Sakata Gintoki

Age: 20s
Birthday: 10 October
Zodiac: Libra
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Height: 177cm
Weight: 65kg
Occupation: Owner of Yorozuya Gin-chan; ex-samurai
"Workers": Shimura Shinpachi, Kagura
Former comrades: Katsura Kotaro, Sakamoto Tatsuma, Takasugi Shinsuke.
Nickname: White Demon
Hobbies: Drinking sake, eating sweet stuff, and digging his nose.


Sakata Gintoki is the main protagonist of Gintama, with a head of naturally permed silver hair as his trademark. During the war to drive out the invasion of the Amanto, Gintoki was one of the samurai in the battlefield, and was so fiercely strong that he was given the nickname of 'White Demon'; a name which struck fear among the Amanto ranks.

After the war was lost, Gintoki left the battlefield in despair, and while starving and lost in a cemetary, was saved by Otose. Otose gave him the food meant as her dead husband's offering, and a place to live; above her own snack house. In return for her kindness, Gintoki promised to protect her.

And so, Gintoki runs the Yorozuya Gin-chan in the place rented to him by Otose, although he never pays her rent; doing odd jobs as a living. His choice of weapon is a wooden sword with the words 'Lake Touya' on the handle, which he buys from a TV advertisement.

The Yorozuya is joined by Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura, an alien girl, who worked for him while never getting paid. The last member is a giant dog called Sadaharu, who also serves as their vehicle, as they often ride on it when they are in a hurry.

Gintoki's character is a lazy, careless and irresponsible one, and sometimes bordering on immoral. Examples are when he manipulated Kondo Isao into using his weapon which he tampered with beforehand, when they were supposedly having a duel; and when he flippantly talked an alien pair of carpenter brothers into building his dream castle.

Despite all that, Gintoki has a strong sense of justice and righteousness, and often helps those who requests his help, and thus earned the respect of many, such as the Shinsengumi.

Sakata Gintoki's name is based on a mythological hero of a Japanese folk story, Sakata no Kintoki, (also known as Kintaro or Golden Boy)