Well after lots of thought on how to list the bishies on this page.... By age? By bishiness? By when Kenshin first met them? ...I finally decided to go in order of how we met them on the show. Now normally that would mean starting with Yahiko. But like Kaoru and Megumi he was more of an irritation than he was a bish in my opinion and thinking of him in the same terms as I do these guys... Well not in this lifetime. LOL So nstead I will start with Sano. God I love that bit of him in the early opening scenes cutting down the trees. He has such an intense look in his eyes.
Keep in mind that all the pictures on this page are clickable to bring up a larger version. Once your done drooling ^_____~ just close the new page that comes up and you'll be right back here. Though easy I always hated waiting for the old page to finish reloading everytime you had to click the back button. Being so graphics heavy these pages will load slowly anyway so why have to sit through it a dozen times or more.
Sanosake Sagara was the first major bishounen we were introduced to after Kenshin. As a child, all of about 8 or so from what I've seen, he was a member of the Sekihotai. A group comprised of soldiers mostly made up of young men from the countryside and led by a man named CaptainSoujou Sagara. Though they are not related Sano idolized Soujou and one day asked if after the war he could take the last name Sagara to be his own. This leads me to believe that he may have also been an orphan perhaps long enough that he didn't even know what his family name was. Tragedy struck for Sanosake in the form of corrupt imperialist officials who decided that certain promises were no longer doable. To make it look good they branded the Sekihotai as traitors and murdered them. Sano and another child about his age, Katsuya 'Tsunan' Sukioka survived. As you might imagine they grew up filled with hate for the very people that they fought very valiantly to put into power for a time.
Kenshin and Sano's first encounter was completely by mistake, but even then they noted each other with interest and caution. Sano, also known at that time as Sanza because of his weapon of choice the Sanbatou, was later hired by Gohei Hiroma to kill Kenshin. Sano is amazing strong and has a killer constitution. I'd say it's from lugging that sanbatou around all the time. Kenshin resisted for as long as he could not wanting to fight Sano, but the Chicken head, as Saitou calls him, wouldn't be denied. Especially after he found out who Kenshin was. During their fight Kenshin asks Sano why he wears the sign of "Bad" on his back and Sano explains who he is. Kenshin knowing the whole story behind the deaths of the Sekihotai is saddened and tries to get Sano to stand down. Sanosake does finally understand and releases some of his hate, collapsing unconscious from his severe wounds. After that Sano pretty much stuck to Kenshin's side like a leech and the two men became close friends, perhaps best friends is the best description.
Aoshi Shinomori was the next excellent bishie that Kenshin encountered while living at the Kamia Dojo. During a game of dice that Sanosake dragged Kenshin off to they met Megumi Takani who in turn led them to the crime lord that Aoshi and the Oniwaban group were protecting. Aoshi quickly put aside his responsibility to the crime lord and turned his attention to killing Kenshin. He wanted to make a name for the men under him as the greatest fighters of the era. Their battle was interrupted just as the battle was coming to a close when the crime lord turned a Gatlin gun on everyone in the room. The Oniwaban gave their lives to save Aoshi's... an honorable death and also releasing Aoshi from his responsibility for them. Using the spiritual/magical forces of his groups discipline Aoshi spirited he and his men away, buring them deep in the nearby mountains. But that was not the end of his desire to kill Kenshin.
Their battle continued over into Kyoto when Kenshin goes there to face off with Shishio. The battle is fierce and leaves Aoshi sorely wounded and lost as he finally comes to grips with the fact that there is more to life than being the 'best' fighter. Aoshi does pull himself together enough though to join the others at the top of Shishio's strong hold to help in doing battle against the man. After the battle Aoshi returned to what was left of the Oniwaban but in a sort of seclusion as he is still trying to come to terms with the fact that he lost. Aoshi was one of the youngest Okashira's for the group up to that time when he first took over if I remember correctly. Now totally out of canon but something I've run across a lot is that people like to pair Aoshi and Saitou where Aoshi was at some point during the Meiji rebellion Saitou's male Geisha.
