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“Katana should be wielded by those dedicated to vanquishing evil and protecting the weak.” ― Kunishige to Chihiro, explaining his philosophy on katana, and the responsibility swordsmiths have in upholding that philosophy.[source]
Kunishige Rokuhira (
His death at the hands of the Hishaku would drive Chihiro onto a path of revenge to confront the Hishaku and retrieve his father's blades.
Appearance
Kunishige's full appearance
Kunishige was a tall man with spiky black hair. His eyes were large with small irises, and he had thin eyebrows and a mild goatee on his chin. He possessed a muscular yet lean physique and maintained excellent posture, even in his back. On casual days, he often wore a friendly and jovial expression,[2] but when engrossed in crafting katanas he adopted a more serious demeanor.[3]
His casual attire typically consisted of various loose white t-shirts, typically featuring a variety of words or designs. One such shirt featured a large sun design in the center with the words "Yay! It's sunny!" in bold font.[4] He paired these shirts with loose black pants.
During his work in his workshop adjacent to his residence, Kunishige preferred traditional Japanese clothing such as "kko-gi" (甲着) or "hakui" (白衣). These garments were designed for practical protection and cleanliness during the sword forging process. He also adorned a black bandana as part of his work attire.
Personality
Kunishige possessed a multifaceted personality that reflected his role as a renowned swordsmith and a father. In the workshop, he was a dedicated and serious craftsman, fully committed to his work, crafting special katanas using his unique method. This seriousness in his craft stood in stark contrast to his usual self, which was more relaxed, approachable and at times clumsy. One whimsical habit of Kunishige's was talking to the three goldfish they kept.
Kunishige's relationship with his son Chihiro reflected this nature. While typically freely joking around with him, Kunishige was fully capable of being serious if the situation demanded it. He took on the responsibility of training Chihiro diligently in the art of swordsmithing, showcasing his dedication to passing on his knowledge and skills, but also urged Chihiro to not fixate too much on his legacy, wanting his son to shine in his own unique way.
Kunishige was deeply reflective, as evidenced by his discussion with Chihiro about the moral responsibility of swordsmiths. He understood the gravity of crafting katanas, knowing that they can be both tools for saving lives and instruments of death, and told Chihiro to consider the weight of producing and entrusting a katana to someone.
Kunishige was also deeply regretful for his actions during the Seitei War, particularly his crafting of the Enchanted Blades. During one of Shiba's regular visits to the house where Shiba was retelling tales from the Seitei War, Kunishige initially tried to get Shiba to stop before giving up and staying silent, appearing unusually serious. When questioned on why they weren't letting the Kamunabi have Shinuchi by Chihiro, Kunishige grimly responded that Shinuchi in particular was the one blade that they couldn't let anyone use again, a dark expression on his face; likely recalling the genocide caused by Akemura Soga.
After the Seitei War, Kunishige had tried multiple times to destroy the Enchanted Blades, but each attempt failed, leaving him to struggle with the guilt of the deaths he was complicit to. It was only Chihiro and the thought of the future that allowed him to envision a path forward; that path being Enten, an Enchanted Blade that was not a weapon of war but a path to resolve the past and safeguard the future.[5]
Relationships
Family
Chihiro Rokuhira: Kunishige Rokuhira had a very close relationship with his son, Chihiro. Chihiro greatly admired his father's skill as a renowned swordsmith but found his whims and casual side somewhat odd and amusing. Chihiro often had to handle his father's whims and responsibilities, including many household chores. Likewise, Kunishige recognised Chihiro was capable of several things he was not, such as the aforementioned household chores.
Upon learning Chihiro's seriousness in wanting to continue his legacy, Kunishige began seriously instructing Chihiro on the ethical matters of swordsmithing, particularly the need for principles and accountability in creating katanas that could both save lives and take them. This discussion challenged Chihiro's aspiration to become a swordsmith, and Kunishige asked if he could shoulder the weight of entrusting a katana to someone, knowing its potential impact. Chihiro, though unsure, was committed to taking on this responsibility.
While happy that Chihiro was dedicated to following in his footsteps, Kunishige emphasised the importance of focusing on his own unique attributes, and not develop a single-minded focus on just his own legacy, telling him to keep calm and be flexible.[6]
However, Kunishige was not always open with his son; he was very reticent with almost anything involving the Seitei War[7] and refused to speak much whenever his Enchanted Blade Shinuchi was mentioned.[8] Ultimately, however, it was Chihiro who ended up providing a pathway for Kunishige to overcome his guilt from the Seitei War, crafting Enten with him together.[9]
Friends
Togo Shiba: Kunishige had a close friendship with Shiba, having known each other since they were joking around at 18 alongside Azami. Following the war, Shiba was a frequent visitor and friend who brought souvenirs and engaged in casual banter with Kunishige.
Soshiro Azami: In the past, Kunishige, Shiba and Azami had all known each other when they were 18, joking around together. Following the Seitei War, Azami was one of the members of the Kamunabi who assisted Kunishige in finding a place to hide safely.
Akemura Soga
Prior to the Seitei War, Soga was considered by Kunishige to be his most trusted ally, to the point where Kunishige entrusted his strongest Enchanted Blade Magatsumi to him. An additional sign of Kunishige's trust in Soga was how the contract system of the six blades was constructed; were Soga to die, the other wielders would quickly follow.
After the Seitei War and Soga's subsequent genocide of the islanders, Kunishige refused to talk about Soga again, and never said a word about him to his son Chihiro.
Abilities
Master Swordsmith: Kunishige was renowned as the most famous swordsmith in his country, specializing in crafting special katanas using his unique method. His skill in forging katanas were unparalleled. Kunishige's teaching ability in this regard is also sound, as he taught his son Chihiro in the art of swordsmithing, passing down his knowledge and skills to the next generation.
Like many master swordsmiths, Kunishige was able to gauge the changing properties (such as temperature and composition) of metals during the forging process. Kunishige's eyesight when it came to forging was so honed that he was the only individual in history able to properly stabilize the Datenseki through identifying and drawing out the unique properties within the stone.[10]
- Enchanted Blade Crafting: During the Seitei War, Kunishige crafted six enchanted blades, each possessing unique abilities, which were extremely powerful and instrumental in winning the war. Following the war, Kunishige crafted a seventh, Enten, with the help of his son Chihiro. He crafted the Enchanted Blades out of Datenseki, a mineral with the unique properties of amplifying spirit energy, and rendered them safely operable, a feat unparalleled in history.
Combat Prowess
Proficient Swordsman: Kunishige was somewhat skilled in using katanas himself, as demonstrated when he cut through a bamboo stand with precision.
Etymology
The name Kunishige Rokuhira (六平国重 Rokuhira Kunishige) can be broken down as follows:
六 (Roku): Means "six".平 (Hira): Means "flat" or "peace".国 (Kuni): Means "country".重 (Shige): Means "important" or "esteem".
Trivia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kagurabachi Manga: Volume 4 .
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 1 (Page 5).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 1 (Page 6).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 2 (Page 18). — Translation of his shirt.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 83 (Pages 14-17).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 14.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 1.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 41.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 83 (Pages 14-17).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 65 (Page 4).