The Japanese manga series The Elusive Samurai features an extensive cast of characters created by Yusei Matsui. Many among them are based on historical Japanese figures from the early 14th century.
Main characters
The heir to the Hōjō regency before its destruction by Ashikaga Takauji. After the fall of the shogunate, he took refuge under Yorishige, where he was taught martial arts and academics while plotting to overthrow the Ashikaga clan and restore the Hōjō clan. He has the superhuman ability to flee, hide, and dodge enemy attacks. To prevent being recognized by Takauji and his allies, he takes on the pseudonym of in public.
A shady priest from Suwa who claims can see the future. He is a loyal follower of the Hōjō clan and predicts that Tokiyuki would become a hero. It is revealed that he has the spirit of Suwa Myōjin inside him which makes him a god. Yorishige dies during Ashikaga's campaign to reclaim Kamakura just after it was conquered by Tokiyuki and his army.
The Elusive Warriors
Yorishige's adopted daughter and assistant who has the ability to see spirits as a shrine maiden and acts as the logistics expert. It is revealed that she is a mishaguji, a mass of divine power capable of creating miracles which can disappear if she overuses her power. She later exhausts all her divine power but manages to retain her human form, becoming a normal person out of her desire to remain by Tokiyuki's side and one of his three wives.
A young swordsman who is skilled for his age and becomes Tokiyuki's military commander.
A young swordswoman with superstrength and artistic talent. She later grows feelings for Tokiyuki and becomes one of his three wives.
A thief who operates on money and fear and is able to impersonate anyone using his fox mask. He joins the Elusive Warriors and becomes the leader of Tokyuki's spies.
A rōnin who dual wields swords and joins the group after seeing Tokiyuki as a master worth serving under. Later on the story, he defects to Takauji's faction and is adopted by Kō no Moronao who renames him . He apparently is killed in a duel with Tokiyuki, but is later revived thanks to Uesugi's experiments and returns to the Elusive Warriors.
Natsu is an elite member of shinobi who disguise themselves as tengu, originally loyal to Kō no Moronao, before becoming Genba's aide and later, his wife, also learning how to value her life.
Shina is a powerful Hōjō samurai, who was crippled during the Ashikaga rebellion, but upon entering Tokiyuki's servitude, she gains weapons tailor-made to allow her to fight.
Mima is Dōyo's young daughter who likes to gamble, and has great divine power, growing close to Tokiyuki and later becoming one of his three wives.
Tokiyuki's allies Suwa Sect
A relative and ally of Yorishige.
Yorishige's son, who is a calm and reserved person, unlike his father.
Sakae is a Suwa shrine maiden close to Yukiyasu, whose ear is shot off by Ogasawara.
Hikari is a Suwa shrine maiden close to Yukiyasu.
Homare is a Suwa shrine maiden close to Yukiyasu.
A hot-headed warrior and member of the Hoshina clan who is part of the Suwa sect found in the territory of the .
A warrior and an ally of Hoshina who is part of the Suwa sect.
Sanjūrō is a savage warrior serving Hoshina, and the son of general Yūki Munehiro, who serves the Emperor. }
Yukiyasu is a powerful warrior who is shy with women, and one of the Three Great Generals of the Suwa army.
Shigenobu is a powerful warrior and one of the Three Great Generals of the Suwa army, as well as Ayako's father.
Yorinao is Kojiro's strict uncle, who raised him, as well as one of the Three Great Generals of the Suwa army.
Yorinao's son who shares his name with his cousin, though they're written differently. Yorinao gave his name to his cousin, so that the latter's valor could raise both their names.
Yoritsugu is Yorishige's 7-year-old grandson, who is jealous of the affection Tokiyuki receives from his grandfather.
Takamune is a young warrior member of the Suwa Sect, who Tokiyuki reunites with after the Nakasendai war.
Other allies
Tomomitsu is a samurai serving the Fukashi Magistrate, who is Yorishige's ally.
Tokoiwa is a samurai serving the Kitajo Magistrate, who is Yorishige's ally.
Hachirō is a young and loyal member of the Miura clan, vassal of the Hōjō clan.
Tokiaki is the leader of the Miura clan, who initially betrayed the Hōjō clan during the Ashikaga rebellion, before returning to Tokiyuki's servitude.
A young warrior of the loyal Nagoe clan, whose father was slain by the Ashikaga when Kamakura burned.
Masamune is an unrivaled blacksmith who forges custom weapons for anyone he deems worthy, no matter the allegiance.
Surugashiro is a warrior loyal to the Hōjō clan in Izu.
Ashikaga Faction
A former ally to the Hōjō clan who defected to the Emperor's side and overthrew the shogunate. Later he betrays the emperor and joins forces with the Northern Court, igniting a civil war with the intention of establishing a new shogunate with him as ruler.
Takauji's younger brother and strategist.
The cunning right-hand man and steward of Takauji, who later adopts Fubuki and brings him to his side.
Moroyasu is Moronao's little brother and a powerful warrior.
A retainer of Takauji and the governor of Shinano who is proficient in archery and is able to perceive every detail in his immediate surroundings. Despite being enemies with Tokiyuki, he later develops a friendly relationship with him.
