TV-Series
Description
Kamatari Honjō is a member of the Juppongatana, the elite ten-man warrior unit serving the ambitious and ruthless Makoto Shishio. Originally from Fukuoka Prefecture and born in March 1852, Kamatari stands 160 centimeters tall and carries a slender build that contributes to a distinctly feminine appearance. This appearance is a deliberate choice, as Kamatari is a cross-dressing man who takes great pride in his womanly presentation, even reprimanding allies who risk damaging his skin during combat. His attire typically consists of a light green kimono with short sleeves and a dark blue obi, worn with traditional zori sandals and white tabi socks.
Kamatari’s personality shifts noticeably between different contexts. In everyday situations, he presents as a happy, easygoing, and somewhat flirtatious individual, once playfully calling the young Yahiko cute and suggesting he could achieve a similar appearance with practice. He often smiles and fawns over his master, Shishio, projecting an air of lightness. However, when drawn into battle, this demeanor vanishes, replaced by a more serious, harsh-toned, and ruthlessly efficient fighter who utilizes his full physical strength. Despite his casual front, he is extremely prideful of his abilities and insists he is always serious, a claim that masks his deeper emotional turmoil.
His primary motivation and driving force is his deep, unrequited love for Shishio Makoto. Kamatari is painfully aware that he can never truly compete for Shishio’s romantic affection against Komagata Yumi, his favored mistress. Furthermore, he acknowledges that he can never surpass Seta Sōjirō, who serves as Shishio's most trusted and talented right-hand man. These rivalries create a complex web of devotion and insecurity, leading Kamatari to pour all his love and care into executing Shishio’s orders perfectly, hoping to earn a place by his side through absolute loyalty and service.
In the Kyoto arc, Kamatari is part of the Juppongatana force assigned to attack the Aoiya, a base of operations for Kenshin and his allies. There, he engages in a two-on-one battle against Kamiya Kaoru and Makimachi Misao. Initially, he has the upper hand, using his immense strength and powerful techniques to injure both opponents, even breaking some of Misao's ribs. However, the combined efforts of the two women lead to Kamatari’s weapon being destroyed. Kaoru then defeats him using a technique from the Kamiya Kashin style that shatters his kneecap.
His key relationships are defined by his devotion to Shishio. His rivalry with Yumi is over Shishio's love, while his rivalry with Sōjirō is over the position of Shishio's most valued warrior. Following his defeat at the Aoiya, Kamatari is so consumed by shame that he attempts suicide with a poisoned pin rather than face Shishio having failed him. Makimachi Misao, understanding his pain of fighting for a loved one, knocks him unconscious to prevent this. Later, as he recovers, fellow Juppongatana member Sawagejō Chō convinces Kamatari that Shishio would want him to live on as a witness to tell the world of their cause, a lie Chō fabricates to give him a reason to survive. This leads to the final stage of his development, where he reforms and becomes a spy for the Meiji government.
Kamatari possesses notable abilities centered on his immense physical strength and unique fighting style. He wields an enormous scythe-like weapon known as the Ogama, which Kamiya Kaoru estimates to weigh at least fifty kan, or approximately thirty kilograms or seventy-eight pounds. He practices his own style of martial arts called Honjō-ryū, developed around this massive weapon. His techniques are named after Benten, the only female among the Buddhist Seven Lucky Gods. Midare Benten, or Disheveled Benten, is a spinning maneuver where he whips the scythe over his head, using the chain and iron ball to form a defensive and offensive sphere that can block attacks and shred anything that comes close. His other named technique is Benten Mawashi, or Unwrapping Benten, which he uses when the scythe blade is broken. He twirls the remaining blade and chain rapidly using the forked tip of the handle, creating a helicopter-like slashing motion. Beyond these techniques, he is also proficient in simply swinging the heavy iron ball at the end of the chain as a blunt-force projectile.
Kamatari’s personality shifts noticeably between different contexts. In everyday situations, he presents as a happy, easygoing, and somewhat flirtatious individual, once playfully calling the young Yahiko cute and suggesting he could achieve a similar appearance with practice. He often smiles and fawns over his master, Shishio, projecting an air of lightness. However, when drawn into battle, this demeanor vanishes, replaced by a more serious, harsh-toned, and ruthlessly efficient fighter who utilizes his full physical strength. Despite his casual front, he is extremely prideful of his abilities and insists he is always serious, a claim that masks his deeper emotional turmoil.
His primary motivation and driving force is his deep, unrequited love for Shishio Makoto. Kamatari is painfully aware that he can never truly compete for Shishio’s romantic affection against Komagata Yumi, his favored mistress. Furthermore, he acknowledges that he can never surpass Seta Sōjirō, who serves as Shishio's most trusted and talented right-hand man. These rivalries create a complex web of devotion and insecurity, leading Kamatari to pour all his love and care into executing Shishio’s orders perfectly, hoping to earn a place by his side through absolute loyalty and service.
In the Kyoto arc, Kamatari is part of the Juppongatana force assigned to attack the Aoiya, a base of operations for Kenshin and his allies. There, he engages in a two-on-one battle against Kamiya Kaoru and Makimachi Misao. Initially, he has the upper hand, using his immense strength and powerful techniques to injure both opponents, even breaking some of Misao's ribs. However, the combined efforts of the two women lead to Kamatari’s weapon being destroyed. Kaoru then defeats him using a technique from the Kamiya Kashin style that shatters his kneecap.
His key relationships are defined by his devotion to Shishio. His rivalry with Yumi is over Shishio's love, while his rivalry with Sōjirō is over the position of Shishio's most valued warrior. Following his defeat at the Aoiya, Kamatari is so consumed by shame that he attempts suicide with a poisoned pin rather than face Shishio having failed him. Makimachi Misao, understanding his pain of fighting for a loved one, knocks him unconscious to prevent this. Later, as he recovers, fellow Juppongatana member Sawagejō Chō convinces Kamatari that Shishio would want him to live on as a witness to tell the world of their cause, a lie Chō fabricates to give him a reason to survive. This leads to the final stage of his development, where he reforms and becomes a spy for the Meiji government.
Kamatari possesses notable abilities centered on his immense physical strength and unique fighting style. He wields an enormous scythe-like weapon known as the Ogama, which Kamiya Kaoru estimates to weigh at least fifty kan, or approximately thirty kilograms or seventy-eight pounds. He practices his own style of martial arts called Honjō-ryū, developed around this massive weapon. His techniques are named after Benten, the only female among the Buddhist Seven Lucky Gods. Midare Benten, or Disheveled Benten, is a spinning maneuver where he whips the scythe over his head, using the chain and iron ball to form a defensive and offensive sphere that can block attacks and shred anything that comes close. His other named technique is Benten Mawashi, or Unwrapping Benten, which he uses when the scythe blade is broken. He twirls the remaining blade and chain rapidly using the forked tip of the handle, creating a helicopter-like slashing motion. Beyond these techniques, he is also proficient in simply swinging the heavy iron ball at the end of the chain as a blunt-force projectile.