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“Chihiro, will you let me keep fighting with you? I... want to keep proving the value you saw in me.” ― Hakuri to Chihiro, after the destruction of the Rakuzaichi.[source]
Hakuri Sazanami (
After helping Chihiro during the Rakuzaichi Arc, Hakuri becomes one of Chihiro's significant allies during the rest of the series as a whole.
Appearance[]
Hakuri's full appearance
Hakuri is a teenage boy of average height and build. He has blue eyes and messy platinum blond hair, which is tied with several black hair ties to the left side of his face. He wears a white collared shirt under a black haori and tan trousers with black suspenders dangling down on both sides.
Much like his father, when accessing the Storehouse, Hakuri gains a mask over his left eye akin to a masquerade mask, which trails a black inky substance into the air. When pushed to his limits, Hakuri's mask begins to crack and fall apart.
Personality[]
In the present, Hakuri is a resilient and determined individual, as seen in his desire to put a stop to the human and item trafficking conducted by the Sazanami clan, despite facing disapproval and mistreatment from his family. He exhibits a strong sense of justice and compassion, rescuing a girl and attempting to stand up against several assailants, even though his skills in sorcery were lacking.
Hakuri also demonstrates a sense of loyalty and willingness to help others, as seen through his agreement to share valuable information with Chihiro and his later decision to assist in Chihiro's cause. Despite being disowned by his family, he remains conflicted about his past and shows courage in speaking out against their unethical practices.
From a young age, Hakuri was often looked down upon by his family for his apparent lack of ability to use sorcery, being frequently abused by his siblings and neglected by his father as a result. These experiences would cause Hakuri to have an incredibly low view of his self-worth, desiring to help the Rakuzaichi and his family in any way possible in order to not be seen as a failure.
Hakuri's conversations with the Girl with Icy Skin led him to realise his own worth, and her death led him to re-evaluate his views on his family, realising the horrific nature of their actions. As such, from then on, he developed a desire to destroy the Rakuzaichi, in order to prevent more people from suffering as the icy-skinned woman had.
Even after the Rakuzaichi was dismantled, Hakuri still retained a desire to do good, mainly through his alliance with and respect for Chihiro, but also in order to provide more people with hope and save more people from terrible circumstances. However, despite having partially conquered his lack of self-worth through believing himself in order to harness his sorcery, part of his believing himself less important than other people remained. Hakuri continued to perform reckless actions and put others before himself, to the detriment of his own health, such as when he risked near-permanent brain damage to transport Tobimune to Seiichi Samura.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Sazanami Clan[]
As his apparent lack of talent in sorcery became evident, the members of the Sazanami Clan frequently began bullying and beating Hakuri, most notably his older brother Soya. After his encounter with the Girl with Icy Skin, Hakuri became fully opposed to his family, wanting to destroy the Rakuzaichi that they operated.
Kyora Sazanami[]
Soya Sazanami[]
Tenri Sazanami[]
Although due to their small ten-month age difference Hakuri and Tenri were often together and were both labeled "special" by their father, after they grew older and Hakuri struggled to make use of his spirit energy, Tenri's opinion of him grew more negative. He believed that if people found out about Hakuri, his father would be "disgraced".[1] Every time Tenri talked about Hakuri he used derogatory words like "idiot"[2] or "useless coward",[3] displaying his disdain for his sibling for his weakness and uselessness to the clan.
Girl With Icy Skin[]
Allies[]
Chihiro Rokuhira[]
Hakuri quickly became one of Chihiro's most trusted allies within moments of meeting him. On their first meeting right before Chihiro's first encounter with Hiyuki Kagari, Chihiro revealed his fears of people using Shinuchi to Hakuri.[4]
While Chihiro was initially plagued by doubts regarding his ownership of Enten during his battle with Hiyuki, Hakuri reminded Chihiro that he had saved people with Enten and told him the blade suited him,[5] and also defended Chihiro from one of Hiyuki's Flame Bone attacks using his body.[6] This not only allowed Chihiro to mount an offense against Hiyuki,[7] but also allowed him to willingly give up Enten to Kyora Sazanami in order to gain intel on the Storehouse, as well as save Hakuri, who was being held hostage. Chihiro's decision to give up one of his most prized possessions to save Hakuri, as well as his statement that Hakuri 'saved him' displays that Chihiro views Hakuri as an important ally and friend in his mission.
During his attack on the Rakuzaichi, Chihiro decided to temporarily abandon his revenge against Yura in order to save Hakuri, who at the time was battling against Soya. Chihiro has (albeit hesitantly) also shown trust in Hakuri's abilities when Hakuri decided to defeat Soya on his own in order for Chihiro to progress further into the building.
