TV-Series
Description
Arima Tsuchimikado is the current head of all exorcists and the leader of the powerful Tsuchimikado House, making him one of the most influential figures in the world of onmyouji. He is a tall man with long white hair that has blue tips and amber-colored eyes, and he typically wears red glasses. Despite his high status, his first appearance is famously unconventional, as he is introduced wearing only a pair of tight, bright pink underwear, a choice that leads protagonist Rokuro Enmado to repeatedly call him the Pervy Underwear Guy.
His personality is a study in contrasts. On the surface, Arima is a cheerful and playful individual who seems to enjoy having fun and often finds himself in trouble due to his eccentric behavior. This lighthearted and seemingly unserious demeanor is a running gag throughout the series. However, this facade hides a deeply serious, calculating, and genuinely caring person. He is a master manipulator who is exceptionally skilled at moving others according to his thoughts, often orchestrating events from behind the scenes to achieve his long-term goals. Despite his manipulative nature, he has shown sincere concern for those under his charge, including the young Twin Stars, Rokuro and Benio Adashino, referring to them as his underlings and worrying about their well-being.
Arima's primary role in the story is that of a visionary and a strategist. He receives a divine revelation foretelling the coming of the Miko, a child who will end the war with the Kegare impurities, and he identifies Rokuro and Benio as the Twin Star Exorcists, the prophesied parents of this Miko. He is responsible for setting them on their destined path, manipulating circumstances to force them together and encourage their relationship for the sake of this prophecy. As the chairman of the Seiyoin, a prestigious academy and training center for exorcists, he also holds significant authority over the next generation of onmyouji.
His most complex and telling relationship is with his son, Arimori Tsuchimikado. Following the death of his wife, Mana, Arima became a distant and harsh parent, often criticizing Arimori and belittling his talent, even threatening to disown him. This cold treatment was not born from malice but from a misguided attempt to protect his son from the pain of loss, as he did not want Arimori to grow attached to a father who was likely to die in battle. His wife's final wish was for their son to live in a peaceful world without conflict, and Arima dedicated his life to fulfilling this wish, deciding that his future would be used for his son's future. This leads to a poignant reconciliation at the end of his life, where the true nature of his seemingly cruel actions is revealed. He also acts as a mentor to Rokuro, though his methods are unorthodox, including placing seals on Rokuro's power to force him to grow stronger and develop new abilities.
Arima's character develops tragically, moving from a seemingly omnipotent and scheming leader to a fallen hero who sacrifices everything. He is renowned as the strongest and greatest of all onmyouji, and his abilities live up to this reputation. He can exorcise multiple Kegare with just a few spoken words, a technique thought to be a form of kotodama or speech spirit. He specializes in powerful fire and ice techniques, using dual gauntlets to unleash devastating elemental attacks; one notable strike against the Basara Kuranashi left a giant crater in the ground. He can also summon shikigami, such as a flame haetae and an ice horse, for combat and tracking. In his final battle against the powerful Basara Sakanashi, Arima is mortally wounded. Refusing to stay down, he uses a forbidden technique to corrupt his own body, continuing to fight even as a decaying corpse. He ultimately self-destructs, taking Sakanashi with him to protect his son and secure the future he had worked so hard to create. In his final moments, he reconciles with Arimori, expressing regret for a life filled with hardship but happiness that he was watched over by a loved one at the end.
His personality is a study in contrasts. On the surface, Arima is a cheerful and playful individual who seems to enjoy having fun and often finds himself in trouble due to his eccentric behavior. This lighthearted and seemingly unserious demeanor is a running gag throughout the series. However, this facade hides a deeply serious, calculating, and genuinely caring person. He is a master manipulator who is exceptionally skilled at moving others according to his thoughts, often orchestrating events from behind the scenes to achieve his long-term goals. Despite his manipulative nature, he has shown sincere concern for those under his charge, including the young Twin Stars, Rokuro and Benio Adashino, referring to them as his underlings and worrying about their well-being.
Arima's primary role in the story is that of a visionary and a strategist. He receives a divine revelation foretelling the coming of the Miko, a child who will end the war with the Kegare impurities, and he identifies Rokuro and Benio as the Twin Star Exorcists, the prophesied parents of this Miko. He is responsible for setting them on their destined path, manipulating circumstances to force them together and encourage their relationship for the sake of this prophecy. As the chairman of the Seiyoin, a prestigious academy and training center for exorcists, he also holds significant authority over the next generation of onmyouji.
His most complex and telling relationship is with his son, Arimori Tsuchimikado. Following the death of his wife, Mana, Arima became a distant and harsh parent, often criticizing Arimori and belittling his talent, even threatening to disown him. This cold treatment was not born from malice but from a misguided attempt to protect his son from the pain of loss, as he did not want Arimori to grow attached to a father who was likely to die in battle. His wife's final wish was for their son to live in a peaceful world without conflict, and Arima dedicated his life to fulfilling this wish, deciding that his future would be used for his son's future. This leads to a poignant reconciliation at the end of his life, where the true nature of his seemingly cruel actions is revealed. He also acts as a mentor to Rokuro, though his methods are unorthodox, including placing seals on Rokuro's power to force him to grow stronger and develop new abilities.
Arima's character develops tragically, moving from a seemingly omnipotent and scheming leader to a fallen hero who sacrifices everything. He is renowned as the strongest and greatest of all onmyouji, and his abilities live up to this reputation. He can exorcise multiple Kegare with just a few spoken words, a technique thought to be a form of kotodama or speech spirit. He specializes in powerful fire and ice techniques, using dual gauntlets to unleash devastating elemental attacks; one notable strike against the Basara Kuranashi left a giant crater in the ground. He can also summon shikigami, such as a flame haetae and an ice horse, for combat and tracking. In his final battle against the powerful Basara Sakanashi, Arima is mortally wounded. Refusing to stay down, he uses a forbidden technique to corrupt his own body, continuing to fight even as a decaying corpse. He ultimately self-destructs, taking Sakanashi with him to protect his son and secure the future he had worked so hard to create. In his final moments, he reconciles with Arimori, expressing regret for a life filled with hardship but happiness that he was watched over by a loved one at the end.