TV-Series
Description
Nataku Taishi, also known as the War God Prince Nataku, is a significant figure in the Saiyuki universe, appearing in the prequel Saiyuki Gaiden and the main anime series. He is loosely based on the Taoist deity Nezha. Nataku is a half-mortal war god who was appointed to the role of first war god of Heaven approximately five hundred years before the main events of the story. His father, the god Ritoten, orchestrated this appointment through political schemes, intending to use Nataku as a disposable weapon to carry out Heaven's most violent tasks. Nataku was the only member of Heaven's army permitted to take lives, a duty that was more a curse than an honor.
In terms of personality, Nataku is individualistic and deeply somber. He is resigned to his role as a puppet of Heaven, aware that he is being exploited by his father for fame and recognition. His demeanor contrasts sharply with the more exuberant Son Goku, whom Nataku befriended when Goku was still a divine being. Nataku's motivations are initially passive: he follows orders due to his position, but he shows little personal drive. His most defining trait is his tragic resignation, which ultimately leads to him falling into a catatonic state. The reasons for this catatonia are not fully detailed in the anime, but it is depicted as a withdrawal from consciousness, leaving him seated in the divine garden of Heaven, staring blankly ahead, with only the Goddess of Mercy, Kanzeon Bosatsu, keeping him company.
Nataku's role in the story is twofold. In the past, he was the one who defeated the demon bull Gyumao and sealed him in Hoto Castle, a critical event that shapes the main conflict. In the present timeline of the main series, Nataku remains comatose for centuries, serving as a silent, tragic figure. Later, in the Saiyuki Reload Blast storyline, Nataku awakens and returns to action, though his return is marked by destruction and violence, demonstrating that his long dormancy has not made him any less dangerous.
Key relationships define his arc. His friendship with Goku is the most significant: Goku is one of the few beings Nataku truly connected with, and their bond crosses the boundary between divine and mortal. His father, Ritoten, is a negative influence, using Nataku for his own gain until Field Marshal Tenpou (the past reincarnation of Cho Hakkai) intervenes and lectures Ritoten about his treatment of his son. Kanzeon Bosatsu is a constant, quiet presence during Nataku's catatonic years, offering silent companionship.
Notable abilities include his mastery of a spear as his primary weapon and his exceptional combat skills, honed through his role as Heaven's executioner. He is allowed to kill, a privilege no other celestial soldier had, indicating his fearsome power. His physical prowess and tactical mind make him a formidable opponent, and his return in the later series reaffirms his capacity for destruction. Overall, Nataku is a tragic character shaped by exploitation, isolation, and duty, whose brief moments of connection with Goku and eventual awakening give him a complex, melancholic presence in the Saiyuki narrative.
In terms of personality, Nataku is individualistic and deeply somber. He is resigned to his role as a puppet of Heaven, aware that he is being exploited by his father for fame and recognition. His demeanor contrasts sharply with the more exuberant Son Goku, whom Nataku befriended when Goku was still a divine being. Nataku's motivations are initially passive: he follows orders due to his position, but he shows little personal drive. His most defining trait is his tragic resignation, which ultimately leads to him falling into a catatonic state. The reasons for this catatonia are not fully detailed in the anime, but it is depicted as a withdrawal from consciousness, leaving him seated in the divine garden of Heaven, staring blankly ahead, with only the Goddess of Mercy, Kanzeon Bosatsu, keeping him company.
Nataku's role in the story is twofold. In the past, he was the one who defeated the demon bull Gyumao and sealed him in Hoto Castle, a critical event that shapes the main conflict. In the present timeline of the main series, Nataku remains comatose for centuries, serving as a silent, tragic figure. Later, in the Saiyuki Reload Blast storyline, Nataku awakens and returns to action, though his return is marked by destruction and violence, demonstrating that his long dormancy has not made him any less dangerous.
Key relationships define his arc. His friendship with Goku is the most significant: Goku is one of the few beings Nataku truly connected with, and their bond crosses the boundary between divine and mortal. His father, Ritoten, is a negative influence, using Nataku for his own gain until Field Marshal Tenpou (the past reincarnation of Cho Hakkai) intervenes and lectures Ritoten about his treatment of his son. Kanzeon Bosatsu is a constant, quiet presence during Nataku's catatonic years, offering silent companionship.
Notable abilities include his mastery of a spear as his primary weapon and his exceptional combat skills, honed through his role as Heaven's executioner. He is allowed to kill, a privilege no other celestial soldier had, indicating his fearsome power. His physical prowess and tactical mind make him a formidable opponent, and his return in the later series reaffirms his capacity for destruction. Overall, Nataku is a tragic character shaped by exploitation, isolation, and duty, whose brief moments of connection with Goku and eventual awakening give him a complex, melancholic presence in the Saiyuki narrative.