Reckless Courage- Bankotsu
Sorry for this being a day late, thunderstorms here in the midwest and my computer didn't like each other ^^;
Title: Reckless Courage
Author: Jennie V.M. aka. TailFluffGirl (tailfluff)
Email: tailfluffgirl[@]gmail.com
Character: Bankotsu
Fandom: InuYasha
Word Count: 3,411
Spoilers: Spoilers from episodes 102 - 123 of the anime and chapters 234 - 277 of the manga.
Notes: A big thanks to cowgirled for her help and support on this ^^
Glossary:
Sengoku Jidai (or "warring-states" period): a period of long civil war in the History of Japan that spans through the middle 15th to the early 17th centuries. It started in the late Muromachi period in 1467 with the Onin War (Onin no Ran 1467-1478), lasting through the entire Azuchi-Momoyama period, until final peace and order was achieved in 1615 of the Edo period.
Miko: a Shinto shrine maiden
Hanyou: Half demon
Youkai: demon
Shikon no Tama: Jewel of the four souls
Ushitora: Simply meaning Northeast, this is the direction in which the Monkey God (of Episode 88) told the InuYasha-tachi a large evil aura settled then mysteriously disappeared. This leads them to suspect it is Naraku, so they go there in search of him.
Aniki: Since the Shichinin-tai is an extremely close group of mercenaries, they refer to each other as "Aniki (Brother)" and to Bankotsu, their leader, as "Oo-aniki (Respected Elder Brother)." This use of familial terms shows their closeness and hierarchy but does not mean they are related by blood.
Daimyou: The feudal lords of the time, they were military and political leaders of the areas they dominated.
Shogun: This simply means "general," but during the time from 1192 to 1868, the shogun were the practical rulers of Japan. They ruled over the daimyou who controlled the samurai- but during the Sengoku Jidai era, those boundaries of hierarchy sometimes altered.
Nakama: This term, which is used in reference to the Shichinin-tai and by them about themselves, simply means "comrades as close as family."
"Kubi o aratte, matteyagare" - Bankotsu's threatening message to the daimyou. This simply means "wait and wash your necks." This was a standard way to threaten death by means of decapitation, a method Bankotsu wishes to use on them since that's what was done to the Shichinin-tai by this daimyou ten years before.
Introduction:
Name: Bankotsu
Name Meaning: barbarian bone or brute/reckless courage
Age: 17 at the time of death
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Blue
Rank: Leader
Birthplace: Kanto Province
Weapon: Banryuu
Japanese Seiyuu: Takeshi Kusao
American Voice Actor: Matt Hill
Spanish Voice Actor: Igor Cruz
Three years ago, when I was catching up on reading Rumiko Takahashi's manga InuYasha, I started in on what is known as the Shichinin-tai/Hakureizan arc of the series. It was through this arc that I was introduced to seven new characters- the Shichinin-tai and my fondness for them began. On reaching volume 26 I met the leader of this group, who has become to this day, my favorite anime character of all time.
Bankotsu is loved by many a fangirl for his attractive looks, fighting ability and the fact that he does get one little scene that has him sans-clothing. But, although I wouldn't deny that he is indeed visibly appealing, I found myself more attracted to his personality than anything else. Since meeting him via the manga, then getting reintroduced to him all over again during the anime adaptation- I have cosplayed him several times, devoted many fanworks to him and overall found myself relating to him and his plight time and time again.
It is my hope that this essay will shed some light beyond his outer aspects into the character I have grown to love very dearly over the years.
Background:
Years before Kagome's arrival in Sengoku Jidai and the reappearance of the Shikon no Tama, there lived a young man known as Bankotsu. Traveling throughout the eastern providences of Sengoku Jidai, Bankotsu, along with his best friend Jakotsu, took odd jobs and did anything that involved fighting off someone or something they deemed as strong. Whether it was a youkai or a samurai- they'd face it and fight it until the death.
One day, Bankotsu decided on a whim to start an army. After talking it over with Jakotsu, the two went off on their quest to find strong men to join the group that would one day become the legendary Shichinin-tai.
Once they'd acquired a group of seven men, they traveled from the east to Ushitora (the northeast) seeking work. There they were hired out by daimyou for various reasons and went from war to war seeking work. In short, they were mercenaries, but their skill reached far beyond that. Having not only a powerful young leader, the seven-man army had six other skilled fighters. These men were so strong, they were rumored to be "strong as over one hundred men" and due to that power, they were betrayed.
Becoming nervous and fearing the Shichinin-tai's ever-growing strength, the daimyou of the area joined forces to lay a trap for the seven.
It started out as what appeared to be a normal job. Bankotsu had met with the head samurai of the daimyou and agreed to act as the front men for the army's attack on an enemy force. The Shichinin-tai had defeated the enemy with ease and sat about at the base of a cliff relaxing and laughing about the last kill. That's when they noticed another army approaching. They stood, ready for battle, only to find themselves surrounded on all sides by various armies. Standing atop the cliff above them was the samurai and army they'd originally made the deal with.
