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Chikage Kazama (風間 千景 Kazama Chikage) is the main antagonist of the anime-series. He is a pureblooded demon and a very skilled swordsman with apparent ties to the Satsuma Domain. His extreme strength and prowess with swords rivals that of even the best Shinsengumi captains.
Kazama is a fictional character who does not have a historical prototype. He is introduced in the anime plot during the Ikedaya Incident when he defeats Okita, but his actual sworn enemy ends up being Hijikata, as the two keep stumbling upon each other in various settings. Kazama is often followed by his vassal Amagiri and sometimes joins forces with Shiranui who has his own agenda but does not mind participating in Kazama's games. Kazama's main goal is to marry Chizuru as she is a female pureblooded demon who can give birth to incredibly strong offspring.
Appearance
Kazama has honey blonde hair and red eyes. In the anime he wears a traditional white kimono with red trim, a dark-brown collar with yellow trim, and a dark-brown haori with yellow trim on top of the kimono. He always has a sword on a red and yellow belt and traditional Japanese sandals (geta) with socks. His posture is usually relaxed and confident, and his calm and arrogant demeanor is reflected in the low tone of his voice.
In his oni form, he grows 4 white horns (2 big ones and 2 small ones), and his hair fades to silver. His eyes change from red to yellow.
In the second season he is seen in a purple western-style outfit.
Personality
Kazama is extremely arrogant and egotistic. He tends to ignore other people's feelings or words, acting on his own volition and considering only his own beliefs as a reasoning. He takes pride in his oni origins and hates Rasetsu, viewing them as disgusting fakes. He also sees humans as greedy foolish creatures who only fight for money and fame.
Although he tends to be rude, Kazama is not a shallow person. His arrogance stems from his demon heritage which is of great importance to him, and he listens to Amagiri when Amagiri reminds him of the possible consequences of his careless actions. Kazama has seen a lot of betrayals which he keeps trying to warn Chizuru about, and he is the one who informs Chizuru about her father abandoning the Bakufu, and, even though it seems selfish of him, it is the first and only piece of information that Chizuru has received over a long period of time.
At the end of the season, Kazama saves Chizuru from a few samurai who killed Inoue and informs her that quite a few people have betrayed the Bakufu and the Shinsengumi.
Story
This article contains major SPOILERS. Be careful if you do not know the full story yet.
Chikage Kazama is a pure-blooded oni from the west who has come to Japan to repay his clan's debt to Satsuma. He is usually followed by his two cronies Kyuuju Amagiri and Kyou Shiranui.
First Season
While spying on the Chōshū rebels and the Shinsengumi at Ikedaya, Kazama is drawn into a fight with Souji Okita. Seeing his opponent in a bad shape, Kazama retreats claiming that his mission has been accomplished regardless.
Kazama attacks Hijikata's group
Later Kazama is seen on a bridge leading to Mount Tennōzan (Episode 4) when he stops Hijikata's group from chasing the Chōshū rebels. He attacks one of the Shinsengumi members and taunts Hijikata verbally by calling the Shinsengumi "Bakufu's dogs" and mocking Souji's sworsmanship after having encountered him at Ikedaya. He engages Hijikata in a fight even though Shinpachi's unit keeps chasing the Chōshū. When Kazama's sword lands onto Chizuru's arm and cuts it deeply, Kazama realizes that she is an oni living with humans because her wound heals up very quickly. Then Amagiri appears and urges him to leave.
Confirming that Chizuru is a female pure-blood oni (who are a rarity), he decides to take her for his wife. If two pure-bloods mate, a stronger, more powerful oni can be bred (as Senhime explains in Episode 9). His first attempt is at the end of Episode 6, mainly in Episode 7 when he takes Amagiri and Shiranui and ambushes Chizuru near the Shinsengumi headquarters. He reveals to her who she is and why he is after her and claims that he does not need her consent to take her with them. Unluckily for Kazama, the Shinsengumi captains protect Chizuru forcing the demon trio to retreat.
The next attempt happens in the same episode when Kazama comes to have a conversation with Chizuru alone and informs her that her father is on his side. He is chased off by Hijikata, Heisuke and Sano but he spends enough time there to call them dogs of the Bakufu and say that Rasetsu creation has to be terminated.
Kazama's last attempt to kidnap Chizuru is shown in Episode 9 when the demon trio raids the headquarters and fights with the Rasetsu Corps. Kazama knocks Chizuru off by hitting her in the stomach and carries her away on his shoulder. However, Hijikata interferes and engages into a fight, Chizuru wakes up and tries to protect Hijikata with her sword. When Kazama sees that, he pauses and asks her why she is doing it knowing that humans will betray her in the end. Hearing that she trusts them apparently hurts his pride, so he instantly stops, claiming to have lost interest, and leaves followed by his cronies.
