Biba Amatori

Biba Amatori (天鳥 美馬, Amatori Biba), also known as the Liberator (解放者, Kaihousha), is the leader of the Hunters and the eldest son of the Shogun. It is revealed that he was betrayed by the Shogun in battle years ago and disowned for reasons yet unknown.

Appearance
He has long pink hair, and is called "beautiful" by the women in Shitori Station. He has the looks of someone who is used to fighting.

Personality
Not much is known about Biba. His ruthlessness and complex personality can be easily misinterpreted. It is yet unknown whether this twist in personality emerged after being betrayed by his father, or because of an inherent streak of callousness.

Biba taught Mumei that the weak die and the strong survive, and that one must choose to fight in order to be strong. He makes Kabaneris out of the "weak" and uses them as personal combat troops, perhaps by manipulating their need to be strong. Mumei's panicked words, "But I'm not weak!" when she was afraid of turning into a Kabane in episode 6 hints that Biba turns the Kabaneris he deems weak into Kabanes. He has a policy of "discarding" or banishing people who are too injured to serve, as Enoku and Mumei notes. In Enoku's case, Biba harboured suspicions about Enoku's loyalty.

Mumei, also known as Claw of the Liberator, addresses him as "Brother" (兄様, Ani-sama). She looks up to him to the point of idolatry, frequently quoting him and even talking to him in her sleep. She even goes so far as to hit Ikoma and call him a liar when defending Biba against Ikoma's accusations. However, Biba does not appear to genuinely reciprocate her affection, only praising her to use her. It is still possible that he does hold some admiration or respect, possibly affection for her unwavering loyalty and lack of hesitation.

Biba appears to be very charismatic, judging by his popularity with the common people and the respect he commands from Mumei, despite the fact that he renamed her "Mumei", which means "Nameless". Even Enoku, known as former Ear of the Liberator, desperately wanted to "continue serving the Young Master away from the frontlines" by acting as a double agent. It is implied that Enoku faltered in his mission years ago and is thus dismissed. Biba reads Ikoma easily and knows exactly what to say to win instant kinship.

Biba is politically astute and deceptive. The antithesis of Ikoma, he garners a reputation as a Kabane exterminator and land liberator for the people, but his true goal is to reach Kongoukaku and organise a coup to seize power from his father and obtain revenge for being betrayed. He tries to manipulate Mumei into robbing the master key from Ayame, after gallantly offering to "escort" Koutetsujou to Kongoukaku. A cunning strategist, Biba sees through his enemies' numerous attempts at assassination very quickly.

Biba is obviously very skilled in combat with a sword coated with Kabane heart metal, and commands his battle horse at an almost psychic level. He devises the Hunters' effective battle strategies himself, and is gifted at military leadership. It is suggested that Biba trains his Hunters himself.

Making Biba even more dangerous is his skill with technology. Biba's Hayajiro, the Kokujyo, is extensively modified and carries perhaps the most advanced Kabane technology or research. It is revealed that he was the one who turned Mumei into a Kabaneri. He built an interrogation chamber by harnessing a Kabane fused colony called the Tsutsugamidokoro ("The Heart that Hears"),which howls every time it detects fear and therefore, lies. Biba notices almost immediately when the pressure of one of his engines is too high, and is able to deduce the cause. This makes it evident that he is probably at least as good as Ikoma at engineering. Whether he offered to work on the engine himself in order to impress his visitors, because he trusts his own workmanship more, or because he was tired of Ayame's flirting, is hard to discern.

Ikoma strongly believes that Biba is no hero, because as a Kabaneri with enhanced eyesight, he witnessed Biba smiling when he disarmed and killed Enoku after Enoku's failed attempt at assassinating Biba.

Plot
Journey to Kongoukaku Arc

Mentioned through the series, he was first seen in a flashback of Mumei in episode 6, where he saves Mumei from being killed by a frightened bushi after her mum is shot.

In episode 7, he lead the Hunters, a group of people who eradicate lands filled with Kabane and reclaim them for people, into Shitori Station. Even though he is the eldest son of the Shogun, it appears that he is an independent force, as he has enemies in the Shogunate intent on bringing him down. Enoku tells Mumei to warn Biba in episode 5, and proclaims his allegiance to Biba.

美馬