Togo Shiba[]
After a brief period of mistrust, Shiba seems to have taken a liking to Hakuri, offering him ice cream after he realized Hakuri might have blamed himself for Enten being taken from Chihiro.[8] He also taught Hakuri the fundamentals of sorcery and how to use it.[9] Shiba is of the opinion that Hakuri has talent, and was impressed upon finding out his ability to use two types of sorcery.[10]
Hinao[]
Despite not having known him for long, Hinao treats Hakuri well. Seeing his desire to be of help during their initial encounter, Hinao politely offered for him to run errands for her. Upon seeing it would rain soon, Hinao found an umbrella for him, showing her kindness towards him.
Char Kyonagi[]
Hiyuki Kagari[]
Tafuku Mihara[]
Masumi[]
After being informed of Chihiro and Hakuri's plan to transport the Enchanted Blades, the Masumi viewed Hakuri as a key ally and prioritised recovering his sorcery. When Senkutsuji Temple underwent an attack from the Hishaku, Sumi prioritised Hakuri's evacuation as well as the sword bearers. The Masumi were thankful to Hakuri for saving their life through transporting Tobimune to Samura, and Sumi in particular was vocal that Hakuri should not strain himself any further. After the raid Moku carried Hakuri on his back when they went to the Senkutsuji Temple's Eastern Gate. Later, the Masumi would accept Hakuri's request to look out for Chihiro.
Yoji Uruha[]
Enemies[]
Hishaku[]
As the Hishaku are enemies of the nation and especially Chihiro, Hakuri holds a negative opinion on them and is determined to do what it takes to stop their actions in his usual self-sacrificing manner, having transported Tobimune to Samura at the potential cost of his own sorcery or life at Senkutsuji.[11]
Abilities[]
Hakuri about to perform Isou
Overall Abilities: Despite hailing from the Sazanami Clan, a family renowned for its powerful sorcery, Hakuri initially displayed little talent for sorcery, failing at using his family's signature technique, Isou when he attempted it. However, through discussion with Shiba and Chihiro, Hakuri learned he had the ability to use sorcery and that his own feeling of worthlessness was holding him back.[12]
Eventually he was able to overcome his self-doubt and make use of his spirit energy to launch a successful Isou against Soya, albeit one with low power.[13] Hakuri has also accomplished the first stage of spirit energy usage over the last few years, by unconsciously circulating spirit energy throughout his body, reinforcing it, as he was being assaulted by his siblings.
Hakuri is one of the incredibly few individuals capable of two types of unique sorcery rather than one, wielding both Isou and the space-manipulation necessary to create a subspace. Hakuri had subconsciously developed this subspace since he started being abused by Soya, and much of his spirit energy was allocated towards the subspace, further limiting the amount of spirit energy that Hakuri could make use of. Once he had recognised the spirit energy dedicated to his subspace, Hakuri was able to redirect it and use it to strengthen his Isou.[14]
Enhanced Durability: Hakuri's durability is notable: he took a direct punch from Hiyuki's Flame Bone, and was only knocked on the verge of unconsciousness, where most people would have likely died.[15][16] Shiba surmises this durability was built up unconsciously during years of violence at the hands of his siblings.[17]
Sorcery[]
Initially, Hakuri was only able to subconsciously make use of his spirit energy, with most of it dedicated to maintaining his subspace and the remainder used to defend his body from attacks inflicted by his siblings. As a result of this as well as his lack of confidence in his abilities, any attempts at Isou that Hakuri made resulted in failure. However, through Shiba's teaching, Hakuri was able to overcome his self-doubt and improve his use of his spirit energy, eventually identifying the spirit energy powering his subspace and redirecting it to his Isou.
After Hakuri overtaxed his Storehouse at Senkutsuji on the 9th of November, the Kamunabi resorted to transplating a portion of his nervous system in charge of Isou to reinforce the dwindling Storehouse, both powers weakened as a result.[18]
Hakuri wearing his eyepiece.
Hakuri's Storehouse filled with various items used by Soya to abuse him.
Storehouse: Hakuri Sazanami possesses the same space-manipulation sorcery as the first clan head, and unconsciously managed to develop a Storehouse-like subspace of his own, though the 'island' contained within was far smaller than the Storehouse passed down through his family's clan heads. While he is accessing his Storehouse, a white eyepiece adorns Hakuri's left eye; identical to the one worn by clan heads in charge of the Clan's Storehouse.
Before Hakuri became aware of his Storehouse, multiple objects that Soya Sazanami had used to physically abuse Hakuri over the years were located within; all of which had 'mysteriously disappeared'. The vast majority of Hakuri's spirit energy had been used by Hakuri to maintain the Storehouse, but Hakuri was able to reallocate this spirit energy upon becoming aware of his subspace during his clash with Soya.
Hakuri's and Kyora's Storehouses are separate subspaces, and the two of them are unable to interact with the other's registered items and people. However, Hakuri is able to send his own registered entities into Kyora's Storehouse, such as a pair of pliers and Chihiro, although it took a large amount of effort to do so.
