Yanagi Bakuto

> 「*I'm not trying to be some hero of justice, not in the very least. I just do whatever I want to do. That's all.*」
>
>

## Yanagi Bakuto

* Character
* Stage

* 2020
* 2023

## Name Information

### Appellations

* Ore (Pronoun)
* Bakuto (Kiyonobu, Shigure)
* Baku-chan (Takahisa)
* Bakuto-san (Kaya, Yuto)
* Yanagi (Sho)
* Yanagi-san (Inaba)
* Danna (Takahisa)
* Onii-san / Mister (Shion)

## Personal Information

### Relations

* Yanagi Atsuhiko (Father)
* Unnamed Mother

## Actor

### Portrayed By

Kimisawa Yuki
君沢ユウキ

* 1st
* 2nd

## Name Information

### Appellations

* Ore (Pronoun)
* Bakuto (Kiyonobu, Shigure)
* Baku-chan (Takahisa)
* Bakuto-san (Kaya, Yuto)
* Yanagi (Sho)
* Yanagi-san (Inaba)
* Danna (Takahisa)
* Onii-san / Mister (Shion)

## Personal Information

### Relations

* Yanagi Atsuhiko (Father)
* Unnamed Mother

## Actor

### Portrayed By

Kimisawa Yuki
君沢ユウキ

**Yanagi Bakuto** is the lead protagonist of the ROAD59 franchise and is affiliated with the Shinonome-gumi.

## Profile

A man of insolence who treats others as such with a frivolous attitude. His methods of solving issues are so outrageous to the point that people find him troublesome to have around, but in the end he is the best to be relied upon. Though he seems like does things half-heartedly, he is essentially the leader of the Shinonome, who does what he has to do when he has to.

## Appearance

Bakuto has short black hair and light blue eyes with a scar around his left eye. His attire consists of a cobalt blue button-up which contains a more vibrant color on its collar that exposes his chest. On the top, he wears a black jacket with a golden emblem on its lapel, the inner part of the jacket being grey with blue patterns. He also wears black trousers fastened with a purple belt that has a scale pattern, and black belted loafers.

## Personality

A stubborn, headstrong, and boisterous man, Bakuto always speaks his mind on any given situation regardless of if it needed to be heard, but he never does this out of malice. He tends to treat others casually without formalities, whether they be a stranger or a person of high status, and rarely ever uses honorifics. Initially, he showed contempt for the concept of family and the yakuza due to his father, but his views seem to have shifted since he joined the Shinonome, considering them as his own family. Though he doesn't want to be considered a "hero" on top of having a very crude demeanor, he has high moral standards and is shown to be a good leader towards his companions.

## Abilities

Despite being depicted with a handgun in official illustrations, Bakuto usually fights unarmed at close quarters. His fighting style is unrefined, yet he is exceptionally competent in combat even before being bestowed with his Jingi and is also capable of wielding a katana. His Jingi exerts a powerful force around him that throws off his enemies.

## Relationships

### Shinonome

* Yutsuma Kaya: In-universe, Bakuto is officially recognized as Kaya's bodyguard after they both join the Shinonome. They have high regard for one another, but due to their contrasting personalities, the two tend to clash; Bakuto is free-willed, arrogant and reckless, while Kaya is courteous, modest and attentive. Though she can be irked with his cocky and immature behavior, she considers him reliable. Before Bakuto even knew Kaya, he misread the characters of her name as "Musubutsuman Hanayo" (alternate reading) but even after being corrected by her, he will sometimes tease her by calling her "Hanayo".
* Yutsuma Kiyonobu: Kiyonobu is the first major person that Bakuto meets during his return to the Tenkai Ward, in which the former warns him of the dangers of the city. Since Bakuto joined the Shinonome, Kiyonobu seems to have great trust in him, allowing him to protect his daughter, granting him his Jingi and even agreeing to his ludicrous plans. Unlike the other Shinonome members, Bakuto interacts with Kiyonobu informally.
* Naruyama Seigo: Due to Bakuto's rash nature, he causes many problems for Seigo, such as causing the Shinonome to end up in debt or not following his strategies. As a result, he is usually a target for Seigo's frustrations. Nevertheless, Bakuto eventually finds ways to solve problems that the Seigo would not have thought up.
* Oimachi Takahisa: Being the troublemakers of the group, the two are quite compatible and work very well with each other, although Bakuto is often subject to Takahisa's mischief. Takahisa sometimes refers to Bakuto as "Danna" (旦那), indicating their friendly relationship.