A retainer and ally of Sadamune who can spot his enemies through his sharp hearing senses.
The current alias of who is the leader of a group of bandits and becomes Sadamune's retainer.
Furan is a bandit with a tri-color tattoo on his face who serves Shōkan, and faces off against Fubuki.
Dōyo is one of Takauji's close advisors and a priest, who seems apathetic to the fate of people other than his daughter, Mima.
Kagetada is the former head of the fallen Nagao clan, who was brainwashed and experimented on by Uesugi Noriaki to become a powerful warrior.
Yorikuni is the brother of Norimitsu from the Hisashiban, who wears a bull mask in battle.
Yoshiakira is Takauji's 7-year old son and a lord who seeks to gain his father's favor.
Tadatsune is a skilled warrior serving Ienaga and Noriaki, who is enchanted by Ayako on the battlefield.
Tadafuyu is a bastard son of Takauji taken in by a priest, who has a chance encounter with Tokiyuki.
Yorito is a gigantic warrior serving Moronao who faces off against Akiie's army.
Shigeyoshi is Noriaki's older brother and head of the Uesugi family under Tadayoshi's rule.
The new general of the forces in the Shinano province after the Nakasendai war, with an especially keen sense of smell.
Myozurumaru, also called as Myozuru by Takauji, is his favored ward and a talented warrior, who occasionally dances for Takauji as well.
Moroyo is Moroyasu's son and a powerful warrior touted as a secret weapon to turn the tides of Takauji's war.
Kantō Hisashiban
Ienaga, also known by his childhood name; , is a genius strategist, said to rival Tadayoshi, who was chosen by him to be a yoriki of the Hisashiban, designated to protect Kamakura.
Noriaki is a pale man obsessed with human experimentation and the vice-leader of the second detachment of the Hisashiban.
Yoshisue is the leader of the first detachment of the Hisashiban, as well as Tadayoshi's brother-in-law, who has anger issues and wields an ōdachi.
Tsuneie is the leader of the second detachment of the Hisashiban, who is a womanizer.
Norimitsu is a powerful yoriki, who is an extremely dangerous cavalry warrior, also wearing a horse mask in battle.
Yoriyuki is the leader of the fourth detachment of the Hisashiban.
Mitsuyoshi is the leader of the sixth detachment of the Hisashiban.
Noriie is the leader of the seventh detachment of the Hisashiban, who is obsessed with a goddess named Tsuruko, that he made up.
Government
The Emperor leading the restoration of Imperial rule after the overthrowing of the shogunate.
The son of the Emperor who attempted to assassinate Takauji out of fear of Takauji ousting the Emperor.
A brilliant strategist and one of the main forces of the Emperor.
Chikafusa is a court noble and one of the Emperor's closest advisors, as well as Akiie's father.
Nitta is a powerful military commander loyal to the Emperor, who participated in the defeat of the Kamakura Shogunate in 1333.
Masatsura is Masashige's eldest son, who is inspired to action by tales of Tokiyuki's bravado.
Masatoki is Masashige's second son, who follows in his elder brother and Tokiyuki's footsteps.
Muneyoshi, later known as Munenaga, is emperor Go-Daigo's eighth son and representative of the Emperor on the battlefield.
Yoshisada's third son and Yoshioki's younger brother, and later an ally of the Suwa.
The eccentric of Shinano, the highest authority in the Shinano territory.
A brutish warrior serving Kiyohara.
Akiie's Army
Akiie is a court noble and later general serving the Emperor, who is an extremely talented bowman, who united the Northern "savages" under his army.
Akikuni is Akiie's right-hand man and a skilled strategist.
Yoshisada's son, , later re-christened by the Emperor as Yoshioki for his valor in battle, is a 7-year old warrior serving Akiie, who befriends Tokiyuki.
Munehiro is one of Akiie's generals and a savage warrior, like his son.
Yukitomo is one of Akiie's generals from up north, who was considered barbaric by the court.
Moroyuki is one of Akiie's generals from up north, whose strong dialect makes it nigh impossible for others to understand him, which is why he has an interpreter. Moroyuki's interpreter Moroyuki's interpreter is a young woman who speaks the Northern dialect and translates Moroyuki's words.
Sadamitsu is one of Yoshioki's retainers and closest allies.
Tokiyoshi is one of Yoshioki's retainers and closest allies.
Kintsuna is a stern older general one of Akiie's closest allies.
Hōjō Clan
Tokiyuki's older half-brother, who held no interest in inheriting the regency in order to prevent a dispute over the succession. He was executed after his own uncle betrayed him.
Tokiyuki's father and head of the Kamakura Shogunate, who is actually an inept puppet ruler controlled by nobles.
A relative to the Hōjō clan and the maternal uncle of Tokiyuki and Kunitoki, who sold out Kunitoki to a search party for personal glory.
Yasuie is Tokiyuki's paternal uncle and one of the last surviving members of the Kamakura Shogunate.
Kakunai-ni is Tokiyuki's paternal grandmother who lives in Izu, the clan's ancestral home.
References