Bankotsu asked what was going on, only to be told "The Shichinin-tai have become too famous for their own good.”
The group fled, dodging arrows and fighting off the numerable forces as best as they could. Seeking sanctuary in the mountains, they ventured near Mount Hakurei for awhile in hopes to shake loose those that followed them. But, they were clearly outnumbered, and in an abandoned snowy village in the north, they were cornered.
There they were killed one by one, Bankotsu being the last to die as two soldiers held him down and chopped off his head. But the daimyou's fear didn't end with that. Afraid that the seven men would trouble them from beyond the grave, the daimyou erected a shrine over the Shichinin grave in hopes it would appease their angry spirits.
Ten years later- and after the reappearance of the Shikon no Tama, the graves were smashed open, and rumors of Zombies began to spread. This was in part to Naraku, using Shikon shards to restore life to the bones of the seven members. Awakening Bankotsu first, Naraku made a deal with him.
"Awaken, Bankotsu. You have been granted another life. You will work for me. Then, that life will be yours for all eternity. Go forth... with your comrades... "
It is at this point that the Shichinin-tai come into the current plot of the ongoing story of InuYasha and we are introduced to them properly.
The Young Leader - First Impressions
Our first glance of Bankotsu is his amusing attempt to write a death threat to the daimyou. Sitting amongst the wadded up failed attempts at his message, the young leader tries his hardest to formulate his words. The threat he is trying to write out is "kubi o aratte, matteyagare" (wait and wash your necks) but he ends up writing "wash your face" instead. Right from the start, we're already getting the impression that this is not your ordinary villainous leader.
As he's joined by the remaining members of the group, he tells them of his plan for the siege on the daimyou. Very playful in his tactics, said plan involves the following: first, send them the threatening message. Then, sit back and watch from the cliff across the way as the daimyou and his army proceed to panic. And once they've panicked enough for their amusement, go and attack the castle.
This little tactic alone gives a good first impression as to what Bankotsu's personality is going to be like. But it's really only scraping the surface.
Courageous and Carefree- Personality
As Bankotsu enters the castle to reclaim his sword, Banryuu, we begin to see that there's more than meets the eye to his personality. Beneath the outer shell of leader and fighter, Bankotsu truly is only a seventeen year old boy. On seeing his sword again, he gets really excited and goes to pick it up- commenting happily on how shiny it is. The daimyou is shocked by the boy's strength (it took three of his best men to even move the sword and Bankotsu lifts it easily with only one hand) but offers him to join his army and use his strength to fight for him. Bankotsu's child-like wonder quickly shifts to a very serious glare as he kindly reminds the daimyou of what the threat said, "wait and wash your neck." Before the daimyou can protest or comment on that further, he follows through with that very message- chopping off the daimyou and his attendant's heads in one swipe of his blade.
Some might say he's hardened by battle, but it seems to just be part of his normal attitude to be very laid back about things. After killing off the samurai and the daimyou's army, Bankotsu sits on the porch amongst the dead bodies sipping sake like nothing is out of the ordinary. Even when Kouga shows up on the scene, Bankotsu still remains rather casual. So much so, that Kouga angrily asks "What're you so damn relaxed about?!"
When asked about Naraku, Bankotsu turns and asks Jakotsu "Do you think we can trust him?"- even though, as Jakotsu notes, Bankotsu is the only one who's met Naraku of the Shichinin-tai. As you can see, thinking about the full picture isn't exactly Bankotsu's top priority when it comes to matters and he's much more concerned with having fun in the here and now.
With the appearance of InuYasha and the Inu-tachi on the scene, a battle breaks out between them all. During this fight, some saimyoushou appear and order Bankotsu and the others to retreat. Bankotsu yells back that he's not leaving until the fight is over, not the type to flee during battle. It's only after InuYasha's Kaze no Kizu leaves a deep gash in the blade of Banryuu that Bankotsu reluctantly retreats from the battle.
After finding out from Kohaku why they were called away from battle, Bankotsu angrily yells, "Hey, is that all you have to say after dragging us out here!? We were right in the middle of a battle with InuYasha!." As we can see, Bankotsu's very much the type to deal with problems right away so he can have plenty of time afterwards to relax and not worry about things and retreating without just reason is something that definitely gets under his skin.
Walking Dead Man- Life Philosophy
"We're alive and kicking again just like old times. Isn't that enough?"
For a dead man, Bankotsu seems to have put a lot of thought into life and the way to live it. This extra view we're given into his character really begins to give an added depth that not just any average side-arc character gets.
On going to visit the Shichinin Grave to give his respects to the recently re-killed Kyoukotsu and Mukotsu, Bankotsu poses his comrades a question:
"Hey Kyoukotsu, Mukotsu... What's it like? Being dead again and all? Keh. Pathetic. You die and that's it. Is that world as shitty as this one?
