Kenshiro
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Kenshirō (ケンシロウ?), or just Ken—as he is often called—is the central character of the Fist of the North Star manga, anime, and other related works. He is mostly based on Bruce Lee and the character Mad Max, borrowing the former's style and looks while using the clothes and setting of the latter.
A strong and mostly stoic character, Kenshirō is compelled to punish evil-doers and can perform feats not possible for most people. His mastery of the ancient martial art Hokuto Shinken (北斗神拳?) allows him to kill or cripple with a mere touch. The results tend to be very messy - as this usually causes parts of the victim to explode - but the art also includes several other means of killing. He can also use this art to heal, or to alter people's behaviour. Later in the series Kenshirō learns parts of other martial arts.
When angry his spiritual powers reach their peak, normally culminating in the dramatic destruction of his shirt and jacket (which—despite the obvious lack of a wardrobe or clothing store—are always replaced in the next episode or story arc) to expose his muscular torso.
His catchphrase is Omae wa mō shindeiru (おまえはもう死んでいる), meaning "You are already dead", which he usually says before a villain's head is about to explode.
Due to the symbolic scar in the pattern of the Big Dipper given to him by Shin (シン?), Kenshirō is frequently referred to as "the man with seven scars" by those who do not know his name.
[edit] Portrayals
He was voiced by seiyu Akira Kamiya in the original 1980s anime series, as well as in the 1986's theatrical film version based in the series. Ryō Horikawa also provided the character's voice in flashback scenes depicting Kenshiro as a young boy. Kamiya would reprise the role in later video game adaptations and even played Kenshiro's namesake in a promotional Fist of the Blue Sky drama CD given away by Comic Bunch in 2001. However, Kamiya no longer plays Kenshiro, as the role has since been given to numerous other actors. Kenshiro was played by Takehito Koyasu in the OVA New Fist of the North Star and by Kunihiro Kawamoto in the 2005's arcade fighting game released by Sega. Hiroshi Abe is the current voice of Kenshiro in the Shin Kyuseishu Densetsu (True Saviour Legend) film/OVA series. Eiji Hanawa plays the character as a young boy in Raoh Den.
English dub actors that have played Kenshiro includes John Vickery (Streamline Pictures), Lex Lang (Manga Entertainment) and Robert Kraft (A.D. Vision). Gary Daniels played Kenshiro in the ill-received 1995's live action film adaptation.
[edit] History
Kenshiro was born somewhere in the year 1970-1979, somewhere in Japan where he was adopted by the then current Hokuto Shinken master Ramon Kasumi (霞羅門 Kasumi Ramon?) (aka Ryūken (リュウケン?)). He noticed that Kenshirō had a birthmark in the shape of the Big Dipper and thus named him in honor of his older brother Kenshiro Kasumi (霞拳志郎 Kasumi Kenshirō?) who had a similar birthmark. Kenshirō was later put in training at an early age to become a master himself. (This origin story is directly from Fist of the Blue Sky and directly contradicts Fist of the North Star, which shows Kenshirō being born on Shura Island and sent to Ryūken by Jūkei along with Toki and Raoh. This is likely a retcon on Tetsuo Hara's part)
Only one could be allowed to be the new Hokuto Shinken master and Kenshirō trained alongside his three adopted brothers Raoh, Toki, and Jagi for this role. This would set the stage for intense rivalry which only got worse after Kenshirō was eventually chosen by Ryūken.
This rivalry was put on hold after a nuclear disaster devastated most of the world, turning it into a lawless wasteland. The brothers split up and Kenshirō tried to start a new life with his girlfriend Yuria (ユリア?). Sadly, their happiness was short-lived as Kenshirō's old friend Shin confronted them, almost killing him while giving him the seven scars which would become his trademark.
Shown in flashbacks to be a strong yet somewhat more pleasant person, this event of betrayal and loss—culminating in the abduction of his girlfriend—arguably created the brooding, stone-faced character who permeates the story afterwards.
Wandering the wasteland, Kenshirō eventually came to a village where he met the young, innocent Lyn (リン?), and the young, not-so-innocent Bat (バット?). Together, they formed a team which traveled the land, meeting many people including Shin, Kenshirō's brothers, Toki, Jagi and Raoh, and a host of other thugs and martial artists.
