TV-Series
Description
Raikou, known by the epithet Raikou of the Divine Wisdom, is a supporting character in the anime Utawarerumono: The False Faces. He is one of the Eight Pillar Generals of Yamato, the empire's highest-ranking military officers who serve directly under the Emperor, and he is widely regarded as the realm's foremost strategist. Where other generals are celebrated for strength at arms, Raikou is said to be capable of taking any fortress, no matter how formidable, through intellect alone, a reputation that makes him one of the most respected military minds in Yamato.
He is a handsome man with black hair and grey eyes, composed and courteous in manner, and he dresses in the formal attire of an imperial officer. His family is prominent within Yamato: his younger brother is Mikazuchi, the Left Imperial Guard general and a warrior of considerable martial ability who bears an Akuruka mask, and the two brothers represent contrasting talents within the same household. Raikou is also family-minded, maintaining a caring relationship with his mother and gently urging Mikazuchi to visit her. Shichiriya serves as his personal attendant.
In personality, Raikou is calm, shrewd, and perceptive. He shows genuine interest in people, as when he asks to be introduced to the visitors staying at his brother's residence and makes their acquaintance in an informal setting outside the palace. He carries himself with the polish of a scholar as much as a soldier. At the same time, later installments and side stories of the series reveal a colder and more calculating dimension to his character: a practical commander who prioritizes results over sentiment and is willing to resort to manipulation or deliberate destruction to achieve a strategic objective.
In the events of the anime, Raikou's role is that of a capable and respected military leader rather than a central figure. When the northern nation of Uzurusha invades Yamato, he joins his fellow Pillar Generals, including Oshutoru and Vurai, in crushing the invasion with overwhelming force, an operation consistent with his standing as the imperial court's foremost tactical mind. His most memorable personal interactions are tied to his family and his duties. His relationship with Mikazuchi, defined by mutual respect for each other's different strengths, offers the clearest view of his character, while his curiosity toward Haku and his companions shows a more approachable side.
As a character, Raikou undergoes little personal change within The False Faces, where he serves as an emblem of Yamato's military and intellectual elite. His development is expanded in later parts of the series, which depict how far his pragmatism can go once the empire falls into civil conflict. There, his image as a genteel scholar-official is complicated by choices that demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice even treasured assets for victory.
His notable ability is not personal combat but strategic command. His genius lies in planning, foresight, and the orchestration of forces, and his epithet reflects the belief that no stronghold can withstand him if he is given time to plan. Within the hierarchy of Yamato, that intellect makes him one of the most formidable of the Eight Pillar Generals, even though he does not share his brother's warrior talents.
He is a handsome man with black hair and grey eyes, composed and courteous in manner, and he dresses in the formal attire of an imperial officer. His family is prominent within Yamato: his younger brother is Mikazuchi, the Left Imperial Guard general and a warrior of considerable martial ability who bears an Akuruka mask, and the two brothers represent contrasting talents within the same household. Raikou is also family-minded, maintaining a caring relationship with his mother and gently urging Mikazuchi to visit her. Shichiriya serves as his personal attendant.
In personality, Raikou is calm, shrewd, and perceptive. He shows genuine interest in people, as when he asks to be introduced to the visitors staying at his brother's residence and makes their acquaintance in an informal setting outside the palace. He carries himself with the polish of a scholar as much as a soldier. At the same time, later installments and side stories of the series reveal a colder and more calculating dimension to his character: a practical commander who prioritizes results over sentiment and is willing to resort to manipulation or deliberate destruction to achieve a strategic objective.
In the events of the anime, Raikou's role is that of a capable and respected military leader rather than a central figure. When the northern nation of Uzurusha invades Yamato, he joins his fellow Pillar Generals, including Oshutoru and Vurai, in crushing the invasion with overwhelming force, an operation consistent with his standing as the imperial court's foremost tactical mind. His most memorable personal interactions are tied to his family and his duties. His relationship with Mikazuchi, defined by mutual respect for each other's different strengths, offers the clearest view of his character, while his curiosity toward Haku and his companions shows a more approachable side.
As a character, Raikou undergoes little personal change within The False Faces, where he serves as an emblem of Yamato's military and intellectual elite. His development is expanded in later parts of the series, which depict how far his pragmatism can go once the empire falls into civil conflict. There, his image as a genteel scholar-official is complicated by choices that demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice even treasured assets for victory.
His notable ability is not personal combat but strategic command. His genius lies in planning, foresight, and the orchestration of forces, and his epithet reflects the belief that no stronghold can withstand him if he is given time to plan. Within the hierarchy of Yamato, that intellect makes him one of the most formidable of the Eight Pillar Generals, even though he does not share his brother's warrior talents.