Kurogasa
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character
in the manga
and anime
Rurouni Kenshin
created by Nobuhiro Watsuki
.
His name is given as Hajime Saito in Western-order, which is the chosen order used in the English
anime.
(1844-1915) was an actual historic figure of the Meiji era
. Watsuki altered the character to a higher degree than the other historic figures who appear in Rurouni Kenshin since the character Saitō has a greater role in the story than the other characters. In the development of Rurouni Kenshin Watsuki planned for Saitō to be a "dirty" hero who maintains his "Swift Death to Evil" policy and does not become "a nice guy" and "palsy-walsy" with Kenshin's group. Hajime has no specific model for his design. Since Watsuki intended for the character Saitō to be a villain, he made the character's face "villain-ish."
Watsuki considers Saitō as the "curse" of the villains in the series as he always defeats the enemies who believe they are the strongest. The Gatotsu sword technique that Saitō uses in the series is fictional; the historical figure's favorite move was the "left single-handed thrust," or hirazuki, mainly for slashing downward, stabbing, and thrusts. Watsuki gave the fictional technique based on the real technique the name "gatotsu" to fit with the action comic theme.
, Saitō has had a long time rivalry with Himura Kenshin, a former manslayer of the Imperialist cause. As a result of his involvement in the Ikedaya Affair, he and his Shinsengumi comrades successfully prevented the burning of Kyoto by an extremist faction of the Ishin Shishi
. Nevertheless, the pro-shogunate forces were ultimately defeated and he was forced to go into hiding.
Saitō, known as the "Lone Wolf of Mibu," has no compassion or mercy for his enemies. He lives by the Shinsengumi code , though he never shows much regard for human life, at some points even letting on that he likes to kill. He is rather morbid and arrogant. Nevertheless, none of these character flaws prevent him from being a superb investigator and fighter. He believes in peace and order, even in the society created by his former enemies. Anyone he considers to be corrupt or despotic, he targets for elimination.
During the Kyoto Arc, Saitō joins forces with Kenshin to fight against Shishio Makoto
. However, he considers Kenshin to be more of an adversary rather than an ally. After acknowledging Kenshin's vow to never kill again, Saitō decides to put an end to their rivalry.
Saitō is an able observer and a quick analyst (working as a spy
for the Meiji government). In addition to being a skilled swordsman, he is revealed to possess immense physical strength when he pummels the Herculean Sagara Sanosuke
in a hand-to-hand fistfight. He considers Sanosuke to be a dimwitted amateur
with mild potential, due mostly to Sano's lack of insight.
Saitō is married to a woman named , who does not appear in the story. He remarks at one point that he has a fondness for soba
, a simple noodle dish. Saitō makes a point about his preference for the dish, known for its simplicity and connotations of humbleness. He is also a smoker.
-Kenjutsu
." The "Hirazuki" (left-handed stab) technique that Saitō's Gatotsu resembles is based on the real fighting style of the Shinsengumi. Although the Gatotsu is the only technique that Saitō performs, he has been able to perform the same technique in different stances.
The First Stance (Ishiki) is the standard, shoulder-level ground attack. He prepares by dropping into a partial crouch, both knees bent, left arm drawn back and right extended forward; he grasps the kashira (endcap of the tsuka, or hilt) of his sword with his left hand and rests the tips of the fingers of his right hand (usually the thumb) on the blade near its tip. The Second Stance (Nishiki) is a downward-striking attack. The direction of the Nishiki thrust is narrower, as well. The Third Stance (Sanshiki) is an upward-striking attack. Prepared identically to the Ishiki, he uses it to intercept an opponent assaulting him from above, directing his blade into the air instead of immediately forward.
However, Saitō also possesses another stance: Gatotsu Zero Stance (Zeroshiki). Zeroshiki is an attack performed at point-blank range using all his upper body strength. This stance, unlike the first three, requires no prior preparation or footwork. Saitō's sword techniques are considered quite deadly, as the Gatotsu has only a precious few blind spots to be exploited. Despite the apparent inflexibility of using one attack repeatedly, it has many useful applications. The motion of the Gatotsu can also be used even with his bare hands.
