Seta Sōjirō 5086229 220956781 2008-06-22T11:36:54Z 202.156.89.214 /* Techniques */ {{Cleanup|date=January 2008}} {{Infobox animanga character | name = Seta Sōjirō | series = [[Rurouni Kenshin]] | image = [[Image:Soijiro Seta.JPG|220px]] | caption = Seta Sōjirō by [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]] | first = | last = | voiced by = [[Noriko Hidaka]] (Japanese) <br /> [[Tara Jayne]] (English, episodes 31-47) <br>[[Melissa Fahn]] (English, episodes 54-56) | alias = | age = 18 | born = September 1861 | death = | occupation = Assassin | title = ''Tenken'' | relatives = | aux1 name = Weapon | aux1 = ''[[Nagasone Kotetsu]]'' <br> ''[[Kikuichi-monji|Kikuichimonji Norimune]]'' }} {{nihongo|'''Seta Sōjirō'''|瀬田 宗次郎|Seta Sōjirō}}, addressed as '''Sojiro Seta''' in the [[English language|English-language]] [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubs]], is a [[fictional character]] from the ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'' [[Fictional universe|universe]] created by [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]] for the series and developed into a [[media franchise]], which consists of a series of [[manga]], [[anime]], [[Original video animation|OVAs]], [[Film|movies]], [[soundtrack]]s, [[video game]]s, and other [[collectible]]s. In the story, he is [[Shishio Makoto]]'s right hand man. Sōjirō has been favourably popular with the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' reader base, placing high in several popularity polls.<ref name="popular">{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 16 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |year= 2005|chapter=Chapter 135|isbn= 1-59116-854-6 }}</ref> ==Creation and conception== Nobuhiro Watsuki has publicly stated that the character design of Sōjirō is loosely based on a darker [[Okita Sōji]] (Captain of the 1st Squad of the [[Shinsengumi]]) from [[Shiba Ryōtarō]]'s novel ''[[Shinsengumi Keppuroku]]''. Due to all similarities and questions of fans asking if both characters are related, Watsuki commented that his name as well as most of his characteristics are a parody of Okita but they do not have any relation. Watsuki decided to leave the hair of Sōjirō shorter than the one of Okita but he came to think that he looked "a bit girly" due to the fact he was always smiling.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 9 |year= 2004|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=The Secret Life of Characters, Seta Sōjirō|page= p. 86|isbn= 978-1591166696 }}</ref> The fact that Sōjirō has no emotions is also based from the Shiba Ryōtarō's version of Okita Sōji and that became in one of the hardest parts to draw him. Since Okita died when he was young, Watsuki decided not kill Sōjirō in the story in order to atone for the murders he committed and start living by his own instead of having someone to make his decisions. He hoped he could draw him in more of the next chapters but soon thought that would not be possible.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 16 |year= 2005|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=The Secret Life of Characters, Seta Sōjirō|page= p. 122|isbn= 978-1591168546 }}</ref> ==Character outline== ===Background=== Sōjirō's constant smiling face and polite manners stem from his tragic past. An [[Legitimacy (law)|illegitimate child]], Sōjirō's father left him in the care of his family, who badly mistreated him. He was assigned chores such as carrying rice to and from the family warehouse and whenever he faltered, he was [[Physical abuse|beaten]] by his family. Sōjirō built a defense against their lashings; he put on a smiling face, and endured the torture. Then, they would get tired of beating Sōjirō and leave him alone. One night, he meets Shishio, who was on the run from the police. Sōjirō saw Shishio kill some police officers and Shishio was about to kill him for it until he noticed Sōjirō smiling and spared him in exchange for food and bandages. Shishio taught Sōjirō that only the strong may live; with that mentality, along with a sword that Shishio gave him, Sōjirō murders his entire family, who tried to murder him for housing Shishio and then blame it on Shishio himself. ===Personality=== Sōjirō is Shishio's right hand man, a young assassin trained by Shishio himself. Sōjirō is known for his lack of ''kenki'' (offensive aura), or, simply, emotion. He possesses no anger and cites no fear in his enemies, other than with his sword. Sōjirō is