Hakuri has displayed the following abilities involving the Storehouse:
- Registration: One of the fundamental abilities of the Storehouse. The owner must touch the item or person they wish to register in order to register them. The registration can be counteracted by sorcerers, as the registration will be overridden by any spirit energy used to oppose it. Items imbued with foreign spirit energy cannot be registered; but on the other hand, items imbued with the spirit energy of registered sorcerers are registered as well.[19]
- Transportation: After registering an item or person, Hakuri can transport them into or out of the Storehouse at will and place them wherever he chooses; the chosen item or person emerging from and disappearing into black clouds or bubbles. Consciously, Hakuri has used this to move grenades away from Chihiro as well as move Kyora's former prisoners out of his Storehouse.
- Hakuri was able to send his own registered entities into Kyora's Storehouse, such as a pair of pliers and Chihiro, although it took a large amount of effort to do so.[20]
- Communication with Registered People: Hakuri is able to speak to any people they have registered over any given distance, and can hear their voices as well; even if the registered individual is within another person's Storehouse, as was the case during Chihiro's intrusion into Kyora's Storehouse. Hakuri retained awareness of Chihiro's surroundings to a degree, as seen by Hakuri's support of Chihiro during his battle with Kyora.[21] Maintaining this connection can be physically and mentally draining over a long period of time.[22]
- Image Projection: The user can project holographic images of anything within the Storehouse to the real world or a different location within the Storehouse. Hakuri made use of this to create a diversionary image of Chihiro to distract Kyora while the real Chihiro made his own attack.[23]
Hakuri's Isou knocks Soya out.
Isou: As a member of the Sazanami Clan, Hakuri is able to use the family's signature technique, which allows him to create and manipulate shockwaves. Although he was initially held back by his subconscious feeling of worthlessness and misfired every Isou he attempted, he was able to conquer his hesitation and use it successfully against his brother Soya, though it only blasted him back a few metres. Upon improving his understanding and control of his spirit energy and redirecting the spirit energy originally powering his Storehouse, the strength of his shockwaves greatly increased; while not quite as powerful as Soya's, they were enough to knock a wounded Soya out.
Etymology[]
The name Hakuri Sazanami (漣伯理 Sazanami Hakuri) can be broken down into the following:
- The surname Sazanami (漣) means 'ripples'.
- His given name, Hakuri (伯理) consists of the character for 'chief' (伯) as in a high level official and 'logic' or 'truth' (理).
Trivia[]
- Hakuri is the only person in the Sazanami Clan after the First Clan Head to possess both the Storehouse and Isou at the same time.
References[]
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 33 (Page 12).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 34 (Page 12).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 30 (Page 5).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 20 (Pages 5-7).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 21 (Page 1).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 20 (Pages 17-18).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 21 (Pages 4-5).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 26 (Page 9).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapters 32-36.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 37 (Page 1).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 56 (Pages 16-17).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 32 (Page 16).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 32 (Page 18-19).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 36 (Pages 2-14).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 21.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 32 (Page 14).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 32 (Page 15).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 79 (Page 3).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 38 (Page 4).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 37 (Pages 9-12).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 38.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapters 38-39.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 39 (Pages 15-16).
[]
| List of Characters | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chihiro's Allies | Rokuhira Swordsmith | Chihiro Rokuhira • Kunishige Rokuhira† | |
| Sorcerers | Togo Shiba • Soshiro Azami • Hakuri Sazanami • Hiyuki Kagari • Tafuku Mihara • Iori Samura | ||
| Other | Hinao • Char Kyonagi | ||
| Kamunabi | Leaders | Kudo • Soshiro Azami | |
| Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces | Ikuto Hagiwara • Kazane Machi • Shiyumi Harima† • Hajime Kugara† • Kiyohiko Uzuki† • Makoto Kasahara† | ||
| Other Members | Hiyuki Kagari • Tafuku Mihara | ||
| Masumi | Ro • Sumi • Moku | ||
| Seitei War Enchanted Blade Wielders | Misaka† • Yoji Uruha† • Seiichi Samura • Subaru • "Master Swordsman" | ||
| Hishaku | Yura • Hishaku Sorcerer • Hiruhiko • Kuguri • Toto | ||
| Sazanami Clan | Kyora Sazanami† • Soya Sazanami‽ • Tenri Sazanami† • Tamaki Sazanami • Enji Sazanami | ||
| Other Characters | Sojo's Group | Genichi Sojo† • Norisaku Madoka† • Mohawk Henchmen† | |
| Independent Sorcerers | Clone Sorcerer† • Trauma Sorcerer† • Oni Mask Sorcerer • Yojiro Sengoku† • Itsuo Shirakai‽ | ||
| Non-Sorcerers | Yuu • Ikura | ||