### Hakurou

* Himuro Sho: Sho provides Bakuto useful intel on the latter's father and the situation in the Tenkai Ward. As Sho feels indebted to Bakuto's father, he has some regard for Bakuto. In contrast, despite Sho being the leader of a yakuza group, Bakuto doesn't really take him seriously, and it is debatable to say whether or not the two are truly on good terms.
* Himuro Shizuka: When Shizuka first meets Bakuto, she is appalled by his lack of manners, yet he is barely fazed by when she threatens him. Later in the second stage play, Bakuto is considerate enough to convince the Shinonome to help her against PHOENIX.
* Hyuuga Shion: Shion first encounters Bakuto during a street fight between the Shinonome and the Hakurou. When Shion informs Bakuto that his father's death was related to the yakuza, he follows him to the Hakurou's headquarters for more clarification, though in truth, Shion was attempting to recruit him to join the Hakurou. However, Bakuto refused to join due to his hatred of the yakuza at the time. Shion finds Bakuto amusing, although Bakuto wasn't too pleased to be introduced as a scout to the Hakurou.

### PHOENIX

Spoiler Alert!*Note that there are marked spoilers below. In order to reveal the spoiler, hover over the blurred text.*
* Irina Spessivtseva: Irina is the perpetrator of his father's murder. Upon learning who he is, she is surprised to hear that Atsuko had a son. Despite Bakuto's initial outrage at this revelation, he refuses to take revenge on her after defeating Irina in battle; yet unbeknownst to him, he unintentionally causes her to commit suicide. Irina later returns as a clone in the 2nd stage play, where she gets the chance to retaliate by stabbing him, which would have led to his death if not for Kaya's Jingi. Once again, she is defeated by him in battle, but being magnanimous, he holds no ill will against Irina this time and advises her to live her life freely.

### Tenkai Ward

* Okino Inaba: Bakuto becomes acquainted with Inaba after he saves her from a street fight between the Shinonome and the Hakurou. When Inaba feels helpless of living in the perilous Tenkai Ward, Bakuto encourages her take action for herself. Because of that, Inaba is very grateful towards Bakuto and even considers him as the Tenkai Ward's "hero", much to his chagrin.
* Yanagi Atsuhiko: Bakuto's primary reason for returning to the Tenkai Ward is a result of hearing about his father's death. It is implied that Bakuto had a very strained relationship with his father, referring to him as "damned dad" (kuso oyaji / クソ親父) and talks about him very poorly. He recalls that his father had abandoned him and his mother in the past and didn't even bother to attend his mother's funeral, which ended up manifesting his disdain for the concept of family.

## Stage Plays

### 1st Stage Play

Spoiler Alert!*Note that there are unmarked spoilers under the collapsed section. Proceed to read with caution, or don't read at all!*

After hearing the news of his father's death, Bakuto goes under the alias "Kirisawa Bakuto" and returns to the Tenkai Ward, his hometown which he had been away from for 10 years. He meets Kiyonobu when he first steps in, who warns him of the city’s dangers and that he should leave if he's an outsider. Ignoring this warning, he continues further into the Tenkai until he steps into a street fight between the Shinonome and the Hakurou. In that fight, he comes across Inaba, who was begs him for his help from being detained by the Hakurou. He fights off the gangsters for her and leaves together with her. The two later acquaint with each other before he sends off Inaba into the city.

Shortly after, Bakuto encounters Shion, who had overheard Bakuto's conversation with Inaba. Shion requests to scout Bakuto into the Hakurou after witnessing his prowess in the earlier battle, appealing it as a "family-like group", but the latter harshly rejects the offer due to his hatred of family and the yakuza. But when Shion tells Bakuto that his father's connections and death were related to the yakuza, Bakuto immediately agrees to follow Shion to his office for more clarification.

