Samurai Champloo
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Age: probably late-20s
Profession: Prostitute
Weapon(s): None
Fighting style(s): N/A
Quote: "An eel's like a good woman. If you try to hang onto them by brute force they'll only run away."
Appears in: Episode 11
Final status: Alive

A benevolent older woman who falls in love with Jin, and vice versa. With a little subtlety, he saves her from jumping off a bridge. They spend the rest of the night manning an eel stand, which its oblivious owner has left Jin in charge of. She divulges that she will be sold to a brothel come morning to pay for her husband's gambling debts (a predicament similar to Osuzu's in Episodes 3 & 4). When they next meet, she has become a prostitute and has assumed the name Kohana. A bunch of samurai pound on Jin for 'window shopping'. Aware that they might blame Kohana if he retaliates, he takes the beating in silence. He borrows money from a stunned Mugen and Fuu in order to see her the following night. Their bond grows stronger, and he persuades her to escape. This is a meticulously hatched plan: he frees her from her contract and sends her off to a divorce shelter where she will stay for the next three years. After that, should he die or remain a penniless ronin, she will at least be free of her husband.

[edit] Mukuro

Name: Mukuro
Age: Late 20s to Early 30s
Profession: Pirate
Weapon(s): Revolver, Kodachi
Fighting style(s): Gunslinger, Other unspecified skills
Quote: "You and I are two birds of the same feather."
Appears in: Episodes 13, 14, & 25
Final status: Deceased (killed by Jin)

Wanted criminal, pirate captain, former cohort of Mugen. He carries a revolver tucked in his waistband. His clothing includes a sawtooth design, wristbands and ankle bandages, which Kohza and a younger Mugen both share in appearance. Like his sister, Kohza, he has a fairly swarthy complexion. He double-crossed Mugen at least once before and does it again. After their 'reunion', he convinces Mugen to rob a government ship with him, the spoils being 60,000 gold ryo. He blows the ship up with Mugen on board and returns to shore, where he and his secret accomplice, a government official named Shiren, hoard the gold. Unfortunately, Kohza is none too fond of her brother (according to her, he killed their mother), and engineers the double-cross into a triple-cross. He and Jin end up dueling. He fans two shots at Jin; however, Jin anticipates and evades them. Mukuro met his end when Jin sliced him across the chest, then stabs him from behind seconds after drawing his katana.

Mugen's relationship with Mukuro is analogous to Spike's relationship with Vicious in Cowboy Bebop.

[edit] Kohza

Name: Kohza
Age: Around Fuu's age
Profession: Pirate
Weapon(s): None
Fighting style(s): N/A
Quote: "It's not fair that they get to be beautiful. Not when everything is so ugly down here."
Appears in: Episodes 13 & 14
Final status: Alive

Mukuro's perpetually gloomy younger sister. She has a fondness for Mugen that dates back to their days of piracy, though the feeling is not quite mutual. Kohza isn't so much in love with Mugen as she is attached to him. This stems from her chronic dependency—she simply can't bear to be alone, which explains why she has remained with Mukuro all this time, even though he clearly repulses her. She devises a scheme to get rid of Mukuro and leave with Mugen, but as Mugen rejects her advances, she replaces him with Shiren. She neglects to inform Mugen what Mukuro has in store for him. After the ship Mugen is on explodes, she manipulates Jin and Mukuro into fighting, which ends in Mukuro's death. As she is leaving with Shiren, Mugen, having survived the explosion, confronts them and cuts Shiren down with a series of lightning-quick slashes despite being rigorously weakened. Kohza begs him to kill her. He pays her no heed, sick of her antics and furious beyond words at her betrayal; he departs, leaving her to suffer alone.

It is disputable whether Kohza is Mukuro's actual sister, as, aside from their skin tone, Fuu observes that they look nothing alike. Moreover, Kohza states that Mukuro "killed her mother", not "our" mother.

There are hints that Mugen may have stronger feelings for her than he displays. For one, his unenthusiastic behavior towards her exemplifies what Watanabe states is the way Mugen would act towards a girl he actually has feelings for [1] . Secondly, at the end of Mugen's near-death experience in Misguided Miscreants Part 2, the last people he sees in his mind are Jin, Fuu and Kohza, the only people who ever cared for him, and possibly whom he ever cared for in return.

