TV-Series
Description
Chō Sawagejō is a character from the anime Rurouni Kenshin -Kyoto Disturbance-, known by the nickname Katana Hunter or Sword Hunter, a title that reflects his singular obsession with collecting and wielding every kind of sword in existence. He has a particular fascination with blades forged by the legendary swordsmith Shakkū Arai. A native of the Kansai region, his distinct manner of speaking sets him apart, and when he first appears, he is serving as a member of the Juppongatana, the elite ten-sword assassination squad assembled by the arsonist and would-be conqueror Makoto Shishio.
Chō is a tall, thin young man with a striking and unconventional appearance. His most notable feature is his long blonde hair, which is styled so that it sticks straight up from his head, a look that leads Sagara Sanosuke to mockingly call him Broom Head. He typically keeps one eye closed in a perpetual wink, opening both only when he becomes truly excited during a fight. His attire is flamboyant, consisting of a red kimono with purple flame-like designs at the hem, worn over a black t-shirt and pants. He completes his outfit with leather boots and a sophisticated harness of straps and belts designed to carry his extensive collection of swords on his person at all times.
In personality, Chō is arrogant, bloodthirsty, and foolhardy. He has a short temper and is quick to lose patience with people he finds boring or irritating, often acting on his own impulses rather than following orders. While he shows a degree of respect for Shishio as his leader, his loyalty is superficial at best; he openly disobeys commands, such as when he leaves Mount Hiei without permission to pursue a personal goal. This tendency to prioritize his own desires over authority figures is a defining trait that later enables him to switch allegiances without significant internal conflict.
His primary motivation throughout the series is his all-consuming desire to possess and master unique swords. He is introduced during the Kyoto arc when he learns that Kenshin is in possession of a newly forged sword by Shakkū Arai, the master smith he so admires. In his quest to claim this blade, Chō resorts to ruthless tactics, taking the young son of the swordsmith’s family hostage to force them to reveal the sword's location. His arrogance leads him to believe he can easily defeat the legendary manslayer, Himura Kenshin, and his role in the story is primarily defined by his ensuing confrontation with Kenshin at a shrine where the new blade is held. His defeat at Kenshin's hands and subsequent capture by Hajime Saitō mark the end of his life as a core member of Shishio's forces.
While imprisoned, Chō proves to be a valuable source of intelligence. His inherent lack of deep loyalty to Shishio makes him willing to reveal critical details about his former master's plan to burn Kyoto to the ground. He shares a cell with Sanosuke for a time, and the two immediately clash, trading insults and blows due to their incompatible, hot-headed personalities. Following Shishio's ultimate defeat, Chō undergoes a major shift in his role. He decides to work as a spy and informant for the Tokyo police, specifically under the supervision of Saitō. He later reappears to inform Kenshin and his allies about the fates of the surviving Juppongatana members and later assists in gathering information on a new threat, Yukishiro Enishi. This development transforms him from a straightforward antagonist into a roguish supporting character who operates in the grey areas of the law.
Despite Sanosuke’s taunts that he is the weakest of the Juppongatana, a claim that is contested in the narrative, Chō is a formidable fighter whose skill is heavily dependent on his unique weapons. His fighting style is directly tied to his arsenal, and he tends to begin battles with lesser blades, only revealing his more powerful weapons when an opponent proves worthy. He typically carries multiple swords, each with a different purpose. Among the first he uses are a pair of unnamed katana and the Renbatō, an early Shakkū creation that consists of two parallel blades joined at the hilt, intended to create wounds that cannot be stitched closed. His most prized and dangerous weapon is the Hakujin no Tachi, one of Shakkū's final masterpieces. This sword is extraordinarily long, thin, and flexible, allowing it to be worn concealed around the waist like a belt. With a flick of the wrist, Chō can control its weighted tip to strike from unpredictable angles, making it feel less like a rigid sword and more like a deadly whip. His primary technique with this weapon is called Orochi, where he manipulates the blade to bounce and snake towards his opponent in a wave-like motion, making it incredibly difficult to evade. He also possesses other weapons like the Hakujin no Kodachi, a retractable blade hidden in a wristband, and the San Jintou, a sword that can scatter dozens of small metal blades with a single swing. While he may lack the raw speed of top-tier fighters like Kenshin, his mastery of these exotic and dangerous swords makes him a highly unconventional and unpredictable opponent.
