Kijima Matako

Overview

Kijima Matako is a supporting character in Hideaki Sorachi's manga and anime series Gintama. She is the sole female member of the Kiheitai, an extremist Joui faction led by Takasugi Shinsuke. Known for her distinctive clothing and dual-pistol marksmanship, she serves as a fiercely devoted lieutenant within the group. While participating in major combat operations against rivals and government forces, she also provides comedy relief and acts as a straight man to her eccentric comrades, making her an indispensable presence in the Kiheitai's dynamics.

Appearance

Matako has blue eyes and blonde hair styled in a side ponytail with sidelocks, which she changes to a full ponytail two years later. Her outfit is a navel-baring kimono-style crop top and miniskirt, colored red in the original manga and live-action film, but magenta-pink in the anime. She wears a belt fitted with hip holsters for her dual pistols, black knee-high socks, and sandals, with bandages visible on her body at times.

Personality

Matako is hot-tempered and brash, yet she possesses absolute devotion and affection toward her leader, Takasugi Shinsuke, swearing to follow him for life. She speaks with a distinct speech habit, frequently attaching "~ssu" to the end of her sentences. Within the heavily eccentric Kiheitai, she serves as the grounded straight man, regularly berating Takechi Henpeita for his suspicious fixations. Despite her aggressive demeanor, she displays a careless side, once hugging Takechi while he was disguised as Takasugi, and frequently suffers from bad premonitions that prove eerily accurate.

Abilities

Known by the alias "Red Bullet," Matako is a dual-wielding gunslinger who handles two pistols with great proficiency. Though her physical combat power is not exceptionally high compared to master swordsmen, her sharp marksmanship allows her to excel at ambushes and long-range suppressing fire. Throughout various battles, she effectively supports her allies by delivering covering fire against adversaries such as Kagura, the Harusame pirates, and Ensho, creating crucial openings for Takasugi Shinsuke.

Background

Matako operates alongside Takechi Henpeita and Kawakami Bansai as part of the revived Kiheitai under Takasugi Shinsuke. She debuts during the Benizakura Arc, clashing with Kagura and the Yorozuya. Subsequently, she participates in major conflicts including the alliance shift with Kamui against Harusame, the Joui reunion plot involving Kurokono Tasuke, the Shogun Assassination Arc in Iga, and the Rakuyo campaign. When Takasugi suffers severe wounds, she stays by his side. Two years after the climax, she searches frantically for Takasugi's reincarnated self, ultimately discovering the newborn infant.

Relationships

Matako harbors profound adoration and loyalty toward Takasugi Shinsuke, willing to sacrifice her life for him. She maintains a strained yet close working partnership with Takechi Henpeita, often scorning his absurd quirks while fighting alongside Kawakami Bansai and Okada Nizou. She shares a fierce rivalry with Kagura, originating from their insult-laden argument during the Benizakura Arc. Additionally, Sakata Gintoki often mocks her name with crude wordplay, a habit later mimicked by Imai Nobume.

Trivia

Matako's name is derived from Kijima Matabei, a historical Choshu samurai who commanded the Yuugekitai during the Bakumatsu period. Despite placing higher than Ayame Sarutobi in an official popularity poll, she was excluded from the in-universe idol unit "Chou Perfume" due to her status as an antagonist. Furthermore, Sakata Gintoki's recurring running gag of mispronouncing her name with crude, censored words led to Imai Nobume adopting an equally vulgar nickname for her.