[edit] Shiren

Name: Shiren
Age: 20s, probably
Profession: Shogunate Official
Weapon(s): Katana, Wakizashi
Fighting style(s): probably Kenjutsu or Kendo
Quote: "I signed on for the money."
Appears in: Episodes 13 & 14
Final status: Deceased (chopped up by Mugen)

A Shogunate official, infatuated with Kohza. He becomes Mukuro's collaborator in double-crossing Mugen and keeping the gold for themselves. It is unknown if he is aware of Kohza's betrayal of Mukuro, though if he did he would surely be in on it, as it would mean more money for him. He is slashed dead by Mugen at the end of everything. As he and Mukuro are the only two people who know where the gold is hidden, it is never recovered.

[edit] Otawa Hankichi

Name: Otawa Hankichi
Age: 20s
Profession: Ninja
Weapon(s): probably Ninjaken, Kunai & Shuriken
Fighting style(s): Ninjutsu
Quote: "Are you sure he's going to be okay? I feel bad just leaving him here."[Referring to Mugen]
Appears in: Episode 15
Final status: Alive

A decent-looking young man, apart from the large mole on the left side of his face (which may be a subtle jab at his role as a double agent). He is a Shogunate spy, trained in ninjutsu, though this does not save him from being captured and tortured by members of a counterfeiting ring. He sustains the interrogation, and manages not to blow Yatsuha's cover, though the crooks are not taking chances and decide to silence her regardless, based on their suspicions.

Otowa is played by the same seiyuu who did Shikamaru from the popular anime Naruto, both being ninjas and both being good at running away.

[edit] Yatsuha

Name: Imano Yatsuha
Age: 20s
Profession: Ninja
Weapon(s): Ninjaken, probably Kunai & Shuriken
Fighting style(s): Ninjutsu
Quote: "Listen, how would you like to try something really amazing?"
Appears in: Episode 15
Final status: Alive

Ostensibly a young geisha employed in a brothel, she is actually a kunoichi and Otawa's partner, working to expose the brothel's counterfeiting operation. Her pretty face and voluptuous body are valuable assets, which spur Jin and Mugen to compete over her through a desperate battle of rock-paper-scissors (the physical appearances of the other geisha are a motivating factor). She tries to escape after she realizes she's been found out, but Mugen (who won) isn't having any of it. She persuades him to fight alongside her, with promises of "something amazing." Together, they invade the brothel's basement and beat up hordes of Negoro ninja. She arrests Ginsa, leader of the counterfeiting operation and knocks Mugen unconscious after he tries to collect on her promise. The next morning, she confesses to Otawa that she is in love with Mugen and intends to marry him. Otawa has reservations about her taste in men.

[edit] Momochi Ginsa

Name: Momochi Ginsa
Age: 40s
Profession: Counterfeiter
Weapon(s): Kodachi
Fighting style(s): Unspecified
Quote: "Doubts are like bothersome flies. They must all be crushed. That is rule number one."
Appears in: Episode 15
Final status: Deceased (impaled by Yatsuha)

The leader of the counterfeiting operation fronted by a brothel operating overhead that seeks to duplicate koban. The operation is already well underway when Otawa, a government mole, almost exposes their illicit activities. He and his underlings are part of a clan of ninja discounted after the war, similar to the so-called tengu in Episode 9. He sends five of them to dispose of Jin, who is recuperating after having engaged in a session of strenuous activity with a gaggle of geisha, but they die by his sword, instead. Ginsa and Yatsuha's father have history. Ginsa, unable to accept that the rest of his men (over twenty of them) were beaten solely by her and Mugen, draws his blade and tears toward them. He is promptly knocked down by Mugen and impaled to the ground by Yatsuha.

[edit] Okuru

Name: Okuru
Age: Late 30s to Early 40s
Profession: Fugitive
Weapon(s): repeating crossbow, Kodachi
Fighting style(s): Archery, Other unspecified skill
Quote: "Death leaves no beautiful corpses."
Appears in: Episodes 16 & 17
Final status: Uncertain

An Ainu warrior whose village was struck by an epidemic and torched by the Matsumae Han. Overcome with rage, he killed the official who authorized the burning. He was arrested and incarcerated, but escaped before he could be executed. His weapon is unique, a modified crossbow, called a Cho-Ko-Nu, that can repeatedly fire bolts. He mistakes Mugen as part of the Matsumae Han (who, ironically, later mistake Mugen for Okuru) and attacks him. He withdraws after he realizes the error. Later, he saves Fuu after she plunges off a crag. Upon encountering Mugen again, they do battle, and Mugen remarks that he has the "eyes of a dead man, like a severed head that doesn't know it's been cut off." Their fight is interrupted by agents of the Matsumae Han, led by Tobata. Okuru is riddled by flaming arrows, but miraculously remains standing. Jin and Mugen slaughter the rest of the Matsumae Han agents, while Okuru wrenches an arrow out of his gut and stabs Tobata dead with it. Engulfed in flames, he leaps off a cliff into the sea below.

