Yukishiro Enishi

Yukishiro Enishi (Japanese: 雪代 縁) is a fictional character from the Rurouni Kenshin universe created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. In the English language OVA dubs, he is known in Western order as Enishi Yukishiro. Enishi is the main antagonist of the Jinchū Arc, the final arc of the series.

In this Japanese name, the surname is Yukishiro.
Yukishiro Enishi
Rurouni Kenshin character
Yukishiro Enishi on the cover of Rurouni Kenshin Kanzenban Volume 21
First appearanceRurouni Kenshin Act 152: Cross-Shaped Scar
Created byNobuhiro Watsuki
Portrayed byMackenyu
Voiced byJapanese
Nozomu Sasaki[1][2]
English
Brian Gaston (child)[1]
Bill Wise (adult)[2]
In-universe information
TitleMaster of Watōjutsu
RelativesYukishiro Tomoe (sister)
"Geezer" (father)
Himura Kenshin (ex-brother-in-law)
AffiliationsYaminobu (formerly)
Hong Kong Mafia
The Six Comrades

As a young boy during the pre-Meiji period in a fictional version of Japan, Enishi witnessed the (accidental) killing of his older sister, Yukishiro Tomoe, by her then-husband, Himura Kenshin. Filled with grief and anger, he swore to bring jinchū (人誅, lit. "judgment from man")[note 1] to the man who killed his only sister. Ten years later, during his introduction in the series, a now-adult Enishi encounters Kenshin once again, ready to complete the jinchū. Enishi also forms "The Six Comrades", a group of six men (himself included), to assist him in his revenge against Kenshin.

Enishi, while not featuring in the anime television series, appears in both of the original video animation (OVA) series relating to the franchise. A popular character, he has been mostly well received by manga critics and readers, ranking highly in the popularity polls. His character is featured in various types of merchandising developed for the series, such as figurines and key-chains. Several anime and manga publications have commented on the character of Enishi.

Conception and design
Redesign of Enishi in the kanzenban series.

Watsuki used "revenge" as Enishi's "model or concept." Since Watsuki created Shishio Makoto as a "manic-type" "going higher and higher and higher," the Rurouni Kenshin author wished to paint Yukishiro Enishi as a "depressive type" "falling deeper and deeper and deeper." Watsuki added that Enishi became "sort of wishy-washy" as Shishio's influence remained. Watsuki said that he could see the "obsession" within Enishi; therefore it fits the "Terminator-like" character that Watsuki intended to depict.[4]

The author wrote that Enishi's admiration for his sister, obsession, and hatred for Kenshin reflects "Watsuki's dark side"; the author added that he has no older sister and no people that he feels a need to take revenge on. Since Shishio has aspects within Watsuki that the author considers to be positive, Enishi has Watsuki aspects that the author feels are negative.[4]

During the series' climax, Watsuki kept listening to the song "Hurry Go Round" by the late musician hide which he felt suited the relationship between Enishi and Kenshin's darker Hitokiri Battōsai persona.[5] Watsuki said that he "fell into bouts of self-disgust" while drawing Enishi. The author added that he felt attachment towards Enishi and that he would someday like to use Enishi in a future work.[4]

According to the author, Enishi's design model is "a slightly deviant, white-haired, pointy-haired, handsome young man, appearing in a fancy Kamijō Atsushi-sensei-like manga." In other words, Enishi had no specific design model. Watsuki said that, since he had "inadequate art skill," he could not portray what he intended to. The author added that some people mistakenly believed that Vash the Stampede of Trigun and Basara from Macross 7 were design models for Enishi. Stating that "models are strictly models," Watsuki "converted" Enishi to his style. The creator gave Enishi glasses since Enishi appeared in the mafia, "shady Chinese clothing" since Enishi lived in China, and a "half-cape" originating from Gambit of X-Men Age of Apocalypse. Watsuki believed that this is one of his "better" designs. The author felt that Enishi was "too handsome" for a final villain and that Watsuki tired of drawing "handsome types."[4]

In the 21st volume of the Rurouni Kenshin kanzenban edition, Watsuki again redesigned Enishi's appearance in a draft version to show how he would appear at that time. In Enishi's redesigned version, his hair was longer and spikier than it was originally. His clothes were ragged and dirty and he also wore bandages and a torn worn-out cape. Enishi's shoes were replaced with boots. His weapon of choice was a shirasaya nihontō (a katana with a wooden sheath and hilt), which he carried by placing it next to his left hip.[6]