Not long after this, Bankotsu's path crosses with that of the dead miko, Kikyou, who asks Bankotsu why he's behaving the way he is now that he's alive again. Once again, Bankotsu gives us another view into his feelings on life and death:
"Talk all you want about heaven or hell or whatever. But they're nothing more than places people believe in. I don't give a shit about the afterlife. I just do what I want while I'm alive."
This attitude of "live each moment to the fullest" seems to carry over into some of his other thoughts on the matter. Even during his final battle with InuYasha, he tells him "Besides... as I'm alive again, I'm my own man. " Whether it was something he realized after dying once and getting a second chance at life, or whether it was something he believed in all along- Bankotsu's principle of 'enjoying every moment as if it was your last' is something that is truly profound.
Trust and Tears- Vivid Emotions
As with the entirety of the series InuYasha, the aspect of trust is something very important. Whether it's the matter of trust fortifying and strengthening a relationship or the lack of trust or misplaced trust leading to betrayal- this is definitely an overall theme within the series itself.
With Bankotsu, the matter of trust is very important. In the past, it was his misplaced trust in the daimyou that inadvertently caused the death of him and his comrades. Since that betrayal of his trust, Bankotsu has been very skeptical since of trusting others. Although he might let on that he trusted Naraku and the deal they made, Bankotsu outright admits to InuYasha during their final fight that any such impression was not true.
"Originally, we Shichinin-tai- as soldiers for hire, were heavily used by the Daimyou. In the end, because we were too strong and dangerous, we were cornered and executed. That's why, with regards to Naraku, I never trusted him."
After having his trust betrayed in such a serious manner that cost him his life, any trust that does exist between Bankotsu and others is something he takes very seriously.
During a scene with Jakotsu, Bankotsu is moved to tears (something no other older InuYasha male has done unless mourning the death of someone) over the trust his best friend has in him. While Renkotsu remains skeptical of Bankotsu's motives and originally keeps shards he's acquired for himself instead of handing them over as instructed- Jakotsu trusts in Bankotsu's leadership and hands over the shard he got from the dying Suikotsu.
Bankotsu even questions Jakotsu's action when his friend goes to hand over the shard, asking him, "You're giving it to me? " When Jakotsu confirms that he is because that's what Bankotsu asked them to do, Bankotsu's eyes well with tears and he happily embraces his comrade saying:
"You're the only one in the world I can really rely on. "
This trust in Jakotsu is something that only further fuels Bankotsu's anger and disappointment when Renkotsu is the one to kill Jakotsu. As he tells Renkotsu when he removes his shards, "I never betrayed my friends."
Rivalry and Revenge - On Battle
"The other members of the Shichinin-tai all died in battle. I'll take this battle as revenge."
Bankotsu is someone who takes revenge very seriously. The first thing he does after being resurrected is seek revenge on the daimyou that originally killed them, making sure to kill them in the same manner they killed him and his friends.
Later, this issue of revenge resurfaces in the final battle between Bankotsu and InuYasha. Blaming InuYasha for the death of all of his six comrades, Bankotsu declares that their battle will be revenge for their lives.
This fighting side of Bankotsu is playful, just more in a taunting manner than his usual behavior. Often while fighting against InuYasha, he'll make a mockery of InuYasha's strength or sarcastically remark on various aspects of the fight. His actions even become almost like a game of cat and mouse as he plays around with InuYasha.
"What's up, Inuyasha? To make it easier to take the shards, I'm even going out of my way to punch you with this hand. "
Very confident in his abilities, Bankotsu continues to toy with InuYasha. This over-confidence turns out to be his one mistake, and InuYasha manages to get in a slash with Tessaiga which slices Bankotsu in two. His last attempt at revenge dies in vain along with Bankotsu when Naraku removes his final shard and he returns to death once again.
Fatal Flaws - Strengths and Weaknesses
"Don't belittle me, hanyou. I, Bankotsu-sama... There's no way I'd be the head of the Shichinin-tai for fun. Before I was resurrected by the Shikon fragment, I managed that bunch of killers with my skills! "
This line, in and of itself, captures the true essence of Bankotsu's strength and his weakness. Yes, Bankotsu is a human boy who did lead the Shichinin-tai with nothing but his brute strength and his sword. It wasn't until he got the shikon shards that he even had any sort of extra-power to help his natural strength.
But, as seen in the line, towards the end of his second life- he lets that very strength go to his head and he underestimates InuYasha's power. This in turn becomes his downfall.
Another strength/weakness that led to Bankotsu's death or the death of a friend, is his naive trust in others. In his prior life, it was his unquestioning trust in the daimyou that caused the Shichinin-tai to be killed by their trap. During their second life, even after Renkotsu tried once to keep shards without Bankotsu knowing, Bankotsu gives him a second chance and gives him nothing but a warning not to do it again. When he speaks with Renkotsu after Ginkotsu's death, Bankotsu surely knew that Renkotsu still had Ginkotsu's shard with him, but he never once pressured him for the shard or asked about its whereabouts. Much like with the daimyou, this trust in someone was betrayed when Renkotsu took the life of Bankotsu's best friend, Jakotsu.
