Hiko Seijuro
Encyclopedia
is Himura Kenshin
's master in the manga
and anime
series Rurouni Kenshin
. As a potter, he uses the assumed name of . His Japanese seiyū
is Shūichi Ikeda
, and his English voice actor is Richard Epcar
.
. When Hiko was placed in Rurouni Kenshin, Watsuki simplified the design, such as redesigning the hair to make it easier to draw. Watsuki said that Hiko's body became "more macho" because Hiko was a different kind of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū swordsman and because of the addition of "manliness." The cloak originates from the American comic book series Spawn
. Watsuki created scenes showing Hiko drinking alcohol alone, while not becoming drunk, because Watsuki has a high tolerance for alcohol and because he sees the act as having "manliness"; Watsuki said that he is fascinated by images of "manliness" and that Hiko is one of the first characters to reflect the fascination.
Watsuki received questions about whether Hiko is related to the Hiko in "Crescent Moon in the Warring States
." Since Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is passed by ability instead of blood, the Hiko in Rurouni Kenshin is not biologically related to the Hiko in "Crescent Moon of the Warring States." Watsuki added that he wanted to use Hiko more often in Rurouni Kenshin, but Hiko is more powerful than Kenshin. Watsuki's editor stated, "(The Master) is like the joker
in a card deck." Hiko is, in Watsuki's words, "just too powerful," and so it would be difficult to find a place to use him in the story. Watsuki described Hiko as "the original RuroKen wildcard
."
conflict between them. He dislikes socialization, and in order to avoid having to work with people, he makes his living as a potter.
("Heart of Sword") after claiming that Shinta was not a good name for a swordsman. Hiko would then train Kenshin in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū for the next six years. He became angry and disappointed with Kenshin, because he ran away to join the rebellion against the Tokugawa regime
at age 14, knowing that although Kenshin displays extraordinary skill in swordsmanship, he was not prepared in mind and spirit for dealing with the conflicts of the outside world. Hiko isolates himself from the rest of the world, reasoning that he does not have to deal with the ills of society by living as a hermit/potter
in a forest near Kyoto
.
by defeating the giant Fuji as a last favour for Kenshin. After Shishio's defeat, Hiko met Kenshin at Tomoe's grave in Kyoto, and discussed with him how his paradoxal desire to save people by killing others destroyed the thing that Kenshin loved above all else. He is last seen in the anime during the Shougo Amakusa arc, where he advises Kenshin about Amakusa's past and capabilities.
In the OVA Samurai X: Reflection
(Rurouni Kenshin: Seisōhen), which was not created by Rurouni Kenshin
author Nobuhiro Watsuki
, Hiko also realizes that the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū no longer seems relevant in the changing world, as he remarks to Yahiko: "The only thing that doesn't seem to change is the moon."
Hiko, a master of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. After fifteen years, master and student meet once more. It is then that Kenshin will complete his training. Even though Hiko is 43 years old, he looks as if he were in his late twenties, and has remained such since the flashback shown where he took young Shinta in and renamed him to Kenshin, teaching him the arts of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū for the next four years. When Hiko told Yahiko and Misao his real age, the two were shocked and pondered if Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is some sort of fountain of youth
(Kenshin, despite being about thirty years old depending on source, looks as if he were in his late teens. In the episode in which Hiko's age is revealed, Yahiko exclaims that Kenshin is 28 years old.).
Hiko's skills can be seen in the actions portrayed in the manga and the anime. He does not hold back when he fights, is supremely analytical in combat, understands the nature of his opponents, and is at peak physical condition. Kamiya Kaoru
stated that a master swordsman of Hiko's caliber makes his sword a barrier of sorts
, overstating that fact that if one were to enter this barrier, Hiko would defeat his opponent instantly. Nobuhiro Watsuki
has mentioned in character notes that he is comparable to the Joker
in a deck of cards. He is so overpowering, that it is difficult to find a place for him in the manga in which he can fight without easily solving Kenshin's problems for him. (His fight with Fuji the giant was a solution, as it allowed him to save Kyoto from Shishio's assault and still avoid Kenshin's fight with the real enemy, Shishio himself.) As such he does not appear in any future chapters except in flashbacks once the Kyoto arc finishes, though he is featured in the OVA series.
Hiko's weapon is a shirasaya nihontō (a katana with a wooden sheath and hilt).
