Kirimaru Settsuno is a standout character from "Nintama Rantarou," known for his extreme stinginess and clever ways to save and make money. After losing his family and home in a war, he survived by working countless part-time jobs, making him tough, street-smart, and skilled in many things. Despite his harsh life, he remains cheerful and forms strong bonds with friends. Kirimaru’s obsession with money and witty personality often bring comic relief, and his tragic past adds depth to his character.
Kirimaru is a boy with sharp upturned eyes and notable snaggle teeth.
His hair is black in the original manga and dark blue in the anime.
He wears a scarf around his neck in the anime version.
Among his best friends, he is considered the most handsome.
Anime staff added the scarf to make him visually different from Rantarou Inadera.
Height: 140cm
Weight: 34kg
Blood Type: B
He is often shown with lively expressions, especially when money is involved.
Kirimaru is extremely stingy and obsessed with money.
He is proud of this trait and refuses to let go of anything once he grabs it.
Even when thrown away, he will chase his belongings.
His eyes often turn into coin shapes when thinking about money.
He is a self-proclaimed genius at part-time jobs and always looks for ways to earn or save coins—even during class.
He’s full of knowledge about making money and business tricks.
Words like "free," "cheap," and "money" make him excited, while words like "pay" or “loss” make him upset.
Although sometimes cheeky and says too much, he is good-hearted at his core.
Usually cheerful and energetic, he rarely lets his tough past show but will sometimes say something that reveals his difficult life.
He uses "ore" to refer to himself, but speaks more politely to adults.
Kirimaru was born in Settsu Province.
He has no family name since his village was burned down in a war, and he lost his home and family.
Before joining Ninjutsu Academy, he sold lunchboxes on battlefields to survive.
He paid his own school fees from the money he earned through various jobs.
Because he grew up alone, he learned to be independent, resourceful, and tough.
He was once protected by Hansuke Doi, who had a similar past.
During school vacations, Kirimaru lives with Doi and often pulls him into his work.
In the anime, he also admires Granny Orin, who is even stingier than he is, considering her his master.
He has done more than 40 types of part-time jobs.
Kirimaru is skilled at ninjutsu within his group.
He excels at fast calculations and can multiply numbers with eight digits in his head if coins are involved.
He has an incredible sense of smell and hearing for coins—he can tell real coins from fakes by sound or scent and spot coins kilometers away.
Kirimaru can’t let go of anything easily, to the point that in rock-paper-scissors, he always plays "rock" (because he can't release his grip).
He is quick and agile and has a decent sword-fighting ability.
His major weakness is his inability to spot actual valuables, sometimes throwing away expensive gifts because he doesn’t recognize their worth.
He sometimes tries to skip hard work or take shortcuts, usually failing.
A notable trick is his "Listening Cap," where his ears seem to grow to catch distant conversations.
He is known for his clever plans, especially if there is a chance to earn money.
Kirimaru is best friends with Rantarou Inadera and Shinbei Fukutomi.
They became close after Kirimaru’s tough spirit impressed the others.
The three often work together to help each other with school, even though none of them are top students.
He often works part-time to support his school expenses, sometimes dragging his friends or Doi with him.
Hansuke Doi, his teacher, takes care of Kirimaru, letting him stay at his house.
There are hints that Doi feels a bond with Kirimaru because of their similar childhoods.
He also has a close bond with Nagano Chouji, a senior in the library committee; Chouji even tries to help Kirimaru cover his school fees.
Kirimaru is generally popular with older students, who like to help or tease him.
He respects Granny Orin as his mentor in being stingy but dislikes certain others who treat kids poorly.
Despite his love of money, he will help those in trouble if their situation reminds him of his own past.
Tragic Past
Kirimaru became an orphan after his village was burned in a war, losing his home and family.
This is first mentioned in Volume 2 when Denzou Yamada explains his story to Rantarou Inadera.
He used to sell lunchboxes on battlefields before entering Ninjutsu Academy and paid the entire entrance fee himself.
School Life and Part-Time Jobs
At Ninjutsu Academy, Kirimaru joins the Library Committee.
He continues to do all kinds of odd jobs to pay for his studies and living expenses, earning him the title "Genius Part-Timer."
His cleverness and knowledge of money make him a trusted ally in team missions.
He sometimes gives unwanted advice or comments, which often gets him a punch from adults.
Ties With Others
Hansuke Doi acts as Kirimaru’s guardian, letting him stay at his place during school breaks.
With friends Rantarou and Shinbei Fukutomi, Kirimaru forms a team of underachievers who always try to support each other.
Senior students, especially Nagano Chouji, sometimes help Kirimaru with his jobs and school fees.
Dramatic Moments
In some stories, Kirimaru’s tough background is brought up, often surprising his friends (for example, reflecting about how better village defenses could have saved his home).
Despite his obsession with money, there are episodes where he puts others above his own profit, such as helping a girl in need or risking himself for friends.
His experience makes him insightful and valuable for forming plans, especially when money is involved.
Notable Appearances
In the first Nintama Rantarou movie, Kirimaru sprints up a giant rock just to get a coin, ignoring a precious scroll everyone else is after.
He also appears cross-dressing in some stories and movies, especially when it might get him more earnings—sometimes even impressing others with his looks.
Kirimaru’s nickname is often "Kiri-chan."
He has no family name because common people at the time could not use one, and he has no family or village left.
He once came first in the "Lower Grade Group" of the official anime popularity poll, even getting more than twice the votes of main character Rantarou Inadera.
Because he stands out so much, some fans and even celebrities mistakenly thought he was the main character.
He is a member of the Library Committee, though he sometimes helps the Equipment Committee in specific stories.
Kirimaru is one of the "First Love Thief Trio" due to his good looks.
He is often shown cross-dressing for jobs, and his appearance is said to be cute by fans.
Granny Orin is his idol for stingiest ways, but he dislikes people who mistreat their own kids.
- When asked by Hansuke Doi, “Which is more important, your life or money?” Kirimaru answers, “Money!”
- Referring to his destroyed home:
“If my village had a moat like that, maybe it wouldn’t have burned down…”
- About seeing someone in trouble:
“I just thought, if I can help, I should.”
Kirimaru is an essential comic relief and support character in "Nintama Rantarou."
His clever, money-minded antics and deep backstory make him beloved by fans and important to the series.
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