Kougaiji
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Kōgaiji is a character in the manga and anime Gensōmaden Saiyūki. He is a yōkai prince who lives in Houtou Castle together with his father Gyumaō and mother Ratsetsunyo. In the anime, he's voiced by Takeshi Kusao in the original Japanese and by Vic Mignogna in the English dub of Saiyūki.
He is based on a demon character in the Chinese novel Journey to the West. His name is a Japanese translation of Hóng-hái'ér ("red child"). His Saiyūki counterpart is the son of the "ox-demon-king", Niúmówáng; his mother is based on the Japanese translation of the Hindu demon, rakshasa (the -nyo designating a "female" rakshasa, a rakshasi).
He is one of the strong-willed yōkai who has the "heart of gold", excels in martial arts, able to emit fire projectiles and knowledgeable in yōjutsu, including yōkai summoning spells such as his famous Engokuki ("flame-prison-demon").
In Saiyūki, Kōgaiji is the enemy of Genjō-sanzō and Sanzō-ikkō ("Sanzo's party") as he is forced to work for his stepmother Gyokumen-kōshū (whom he detests) to retrieve the five Heaven-and-Earth Sutras, including the maten sutra from Genjō-sanzō. This is so that he can obtained a reward from Gyokumen-kōshū who promised to revive his mother, Ratsetsunyo, who has been placed under a curse which turned her into stone in Houtou Castle.
His strong devotion to his mother and kind nature earns him loyalty from his yōkai followers and his companions who are willing to serve him in his task. These include his half-sister (by Gyokumen-kōshū) Lirin, whom he cares about very much; his personal bodyguard and swordsman, Dokugakuji, who is more like an older brother to him; and his personal alchemist Yaone, whom he saved from the clutches of the woman-eating Hyakuganmaō.
In Volume Six, Kōgaiji makes the near-fatal mistake of challenging Son Gokū to a death match for the sutra. Both sides receive heavy injuries, as Gokū removes his yōkai power limiter for the fight, releasing the unstoppable Seiten Taisei ("Equal of Heaven, Great Sage"). Dokugakuji manages to get the injured prince home, but is forced to hand him over to the care of Ni Jianyi and his scientists. Kōgaiji is not seen again until Volume Eight, when he reappears healthy but brainwashed. Ni reveals that his soul has been replaced with unbelievable strength, making him powerful enough to take on Gokū. In Volume Three of Saiyūki Reload, he finally breaks free of the mind control and with Yaone and Dokugakuji's help frees Lirin from the scientists.
| Series |
|---|
| Saiyuki · Saiyuki Gaiden · Saiyuki Reload · Saiyuki Gunlock |
| Characters |
| Sanzo Party: Genjo Sanzo/Koumyou Sanzo · Son Goku · Sha Gojyo · Cho Hakkai · Hakuryu |
| Kougaiji's Group: Kougaiji · Lirin · Dokugakuji · Yaone |
| Gyumaoh's Revival Group: Gyokumen Koushou · Dr. Ni Jianyi/Ukoku Sanzo |
| Others: War Prince Nataku · Gyumaoh · Kanan · |