often seen smiling and has polite manners, always referring to others with Japanese suffixes. He is sarcastic, hiding his true emotions behind his smiling face. He however does have a special relationship with Yumi, she being a sister figure towards him. Sōjirō usually dresses up in a blue [[Kimono#Men.27s_kimonos|kimono]] with white handguards. ===Techniques=== [[Image:Shukuchi.JPG|thumb|220px|Sōjirō's ''[[shukuchi]]'' is fast enough that he can instantaneously appear behind [[Himura Kenshin]].]] Sōjirō's apparent lack of emotion, his simple, insensitive mentality, ''the strong will live and the weak shall die'', and his skills make him a formidable foe for Kenshin. As a master swordsman of his own style, Sōjirō's abilities have earned him the nickname of ''Tenken'' (天剣 ''Ten'' meaning Heaven and ''Ken'' meaning Sword, "Tenken" means swordsmanship of natural endowments). His ''[[shukuchi]]'' utilizes such powerful speed that, to an observer, it appears that the distance between the two fighters has shrunk (hence the name ''shukuchi'', which means "reduced earth"). During his fight with Kenshin, Sōjirō continually states he's only moving "three steps below ''shukuchi''" or "two steps below ''shukuchi''." While moving at the speed his ''shukuchi'' utilizes, the only thing that could be seen was Sōjirō's footsteps ripping through the tatami mats. During "one step below ''shukuchi''", he is able to attack from an omni-directional angle, utilizing not only horizontal but veritical space.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 16 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro|year=2005|publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 133|isbn= 1-59116-854-6 }}</ref> While performing true ''shukuchi'', he completely disappears and cannot be seen, even by Kenshin. Sōjirō can dodge the {{nihongo|''Kuzu-ryūsen''|九頭龍閃||lit. "Nine-headed Dragon Flash"}},<ref name="RKv15ch129">{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 15 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro|year=2005|publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 129|isbn= 1-59116-810-4 }}</ref> a move which apparently cannot be evaded even by Kenshin himself. Sōjirō is also the first one ever to slash Kenshin in the back in the series.<ref name="RKv15ch129"/> Sōjirō is also well versed in the ''Battōjutsu'' style like Kenshin, as is evident when he decides to use a stance similar to Kenshin's, and also when he destroys Kenshin's first ''[[Rurouni Kenshin#Sakabatō|sakabatō]]''. Combining the true speed of ''shukuchi'' with the Battōjutsu he has created his only named technique, {{nihongo|''Shuntensatsu''|瞬天殺||lit. "Instant Heaven Kill"}}, meaning "immediate killing by Tenken". It is named this because the speed behind the attack is so swift that the opponent dies instantly before falling to the floor. ==Plot overview== Sōjirō first appears when he assassinates Okubo, who was on the way to a meeting. Sōjirō's usage of his superhuman speed allowed him to enter Okubo's carriage unnoticed. However, disgruntled Samurai were already on their way to kill Okubo, but Sōjirō finished him off before they could, though they took the official credit (the real-life Okubu being killed by them). Later, after Senkaku is defeated by Kenshin, Sōjirō duels Kenshin using [[Battōjutsu]], resulting in tie due to the breaking of their swords. Sōjirō is then assigned by Shishio to gather the Juppongatana located in the East side of Japan. When Kenshin finally arrives at the Room of Reduced Space in Shishio's lair, he finds Sōjirō waiting for him. When Sōjirō's true emotions surfaced, they duel one last time, with Kenshin using the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki, while Sōjirō using his own made technique ending in the victory of Kenshin. Right before Kenshin used the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki, Sōjirō found the truth of it. Sōjirō tells Yumi the key to Kenshin's ultimate attack and asks her to tell Shishio. She agrees, but before she could leave, Sōjirō asks her one more favor. After Shishio dies, Sōjirō becomes a wanderer who wants to find his own truth. ==Notes and references== {{Reflist}} {{Rurouni Kenshin}} [[Category:Anime and manga characters who can move at superhuman speeds]] [[Category:Fictional assassins]] [[Category:Fictional Japanese swordsmen]] [[Category:Fictional orphans]] [[Category:Rurouni Kenshin characters]] [[es:Soujiro Seta]] [[fr:Sōjirō Seta]] [[pt:Soujirou Seta]]