TV-Series
Description
Kiyomaru Yamada Asaemon is a member of the prestigious Yamada clan of executioners, though he holds no official rank due to his young age. He is twelve years old and stands at 132 centimeters tall, with wavy hair brushed to the right side of his face, and he wears the traditional attire of an Asaemon including a dark kataginu over a white robe and hakama. Kiyomaru is a disciple of a branch dojo who was taken in by the Yamada clan, having been born as the son of a samurai.
His personality is a striking and unsettling blend of childlike immaturity and cold-blooded ruthlessness. On one hand, Kiyomaru acts like a child, speaking rudely to superiors and displaying arrogance about his abilities, as he declared himself far superior to others on his mission. He can smile and play like any boy his age, yet this innocence vanishes completely when the subject turns to combat or death. He shows no hesitation or emotional turmoil regarding violence and killing, and his cruelty can emerge in shocking ways. He once ordered a ninja to prove his loyalty by committing suicide and then acted bewildered when the man followed the command, revealing a disconnect from the weight of such actions. This unsettling mixture suggests a psychopathic streak, as his simple, straightforward impulses often result in terrifyingly mature acts of violence for a swordsman.
Despite this cruelty, Kiyomaru harbors a deep and genuine sense of loyalty, particularly toward the senior executioner Shugen Yamada Asaemon. This devotion is rooted in how Shugen treated him from the beginning, not coddling him for being a child but rather putting him through rigorous daily training and treating him with respect. Kiyomaru respects Shugen immensely and is willing to do anything he commands. This loyalty also extends to the Yamada clan's duty, as he becomes ashamed of fellow Asaemon who refuse to execute criminals they have befriended. His motivations are tied directly to serving Shugen and fulfilling the clan's mission without question.
Kiyomaru is selected to be part of the second expedition team sent to the mysterious island of Kotaku to retrieve the Elixir of Life. His role in the story is that of a prodigious but terrifyingly effective warrior whose primary function is to support Shugen. Upon arrival, he is instrumental in protecting Shugen from monstrous creatures known as Monshin, keeping them at bay while his superior conducts other business. His skills are so remarkable that Shugen himself states Kiyomaru has the potential to achieve the first or second rank, the highest levels within the clan. Rien, a powerful entity on the island, later notes that Kiyomaru’s ability to defeat these monsters is anything but normal for a human.
Kiyomaru’s key relationships are few but intense. His bond with Shugen is the most defining, as he pledges his loyalty completely to the man who respected him and views his every order as absolute. He also works closely with Isuzu, another unranked Asaemon. Their relationship is one of professional respect, though Kiyomaru has been known to turn a cold expression on her when he feels provoked. He later urges Isuzu to honor her loyalty to Shugen, reminding her of how Shugen stood up for her in the past, showing that while he is cruel, he is also capable of inspiring and reinforcing the loyalty of his allies.
In terms of development, Kiyomaru remains a relatively static character in his core beliefs, serving as a foil to other Asaemon who begin to question their duty. His arc is not one of moral awakening but of demonstrating the terrifying effectiveness of a prodigy raised in the clan's brutal traditions. He shows a moment of fear when confronted with the full, bloody rage of Shugen, but this does not alter his course. Ultimately, Kiyomaru does not survive the mission. During a final confrontation with Rien, he is killed when his body is crushed under a piece of ship wreckage, a sudden and brutal end that shocks his comrades.
Kiyomaru’s notable abilities are considerable for one his age. He is considered one of the most gifted swordsmen among the Yamada disciples despite holding no rank. He wields a katana and practices the execution techniques of the clan, capable of decapitating victims with a single cut. His fighting style takes advantage of his small body, utilizing spinning and rotating attacks at incredible speeds to take down larger foes. His natural affinity for combat is complemented by his use of Metal-type energy, a ki attribute that suits his sharp, precise, and ruthless approach to battle. He is formidable enough to not only survive on the deadly island for a significant time but also to assist in destroying powerful constructs created by the island's master, proving that his prodigious talent was more than just potential.
His personality is a striking and unsettling blend of childlike immaturity and cold-blooded ruthlessness. On one hand, Kiyomaru acts like a child, speaking rudely to superiors and displaying arrogance about his abilities, as he declared himself far superior to others on his mission. He can smile and play like any boy his age, yet this innocence vanishes completely when the subject turns to combat or death. He shows no hesitation or emotional turmoil regarding violence and killing, and his cruelty can emerge in shocking ways. He once ordered a ninja to prove his loyalty by committing suicide and then acted bewildered when the man followed the command, revealing a disconnect from the weight of such actions. This unsettling mixture suggests a psychopathic streak, as his simple, straightforward impulses often result in terrifyingly mature acts of violence for a swordsman.
Despite this cruelty, Kiyomaru harbors a deep and genuine sense of loyalty, particularly toward the senior executioner Shugen Yamada Asaemon. This devotion is rooted in how Shugen treated him from the beginning, not coddling him for being a child but rather putting him through rigorous daily training and treating him with respect. Kiyomaru respects Shugen immensely and is willing to do anything he commands. This loyalty also extends to the Yamada clan's duty, as he becomes ashamed of fellow Asaemon who refuse to execute criminals they have befriended. His motivations are tied directly to serving Shugen and fulfilling the clan's mission without question.
Kiyomaru is selected to be part of the second expedition team sent to the mysterious island of Kotaku to retrieve the Elixir of Life. His role in the story is that of a prodigious but terrifyingly effective warrior whose primary function is to support Shugen. Upon arrival, he is instrumental in protecting Shugen from monstrous creatures known as Monshin, keeping them at bay while his superior conducts other business. His skills are so remarkable that Shugen himself states Kiyomaru has the potential to achieve the first or second rank, the highest levels within the clan. Rien, a powerful entity on the island, later notes that Kiyomaru’s ability to defeat these monsters is anything but normal for a human.
Kiyomaru’s key relationships are few but intense. His bond with Shugen is the most defining, as he pledges his loyalty completely to the man who respected him and views his every order as absolute. He also works closely with Isuzu, another unranked Asaemon. Their relationship is one of professional respect, though Kiyomaru has been known to turn a cold expression on her when he feels provoked. He later urges Isuzu to honor her loyalty to Shugen, reminding her of how Shugen stood up for her in the past, showing that while he is cruel, he is also capable of inspiring and reinforcing the loyalty of his allies.
In terms of development, Kiyomaru remains a relatively static character in his core beliefs, serving as a foil to other Asaemon who begin to question their duty. His arc is not one of moral awakening but of demonstrating the terrifying effectiveness of a prodigy raised in the clan's brutal traditions. He shows a moment of fear when confronted with the full, bloody rage of Shugen, but this does not alter his course. Ultimately, Kiyomaru does not survive the mission. During a final confrontation with Rien, he is killed when his body is crushed under a piece of ship wreckage, a sudden and brutal end that shocks his comrades.
Kiyomaru’s notable abilities are considerable for one his age. He is considered one of the most gifted swordsmen among the Yamada disciples despite holding no rank. He wields a katana and practices the execution techniques of the clan, capable of decapitating victims with a single cut. His fighting style takes advantage of his small body, utilizing spinning and rotating attacks at incredible speeds to take down larger foes. His natural affinity for combat is complemented by his use of Metal-type energy, a ki attribute that suits his sharp, precise, and ruthless approach to battle. He is formidable enough to not only survive on the deadly island for a significant time but also to assist in destroying powerful constructs created by the island's master, proving that his prodigious talent was more than just potential.