Zenjirou Shibukawa

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**Zenjirou Shibukawa** (渋川善次郎, *Shibukawa Zenjirō*) was the leader of a band of thieves that Toshizou Hijikata wanted to recruit.

## Appearance

Shibukawa is an old man with a gaunt face and heavy wrinkles on his eyes and mouth along with a small beard. He has long black hair that he keeps tied back in a knot and wears a dark robe with a fur coat hanging over it. Shibukawa is also seen carrying a pipe to smoke.

## Personality

As the leader of a band of thieves, Shibukawa has earned the respect of his men as stated by Hijikata. He also enjoys torturing other people, when he suspects that they may know more than they let on. He is able to keep his cool when things go wrong for him, but this may be a ruse to throw off his enemy while he commands his men. It is implied that Shibukawa may be gay when he caught Shiraishi masturbating and told him that the reason why the prisoners are kept in odd numbers to each room was to prevent them from raping each other.

## Background

Sometime before the beginning of the story, Shibukawa was put into Kabato Prison, where he became acquainted with Hijikata. He was also put into a communal cell with Yoshitake Shiraishi and Chouan Kumagishi, but did not interact much with them. One night, he caught Shiraishi masturbating to a shunga picture and asked him if he knows why the prisons only kept odd numbers of prisoners in each communal cell. When Shiraishi says it's probably easier to make escape plans with only two people, Shibukawa says it's to stop them from raping each other. Some time later, he was recently released from prison and afterwards, was able to reassemble his old thieving band and made his home on the outskirts of Otaru.

## Plot

### Escape King Arc

The group of Toshizou Hijikata is looking for allies to search for the gold. Hijikata wants to recruit **Zenjirou Shibukawa**, a leader of of a band of thieves that was recently released from Kabato Prison. Ushiyama is skeptical of Shibukawa's cooperation, and Hijikata reveals that earlier he sent some messengers to the men but they never returned. Still, Hijikata claims that they need Shibukawa's talents and his men and empathizes that they must not kill Shibukawa under any circumstances. Ushiyama mentions that there's only ten of them versus a dozen of Shibukawa's men, which puts them at disadvantage. Hijikata disagrees and says that one cannot count on raw numbers winning battles, what matters is how many men on your side are prepared to die.

Upon arriving to Shibukawa's residence, Hijikata and his men get inside the building. One of Shibukawa's men confronts them but Ushiyama quickly grabs him and throws him in the air, breaking the ceiling. Shibukawa says that he hasn't seen Hijikata since he was transferred to Abashiri Prison but back in Kabato Prison he helped him a lot. Hijikata asks if his men have arrived, and Shibukawa replies that they did and were tortured until they gave up the information about Ainu gold. Hijikata announces to Shibukawa that he will either join him or fight to the death. Shibukawa asks Hijikata to show him his Abashiri tattoo, but instead Hijikata throws him the severed heads of the men that were supposed to attack Hijikata and his group. Hijikata demands Shibukawa order his men that are hiding behind the walls to lower their weapons. Shibukawa seemingly surrenders, saying Hijikata may have fooled everyone in Kabato by acting like a quiet old man, but he always knew that Hijikata was a dangerous son of a bitch. Suddenly, Shibukawa shouts, telling his men to kill the group, but he is immediately shot by Hijikata. The fighting ensues, and Hijikata, carrying both his katana and Winchester rifle, kills several of Shibukawa's thieves and orders his own men to let anyone escape. Ushiyama watches him, remarking to himself that this must be the true face of the Shinsengumi's Merciless Vice-Commander.

When the fight ends, Hijikata stands above the dead bodies of Shibukawa's men. Before leaving, he laments that Shibukawa wasn't half the man Kondou was.

## Abilities

Shibukawa's prowess was such that a man like Toshizou Hijikata wanted to recruit him and even told his men not to kill him.