Okuru's predicament of not being sure whether he is alive or dead due to life-changing events that occurred in his past bears similarities with that of Cowboy Bebop character Spike Spiegel.

[edit] Yukimaru

Name: Yukimaru
Age: 20 (near in age to Jin)
Profession: Samurai
Weapon(s): Katana, Wakizashi
Fighting style(s): Mujushin Kenjutsu
Quote: "You must understand, I'm not like those others at the dojo. There's no point in avenging our master."
Appears in: Episodes 16 & 17
Final status: Deceased (run through by Jin)

Like Ogura, Yukimaru was a student of Mariya Enshirou's before Jin killed him. Yukimaru contends that, unlike Ogura, he wants to take Jin's life not to avenge Enshirou but to make a name for himself. Unwilling to fight him, Jin takes a dive off the edge of a waterfall. Yukimaru is persistent and hunts him down once more. They clash katana, and Jin gives him one last chance to turn back. Yukimaru charges on. Jin runs him through. On his dying breath, shedding a tear, Yukimaru whispers that he only "wanted to be like you." Jin and Fuu bury him, and pray before his grave.

The Triforce-esque crest on Yukimaru's kimono is identical to the kamon of the Hōjō clan (which is incidentally where the inspiration for the Triforce came from).[9]

[edit] Tobata

Name: Tobata
Age: Early 30s
Profession: Samurai
Weapon(s): Katana, Wakizashi
Fighting style(s): probably Kenjutsu or Kendo
Quote:
Appears in: Episodes 16 & 17
Final status: Deceased (stabbed by Okuru)

Commands the band of Matsumae Han officials sent to pursue Okuru. Clearly enjoys what he is doing, as evidenced by the smirk on his face when he (thinks he) finally has Okuru cornered. His allegiance is to his daimyo and cannot be swerved, as he declares that he "has his orders," even after hearing that his superiors' motives might be less than honorable. Is stunned that Okuru is still on his feet after having been riddled by flaming arrows. He rushes forward with his katana drawn, intending to put an end to the enemy of the state. A dispassionate Okuru wrenches an arrow out his body and stabs Tobata to death with it.

[edit] Bundai

Name: Bundai
Age: Probably 30s
Profession: Priest scholar
Weapon(s): (Uses fists) None
Fighting style(s): Brawling
Quote: "Listen here, words have a soul! If you don't know the letters that convey it, you'll miss out."
Appears in: Episode 18
Final status: Alive

A priest-scholar of an apparently abandoned temple. He meets the trio in a restaurant where, in an inebriated state, he disciplines Mugen for his illiteracy. He later kidnaps Mugen and puts him through a humorously hardcore bootcamp-like course in reading. During the tagging of Hiroshima Castle, he is infuriated at the Niwa brothers' improper grammar in their graffiti and kidnaps them at the end to teach them the same way he did with Mugen.

[edit] Niwa Juunosuke

Name: Niwa Juunosuke
Age: Probably 40s
Profession: Kenjutsu sensei
Weapon(s): Katana and Wakizashi
Fighting style(s): Probably Mujushin Kenjutsu
Quote: "If something should happen to me, please take care of my sons."
Appears in: Episode 18
Final status: Deceased (suicide)

A master of the Gojuu dojo in Mihara and former sensei to Jin. His dojo was so envied by other masters that he was ordered by the daimyo to take down his dojo's signboard (an immense sign of disrespect), or cut off his own arm. Rather than allow this to happen, he committed suicide, so his sons could inherit the dojo. Jin learns all of this from a monk upon visiting the abandoned dojo. The Niwas apparently held Jin in high regard not just as a student, but as family, evident from Juunosuke asking Jin to look after his sons in case anything happens to him, as well as his sons' brotherly respect for Jin. His sons' decision to desecrate Hiroshima Castle was partially to avenge him.