Relationships:
Nakama- The Shichinin-tai
Bankotsu shares a deep bond with the six other members of the Shichinin-tai that is different than most leader-follower relationships. Thinking of the six men as his “family” of sorts, they all refer to each other as “aniki (brother)” and to him as “oo-aniki (elder/respected older brother)” This close knit group always works to cover each other in battle, and Bankotsu especially goes out of the way to care about his comrades.
Anything for a Friend- Bankotsu and the others
There are many times throughout the arc that we see Bankotsu going out of his way to do something extra for one of his men. In the flashback to their prior life, Renkotsu tells him he should be a daimyou or shogun. Bankotsu replies that such a rank is not something he's interested in, but if Renkotsu wants it- he'll help him get it. ("Well let me know if you wanna try and I'll give you a hand")
When they're talking atop the cliff, Bankotsu notices Ginkotsu (now in his newer tank-body) looking up at a butterfly fluttering by. Jumping up into the air, Bankotsu snatches up the butterfly and offers to Ginkotsu, saying, "Here ya go. Didn't you want this?"
The Ballad of the Fallen- Mourning the loss of his comrades
As noted earlier, Bankotsu goes out of his way to visit the Shichinin Grave to pay his respects to Mukotsu and Kyoukotsu. Even taking Kyoukotsu's armor and Mukotsu's poison case with him, Bankotsu sits before the grave and wonders about his fallen friends.
Later, upon hearing about the death of Ginkotsu and Suikotsu, he seems very upset as well. When speaking to Renkotsu about losing Ginkotsu, he tells him, "But, I'm glad. At least you are alive...." At the loss of Jakotsu and on having to kill Renkotsu, Bankotsu also seems very upset and remarks afterwards,"How lonely. In the end, I'm alone now... "
Trial and Error- Bankotsu & Renkotsu
Bankotsu seems to fully acknowledge that Renkotsu is the brains of the group. The older man can write and seems to be the tactical genius of them all, and Bankotsu is often trying to recognize Renkotsu's intellect. As noted above, he once offered to help Renkotsu seek out the position of daimyou or shogun if that's what his friend truly wanted.
On the loss of Ginkotsu, someone that Renkotsu was very close to, Bankotsu gives a comforting pat to Renkotsu's back and tells him, "I'll be relying on you even more from now on."
These words might seem foolish to most, being as Renkotsu has already kept some shards against Bankotsu's wishes, but Bankotsu seems more concerned with consoling Renkotsu over the loss of their friend than the matter of the shards or power.
The Best of Friends- Bankotsu & Jakotsu
Together since the beginning of the Shichinin-tai, it's really no wonder that these two boys seem to have a closer bond than the rest of the group.
They're always happy to see each other, often calling out and waving as they approach. Bankotsu seems to respect Jakotsu’s opinions on matters (such as his question about Jakotsu's opinion on Naraku) which might seem odd since Renkotsu is recognized as the "smart" one of the group.
This relationship also tends to make Bankotsu’s rivalry with InuYasha only worse, obviously somewhat irritated by Jakotsu’s infatuation with the dog-eared hanyou. In the manga for example, Bankotsu shows signs of jealousy when Jakotsu whines about having to go after Sesshoumaru and not InuYasha, telling him, “It’s an unrequited love. Get over it.” That reaction seems very similar to someone who's irritated with their best buddy for spending more time with their girlfriend instead of with them.
Jakotsu is someone who puts his trust in Bankotsu, and in return, is embraced by Bankotsu who is excited to have someone he can 'really rely on. Even if he's a bit weird.'
But weird or not, there's no question that these two are definitely the best of friends both in their prior life and in their second one.
Why Bankotsu?
I've always been the type to find myself looking beyond the outward exterior of the villains of series, but there's just something about Bankotsu that is positively endearing.
Part of it, is how human he is. His flaws are something I feel many people can relate with- blind trust in someone leading to betrayal and letting your talents go to your head. And his strengths are admirable- both in his physical prowess of being only a human boy fighting on equal terms with InuYasha and in terms of his loyalty and devotion to his comrades.
Yes, he might be a killer- but he's a far cry from heartless. He's in-touch with his emotions and he's just an all around fun guy. It's my hope that more people out there give a second thought to Bankotsu beyond that which is on the surface so they can fall in love with this wonderful character as well.
Sources:
Chris Rijk's Online Manga Translations (Quotes)
Shichinin-tai Chaos (Images)
Anime Forever (Fansubs from years ago)
Communities:
shichinintai
bankotsu_love
bankotsujakotsu
Fanfiction:
There's not much in the way of Bankotsu-centric stories, but here's a few that do feature him in a prominent role:
The Knight of Wands
Nakama
And Bankotsu Blushed
Lives Less Than Ordinary
Voices From the Past
The Case of the Missing Kotsu
Title: Reckless Courage
Author: Jennie V.M. aka. TailFluffGirl (tailfluff)
Email: tailfluffgirl[@]gmail.com
Character: Bankotsu
Fandom: InuYasha
Word Count: 3,411
Spoilers: Spoilers from episodes 102 - 123 of the anime and chapters 234 - 277 of the manga.