At the Hakurou's office, Bakuto meets its leader, Sho. Hearing that he wants to learn who killed his father, Sho realizes that Bakuto is Mr. Kirisawa's son. He gives Bakuto his condolences and tells him that he is indebted to his father, but Bakuto is not amused by Sho's positive portrayal of his father. Nevertheless, Sho tells Bakuto about his father's circumstances, saying that he was constantly being targeted by someone that perpetrated his ultimate death. Bakuto questions how he got that information, and the leader says that if he's ready to learn more, he must cost his life and join them. Instead, Bakuto rejects the offer and demands other information from him.

Continuing on, Sho informs Bakuto about the ongoing struggle in the Tenkai Ward over the **Yamata-no-Orochi-no-Kubi**, as well as a young girl who is the key to unlocking its power. However, their conversation is then interrupted by Sho's sisters, preventing Bakuto from gaining more information from Sho. Sho is then instructed to prepare a raid on the Shinonome's territory, leaving Bakuto in a predicament without any more information on his father. Shion advises Bakuto to follow after Sho, mentioning that the last person who contacted his father was the Shinonome's *kumichou*. After he is left behind, Bakuto rereads the posthumous note from his father, which directs him to deliver the letter to someone named Yutsuma Kaya. Recalling from Shion that Kaya was currently with the Shinonome, Bakuto decides to follow after Sho.

As Bakuto accompanies the Hakurou on their raid of the Shinonome's territory, he witnesses the power of a Jingi for the first time during a fight between Sho and Yuto. Sho gives Bakuto a chance to infiltrate their headquarters and there, he seizes Kaya away from the members, retreating with her to abandoned area. He then hands her his father's suicide note, warning her not to hand it over to anyone, much to her perplex. Despite the awkward meeting, they begin to acquaint with one another and discuss about family, but they are suddenly ambushed by Kazuomi and the Hiiragi sisters, prompting to Bakuto fight against them. To his disadvantage, Bakuto faints from an attack by Kazuomi and they rob Kaya away from him. Seigo soon discovers Bakuto injured on the ground and brings him to the Shinonome's office to recover.

Bakuto later awakens at the Shinonome's office, where he gives an unfriendly meeting to its members. He also meets Kiyonobu again, and finds out that he's actually the leader of the Shinonome. From Kiyonobu, Bakuto learns that Kaya is actually his daughter and that his father's suicide note was actually fabricated by him as a way to get closer to Kaya, much to his notable dismay. Kiyonobu then informs him about the legend of Jingis as well as the history of the **Yamata no Orochi no Kubi** which eventually convinces Bakuto to become a Jingi himself. He performs a ritual with Kiyonobu by exchanging a cup of blood with him, and gains the early stages of its power. He then heads to battle with his newfound companions of the Shinonome in order to rescue Kaya.

After a series of events, Bakuto catches up with PHOENIX, who Kaya was now confined with. Still not familiar with his Jingi abilities, Bakuto struggles to fight against Anthony and Irina, but near the end of the conflict, Bakuto's Jingi fully awakens, allowing him to properly fend off their reinforcements together with Kaya. Anthony, realizing that the situation was at a disadvantage, orders a withdrawal, but Irina refuses to end the fight. Irina interludes their battle to disclose her ulterior motives of world equality, and it is revealed that she was the one responsible for killing Bakuto's father after he disagreed with her methods of gaining her dream. Infuriated, Bakuto retaliates against her until she becomes too worn out to continue. Though he gains the upper hand, Bakuto refuses to kill her for revenge and gives back her knife. As a result of her loss, Irina commits suicide with her knife right in front of him and Kaya.

