katsura is described by Takasugi Shinsaku as a superb swordsman, second only to Sakamoto Ryōma. Apparently, Katsura was a master of Shintō Munen-ryū and had become the head of Renbei Hall before leaving to head the Chōshu Ishin Shishi. After the start of the Bakumatsu, however, Katsura realized that he had become a symbol of the Ishin Shishi and carried all the pure hopes of the people on his shoulders. As a person representing these feelings could not also be known as a murderer, he swore to never again draw his sword in any situation, even if he should become an embarrassment to his descendants. Shinsaku described him as the Mikoshi (portable shrine) of the "Bakumatsu Matsuri" (festival).
History[]
Katsura had met with Shinsaku, with Shinsaku showing Katsura the creation of the Kiheitai. Katsura wonders if this will work, but is shocked by Kenshin's skill. Katsura then tells Shinsaku to let him have Kenshin to work in Kyoto. Later, Katsura meets with Kenshin and they talk about the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu and if Kenshin can kill. After Kenshin leaves, Katsura tells Shinsaku that they will be leave tomorrow morning and how Kenshin will become a hitokiri.
A year later, Katsura has Kenshin to meet with him and greets him when he arrives. They have a chat about the work Kenshin has been doing and to be careful with the Shinsengumi, and that Kenshin will join him in a meeting during the gion festival. After Kenshin declines and leaves, Katsura comments about how the plan didn't work and that Kenshin has changed.
Days later, Katsura is relaxing in the headquarters, much to Kenshin frustration with the lax security the headquarters has. Katsura then talks with Kenshin in private, about how their might be a traitor in their ranks. Days later, Katsura secretly meets with I'izuka to discuss how Tomoe is not a spy and how Tomoe has an effect on Kenshin. Later, Katsura meets with Tomoe and talk about Kenshin's role in the war. As Katsura leaves, Tomoe asks what he wants her to do which Katsura replies that he just wants Tomoe to understand what they are doing.
On the day of the Goin Festival, Katsura arrives at the meeting place early but ran an errand and ended up taking a catnap when the Shinsengumi attacked the Ikeda-ya. Sometime later, their army is shattered and Katsura secretly meets with Kenshin to discuss what has happened. Katsura tells Kenshin that he will go into hiding and that Kenshin should lay low until their next action is decided. Katsura also tells Tomoe to accompany Kenshin since a young couple with blend in more easily and to take care of Kenshin. Katsura then leaves.
Five months later, Katsura manages to evade capture and nobody is able to contact him. Days later after Tomoe is killed, Katsura meets with Kenshin and says that he has heard everything. Katsura also says that he has send someone to killed I'izuka. Katsura then explains who Shishio is and that he will take Kenshin's place as an assassin, while Kenshin will join the on the front line. Kenshin agrees to this and tells Katsura that he will abandon his sword when this is over. Katsura then thinks about how Shinsaku was right and that he has to apologize to Kenshin. Katsura then watches a Kenshin leave to go play with some children.
The Ishin Shishi manages to win the Boshin war, but Katsura ends up dying during the Seinan War from a brain disease. In his final moments, Katsura worried about his country's future.
Jinchu Arc[]
Kenshin talks about Katsura while discussing his past with his friends.
Development and Reception[]
In The Secret Life of Characters (12), Watsuki explains that he had developed his idea of Katsura Kogoro as an intellectual strategist consumed by deep thoughts and calculations paired with Takasugi's free-wheeling madman and feared that his interpretation would earn him angry fan-letters from other historical enthusiasts just as his Saitō Hajime had. As far as his image, Watsuki began with surviving photographs of Katsura, but immediately softened the image to make him more handsome and likable. He attributes Katsura's forelock to his assistant Hiroyuki Takei (later the creator of Shaman King), who suggested that it would add character.
Live Action-film[]
In the Rurouni Kenshin live action film, Katsura was played by Ichirota Miyakawa.