Arataki Itto

Lore & Background

Arataki Itto is the leader of Inazuma's 'Arataki Gang', establishing his position as a banchō and the only oni youth currently active in public life. His deputy is Kuki Shinobu, a former shrine maiden who tries to help him out. Itto is boisterous and bold, and he loves gambling and having fun. He often invents arrogant and exaggerated nicknames for himself in the format 'Arataki ___ Itto'.

During Inazuma's Vision Hunt Decree, Arataki Itto's Vision was confiscated by Kujou Sara on behalf of the Raiden Shogun. Afterwards, he issued multiple public declarations of revenge, all of which Sara rejected. Even after the decree was abolished, Itto still challenged Kujou Sara to a duel. In the first act of his story quest, Itto discovers that a Blue Oni descendant named Takuya is trying to stop a series of robberies and kidnappings, not committing them. Itto publicly takes responsibility while secretly investigating, finds Takuya, and helps him rescue a kidnapped child. He then persuades Takuya not to forget oni pride or give up life. Itto voluntarily turns himself in and is released, while only Takuya is arrested.

Reader's Guide

Arataki Itto is a five-star Geo character who wields a claymore. His Elemental Skill summons 'Ushi', a small red bull and honorary member of the Arataki Gang, which he can throw at enemies. His Elemental Burst puts him into an empowered state known as 'Raging Oni King' and transforms his weapon into the 'Oni King's Kanabou.' Itto has a high base critical hit rate, can taunt to draw enemy fire, and deals considerable damage while in the 'Raging Oni King' state. In a limited-time event in version 3.4, players could take part in a beetle-fighting tournament organized by Itto, where victory is determined through the special 'Beetle Battle' gameplay mechanic. miHoYo first announced Arataki Itto as a new playable character by releasing his official artwork on October 11, 2021. During the promotional livestream for version 2.3, miHoYo revealed his voice actor and gameplay; on December 8, they released his character trailer. On December 12, they released a preview demonstration of his combat gameplay. miHoYo also prepared a signature weapon for him to use. Critics praised his combat capabilities, noting he performs well against both bosses and regular enemies. His playstyle is simpler and more straightforward compared to other Geo characters. The character banner featuring the Wanderer and Arataki Itto generated over US$3.79 million in revenue on its first day of release and more than US$17.43 million in its first week, though Itto's share of the revenue was estimated to only be about 8%.

Did You Know?

• Arataki Itto is allergic to soybeans and their derivatives, such as tofu, a reference to the Japanese tradition of throwing soybeans at oni during Setsubun.
• His English voice actor, Max Mittelman, also voices Ryuji Sakamoto in Persona 5, and players were delighted by the similarity between the two voices.
• After miHoYo released his official character artwork, it was retweeted over 100,000 times within several hours and by the end of the day exceeded 160,000 retweets and 370,000 likes.
• The weapon depicted in Itto's character artwork, the 'Oni King's Kanabou', resembles a chocolate-covered ice cream bar, leading to an internet meme where fans edited the artwork to replace the club with ice cream.

Design & Cultural Roots

Arataki Itto's visual identity is deeply woven into Japanese cultural traditions. His red oni horns, bold facial markings, and the thick rope slung across his back all echo the aesthetics of kabuki theatre, while his overall silhouette channels the red oni of Japanese folklore—creatures traditionally linked to raw passion, untamed energy, and a certain brutality. He carries a massive spiked club, and his long white hair streaked with red cascades down his back. A Vision hangs from a spiked choker at his throat, and an oni mask rests at his hip. Beyond pure aesthetics, the design weaves in a playful cultural reference: during the Setsubun festival, children hurl roasted soybeans at oni figures to ward off evil. Itto, true to this tradition, is comically allergic to soybeans and tofu. Critics like Tilly Lawton at Pocket Tactics called the look captivating, while Game Rant's Nahda Nabiilah noted the combination of yōkai traits creates an "awe-inspiring atmosphere." However, Polygon's Ana Diaz pointed out a proportion issue—his slender arms seemed at odds with his defined torso and enormous weapon, a gap that became more apparent after later characters like Alhaitham arrived with noticeably more detailed arm musculature.

Voice & Performance

The character's voice casting added layers of personality that resonated well beyond the screen. In Japanese, Takanori Nishikawa—better known by his stage name T.M.Revolution—brought a charismatic energy to the role. In an interview, Nishikawa described Itto as someone who shoulders burdens with strength yet hides a delicate, caring heart, and he noted these were traits he recognized in himself. In English, Max Mittelman took on the part, a role that drew immediate comparisons because he also voices Ryuji Sakamoto in Persona 5. During a livestream, Mittelman admitted he was anxious that fans might feel the two voices were too interchangeable. To his surprise and relief, players actually embraced the similarity with delight. His Chinese counterpart is Liu Zhaokun, and in Korean, Song Joon-seok voices the character. Mittelman's performance in the version 2.6 event quest "Hues of the Violet Garden" was singled out by Polygon's Ana Diaz, who praised his improvisation in the English dub for making Itto feel vividly alive—particularly the moment the character shifts from disinterest to sudden enthusiasm upon hearing about a limited-edition cocktail.

Lore & Narrative Arc

Within Inazuma's world, Itto holds the title of banchō, leading the Arataki Gang as the only young oni still active in public life. His deputy, Kuki Shinobu, a former shrine maiden, works to keep his more reckless tendencies in check. Itto is defined by his boisterous confidence, his love of gambling, and his habit of inventing grandiose nicknames for himself in the pattern "Arataki ___ Itto." His story takes a darker turn during the Vision Hunt Decree, when Kujou Sara confiscates his Vision on the Raiden Shogun's orders. Itto issues repeated public declarations of revenge, all of which Sara dismisses. Even after the decree's abolition, he still demands a duel. In his story quest "The Golden Soul," players first encounter him as a fugitive through an Adventurers' Guild commission, piecing together his story from local dialogue. The quest reveals descendants of the Blue Oni clan committing robbery and kidnapping. Itto publicly takes blame for their crimes while secretly investigating, ultimately freeing hostages, persuading a young descendant named Takuya to hold onto his oni pride, and then allowing both of them to be arrested. Siliconera's Jenni Lada called this one of the best-written side quests in the game.

Gameplay & Reception

As a five-star Geo claymore user, Itto's kit centers on raw, aggressive combat. His Elemental Skill summons Ushi, a small red bull and honorary member of the Arataki Gang, which he hurls at enemies. His Elemental Burst triggers the "Raging Oni King" state, transforming his weapon into the Oni King's Kanabou and dramatically boosting his damage output. He also benefits from a high base critical hit rate and a taunt mechanic that draws enemy aggro. In the version 3.4 limited-time event, players could join a beetle-fighting tournament he organizes, using a dedicated "Beetle Battle" mechanic. His promotional rollout began on October 11, 2021, with official artwork, followed by a voice actor reveal and gameplay showcase during the version 2.3 livestream, a character trailer on December 8, and a combat preview on December 12, alongside a signature weapon. Critics generally celebrated his narrative integration and design, though the earlier-mentioned arm proportion critique from Polygon lingered as a minor blemish on an otherwise well-received character launch.