TV-Series
Description
Kenren, also known as Kenren Taisho, is a central figure in the prequel story, where he serves as a general in Heaven's Western Army. He is a tall man, approximately 181 centimeters, who carries himself with a rebellious and carefree air, often seen with his military uniform worn open, a skull necklace, and a small flask of sake tied to his belt. His fondness for earthly vices like alcohol, tobacco, and women is well-known, but these hedonistic traits mask a deeply principled and compassionate nature.
His background is marked by a conflict with authority. Originally a general in the Eastern Army, he was demoted and transferred to the Western Army under the command of Field Marshal Tenpou after having an affair with his superior officer's wife and assaulting the man. Despite this disciplinary record, Kenren is an exceptionally capable soldier known for his physical strength, skill in hand-to-hand combat, and proficiency with a gun. He is also surprisingly domestic, taking care of cleaning and organizing tasks, particularly for the absent-minded Tenpou.
Personality-wise, Kenren is brash, impulsive, and unafraid to speak his mind, even in front of higher-ranking gods. He despises hypocrisy and the rigid, absolute principles of Heaven's authority, which he believes to be unjust. This rebellious exterior, however, conceals a man of great loyalty and chivalry. He is a natural caretaker, acting as an older brother figure to his sixteen subordinates, who are fiercely devoted to him in return. This protective instinct extends strongly to children, particularly the young heretic Goku and the tragic war prince Nataku, whose exploitation by Heaven's system becomes one of his primary reasons for rebellion.
Kenren's role in the story is that of a catalyst and a loyal protector. He is among the first to doubt Heaven's morality and becomes a key conspirator in the plan to help Goku escape execution by fleeing to the lower world. His motivations are rooted in a deep sense of fairness and a love for the transient, imperfect beauty of the lower world, which he finds far more appealing than the sterile perfection of Heaven.
His key relationships define his actions. He shares a deep, symbiotic bond with Tenpou, his superior and partner in crime; Tenpou provides the strategic mind while Kenren handles the practicalities of daily life, a dynamic that leads others to compare them to a married couple. He also has a friendship with Konzen, the nephew of the merciful goddess, acting as a foil to the aloof deity's rigid demeanor. His connection with the young Goku is that of a fun-loving and protective uncle, a sharp contrast to his role as a serious general.
Throughout the narrative, Kenren shows little personal development in terms of changing his core beliefs; instead, he is resolute from the start. His development is the tragic fulfillment of his convictions. When his group is cornered while trying to escape Heaven, Kenren makes a final stand. Mortally wounded by artificial soldiers known as Natakus, he uses his last moments to save his superior, Goujun, by shoving him to safety. In a final act of empathy, he offers his own body to a crying, suffering Nataku beast, instructing it to consume him entirely, and is killed in the act. His death paves the way for his soul to be reincarnated in the future as the half-demon Sha Gojyo.
His background is marked by a conflict with authority. Originally a general in the Eastern Army, he was demoted and transferred to the Western Army under the command of Field Marshal Tenpou after having an affair with his superior officer's wife and assaulting the man. Despite this disciplinary record, Kenren is an exceptionally capable soldier known for his physical strength, skill in hand-to-hand combat, and proficiency with a gun. He is also surprisingly domestic, taking care of cleaning and organizing tasks, particularly for the absent-minded Tenpou.
Personality-wise, Kenren is brash, impulsive, and unafraid to speak his mind, even in front of higher-ranking gods. He despises hypocrisy and the rigid, absolute principles of Heaven's authority, which he believes to be unjust. This rebellious exterior, however, conceals a man of great loyalty and chivalry. He is a natural caretaker, acting as an older brother figure to his sixteen subordinates, who are fiercely devoted to him in return. This protective instinct extends strongly to children, particularly the young heretic Goku and the tragic war prince Nataku, whose exploitation by Heaven's system becomes one of his primary reasons for rebellion.
Kenren's role in the story is that of a catalyst and a loyal protector. He is among the first to doubt Heaven's morality and becomes a key conspirator in the plan to help Goku escape execution by fleeing to the lower world. His motivations are rooted in a deep sense of fairness and a love for the transient, imperfect beauty of the lower world, which he finds far more appealing than the sterile perfection of Heaven.
His key relationships define his actions. He shares a deep, symbiotic bond with Tenpou, his superior and partner in crime; Tenpou provides the strategic mind while Kenren handles the practicalities of daily life, a dynamic that leads others to compare them to a married couple. He also has a friendship with Konzen, the nephew of the merciful goddess, acting as a foil to the aloof deity's rigid demeanor. His connection with the young Goku is that of a fun-loving and protective uncle, a sharp contrast to his role as a serious general.
Throughout the narrative, Kenren shows little personal development in terms of changing his core beliefs; instead, he is resolute from the start. His development is the tragic fulfillment of his convictions. When his group is cornered while trying to escape Heaven, Kenren makes a final stand. Mortally wounded by artificial soldiers known as Natakus, he uses his last moments to save his superior, Goujun, by shoving him to safety. In a final act of empathy, he offers his own body to a crying, suffering Nataku beast, instructing it to consume him entirely, and is killed in the act. His death paves the way for his soul to be reincarnated in the future as the half-demon Sha Gojyo.