Ken Katou

Ken is timid, insecure and overwhelmed by the collapse of his former life. His string of failures has badly damaged his confidence, leaving him afraid of confronting the people who took advantage of him.

He nevertheless retains enough determination to seek help from the Yorozuya. As the situation develops, he recognizes that simply buying back his house will not solve the weakness that allowed others to dominate him.

Ken is also a capable singer, an ability that becomes unexpectedly useful during the anime-original story.

Ken has no supernatural abilities and initially shows little aptitude for fighting.

His strongest established talent is singing. The story eventually places him in a situation where his voice becomes more useful than the physical strength he originally believes he needs.

His experiences with the Yorozuya also help him develop greater confidence and willingness to confront his problems directly.

Ken arrives at the Yorozuya seeking thirty million yen. He explains that he lost his job, was swindled out of his home and then discovered that his wife and daughter had left.

Gintoki and the others consider increasingly questionable methods of obtaining the money. Ken then encounters men connected to the scheme that ruined him, and their treatment of him changes his priorities.

He asks Sakata Gintoki to help him become stronger rather than simply earning enough money to buy back the house. Kagura, Shimura Shinpachi and Ayame Sarutobi also become involved in his attempt to rebuild his life.

Sakata Gintoki accepts Ken as a Yorozuya client and becomes involved in helping him confront his problems.

Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura participate in the job after hearing Ken's story.

Ayame Sarutobi joins the group during their efforts to help Ken.

Otose and Catherine are consulted while the Yorozuya search for a way to obtain the money he needs.