TV-Series
Description
Central to the Sun arc of Phoenix is a character known by two names, Harima and Inugami. His story begins after the Hakusukinoe War in the year 663, where he is a defeated soldier from the kingdom of Baekje. As a punishment for his defeat, Harima is captured and horrifically mutilated by the enemy Tong Army. They skin his face and cover it with the pelt of a wolf, a gruesome trophy that becomes a permanent, inescapable part of him. Rescued from the brink of death by a mysterious old woman named Obaba, he is given a new purpose. Following her prophecy, he travels to Wa, the ancient name for Japan.
Upon arriving in Wa, Harima encounters the Ku tribe, a group of aboriginal gods and nature spirits who were once worshipped by humans but have been banished to the deep mountains due to the rapid spread of Buddhism. The tribe initially views him with suspicion, but he earns their trust after saving Marimo, the daughter of the tribe's leader. By protecting these displaced deities, he takes on the role of a leader and protector. He changes his name to Inugami-no-Sukune, becoming the chief of a village that provides sanctuary for the native gods, and the community begins to prosper under his guidance.
The personality of Harima, who becomes Inugami, is forged by tragedy and a deep sense of justice. He is a man who has been stripped of his former identity and given a monstrous appearance, causing him to be tormented by bad dreams and to feel another spirit within himself—that of Bando Suguru, a "shadow" agent living in a dystopian 21st century. Rather than succumbing to despair, Inugami channels his suffering into a fierce resolve to defend the vulnerable. He becomes a steadfast advocate for religious tolerance, refusing to bow to the Imperial Court's edicts to eliminate the native faiths in favor of Buddhism. His primary motivation transitions from mere survival to the protection of his adopted village and the gods who have accepted him. When a holy seat enshrining a native god is destroyed by a minister's followers, Inugami chooses to stand against the Imperial Court, risking his life for the principle that people should have the freedom to worship as they see fit.
Inugami's key relationships define his journey. His bond with Marimo, the girl he rescues, deepens into love, and she, along with her canine tribe, becomes his staunchest ally against their common enemies. He also forms a political alliance with Prince Oama, the emperor's brother who is rumored to be a supporter of the native gods. Inugami seeks the prince's assistance in Otsu, though his efforts are frequently met with violence, arrest, and assassination attempts from those loyal to the Imperial Court's Buddhist agenda. His connection to the 21st-century agent Bando Suguru is a supernatural twist, as the two consciousnesses bleed into one another across time, suggesting a deep connection between oppression of indigenous faiths in the past and totalitarian religious control in the future.
Throughout the narrative, Inugami undergoes significant development. He transforms from a defeated foreign soldier cursed with a wolf's visage into a folk hero and a symbolic leader of a resistance movement. He initially seeks a cure for his affliction, but over time, his focus shifts entirely to the welfare of his people. He willingly goes into captivity to plead for the rights of his village, demonstrating a personal growth that prioritizes collective good over individual salvation. Ultimately, he takes up arms in a battle between the army of Prince Otomo, which wields Buddhist paranormal powers, and the forces of Prince Oama, which are supported by Inugami and the native gods. Even when the mythical Phoenix, the ultimate symbol of life and rebirth, refuses to align with him, Inugami continues to fight, showing that his conviction does not rely on divine approval. Regarding notable abilities, Inugami does not possess superhuman powers in a traditional sense. His primary strength lies in his unbreakable will, his leadership, and the loyalty he inspires. He is a capable warrior and strategist, but his most defining trait is his ability to unite disparate groups—humans and native gods alike—against a common oppressor. The wolf skin he wears is not a source of power but a mark of his trauma and his defiant identity as the leader of the Inugami village.
Upon arriving in Wa, Harima encounters the Ku tribe, a group of aboriginal gods and nature spirits who were once worshipped by humans but have been banished to the deep mountains due to the rapid spread of Buddhism. The tribe initially views him with suspicion, but he earns their trust after saving Marimo, the daughter of the tribe's leader. By protecting these displaced deities, he takes on the role of a leader and protector. He changes his name to Inugami-no-Sukune, becoming the chief of a village that provides sanctuary for the native gods, and the community begins to prosper under his guidance.
The personality of Harima, who becomes Inugami, is forged by tragedy and a deep sense of justice. He is a man who has been stripped of his former identity and given a monstrous appearance, causing him to be tormented by bad dreams and to feel another spirit within himself—that of Bando Suguru, a "shadow" agent living in a dystopian 21st century. Rather than succumbing to despair, Inugami channels his suffering into a fierce resolve to defend the vulnerable. He becomes a steadfast advocate for religious tolerance, refusing to bow to the Imperial Court's edicts to eliminate the native faiths in favor of Buddhism. His primary motivation transitions from mere survival to the protection of his adopted village and the gods who have accepted him. When a holy seat enshrining a native god is destroyed by a minister's followers, Inugami chooses to stand against the Imperial Court, risking his life for the principle that people should have the freedom to worship as they see fit.
Inugami's key relationships define his journey. His bond with Marimo, the girl he rescues, deepens into love, and she, along with her canine tribe, becomes his staunchest ally against their common enemies. He also forms a political alliance with Prince Oama, the emperor's brother who is rumored to be a supporter of the native gods. Inugami seeks the prince's assistance in Otsu, though his efforts are frequently met with violence, arrest, and assassination attempts from those loyal to the Imperial Court's Buddhist agenda. His connection to the 21st-century agent Bando Suguru is a supernatural twist, as the two consciousnesses bleed into one another across time, suggesting a deep connection between oppression of indigenous faiths in the past and totalitarian religious control in the future.
Throughout the narrative, Inugami undergoes significant development. He transforms from a defeated foreign soldier cursed with a wolf's visage into a folk hero and a symbolic leader of a resistance movement. He initially seeks a cure for his affliction, but over time, his focus shifts entirely to the welfare of his people. He willingly goes into captivity to plead for the rights of his village, demonstrating a personal growth that prioritizes collective good over individual salvation. Ultimately, he takes up arms in a battle between the army of Prince Otomo, which wields Buddhist paranormal powers, and the forces of Prince Oama, which are supported by Inugami and the native gods. Even when the mythical Phoenix, the ultimate symbol of life and rebirth, refuses to align with him, Inugami continues to fight, showing that his conviction does not rely on divine approval. Regarding notable abilities, Inugami does not possess superhuman powers in a traditional sense. His primary strength lies in his unbreakable will, his leadership, and the loyalty he inspires. He is a capable warrior and strategist, but his most defining trait is his ability to unite disparate groups—humans and native gods alike—against a common oppressor. The wolf skin he wears is not a source of power but a mark of his trauma and his defiant identity as the leader of the Inugami village.