Takezo Kensei

Takezo Kensei
Portrayed by	David Anders
First appearance	Four Months Later
In-story stats
Known ability	Rapid cell regeneration
Formal name	Takezō Kensei / Takezō Kensai
Gender
Date of birth	1584
Home	England, Japan
Occupation	Samurai swordsman
Significant other	Yaeko

At the Museum of Natural History, Hiro begins a quest to find a sword that belonged to Takezo Kensei (Takezō Kensei), a swordsman who reportedly became a great Japanese leader when he obtained the sword. After time traveling to 1671, Hiro meets the man behind the stories he had grown up with.

About

Godsend

At the Museum of Natural History, Hiro and Ando visit a display dedicated to Kensei. Hiro tells Ando about the sword Takezo used. He says that it focused his energy and made him a hero. People everywhere feared him.

The Fix

Hiro tells Ando that the sword focused Kensei's powers.

Distractions

Hiro tells his father that he is on a quest to find Takezo Kensei's sword. Mr. Nakamura regrets telling a youthful Hiro stories about the fabled samurai.

Parasite

Hiro types Kensei's name into the computer at Linderman's archives to retrieve the sword. When the curator asks Hiro if he knows to whom the sword belonged, Hiro says it belonged to Takezo Kensei. "He was a hero."

Landslide

During the sparring between Hiro and Kaito, Hiro recounts the story of "Kensei and the Dragon".

Four Months Later

After Hiro time travels to 1671 in Otsu, Japan, an ersatz swordsman rides alone against a larger unit of Japanese soldiers before a solar eclipse occurs. Hiro stops time, believes the man is Kensei and teleports him away. The man is startled, reveals that he's not really Kensei, and runs away. The real Kensei emerges and argues with Hiro, revealing that he is from England and speaks English. Hiro tells Kensei that he is supposed to save the village of Otsu, as it is revealed that Otsu is on fire. The legendary swordsmith's daughter from Otsu takes Kensei's sword, stating that her father made the sword and blaming Kensei for allowing the village to burn.

Lizards

After resuming his position as town drunk, Kensei's armor, sword, and horse are "borrowed" by Hiro, who, after much pleading with Kensei to save Yaeko, decides to take up the task for himself. Hiro does indeed save Yaeko using his powers in the Battle of Twelve Swords, and credits the rescue to Kensei, who agrees to team up with Hiro to fulfill his future image as a hero. However, Kensei takes two arrows in the shoulder and one in the chest from the band of thugs who threatened Yaeko earlier. Chest covered in blood, he dies. However, after Hiro removes one of the arrows from his chest, Hiro is shocked to see Kensei's wound heal right before his eyes.

Kindred

After Kensei regenerates from his arrow wounds, he is shocked. He believes that Hiro has cursed him and exclaims, "Lazarus Risen!" Later, Hiro finds Kensei again, testing his powers by slicing his arm with a sword. Hiro then demonstrates his own powers by teleporting around a log. Kensei then ponders upon the possibilities of his new found powers and that it will make him "richer than the Pope". Hiro, still wanting Kensei to follow the stories that were read to him as a child, teleports them both to Whitebeard's Hidden Fortress, insisting he fights past the ninety angry ronin and claim the fire scroll. Kensei then manages to complete this task and rejoins Hiro and Yaeko with the scroll. When Hiro tells Kensei he must leave, Kensei is somewhat saddened and wishes him well. Kensei then playfully showers Yaeko with cherry blossom petals.

Graphic Novel:The Trial of the Black Bear

Kensei and Hiro (who looks like a small panda) discover the map scroll with information on the secret lair of White Beard being guarded by a small bear on a large rock. Believing the bear to be the Black Bear of Sakashita, Kensei draws his sword and lunges at the animal, only to find a much larger bear behind the rock. The larger bear chases Kensei while Hiro plucks the scroll out of the paws of the smaller bear.

