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Peacemaker Kurogane
PEACE MAKER鐵 (Peacemaker Kurogane)
Genre	Adventure, Drama, Historical, Shounen
TV anime
Directed by	Tomohiro Hirata
Studio	Gonzo
Network	TV Asahi Showtime Beyond QTV
Original run	7 October 2003 – 24 March 2004
No. of episodes	24

Peacemaker Kurogane (PEACE MAKER鐵, Peacemaker Kurogane^?) is a historical fiction manga and anime series created by ;mangaka Nanae Chrono (黒乃奈々絵, Kurono Nanae^?). The story begins in 19th century Japan before the Meiji Restoration, while the seeds of the revolution are being planted. The story focuses on a boy, Ichimura Tetsunosuke, who joins the Shinsengumi as Hijikata Toshizo's page seeking to become strong enough to avenge the deaths of his parents. The series was animated by GONZO Digimation and ran 24 episodes which aired on TV Asahi in late 2003 and early 2004 . The US license for the anime is held by ADV Films under the title Peacemaker. The anime is currently airing in the United States on Showtime Beyond, Fridays at 9:30 P.M, alongside Chrono Crusade (which airs at 9:00 P.M)

The first manga series, Shinsengumi Imon Peacemaker (新撰組異聞PEACE MAKER, Shinsengumi Imon Peacemaker^?), was published by Enix and has just recently been licensed for release in the United States by TOKYOPOP. The follow-up series, Peacemaker Kurogane, was published by another company, Mag Garden, who has licensed that series to ADV Manga who has now handed it over to TOKYOPOP in the United States and TOKYOPOP in Germany. Mag Garden has temporarily stopped the project since Spring 2005 .

Contents 1 Plot 2 Characters 3 Trivia 4 Music 5 External links

Spoiler Warning: The story is focused on the main character, Ichimura Tetsunosuke, an energetic, short, and very childlike 15 year old. Sadly, he and his older brother are left to fend for themselves after the vicious murder of their parents. While Tetsunosuke wants to get revenge, his pacifist brother is not so inclined. Interstingly, the story develops when they take refuge working defined jobs in a special police force called the Shinsengumi, where his brother is an accountant and he is a servant to one of the groups leaders. While there, Tetsunosuke will attempt to get stronger in order to take the revenge he so desires, but he will be confronted by the hardships that are involved with becoming that powerful.

The anime is also focused on the characters that make up the legendary Shinsengumi and the interaction and conflict they have with one another. For the history buffs, there are accurate themes that resound with Japanese history to a slight degree.

Ichimura Tetsunosuke (市村鉄之助)

The protagonist of Peacemaker Kurogane, an actual member of the Shinsengumi. In traditional shōnen anime lead form, he is short, strong-willed, and often underestimated. Like many other protagaonists of this genre, Tetsu also has a cheerful, active and competitive personality. He joins the Shinsengumi in order to become strong and avenge the death of his parents at the hands of a member of the Chōshū clan, and ends up working as a page to Hijikata Toshizo. At the time in 1864, Tetsu has not grown for two years due to his emotional scar. He has been more-or-less been adopted as a mascot/little brother figure by the senior members of the Shinsengumi.

Voiced by: Yumiko Kobayashi (Japanese), Luci Christian (English), Rowena Raganit (Tagalog)

Ichimura Tatsunosuke (市村辰之助)

Tetsu's over protective, easily worried and rather high-strung older brother/guardian (also an actual member of the Shinsengumi). He is polite, soft spoken, and down to earth. After the death of their parents, he had to take care of himself and his brother. He, in accordance with his more pacifist outlook, works only as a bookkeeper for the Shinsengumi. He has tried to put all thoughts of revenge for his parents' deaths out of his mind, but convincing his younger brother to do the same is a little more difficult. Tatsu has a habit of apologizing for his little brother.

Voiced by: Yuji Ueda (Japanese), Vic Mignogna (English)

Okita Soji (沖田総司)

The first unit captain of the Shinsengumi. He is deceptively delicate-looking and has an overall sunny disposition that occasionally borders on childishness, but displays frighteningly deadly skill in combat situations. He shares a strong bond with Hijikata and is also one of the only people who has a deep understanding of Tetsu. He takes Tetsu seriously and often practices with him. In addition, Soji loves children and is rarely seen without his piglet Saizo when he is off-duty.

Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga (Japanese), Braden Hunt (English)

Hijikata Toshizo (土方歳三)

The Shinsengumi's second vice-commander, Hijikata hides his compassion behind a cold and ruthless front, and is known as "the demon of the Shinsengumi". A brilliant strategist and fighter, Hijikata's talent for battle is extraordinary. When dealing with enemies, his method is highly practical and often reckless. He counts Kondo, Yamanami, and Okita among his closest friends, and is a stern master to his page Tetsu. His hobby consists of writing haiku (apparently not very good haiku).

Voiced by: Jouji Nakata (Japanese), Mike MacRae (English)

Harada Sanosuke (原田左之助)

The tenth unit captain and the best spear fighter in the Shinsengumi. Sanosuke is best friends with Nagakura Shinpachi and Todo Heisuke, forming a trio known as "The Three Comedians", whose chief hobby seems to be annoying Tetsunosuke. The scar on his stomach is apparently from an attempted seppuku incident, though the details are never revealed in the series.

