Aoshi Shinomori

Shinomori Aoshi was raised a ninja of the Oniwabanshū, who worked for the Shogunate government during the Edo period. He helped to raise Makimachi Misao from childhood as a member of the Oniwabanshū. After the revolution, since a few members of the Oniwabanshū were unable to adapt to life in the Meiji era, Aoshi and these members worked for the corrupt, power-hungry business man, Takeda Kanryū instead. Aoshi's subordinates included Beshimi, who specialised in darts and poison; Hyotoko, whose name literally means "Fire Man" and uses flint-and-steel teeth to breathe fire; Han'nya, a skilled martial artist, deft ninjutsu practitioner and Aoshi's student; and Shikijou, a "muscle man". Aoshi himself remains an enigma. He rarely (if ever) shows emotions in or out of a battle. His weapon in the beginning of the series involved only one kodachi (in combination with martial arts). However, after…