A Complete Guide to Every Hypnosis Mic Character

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Anime expert Jose Rivera breaks down the main & supporting cast of Hypnosis Mic

Co-authored by Jose Rivera and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: April 13, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Buster Bros!!!
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• MAD TRIGGER CREW
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• Fling Posse
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• Matenrō
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• Dotsuitare Hompo
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• Bad A*s Temple
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• Other Characters
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• Why These Characters Matter
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• Hypnosis Mic Overview

|Show more |Show less

Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle is a complex multimedia project involving music releases, audio dramas, stage plays, and a mobile game—and that’s in addition to a manga and anime! In Hypnosis Mic, women have taken over politics in Tokyo’s Chuo ward and banned all weapons, leading men to fight through rap battles with the use of Hypnosis Mics (which influence people’s thoughts and emotions). Its main characters are rappers split into teams of three, using their words to fight territorial battles. In this extensive guide, we’ll introduce you to all of Hypnosis Mic’s main characters, with exclusive insights from an anime expert.

An Overview of Characters in Hypnosis Mic

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Anime expert Jose Rivera says the main characters in Hypnosis Mic are divided into teams of three. Each represents their own district of Tokyo (or other area of Japan). Teams include Buster Bros!!!, MAD TRIGGER CREW, Fling Posse, Matenrō, Dotsuitare Hompo, and Bad A*s Temple.

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Section 1 of 9:

Hypnosis Mic Characters in the Buster Bros!!! Team

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   Ichiro Yamada Ichiro is the Buster Bros’ leader. A former delinquent turned protector, he’s the eldest of his brothers and the emotional backbone of the group, known for putting family above everything, notes Rivera. Together, they’re a rap team from Ikebukuro (a district in Tokyo, Japan). He’s known for being very friendly, although he holds grudges for a long time—including one against Samatoki Aohitsugi. Beyond that, he’s compassionate and civic-minded, wanting to use his words (and songs) to create a better world for everyone.

   • Stage name: MC.B.B. (pronounced “Em-Cee Big Brother”)
   • Solo songs: “I am Ichiro,” “Break the Wall,” “HIPHOPPIA,” and “H era Reformation”
   • Played by: Subaru Kimura (voice); Akira Takano and Ryoga Ishikawa (stage actors)

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Jose Rivera, also known as Ricky Flicks online, is an anime expert, social media strategist, and content creator. With over 5 years of experience, he has generated over 200M views across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
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   Jiro Yamada Jiro is the middle Yamada brother and the second member of the Buster Bros. Hot-headed and competitive, he often struggles to live up to his older brother’s reputation, adds Rivera. He’s on a journey of self-discovery; in the past, he admired his brother, Ichiro, to such a great extent that he based his entire personality on Ichiro’s. Now, he’s committed to learning more about his own inner self and desires.

   • Stage name: MC.M.B. (pronounced “Em-Cee Middle Brother”)
   • Solo songs: “This Means War,” “School of IKB,” and “Sunshine”
   • Played by: Haruki Ishiya (voice); Shōta Matsuda, and Kennosuke Matsuoka (stage actors)
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   Saburo Yamada At 14 years old, Saburo is a middle-school student and the youngest of the Yamada brothers. Despite being the youngest, he’s a genius hacker with a sharp tongue and a tendency to manipulate situations, according to Rivera. He tends to compete with Jiro (the middle brother), as both aspire to be their elder brother Ichiro’s right-hand man.

   • Stage name: MC.L.B.
   • Solo songs: “New Star,” “Requiem,” and “Scarlet Summer”
   • Played by: Kōhei Amasaki (voice); Ryuto Akishima/Ryunosuke Nagashima and Yukia Takano (stage actors)
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Section 2 of 9:

Hypnosis Mic Characters in the MAD TRIGGER CREW

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   Samatoki Aohitsugi Samatoki is a member of the Katen Family (a yakuza clan) and the leader of the MAD TRIGGER CREW. As a result of his gang connections, he can be violent and hot-tempered; yet, at the same time, he’s also protective of his people and is seen as a big brother figure to those in his circle. Long story short, he’s a yakuza boss with a volatile temper but a strict personal code, says Rivera.

