Eiji Shinozuka

Eiji Shinozuka (篠塚 英二, Shinozuka Eiji) is a hanyou who serves as the mayor's assistance to Kazuyoshi Morino.

Appearance
Eiji has white hair that is pushed back, yellow eyes and small eyebrows.

Personality
The following description goes in accordance with the 2013 anime version, Yozakura Quartet: Hana no uta.

Eiji has a strict code of conduct that resembles surpassed codes of warriors of feudal Japan, in which the loyalty and duty to his lord is near absolute and absurd power, even if it goes against his own sense of ethics. He is very focused when working, and has a great agility in fighting. In terms of ethics he personally prefers a merciful and good way to treat people.

He seems to be a person that has known duty in a very strict kind of way through a long period of time, and that needs to allow himself enjoy other fields in life, that would help him to discover and explore other sides of himself and enrich him. Nevertheless he is at least curious about other hanyou like him.

Not much is known about him, because he seems naturally secretive.

History
Eiji was a former resident of Sakurashinmachi. As a child, Eiji fell and was saved by Makiharu Hiizumi. Eiji felt guilt over the trouble he caused as a child and wanted to leave the town. Machi Yarizakura showed Eiji over to a neighboring town and introduced him to Kazuyoshi Morino, an upcoming mayoral candidate. Eiji stayed in the neighboring town and he eventually became Kazuyoshi's mayoral assistant.

2008 Anime
In the 2008 adaptation of the series, Eiji serves Enjin Hiizumi.

Hana no Uta
Eiji's origins and alliance follows that of the manga.

Abilities
In both the original anime adaption and Hana no Uta, Eiji is seen to have greatly enhanced strength and speed, being able to easily lift a moped with a single hand and dodge Kotoha Isone's machine gun barrage. In Hana no Uta, Eiji's eyebrows and hair glow pink when he uses his enhanced speed.

Etymology

 * The name Eiji means "excellent, fine" (英) (ei) and "two" (二) (ji).
 * Eiji's surname Shinozuka means "dwarf bamboo" (篠) (shino) and "mound, hill, heap, knoll, pile, drift, stack, bank, hillock" (塚) (tsuka/zuka).