Fight or Flight

Ando brings the scrolls from Hiro to Tatsuya Atsumi, and after some work, Tatsuya puts it under a microscope to show the hidden characters. On the scroll, it tells Hiro's tale of helping Kensei. Kensei and Hiro run up to Yaeko with another fragment of the tapestry to find Whitebeard's camp and help find Yaeko's father. Ando reads more on the scrolls about Kensei's journey. Yaeko insists that she follows Kensei and Hiro into battle, and the three see how massive Whitebeard's army is. The story cuts off, and Ando cannot read the rest.

The Line

At nightfall, the three sneak into Whitebeard's camp and Kensei takes care of one of the guards. They enter the smoldering tent and find Yaeko's father, distraught that he showed Whitebeard how to make guns. Kensei then hacks off Yaeko's father's ankle chains in return that he promises that he will destroy all of the guns. The four of them leave the tent and proceed away from Whitebeard's camp. On their leave, Yaeko gets shot at but Hiro stops time and moves them away so she avoids getting hurt. Kensei goes to look for them, and finds them alone, kissing.

Later on, Hiro finds Kensei and is glad to see him. Kensei replies that he saw Hiro and Yaeko kissing and that he has been cut deeper than any wound could be. Hiro tells him that he will not interrupt their friendship and promises it was the first and last time that they will ever kiss. As Kensei appears to believe Hiro and continue his adventure, he knocks Hiro unconscious as Yaeko and her father are brought before him by Whitebeard's men. One tells him that he can have whatever he wishes for capturing Hiro. Kensei glances at Yaeko and walks away.

Powers

Kensei possesses the ability of rapid cell regeneration. Like Claire, Takezo is sometimes unable to regenerate if an object is inside of his body until that object is removed. (Lizards)

Heroes 360

Yamagato Fellowship released Sword Saint, a five-part documentary about Takezo Kensei. According to the documentary, Kensei was a wild and savage man until he retrieved his sword from a field of ice. The sword disciplined Kensei. Later, he met and fell in love with a princess, who made Kensei swear to defend Japan against Whitebeard's attacks. Kensei sought out the Dragon of Kiso Mountain to learn ancient sword skills. Now a "sword saint", Kensei singlehandedly defeated Whitebeard in the Battle of 12 Swords, then set off on a series of adventures (which became known as The Trials of Takezo Kensei) in a quest to find Whitebeard's "Hidden Fortress". The first of these trials was the Trial of the Fire Scroll, in which Kensei overcame 90 cannibalistic ronin, attained Whitebeard's Fire Scroll, and was prepared to face his next to trials: climbing the frozen waterfall and finding the single crimson peony. Kensei then defeated the Black Bear, the Snake Women, and Whitebeard's entire army. Finally, Kensei faced Whitebeard himself, and took the warrior's life. Later, at the wedding of the princess and Kensei, the Dragon returned, looking to exact Kensei's beloved. Instead, Kensei surprised the Dragon by cutting out his own heart and offering it instead. Exactly what happened next remains a mystery, though legend has it that Kensei may have been restored to life by the merciful Dragon. Some say that he and the princess grew rich, while others say they ran off with the Dragon.

Yamagato Fellowship also has a page about Takezo Kensei that reads:

• A wild savage turned master swordsman whose heroics helped unify Japan.
• Takezo found a sword frozen in the snow that helped him focus all his strength and courage. Some say this sword, and Takezo’s power, were a Godsend.
• With war threatening to fracture Japan, he went to the Dragon of Kiso Mountain and asked him to teach him the secrets of the sword. The Dragon agreed to help in exchange for all of his love. Takezo loved a princess with all his heart but knew Japan would fall if he did not triumph, so he agreed. The Dragon taught him and he became Kensei (a sword saint).
• With his newfound knowledge, Kensei fought and won a great battle – thus saving his people. After the battle, the Dragon came to Kensei’s palace to collect on their deal. The Dragon demanded the life of the princess. Kensei refused and cut out his own heart, handed it to the dragon and said, "My love is in here. Take it." And then he died. When the Dragon saw what Kensei was willing to sacrifice for his people (and his love) he was so moved that he replaced Kensei’s heart and breathed fire-life back into the swordsman.
• The Takezo dynasty went on to rule Japan with valor and love for a hundred years.