[edit] Niwa Kazunosuke & Tatsunoshin

Names: Niwa Kazunosuke

Niwa Tatsunoshin

Age: Probably slightly older than Fuu
Profession: Graffiti Tagging Gang Leaders
Weapon(s): Bokken with protruding nails, Balisong, Paintbrush
Fighting style(s): Unspecified
Quote: "The world's a big place. There's always someone better."
Appears in: Episode 18
Final status: Alive

Two identical twins and sons of Juunosuke Niwa. Appearance wise, their clothing is very hip-hop oriented, while still having Buddha bracelets like Jin's. The twins style also are similar, but contrasting, with one being blonde with nose-ring and earrings, the other black-haired with a black headband. They are heads of the local graffiti gang and are extremely competitive with each other. They deeply respect Jin like an older brother, to whom they reveal that they have given up the sword in exchange for the paintbrush and currently express themselves by "tagging" graffiti in different places. Following a suggestion by Fuu to settle their constant competing, they go on a tagging contest, culminating in the tagging of Hiroshima Castle, but are foiled when the newly literate Mugen beats them to it. This prompts them to finally accept that neither of them is better than the other, while also being recruited by Uohori of Andouya (Champloo's version of Andy Warhol) to shake up the fashion of Ura Edo and become the inspiration of scribbling. However, this is not before they are taken away by Bundai for some difficult training in grammar.

[edit] Yuri

Name: Yuri
Age: probably slightly older than Fuu
Profession: Underground Christian
Weapon(s): None
Fighting style(s): None
Quote: "May God protect you."
Appears in: Episode 19
Final status: Alive

A young, determined Christian girl who is the daughter of a gunsmith who hid on Ikitsuki Island with Fuu's father, Kasumi Seizou. They fled when the village was raided and burned, and never saw Kasumi after that. She is pursued and captured by the imposter Francisco Xavier III, who killed her father to prevent him from exposing his gunrunning plot. Francisco attempts to force her to marry him, until Fuu, Mugen and Jin help her escape and expose Xavier. She fires past him possibly by mistake or by divine grace, and after Xavier's death, prays for God to protect the trio on their journey. Yuri is notable for providing the first actual information about Kasumi Seizou and his whereabouts.

[edit] Francisco de Xavier III

Name: Francisco de Xavier III (false name)
Age: 30s to 40s
Profession: Gunrunner
Weapon(s): primitive Rocket Launcher
Fighting style(s): Unspecified
Quote: "To stand against me is to stand against God."
Appears in: Episode 19
Final status: Deceased (accidental suicide)

Not his real name by any means. He claims to be the grandson of the first Francisco de Xavier, an evangelist who introduced Jesus to Japan. He deceives a Christian village into producing firearms for him. His crown is shaved in the fashion of a Western monk, and he is highly amblyopic. He is the only person in the show with access to a rocket launcher, and dies when it backfires on him and explodes.

[edit] Sara

Name: Sara
Age: Mid 20s
Profession: Shamisen Player, Shogunate Assassin
Weapon(s): Kama-Yari (disguised as walking staff)
Fighting style(s): Jojutsu
Quote: "I realized something. My son's been dead for a long time now. This whole time, they've just been using me. I cannot [fight them]. The government hired me. I just want you to live, Mugen."
Appears in: Episodes 20 & 21
Final status: Deceased (allowed Mugen to kill her)

A beautiful, blind musician who the trio encounters near the end of their journey. The quartet travel together for a while, and she reveals she has an illegitimate son that was sequestered from her, allegedly due to her blindness. She requests for one of the men to accompany her to reclaim her son. Knowing that Mugen likes Sara, Fuu reluctantly offers Jin, expecting him to reject the offer. But Jin accepts. Sara is in reality a Shogunate assassin, set to expunge both Mugen and Jin. She unfolds the blades on her walking staff and wounds Jin in a matter of moments. Out of desperation, Jin cuts the ropes holding up the bridge they are on and they both go plunging into the river below. Jin recuperates, while Mugen and Fuu locate an unconscious Sara washed up on the bank. Mugen finds Sara's staff by the river and becomes suspicious of her motives. Most likely, he discovers the blades on it and deduces what happened to Jin. When she has recovered, he confronts her about it, quietly, subtly, uncharacteristically. Sara and Mugen fight by the river, and Mugen is utterly defeated. Fuu begs Sara not to kill him, and she relents, partially for Fuu, and partially because she relates to Mugen, as neither of them, in her opinion, have ever been loved. A Shogunate contact disguised as a pinwheel merchant urges Sara to finish the job, especially if she wants to see her son again. One of his many pinwheels stop, abruptly, and it hints that her son is already dead, and she realizes it. In their second battle, Sara allows Mugen to kill her, because she no longer has any reason to live. Her death marks the only time we actually see Mugen regret killing someone.