Chō is a tall, thin young man with a striking and unconventional appearance. His most notable feature is his long blonde hair, which is styled so that it sticks straight up from his head, a look that leads Sagara Sanosuke to mockingly call him Broom Head. He typically keeps one eye closed in a perpetual wink, opening both only when he becomes truly excited during a fight. His attire is flamboyant, consisting of a red kimono with purple flame-like designs at the hem, worn over a black t-shirt and pants. He completes his outfit with leather boots and a sophisticated harness of straps and belts designed to carry his extensive collection of swords on his person at all times.
In personality, Chō is arrogant, bloodthirsty, and foolhardy. He has a short temper and is quick to lose patience with people he finds boring or irritating, often acting on his own impulses rather than following orders. While he shows a degree of respect for Shishio as his leader, his loyalty is superficial at best; he openly disobeys commands, such as when he leaves Mount Hiei without permission to pursue a personal goal. This tendency to prioritize his own desires over authority figures is a defining trait that later enables him to switch allegiances without significant internal conflict.
His primary motivation throughout the series is his all-consuming desire to possess and master unique swords. He is introduced during the Kyoto arc when he learns that Kenshin is in possession of a newly forged sword by Shakkū Arai, the master smith he so admires. In his quest to claim this blade, Chō resorts to ruthless tactics, taking the young son of the swordsmith’s family hostage to force them to reveal the sword's location. His arrogance leads him to believe he can easily defeat the legendary manslayer, Himura Kenshin, and his role in the story is primarily defined by his ensuing confrontation with Kenshin at a shrine where the new blade is held. His defeat at Kenshin's hands and subsequent capture by Hajime Saitō mark the end of his life as a core member of Shishio's forces.
While imprisoned, Chō proves to be a valuable source of intelligence. His inherent lack of deep loyalty to Shishio makes him willing to reveal critical details about his former master's plan to burn Kyoto to the ground. He shares a cell with Sanosuke for a time, and the two immediately clash, trading insults and blows due to their incompatible, hot-headed personalities. Following Shishio's ultimate defeat, Chō undergoes a major shift in his role. He decides to work as a spy and informant for the Tokyo police, specifically under the supervision of Saitō. He later reappears to inform Kenshin and his allies about the fates of the surviving Juppongatana members and later assists in gathering information on a new threat, Yukishiro Enishi. This development transforms him from a straightforward antagonist into a roguish supporting character who operates in the grey areas of the law.
Despite Sanosuke’s taunts that he is the weakest of the Juppongatana, a claim that is contested in the narrative, Chō is a formidable fighter whose skill is heavily dependent on his unique weapons. His fighting style is directly tied to his arsenal, and he tends to begin battles with lesser blades, only revealing his more powerful weapons when an opponent proves worthy. He typically carries multiple swords, each with a different purpose. Among the first he uses are a pair of unnamed katana and the Renbatō, an early Shakkū creation that consists of two parallel blades joined at the hilt, intended to create wounds that cannot be stitched closed. His most prized and dangerous weapon is the Hakujin no Tachi, one of Shakkū's final masterpieces. This sword is extraordinarily long, thin, and flexible, allowing it to be worn concealed around the waist like a belt. With a flick of the wrist, Chō can control its weighted tip to strike from unpredictable angles, making it feel less like a rigid sword and more like a deadly whip. His primary technique with this weapon is called Orochi, where he manipulates the blade to bounce and snake towards his opponent in a wave-like motion, making it incredibly difficult to evade. He also possesses other weapons like the Hakujin no Kodachi, a retractable blade hidden in a wristband, and the San Jintou, a sword that can scatter dozens of small metal blades with a single swing. While he may lack the raw speed of top-tier fighters like Kenshin, his mastery of these exotic and dangerous swords makes him a highly unconventional and unpredictable opponent.