Notes: A big thanks to cowgirled for her help and support on this ^^
Glossary:
Sengoku Jidai (or "warring-states" period): a period of long civil war in the History of Japan that spans through the middle 15th to the early 17th centuries. It started in the late Muromachi period in 1467 with the Onin War (Onin no Ran 1467-1478), lasting through the entire Azuchi-Momoyama period, until final peace and order was achieved in 1615 of the Edo period.
Miko: a Shinto shrine maiden
Hanyou: Half demon
Youkai: demon
Shikon no Tama: Jewel of the four souls
Ushitora: Simply meaning Northeast, this is the direction in which the Monkey God (of Episode 88) told the InuYasha-tachi a large evil aura settled then mysteriously disappeared. This leads them to suspect it is Naraku, so they go there in search of him.
Aniki: Since the Shichinin-tai is an extremely close group of mercenaries, they refer to each other as "Aniki (Brother)" and to Bankotsu, their leader, as "Oo-aniki (Respected Elder Brother)." This use of familial terms shows their closeness and hierarchy but does not mean they are related by blood.
Daimyou: The feudal lords of the time, they were military and political leaders of the areas they dominated.
Shogun: This simply means "general," but during the time from 1192 to 1868, the shogun were the practical rulers of Japan. They ruled over the daimyou who controlled the samurai- but during the Sengoku Jidai era, those boundaries of hierarchy sometimes altered.
Nakama: This term, which is used in reference to the Shichinin-tai and by them about themselves, simply means "comrades as close as family."
"Kubi o aratte, matteyagare" - Bankotsu's threatening message to the daimyou. This simply means "wait and wash your necks." This was a standard way to threaten death by means of decapitation, a method Bankotsu wishes to use on them since that's what was done to the Shichinin-tai by this daimyou ten years before.
Introduction:
Name: Bankotsu
Name Meaning: barbarian bone or brute/reckless courage
Age: 17 at the time of death
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Blue
Rank: Leader
Birthplace: Kanto Province
Weapon: Banryuu
Japanese Seiyuu: Takeshi Kusao
American Voice Actor: Matt Hill
Spanish Voice Actor: Igor Cruz
Three years ago, when I was catching up on reading Rumiko Takahashi's manga InuYasha, I started in on what is known as the Shichinin-tai/Hakureizan arc of the series. It was through this arc that I was introduced to seven new characters- the Shichinin-tai and my fondness for them began. On reaching volume 26 I met the leader of this group, who has become to this day, my favorite anime character of all time.
Bankotsu is loved by many a fangirl for his attractive looks, fighting ability and the fact that he does get one little scene that has him sans-clothing. But, although I wouldn't deny that he is indeed visibly appealing, I found myself more attracted to his personality than anything else. Since meeting him via the manga, then getting reintroduced to him all over again during the anime adaptation- I have cosplayed him several times, devoted many fanworks to him and overall found myself relating to him and his plight time and time again.
It is my hope that this essay will shed some light beyond his outer aspects into the character I have grown to love very dearly over the years.
Background:
Years before Kagome's arrival in Sengoku Jidai and the reappearance of the Shikon no Tama, there lived a young man known as Bankotsu. Traveling throughout the eastern providences of Sengoku Jidai, Bankotsu, along with his best friend Jakotsu, took odd jobs and did anything that involved fighting off someone or something they deemed as strong. Whether it was a youkai or a samurai- they'd face it and fight it until the death.
One day, Bankotsu decided on a whim to start an army. After talking it over with Jakotsu, the two went off on their quest to find strong men to join the group that would one day become the legendary Shichinin-tai.
Once they'd acquired a group of seven men, they traveled from the east to Ushitora (the northeast) seeking work. There they were hired out by daimyou for various reasons and went from war to war seeking work. In short, they were mercenaries, but their skill reached far beyond that. Having not only a powerful young leader, the seven-man army had six other skilled fighters. These men were so strong, they were rumored to be "strong as over one hundred men" and due to that power, they were betrayed.
Becoming nervous and fearing the Shichinin-tai's ever-growing strength, the daimyou of the area joined forces to lay a trap for the seven.
It started out as what appeared to be a normal job. Bankotsu had met with the head samurai of the daimyou and agreed to act as the front men for the army's attack on an enemy force. The Shichinin-tai had defeated the enemy with ease and sat about at the base of a cliff relaxing and laughing about the last kill. That's when they noticed another army approaching. They stood, ready for battle, only to find themselves surrounded on all sides by various armies. Standing atop the cliff above them was the samurai and army they'd originally made the deal with.
