Taito Magatsu (Jpn. - 凶戴斗 - "Magatsu Taito") is a core Ittō-ryū member in Blade of the Immortal, and also one of its finest swordsmen. He is known to have assisted in the slaughter of the Asano household which was led by Kagehisa Anotsu. Of peasant origin, he became a swordsman to avenge his sister, who was killed as a child by a samurai. Taito is one of the few swordsmen who has fought Manji and survived. He has also fought by Manji's side as well. He can be considered a kenshi, a swordsman who is not from the samurai class. He despises the government by extension to his hatred of samurai and quits the Itto-ryu when Anotsu allies the group with Kagimura and the shogunate, though he remains on friendly terms with Anotsu. When his lover of sorts, a prostitute named O-Ren, iss killed by Shir