Togame

Togame is the female protagonist of the series Katanagatari and a self-titled strategist working for the shogunate. Togame is petite and often claims to be physically fragile. As a child, she had black hair and dark pink eyes. After she witnessed the death of her father, her appearance changed. Her hair turned white from the shock and the eye that saw his murder through the doorway gap takes on a crucifix/cross-like appearance whenever she schemes. One of the Maniwani notes that it "shines with ambition". Later in the series, her long hair is chopped off by a brutal attack from Nanami Yasuri. Togame dresses in the flamboyant manner of a princess, with colors of deep purple and royal blue. She wears a one-sleeved kimono top emblazoned with the symbol of a coiled golden snake. A piece of half-armor covers one shoulder, referencing her samurai lineage. Her skirt has an intentionally torn appearance. She wears traditional geta. In the novels, Togame states that fashion is important and she dresses as she does to give herself a more imposing appearance. Despite her youthful appearance and small stature, Togame is older than she looks, being at least twenty-four, while Kanara Azekura estimates she is about thirty-three. Togame has a strong will and a high intellect, but she is also very clumsy and is not immune to bad judgment. She calculates brutal schemes that surprise even her partner and sword, Shichika Yasuri. Despite this, Togame is a cheery girl that handles herself as royalty, as is shown with her habit of wearing extravagant clothing and way of speaking. Her catchphrase is "Cheerio!", which she shouts while striking Shichika. Togame explains that this is a foreign word for "Chesuto!" (the Kagoshima dialect equivalent of "Ganbare!") only to discover later that this is incorrect. After some embarrassment, she tries to pass it off as an intentional choice. Togame is wary of trusting others as she has been betrayed before on her sword-collecting quest. She orders Shichika to fall in love with her as she believes that only love surpasses all other temptations, including money or honor. Togame defines herself as a strategian, but emphasizes that what she concocts are not normal strategies or plans. She asserts that she instead makes schemes: haphazard plans made by the destitute and desperate to achieve success in the face of impossible odds. Her schemes focus on survival instead of complete victory, though she admits that sometimes, miracles can happen.