Kojirou Nezu

Kojirou is brave, energetic, direct, and eager to test himself. He is far more naturally comfortable with the martial expectations of a samurai than Tokiyuki, and the official profile describes him as hot-blooded and largely fearless.

Unlike a simple reckless fighter, he watches his surroundings carefully. Kojirou analyzes what is happening in battle, notices changes in his allies' condition, and encourages the people fighting beside him. This makes him dependable even when stronger personalities threaten to turn a situation chaotic.

He frequently becomes the sensible reaction within the Elusive Warriors. Shizuku is calmer, but Kojirou is often the person who openly points out how absurd a plan or companion's behavior has become. The official anime specifically calls him one of the group's comparatively normal members and therefore a frequent straight man.

Kojirou is an expert swordsman for his age. The anime's official character page states that his sword skill is already comparable to that of adults, making him one of Tokiyuki's most reliable direct-combat retainers.

His style favors conventional martial fundamentals rather than Tokiyuki's specialized evasion or Genba's deception. He is strong in direct exchanges, capable of reading an opponent's movement, and particularly effective when coordinating with Ayako.

Kojirou's broader military value grows with experience. He does not merely duel individual opponents; he learns to observe battle formations, maintain morale, and function as a commander among Tokiyuki's growing forces. As Tokiyuki's campaigns become larger, Kojirou develops from a gifted childhood swordsman into one of the Hōjō leader's trusted military officers.

Kojirou is introduced as one of the young retainers Yorishige prepares for Tokiyuki in Suwa. Together with Ayako, he participates in the confrontation that gives Tokiyuki one of his first opportunities to turn escape into a lethal advantage rather than merely a way to survive.

He remains near Tokiyuki throughout the early Shinano conflicts, taking the direct combat role whenever the young lord's own limited swordsmanship is insufficient. His partnership with Ayako becomes particularly important because the two train constantly and have complementary strengths. The official anime describes their battlefield coordination as exceptionally strong.

During the Nakasendai Rebellion and later campaigns, Kojirou takes on increasingly serious command responsibilities as Tokiyuki's forces grow beyond the original Elusive Warriors. His identity as a Nezu warrior becomes more important as he matures into the military role for which his family trained him.

Tokiyuki Houjou is Kojirou's lord and close friend. The official anime explicitly notes that, despite their master-retainer relationship, [Kojirou Nezu] cannot be self-linked, but Tokiyuki Houjou is treated with the familiarity of a friend rather than only ceremonial deference.

Ayako Mochizuki is Kojirou's principal training partner and battlefield counterpart. The two constantly sharpen each other's abilities and fight with especially strong coordination.

Yorinao Nezu is Kojirou's uncle and guardian, as well as one of the major generals of the Suwa faction. His military expectations help shape Kojirou's upbringing and sense of duty.

Shizuku, Genba Kazama, and Fubuki become his closest fellow retainers within the Elusive Warriors. [Later in the story, Shiina becomes especially important to Kojirou's personal life and eventual future.](#spoiler)