Kenshiro

Kenshiro
Japanese Name	ケンシロウ
Romaji Name	Kenshirō
Alias	Ken The Man with the Seven Scars Savior of Century's End
Age	~25-27
Birthday	1970s
Gender	Male
Martial Art	Hokuto Shinken
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	100 kg (220 lb)
Sizes	132-90-105 BWH
Position	64th successor of Hokuto Shinken
Family	Hyoh (older brother) Raoh (adoptive older brother) Toki (adoptive older brother) Jagi (adoptive older brother) Yuria (fiancée) Ryuken (adoptive father) Ryu (adoptive nephew) Kenshiro Kasumi (uncle)
Affiliation	Kenshiro's Group
Manga Debut	Chapter 1
Anime Debut	Episode 1
Status	Alive
Voice Actor(s)	Akira Kamiya Ryo Horikawa (Child)
Dub Voice Actor(s)	Lex Lang

SPOILER WARNING: This page contains spoilers!

“ You are already dead (お前はもう死んでいる) ”
—Ken's catchphrase

Kenshiro (ケンシロウ, Kenshirō), also simply known as Ken (ケン, Ken), is the rightful 64th successor of the Hokuto Shinken martial art and the youngest of the four sons adopted by Ryuken. Known as the The Savior of Century's End, he goes on a journey to liberate the many people imperiled by the post-apocalytpic world.

Appearance

Kenshiro is a man of above average height with an extremely muscular build. He has dark fairly short, unkempt almost spikey hair and short wide eyes with thick eyebrows. His most recognizable feature is seven circular-shaped scars on his chest in the shape of the Big Dipper given to him by his former rival Shin.

He often wears a blue jacket-like shirt with a red undershirt, or no undershirt at all exposing his chest, with mettalic shoulder pads and a leather brace on his right arm and bandages on his left arm. He also wears pants of similar coloring and a belt and boots.

He bears a similar appearance to that of his uncle Kenshiro Kasumi, who he was also named after because they have the same Big Dipper birthmark on his forehead.

Land of Shura

This section requires expansion.

Personality

Ken is a strong, stoic and largely fearless man who never fumbles around and is rarely shown being cheerful or having fun. However, he does have a caring and kind-hearted side only brought out by a few like Yuria or Rin. He breaks the "men don't cry" macho sterotype prevalent in the 80s with his open lamentation and despair over the suffering of innocent or deaths of allies and even the defeats of a few of his enemies. On the other hand, when his rage is unleashed he goes all out, disregarding any morals and openly accepts his desire for revenge and his enemies's retribution.

History

Background

Kenshiro was originally an orphan from the Land of Shura in the China and was a descendent of the Hokuto Souke bloodline. He was sent to the Japan by a former master named Jukei and was eventually taken in by Ryuken, the 63rd successor of Hokuto Shinken. Ryuken named him after his older brother Kenshiro Kasumi, since they shared the same Big Dipper-shaped birthmark on their heads. He trained him alongside his other adoptive sons Jagi, Toki, and Raoh and despite being younger and more naive than his older brothers, Kenshiro was a promising student who ultimately earned the title of successor, much to the dismay of Jagi and Raoh.

After the Nuclear War

This section requires expansion.

Abilities

Hokuto Shinken

Main article: Hokuto Shinken

Attacks

This section requires expansion.

Techniques

This section requires expansion.

Personal Skills

• Intelligence: Kenshiro displays immense intellegentice throught his fights, always being able to outsmart most opponents all while staying calm and rational.

Top 50 Secrets

Main Article: Fist of the North Star Special: All About the Man

In 1986, a magazine special was published titled Fist of the North Star Special: All About the Man where 50 secrets about Kenshiro were revealed including miscellaneous abilities and statistics.

Character Rating

Spade's rating taken from the Fist of the North Star Ultimate Handbook:

Kenshiro

Image	Power	Speed	Skills	Looks	Charisma	Total
	4	5	5	5	5	24

Relationships

Love Interest

• Yuria: Yuria is Ken's fiancée, who he is devoted to dearly. They originally planned to get married and live a happy, simple life but the nuclear war complicated their plan. After they were sperated by Shin, Ken spent days trying to find her again and was alarmed Shin told him that she had killed herself. In actuality, Yuria had been saved by the Nanto Goshasei, and was living under the title the Last Nanto General. Eventually the two reunited, but only for a short while as Yuria was fatally ill.

