Katsura Kotaro
The revolutionary who stayed behind to cover for his friends one last time.
Katsura Kotaro is a character from the *Gintama* franchise, not *Rurouni Kenshin*. In *Gintama: The Very Final*, he is a former revolutionary and ally of Gintoki and Takasugi. During the film's climax, he fights alongside the group against the Tendoushuu forces. He holds onto Shouyou's heart during the battle, and later stays behind at the Terminal to help contain the escaping Altana, telling Gintoki via radio that he spent his childhood covering up for Gintoki and Takasugi's mischief and could not leave until he did that again. After the final battle, Katsura meets up with the remnants of the Kiheitai, as mentioned in a letter from Sakamoto to Gintoki.
- Role
- Ishin Shishi Leader
- Affiliation
- Imperial Loyalists / Police Liaison
- Status
- Alive
- Era
- Bakumatsu & Meiji
- Weapon
- Katana
- First Appearance
- Kyoto Arc
Lore & Background
In *Gintama: The Very Final*, Katsura Kotaro is a key figure in the final confrontation against the Tendoushuu. As the group attacks the Terminal, he and Hitsugi engage in a fierce battle, during which Hitsugi stabs and destroys Shouyou's heart, revealing his true intention to free Utsuro from immortality. Later, after Shouyou tells everyone to evacuate the Terminal, Katsura chooses to stay behind with Shinpachi, Kagura, and Shouyou to help cancel out the bursting Altana. He tells Gintoki via radio that he spent his childhood covering up for Gintoki and Takasugi whenever they made mischief, and he could not leave until he did that again. After the battle, Sakamoto writes to Gintoki that Katsura met up with the remnants of the Kiheitai.
In Their Own Story
The Terminal groaned under the strain of escaping Altana. Katsura stood firm beside Shouyou, Shinpachi, and Kagura, his hand on his sword. He pressed the radio to his lips and spoke to Gintoki, his voice steady: he had spent his childhood covering up for Gintoki and Takasugi's mischief, and he could not leave until he did that again. The light flared around them as he prepared to face the end, not as a commander, but as a friend.
Reader's Guide
Katsura Kotaro appears in *Gintama: The Very Final* as a former revolutionary and ally of Gintoki and Takasugi. He fights alongside the group against the Tendoushuu forces at the Terminal. During the battle, he holds onto Shouyou's heart and engages Hitsugi in a fierce fight, during which Hitsugi destroys the heart. Later, he chooses to stay behind at the Terminal with Shouyou, Shinpachi, and Kagura to help contain the escaping Altana, telling Gintoki via radio that he must cover for his friends one last time. After the battle, Sakamoto reports that Katsura met up with the remnants of the Kiheitai.
Did You Know?
- Katsura holds onto Shouyou's heart during the battle against the Tendoushuu, but Hitsugi eventually stabs and destroys it.
- He tells Gintoki via radio that he spent his childhood covering up for Gintoki and Takasugi's mischief and could not leave until he did that again.
- After the final battle, Sakamoto writes to Gintoki that Katsura met up with the remnants of the Kiheitai.
- Katsura stays behind at the Terminal with Shouyou, Shinpachi, and Kagura to help contain the escaping Altana.