Heiji Kozenigata

Heiji is dramatic, stubborn and devoted to being "hard-boiled." He narrates situations as though living inside a grim detective novel and tries to interpret even mundane events according to the conventions of that persona.

The performance is not entirely empty. Beneath the affectation, Heiji possesses a strong sense of justice and takes police work seriously. When a criminal poses a genuine threat, he is willing to put himself in danger rather than leave civilians to suffer.

His partnership with Haji frequently exposes the distance between his self-image and reality. Haji is accustomed to the detective's speeches and often responds with considerably more practical observations.

Heiji is an experienced police detective with investigative skills, familiarity with Edo's criminal world and proficiency with firearms.

He carries a pistol and is capable of confronting armed criminals directly. While he does not possess the extraordinary swordsmanship of Gintoki or the strongest Shinsengumi officers, he is not merely pretending to be a detective.

Heiji also has considerable persistence. Once he commits himself to a case, his hard-boiled fixation becomes genuine determination to pursue it to its conclusion.

Heiji enters during a case involving a mysterious thief, drawing the Yorozuya into his attempt to recreate the atmosphere of a hard-boiled detective story. Sakata Gintoki, Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura repeatedly undermine the tone he is trying to maintain.

The comedy surrounding his persona eventually gives way to an actual criminal confrontation. Heiji demonstrates that beneath the exaggerated monologues and aesthetic obsession is a policeman prepared to do his job.

He later returns in stories involving law enforcement and Edo's changing political climate. His status outside the Shinsengumi allows him to represent a different corner of the city's police structure.

Haji is Heiji's subordinate and regular partner. Haji accompanies him on investigations and serves as the practical counterweight to Heiji's relentless hard-boiled theatrics.

Sakata Gintoki, Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura become involved in Heiji's cases and repeatedly disrupt the detective-story atmosphere he tries to create.

Kotarou Katsura later crosses paths with Heiji during political unrest in Edo, bringing the detective into contact with one of the Bakufu's most famous fugitives.