TV-Series
Description
Henya Kariwa is a member of the Juppongatana, the elite ten-sword fighting force serving the revolutionary arsonist Makoto Shishio. His most defining physical characteristic is his extremely emaciated, slim body, which he maintains deliberately to be as light as possible. This gaunt frame allows him to use his primary mode of combat, which centers around flight and aerial attacks. He wears a pair of large, bat-like wings that, when folded, resemble a cloak. His attire is completed by a purple cloth covering his mouth, ragged black pants, and a blade protruding from the cloth wrapped around one of his arms.
Kariwa possesses a cold and ruthless personality, showing indifference when carrying out lethal actions, even against his own comrades. He often speaks in terms of a chess game, viewing the lower-ranking soldiers in Shishio's army as mere pawns that should be sacrificed for the greater strategic goal. This strategic mindset is paired with a deep-seated arrogance; he considers opponents he deems weak to be unworthy of his time and effort.
His role in the Kyoto Disturbance arc places him as an antagonist and a key operative of the Juppongatana. He is part of a team sent to attack the Aoiya, a secret headquarters in Kyoto, with the mission to eliminate Kenshin Himura's allies. Within this group, he works alongside the crossdressing warrior Kamatari Honjo and the hulking Iwanbo. His primary narrative function is to serve as a direct opponent for Yahiko Myojin, Kenshin's young student, who ultimately defeats Kariwa despite his aerial advantage.
His most notable ability is a combat technique known as Hiku Happa. This technique involves using small explosives or dynamite attached to his back to launch himself high into the air, where he then uses his bat-like wings to glide and swoop down upon his opponents. The explosion from the dynamite serves the dual purpose of propelling him and creating a smokescreen to disorient his enemies, allowing him to strike with the blade mounted on his arm. He can also use the upward force from repeated explosions to maintain his flight.
The character was created with a very specific aesthetic and background in mind. Kariwa is based on a real historical swordsman named Matsubayashi Henyasai. His design, particularly the streamlined head and bat-like motif, drew inspiration from the character Jet Link from Cyborg 009 and the comic character Freak from Spawn. The decision to have him serve as Yahiko's opponent, rather than Kenshin's, was a deliberate one by the creator, who felt that Kenshin, having mastered the final technique of his swordsmanship style, would be too powerful for an aerial battle with Kariwa. Originally, the creator planned to introduce Kariwa as a member of the Oniwabanshu ninja group, but that idea was abandoned before he was ultimately placed within the Juppongatana.
Kariwa possesses a cold and ruthless personality, showing indifference when carrying out lethal actions, even against his own comrades. He often speaks in terms of a chess game, viewing the lower-ranking soldiers in Shishio's army as mere pawns that should be sacrificed for the greater strategic goal. This strategic mindset is paired with a deep-seated arrogance; he considers opponents he deems weak to be unworthy of his time and effort.
His role in the Kyoto Disturbance arc places him as an antagonist and a key operative of the Juppongatana. He is part of a team sent to attack the Aoiya, a secret headquarters in Kyoto, with the mission to eliminate Kenshin Himura's allies. Within this group, he works alongside the crossdressing warrior Kamatari Honjo and the hulking Iwanbo. His primary narrative function is to serve as a direct opponent for Yahiko Myojin, Kenshin's young student, who ultimately defeats Kariwa despite his aerial advantage.
His most notable ability is a combat technique known as Hiku Happa. This technique involves using small explosives or dynamite attached to his back to launch himself high into the air, where he then uses his bat-like wings to glide and swoop down upon his opponents. The explosion from the dynamite serves the dual purpose of propelling him and creating a smokescreen to disorient his enemies, allowing him to strike with the blade mounted on his arm. He can also use the upward force from repeated explosions to maintain his flight.
The character was created with a very specific aesthetic and background in mind. Kariwa is based on a real historical swordsman named Matsubayashi Henyasai. His design, particularly the streamlined head and bat-like motif, drew inspiration from the character Jet Link from Cyborg 009 and the comic character Freak from Spawn. The decision to have him serve as Yahiko's opponent, rather than Kenshin's, was a deliberate one by the creator, who felt that Kenshin, having mastered the final technique of his swordsmanship style, would be too powerful for an aerial battle with Kariwa. Originally, the creator planned to introduce Kariwa as a member of the Oniwabanshu ninja group, but that idea was abandoned before he was ultimately placed within the Juppongatana.