Voiced by: Kenji Nomura (Japanese), Jason Douglas (English)

Nakagura Shinpachi (永倉新八)

The second unit captain of the Shinsengumi. He introduces himself to Tetsu as "Sanosuke’s keeper." Like Tetsu, he is often underestimated by his height (and young appearance — he looks like a child, but is actually in his 20s). In fact, he is extremely skilled with his sword and is a swordsman of Okita Souji's level. He is also quite the joker, especially in conjunction with Sanosuke and Heisuke.

Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi (Japanese), Greg Ayres (English)

Todo Heisuke (藤堂平助)

The eighth unit captain of the Shinsengumi. Heisuke is the youngest member of Kondo's group and the youngest captain of the Shinsengumi. Since he has a slight infatuation with small, cute animals, he always calls Tetsunosuke "Puppy Boy" (much to Tetsu's dismay).

Voiced by: Kosuke Toriumi (Japanese), Nomed Kaerf (English)

Saito Hajime (斎藤一)

The third unit captain of the Shinsengumi. The droopy-eyed and soft-spoken Saito Hajime has a supernatural ability to sense ghosts, spiritual auras (which unnerves many of the other members), and is able to perceive information about future events. He is an inexplicable camaraderie with Okita.

Voiced by: Takashi Matsuyama (Japanese), Rob Mungle (English)

Yamanami Keisuke (山南敬助)

One of the Shinsengumi's two vice-commanders. Yamanami (often called "Sannan" by Kondo and Hijikata, which is an alternate reading of the kanji in his name) is a good-natured and thoughtful figure, providing a counterpoint to Hijikata's blunt and Machiavellian tendencies. He also loves children and takes a shine to Tetsunosuke. He is beloved by his fellow Shinsengumi members, and, like Hijikata, is firmly opposed to putting a sword in Tetsu's hands. He is carrying on a clandestine affair with a Shimabara courtesan named Akesato.

Voiced by: Norihiro Inoue (Japanese), Chris Ayres (English)

Kondo Isami (近藤勇)

The commander of the Shinsengumi. Kondo is presented as a grandfatherly, slightly-clueless figure who is still fully aware of his and his organization's goals.

Voiced by: Takaya Hashi (Japanese), John Swasey (English)

Yamazaki Ayumu (山崎歩)

The "den mother" of the Shinsengumi, Ayumu (most often known as "Ayu-nee", or "big sister Ayu") is the cook and housekeeper at the Shinsengumi compound. A pretty woman with a motherly nature, Ayumu is fully cognizant of what the people around her do for a living, and acts as a sort of big-sister figure to Tetsu. She is Susumu's older sister, and, like him, a shinobi. She mentions in one episode them as being apart of the Oniwaban. While Susumu is based on the actual spy, Ayumu is a fictional character.

Voiced by: Yūko Nagashima (Japanese), Christine Auten (English)

Yamazaki Susumu (山崎烝)

Ayumu's younger brother, Susumu is one of the Shinsengumi's spies, reporting directly to Hijikata. A skilled shinobi and information-gatherer, his nature emulates that of his superior's. He often cross-dresses (quite convincingly) to gather information.

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese), Chris Patton (English)

Saya (沙夜)

A fictional character. She is mute and writes to communicate. Tetsu tends to relate to her because her parents were also murdered.

Voiced by: Mikako Takahashi (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)

Saizou (サイゾー)

Okita Soji’s piglet pet. He lives with his "family" at the Shinsengumi Headquarter.

Voiced by: Mikako Takahashi (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)

Akesato (明里)

Based on the actual person. Akesato is Yamanami Keisuke's lover, a Shimabara courtesan, and a shinobi working for the Chōshū clan. In the manga, it is stated by Sakamoto that Akesato is mixed blood (half-Japanese and half-Caucasian); she has blonde hair (which she hides under a wig) and blue eyes. (Note: the real Akesato was not a shinobi.)

Voiced by: Neya Michiko (Japanese), Kira Vincent Davis (English)

Yoshida Toshimaro (吉田稔麿)

Based on the historical figure. Yoshida Toshimaru, a student of Yoshida Shouin, is a leader of the Chōshū clan and a master of military science.

Voiced by: Jun'ichi Suwabe (Japanese), John Gremillion (English)

Kitamura Suzu (北村鈴)

A fictional character. Suzu intends to avenge the death of his older brother at the hands of the Shinsengumi. He becomes Tetsu's friend without realizing that he's part of the Shinsengumi. He is a follower of Yoshida.

Voiced by: Yuka Imai (Japanese), Kevin Corn (English)

Sakamoto Ryoma (坂本龍馬)

Based on the actual visionary. An old acquaintance of Tatsu and Tetsu's father, Sakamoto refers their father as the "Peacemaker." Sakamoto also calls Tatsu "Dragon Boy", as "Tatsu" can be translated to "Dragon" in Japanese and nicknames Tetsu "Iron Boy", as "Tetsu" can be translated as "Iron". He is an expert swordsman but he mainly uses a pistol. In the Japanese version of the anime and manga, Ryoma tends to speak random English words. Ryoma is also wanted by the pro-Shogunate forces, as revealed by Okita when he sneaks into the Shinsengumi headquarters.

Voiced by: Masashi Ebara (Japanese), David Born (English)

In Episode 9, the tune Sakamoto Ryoma whistles is actually that of The Star Spangled Banner.

Opening Theme

"YOU GONNA FEEL" by HAV

Ending Theme

"Hey Jimmy!" by HAV

• ADV Films English language anime distributor
• Peacemaker at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Hajimenokizu A site dedicated to Saitou Hajime and the Shinsengumi in various fictional and historical incarnations.