Bankotsu asked what was going on, only to be told "The Shichinin-tai have become too famous for their own good.”
The group fled, dodging arrows and fighting off the numerable forces as best as they could. Seeking sanctuary in the mountains, they ventured near Mount Hakurei for awhile in hopes to shake loose those that followed them. But, they were clearly outnumbered, and in an abandoned snowy village in the north, they were cornered.
There they were killed one by one, Bankotsu being the last to die as two soldiers held him down and chopped off his head. But the daimyou's fear didn't end with that. Afraid that the seven men would trouble them from beyond the grave, the daimyou erected a shrine over the Shichinin grave in hopes it would appease their angry spirits.
Ten years later- and after the reappearance of the Shikon no Tama, the graves were smashed open, and rumors of Zombies began to spread. This was in part to Naraku, using Shikon shards to restore life to the bones of the seven members. Awakening Bankotsu first, Naraku made a deal with him.
"Awaken, Bankotsu. You have been granted another life. You will work for me. Then, that life will be yours for all eternity. Go forth... with your comrades... "
It is at this point that the Shichinin-tai come into the current plot of the ongoing story of InuYasha and we are introduced to them properly.
The Young Leader - First Impressions
Our first glance of Bankotsu is his amusing attempt to write a death threat to the daimyou. Sitting amongst the wadded up failed attempts at his message, the young leader tries his hardest to formulate his words. The threat he is trying to write out is "kubi o aratte, matteyagare" (wait and wash your necks) but he ends up writing "wash your face" instead. Right from the start, we're already getting the impression that this is not your ordinary villainous leader.
As he's joined by the remaining members of the group, he tells them of his plan for the siege on the daimyou. Very playful in his tactics, said plan involves the following: first, send them the threatening message. Then, sit back and watch from the cliff across the way as the daimyou and his army proceed to panic. And once they've panicked enough for their amusement, go and attack the castle.
This little tactic alone gives a good first impression as to what Bankotsu's personality is going to be like. But it's really only scraping the surface.
Courageous and Carefree- Personality
As Bankotsu enters the castle to reclaim his sword, Banryuu, we begin to see that there's more than meets the eye to his personality. Beneath the outer shell of leader and fighter, Bankotsu truly is only a seventeen year old boy. On seeing his sword again, he gets really excited and goes to pick it up- commenting happily on how shiny it is. The daimyou is shocked by the boy's strength (it took three of his best men to even move the sword and Bankotsu lifts it easily with only one hand) but offers him to join his army and use his strength to fight for him. Bankotsu's child-like wonder quickly shifts to a very serious glare as he kindly reminds the daimyou of what the threat said, "wait and wash your neck." Before the daimyou can protest or comment on that further, he follows through with that very message- chopping off the daimyou and his attendant's heads in one swipe of his blade.
Some might say he's hardened by battle, but it seems to just be part of his normal attitude to be very laid back about things. After killing off the samurai and the daimyou's army, Bankotsu sits on the porch amongst the dead bodies sipping sake like nothing is out of the ordinary. Even when Kouga shows up on the scene, Bankotsu still remains rather casual. So much so, that Kouga angrily asks "What're you so damn relaxed about?!"
When asked about Naraku, Bankotsu turns and asks Jakotsu "Do you think we can trust him?"- even though, as Jakotsu notes, Bankotsu is the only one who's met Naraku of the Shichinin-tai. As you can see, thinking about the full picture isn't exactly Bankotsu's top priority when it comes to matters and he's much more concerned with having fun in the here and now.
With the appearance of InuYasha and the Inu-tachi on the scene, a battle breaks out between them all. During this fight, some saimyoushou appear and order Bankotsu and the others to retreat. Bankotsu yells back that he's not leaving until the fight is over, not the type to flee during battle. It's only after InuYasha's Kaze no Kizu leaves a deep gash in the blade of Banryuu that Bankotsu reluctantly retreats from the battle.
After finding out from Kohaku why they were called away from battle, Bankotsu angrily yells, "Hey, is that all you have to say after dragging us out here!? We were right in the middle of a battle with InuYasha!." As we can see, Bankotsu's very much the type to deal with problems right away so he can have plenty of time afterwards to relax and not worry about things and retreating without just reason is something that definitely gets under his skin.
Walking Dead Man- Life Philosophy
"We're alive and kicking again just like old times. Isn't that enough?"
For a dead man, Bankotsu seems to have put a lot of thought into life and the way to live it. This extra view we're given into his character really begins to give an added depth that not just any average side-arc character gets.
On going to visit the Shichinin Grave to give his respects to the recently re-killed Kyoukotsu and Mukotsu, Bankotsu poses his comrades a question:
"Hey Kyoukotsu, Mukotsu... What's it like? Being dead again and all? Keh. Pathetic. You die and that's it. Is that world as shitty as this one?
