Benizakura

Lore & Background

The Benizakura is a cursed sword that was stolen from the swordsmith Murata Tetsuya. Tetsuya had been acting as an accomplice to the Kiheitai in hopes of perfecting the Benizakura, which they had been mass-producing as a bioweapon. The sword is wielded by the assassin Nizo Okada, a previous antagonist known as Nizo the Butcher. The Benizakura is revealed to be no ordinary cursed sword; it exerts Nizo's body to strengthen itself. Tetsuya states that "the life or death confrontation [may have] awakened memories of battle that lay dormant inside of [Gintoki]." Nizo is eventually consumed by the Benizakura and goes berserk. Tetsuya sacrifices his life to protect his sister, realizing the error of his ways. Gintoki uses Tetsuko's sword to finish off Nizo and destroys the Benizakura.

In Their Own Story

The swordsmith Murata Tetsuya requests Gintoki Sakata to retrieve the cursed sword Benizakura, which has been stolen to commit serial murder. Gintoki is overwhelmed by Nizo Okada and the Benizakura, which is revealed to be no ordinary cursed sword. Shinpachi slashes off one of Nizo's arms, forcing him to retreat. It is later revealed that Nizo is a member of the Kiheitai and that Murata Tetsuya has been acting as an accomplice in hopes of perfecting the Benizakura, which they had been mass-producing as a bioweapon. Murata Tetsuko reveals her brother's intentions and requests Gintoki to stop her brother. Katsura blows up the factory and destroys all the remaining Benizakura, save for the one Nizo holds. Tetsuko gives Gintoki a new sword she created to battle Okada. Despite not having fully recovered, Gintoki manages to stay on par with Nizo's enhanced skills due to the latter's body suffering great stress from the Benizakura. Even as the Benizakura exerts Nizo's body to strengthen itself, Gintoki eventually overpowers Nizo. Nizo is eventually consumed by the Benizakura and goes berserk. Tetsuya sacrifices his life to protect his sister, realizing the error of his ways. Gintoki uses Tetsuko's sword to finish off Nizo and destroys the Benizakura.

Reader's Guide

The Benizakura is a cursed sword that serves as a central plot device in the film *Gintama: The Movie*. It is initially introduced as a stolen cursed sword that has been used to commit serial murder. The sword is revealed to be a bioweapon that the Kiheitai have been mass-producing. The blade exerts its wielder's body to strengthen itself, eventually consuming the wielder and causing them to go berserk. Key moments include: Gintoki being overwhelmed by Nizo and the Benizakura; the revelation that Murata Tetsuya is an accomplice in perfecting the Benizakura; Katsura destroying the factory and all remaining Benizakura save for one; Tetsuko giving Gintoki a new sword; Nizo being consumed by the Benizakura and going berserk; Tetsuya sacrificing his life to protect his sister; and Gintoki using Tetsuko's sword to finish off Nizo and destroy the Benizakura.

Did You Know?

• The Benizakura was being mass-produced as a bioweapon by the Kiheitai.
• The swordsmith Murata Tetsuya was an accomplice in perfecting the Benizakura.
• Nizo Okada was eventually consumed by the Benizakura and went berserk.
• Murata Tetsuya sacrificed his life to protect his sister, realizing the error of his ways.
• Gintoki destroyed the Benizakura using a new sword created by Murata Tetsuko.