OVA
Description
Altar Hakurei is a character from the Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas manga and anime series. Known as the Elder of Jamir, he holds the rank of Silver Saint and is the guardian of the Altar Cloth. His background is deeply rooted in the long and brutal history of the Holy Wars against the god Hades. He is the elder twin brother of Sage, who would become the Pope of the Sanctuary during the 18th century Holy War, and is a survivor of a previous conflict from the 15th century. This makes him over 250 years old, having lived through the trauma of witnessing the death of nearly all his comrades at the hands of the Twin Gods, Hypnos and Thanatos.
Hakurei’s personality is defined by a quiet, resolute, and somewhat unorthodox nature. While a deeply faithful servant of the goddess Athena, he operates on his own terms, preferring to remain in the shadows of Jamir rather than follow the direct commands of the Sanctuary. He is a strict but caring master to his disciples, including the future Aries Shion, Crane Yuzuriha, and Atla, and feels a deep sense of sorrow when his students are lost or choose a different path, such as his former pupil Avido who became the leader of the Black Saints. Despite his advanced age and appearance, with long silver-white hair tied in a ponytail and small dot-like eyebrows characteristic of the Jamir people, he possesses a formidable and unwavering will in battle. His primary motivations are twofold: to protect Athena and to avenge the fallen Saints of the previous Holy War by finally defeating the Twin Gods who murdered them.
Hakurei’s role in the story is multifaceted. Initially, he serves as the master craftsman responsible for repairing the Cloths of the Saints, a vital role for the war effort. However, after the death of his brother Sage, who sacrifices himself to seal the god Thanatos, Hakurei assumes a more active and decisive role. To avoid demoralizing the Saints, he secretly takes on the identity of the Pope, giving orders while pretending his brother is still alive. His most significant act is a solo infiltration of Hades’ fortress. Recognizing that a divine seal is suppressing the Saints' power, he ventures alone into enemy territory to destroy it. There, he confronts the god Hypnos, using his ultimate technique to summon the souls of the warriors who fell in the previous war—including his own brother—to create a colossal spiritual wave that overpowers and seals the god away. This act fulfills the two-century-old vow he made with Sage. Having completed his mission, Hakurei is fatally struck down by the awakened Hades inhabiting the body of the boy Alone, just before he can break the seal.
Key relationships define his character. His bond with his twin brother Sage is the most significant. While Sage became the public leader of the Sanctuary, Hakurei chose to be his hidden support, a role he accepted after deliberately losing the right to become the Cancer Gold Saint and Pope to his younger brother. As a master, his relationship with Shion is particularly important, as he trains the young man to become a Saint and eventually entrusts the legacy of Aries to him. His development shows a progression from a detached mentor and craftsman to an active general in the final stages of the war, culminating in a strategic and powerful sacrifice that shifts the tide of battle.
Hakurei is noted for his exceptional abilities, which rival or even surpass those of the Gold Saints. His power is so great that he is considered one of the most formidable Saints of his era. He is a master of the Sekishiki techniques, spiritual abilities typically associated with the Cancer Gold Saint. His signature technique is the Sekishiki Tenryō Ha (Praesepe Returning Spirits Wave), which summons and combines the souls of the deceased into a single, devastating spiritual energy mass capable of crushing even a god’s earthly vessel. He also possesses powerful telekinetic abilities, common to the inhabitants of Jamir, allowing for teleportation, object manipulation, and the repair of Cloths, a skill he hones as the master of Jamir.
Hakurei’s personality is defined by a quiet, resolute, and somewhat unorthodox nature. While a deeply faithful servant of the goddess Athena, he operates on his own terms, preferring to remain in the shadows of Jamir rather than follow the direct commands of the Sanctuary. He is a strict but caring master to his disciples, including the future Aries Shion, Crane Yuzuriha, and Atla, and feels a deep sense of sorrow when his students are lost or choose a different path, such as his former pupil Avido who became the leader of the Black Saints. Despite his advanced age and appearance, with long silver-white hair tied in a ponytail and small dot-like eyebrows characteristic of the Jamir people, he possesses a formidable and unwavering will in battle. His primary motivations are twofold: to protect Athena and to avenge the fallen Saints of the previous Holy War by finally defeating the Twin Gods who murdered them.
Hakurei’s role in the story is multifaceted. Initially, he serves as the master craftsman responsible for repairing the Cloths of the Saints, a vital role for the war effort. However, after the death of his brother Sage, who sacrifices himself to seal the god Thanatos, Hakurei assumes a more active and decisive role. To avoid demoralizing the Saints, he secretly takes on the identity of the Pope, giving orders while pretending his brother is still alive. His most significant act is a solo infiltration of Hades’ fortress. Recognizing that a divine seal is suppressing the Saints' power, he ventures alone into enemy territory to destroy it. There, he confronts the god Hypnos, using his ultimate technique to summon the souls of the warriors who fell in the previous war—including his own brother—to create a colossal spiritual wave that overpowers and seals the god away. This act fulfills the two-century-old vow he made with Sage. Having completed his mission, Hakurei is fatally struck down by the awakened Hades inhabiting the body of the boy Alone, just before he can break the seal.
Key relationships define his character. His bond with his twin brother Sage is the most significant. While Sage became the public leader of the Sanctuary, Hakurei chose to be his hidden support, a role he accepted after deliberately losing the right to become the Cancer Gold Saint and Pope to his younger brother. As a master, his relationship with Shion is particularly important, as he trains the young man to become a Saint and eventually entrusts the legacy of Aries to him. His development shows a progression from a detached mentor and craftsman to an active general in the final stages of the war, culminating in a strategic and powerful sacrifice that shifts the tide of battle.
Hakurei is noted for his exceptional abilities, which rival or even surpass those of the Gold Saints. His power is so great that he is considered one of the most formidable Saints of his era. He is a master of the Sekishiki techniques, spiritual abilities typically associated with the Cancer Gold Saint. His signature technique is the Sekishiki Tenryō Ha (Praesepe Returning Spirits Wave), which summons and combines the souls of the deceased into a single, devastating spiritual energy mass capable of crushing even a god’s earthly vessel. He also possesses powerful telekinetic abilities, common to the inhabitants of Jamir, allowing for teleportation, object manipulation, and the repair of Cloths, a skill he hones as the master of Jamir.