Appearances

In Rurouni Kenshin

When Enishi was an infant, his mother died and he was raised by his older sister, Tomoe. She raised him herself, becoming both sister and mother to him, and he grew to love.[7] When Tomoe became engaged to Kiyosato Akira. Kiyosato is killed by Hitokiri Battōsai (Himura Kenshin). Tomoe left her brother behind to seek revenge, working with the Yaminobu to do so. When he was about ten, he discovered the location of Tomoe through the Yaminobu and appeared before her, revealing that he was the contact sent to Tomoe. While he believed that he was helping Tomoe's revenge, he did not know she had grown to love Kenshin.

Enishi, who became more unstable, gained a deep hatred for Kenshin and swore vengeance against him for killing his sister whom he loved so much.[8] He disappeared to China, where he was taken in by a kind and wealthy family after suffering months of hardship in the wilderness. Enishi's hair was originally black but after witnessing Kenshin's accidental killing of his sister, Tomoe, his hair turned snow white from the stress and grief of losing her.[9] In order to reach his goal, Enishi learned the Watōjutsu, a sword style that he taught himself. It is composed of the speed and slashing style of kenjutsu and the strength and flexibility of the typical Chinese sword art used in conjunction with the Watō, a Chinese-made Japanese tachi.[10][11]

In addition, Enishi believes that Tomoe wants revenge as well and constantly sees the image of his sister smiling on him. The purpose of Enishi's Jinchū is not to kill Kenshin, but to plunge him into a living hell by taking away the person he cares for the most, just like Kenshin did to him. In the attack on Kamiya Dojo, Enishi fights and defeats Kenshin shortly before delivering Jinchu. Enishi accomplishes his goal by leaving a life-size doll of Kamiya Kaoru, made by the corpse-artist Gein, to appear as though Enishi drove his sword through her heart, effectively driving Kenshin into a semi-comatose state of depression, much to Enishi's glee.

After Enishi completes the Jinchū, he takes Kaoru back with him to an isolated island with no plans of allowing her to return to Tokyo until Kenshin dies from his state of "living hell". He leaves his organization in the hands of his subordinate, Woo Heishin, a man who cares more about profits than anything. As Enishi rests, he sees Tomoe again but is shocked to discover that his sister is no longer smiling at him. In a moment of madness, he attempts to strangle Kaoru, only to experience severe convulsions, which cause him to fall to the floor vomiting. Kaoru concludes that this reaction is a result of the psychological trauma of witnessing his sister's death; his subconscious cannot allow him to lay hands on any woman who (in his eyes) resembles Tomoe. This is why he instructed Gein to make the Kaoru replica.

After Kenshin recovers and arrives at Enishi's Island hideout, the two fight a final duel in which Enishi believes killing Kenshin will make Tomoe smile again. Enishi's rage awakens his "Frenzied Nerves" (狂経脈, Kyōkeimyaku, "Nerves of Insanity") which causes his nerves throughout bulge and he becomes super sensitive to everything around him, enhancing his body.[12] However, Kenshin defeats Enishi. Shortly afterwards, he and Kaoru are attacked by Heishin. Enishi protects her by punching Heishin. Heishin is badly injured, resulting Kenshin to stop Enishi, reasoning that he does not want anymore death, and by doing that Enishi would 'lose Tomoe's smile forever'. Upon Enishi's being arrested, Kaoru hands him Tomoe's diary. He manages to escape along the way, and ends up in the fallen village that Kenshin had been in during his depression, where he sees his father. His father simply tells Enishi that for the time being, he should simply rest.

Reception

Manga News describes Enishi as a psychopath due to how he wishes to torment Keshin for Tomoe's death in contrast to his initial calmer persona. Nevertheless, Manga News praised Enishi's swordskills shown in the battle against the protagonist.[13] Anime News Network writer Zac Bertschy compared Enishi's revenge quest with the ones Knives from Trigun on Vash the Stampede due to how he continuously gathers soldiers with ridiculous appearances who share hatred towards the protagonist. Nevetheless, Zac Bertschy found Enishi's arc to be less appealing than the Kyoto arc.[14] Similarly, Manga News drew parallels to the Marvel Comics villains who team up to defeat the hero Spider-Man.[15]