   • Stage name: Mr.Hc.
   • Solo songs: “G Anthem of Y-City,” “Gangsta’s Paradise,” “Rinka,” and “Backbone”
   • Played by: Shintarō Asanuma (voice); Aran Abe and Takuya Uehara (stage actors)
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   Jyuto Iruma Jyuto is the second member of MAD TRIGGER CREW. As Rivera highlights, he’s also a corrupt cop who operates in moral gray zones, balancing law and personal gain. His primary goal as a police officer is to eliminate all illegal drugs, as well as make major changes within the police organization.

   • Stage name: 45 Rabbit
   • Solo songs: “Bayside Smoking Blues,” “Uncrushable,” and “Awake”
   • Played by: Wataru Komada (voice); Kenta Mizue and YUKI (stage actors)
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   Rio Mason Busujima Rio is the third member of MAD TRIGGER CREW. He’s also a disciplined ex-military soldier who brings calm and strategy to the group, notes Rivera. When the military disbanded, he began life as a solo “soldier,” living in his own base camp and investigating Chuohku. He’s reserved and patient, and his main goal is to rescue his former superior officer, Ansho Iojaku.

   • Stage name: Crazy M
   • Solo songs: “What’s My Name?”, “2DIE4,” “Move Your Body Till You Die!”, and “NO WAR”
   • Played by: Shinichiro Kamio (voice); Yūki Byrnes and Takumi Masunaga (stage actors)
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Section 3 of 9:

Hypnosis Mic Characters in the Fling Posse

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   Ramuda Amemura Ramuda is the 24-year-old leader of Fling Posse and a fashion designer, creator of the “Empty Candy” fashion brand. He’s very sweet and energetic, but has a darker past—he’s a clone formerly associated with Chuohku, but was deemed a failure because he, unlike the other clones, had emotions. Simply put, he’s a playful fashion designer whose carefree attitude hides deeper secrets, according to Rivera.

   • Stage name: easy R
   • Solo songs: “drops,” “Pink-Colored Love,” and “One and Only”
   • Played by: Yusuke Shirai (voice); Ryo Sekoguchi/Kentaro Yasui and Junpei Mitsui (stage actors)
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   Gentaro Yumeno Gentaro is a well-known novelist and the second member of the Fling Posse. He masks his personality with a mixture of lies and half-truths, concealing his true feelings from just about everyone. This makes it hard to tell where fiction ends and truth begins, adds Rivera. Underneath the front he puts up, however, he’s loyal and dedicated to the people he loves; currently, he’s trying to avenge his brother by exposing Chuohku’s injustices.

   • Stage name: Phantom
   • Solo songs: “Scenario Liar,” “Calyx,” “Beyond the Dreams,” and “Lie”
   • Played by: Soma Saito (voice); Takahisa Maeyama/Ryuichirō Sakata and Shunto Imai (stage actors)
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   Dice Arisugawa Dice is a gambling addict driven by risk and adrenaline, says Rivera. Oh, and the final member of Fling Posse. He spends his life always looking for new thrills, and he’s in debt more often than not because of how much he gambles. Nonetheless, he takes care of his people—including making a deal with his estranged mother, Otome, to keep the Fling Posse’s leader, Ramuda, safe.

   • Stage name: Dead or Alive
   • Solo songs: “3$EVEN,” “SCRAMBLE GAMBLE,” and “God in the Dice”
   • Played by: Yukihiro Nozuyama (voice); Ryo Takizawa and Taiyu Kitsuya (stage actors)
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Section 4 of 9:

Hypnosis Mic Characters in Matenrō

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   Jakurai Jinguji Jakurai is a calm and philosophical doctor who serves as the group’s moral center, states Rivera. He’s also a former hitman; when he was a medical student, he’d travel to conflict zones outside the country, which is when he was first contracted. Thus, he now wants to redeem himself by saving as many people as he can with his skills as a doctor.

