The effects of the Matoi Izuna
The Izuna (
Description[]
The Izuna is a technique that creates a vacuum between two layers of air while the user swings their sword. While using a shinai or bokken, the user is able to snap other shinai/bokken and leave a slash-like indentation on the floor at the same time. It is also speculated that the technique is powerful enough to snap even diamond if the user uses a real sword.
The Izuna has a more advanced technique, which the user is able to launch a wind-blade capable of causing immediate amputation if not dodged. When this technique is fully mastered, the user is able to send multiple flying slashes at once.
In the 2023 adaptation and original manga, predicting the usage of the Izuna also has a visual cue of the user's blade giving off a warped image in the instant the technique is being unleashed, akin to the summer shimmering caused by the kagerō (陽炎, "heat haze") phenomenon due to the sudden change in air density.
Variants[]
- Matoi Izuna (
纏 飯綱 , "Wrapping/Tying Izuna") - A regular swing within the Izuna technique. This version of the technique is normally used as a close-range attack or a grounded slam that can unleash a blast that forms narrow trenches. The 1996 version also has it as a ranged attack, but even then is still limited to the ground.- In the PSP fighting game(s), the Matoi Izuna can also leave behind a small tornado/whirlwind upon the sword contacting the ground.
- Tobi Izuna (
飛 飯綱 , "Flying Izuna") - A flying slash within the Izuna technique. The user swings their sword and launches a vacuum slash that can't be normally blocked/defended against, but a strong attack or weapon can likely cut through it with sheer power.- Raijūta has mastered this technique enough to launch multiple slashes at once, dubbed as the Tobi Izuna: Midareuchi (
飛 飯綱 ・乱 れ打 ち, "Flying Izuna: Disordered Strike") in the PSP fighting games and was also dubbed as such by Sanosuke in the manga/2023 adaptation.
- Raijūta has mastered this technique enough to launch multiple slashes at once, dubbed as the Tobi Izuna: Midareuchi (
- Nobori Izuna (
昇 り飯綱 , "Rising Izuna") - An upwards variant of the Izuna from the PSP fighting games, Rurouni Kenshin: Saisen and Rurouni Kenshin: Kansei. Raijūta swings an Izuna upwards to form a vertically slanted tornado via the usual air fault caused by the Izuna. Likely based on the Izuna used in the 1996 adaptation via episode 20 which unleashed a large tornado.
Practitioners[]
- Isurugi Raijūta - The Izuna was mastered by Raijūta, who studied it for 10 years after researching it from ancient scrolls.
Trivia[]
- The principle behind the Izuna is called "Kamaitachi" (literally "Sickle Weasel"), which is part of the Japanese folklore, and refers to an event caused by yōkai:
- The Kamaitachi is a sharp, painless and bloodless wound, that is enveloped by a whirlwind; ironically in the 2023 anime, Yutarō's arm did start to bleed unlike in the 1996 adaptation but was still claimed to not cause as much compared to a normal cut/slash.
- It is a concept highly used in anime, in which even the wind surrounding a punch or a hit can damage a person who feels it.
- Ironically in the PSP fighting games, the Tobi Izuna can be blocked normally, though it as per special moves in many fighting games, inflicts chip damage on block.
Gallery[]