Memorable Quotes

"Takezo Kensei. My father used to tell me stories about him before bed. He was a wild savage with great power. All of Japan feared him. Until one day he found a sacred sword, frozen in the snow. From the moment Kensei held it, it focused all his strength. He said the sword let him control his power. And so he became a great leader. A hero."

- Hiro Nakamura (to Ando) (Godsend)

"My love is in here. Take it."

- Takezo Kensei (to the Dragon of Kiso Mountain) (yamagatofellowship.org)

"Being a hero never filled anyone's sack with salt and saffron. It's a waste of time."

- Takezo Kensei (to Hiro) ("Four Months Later")

"I have to pee."

- Takezo Kensei (to Hiro) ("Four Months Later")

"I'll be richer than the Pope!"

- Takezo Kensei (to Hiro) ("Kindred")

"Lazarus risen!"

- Takezo Kensei (to Hiro) ("Kindred")

"First you show me that I can be harmed by no weapon, and then you cut me deeper than any blade possibly could."

- Takezo Kensei (to Hiro) ("The Line")

Notes

• The Museum of Natural History lists the man's name as Kensei. When Hiro speaks about him, his name is spelled Kensai. Both are real, but rare, Japanese names.
• According to Michael Green, the fictional Takezo Kensei is based on various legends, including the real figure of Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)[1]. He is believed to have been one of the most skilled swordsmen in history and is considered as the greatest samurai. Prior to adulthood was known simply as Shinmen Takezo. After his death, various legends began to appear. Most talk about his feats in kenjutsu and other martial arts, some describing how he was able to hurl men over 5 feet backwards, other about his speed and technique. Other legends tell of how Musashi killed giant lizards in Echizen, as well as Nues in various other prefectures. He gained the stature of Kensei, a "sword saint" for his mastery in swordsmanship. Some believed he could run at super-human speed, walk on air, water and even fly through the clouds. Musashi wrote Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings) in 1645. It is a treatise on sword fighting, martial arts, and military strategy.
• Future Hiro sports a similar look to depictions of Takezo Kensei — both wear a "soul patch" and a ponytail.
• With Kensei manifesting rapid cellular regeneration in 1671, he becomes the earliest known evolved human. (Lizards)

Gallery

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  Takezo Kensei is depicted on a tapestry at the Museum of Natural History.
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  Hiro and Ando stumble upon Takezo Kensei's armor at the museum.
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  Takezo Kensei's sword has the Symbol on its hilt.
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  Hiro retards time at the Museum of Natural History to steal Takezo Kensei's sword.
• 
  Miyamoto Musashi, a fierce sword fighter, is possibly the basis for Takezo Kensei.
• 
  A tapestry...
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  ...shows a close-up of Takezo Kensei's face...
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  ...and Takezo in the middle of battle...
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  ...defending a princess whom he loved.
• 
  Panels from the tapestry hang in Linderman's gallery.
• 
  Hiro recalls that his father used to read the story...
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  ...of Kensei, the brave swordsman...
• 
  ...who faced a dragon...
• 
  ...and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Sword Saint

The documentary Sword Saint documents the Trials of Takezo Kensei, including:

• 
  The Battle of 12 Swords.
• 
  The Trial of the Fire Scroll.
• 
  Defeating the ninety angry ronin.
• 
  Finding the single crimson peony.
• 
  Climbing the frozen waterfall.
• 
  Vanquishing the Black Bear.
• 
  Fighting the Snake Women.
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  Finding Whitebeard's Hidden Fortress.
• 
  Facing the Dragon...
• 
  ...and cutting out his own heart.

See Also

• For other uses of Kensei, see Kensei (disambig).
• For images of Takezo Kensei, see Images of Takezo Kensei.

External Links

• Miyamoto Musashi at Wikipedia
• Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings) by Miyamoto Musashi - as translated by Victor Harris (Full text online)
• Miyamoto Musashi at Samurai Archives - a brief biography, with references.

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Takezo Kensei for fan-created theories and other speculation.

Spoilers

For spoilers about Takezo Kensei, please refer to the following link.