Immediately after the tragedy, Bakuto and Kaya are surrounded by the other yakuza factions. To prevent any more bloodshed, Kaya awakens her Jingi powers, which was too strong for everyone to withstand and forces the factions to retreat. Bakuto and the Shinonome remain with Kaya, and he fondly watches over her reunion with her father Kiyonobu. Heading back home with the Shinonome, he runs into Inaba, who was planning to leave the Tenkai Ward after her store got destroyed by PHOENIX, and thanks him for his help. From here on out, Bakuto starts his new life together with the Shinonome.

### 2nd Stage Play

Spoiler Alert!*Note that there are unmarked spoilers under the collapsed section. Proceed to read with caution, or don't read at all!*

While Bakuto and Kaya are now affiliated with the Shinonome, the latter continues to be pursued by the other Jingi organizations, especially now that she can easily be tracked at school. After battling a number of yakuza lackeys together, Bakuto questions Kaya as to why she still cannot use her Jingi, and she responds that it's too dangerous for her to control and will only use it for risky situations. After some bantering between them, Yuto arrives to pick Kaya and Bakuto up, and the two depart.

Subsequently, the three arrive at the Shinonome's headquarters and meet up with the other members. Curious about their disappointed expressions, Shigure presents a wad of counterfeit bills to Bakuto, which he mistakes as real money. He learns about the production of counterfeit money occurring in the Tenkai Ward, and that the Shinonome is currently being affected by it. On top of that, they also have to pay for large expenses in which Bakuto was unaware of. Infuriated by his ignorance, Seigo loses his temper on Bakuto, telling him that their expenses came from the repair fee for a car and building that he destroyed in a fight. Much to his chagrin, Bakuto tries to make up an excuse, but Seigo adds on, stating that their expenses also came from the fee for the amount of drinks that he's consumed. Kiyonobu therefore concludes that Bakuto's share of the month will be combined with the everyone's, which the others gladly approve of. To contend against this, Bakuto suggests that catching the manufacturer of the counterfeit bills would resolve the issue for the Shinonome. Kaya notes that it wouldn't help Seigo's debt, but Seigo decides to go along with Bakuto's plan. Therefore, Kiyonobu orders Takahisa to accompany Bakuto on his plan as he's more suited for it, and they decide to meet up later after gathering information.

Takahisa and Bakuto eventually assemble later on and have a small discussion about the lack of sakura blooming in the Tenkai Ward. Meanwhile, Takahisa asks if Bakuto gained any information, but the latter wasn't able to understand what he had heard, much to Takahisa's disappointment. Takahisa remarks that the manufacturer of the counterfeit money could be his partner Ichijo during his fraudster era, who happened to be having a business dealing with the Kurojou the next day. Believing that the Kurojou could be the perpetrator of the counterfeit money, they therefore conclude to confront Kensei. Before they depart, Bakuto asks Takahisa on why joined the yakuza. Giving an exaggerated response, Takahisa says that Ichijo had framed him to the yakuza, who was aiming to kill him, but Bakuto's father ended up saving him. Bakuto snarks at the remark of his father, then taking his leave.

Later on, Bakuto and Takahisa run in on Kensei, who was aiming to kill a man allegedly linked to Ichijo and the counterfeit bills. Kensei "politely" asks them not to interfere and orders his lackeys kill the man, but Bakuto stops them with his Jingi. The duo fights off the lackeys, and Kensei teases whether it's okay for them to remain here, since their "pink-haired boy" was on his own with Kaya. Realizing that they could be in danger, Bakuto and Takahisa split up; Bakuto goes ahead to catch up with Kaya and Yuto, while Takahisa stays behind to follow Kensei. By the time Bakuto arrives with Seigo, they find Yuto gravely injured and escort him and Kaya back to the Shinonome's headquarters.

The three rush in to get Yuto treated by Shigure, and in the meantime, Takahisa returns from his mission. Bakuto asks him on what unfolded on his side, and Takahisa "assures" him that the counterfeit bills had already been taken care of, much to his surprise. Takahisa promptly takes his leave and meanwhile Bakuto happily rejoices on the end of their situation, yet the other members are still bitter towards him for causing their debt. Rather than rejoicing along with him, the members all leave Bakuto behind, even Yuto who had apparently recovered quickly.

