Izumo Kusanagi is a tall, slim young man with short dark blonde hair, styled with bangs that fall over the left side of his face, and hazel eyes. His HOMRA insignia is located on his right shoulder blade. Since the age of twenty-four, Kusanagi has been consistently depicted wearing his trademark black-rimmed sunglasses with purple lenses, which have become a defining part of his look.

His usual attire consists of a long-sleeved white shirt with an upturned collar, often complemented by either a red scarf styled like a necktie or a black scarf draped around his shoulders, worn beneath an open black jacket. He typically pairs this with blue jeans held by a brown belt with a layered buckle and black shoes decorated with white padding near the toes.

On other occasions, Kusanagi has been shown wearing alternate outfits, such as a dark blue long-sleeved shirt with black shoulder patches, layered beneath a high-collared black jacket and a short blue poncho patterned with intersecting white lines and tassels. In his youth, his style was more casual and unkempt, featuring longer, freer bangs and looser clothing such as a white shirt beneath a relaxed black jacket with a block-edged collar, dark blue trousers, and dark shoes. By his early twenties, he adopted a neater appearance, styling his hair more carefully and shifting toward layered jackets, padded outerwear, and accessories such as chains attached to his pants.

Overall, Kusanagi’s appearance reflects a balance between casual informality and understated refinement, aligning with his role as both bartender and second-in-command of HOMRA.

Izumo Kusanagi is portrayed as a calm and composed figure, rarely losing his cool even in tense or dangerous situations. His ability to remain collected in battle and during crises often makes him an intimidating presence to those around him. He is also highly intelligent and well-informed, often possessing extensive knowledge of people’s backgrounds and activities. His reputation for engaging in “shady” dealings and maintaining a wide network of contacts contributes to his role as an effective informant for HOMRA.

Despite his maturity, Kusanagi displays a lighter, more human side through his attachment to Bar HOMRA. He is shown to overreact whenever the bar is damaged, reflecting his strong dedication to maintaining it. His care for the establishment also highlights his appreciation for culture, particularly in relation to art and history. Complementing his adult role within HOMRA, Kusanagi is also characterized as a womanizer; he openly flirts with women, often complimenting their beauty, and claims to have had numerous relationships throughout his life.

In addition, Kusanagi is depicted as an avid smoker and frequently speaks in a Kyoto dialect, further distinguishing his mannerisms from other members of the clan.

Izumo Kusanagi was born and raised in Kyoto as the youngest of several siblings. During high school, he moved to Tokyo, where his uncle Mizuomi took him in and introduced him to Bar HOMRA. Kusanagi began working at the bar and eventually inherited it after his uncle’s death, becoming its owner.

During his teenage years, Kusanagi met Mikoto Suoh, who became both his schoolmate and best friend. The two frequently spent time at the bar, where they later encountered Tatara Totsuka, a middle schooler who had been persistently following Mikoto. After the boy was hospitalized from a beating, Kusanagi and Mikoto visited him, warning him of the dangers of staying close to them. Despite this, Totsuka joined their circle, and the three formed a lasting bond.

Kusanagi acted as a stabilizing force within HOMRA, supporting Mikoto’s leadership and often serving as the “voice of reason.” He became known for his extensive knowledge of people and underground dealings, gathering intelligence that proved invaluable to the clan. At the same time, he developed strong attachments to both Bar HOMRA and its members, treating the establishment as both headquarters and home.

Over the years, Kusanagi witnessed the growth of HOMRA, including the induction of new members such as Shōhei Akagi and Eric Sōlt. He frequently mediated conflicts within the clan, scolding younger members like Misaki Yata for reckless behavior and calming disputes such as Bandō’s resentment toward Shōhei. Despite his calm attitude, Kusanagi showed a fierce protectiveness when Bar HOMRA was damaged, often reacting with visible frustration.

Kusanagi also played a role in various incidents involving Strains. He dealt with the arrival of Maria Yubikiri, an assassin Strain, and later managed the temporary presence of Basashi, a horse Strain who briefly stayed at the bar before revealing his true nature as a Pegasus-like being. Though initially reluctant, Kusanagi allowed Anna Kushina to take care of Basashi, only to become horrified when the creature caused chaos inside the bar.

Kusanagi was deeply affected by the death of Tatara Totsuka, who was assassinated by the Colorless King. He was present at the scene with Yata and called Mikoto to deliver the devastating news. In the aftermath, he preserved Totsuka’s recordings, cherishing them as memories of his late friend. Though he often teased Totsuka in life, Kusanagi admitted to missing him deeply, reflecting on his absence while watching old footage with the rest of HOMRA.

Red Aura
As a member of HOMRA and its second-in-command, Kusanagi wields the clan’s fire-based Aura. His manifestation of the Aura often takes on a yellowish-orange hue, sometimes tinged with red or pink. Uniquely, he channels his Aura through the sparks of his cigarette, allowing him to ignite and manipulate flames in battle. In combat, he can generate spiraling whips of fire-like Aura around himself, using them defensively to repel attacks or offensively to strike enemies.

Fireballs
Kusanagi demonstrates a distinctive technique where he flicks or tosses a lit cigarette into the air, using its sparks to conjure numerous controllable fireballs. These fireballs can be directed at opponents and detonate upon impact, functioning like small explosive projectiles.

The given name Izumo (出雲) is composed of the characters 出 (i), meaning “out,” and 雲 (kumo/zumo), meaning “cloud.” The name is also associated with Izumo-taisha, one of Japan’s oldest and most important Shinto shrines, dedicated to the deity Ōkuninushi, who married Suseri-hime.

His surname Kusanagi (草薙) combines 草 (kusa), meaning “grass, herb, or weed,” with 薙 (nagi), meaning “to mow down” or “cut down (an enemy).” The name is linked to the legendary Sword of Kusanagi, one of Japan’s Three Sacred Treasures. According to mythology, the storm god Susano-o discovered the sword inside the body of the serpent Yamata no Orochi after slaying it, having first subdued the beast with his Sword of Totsuka.