   • Stage name: ill-DOC
   • Solo songs: “Labyrinth Walls,” “You Are, Therefore I Am,” and “Pomp and Gallantry”
   • Played by: Show Hayami (voice); Taiyo Ayukawa and Allen Kohatsu (stage actors)
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   Hifumi Izanami Hifumi is the number one host in Shinjuku (another district in Tokyo) and the second member of Matenrō. He has a dynamic personality that changes dramatically when he puts on his host’s jacket (and effectively enters “host mode”). He also becomes painfully shy around women outside of work, adds Rivera. In fact, he’s only able to face them while in “host mode.”

   • Stage name: GIGOLO
   • Solo songs: “Champagne Gold,” “Don’t Stop the Party,” “Positive my Life,” and “The Last Song of the Beginning”
   • Played by: Ryuichi Kijima (voice); Hirofumi Araki and Yūto Ando (stage actors)
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   Doppo Kannonzaka Doppo is Matenrō’s third member. For his day job, he’s a run-of-the-mill office worker for a medical equipment manufacturer—but he puts up with a lot there, including a brutal work environment and an abusive boss. Thus, he’s an overworked salaryman battling anxiety and self-worth issues, says Rivera. He also shares an apartment with his childhood friend, Hifumi Izanami.

   • Stage name: DOPPO
   • Solo songs: “Tigridia,” “Black or White,” and “Andante”
   • Played by: Kent Itō (voice); Kodai Miyagi and Yūki Nakashita (stage actors)
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Section 5 of 9:

Hypnosis Mic Characters in Dotsuitare Hompo

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   Sasara Nurude Sasara is a popular manzai comedian in Tokyo and the leader of Dotsuitare Hompo. He was formerly part of a comedic duo with Rosho, the second member of Dotsuitare Hompo; the duo has since disbanded, but Sasara has continued to enjoy a successful career as a stand-up since then. He’s eccentric and charismatic, and loves cracking jokes no matter the situation.

   • Stage name: Tragic Comedy
   • Solo songs: “Tragic Transistor,” “Comedian Rhapsody,” and “Laughin’ Hope”
   • Played by: Ryota Iwasaki (voice); Yoshihiko Aramaki and Ryusei Kitade (stage actors)
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   Rosho Tsutsujimori As mentioned above, Rosho is a former comedian and now a high school math teacher, as well as the second member of Dotsuitare Hompo. He’s very earnest and dedicated to his students, who, in turn, love him for the genuine care he shows them. He ended his comedic career after a performance triggered his stage fright—something he still struggles with.

   • Stage name: WISDOM
   • Solo songs: “Own Stage,” “Under Sail,” and “On My Way”
   • Played by: Kengo Kawanishi (voice); Masamichi Satonaka and Torayoshi Iida (stage actors)
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   Rei Amayado Rei is many things—a conman, a former technology developer for the military, the creator of the Hypnosis Mic, and the Yamada brothers’ biological father. He’s also the final member of Dotsuitare Hompo. He’s very calculating and paranoid, although he tries to act charming and carefree around others.

   • Stage name: MC MasterMind
   • Solo songs: “FACES,” “Count the money,” and “The World is Yours”
   • Played by: Takaya Kuroda (voice); Yoshihisa Higashiyama/Naoya Gomoto and Taishi Yoshikawa (stage actors)
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Section 6 of 9:

Hypnosis Mic Characters in Bad A*s Temple

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   Kuko Harai Kuko is the leader of Bad A*s Temple, as well as an apprentice Buddhist monk training to become a full-fledged member of the Kugen Temple under his father, Shakku. Despite his Buddhist roots, he can be harsh and combative—although over the course of his story in Hypnosis Mic, he’s become much more level-headed and a mentor to Jyushi and Hitoya, the other members of his rap team.

   • Stage name: Evil Monk
   • Solo songs: “Sōgyaran Bam,” “Young Gun of The Sun,” and “Terminus”
   • Played by: Shota Hayama (voice); Ryota Hirono and Tomoya Nakanishi (stage actors)
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   Jyushi Aimono Jyushi is a vocalist and member of a visual kei band called ArgoξOrchestra, as well as a member of Bad A*s Temple. He uses his dramatic onstage persona to express himself creatively. Outside of his performances, he’s sensitive and kind. Over time, he’s learned to embrace his inner strength and bravery through Kuko’s mentorship, overcoming his experiences of being bullied in school.

