: Substitute for Sanosuke Harada . A large, jovial man with surprising connections to local orphans. The Antagonists Anime Review: Bucchigire! - Merlin's Musings
Bucchigire! (translated as Shine On! Bakumatsu Bad Boys! ) follows seven death-row criminals who are secretly recruited to act as "doubles" for the Shinsengumi in Kyoto.
: Substitute for Soji Okita . A female character posing as the legendary swordsman. Bucchigire!
: Substitute for Isami Kondo . The hot-headed protagonist seeking revenge.
: Substitute for Shinpachi Nagakura . A strong-man criminal often paired with Bo. : Substitute for Sanosuke Harada
: Substitute for Toshizo Hijikata . A stoic, skilled former assassin.
: Substitute for Hajime Saito . A religious spiritualist who uses unconventional weapons. - Merlin's Musings Bucchigire
Set in Japan's Bakumatsu period, the story begins after an imperialist gang known as the wipes out the Shinsengumi's Eighth Division, leaving only Heisuke Toudou alive but severely injured. To maintain order and hide the force's near-annihilation from the public, Toudou offers eight criminals a chance at redemption: they must discard their pasts and pose as the deceased Shinsengumi captains.