The following is a list of characters from the Japanese anime and manga series Grenadier.
Main characters
Rushuna Tendou
First appearance: Episode 1
is an extremely busty, 16-year-old, blonde senshi who was trained in the positive teachings and kind ideals of Tenshi. A former pre-Juttensen candidate, she is trained in the use of a revolver, specializing in shooting to disable rather than to kill using a form of Gun-Kata as seen in the final battle with Setsuna. Rushuna fights to end strife and chaos. She has excellent tactical analytical skills, being able to discern her opponents' weaknesses in the heat of battle and adjust accordingly to exploit them with the tools at her disposal. She also hugs opponents who are difficult to negotiate with to her chest in order to pacify them. She has also been known to hide ammunition in her cleavage. Rushuna has a weakness for taking hot baths, and she indulges in this pursuit frequently. There are signs that she has feelings for Yajirou but does not want to follow up with them until her objective is over, there are times where she can be jealous when she sees him with other girls but she knows he always comes back to her. Rushuna earns the title of "Grenadier, the smiling Senshi" from Tenshi at the end of the series. Her first name may be a reference to a Rushana Buddha, while her surname means "heavenly path" - appropriate considering her status as a traveler.
In the manga, many people point out that Rushuna is a foreigner (or at least of foreign ancestry) because of her natural blonde hair and large bust. She also had an older sister who rivaled her in skill but was corrupted by the Baron Iron Mask. She was raised by the eccentric Soun who taught her everything she knew. This differs from the anime in that she was trained in the Capital.
At the end of the manga series, she visits her homeland, and after that she marries Yajirou.
Yajiro Kojima
First appearance: Episode 1
is a swordsman also known as the "Rearguard Tiger" or "Tiger of the Rearguard", who battles in an attempt to bring about world unity. He is called the Tiger by Templar because the more cornered Yajiro becomes, the greater his abilities become. A former rebel, he was working as a mercenary until he met Rushuna. Although Yajiro disdains the use of firearms, he is very skilled and can dodge bullets and parry them with his sword. He is also shown to be physically very strong by tossing and crushing boulders with his bare hands. He can also slice massive cannon shells in half. Yajiro hates guns because he believes that gunners see the weight of a person's life in how hard it is to pull the trigger. However he later states that he does not see Rushuna in the same light as he does other gunners. The route that he, Rushuna, and Mikan take towards Tento's capital by crossing Mt. Charanbo and then White Wizard Lake retraces the same route that he followed when he was with the rebel army that attempted to invade the capital a year and a half ago and is thus memory-laden for him. Rushuna calls him "Yat-chan", an informal name he is initially irritated with, but grows to accept. Not too far into the anime, Yajiro seems to hint having some feelings towards Rushuna, evident on numerous occasions where he either is embarrassed by her words, protects her without saying why, or shows jealousy towards her almost sisterly relationship with Mikan.
In the manga, he belonged to a branch family of the Kojima clan. This clan was led by Midare Kojima and his sister, Suguna. Yajiro intended to go out and make a name for himself, ensuring the safety of his village. While on a journey, Suguna gave her life to save Yajiro's own. His role in the manga seems to be more on the comic relief side until in the later half of the manga.
After the events in Volume 7 of the manga, Yajiro is said to have never lost a fight after that. He and Rushuna go on to get married.
Mikan Kurenai
First appearance: Episode 5
is an orphaned girl who comes from a family of balloon makers. Despite her young age, she is a master balloon artist, being able to construct balloons of all shapes and sizes. After her parents were killed by Tenma Ganzo's senshi, she was rescued by Touka Kurenai, and accepted her offer to join Touka and the other dispossessed girls of her village. Since then she has worked for Touka at the Peach Blossom Tower while nursing dreams of revenge. After Rushuna helps her see beyond revenge, she is unable to kill Ganzo when she has the chance. Mikan then leaves Touka Kurenai and joins Rushuna and Yajirou on their journey, to 'keep an eye on them'. In the manga, when she grows older she takes over running the Peach Blossom from Touka.