The cloak Hiko wears is not only distinctive for all Hiten Mitsurugi masters, but it also serves to maintain his strength during peacetime. Even when conflict is not at the door, Hiko remains in training just by wearing it; Hiko's cloak has springs in its shoulder area that exert a counter-pressure of 10 kan (37.5 kilogram
s). The cape also serves to keep the powers of Hiten Mitsurugi under control during training and peace time scuffles. When Hiko decides to get serious and actually end Kenshin's life to liberate him from his mental struggle with the hitokiri, he goes forward to attack without the cape - his full strength unrestrained.
In season 3 of the series, a reference was made to Hiko. When Kenshin realized that Shogo Amakusa is also proficient in Hiten Mitsurugi, Kenshin visited Hiko and asked how this is possible. Hiko revealed that his master, Hiko Seijuro XII, previously taught a man named Hyoue. Hyoue failed the last test of the Hiten Mitsurugi, in which the student must use the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki to overcome the master's Kuzu-ryusen. Hyoue barely survived the test and afterwards taught his nephew, Shogo Muto, who would then change his family name
to Amakusa and use Hiten Mitsurugi to avenge the Christians martyred during the Tokugawa Era.
A character named Hiko first appeared in a one-shot story by Watsuki named Crescent Moon in the Warring States
set in the Sengoku Period
of feudal Japan, which was later included in the English language Rurouni Kenshin manga volume six. Watsuki has stated that this story is canon and tells the story of one of the previous Hiko Seijūrōs. From this story it appears that the various Hiko Seijūrōs followed different ideals and beliefs for the use of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryū. Whereas Hiko Seijūrō XIII believed that it could only be wielded by a free sword, independent of any ideology and loyalty, this previous Hiko had pledged his loyalty to the daimyo
of a small prefecture and served him as a samurai. His weapon was a shirasaya nihonto with the name Fuyutsuki ('Winter Moon') painted on its hilt. Hiko said that the Fuyutsuki, like his cloak, was an heirloom of the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū.
Himura Kenshin
, known as Kenshin Himura in the English-language anime dubs, is a fictional character from the Rurouni Kenshin universe created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. He is the main protagonist of the manga and anime series, as well as the related media in the franchise...
's master in the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin
, also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to...
. As a potter, he uses the assumed name of . His Japanese seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
is Shūichi Ikeda
Shuichi Ikeda
is a veteran seiyū born on December 2, 1949 in Tokyo, Japan. Ikeda is married to Sakiko Tamagawa, although he was once married to Keiko Toda. He currently works for Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society...
, and his English voice actor is Richard Epcar
Richard Epcar
Richard Epcar is an American actor voice actor / director, mostly specializing in the field of voice acting in games, animation and anime. He is the husband of voice actress Ellyn Stern, with whom he owns and operates Epcar Entertainment, Inc., a voiceover production service company based in Los...
.
Development
Watsuki had no design model for Hiko; when Watsuki imagined who the "Master" would be, the character initially became "this arrogant, twisted guy." The main design model for the Hiko in Rurouni Kenshin is the Hiko Seijūrō in his short story "Crescent Moon of the Warring States." Watsuki added some design influences from "Hiken Majin Hajerun" from the comic Arabian Lamp Lamp by Takeshi ObataTakeshi Obata
is a Japanese manga artist. He works as the artist in collaboration with a writer. He has also mentored several manga artists, including Kentaro Yabuki of Black Cat fame, Nobuhiro Watsuki of Rurouni Kenshin and Busou Renkin, and Yusuke Murata of Eyeshield 21.He originally became noticed in 1985...
. When Hiko was placed in Rurouni Kenshin, Watsuki simplified the design, such as redesigning the hair to make it easier to draw. Watsuki said that Hiko's body became "more macho" because Hiko was a different kind of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū swordsman and because of the addition of "manliness." The cloak originates from the American comic book series Spawn
Spawn (comics)
Spawn is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in a monthly comic book of the same name published by Image Comics. Created by writer/artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1...
. Watsuki created scenes showing Hiko drinking alcohol alone, while not becoming drunk, because Watsuki has a high tolerance for alcohol and because he sees the act as having "manliness"; Watsuki said that he is fascinated by images of "manliness" and that Hiko is one of the first characters to reflect the fascination.
Watsuki received questions about whether Hiko is related to the Hiko in "Crescent Moon in the Warring States
Crescent Moon in the Warring States
is a manga written by Nobuhiro Watsuki back in his days as a manga artist assistant. It is his first professional work, which is indirectly set in the Rurouni Kenshin world. The story tells the tale of a former who has the same name as the Hiko Seijūrō in Rurouni Kenshin...
