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Shichika Yasuri (鑢 七花, Yasuri Shichika) is the male protagonist of the series Katanagatari. He is the seventh head of the Kyotōryū school of Japanese sword martial arts, the son of Mutsue Yasuri and Migiri Yasuri and the younger brother of Nanami Yasuri.

Personality[]

Shichika knows nothing of the outside world, leaving him clueless to how embarrassing, annoying, or obvious his actions can be. In other words, he is often confused by simple customs and even has trouble telling people apart. He was raised as a weapon, and as such, is bad at expressing his emotions, though he does regard Togame as his wielder. He states that he is in love with her, following her orders even when finding them to be a hassle. As he meets more people, he becomes more human and feels remorse for his previous actions.

Appearance[]

Shichika has apricot skin, black eyes that become grey when he is serious or downtrodden and long black hair with a red circular swirl on the front of his fringe. He has a seven-pointed leaf motif throughout his design. His hair is shaped as a leaf and leaves appear on his thick, red ribbon belt, hands, ponytail, and hakama. As Shichika is not familiar with society, he walks around only half-clothed. He considers being fully clothed a hassle as it impairs his movement while fighting.

He initially wore a plain pale green leaf-shaped midriff-exposing cap-sleeved vest with a red flower on the front and plain pale green pants with a thick black ribbon-like belt.

He currently wears long half red and half black sleeves with red parts that partially cover the top of his hands, a thick red and black ribbon-like belt, black pants with red leaf-like markings and jagged ends and red sandals with red flower-like bobbles on the top of the straps. After Togame's passing, he wears her one-sleeved kimono (now dyed red) as a belt, as well as tying a lock of her hair to it.

History[]

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Shichika at a younger age.

Due to Mutsue's exile, Shichika was raised on an isolated island in Tamba where he was second-born, but chosen over Nanami to inherit the Kyotoryu fighting style. He feels protective of his sister and killed his father in order to protect her. Shichika does not seem aware of Nanami's true skill.

Plot[]

Volume One[]

He is twenty-four when he is sought out and employed by Togame with a mission to find the twelve legendary Deviant Blades. He defeats and kills Kōmori Maniwa, taking the Zettō Kanna from him. With the first of the Deviant Blades retrieved, Togame and Shichika leave the island to continue their search.

Volume Two[]

Shichika arrived in Kyoto (京) with Togame, where Shichika was soon viewed as a naked man by bystanders. To prevent suspicious purposes, Togame brought clothes for Shichika, but he strongly denied wearing anything for the upper body, saying that it is heavy and will get in the way. They ran into bandits along the way but Shichika quickly defeats them, however, Togame told him to spare them. Meanwhile, at Inaba (稲葉) Desert, they found the corpse of Shirasagi Maniwa, one of the 12 heads of Maniwa corps lying across the desert, they head to Gekoku Castle to obtain their second deviant blade, Zantō Namakura, which is wielded by Ginkaku Uneri, an expert swordsman. When Togame negotiating with him, Uneri said it was rude to talk to a swordsman across the door and requested her to enter the room, which was obviously a trap to lure him into his attack range. Shichika quickly reacts and save Togame from Uneri Zerosen's, Ianuki, a supreme sword technique, then retreat to strategist. Shichika admits that his Zerosen is so fast that he cannot see the blade at all.

During the second confrontation, Shichika thought of a counter for Uneri's Zerosen, and he creates a phantom illusion using Kyotōryū Nana no Kamai: Iris  (アイリス), allowing Uneri to miss, and then defeats him with Kyotōryū Ougi: Rakka Rouzeki (落花狼藉, Scattered Blossoms), thus getting their second deviant blade: Zantō Namakura.

After the battle, Shichika admires Uneri's pride deeply, as he thought his final line was really cool. Togame told him it wasn't a catchphrase, it was a dying message, and told him not to think too hard about it.

Volume Three[]

Togame and Shichika departs to Izumo (出雲), where they encounter Meisai Tsuruga, the Sanzu (三途) Shrine Head. She is willing to give over Sentō Tsurugi if they accept some minor conditions, which is for Togame to identify the first blade of Sentō Tsurugi without the help of Shichika. If Togame succeeds, Meisai Tsuruga will fight Shichika one-on-one, if he wins, she will hand it over, if he loses, they will give her Kanna and Namakura. Shichika thought it wasn't fair, but Togame explains that she wants to avoid killing this time round. When Togame was out inspecting the blades, Shichika helped the shrine maiden with chores but does not feel Shikizaki's poison aura. Later, Meisai invited Shichika for a drink as ahanks for helping up the shrine maidens, she explains that the temple is like a refugee camp, they are victims that mental health was destroyed from long-termed abuse by men, she wants to use the poison of Shikizaki's poison as medicine. After hearing that, Shichika still promised to fight to his utmost, without doubt, they both shared how much people they had slain he also told her he slew his father. Meisai then asks what on earth does he fight for, to which he replied, "For Togame."