Not long after this, Bankotsu's path crosses with that of the dead miko, Kikyou, who asks Bankotsu why he's behaving the way he is now that he's alive again. Once again, Bankotsu gives us another view into his feelings on life and death:
"Talk all you want about heaven or hell or whatever. But they're nothing more than places people believe in. I don't give a shit about the afterlife. I just do what I want while I'm alive."
This attitude of "live each moment to the fullest" seems to carry over into some of his other thoughts on the matter. Even during his final battle with InuYasha, he tells him "Besides... as I'm alive again, I'm my own man. " Whether it was something he realized after dying once and getting a second chance at life, or whether it was something he believed in all along- Bankotsu's principle of 'enjoying every moment as if it was your last' is something that is truly profound.
Trust and Tears- Vivid Emotions
As with the entirety of the series InuYasha, the aspect of trust is something very important. Whether it's the matter of trust fortifying and strengthening a relationship or the lack of trust or misplaced trust leading to betrayal- this is definitely an overall theme within the series itself.
With Bankotsu, the matter of trust is very important. In the past, it was his misplaced trust in the daimyou that inadvertently caused the death of him and his comrades. Since that betrayal of his trust, Bankotsu has been very skeptical since of trusting others. Although he might let on that he trusted Naraku and the deal they made, Bankotsu outright admits to InuYasha during their final fight that any such impression was not true.
"Originally, we Shichinin-tai- as soldiers for hire, were heavily used by the Daimyou. In the end, because we were too strong and dangerous, we were cornered and executed. That's why, with regards to Naraku, I never trusted him."
After having his trust betrayed in such a serious manner that cost him his life, any trust that does exist between Bankotsu and others is something he takes very seriously.
During a scene with Jakotsu, Bankotsu is moved to tears (something no other older InuYasha male has done unless mourning the death of someone) over the trust his best friend has in him. While Renkotsu remains skeptical of Bankotsu's motives and originally keeps shards he's acquired for himself instead of handing them over as instructed- Jakotsu trusts in Bankotsu's leadership and hands over the shard he got from the dying Suikotsu.
Bankotsu even questions Jakotsu's action when his friend goes to hand over the shard, asking him, "You're giving it to me? " When Jakotsu confirms that he is because that's what Bankotsu asked them to do, Bankotsu's eyes well with tears and he happily embraces his comrade saying:
"You're the only one in the world I can really rely on. "
This trust in Jakotsu is something that only further fuels Bankotsu's anger and disappointment when Renkotsu is the one to kill Jakotsu. As he tells Renkotsu when he removes his shards, "I never betrayed my friends."
Rivalry and Revenge - On Battle
"The other members of the Shichinin-tai all died in battle. I'll take this battle as revenge."
Bankotsu is someone who takes revenge very seriously. The first thing he does after being resurrected is seek revenge on the daimyou that originally killed them, making sure to kill them in the same manner they killed him and his friends.
Later, this issue of revenge resurfaces in the final battle between Bankotsu and InuYasha. Blaming InuYasha for the death of all of his six comrades, Bankotsu declares that their battle will be revenge for their lives.
This fighting side of Bankotsu is playful, just more in a taunting manner than his usual behavior. Often while fighting against InuYasha, he'll make a mockery of InuYasha's strength or sarcastically remark on various aspects of the fight. His actions even become almost like a game of cat and mouse as he plays around with InuYasha.
"What's up, Inuyasha? To make it easier to take the shards, I'm even going out of my way to punch you with this hand. "
Very confident in his abilities, Bankotsu continues to toy with InuYasha. This over-confidence turns out to be his one mistake, and InuYasha manages to get in a slash with Tessaiga which slices Bankotsu in two. His last attempt at revenge dies in vain along with Bankotsu when Naraku removes his final shard and he returns to death once again.
Fatal Flaws - Strengths and Weaknesses
"Don't belittle me, hanyou. I, Bankotsu-sama... There's no way I'd be the head of the Shichinin-tai for fun. Before I was resurrected by the Shikon fragment, I managed that bunch of killers with my skills! "
This line, in and of itself, captures the true essence of Bankotsu's strength and his weakness. Yes, Bankotsu is a human boy who did lead the Shichinin-tai with nothing but his brute strength and his sword. It wasn't until he got the shikon shards that he even had any sort of extra-power to help his natural strength.
But, as seen in the line, towards the end of his second life- he lets that very strength go to his head and he underestimates InuYasha's power. This in turn becomes his downfall.
Another strength/weakness that led to Bankotsu's death or the death of a friend, is his naive trust in others. In his prior life, it was his unquestioning trust in the daimyou that caused the Shichinin-tai to be killed by their trap. During their second life, even after Renkotsu tried once to keep shards without Bankotsu knowing, Bankotsu gives him a second chance and gives him nothing but a warning not to do it again. When he speaks with Renkotsu after Ginkotsu's death, Bankotsu surely knew that Renkotsu still had Ginkotsu's shard with him, but he never once pressured him for the shard or asked about its whereabouts. Much like with the daimyou, this trust in someone was betrayed when Renkotsu took the life of Bankotsu's best friend, Jakotsu.