Scenes later at the Shinonome's headquarters again, the members are worried on Takahisa's whereabouts until Kaya receives a phone call from him. However, Benedict picks up the phone instead, who had captured Takahisa and requested the Shinonome to trade in Kaya in order to free him. While the members are in a dilemma, Shizuka suddenly breaks into their headquarters after disposing of Shinonome personnel right in front of them. Putting herself into a dogeza position before all of them, she reveals that her sister Suzuka had also been captured by Benedict and desperately pleads to Kiyonobu to lend his daughter in order to free her as well. Despite having a minor dispute, Bakuto eventually encourages the Shinonome to help her out and team up to confront Benedict.

The group ends up catching up to Benedict. In the midst of their trade-off, they are able to safely retrieve Suzuka, who warns the Shinonome to be careful of Takahisa since something was wrong with him. Suddenly, Takahisa puts Kaya at gunpoint much to everyone's shock, and before they can take action, Takahisa pulls the trigger on himself. Initially alarming the Shinonome, it turns out that he was just tricking everyone into gaining an advantage over Benedict, much to their relief. Angering Benedict, he turns the tables on them by summoning Irina, who stabs and shoots Bakuto multiple times. While Bakuto is on the brink of death, he makes his final wishes despite the others pleading to him to stay alive. To prevent the unwanted situation, Kaya ends up using her Jingi to resuscitate Bakuto. Though the Shinonome are unsure of what Kaya had done, they focus on defeating PHOENIX.

Sequences after, Bakuto ends up getting the upper hand on Irina once again. Distressed, Irina asks if he'll kill her, but he refuses. She starts to have conflicting thoughts, but Bakuto tells her that she should live life the way she wants. Witnessing the disadvantage, Benedict decides to withdraw with Maria and Irina. Before they can catch a break, Kensei and Kazuomi subsequently show up in front of the Shinonome, and due to their weakened state after battle, Kensei orders Kazuomi to finish them off. Kiyonobu attempts to fend off for them despite their protests, but Shizuka intercedes, telling the Kurojou that if they want to fight the Shinonome, they'd have to fight the Hakurou first. Kensei has no problem with it and attempts to make his lackeys attack them until he hears sirens from the distance, causing the Kurojou to retreat. When things settle, Shizuka offers a silent gratitude towards the Shinonome before departing with Suzuka.

At last, the conflict has settled. Due to Kaya's Jingi, cherry blossoms promptly begin to scatter and the Shinonome are finally able to bond and have a moment of peace under the view.

## Gallery

### Illustrations

* Promotional Art
* Twitter Art
* Manga
* Miscellaneous

Full Body IllustrationFull Body 2023 IllustrationFranchise PromoShinonome MembersLeaders' ChibisROAD to Party Key Visual**ROAD to Party Countdown:** "Jeez, even if it's a birthday cake, why are *we* the ones in charge of it?"

2021 April Fools' Comic No.4Gidora's Illustration for ROAD59's RadioGidora's Illustration for ROAD59's RadioGidora's Illustration for ROAD59's 2nd Stage Play"New Life" Support Campaign Illustration2023 New Year's Illustration

Shinonome Talk #2 IllustrationShinonome Talk #2-2 IllustrationROAD to Party IllustrationROAD to Party Illustration**LINE Sticker**: "Let's do it, shall we?"
### Cast

* Promotional Images
* 1st Stage
* 2nd Stage
* Other Media

1st Stage2nd Stage

Animage - January 2021 IssueCUT - January 2021 Issue4Gamer - March 2021 Interview4Gamer - March 2021 Interview
## Etymology

* **Yanagi** (八薙) can be split into two parts; (八) is read as "eight", and "Nagi" (薙) means to "mow down" or take down something. Yanagi (やなぎ) by itself directly translates to "willow".
* **Bakuto** is written in katakana and is therefore not associated with any kanji. However, the hiragana (ばくと) is associated with the term bakuto (博徒), who were gamblers in real-life yakuza.

## Trivia

* In the second stage play, he mentions that he used to spend more time brawling rather than participating in class when he was in his senior year of high school.