Sara's fighting ability is one of the strongest in the "Champloo Universe", being able to noticeably sunder rocks with her Yari in her fight against Mugen and sense opponents attacks despite her blindness. Jin theorises that she is able to sense movement through air currents, much like how a fish can detect movement in the water, or through sensing the vibrations through the ground.

Sara's concealed yari weapon and blindness may be references to Zatoichi.

[edit] Matagi

Name: Matagi a.k.a. Johnny
Age: probably 60s
Profession: Hermit
Weapon(s): Unknown, if any
Fighting style(s): Unknown
Quote:"To catch a fish, you gotta think like one, see like one. They go with the flow. They use the water surrounding their bodies to sense what'll happen next. If you move against the flow of the water, the fish feels it, and darts away at the last minute. But, if you don't fight the current, and flow with it instead..."
Appears in: Episode 21
Final status: Alive

An old hermit who rescues Jin after the latter nearly drowns from the fight with Sara. Matagi brings him back to an old hut to recuperate. As Jin awakens he is offered a bowl of food, then denied it. Only joking, the hermit then places the bowl across the room from Jin allowing him to get it for himself. Jin painfully crawls towards it only to find it empty, and Matagi again laughing at him and observing his ability to move. Later, Jin finds Matagi outside standing in the water trying to catch fish with his bare hands, who explains his methods of entrusting oneself to the flow - a method later referred to as the "Way of the Water" (although it doesn't exactly work the first time it is demonstrated.) As Jin is leaving, he thanks the hermit for the lesson (to teach a man to fish instead of to give him one), to which Matagi claims he didn't teach Jin anything. Jin is greatly surprised when he asks the hermit's name and his reply is, in a serious tone, Musashi Miyamoto. But the old man laughs it off, saying that couldn't be true and his real name is Johnny. Whether or not he is indeed the legendary swordsman is left up to the audience to decide (though it should be noted that Musashi is believed to have been born in the early 1600s and that Samurai Champloo is set in the mid-late 1700s, however it would not be the first of many anachronisms in the show). His name has been officially given as Matagi.

  • Note: Musashi Miyamoto was known to be living on his own through the land, often wandering without bathing and having a very unkempt appearance. This parallels 'Matagi' 's personal appearance. Also, his peculiarity in watching Jin's strength to move would make sense were he a practitioner of a fighting art.

[edit] Heike Shige

Name: Heike Shige
Age: Over 500 (appears to be in 20s to 30s)
Profession: (supposed) Nobleman
Weapon(s): Biwa
Fighting Style: Necromancy
Quote: "We shouldn't get too concerned over bloodlines, there's not a drop of blood in our bodies!"
Appears in: Episode 22, can be heard singing in episode 15
Final status: Zombie

Heike Shige is the leader of a band of zombie-like workers, who have been mining for the legendary gold of the Heike clan for 500 years. Some unearthly quality of the area's mushroom population preserved them long after their bodies expired. Shige and his men believed only five years had passed, when in fact they had been mining for one hundred times that.

Shige, believing himself a descendant of the Heike (which Jin proves wrong at the end of the episode.), thought to eventually use the gold to defeat their ancient enemies the Genji clan. He claimed (apparently in truth) that his biwa could summon the stars from heaven to strike his foes. When he encountered Mugen, Jin and Fuu, he offered them 10% of the treasure in exchange for their help at the quarry. This would have been a fortune if the gold were truly there. Shige's quixotic quest came to an end, however, when Fuu discovered the nature of his men. During the ensuing confrontation, Jin discovered that Shige was not a true descendant of the Heike. This led to the zombie workers themselves turning on their would-be leader. Seeing his plans come to nothing, Shige at last unveiled his ultimate weapon, and indeed summoned a meteor upon the entire area. Despite being at ground zero, Mugen, Jin and Fuu survived. The ultimate fate of Shige and his men is not known (presumably they were annihilated in the impact.)