." Since Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is passed by ability instead of blood, the Hiko in Rurouni Kenshin is not biologically related to the Hiko in "Crescent Moon of the Warring States." Watsuki added that he wanted to use Hiko more often in Rurouni Kenshin, but Hiko is more powerful than Kenshin. Watsuki's editor stated, "(The Master) is like the joker
Joker (playing card)
Joker is a special type of playing card found in most modern decks, or else a type of tile in some Mahjong game sets.-Name:It is believed that the term "Joker" comes from a mispronunciation of Jucker, the German/Alsatian name for the game Euchre. The card was originally introduced in about 1860 for...
in a card deck." Hiko is, in Watsuki's words, "just too powerful," and so it would be difficult to find a place to use him in the story. Watsuki described Hiko as "the original RuroKen wildcard
Wild card
Wild card may refer to:* Wild card , a playing card that substitutes for any other card in card games* Wild card , a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play...
."
Personality
Hiko is shown to be very sarcastic, egotistical and a punishing taskmaster, often referring to Kenshin as "My idiot apprentice," and bringing up embarrassing incidents from Kenshin's past to provoke him into training harder. Despite this rough exterior, he has a deep sense of responsibility to Kenshin and those he protects, in the rare cases when he does get involved in a situation (usually at his own will). He has also been shown to be highly respectful and polite towards those he considers to be a true warrior, while at the same time condescending on those he considers to be weak. He loves sake, himself, and teasing Kenshin, although this is a testament to his excellent skill and powerful body. Master and student frequently have bouts of slapstickSlapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
conflict between them. He dislikes socialization, and in order to avoid having to work with people, he makes his living as a potter.
History
The thirteenth successor to the sword art of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, Hiko Seijūrō saved young Shinta from marauding bandits who killed his companions. Hiko then took care of Shinta, and renamed him KenshinHimura Kenshin
, known as Kenshin Himura in the English-language anime dubs, is a fictional character from the Rurouni Kenshin universe created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. He is the main protagonist of the manga and anime series, as well as the related media in the franchise...
("Heart of Sword") after claiming that Shinta was not a good name for a swordsman. Hiko would then train Kenshin in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū for the next six years. He became angry and disappointed with Kenshin, because he ran away to join the rebellion against the Tokugawa regime
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
at age 14, knowing that although Kenshin displays extraordinary skill in swordsmanship, he was not prepared in mind and spirit for dealing with the conflicts of the outside world. Hiko isolates himself from the rest of the world, reasoning that he does not have to deal with the ills of society by living as a hermit/potter
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
in a forest near Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
.
Plot overview
During the events of the Kyoto Arc, Kenshin visited Hiko to master the last remaining principles of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. Hiko would evaluate his pupil's growth, both as a swordsman and as a person, over the past fifteen years of separation and pass on the Ogi or Succession Technique, Amakakeru Ryū No Hirameki to his pupil, nearly dying in the process. Afterwards Hiko Seijūrō appears when he assists the Kyoto branch of OniwabanshūOniwabanshu
The was a group of onmitsu government-employed undercover agents established by the 8th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune . They are sometimes described as "ninja".- History :...
by defeating the giant Fuji as a last favour for Kenshin. After Shishio's defeat, Hiko met Kenshin at Tomoe's grave in Kyoto, and discussed with him how his paradoxal desire to save people by killing others destroyed the thing that Kenshin loved above all else. He is last seen in the anime during the Shougo Amakusa arc, where he advises Kenshin about Amakusa's past and capabilities.
In the OVA Samurai X: Reflection
Samurai X: Reflection
Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection, known as in Japan, is the second OVA series of the Rurouni Kenshin anime television series, acting as its sequel...
(Rurouni Kenshin: Seisōhen), which was not created by Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin
, also known as Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to...
author Nobuhiro Watsuki
Nobuhiro Watsuki
is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.-Biography:...
, Hiko also realizes that the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū no longer seems relevant in the changing world, as he remarks to Yahiko: "The only thing that doesn't seem to change is the moon."
Techniques
Fountain of Youth
The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted across the world for thousands of years, appearing in writings by Herodotus, the Alexander romance, and the stories of Prester John...
(Kenshin, despite being about thirty years old depending on source, looks as if he were in his late teens. In the episode in which Hiko's age is revealed, Yahiko exclaims that Kenshin is 28 years old.).
