TV-Series
Description
Josuke Udono is a member of the Kouga Manjidani clan, selected as one of its ten representative ninja to engage in a deadly proxy war against the rival Iga Tsubagakure clan. He is an extremely corpulent man with short brown hair, a beard, and a distinctive circular marking between his eyebrows. His typical attire consists of a large brown vest held loosely with string, light-colored shorts, and traditional sandals, with tape wrapped around his wrists.
In terms of personality, Josuke is good-humored, somewhat simple, and does not fit the conventional image of a stoic and shadowy ninja. He is also notably lecherous, frequently making bold and unwelcome advances toward women, particularly the Iga kunoichi Akeginu. Despite his boorish and often comical demeanor, he is more perceptive than he initially appears, occasionally being the first to notice when a situation is amiss. He is Gennosuke Kouga's jovial and loyal best friend, though his trusting and abrasive nature can lead him into trouble.
Josuke's primary motivation is not driven by deep-seated hatred for the Iga; rather, he approaches the conflict with a sense of playfulness and even a desire for reconciliation. He expresses a wish for peace between the clans, suggesting that he and Akeginu could follow the example of Gennosuke and Oboro by marrying to unite their people. This lighthearted attitude, however, places him in stark contrast to the lethal seriousness of the war around him.
His role in the story is that of a supporting character and a source of comic relief, but his actions have significant narrative consequences. He travels to the Iga village with Gennosuke and is one of the first Kouga ninja to discover that the Hattori truce between the clans has been broken. By interrogating a dying Iga ninja, Jingorou, he learns the truth of the resumption of hostilities, a secret that leads directly to his own demise.
Key relationships define much of his screen time. His most significant bond is with Gennosuke, whom he faithfully follows and respects, tending to obey his orders without question. His most prominent and humorous interactions are with Akeginu, whom he relentlessly pursues. In a playful but deadly contest of ninja arts, he proves his skill by besting her in combat, catching her sword with his flesh and disarming her. He also has a taunting rivalry with the Iga elder Rousai Azuki, whom he enjoys provoking by calling him an old man.
Josuke's development is limited due to his early death, but he demonstrates a critical moment of growth when he moves from being a generally oblivious fool to a perceptive individual who uncovers the conspiracy to kill his comrades. His abilities are entirely unique and derived from his unusual physique. His body possesses the properties of rubber; he can bounce like a ball, squeeze through impossibly narrow gaps, inflate himself with air to float, and his corpulent form can deflect physical attacks. Despite his size, he is highly agile, capable of dodging swift attacks with ease. Ultimately, his trusting nature and a moment of distraction prove fatal. When he hesitates after learning the truth about the broken truce, his opponent, Jingorou, exploits his ability to inhale large amounts of air and enters his body through his mouth, suffocating him from within.
In terms of personality, Josuke is good-humored, somewhat simple, and does not fit the conventional image of a stoic and shadowy ninja. He is also notably lecherous, frequently making bold and unwelcome advances toward women, particularly the Iga kunoichi Akeginu. Despite his boorish and often comical demeanor, he is more perceptive than he initially appears, occasionally being the first to notice when a situation is amiss. He is Gennosuke Kouga's jovial and loyal best friend, though his trusting and abrasive nature can lead him into trouble.
Josuke's primary motivation is not driven by deep-seated hatred for the Iga; rather, he approaches the conflict with a sense of playfulness and even a desire for reconciliation. He expresses a wish for peace between the clans, suggesting that he and Akeginu could follow the example of Gennosuke and Oboro by marrying to unite their people. This lighthearted attitude, however, places him in stark contrast to the lethal seriousness of the war around him.
His role in the story is that of a supporting character and a source of comic relief, but his actions have significant narrative consequences. He travels to the Iga village with Gennosuke and is one of the first Kouga ninja to discover that the Hattori truce between the clans has been broken. By interrogating a dying Iga ninja, Jingorou, he learns the truth of the resumption of hostilities, a secret that leads directly to his own demise.
Key relationships define much of his screen time. His most significant bond is with Gennosuke, whom he faithfully follows and respects, tending to obey his orders without question. His most prominent and humorous interactions are with Akeginu, whom he relentlessly pursues. In a playful but deadly contest of ninja arts, he proves his skill by besting her in combat, catching her sword with his flesh and disarming her. He also has a taunting rivalry with the Iga elder Rousai Azuki, whom he enjoys provoking by calling him an old man.
Josuke's development is limited due to his early death, but he demonstrates a critical moment of growth when he moves from being a generally oblivious fool to a perceptive individual who uncovers the conspiracy to kill his comrades. His abilities are entirely unique and derived from his unusual physique. His body possesses the properties of rubber; he can bounce like a ball, squeeze through impossibly narrow gaps, inflate himself with air to float, and his corpulent form can deflect physical attacks. Despite his size, he is highly agile, capable of dodging swift attacks with ease. Ultimately, his trusting nature and a moment of distraction prove fatal. When he hesitates after learning the truth about the broken truce, his opponent, Jingorou, exploits his ability to inhale large amounts of air and enters his body through his mouth, suffocating him from within.