Besides his overwhelming ability with a sword, Saitō is extremely well versed in hand-to-hand combat. His fighting style most resembles Boxing
as he possesses amazing footwork, defense, and tremendous speed and power. This is evident when he decided to have a fist-fight with Sanosuke and beat him almost effortlessly whilst receiving no damage whatsoever from his attacks. It's then pointed out that he purposely dodged Sanosuke's bad shoulder in order to keep the fight fair. Besides his superior in-fighting skills, Saitō is also extremely analytical in battle, much like Hiko Seijūrō
, and can exploit his opponent's weaknesses quite easily, such as Kenshin's reliance on his quick judgment, to which he replies by kicking him to the back rather than with the sword despite having taken his sword up.
, who quickly realizes Saitō is an imposter due to the sword calluses on his hand. Saitō then attacks Sanosuke, seriously injuring him and leaving him as a calling card for Kenshin, along with clues to alert Himura Kenshin
of his presence. When Kenshin departs for a duel with Akamatsu Arundo, Saitō himself appears at the Kamiya dojo, using an alias and posing as a police officer who urgently needs to speak with Kenshin.
When Kenshin arrives at the dojo, he notices Saitō and becomes angry, revealing Saitō's true identity as the former 3rd Captain of the Shinsengumi. They duel, and as Saitō gains the upper hand, Kenshin reverts back to Hitokiri Battōsai. Ōkubo Toshimichi appears just as they are about to kill each other and stops the duel, apologizing for testing Kenshin to see if he was still a skilled enough swordsman to face Shishio. Afterwards Saitō kills Arundo and Shibumi, a corrupt politician who had hired Saitō to kill Kenshin; Saitō's true allegiance was with Ōkubo.
Saitō then travels to Kyoto to fight Shishio Makoto
. Along with Kenshin and Sanosuke, he attacks Shishio's battleship, the Purgatory, which is blown up by bombs carried by Sanosuke. As the Purgatory is sinking, Shishio challenges Kenshin to a duel on Mount Hiei. During the fight, Saitō kills the second most powerful opponent in the Ten Swords (Juppongatana), Usui, becoming wounded in the legs in the process. He ambushes Shishio, but fails to kill him because Shishio had a hachigane (forehead guard). Shishio reveals that because he was shot in the head before being burned alive, he protected his forehead to avoid repeating the same mistake. Afterwards, Shishio easily deflected every attack Saitō threw at him. At the end, Saitō is thought to be dead during after the explosion of the battlefield. In the Jinchū Arc, Saitō is sent to arrest Yukishiro Enishi
and he helps Kenshin fight against the partners of Enishi, defeating Mumyōi and breaking his arm and teeth. He also fights against the first of the four Sushin guards of Enishi's second-in-command and defeats him even after he exploits Gatotsu's weak spot as Aoshi, Sanosuke, and Yahiko take care of the rest. In the end of the series, Saitō is transferred to another city to work after rejecting the challenge of Himura Kenshin, claiming that he will not enjoy settling the score with an assassin that does not kill. He is very briefly shown in the colored special "Haru ni Sakura," where an older Kenshin asks Aoshi and Saitō to tell him of his whereabouts and state of health as he learns that Sanosuke has traveled to Mongolia
. This sidestory was collected into a few Kenshin-related books, and in the kanzenban with "Yahiko no Sakabatō.
Watsuki stated that he received negative feedback letters regarding Saitō and received some positive feedback letters "in response."
As the series continued Saitō became one of the most popular character of the series as he ranked 3rd in the two last Shonen Jump
popularity polls and 2nd in the "Who is the best enemy of Kenshin?" polls.
Some concepts of the Rurouni Kenshin version of Saitō Hajime were used in is the fighting game series The Last Blade
in the character of Keiichiro Washizuka, a unit leader of the Shinsengumi
, a police-like group during the Bakumatsu era. The character also had a similar sliding thrust technique to the Gatotsu.