Shige was a zombie, much like his men. To stave off the inevitable rot of their bodies, they consumed a large amount of wasabi (which apparently holds preservative properties). Because they were already dead, it was apparently impossible to kill them---although Shige notes it was a "close call" when Mugen nearly beheads him. Presumably the zombies of Champloo are modeled after the most famous zombies of George Romero fame which can only be slain by direct trauma to the head. (Certainly they can sustain impalement, disembowelment and maiming with no problem, and severed limbs will eventually reattach if held to the stump for a period. However, in concordance with Japanese myths, the zombies of Champloo do not transfer their "condition" via biting, as Mugen is chomped on several times with no lasting effects.) Shige is inspired by Japanese video game designer, Shigesato Itoi (the creator of EarthBound), from his name, direct quotes, and his wasting much time and money searching for, in all likelihood, a nonexistent treasure.

Some aspect of his biwa allowed Shige to resurrect the dead. However, the revived were presumably all Heike vassals and only served Shige because they believed him heir to the line. Therefore, the zombies he revived were not necessarily bound to his will.

While Shige may have truly perished in the impact of the meteor he summoned, the ending credits to his episode are interrupted by a shot of him bursting from the grave--an indication that he "lives" on.

Shige's ability to summon a meteor may be referencing Dawn of the Dead, which unofficially speculates that meteors were involved in causing the zombies.

[edit] Kagemaru

Name: Kagemaru
Age: probably mid to late 30s
Profession: Former Ninja
Weapon(s): Smoke bomb, probably Ninjaken, Kunai & Shuriken
Fighting style(s): Ninjutsu
Quote: "I die with no regrets."
Appears in: Episode 23
Final status: Uncertain

Kagemaru is a former ninja who wears distinctive orange sunglasses and is a member of an elite guard that dealt with foreigners. It was shut down when Japan's isolation order went into effect, being yet another example of a member of a group which has lost its significance. His prior membership in this group explains why he is familiar enough with foreign culture to know about baseball. He challenges American sailors who landed in Japan (including Alexander Joy Cartwright and Abner Doubleday) to a baseball game, on the condition that the Americans leave if they are defeated. He recruits our main trio, as well as two animals, the extremely old town consul and later, Detective Manzou, to play on his baseball team, teaching them how to the night before the game. When the game finally kicks off, the first one up to bat, he bunts and gets on base by throwing a smoke bomb. Just as with the rest of the team, he is victim to the American team's blatant cheating, dodging hostile pitches and being elbowed by the American players. He seems very easy going about the entire situation, and when the second inning begins, he takes the pitcher's mound and willingly allows himself to be skewered by the wooden shards of Cartwright's baseball bat in order to catch the ball and get Cartwight out. He collapses on the mound upon gasping that he has no regrets. It is unclear whether or not he survived.

[edit] Kariya Kagetoki (a.k.a. "The Divine Hand")

Name: Kariya Kagetoki
Age: Late 40s, probably
Profession: Samurai, Assassin, Guard Captain for the Shogunate
Weapon(s): Katana, Wakizashi
Fighting style(s): Mujushin Kenjutsu
Quote: "You have my compliments. You somehow managed to avoid a fatal blow. In your current condition, however, you can't possibly defeat me."
Appears in: Episodes 24, 25 & 26
Final status: Deceased (killed by Jin)

An elite samurai working for the Shogunate. His calm and collected demeanor hides a cold and manipulative personality. Although employed by the Shogunate, he tells Jin that in reality he is using them to further his own needs because the age of the samurai is ending. Kariya attempted to gain control of the Mujushin Dojo and is the one responsible for ordering Mariya Enshirou to kill Jin. He seeks the death of Kasumi Seizou for his role in a Christian uprising, and to this extent he has Fuu and her companions tracked. Upon learning of the death of Sara, his fellow assassin, he volunteers himself out of retirement in order to take care of things himself.

Regarded amongst his peers as "The Hand Of The Gods" because of his powerful skills, he is the strongest fighter in the "Champloo Universe." He fights Mugen and Jin simultaneously, easily handling Mugen's fighting style and defeating Jin in a standoff. Similar to Shouryuu yet even more powerful, he is a master of his ki and is able to use it with great force both offensively and defensively, and to an almost supernatural level.

Jin finally defeats Kariya by sacrificing his own body to breach Kariya's defense. The move Jin uses to kill Kariya was the last technique taught to him by his master, Mariya Enshirou. Although Mariya described the technique as suicidal, Jin manages to survive.