Later they realized they had been watched by one of the 12 heads by Maniwa corps, Kuizame Maniwa. Mesai Tsuruga then demonstrated Sentouryū on Maniwa Kuizame, killing him instantly. She then asks Shichika to take care of the corpse himself. Later he reunited with Togame, informing her that Maniwa corps attacked. Togame gave Mesai the blade that she assumes is the original since it has the oldest sheath, Mesai agreed with her thoughtlessly and commence duel the next day. During the duel, Shichika then realized the hunt for the original was just an excuse to bide time for Mesai to set-up Chikeikōka Sentō Meguri (地形効果・千刀巡り, Terrain Effect: Thousand Sword Circumference), he then escaped to a terrain that he knew she won't lay a trap, the place where Togame and him stayed. Despite that, Mesai still draws out the disposed sword from the ground, and Shichika then identifies that the sword is the original since it is the sword that chooses the master. Shichika then defeats her with Kyotōryū, obtaining the original third deviant blade. On the way back to Owari, Shichika then asks Togame that if he loses, will she had handed over Mesai Kanna and Namakura, and Togame replied that she never once thought he would lose. Shichika smiled upon hearing that.

Volume Four[]

After defeating Hakuhei Sabi and retrieving the Deviant Blade he carried, Shichika also inherits the title of strongest swordsman in Japan.

Volume Five[]

Volume Six[]

Volume Seven[]

He fights his sister and ends up killing her, fulfilling her wish to be killed.

Volume Eight[]

Volume Nine[]

Volume Ten[]

Volume Eleven[]

Volume Twelve[]

After Togame's death, Shichika does not follow her final orders to live on and forgets everything about her. He instead resolves to die at the hands of Emonzaemon Sōda. The grief he feels leads to Shichika fulfilling his role as the strongest Deviant Blade, and he single-handedly storms the shogunate's castle. At the series' conclusion, Shichika is seen still alive, taking up Togame's wish to create a complete map of Japan. He is also seen traveling with Hitei Hime, who set her mind on following Shichika around.

Abilities[]

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Physical Prowess[]

Enhanced Strength: Due to his training since a very young age (likely since the day he could walk), Shichika is far stronger than any ordinary human. He can lift Zokutō Yoroi, which is an immense suit of armor, cut peoples bodies with his hands and feet and even destroy an entire building in one hit.

Enhanced Speed and Reflexes: Shichika's base speed in battle greatly exceeds common standards. He is fast enough to create afterimages and dodge bullets.

Enhanced Durability and Endurance: Shichika was able to survive multiple bullet wounds from Entō Jū. Even after receiving multiple injuries, Shichika still is able to move and fight with little to no issue.

Fighting Style[]

Kyotōryū: As a practitioner of the legendary Kyotōryū fencing school, he does not use a literal sword when fighting. Instead of a sword, he uses his hands and legs as weapons, turning his body into a "sword". As someone who likely has been training since the day he could walk and is skilled enough to receive the title of the seventh generation head, Shichika has completely mastered Kyotōryū and is extremely powerful.

  • Kyotōryū: "Red Poppy" and "Daphne" hybrid striking technique - A special technique that Shichika learned from his deceased sister. This technique allows Shichika to take all weight out of his enemy and his blows, making it possible to kill his opponent 272 times before they hit the ground. It was invented by adapting Ninpō: Ashigaru and it was used to kill Uron, due to his nigh-immortality.

Weaknesses[]

Swordless: Due to being a member of the Yasuri family, Shichika is unable to use a real sword.

Orders: During his journey to collect all of the Deviant Blades, Togame prohibited him from destroying the blades and hurting himself. Because of these orders, Shichika was never allowed to use his full power through his journey. However after Togame's death, Shichika no longer saw any meaning in following these orders.

Trivia[]

  • The name Shichika means "seven" (七) (shichi) and "flower, blossom" (花) (ka).
  • Shichika's surname Yasuri means "file, rasp" (鑢).
  • His full name literally means "Seven Flower Rasp" altogether. His father's name, Mutsue Yasuri, partially translates to "branch", symbolically making him the product of the tree that is Kyotōryū.
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