Mike Crandol of Anime News Network states that during the character's brief appearances in Samurai X: Reflection
, he appears to be "truly menacing." Mark A. Grey of Anime News Network
said that the song "Hoeru Miburo" (Howling Wolf of Mibu) in the anime series "perfectly" represents the character.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
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....
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...
created by 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:...
.
His name is given as Hajime Saito in Western-order, which is the chosen order used in the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
anime.
Creation and conception
Saitō HajimeSaito Hajime
was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, who most famously served as the captain of the third unit of the Shinsengumi. He was one of the few core members who survived the numerous wars of the Bakumatsu period.-Early years:...
(1844-1915) was an actual historic figure of the Meiji era
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
. Watsuki altered the character to a higher degree than the other historic figures who appear in Rurouni Kenshin since the character Saitō has a greater role in the story than the other characters. In the development of Rurouni Kenshin Watsuki planned for Saitō to be a "dirty" hero who maintains his "Swift Death to Evil" policy and does not become "a nice guy" and "palsy-walsy" with Kenshin's group. Hajime has no specific model for his design. Since Watsuki intended for the character Saitō to be a villain, he made the character's face "villain-ish."
Watsuki considers Saitō as the "curse" of the villains in the series as he always defeats the enemies who believe they are the strongest. The Gatotsu sword technique that Saitō uses in the series is fictional; the historical figure's favorite move was the "left single-handed thrust," or hirazuki, mainly for slashing downward, stabbing, and thrusts. Watsuki gave the fictional technique based on the real technique the name "gatotsu" to fit with the action comic theme.
Personality
A former captain in the loyalist ShinsengumiShinsengumi
The were a special police force of the late shogunate period.-Historical background:After Japan opened up to the West following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's visits in 1853, its political situation gradually became more and more chaotic...
, Saitō has had a long time rivalry with Himura Kenshin, a former manslayer of the Imperialist cause. As a result of his involvement in the Ikedaya Affair, he and his Shinsengumi comrades successfully prevented the burning of Kyoto by an extremist faction of the Ishin Shishi
Shishi (organization)
Shishi was a term used to describe Japanese political activists of the late Edo period...
. Nevertheless, the pro-shogunate forces were ultimately defeated and he was forced to go into hiding.
Saitō, known as the "Lone Wolf of Mibu," has no compassion or mercy for his enemies. He lives by the Shinsengumi code , though he never shows much regard for human life, at some points even letting on that he likes to kill. He is rather morbid and arrogant. Nevertheless, none of these character flaws prevent him from being a superb investigator and fighter. He believes in peace and order, even in the society created by his former enemies. Anyone he considers to be corrupt or despotic, he targets for elimination.
During the Kyoto Arc, Saitō joins forces with Kenshin to fight against Shishio Makoto
Shishio Makoto
, known in the anime in Western order as Makoto Shishio, is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Rurouni Kenshin. He is the primary antagonist of the series' Kyoto arc...
. However, he considers Kenshin to be more of an adversary rather than an ally. After acknowledging Kenshin's vow to never kill again, Saitō decides to put an end to their rivalry.
Saitō is an able observer and a quick analyst (working as a spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
for the Meiji government). In addition to being a skilled swordsman, he is revealed to possess immense physical strength when he pummels the Herculean Sagara Sanosuke
Sagara Sanosuke
is a fictional character from the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime series created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. He is known as Sanosuke Sagara in the English adaptation of the anime and is nicknamed Sano...
in a hand-to-hand fistfight. He considers Sanosuke to be a dimwitted amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
with mild potential, due mostly to Sano's lack of insight.
Saitō is married to a woman named , who does not appear in the story. He remarks at one point that he has a fondness for soba
Soba
is the Japanese name for buckwheat. It is synonymous with a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour, and in Japan can refer to any thin noodle . Soba noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup...
