Masamune Date (Sengoku BASARA)

Masamune Date In the anime is portrayed as the energetic and fearless young ruler of the Date Clan. He is known by the nickname Dokuganryū (One-Eyed Dragon). Medium-long brown hair, a black eye-patch, an uncommon and original blue suit and a classic helmet with a golden crescent moon at its top is how Masamune has been drawn in the anime, respecting each detail from the game. Another curious thing to mention is his horse: it resembles a motorcycle, because it's equipped with real modern handlebars coming out from the mane and an exhaust pipe on the back. Whenever he travels on horseback, he rides leaning back with his arms crossed.

He tends to speak a mixture of English and Japanese and the way he and his men are shown seems to resemble a Yakuza Clan (due to some hairstyles, way of talking and other details). Date Masamune is presented as a cocky and ambitious warlord, usually wielding a single Katana, though when fighting seriously he can use up to six swords at once (three in each hand, held between the fingers). His six swords gain the nickname "Dragon's claws".

While energetic and optimistic on the battlefield, outside of it he is rather quiet, mild, and thoughtful. He discusses plans and difficulties openly with his men and often weighs the counsel of his second in command, Kojūrō Katakura, before making major decisions. This personality contrast adds to his character's appeal, preventing the forming of a single, unchanging personality. In addition, his loyalty to his men is unmistakable; he has shown more than once to deeply care for all of them, especially for his right hand Kojūrō.

Despite his rivalry with the young Sanada Yukimura, the two have a deep respect for each other and will also form an alliance in order to take down the Devil King Oda Nobunaga.

Story Events
In Sengoku Basara 3, he was enraged after he and Katakura Kojūrō were defeated by Ishida Mitsunari, a loyal retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Odawara Castle. So he, along with Katakura Kojūrō, went after Ishida Mitsunari to defeat him in order to return his pride. Later, Date Masamune made a decision to forge an alliance with Tokugawa Ieyasu and join the battle of Sekigahara to fight Mitsunari. He battles Mitsunari, but not out of revenge, as he states that he was just a stepping stone for him. He defeats Mitsunari but doesn't kill him, remarking that his eyes resemble his before leaving.

In his second story, he heads straight to Osaka and defeats Mitsunari in his first stage. He learns that Yukimura went to Yoshihiro and decides to go there too. After meeting Yoshihiro, he heads to Osaka again to battle Yukimura. After a fierce battle, it end.

Trivia

 * In the anime Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple, episode nine, Shigure offers Kenichi the helmet of Date Masamune (with it's characteristic cresent-moon horns), to protect him from "Having his brains knocked out of his mouth"
 * In the anime his eyes are blue but in manga they are brown.
 * Date Masamune's six sheaths (which he carries his swords in) resemble dragon wings.
 * Date's horse has handlebars and exhausts that resemble a motorcycle.
 * In an episode of the anime Gintama, the character Hijikata Toshiro parodies Date Masamune's famous "HERE WE GO!" and "LET'S PARTY!" and sits on a character styled after his popular "motor cycle" horse before attacking other members of the cast. *It should be noted that Hijikata and Masamune share the same voice actor; Nakai Kazuya. In a draw and Masamune takes his leave.