Hiko's skills can be seen in the actions portrayed in the manga and the anime. He does not hold back when he fights, is supremely analytical in combat, understands the nature of his opponents, and is at peak physical condition. Kamiya Kaoru
Kamiya Kaoru
, known as Kaoru Kamiya in the Media Blasters English-language dub and Kori Kamiya in the English Sony Samurai X dub, is a fictional character from the Rurouni Kenshin universe created by Nobuhiro Watsuki as a main protagonist of the media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime,...
stated that a master swordsman of Hiko's caliber makes his sword a barrier of sorts
Maai
, translating simply to "interval", is a Japanese martial arts term referring to the space between two opponents in combat; formally, the "engagement distance". It is a complex concept, incorporating not just the distance between opponents, but also the time it will take to cross the distance,...
, overstating that fact that if one were to enter this barrier, Hiko would defeat his opponent instantly. Nobuhiro Watsuki
Nobuhiro Watsuki
is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.-Biography:...
has mentioned in character notes that he is comparable to the Joker
Joker (playing card)
Joker is a special type of playing card found in most modern decks, or else a type of tile in some Mahjong game sets.-Name:It is believed that the term "Joker" comes from a mispronunciation of Jucker, the German/Alsatian name for the game Euchre. The card was originally introduced in about 1860 for...
in a deck of cards. He is so overpowering, that it is difficult to find a place for him in the manga in which he can fight without easily solving Kenshin's problems for him. (His fight with Fuji the giant was a solution, as it allowed him to save Kyoto from Shishio's assault and still avoid Kenshin's fight with the real enemy, Shishio himself.) As such he does not appear in any future chapters except in flashbacks once the Kyoto arc finishes, though he is featured in the OVA series.
Hiko's weapon is a shirasaya nihontō (a katana with a wooden sheath and hilt).
The cloak Hiko wears is not only distinctive for all Hiten Mitsurugi masters, but it also serves to maintain his strength during peacetime. Even when conflict is not at the door, Hiko remains in training just by wearing it; Hiko's cloak has springs in its shoulder area that exert a counter-pressure of 10 kan (37.5 kilogram
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
s). The cape also serves to keep the powers of Hiten Mitsurugi under control during training and peace time scuffles. When Hiko decides to get serious and actually end Kenshin's life to liberate him from his mental struggle with the hitokiri, he goes forward to attack without the cape - his full strength unrestrained.
Other Hiko Seijūrōs
The name Hiko Seijūrō is in fact a title granted to each succeeding master of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. Since Hiko Seijūrō II, each new master has discarded his own name in favor of the name of the creator of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū. (After Kenshin mastered the final attack of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, Hiko revealed that teaching it required the teacher to die at the blade of the student in the process, after which the student replaced him as the next master. Only Kenshin's use of a sakabatō permitted Hiko to survive.) As Kenshin declines to take the name "Hiko Seijūrō XIV"(having no desire to pass on the techniques of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū due to its potential for causing death, as well as the fact that the cloak wouldn't look good on him due to his smaller stature), his master is the last man ever to be known as Hiko Seijūrō.In season 3 of the series, a reference was made to Hiko. When Kenshin realized that Shogo Amakusa is also proficient in Hiten Mitsurugi, Kenshin visited Hiko and asked how this is possible. Hiko revealed that his master, Hiko Seijuro XII, previously taught a man named Hyoue. Hyoue failed the last test of the Hiten Mitsurugi, in which the student must use the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki to overcome the master's Kuzu-ryusen. Hyoue barely survived the test and afterwards taught his nephew, Shogo Muto, who would then change his family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
to Amakusa and use Hiten Mitsurugi to avenge the Christians martyred during the Tokugawa Era.
A character named Hiko first appeared in a one-shot story by Watsuki named Crescent Moon in the Warring States
Crescent Moon in the Warring States
is a manga written by Nobuhiro Watsuki back in his days as a manga artist assistant. It is his first professional work, which is indirectly set in the Rurouni Kenshin world. The story tells the tale of a former who has the same name as the Hiko Seijūrō in Rurouni Kenshin...
set in the Sengoku Period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
of feudal Japan, which was later included in the English language Rurouni Kenshin manga volume six. Watsuki has stated that this story is canon and tells the story of one of the previous Hiko Seijūrōs. From this story it appears that the various Hiko Seijūrōs followed different ideals and beliefs for the use of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryū. Whereas Hiko Seijūrō XIII believed that it could only be wielded by a free sword, independent of any ideology and loyalty, this previous Hiko had pledged his loyalty to the daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of a small prefecture and served him as a samurai. His weapon was a shirasaya nihonto with the name Fuyutsuki ('Winter Moon') painted on its hilt. Hiko said that the Fuyutsuki, like his cloak, was an heirloom of the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū.