TV-Series
Description
Nuriko, whose birth name is Ryuuen Chou, is one of the seven Celestial Warriors of Suzaku in Fushigi Yugi. He is eighteen years old and was born in Eiyou, the capital of Konan, into a prosperous family in the textile trade. He is the second of three children, with an older brother named Rokou and a younger sister named Kourin. His celestial marking is the sign of the willow, located just below his neck.
Nuriko's background is shaped by loss. When he was young, his sister Kourin died in an accident involving a horse-drawn carriage. Overwhelmed by grief, he began to dress and behave as her, effectively trying to live the life she never had so that she would not truly be gone. This decision led him to present himself as a young woman, and for a time he was known by her name rather than his own. At seventeen he traveled to the northern border village of Yukigase, where he confronted and defeated a demon called Yukiyasha, an encounter that tested his abilities as a Suzaku warrior. During that time he also met a performer who taught him to convincingly pass as a woman, and a girl named Byakuren who had once been saved by the emperor Hotohori. After Byakuren was killed by Yukiyasha, Nuriko went to the imperial palace to deliver her message of thanks to Hotohori, joining the harem under the name Kourin. Upon meeting Hotohori, he fell in love with him and remained in the harem, keeping his true gender secret from everyone except a close friend there named Houki.
In terms of personality, Nuriko is a complex figure. He can be jealous, quick-tempered, scheming, and manipulative, especially early on, and he takes an immediate dislike to the priestess Miaka when she first arrives. At the same time, he is loyal, compassionate, level-headed in crises, and deeply caring toward the people he comes to trust. He is charismatic, mischievous, and often playful, and he has a practical mind that allows him to think clearly under pressure. His feminine manner, speech, and dress are not simply a disguise; he describes himself as having a woman's heart, and the creator of the series has noted that reducing him to labels such as gay or cross-dresser oversimplifies his internal experience. His behavior is rooted in the unresolved pain of losing his sister, and for a long time he channels his identity through her memory.
His motivations shift over the course of the story. Initially he is driven by grief and by his affection for Hotohori, and he acts out of jealousy when Miaka quickly forms a bond with the emperor. He even plots against Miaka to get her in trouble. Over time, however, he develops a genuine friendship with her, and his role within the group becomes more protective. He grows particularly concerned with the relationship between Miaka and Tamahome, and he often criticizes Tamahome when he hurts her feelings. As he comes to terms with the fact that his cross-dressing was born from the grief of losing Kourin, he realizes he has been trying to live as his sister rather than as himself. This revelation allows him to accept his own identity as a man. He cuts his long braided hair, begins dressing and speaking more masculinely, and admits to Tamahome that he loves Miaka as more than a friend. Although he still cares for Hotohori, he chooses to stop presenting as a woman in order to better protect Miaka.
His key relationships are central to his development. His bond with Miaka moves from jealousy and resentment to close friendship and unspoken romantic feeling, and he becomes one of her most devoted supporters among the warriors. His relationship with Tamahome starts with rivalry and tension, particularly because of his perceived interest in Tamahome, and later settles into mutual respect and camaraderie. His feelings for Hotohori are genuine but unrequited, as the emperor comes to love Miaka. His connection to his deceased sister Kourin remains the emotional core of his character, and even after he lets go of living as her, her memory continues to shape his sense of self. His friendship with Houki in the harem is also significant, as Houki is the only person there who knows his secret.
In the broader story, Nuriko is the first of the seven Suzaku warriors to die. He is killed by Ashitare, one of the Seiryuu warriors, while the group is searching for the Shinzaho, and his death is a noble sacrifice. It deeply affects those who knew him and strengthens Miaka's determination to summon Suzaku. In later material, his spirit is shown to live on, and he appears reincarnated as a young girl who retains his cheerful personality and remarkable physical strength.
His notable ability is superhuman strength, which allows him to lift extremely heavy objects and defeat opponents with a single blow. He is later given a pair of bracelets by Taiitsukun that transform into armbands, further enhancing his already considerable power. His fighting style combines this brute force with agility, making him a formidable combatant, though his effectiveness can be affected by emotional turmoil, particularly when his conflicted feelings for Miaka and Hotohori are involved. Despite his flamboyant exterior, he is a reliable warrior who provides both physical support in battle and emotional support to the group.