Family

• Ryuken: As his adoptive father and martial arts teacher, Ken very much respected Ryuken. Eventually Ryuken chose Kenshiro to become the next successor of Hokuto Shinken and Ken took this role very seriously. When Toki informed Ken of thier father's death at the hands of Raoh, Ken was very much shocked and saddened at the news.

• Jagi: Jealous of Ryuken's selection of Ken to be the next Hokuto Shinken successor, Jagi impersonated Ken to do evil. Thinking that a little brother could never surpass an older one, he wanted to fight Ken and prove himself worthier, but always lost. When Ken scarred Jagi's face after a battle in their past, he declared to one day get revenge on Kenshiro.

• Toki: Ken held his older brother Toki to great regard for his grace and practive of healing those in need with Houkoto Shinken. In the past when Toki saved Ken and Yuria during the nuclear war by allowing them to be the ones to go in the nucelar shelter he was greatly moved. When Ken and Toki were reunited they alligenced themselves together to try and one day stop Raoh's cruel reign.

• Raoh: Although Ken respected his older brother Raoh, he understood that is was one day his destiny to end Raoh once and for all. Enraged at Raoh for the deaths of Ryuken, Rei, Toki and countless others he unleased his anger and sadness to defeat him.

Allies

• Bat: Bat appointed himslef as Ken's partner and "manager" and the two would then go on to face Shin's gang, KING, and a few other enemies. Although sometimes crude or insenitive, Ken would protect him and Bat would go on to look up to Ken.

• Rin: Introduced as a scared young girl who lost her ability to speak, Ken restored it and went on to save her after getting held hostage by Zeed. Rin was able to see that Ken was a gentle man after he saved her and would set off a spark inside her that would inspire her to do good such as face some enemies and go on to inspire Rei's sister Airi too.

• Mamiya: When they first encountered each other Ken was shocked at how strong Mamiya's appearance was to that of his fiancée Yuria's. Mamiya took this chance to test him with her bladed yo-yos. After this encounter the two worked alongside Rei to protect Mamiya's village. Eventually after Yuda's defeat and Rei's death Mamiya promises to Ken that she'll never fight again in the name of Rei.

• Rei: After forming a pact to protect Mamiya's village Ken and Rei formed a powerful team that would take on many foes such as the Fang Clan, Jagi, Amiba, and the horros at Cassandra. Because of all that he did for him Rei though that he owed Ken and challenged Raoh to a battle to protect Airi, Bat and Rin, but was ultimately fatally struck down by Raoh. Upon hearing this Ken was greatly saddened and thought that Rei owed him nothing.

• Shu: Ken held Shu to a high regard because in the past Shu took his own eyesight to save Ken's life after a duel the two had in the past. When the two reunited years later they joined forces to try and stop Souther's tyranny. In Shu's dying moments he regained his eyesight and was able to see Ken and how he had matured since their past clash.

Enemies

• Shin: Shin was Ken's first major rival, taking his fiancée Yuria away from him and giving him the seven scars on his chest. After their battle when Shin took his own life, Ken gave him a proper burial and even honored him for loving the same woman as him.

• Souther: Kenshiro was shocked at Souther's heartless ways and bewildered at the revelation that his Hokuto Shinken did not work on him. After Souther's execution of Shu he was enraged, but saw the past sadness in his heart. After understanding why his secret techniques didn't work on Souther, he mercifully stikes his pressure points to give him a peaceful death.

Others

• Kokuoh: Initially Raoh's horse, Kokuoh was able to be tamed once again by Kenshiro. Kokuoh was then loyal to Kenshiro and helped him all the way until his own death.

Gallery

• See Kenshiro/Gallery

Trivia

• Kenshiro's "ATATATA" battle cry was inspired by the high-pitched sounds marital artist Bruce Lee makes.
• His appearance is highly influenced by that of martial artist Bruce Lee as well as action film actor Yusaku Matsuda and the Mad Max film series.

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Heroes

Resistance		Shu • Shiba