Katsuya 'Tsunan' Tsukioka is one of the only two surviving members of the Sekihotei. Probably protected by the older men because of his young age just as Captain Sagara protected Sanosake. This entry will be necessarily short because there really isn't much known, at least by me. Katsu like Sano grew up hating the Imperialists, biding his time to a certain extent. He changed his first name or used a middle name and became a well known artist who drew pictures of the great warriors of the revolution. But along with those he always did pictures of Captain Sagara with he and Sano in the picture with the man. This was how Sano discovered his friend was still alive.
When he found him Katsu tried to convince Sano to help him over throw the new government. Sano was swayed but didn't say yes. Shortly there after a group of people calling themselves Sekihotei began commiting robberies. Katsu and Sano took out the facts not allowing the name to be dirtied anymore. Fighting together again convinced Sano to join Katsu in his bid to destroy the Imperialist Government. With funding from Katsu he threw a big party at the dojo under the guise of clearing the Sekihotei but in reality was a goodbye party for his friends. Kenshin though was not fooled. As the others slept off Saki hangovers Sano slipped away not realizing that Kenshin was following. Outside one of the main government buildings of Tokyo that same night Sano and Kenshin fought again for 2nd time. Katsu concerned for Sano drops the idea to destroy the building and in the end comes to understand that his path would only make the Imperial Governments lies finally become truth. Katsu stops or at least slows down in his painting and instead turns his creative talents to journalism putting out a paper to point out the dark side of current regime. Okay this got waaaaay longer than I thought it would. LOL
Captain Soujou Sagara is not someone that Kenshin actually meets but in the same episode with Katsu he finally sees the picture and learns more about him from Sano. What happened to this man and the men that followed him was more than a crime and I don't think there is anything that the Imperialists could ever do that would make it even a little better. It was obvious that the Captain cared about his men and worked hard to be a big brother to Sano and probably to Katsu as well. We see him playing a 'grass' flute in one flash back scene looking peaceful almost meditative.
Even after death the Captain was looking after Sano. He appeared to him while he was training under Anji and gave him the strength to continue through his last night. Sadly enough the next day Sano discovered that the rocky meadow they were in was the same one where Sagara died. I love the picture here. It truly shows the big brother/little brother emotions between them. Incidently to my roleplay friends, it sort of reminds me of Seto and Mokuba Kaiba.
We are introduced to Okita Souji in the first episode of the Kyoto Arc, which interestingly enough is also basically the last episode of the Wanderer Arc. In a premonition like nightmare Kenshin relives the night of the Ikedaya Affair or the Ikedaya Inn Affair. Though he may not have witnessed the whole situation that we see, Kenshin probably heard the stories from a number of people and was able to piece the initial scene together. Then there is the part of the aftermath that Kenshin actually participated in.
In an alley outside the Ikedaya Inn Kenshin appears in time to protect two of the men escaping from the massacre inside the inn. He comes face to face with Okita and Saitou. Okita challenges Kenshin, looking and sounding exceptionally like Soujiro. I don't know why but it always makes me smile. It's just something about how these bishies get so excited when they know they are about to go up against a worthy opponent. And as Kenshin fought several times with each of the Shinsengumi Captains without a victory for either side, I'm sure each Captain wanted to be the one to finally beat him.
At the time though Saitou steps in and takes the battle instead. And that is where our one and only view of Okita ends. The fact that we saw so little of him and the fact that he intrigued me kept him in my mind. When I began roleplaying I picked him as one of my characters because he was so open. But I couldn't leave it at that. I had to try and find out more about him. In the search that followed I learned a lot of things most I've already mentioned on the main RK page. I learned things about Okita though that were both amazing, sad and made me glad that he was my favorite character.