[edit] The Brothers

Three brothers whose lives were ruined by Mukuro and Mugen during a pirate raid on a sugar shipment. The three brothers, who had been charged with security, were held responsible for the loss and forced to desert their positions in Satsuma. Mugen crippled the eldest brother during the raid, and they have been seeking his death ever since. As with Ryujiro, Mugen appears to have no recollection of the damage he caused. Predictably, he doesn't care once he is reminded, lambasting that "once you point your sword at someone it's kill or be killed." Each of the three brother's left eyes are red.

[edit] Denkibou

Name: Denkibou
Age: Unspecified
Profession: Mercenary
Weapon(s): retractable Tekko-Kagi (steel claw), diamond-shaped Bisento
Fighting style(s): Unspecified
Quote: "…but the person I want to kill so much is right before me! Patience…is impossible. Impossible!"
Appears in: Episodes 24 & 25
Final status: Deceased (skewered by Mugen/drowned)

The youngest and certainly the ugliest (hunched posture, large fanatical eyes, crooked teeth) of the brothers; wears a steel claw on his left wrist and has been likened to a blond Gollum. He also bears similarities to the X-Men supervillain Toad. He carries a bisento short enough for him to wield and whines or shrieks wildly whenever he opens his mouth. He was referred to, among a share of viewers, as "the troll" before his name was disclosed. He is given the task of bringing Mugen to his brothers, but loses control and attacks Mugen himself instead. He takes advantage of Mugen's inability to fight well in small spaces (they are on a boat), but Mugen overturns the boat. He is the first of the brothers to die, stabbed underwater by Mugen.

[edit] Umanosuke

Name: Umanosuke
Age: probably Mid 30s
Profession: Mercenary
Weapon(s): Katana, Wakizashi, Kusarigama
Fighting style(s): Kusarigamajutsu, probably Kenjutsu or Kendo
Quote: "Well, if you wish it, I can kill you slowly."
Appears in: Episodes 24, 25 & 26
Final status: Deceased (beheaded by Mugen)

Umanosuke sports a hefty chonmage, is deformed in one eye (it is lidless; he wears an eye patch to compensate for this), and wields a spectacular weapon: a chain-sickle kusarigama with an incredibly long reach. He wears a daisho, indicating that he was once samurai, but relies principally on his kusarigama. It is a fearsome, highly destructive weapon. While a normal kusarigama makes use of the chain to ensnare the opponent so the wielder may attack at full advantage with the sickle, the chain of Umanosuke's kusarigama is located in the shaft and can be launched to at least forty feet and retracted, ostensibly by some sort of helix mechanism. The sickle cuts effortlessly through solid objects like wood and rock; Umanosuke wields it with immense skill. Once retracted, it is effective as a scythe at close quarters.

When first seen, Umanosuke is cool and composed, and almost suave. He even has no problem with letting Fuu escape as long as he can kill Mugen. Upon his meeting Mugen, the composure crumbles, worse when the eye patch is cut away, and he spirals to Denkibou's level of madness. Mugen gives up his sword in order to rescue Fuu from his clutches, but manages to reclaim it and, after a hard-fought battle, decapitates him with his own weapon. The way he ends the battle is important; in the earlier battle against Kariya, Mugen is told that simply fighting on instinct shows everyone his limits and is soundly defeated. The manner in which Mugen works out Umanosuke's death shows Mugen overcoming his weakness (if he ever had it at all).

[edit] Toube

Name: Toube
Age: late 40s
Profession: Mercenary
Weapon(s): Firearm and Explosives concealed in wheelchair
Fighting style(s): Unspecified
Quote: Mute
Appears in: Episodes 24, 25 & 26
Final status: Deceased (Suicide via blowing self up)

Toube is the eldest of the brothers and the least fortunate: he is confined to a wheelchair. Like his brothers, he lives for revenge; Mugen severed his leg in the raid on the ship he was protecting, and since then he has never uttered a word. He shoots Mugen in the back with a pistol concealed in the wheelchair's left armrest after watching Umanosuke die, then ignites a stash of dynamite concealed in the wheelchair's base, intending to take Mugen with him. Somehow, Mugen survives, and Toube dies thinking he has finally done Mugen in.

Toube's concealed weapons within his wheelchair may have been inspired by the concealed weapons in Daigoro's baby cart in the Lone Wolf and Cub series

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