Katsura Kogoro was the legendary young leader of the Ch�shū Ishin-Shishi who, along with Ōkubo Toshimichi and Saig� Takamori, became one of the three key figures of the Meiji Restoration after they forged an alliance between former enemies Ch�shū and Satsuma. After witnessing young Himura Kenshin's impressive performance in the Kiheitai, Katsura recruited the fourteen year-old swordsman into his service as a hitokiri in Kyoto and acts as the Batt�sai's immediate superior during the Bakumatsu. (Source: Rurouni Kenshin Wikia)