, a simple noodle dish. Saitō makes a point about his preference for the dish, known for its simplicity and connotations of humbleness. He is also a smoker.
Techniques
Saitō mastered several techniques of the "ShinsengumiShinsengumi
The were a special police force of the late shogunate period.-Historical background:After Japan opened up to the West following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's visits in 1853, its political situation gradually became more and more chaotic...
-Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu
, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
." The "Hirazuki" (left-handed stab) technique that Saitō's Gatotsu resembles is based on the real fighting style of the Shinsengumi. Although the Gatotsu is the only technique that Saitō performs, he has been able to perform the same technique in different stances.
The First Stance (Ishiki) is the standard, shoulder-level ground attack. He prepares by dropping into a partial crouch, both knees bent, left arm drawn back and right extended forward; he grasps the kashira (endcap of the tsuka, or hilt) of his sword with his left hand and rests the tips of the fingers of his right hand (usually the thumb) on the blade near its tip. The Second Stance (Nishiki) is a downward-striking attack. The direction of the Nishiki thrust is narrower, as well. The Third Stance (Sanshiki) is an upward-striking attack. Prepared identically to the Ishiki, he uses it to intercept an opponent assaulting him from above, directing his blade into the air instead of immediately forward.
However, Saitō also possesses another stance: Gatotsu Zero Stance (Zeroshiki). Zeroshiki is an attack performed at point-blank range using all his upper body strength. This stance, unlike the first three, requires no prior preparation or footwork. Saitō's sword techniques are considered quite deadly, as the Gatotsu has only a precious few blind spots to be exploited. Despite the apparent inflexibility of using one attack repeatedly, it has many useful applications. The motion of the Gatotsu can also be used even with his bare hands.
Besides his overwhelming ability with a sword, Saitō is extremely well versed in hand-to-hand combat. His fighting style most resembles Boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
as he possesses amazing footwork, defense, and tremendous speed and power. This is evident when he decided to have a fist-fight with Sanosuke and beat him almost effortlessly whilst receiving no damage whatsoever from his attacks. It's then pointed out that he purposely dodged Sanosuke's bad shoulder in order to keep the fight fair. Besides his superior in-fighting skills, Saitō is also extremely analytical in battle, much like Hiko Seijūrō
Hiko Seijuro
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.-Development:...
, and can exploit his opponent's weaknesses quite easily, such as Kenshin's reliance on his quick judgment, to which he replies by kicking him to the back rather than with the sword despite having taken his sword up.
Plot overview
Saitō first appears masquerading as a medical herb seller at the Kamiya dojo. The only one at the dojo is Sagara SanosukeSagara Sanosuke
is a fictional character from the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime series created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. He is known as Sanosuke Sagara in the English adaptation of the anime and is nicknamed Sano...
, who quickly realizes Saitō is an imposter due to the sword calluses on his hand. Saitō then attacks Sanosuke, seriously injuring him and leaving him as a calling card for Kenshin, along with clues to alert Himura Kenshin
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...
of his presence. When Kenshin departs for a duel with Akamatsu Arundo, Saitō himself appears at the Kamiya dojo, using an alias and posing as a police officer who urgently needs to speak with Kenshin.
When Kenshin arrives at the dojo, he notices Saitō and becomes angry, revealing Saitō's true identity as the former 3rd Captain of the Shinsengumi. They duel, and as Saitō gains the upper hand, Kenshin reverts back to Hitokiri Battōsai. Ōkubo Toshimichi appears just as they are about to kill each other and stops the duel, apologizing for testing Kenshin to see if he was still a skilled enough swordsman to face Shishio. Afterwards Saitō kills Arundo and Shibumi, a corrupt politician who had hired Saitō to kill Kenshin; Saitō's true allegiance was with Ōkubo.
Saitō then travels to Kyoto to fight Shishio Makoto
Shishio Makoto
, known in the anime in Western order as Makoto Shishio, is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Rurouni Kenshin. He is the primary antagonist of the series' Kyoto arc...