Okita, born Soujirou Harumasa the son of Okita Rintarou, was born in Shirakawa in 1844. Orphaned soon after he was raised by his sister until being sent at the age of 9 to a dojo owned and run by Kondou Shuusuke. He was trained in Tennen Rishin Ryuu by Kondou Isami who became one of the leaders of the Shinsengumi. It was quickly realized that he was a prodigy with the sword, any sword. He beat the Master of another dojo at the age of 13. Unfortunately by the night of the Ikedaya Inn incident Okita was ill with Tuberculosis still a terminal desease at the time. He'd been hiding it from everyone up until that moment.
The information is uncertain here but the story is that during or just after the worst of the battle Okita coughed up alarming amounts of blood and fainted. From what I've learned about the disease since, the ideas that the severe cold, the extreme physical exhaustion and probably smoke from the fires they couldn't stop in time were all causes. His health rapidly spiralled after that, but he and the top men, Kondou and Hijikata, agreed to keep it silent. Okita was hospitalized before the end of the revolution and died never knowing that Kondou was dead because no one was willing to tell him. Okita passed away in a TB hospital in Edo on May 30, 1868 in the First year of Meiji, at the age of 25. It is said that right up to the last he never lost his smile, his sense of humor, or childish nature.
Saitou Hajime actually met Kenshin during the Meiji Revolution. As a member of the Shinsengumi, Captain of the 3rd squad, Saitou was one of their top assassins. Called the Wolves of Mibou, the Shinsengumi worked for the local Shogun protecting the streets of the city. The stories vary a bit on whether they were good or bad, but in actual histories of the real group most consider them heroes. So I would say good. It's only difficult because it's difficult to know the right and wrong sides of most wars. In this instance Kenshin on the side of the Imperialists often had to go up against the Shinsengumi leaders who fought for the Samurai way of life and the Shogunate. Kenshin himself states that none of the battles was ever truly conclusive.
At least ten years have passed since they last time they confronted each other. Saitou's calling card to let Kenshin know he's in town and that he doesn't think much of his new life of a wander is a badly wounded Sano left bleeding and unconscious on the floor of the dojo. His reason for being there is actually to determine for the Government officials if Kenshin is capable of being a help to them in their current situation. Regardless to say old emnities die hard and Saitou for all his cool head is still trying to see who is the best. He and Kenshin fight at the dojo and Battousai returns, they are stopped at the last minute by Lord Okubou and the Chief of Police who arrive in time to keep one of them from dying. But that is not the end of their reacquaintance.
Kenshin accepts the mission that the Government wants to send him on and he heads to Kyoto. I swear I think Saitou is following him but I know he's not. He just seems to show up in important places. But for the moment their past battles have been put aside and they work together to try and take out Shishio. After Kenshin's first battle with Soujiro Saitou moves on ahead to Kyoto to prepare things there after dropping of a small boy with his wife. Yes, Saitou is married, as Kenshin says she must be like Buddah to put up with the man. LOL Once in Kyoto they take on Shishio and his cronies again working together. At then end Kenshin and friends are left thinking that Saitou is dead... but we see that he is not. Unfortunately I haven't seen the next arc yet and have carefully avoided learning any more about it than I have to. I do know that Saitou was still looking for that one last decisive battle.
Soujiro Seta came into Kenshin's life at about the exact same time as Saitou returned to it. Soujiro is the number 1 assassin for Shishio. His right hand man even though he is probably only 15 or 16. In many ways he is based on many of the traits of Okita Soujirou Soushi. He is a prodijy with the sword at a very young age, a master for masters in some ways. Shishio calls him Tenken, meaning something akin to Sword of Heaven. In their first battle Kenshin realizes that he can't read Soujiro at all. No anger, no Fighters Spirit to guide him in how to attack or defend. Because of this he falls into his most deadly attack stance and Soujiro mimicks him. They end up destroying each other's swords and the fight is a draw.
