Yuusaku Hanazawa

Second Lieutenant (Flag Bearer) Yusaku wore the uniform of a Japanese second lieutenant, which differed from his comrades in that it was black and adorned with tassels (Austrian knots) from the shoulder to the waist. Yusaku's face was barely visible, as his eyes were hidden in the shadows of the brim of his cap. His fellow soldiers described him as having an inspiring face, with bright eyes and long eyelashes, which he inherited from his mother. Because of his position as a flag bearer, Yusaku was described as having a noble or pure aura, a handsome face, and the ability to raise morale with his appearance alone. Due to the common superstitions associated with this honorable position, the flag bearer is expected to be a symbol of hope for the soldiers during battle.

Yuusaku also has a very strong sense of justice, which Tsurumi attributed to his noble bloodline. As such, Yuusaku has never slept with a woman and even refused when his brother tried to pressure him. Despite Ogata promising that no one would ever find out and even bringing him a woman, Yuusaku still left. Yuusaku also refused to kill anyone, saying that it would only make him feel guilty. He also seemed uncomfortable with the dead bodies lying around.

Yusaku was born as the legitimate son of Lieutenant General Kojiro Hanazawa and his legal wife. As a child, he always wanted to have an older brother and was very happy when his older half-brother Hyakunosuke Ogata joined the 7th Division. He always followed Ogata around and called him "Ani-sama" with a carefree smile. One day, Ogata invites Yusaku to go out with him, and Yusaku happily accepts because he thought Ogata was avoiding him. Ogata then takes Yusaku to a brothel to drink and spend time with several women. He talks to Yusaku about his duty as a standard bearer and offers him the opportunity to lose his virginity to a woman in a brothel, thereby tarnishing his image as a standard bearer, promising to keep it a secret under the guise of brotherly affection, but Yusaku is embarrassed by the offer, refuses, and is escorted out the back door. During the Russo-Japanese War, Yusaku and his platoon were sent to fight in the Battle of Port Arthur, where he bravely led the Japanese army against the Russians, earning the admiration of his fellow soldiers. One night, Ogata called Yusaku and brought him to a Russian prisoner of war, whom Ogata had tied up and left there. Ogata asked Yusaku if he had killed any Russian soldiers since they arrived in Port Arthur, and Yusaku replied that he had not. Ogata then hands Yusaku a knife and demands that he kill the Russian, but he refuses and tells Ogata that their father told him to never kill anyone because his purity is important to his role as a standard bearer.

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