Nuriko's background is shaped by loss. When he was young, his sister Kourin died in an accident involving a horse-drawn carriage. Overwhelmed by grief, he began to dress and behave as her, effectively trying to live the life she never had so that she would not truly be gone. This decision led him to present himself as a young woman, and for a time he was known by her name rather than his own. At seventeen he traveled to the northern border village of Yukigase, where he confronted and defeated a demon called Yukiyasha, an encounter that tested his abilities as a Suzaku warrior. During that time he also met a performer who taught him to convincingly pass as a woman, and a girl named Byakuren who had once been saved by the emperor Hotohori. After Byakuren was killed by Yukiyasha, Nuriko went to the imperial palace to deliver her message of thanks to Hotohori, joining the harem under the name Kourin. Upon meeting Hotohori, he fell in love with him and remained in the harem, keeping his true gender secret from everyone except a close friend there named Houki.
In terms of personality, Nuriko is a complex figure. He can be jealous, quick-tempered, scheming, and manipulative, especially early on, and he takes an immediate dislike to the priestess Miaka when she first arrives. At the same time, he is loyal, compassionate, level-headed in crises, and deeply caring toward the people he comes to trust. He is charismatic, mischievous, and often playful, and he has a practical mind that allows him to think clearly under pressure. His feminine manner, speech, and dress are not simply a disguise; he describes himself as having a woman's heart, and the creator of the series has noted that reducing him to labels such as gay or cross-dresser oversimplifies his internal experience. His behavior is rooted in the unresolved pain of losing his sister, and for a long time he channels his identity through her memory.
His motivations shift over the course of the story. Initially he is driven by grief and by his affection for Hotohori, and he acts out of jealousy when Miaka quickly forms a bond with the emperor. He even plots against Miaka to get her in trouble. Over time, however, he develops a genuine friendship with her, and his role within the group becomes more protective. He grows particularly concerned with the relationship between Miaka and Tamahome, and he often criticizes Tamahome when he hurts her feelings. As he comes to terms with the fact that his cross-dressing was born from the grief of losing Kourin, he realizes he has been trying to live as his sister rather than as himself. This revelation allows him to accept his own identity as a man. He cuts his long braided hair, begins dressing and speaking more masculinely, and admits to Tamahome that he loves Miaka as more than a friend. Although he still cares for Hotohori, he chooses to stop presenting as a woman in order to better protect Miaka.
His key relationships are central to his development. His bond with Miaka moves from jealousy and resentment to close friendship and unspoken romantic feeling, and he becomes one of her most devoted supporters among the warriors. His relationship with Tamahome starts with rivalry and tension, particularly because of his perceived interest in Tamahome, and later settles into mutual respect and camaraderie. His feelings for Hotohori are genuine but unrequited, as the emperor comes to love Miaka. His connection to his deceased sister Kourin remains the emotional core of his character, and even after he lets go of living as her, her memory continues to shape his sense of self. His friendship with Houki in the harem is also significant, as Houki is the only person there who knows his secret.
In the broader story, Nuriko is the first of the seven Suzaku warriors to die. He is killed by Ashitare, one of the Seiryuu warriors, while the group is searching for the Shinzaho, and his death is a noble sacrifice. It deeply affects those who knew him and strengthens Miaka's determination to summon Suzaku. In later material, his spirit is shown to live on, and he appears reincarnated as a young girl who retains his cheerful personality and remarkable physical strength.
His notable ability is superhuman strength, which allows him to lift extremely heavy objects and defeat opponents with a single blow. He is later given a pair of bracelets by Taiitsukun that transform into armbands, further enhancing his already considerable power. His fighting style combines this brute force with agility, making him a formidable combatant, though his effectiveness can be affected by emotional turmoil, particularly when his conflicted feelings for Miaka and Hotohori are involved. Despite his flamboyant exterior, he is a reliable warrior who provides both physical support in battle and emotional support to the group.