. Along with Kenshin and Sanosuke, he attacks Shishio's battleship, the Purgatory, which is blown up by bombs carried by Sanosuke. As the Purgatory is sinking, Shishio challenges Kenshin to a duel on Mount Hiei. During the fight, Saitō kills the second most powerful opponent in the Ten Swords (Juppongatana), Usui, becoming wounded in the legs in the process. He ambushes Shishio, but fails to kill him because Shishio had a hachigane (forehead guard). Shishio reveals that because he was shot in the head before being burned alive, he protected his forehead to avoid repeating the same mistake. Afterwards, Shishio easily deflected every attack Saitō threw at him. At the end, Saitō is thought to be dead during after the explosion of the battlefield. In the Jinchū Arc, Saitō is sent to arrest Yukishiro Enishi
Yukishiro Enishi
Yukishiro Enishi is a character from the manga Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki. He is the primary antagonist of the final arc of the series, the Jinchū arc, and the younger brother of Yukishiro Tomoe.-Conception and design:...
and he helps Kenshin fight against the partners of Enishi, defeating Mumyōi and breaking his arm and teeth. He also fights against the first of the four Sushin guards of Enishi's second-in-command and defeats him even after he exploits Gatotsu's weak spot as Aoshi, Sanosuke, and Yahiko take care of the rest. In the end of the series, Saitō is transferred to another city to work after rejecting the challenge of Himura Kenshin, claiming that he will not enjoy settling the score with an assassin that does not kill. He is very briefly shown in the colored special "Haru ni Sakura," where an older Kenshin asks Aoshi and Saitō to tell him of his whereabouts and state of health as he learns that Sanosuke has traveled to Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. This sidestory was collected into a few Kenshin-related books, and in the kanzenban with "Yahiko no Sakabatō.
Reception
Because of the changes to Saitō Hajime's personality, in Japan Watsuki received negative feedback letters from fans of the Shinsengumi. Watsuki liked the fact that Hajime's popularity with fans increased as the story progressed. Watsuki received negative feedback from Shinsengumi fans who believed that Saitō had a more handsome face than the "villain-ish" face Watsuki used. In his defense Watsuki said that no photographs of Saitō exist; Watsuki added that while portraits exist, "if you think that's handsome, well, your mileage may vary, okay?" Watsuki recalled that one of the complaints criticized Saitō's selling of "Ishida powdered medicine" from the Hijikata family. Watsuki said that was "just me, fooling around" and that while he would take criticism for some aspects, "when people start complaining about stuff like that...come on now."Watsuki stated that he received negative feedback letters regarding Saitō and received some positive feedback letters "in response."
As the series continued Saitō became one of the most popular character of the series as he ranked 3rd in the two last Shonen Jump
Weekly Shonen Jump
is a weekly shōnen manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. The first issue was released with a cover date of July 2, 1968, and it is still circulating. One of the longest-running manga magazines in Japan, it has a circulation of 2.8 million copies...
popularity polls and 2nd in the "Who is the best enemy of Kenshin?" polls.
Some concepts of the Rurouni Kenshin version of Saitō Hajime were used in is the fighting game series The Last Blade
The Last Blade
, is a fighting game series created by SNK for the Neo Geo system. The Korean version of the game is known as "The Last Soldier". The Last Blade and its sequel are widely considered to be two of the most accomplished games available for the Neo Geo system, with fan opinion divided as to which is...
in the character of Keiichiro Washizuka, a unit leader of the Shinsengumi
Shinsengumi
The were a special police force of the late shogunate period.-Historical background:After Japan opened up to the West following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's visits in 1853, its political situation gradually became more and more chaotic...
, a police-like group during the Bakumatsu era. The character also had a similar sliding thrust technique to the Gatotsu.
Mike Crandol of Anime News Network states that during the character's brief appearances in 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...
, he appears to be "truly menacing." Mark A. Grey of Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
said that the song "Hoeru Miburo" (Howling Wolf of Mibu) in the anime series "perfectly" represents the character.