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Kōdō Yukimura (雪村綱道 Yukimura Koudou) is an antagonist in Hakuōki. He is a small-time doctor in Edo and the creator of the Water of Life. He is Chizuru's adoptive father, initially thought to be blood-related.
Personality
This article contains major SPOILERS. Be careful if you do not know the full story yet.
Koudou is self-righteous, resentful, and obsessive. Though his exact motivations vary between routes, his decision to use Rasetsu as a method of exacting retribution is a constant. Having switched sides from the shogunate to the imperial court, Koudou has no sense of loyalty to humans, but he will always act in what he assumes are the demons' best interests despite Kazama, Amagiri, and Shiranui's repeated assurances to the contrary throughout most routes.
Koudou's goal depends on the routes taken. In some routes, he resents humanity for the destruction of Yukimura Clan, while in other routes it is revealed that he is the one who allowed humans to destroy his own Clan so he can have Chizuru because he believes Yukimura clan's decision to faithfully abide to the Demon Code is outdated and decides to create Rasetsu so there is no distinction between humans and demons.
Additionally, Koudou is an excellent liar, as he is capable of consistently concealing his true thoughts and personality from Chizuru for the entirety of her childhood and early adolescence.
Father treated every patient with intense care, regardless of their income status or how severe their illness was. He was remarkably kind, giving a personalized touch to each of his patients without expecting anything in return. He was a cherished, well-respected member of our community.—Chizuru Yukimura, memories of her father
Background
Yukimura Koudou is a fictional character. He is a demon from the Yukimura village, although the majority of his heritage is human.
At some point, Koudou was educated in the Netherlands, where he began developing the Water of Life on shogunate orders. It is unknown how he first became affiliated with the government, but it may have something to do with the Yukimura clan's association with the Tokugawa.
By the time the game begins, Koudou has abandoned the shogunate for reasons unknown and thrown in his lot with the imperialist cause.
In Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan
Koudou is an antagonist. Though Koudou is not encountered until after the routes divide, it is his absence which indirectly sets in motion the events of the story.
Prologue
Koudou is first mentioned in the prologue, when Chizuru explains her purpose in Kyoto via narrative and flashback. Her father has been incommunicado for a month, so Chizuru left Edo in the hopes of finding him. On the night of her arrival, however, she encounters some Rasetsu and is rescued by the Shinsengumi.
Chapter 1
When Chizuru explains herself to the Shinsengumi, she mentions her father again, and the officers inform her that they are also looking for him. However, they cannot entrust Chizuru with any sensitive information, so they do not explain the extent of their involvement with Koudou. Some months later, the Watch is instructed to investigate his whereabouts.
Okita's route
Koudou is one of the main antagonists, along with Kaoru, though he ultimately dies by the latter's hand to save Chizuru and tells her in his dying moments about the water that can lessen the effects of the Water of Life.
Saitou's route
Koudou is the antagonist alongside Kazama.
Heisuke's route
Koudou's situation is never revealed, and he is never given closure.
Harada's route
Koudou is the main antagonist.
In Hakuōki: Kyoto Winds
Koudou's involvement in the plot is largely the same as in the first half of Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan, with the following exceptions.
Chapter 1
Hijikata reveals that there has been a lead on Koudou's whereabouts and gives Chizuru the opportunity to leave the compound and search for him with some of the captains.
In Hakuōki: Edo Blossoms
Koudou's involvement in the plot is largely the same as in the second half of Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan, with the following exceptions.
Iba's route
Koudou makes no appearance in this route except in a bad ending, but Takeda mentions that he was killed by Saitou.
Souma's route
Koudou makes no appearance in this route, but Miki reveals that Koudou helped him become a Rasetsu. Amagiri later mentions Koudou's death to Chizuru and Souma at the hands of the Rasetsu Corps.
Sakamoto's route
Koudou initially appears with Kaoru to confront Chizuru and Sakamoto, but he flees while they are dealing with Kaoru. Near the end of the story, Sannan and Heisuke order Sakamoto and Chizuru to flee while they handle Koudou. None of the three are seen or mentioned again after this, but it can be assumed that Sannan and Heisuke reached the end of their lifespans after killing Koudou.
In the musicals
Main article: Yukimura Koudou/HakuMyu
Koudou was portrayed by Edogawa Manji in HakuMyu Saito-hen through LIVE 2, and by Kawamoto Hiroyuki in HakuMyu Harada-hen and Hijikata-hen 2.
Gallery
Trivia
- Though Koudou is not Chizuru's father by blood, his surname is still stated to be Yukimura.
- On Iba's route, Sen refers to him as a "tributary" of the Yukimura clan.
- On Kazama's Edo Blossoms route, Kaoru states that he is a relative.
- On Harada's Stories route, it is never revealed that Koudou is not actually Chizuru's father.
- On Heisuke's route, Koudou's whereabouts, loyalties, and motivations also remain unclear, as he is never mentioned again after the split.