   • Stage name: 14th Moon
   • Solo songs: “Moonlight Shadow,” “Violet Masquerade,” “Devil’s Flower,” and “Continued.”
   • Played by: Yuki Sakakihara (voice); Daigo Kato, Fūta Sakayori (stage actors)
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   Hitoya Amaguni Hitoya is Bad A*s Temple’s final member, as well as a talented lawyer. He’s stern and confident, using his position to stand up for vulnerable people in need of help. He willingly takes on any case that has a chance of winning, regardless of how much he gets paid in the end, and even handles cases involving bullying pro bono (as bullying led to his brother’s death).

   • Stage name: Heaven and Hell
   • Solo songs: “One and Two, and Law,” “If I Follow My Heart,” and “Heartache”
   • Played by: Eiji Takeuchi (voice); Ruito Aoyagi and Kōhei Nakatsuka (stage actors)
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Section 7 of 9:

Supporting Characters in Hypnosis Mic

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   Hypnosis Mic has a few other side-characters (many of them related to the main characters in some way). This includes the characters in “Kotonohatoh,” a three-person representative group for the Chuoh Division. Take a look at Hypnosis Mic’s supporting characters:

   • Otome Tohoten - Otome is the leader of Kotonohatoh, head of the Party of Words, and the Prime Minister of Japan. She’s responsible for organizing the Division Rap Battle—and is also Dice Arisugawa’s mother.
   • Ichijiku Kadenokoji - Ichijiku is a member of the Party of Words and advisor to the Prime Minister, as well as the Superintendent General of the police. She can be strict and ruthless, directing all of the Party’s policies.
   • Nemu Aohitsugi - Nemu is a member of the Party of Words and the third member of Kotonohatoh, as well as Samatoki’s sister. She’s kind and idealistic, with a strong drive to do the right thing.
   • Honobono Keitoin - Honobono is another member of the Party of Words and the Captain of the Chuohku Criminal Bureau. She’s destructive and manipulative, treating life like a game and always wanting to get her way.
   • Yotsutsuji Kannabi - Yotsutsuji is Jakurai’s adopted son. He’s sweet and a little shy, though he can be overly serious at times.

Section 8 of 9:

Why do the characters in Hypnosis Mic matter?

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1. The characters exhibit deep emotional struggles in a dystopian world. “What sets Hypnosis Mic apart is how each character’s rap style reflects their personal trauma, goals, and identity. Battles aren’t just about winning; they’re emotional confrontations where lyrics reveal vulnerabilities and challenge worldviews. It’s part music, part character study, and part psychological warfare,” according to Rivera.

   • The cast also turns a flashy concept into something surprisingly introspective, Rivera continues. “Behind every beat drop is a character trying to prove something to others, or to themselves. Whether you connect with Ichiro’s loyalty, Ramuda’s hidden pain, or Jakurai’s calm wisdom, the series thrives on one idea: words have power, especially when they come from the heart.”
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Section 9 of 9:

Hypnosis Mic Overview

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1. Hypnosis Mic is one of the most character-driven multimedia franchises in anime culture. “In this world, weapons are banned, and conflicts are settled through Hypnosis Mics, devices that turn lyrics into literal power. But the real draw isn’t just the concept, it’s the larger-than-life cast, each representing a different district, philosophy, and style of expression," explains Rivera. "The story is divided into rival teams called Divisions, each comprising three members. Every Division reflects a specific vibe, rebellion, authority, chaos, or intellect, and their characters embody those traits through their music and personalities.”

   • Ikebukuro Division: Buster Bros!! is all about family bonds, their dynamic blends loyalty, rivalry, and growth as they redefine what it means to rely on each other, says Rivera.
   • Yokohama Division: MAD TRIGGER CREW thrives on power and control, representing authority from three different angles: crime, law, and military, he continues.
   • Shibuya Division: Fling Posse embodies the illusion vs. reality dynamic; their charm masks their instability, making them one of the most unpredictable teams, he adds.
   • Shinjuku Division: Matenro focuses on healing and inner struggle, tackling mental health, identity, and societal pressure, concludes Rivera.

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