Kazama reveals his true form
Kazama is last seen at the end of the season when he saves Chizuru from a few samurai who killed Inoue. Chizuru is not sure whether to attack him or not but her tells her not to as he is only there to check what the Yodo Domain is up to. He officially confirms to her that this clan has betrayed the Bakufu. While watching her mourn Inoue, Kazama reveals to her that all Kyoto's domains were handed a secret letter from the imperial court that claimed the SatChō to be allies now. He also adds that the Bakufu are now the insurgents while the SatChō are the loyalists. The SatChō are after power and money, and that is why Kazama calls humans "foolish creatures". Chizuru exclaims that not everyone fights for money, and Kazama understands her implication on Shinsengumi, but he does not see how they are different from him as they also kill those who oppose them. Hijikata appears behind his back and protests that the Shinsengumi fight because they have something to protect. He sees dead Inoue and asks Kazama if he was the one who did it, Chizuru tries to explain but Kazama interrupts her and claims that it was his doing. Hijikata points his sword at him, and Kazama makes a comment that it will be "another pointless death". This triggers Hijikata's rage, and he starts the battle. Kazama is forced to show his true demon form with silver hair, yellow eyes and 4 horns on his head which increases his strength massively. He keeps taunting Hijikata who feels the need to even the odds and takes out a vial with Ochimizu. Seeing Hijikata turn into a Rasetsu, Kazama mocks him about being a mere fake. However, enraged Hijikata manages to match Kazama's strength and even cut his face which provokes the demon and forces him to use all his strength for the last attack which is stopped by Amagiri and Yamazaki. Kazama promises that they will finish the fight one day and disappears.
Second Season
Kazama's demonslaying sword
Kazama is no longer allied with Koudou Yukimura, who defected and began making a new kind of Rasetsu. Instead, Kazama seems more concerned with upholding oni pride than taking over the world and destroying humankind. He encounters Toshizou Hijikata during a takeover of a castle, and, despite warnings from Kyuuju Amagiri, Kazama decides to fight Hijikata. Bringing a magic sword that was created for slaying demons, Kazama manages to injure Hijikata badly, however, the castle is set on fire, and there is no way for the both of them to continue. Kazama understands the situation and leaves. Amagiri, who was watching all along, leaves as well, telling Hijikata that Kazama is no longer Amagiri's concern. As one of the warnings Kazama received was that by continuing the fight he would become an outcast and would be kicked out of the demon society, it is logical to assume that this is exactly the consequence Kazama's actions would have from this moment on.
At some point in the story, Chizuru finds the demon standing by her father's grave. Kazama speaks out loud speculating of the fate of a demon who strays from his way, and then addresses Chizuru reminding her that "that guy" promised to protect her but he ended up betraying and abandoning her. She denies this fact as she believes that he is doing it for her, but Kazama sarcastically questions it, which makes her remember Hijikata's last words and doubt her own. After Chizuru's long explanation Kazama understands her romantic feelings for Hijikata and pities her. When Chizuru asks whether Kazama plans to fight Hijikata again, the demon confirms that further conflicts with Hijikata will make him go astray from the demon path, but he is willing to pay the price as he has sworn to finish what he started.
Kazama is killed by Hijikata
At the end of the story, Kazama confronts Hijikata who is badly injured by a gun wound. Despite the injury, Hijikata accepts the challenge due to Kazama having gone astray from the demon path to put an end to their fight. Right before the battle finishes, Kazama acknowledges Hijikata as ill-fitted for the name Rasetsu and declares that he is a true oni because of his will and way of living. Then, in a twist, Kazama bestows upon Hijikata his oni name and the name of the series: Hakuouki (Pale Sakura Demon). After the final charge, Kazama is seen falling over with Hijikata's sword pierced through his chest, sealing his death and the end of the oni disputes.
Third Season
Kazama appears at the very end of Hakuouki: Reimeiroku to stop rogue samurai from attacking Kamo Serizawa. He states that Serizawa is suffering from a disease that slowly makes his whole body useless.
Movies
Kazama's personality is rather similar to the anime but more eccentric and obsessive in the first movie, and deep and thoughtful in the second movie.
The storyline in the first movie is approximately the same as in the first season of the anime, however, the second movie is completely different from the second season and reveals other sides of Kazama's character. He saves Chizuru on her way to meet Hijikata, tells her the story of her family, shows her the ruins of her village and helps her travel further to the Shinsengumi. Although, unlike the anime series, Kazama fails to protect Chizuru from Kaoru, and she gets kidnapped. He comes to rescue her and kills Koudou. Right before letting Chizuru run to Hijikata, Kazama makes one last attempt to stop her by hugging her from behind and asking her not to leave, however, she thanks him for help and heads to the Shinsengumi.
At the end of the second movie, Kazama comes to fight Hijikata one last time, however, he does not explain his motivation to Hijikata before the fight (but he did give Chizuru more details prior), which makes it seem less logical for Hijikata to take up the challenge. In this version of the events, Kazama does not die, his arm and hand are injured, but as soon as his sword is broken, he tells Hijikata to live his life fully and leaves.
Sweet School Life
In the short OVA Kazama is shown very briefly as a student and the President of the Student's Council at Hakuou Academy. He appears alongside his sidekicks Amagiri and Shiranui to make an announcement after Kondou. His decision is to organize a dance at their school, despite the fact that Chizuru is the only girl and everyone else has to dance with boys. Kazama makes it clear that he is not going to dance with a boy hinting at his intention to spend time with Chizuru. Later, when Chizuru runs into the gym full of half-naked men and blushes, he decides to strip as well to attract her attention.
Etymology
- The name Chikage means "thousand" (千) (chi) and "scenery, view" (景) (kage).
- Chikage's surname Kazama means "wind, breeze, way" (風) (kaza) and "while, time, interval, space" (間) (ma).