Hijikata is one of the main characters in Hakuouki (Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan) and is the second-in-command (vice president) of the Shinsengumi after their leader, Kondou Isami. He's also a lieutenant in the Shinsengumi along with Okita Souji. Hijikata is strict but very thoughtful and mature. He has a lot of respect for women, which is one of the reasons for him being so protective of Chizuru. Okita Souji has a habit of always playing around and bothering Hijikata which he doesn't like and find quite annoying; even so, they both seem much closer to each other than the other Shinsengumi members, for they have been with the Shinsengumi for a much longer period of time and have known eachother since Souji joined the Shieikan (Kondo Isami's home Dojo) when he was a child .