Zouhei Kunato

Zouhei Kunato is the grandfather of Hyoma Kunato and the current head of one of the three great houses, the Kunato family’s northeastern branch.

He plays a key mentoring role in Hyoma’s life, shaping his approach toward spirits and the world of tsukumogami.

Zouhei serves as the leader of one of the “Three Great Houses,” specifically the Kunato family of the northeast region.

Within the government-like spiritual organization, he holds the important post of seventh director of the Rare Being Countermeasures Office in the Ministry of Divine Exorcism.

His work centers on dealing with tsukumogami, objects that have gained sentience, often after long use by humans.

Because of his rank and experience, he is deeply involved in setting policies and strategies for how humans and tsukumogami should coexist.

Zouhei places strong faith in dialogue as the first and most important method of dealing with tsukumogami.

He believes that attempting to understand and communicate with them is the correct path, and that sealing or subduing them by force should be a true last resort.

This conviction puts him at odds with the more aggressive style of his grandson, Hyoma, who prefers straightforward confrontation.

Zouhei often finds himself exasperated and worried by Hyoma’s refusal to even attempt conversation with tsukumogami, especially given Hyoma’s personal trauma.

Despite his frustrations, Zouhei is not harsh for the sake of being strict.

His sternness is rooted in concern: he wants Hyoma to avoid being consumed by hatred and to gain the broader perspective necessary to lead the family one day.

Hyoma Kunato’s deep hatred for tsukumogami stems from the fact that a tsukumogami killed his older brother and older sister.

Zouhei understands this pain but refuses to let Hyoma’s life be dictated by vengeance alone.

To challenge Hyoma’s worldview, Zouhei sets him a concrete trial.

He decides that Hyoma must live as a boarder in the Nagatsuki household, a place where tsukumogami and humans already coexist.

This living arrangement is meant to provide Hyoma with direct, daily examples of tsukumogami who choose to live peacefully alongside people.

Zouhei hopes that by witnessing this coexistence firsthand, Hyoma will come to see that not all tsukumogami are enemies and that dialogue is not a naive dream but a real option.

As a seasoned exorcist and administrator, Zouhei’s approach is measured and pragmatic rather than purely combative.

He prefers gathering information, understanding each tsukumogami’s history and motives, and seeking solutions that avoid unnecessary destruction.

When forceful sealing is unavoidable, he treats it as a grave decision, not something to be done lightly.

This contrast makes him a moral counterbalance to more hot-headed characters and underscores one of the series’ core themes: whether humans and tsukumogami can truly coexist.

Through his guidance, assignments, and sometimes tough love, Zouhei acts as a catalyst for Hyoma’s growth.

His beliefs and decisions push the story toward a more nuanced exploration of fear, resentment, and the possibility of reconciliation between humans and spirits.