TV-Series
Description
Haji is a central figure in BLOOD+, known for his enduring loyalty and quiet strength as the chevalier, or knight, of the protagonist, Saya. His existence is entirely devoted to her, a bond that was forged in tragedy over a century before the main events of the story.
Haji's origins trace back to the year 1870, when he was a twelve-year-old boy purchased from his impoverished parents by Joel Goldschmidt for a single loaf of bread. He was brought to Joel’s estate, known as the Zoo, with the intention of becoming a companion and, eventually, a mate for Saya to produce specimens for study. Initially, their relationship was difficult, as Haji was sullen and resentful over being sold, while Saya was spoiled and demanding. However, a shift occurred when Haji confided his circumstances to her; Saya showed him genuine sympathy, and this act of kindness formed the bedrock of their centuries-long bond. During these peaceful years, Saya taught him to play the cello, while he practiced swordsmanship with her, and they shared a dream of one day traveling the world together.
Their lives changed forever in 1883 when Haji fell from a cliff while trying to retrieve a flower for Saya. Mortally wounded, he was saved when Saya, misunderstanding a previous conversation about the necessity of blood for her survival, fed him her own blood. This act transformed him into her chevalier, stopping his aging and granting him supernatural abilities. However, his first transformation was violent and fully chiropteran, resembling the monstrous creatures they were destined to fight. The look of terror on Saya’s face left a profound mark on him, leading him to take a personal vow to never fully transform again unless absolutely necessary.
As a result of this vow and other traumatic events, Haji’s personality for most of the series is extremely calm, stoic, and reserved. He speaks rarely and in a quiet monotone, and he seldom displays his emotions openly. This demeanor is largely a consequence of an incident during the Vietnam War in 1972. The Red Shield organization forcibly awakened Saya from her dormant state using Haji’s blood, causing her to go berserk. In her rampage, she did not recognize Haji and sliced off his right arm. Though the wound healed, the hand remained permanently in its chiropteran form, which he now keeps perpetually bandaged. The psychological trauma of this event made him even more withdrawn, leading him to believe that his primary duty was to obey Saya’s orders and ensure her well-being, while keeping his deeper feelings for her hidden.
Despite his quiet exterior, Haji is deeply motivated by a fierce, unwavering loyalty to Saya. His every action is taken to fulfill her wishes and protect her, even at the cost of his own body, which is frequently wounded in battle. He acts as her guide, guardian, and the keeper of her sword, which he transports inside his large, coffin-shaped cello case. Throughout the story, his role is to support Saya in her fight against her twin sister Diva and the chiropteran threat. His key relationship is, of course, with Saya, whom he loves with a silent and enduring passion. He also shares a significant bond with Riku, a young boy turned into a chevalier by Saya; Haji teaches him about his new existence and treats him like a younger brother, and Riku’s death is one of the few times Haji displays overt rage and a desire for vengeance.
Haji’s development is subtle but crucial. Over the course of the series, he begins to voice his own opinions more frequently, moving beyond being a simple executor of orders. His defining moment comes at the end of the final battle, when Saya asks him to fulfill his promise to kill her after Diva is defeated. For the first time in his existence, Haji directly disobeys Saya. Confessing his love for her, he tells her that he wishes for her to live, giving her the will to choose a future for herself.
As a chevalier, Haji possesses several notable abilities beyond his immortality and lack of need for food or sleep. His blood has the power to strengthen and awaken Saya when she is weak or dormant. He is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant and swordsman. While he rarely shows it, his full chiropteran power includes large, bat-like wings and increased strength, which he unleashes only in the most desperate situations. He also carries several small daggers as secondary weapons, but his most iconic tool remains his cello case, which serves as an durable shield and a powerful bludgeon. After being seemingly killed in the battle with Amshel, evidence in the series' epilogue suggests he survived and continues to watch over Saya, waiting patiently for her to awaken from her next thirty-year sleep.
Haji's origins trace back to the year 1870, when he was a twelve-year-old boy purchased from his impoverished parents by Joel Goldschmidt for a single loaf of bread. He was brought to Joel’s estate, known as the Zoo, with the intention of becoming a companion and, eventually, a mate for Saya to produce specimens for study. Initially, their relationship was difficult, as Haji was sullen and resentful over being sold, while Saya was spoiled and demanding. However, a shift occurred when Haji confided his circumstances to her; Saya showed him genuine sympathy, and this act of kindness formed the bedrock of their centuries-long bond. During these peaceful years, Saya taught him to play the cello, while he practiced swordsmanship with her, and they shared a dream of one day traveling the world together.
Their lives changed forever in 1883 when Haji fell from a cliff while trying to retrieve a flower for Saya. Mortally wounded, he was saved when Saya, misunderstanding a previous conversation about the necessity of blood for her survival, fed him her own blood. This act transformed him into her chevalier, stopping his aging and granting him supernatural abilities. However, his first transformation was violent and fully chiropteran, resembling the monstrous creatures they were destined to fight. The look of terror on Saya’s face left a profound mark on him, leading him to take a personal vow to never fully transform again unless absolutely necessary.
As a result of this vow and other traumatic events, Haji’s personality for most of the series is extremely calm, stoic, and reserved. He speaks rarely and in a quiet monotone, and he seldom displays his emotions openly. This demeanor is largely a consequence of an incident during the Vietnam War in 1972. The Red Shield organization forcibly awakened Saya from her dormant state using Haji’s blood, causing her to go berserk. In her rampage, she did not recognize Haji and sliced off his right arm. Though the wound healed, the hand remained permanently in its chiropteran form, which he now keeps perpetually bandaged. The psychological trauma of this event made him even more withdrawn, leading him to believe that his primary duty was to obey Saya’s orders and ensure her well-being, while keeping his deeper feelings for her hidden.
Despite his quiet exterior, Haji is deeply motivated by a fierce, unwavering loyalty to Saya. His every action is taken to fulfill her wishes and protect her, even at the cost of his own body, which is frequently wounded in battle. He acts as her guide, guardian, and the keeper of her sword, which he transports inside his large, coffin-shaped cello case. Throughout the story, his role is to support Saya in her fight against her twin sister Diva and the chiropteran threat. His key relationship is, of course, with Saya, whom he loves with a silent and enduring passion. He also shares a significant bond with Riku, a young boy turned into a chevalier by Saya; Haji teaches him about his new existence and treats him like a younger brother, and Riku’s death is one of the few times Haji displays overt rage and a desire for vengeance.
Haji’s development is subtle but crucial. Over the course of the series, he begins to voice his own opinions more frequently, moving beyond being a simple executor of orders. His defining moment comes at the end of the final battle, when Saya asks him to fulfill his promise to kill her after Diva is defeated. For the first time in his existence, Haji directly disobeys Saya. Confessing his love for her, he tells her that he wishes for her to live, giving her the will to choose a future for herself.
As a chevalier, Haji possesses several notable abilities beyond his immortality and lack of need for food or sleep. His blood has the power to strengthen and awaken Saya when she is weak or dormant. He is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant and swordsman. While he rarely shows it, his full chiropteran power includes large, bat-like wings and increased strength, which he unleashes only in the most desperate situations. He also carries several small daggers as secondary weapons, but his most iconic tool remains his cello case, which serves as an durable shield and a powerful bludgeon. After being seemingly killed in the battle with Amshel, evidence in the series' epilogue suggests he survived and continues to watch over Saya, waiting patiently for her to awaken from her next thirty-year sleep.