Relationships:
Nakama- The Shichinin-tai
Bankotsu shares a deep bond with the six other members of the Shichinin-tai that is different than most leader-follower relationships. Thinking of the six men as his “family” of sorts, they all refer to each other as “aniki (brother)” and to him as “oo-aniki (elder/respected older brother)” This close knit group always works to cover each other in battle, and Bankotsu especially goes out of the way to care about his comrades.
Anything for a Friend- Bankotsu and the others
There are many times throughout the arc that we see Bankotsu going out of his way to do something extra for one of his men. In the flashback to their prior life, Renkotsu tells him he should be a daimyou or shogun. Bankotsu replies that such a rank is not something he's interested in, but if Renkotsu wants it- he'll help him get it. ("Well let me know if you wanna try and I'll give you a hand")
When they're talking atop the cliff, Bankotsu notices Ginkotsu (now in his newer tank-body) looking up at a butterfly fluttering by. Jumping up into the air, Bankotsu snatches up the butterfly and offers to Ginkotsu, saying, "Here ya go. Didn't you want this?"
The Ballad of the Fallen- Mourning the loss of his comrades
As noted earlier, Bankotsu goes out of his way to visit the Shichinin Grave to pay his respects to Mukotsu and Kyoukotsu. Even taking Kyoukotsu's armor and Mukotsu's poison case with him, Bankotsu sits before the grave and wonders about his fallen friends.
Later, upon hearing about the death of Ginkotsu and Suikotsu, he seems very upset as well. When speaking to Renkotsu about losing Ginkotsu, he tells him, "But, I'm glad. At least you are alive...." At the loss of Jakotsu and on having to kill Renkotsu, Bankotsu also seems very upset and remarks afterwards,"How lonely. In the end, I'm alone now... "
Trial and Error- Bankotsu & Renkotsu
Bankotsu seems to fully acknowledge that Renkotsu is the brains of the group. The older man can write and seems to be the tactical genius of them all, and Bankotsu is often trying to recognize Renkotsu's intellect. As noted above, he once offered to help Renkotsu seek out the position of daimyou or shogun if that's what his friend truly wanted.
On the loss of Ginkotsu, someone that Renkotsu was very close to, Bankotsu gives a comforting pat to Renkotsu's back and tells him, "I'll be relying on you even more from now on."
These words might seem foolish to most, being as Renkotsu has already kept some shards against Bankotsu's wishes, but Bankotsu seems more concerned with consoling Renkotsu over the loss of their friend than the matter of the shards or power.
The Best of Friends- Bankotsu & Jakotsu
Together since the beginning of the Shichinin-tai, it's really no wonder that these two boys seem to have a closer bond than the rest of the group.
They're always happy to see each other, often calling out and waving as they approach. Bankotsu seems to respect Jakotsu’s opinions on matters (such as his question about Jakotsu's opinion on Naraku) which might seem odd since Renkotsu is recognized as the "smart" one of the group.
This relationship also tends to make Bankotsu’s rivalry with InuYasha only worse, obviously somewhat irritated by Jakotsu’s infatuation with the dog-eared hanyou. In the manga for example, Bankotsu shows signs of jealousy when Jakotsu whines about having to go after Sesshoumaru and not InuYasha, telling him, “It’s an unrequited love. Get over it.” That reaction seems very similar to someone who's irritated with their best buddy for spending more time with their girlfriend instead of with them.
Jakotsu is someone who puts his trust in Bankotsu, and in return, is embraced by Bankotsu who is excited to have someone he can 'really rely on. Even if he's a bit weird.'
But weird or not, there's no question that these two are definitely the best of friends both in their prior life and in their second one.
Why Bankotsu?
I've always been the type to find myself looking beyond the outward exterior of the villains of series, but there's just something about Bankotsu that is positively endearing.
Part of it, is how human he is. His flaws are something I feel many people can relate with- blind trust in someone leading to betrayal and letting your talents go to your head. And his strengths are admirable- both in his physical prowess of being only a human boy fighting on equal terms with InuYasha and in terms of his loyalty and devotion to his comrades.
Yes, he might be a killer- but he's a far cry from heartless. He's in-touch with his emotions and he's just an all around fun guy. It's my hope that more people out there give a second thought to Bankotsu beyond that which is on the surface so they can fall in love with this wonderful character as well.
Sources:
Chris Rijk's Online Manga Translations (Quotes)
Shichinin-tai Chaos (Images)
Anime Forever (Fansubs from years ago)
Communities:
shichinintai
bankotsu_love
bankotsujakotsu
Fanfiction:
There's not much in the way of Bankotsu-centric stories, but here's a few that do feature him in a prominent role:
The Knight of Wands
Nakama
And Bankotsu Blushed
Lives Less Than Ordinary
Voices From the Past
The Case of the Missing Kotsu