Carlo Santos from the same site, praised Enishi and Kenshin's final fight despite finding the ending predictably.[16] Manga News enjoyed the final fight but felt that Enishi's strengthen senses might come across as ridiculous.[17] While also liking their final showdown, Megan Lavey from Mania Entertainment felt that twist that happens shortly after battle is over serves to show Enishi's longlife trauma but at the same time Kenshin's compassion towards others.[18] Ridwan Khan from Animefringe found that Enishi and Shishio's antagonisms against Kenshin in the original video animations were overshadowed by Kenshin's disease due to the bigger impact it has on the narrative.[19] Anime News Network found Enishi's fight against Kenshin in the OVAs as rushed due to the trimmed content of the revenge arc to the point the conclusion was also found different from the original version.[20] Carl Kimlinger from the same site felt that Enishi's motivation for keeping Kamiya Kaoru alive was poorly exeucuted as a result of how the OVAs trimmed the final arc of the manga.[21] On the other hand, OPUSZINE felt that Enishi's reason to clash with Kenshin was a major theme in the OVAs well performed as by taking Kaoru, he makes it reasonable how Kenshin has not earned happiness due to his previous crimes, most notably Tomoe's death.[22]

In a popularity poll from the series' main site, Enishi took seventh place.[23] In another poll involving Kenshin's rivals, Enishi took third place behind Saito Hajime and Seta Sojiro.[24] In the book Critical Survey of Graphic Novels : Manga, Enishi's quest on his revenge on Kenshin is noted as negative, with Watsuki pointing out the time Enishi starts having hallucinations of his late sister with a sad expression on her face rather than a smile.[25]

Notes
  1. "Hitokiri" (人斬り, lit. "manslayer") believed in tenchū (天誅, lit. "judgment from the heavens"), and therefore they were fond of the word. Enishi believes that if the heavens will not judge Kenshin, he will give Kenshin jinchū (人誅, lit. "judgment from man"), his own brand of judgment.[3]

References
  1. Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal (Director's Cut) (DVD). ADV Films. 2003.
  2. Samurai X: Reflection (Director's Cut) (DVD). ADV Films. 2004.
  3. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2006). "Glossary of the Restoration". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 25. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-0407-0.
  4. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2006). "The Secret Life of Characters (53) Yukishiro Enishi". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 28. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-0675-3.
  5. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2006). "Free Talk". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 28. Viz Media. ISBN 1-4215-0675-0.
  6. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2007). Rurouni Kenshin Kanzenban, Volume 21. Shueisha. p. 2. ISBN 978-4-08-874170-3.
  7. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2005). "Act 174: Remembrance 9: White Snow". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 20. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-0064-5.
  8. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2005). "Act 163: Drawing to a Close". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 19. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-5911-6927-7.
  9. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2005). "Act 180: Night Fell...". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 21. Viz Media. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-4215-0082-9.
  10. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2006). "Act 201: Another Strength". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 23. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-0276-2.
  11. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2006). "Act 202: Tales of the Past". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 23. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-0276-2.
  12. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2006). "Act 247: Kyōkeimyaku (Frenzied Nerves)". Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 27. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-0674-6.
  13. "Critique du volume manga". Manga News. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  14. Bertschy, Zac. "Rurouni Kenshin G.novel 18 Synopsis". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  15. "Critique du volume manga". Manga News. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  16. Santos, Carlo (October 2, 2005). "RIGHT TURN ONLY!! Bye Bye Mr. Battousai". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  17. "Critique du volume manga". Manga News. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  18. Lavey, Megan. "Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #28". Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  19. Khan, Ridwan (June 2002). "Rurouni Kenshin: Sei Sou Hen Vol.2". Animefringe. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  20. Crandol, Mike. "Rurouni Kenshin second OAV series Seisouhen, part 2". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  21. Kimlinger, Carl (October 31, 2011). "Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection Blu-ray Limited Edition". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  22. "Samurai X: Reflection by Kazuhiro Furuhashi (Review)". opuszine. October 31, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  23. Hodgkins, Crystalyn. "Rurouni Kenshin Poll: Favorite Character Then & Now". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  24. Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2006). Rurouni Kenshin. 26. Viz Media. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-4215-0673-9.
  25. Burnham, Jef (2013). "Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story". In Beaty, Bart H.; Weiner, Stephen (eds.). Critical Survey of Graphic Novels : Manga. Ipswich, Mass.: Salem Press. pp. 268–272. ISBN 9781587659553 – via EBSCOhost.
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