TV-Series
Description
Chouchou Maniwa is a character from the anime Katanagatari, known for his role as a singularly-focused member of the Maniwa Ninja Corps. His name, Chouchou, is the Japanese word for butterfly, which is fittingly reflected in his flamboyant and insect-themed appearance.
Chouchou serves as a squad leader within the larger Maniwa organization, a group of ninja who are major antagonists in the series. He is a member of the Insect Squad and holds the position of Corps Head. His specific epithet is Weightless Chouchou, a title that directly references his unique combat ability.
In terms of personality, Chouchou is depicted as being somewhat hotheaded and quick to lose his patience, especially in competitive situations like games where he is prone to accusing others of cheating. Despite this impatience, he demonstrates a strong sense of loyalty and camaraderie. He deeply admires his fellow Insect Squad member Kamakiri Maniwa, viewing him as a great leader, and he considers both Kamakiri and another squad member, Mitsubachi Maniwa, to be very good friends. This loyalty extends to a personal, romantic aspiration; Chouchou was a heavy smoker but gave up the habit for the sake of a female ninja named Oshidori Maniwa, whom he intended to marry. Tragically, he is killed in battle before he ever has the chance to confess his love for her.
His role in the story is that of a combatant and an obstacle. He appears during the fourth volume of the original light novel series and the corresponding fourth episode of the anime adaptation. Chouchou faces Nanami Yasuri, the extraordinarily powerful sister of the protagonist, Shichika Yasuri. He is the second person from the Maniwa Corps to fight her, following his comrade Kamakiri. His motivation for this fight is twofold: to use his ninja techniques to gain a tactical advantage over his opponent, and to personally experience the same thrill of combat that the founders of both his own ninja style and Nanami's swordsmanship style once felt long ago.
His primary and most notable ability is a secret ninja art known as Ninpou: Ashigaru. This technique allows Chouchou to make his own body weightless, which dramatically increases his speed and agility. In this state, he becomes nearly impossible to land a blow on, and he can perform feats such as running across the surface of water while carrying the added weight of two other people on his shoulders. However, this technique is not without its limitation. As a perceptive opponent points out, the ability does not truly negate his weight, suggesting a fundamental truth about its mechanics that can be exploited.
His development within the story is cut short by his confrontation with Nanami. During their fight, Nanami is able to copy his Ashigaru technique instantly by seeing it. She then uses this copied ability, combined with the techniques of Kamakiri Maniwa, against Chouchou himself. She ultimately defeats him, pinning him to the ground and breaking his neck, bringing an end to his ambitions and his life.
Chouchou serves as a squad leader within the larger Maniwa organization, a group of ninja who are major antagonists in the series. He is a member of the Insect Squad and holds the position of Corps Head. His specific epithet is Weightless Chouchou, a title that directly references his unique combat ability.
In terms of personality, Chouchou is depicted as being somewhat hotheaded and quick to lose his patience, especially in competitive situations like games where he is prone to accusing others of cheating. Despite this impatience, he demonstrates a strong sense of loyalty and camaraderie. He deeply admires his fellow Insect Squad member Kamakiri Maniwa, viewing him as a great leader, and he considers both Kamakiri and another squad member, Mitsubachi Maniwa, to be very good friends. This loyalty extends to a personal, romantic aspiration; Chouchou was a heavy smoker but gave up the habit for the sake of a female ninja named Oshidori Maniwa, whom he intended to marry. Tragically, he is killed in battle before he ever has the chance to confess his love for her.
His role in the story is that of a combatant and an obstacle. He appears during the fourth volume of the original light novel series and the corresponding fourth episode of the anime adaptation. Chouchou faces Nanami Yasuri, the extraordinarily powerful sister of the protagonist, Shichika Yasuri. He is the second person from the Maniwa Corps to fight her, following his comrade Kamakiri. His motivation for this fight is twofold: to use his ninja techniques to gain a tactical advantage over his opponent, and to personally experience the same thrill of combat that the founders of both his own ninja style and Nanami's swordsmanship style once felt long ago.
His primary and most notable ability is a secret ninja art known as Ninpou: Ashigaru. This technique allows Chouchou to make his own body weightless, which dramatically increases his speed and agility. In this state, he becomes nearly impossible to land a blow on, and he can perform feats such as running across the surface of water while carrying the added weight of two other people on his shoulders. However, this technique is not without its limitation. As a perceptive opponent points out, the ability does not truly negate his weight, suggesting a fundamental truth about its mechanics that can be exploited.
His development within the story is cut short by his confrontation with Nanami. During their fight, Nanami is able to copy his Ashigaru technique instantly by seeing it. She then uses this copied ability, combined with the techniques of Kamakiri Maniwa, against Chouchou himself. She ultimately defeats him, pinning him to the ground and breaking his neck, bringing an end to his ambitions and his life.