Sadly enough Soujiro's lack of visible emotion was bought at a very high price. The bastard child of a some what wealthy man the rest of the family treated him like a slave after he was brought there. Unfortunately it's hard to know how long he had been there and why. I'm assuming that the father/head of the household had died and the rest of the family were making sure to put him in his place. The abuse was beyond intolerable, the fact that Souji survived it was a miracle and makes it clear how he got to be so strong. To survive he learned to hide his fear, anger and pain behind a constant smile that was not a smile. The bigger the smile the more pain or terror he was in until he would break into nervous giggles.
When he first met Shishio he had just watched him kill two policemen, terrified all he could do was smile and giggle as Shishio threatened his life. Shishio was intrigued and let him live in exchange for assistance. Through his association with the manslayer over the next several days he learned the phrase, "If your strong you live, if your weak you die." It became the motto he lived by until Kenshin. Especially since virtually the day he heard it from Shishio for the first time his 'family' discovered he'd been hiding the manslayer and decided to kill him. Shishio had given him a short sword, in desperation he killed them all and cried with a smile on his face.
Seijuro Hiko, Kenshin's Sensei and the Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi sword technique. He found Kenshin when he was about 8 or 9, saving him from bandits that had attacked the slave train he was a part of. Hiko killed the bandits, but then just walked away and left. Which pretty much sums up his personality. LOL He easily protects those in need, but tends to walk away just as easily not getting involved. Well... until Kenshin that is. A week later passing through the same area Hiko asks people if they have seen Kenshin only to find that they haven't. He assumes that Kenshin commited seppuku or the equivalent on the spot and decides to go and bury the dead. Okay now does anyone else find that kind late to be burying what had to amount to 10 or more bodies what with slave traders and the people they were selling?
When Hiko arrives back at the place where he left Kenshin he is shocked to find that all the bodies have been buried, including those of the bandits. Kenshin is there beside three large stones which he obviously moved himself. They were the headstones for the three young women who died trying to protect him. In memory to them or perhaps simply honor them because it was important to Kenshin Hiko consecrates the stones with saki. Then he takes Kenshin as his student, because of the strength he has shown in both body and spirit. Kenshin stayed with Hiko until he was just past the age of 14. Against his Master's wishes Kenshin leaves to join the revolution, leaving his training incomplete.
When Kenshin returns to Kyoto 15 years later, Hiko at first refuses to take him back as a student. Then Kaoru shows up with Misao and Yahiko. Sending Kenshin away, Hiko hears about his runaway apprentice from those who know the man best. We know of course what he's told though we don't see it and by the time Kenshin returns Hiko has decided to take him on. The last lesson is learned and it is less a sword technique than a state of the mind... how to live not die. Normally this move/final technique, means the death of the old Master. In the case of Kenshin and Hiko, the Reversed Blade Sword plays a crucial role and Hiko survives. That is a very good thing as he is there to protect Kenshin's friends at a crucial moment later.
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The picture on the right is Kamatari, he is a cool character even though we don't get to see him much. His character shows up during the Kyoto Arc of the series as a member of Shishio's Juppongatana. Kamatari is a gay crossdresser whose one goal in life to please Shisho. Unfortunately he is doomed to disappointment and endless frustration as he cannot compete with either Soujiro Seta to become Shishio's best guy or with Yumi Kamagata to become his best girl. I love his line to Misao..."I've been taking her seriously the entire time...(meaning Kaoru) You can't be a queen, if you don't take everything seriously." Honestly though he's not the best looking guy in the anime or the Juppongatana I think Kamatari would be happy with Cho Sawagejo That you see here on the left. Cho stops by to tell the Kenshin group what became of the other members of the Juppongatana after things settled in Kyoto. There was just something in the way Cho's voice changed and the look on his face and a few other little things here and there when he was talking about Kamatari that made me think that the little crossdresser ought to toss his hat into that ring. |
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Beware if you don't want to see what Saitou and Okita really looked like don't go here.
