Komagata Yumi was a close follower, and also lover, of Shishio Makoto and one of the more loyal members of the Juppongatana. She nearly always appeared by her beloved's side, even after his death.
Appearance[]
Yumi is a slender, yet voluptuous woman with black hair (dark red in the anime) pinned in a bun, light brown eyes, and a small beauty mark under the left side of her lower lip. She wears a red kimono (red in the anime, white in the OVA 5) which is opened intentionally at the collar, and hangs loosely over her upper arms, exposing her décolletage. Particularly well-groomed and made up, Yumi wears heavy eye shadow and bright lipstick (red in the manga, green in the anime). In the live action film she appears wearing a blouse.
Personality[]
Yumi is calm and at times lightly promiscuous. She is shown to be deeply in love with Shishio, calling him "Shishio-sama" affectionately. She seems to base all of her opinions on what Shishio's are, shown by how she talks to Kenshin and his friends. She is concerned with Shishio's well-being, seen when she is worried that he will fight for too long. She is also shown to care more about a person's character than their appearance, given her love for Shishio despite his burned and mutilated physical appearance, as well as her care for Sōjirō instead of seeing him as just a pawn. Even though she was committed to helping Shishio take over Japan, she supported Sōjirō's decision to leave the faction, believing it would be best for him even though he was the second most powerful member behind Shishio. This shows a deep side to Yumi's personality, likely stemming from people's judgement regarding her former occupation as a prostitute.
Relationships[]
- Shishio Makoto: After meeting with Shishio, she is drawn towards his philosophy and hatred of the Meiji Government and they soon become lovers. Yumi has a strong regard for Shishio and is willing to go to any length in order to help his cause, even if it means giving up her own life (which she ends up doing). She obviously cares deeply for the man he is beneath his burned and deformed body, having been stated by Shishio to have fallen in love with him for who he is rather than his looks, which he acknowledges as truly hideous and repulsive-looking. After seeing Shishio's Kaguzuchi, Yumi became aware that Shishio was the killer of her family, due to both slash and burn mark in the corpses. In return, Yumi asks that Shishio pay for Akari, Kagari, and her release.
- Seta Sōjirō: Yumi shares an interesting relationship with the young Sōjirō. Insecure regarding her inability to fight with a sword, Yumi expresses that she is jealous of the boy's usefulness to Shishio. She is often frustrated and puzzled by Sōjirō's odd behavior, chiding him when he doesn't take things seriously. Near the end of the Kyoto arc, however, it is shown that the two seem to have an understanding and express concern over one-another's well-being before parting forever.
- Honjō Kamatari: One of Yumi's rivals for Shishio's attention, Kamatari's presence seems to get under Yumi's skin.
Abilities[]
A very intelligent woman and former high-class courtesan, Yumi is quite knowledgeable in regards to international affairs and modern discourse. Though entirely clueless when it comes to swords and swordsmanship, she has demonstrated the ability to operate modern Western machines such as the telegraph and seems to be the chief monitor of Shishio's medical condition, changing his bandages regularly and also keeping track of his rising body temperature. In addition to this, she presumably has all the skills known to courtly women of the Tokugawa age.
History[]
Yumi's merchant family was killed by a group of bandits (with a young Shishio among them), she was sold to a brothel and with time, became a very prominent and popular Oiran of Yoshiwara. Before the days of the bakumatsu, Komagata Yumi enjoyed great wealth and fame among Tokugawa-era courtesans. However, after the Maria-Luz Incident when the Japanese government took the official stance that courtesans and prostitutes were considered no better than cattle, Yumi angrily left her profession and took up with Makoto Shishio.
Kyoto Arc[]
Yumi is with Shishio as they watch, as Sōjirō tries to recruit Aoshi. Later, Yumi accompanies Shishio to Shingetsu Village to enjoy the hot spring there. Yumi is with Shishio, when Sōjirō tells them that Kenshin and Saito have arrived. When Shishio meets with Kenshin and Saito, Yumi besides him and even watches as Kenshin fights against Senkaku. After Senkaku is defeated, Yumi leaves with Shishio while Sōjirō faces-off against Kenshin. As the two ride away on a horse, Yumi asks about Sōjirō which Shishio explains what Sōjirō is capable of. Yumi is with Shishio, when Sōjirō catches up to them and is shocked when Shishio orders Sōjirō to gather the Juppongatana.
Days later, Yumi and Shishio arrives at their base. Days later, Yumi tells Hōji that Shishio is not in his room. Days later, Yumi is glad a game with Sōjirō when Hōji reports to Shishio. On the day Usui arrives, Yumi and Hōji go to Shishio to report that some of their men have been killed and is shocked that Usui is in the room and that he attacks Shishio. Days later when Sōjirō arrives back, Yumi meets with him and is upset with him for not being here when Usui arrived. Suddenly Usui arrives, which Yumi quickly hides behind Sōjirō. As Usui tells Sōjirō about a meeting with Shishio, Yumi accompanies Sōjirō to the meet with the rest of the Juppongatana. Yumi then listens as Shishio makes a speech to them.
Later Yumi is by Shishio's side while Hōji reveals the play to set Kyoto on fire. Yumi then accompanies Shishio and Hōji to the ship that they will be escaping on, and is shocked about how run down it is. Shishio shows her the inside, which Yumi is surprised by this and changes her mind. When the fires haven't started and Shishio doesn't mind, which Yumi asks if Shishio is getting soft but Shishio replies that he isn't. After Kenshin, Saito, and Sano arrive and destroy the ship, Yumi leaves with Shishio on a boat back to their base.
The next day, Yumi is with Shishio when Hōji arrives to tell Shishio that Kenshin, Saito, and Sanosuke are on their way. Yumi then listens as Hōji voices his plan for Shishio's absolute victory and explains his reasoning. Yumi continues to stay with Shishio, as Shishio calls the Juppongatana and pins their failed mission on Hōji and decides to go with Hōji play for victory. After the Juppongatana leave, Yumi voices her concern about Anji, but Shishio explains that there is nothing to worry about.
As Saito, Kenshin, and Sano arrive at the base's front entrance, Yumi greets them and explains that she will guide them. Yumi then guides them and explains the rules of their duel. Yumi brings them to their first opponent, Anji, which Sano decides to fight him. Yumi then watches as Sanosuke faces off against Anji. When Kenshin gives Sano courage to face his opponent, Yumi reminds Kenshin that it's a one-on-one duel. Yumi continues to watch the duel, and is angry when Anji says that he will kill Shishio. When Anji loses and tells them that most of the Juppongatana are going to kill their friends, Yumi explains that this is Hōji's plan and that she won't guide them out of the base.
They decide to continue on, which Yumi guides them to the next room. Yumi brings them to Usui's room, which Kenshin and Sano, who is carrying Yumi, heads onwards as Saito faces off against Usui. Suddenly Kenshin stops in front of Hōji's room, which Yumi says that it's empty but Kenshin replies that Aoshi is inside. As Kenshin head inside to fight Aoshi, Yumi takes this chance to telegraph the fight to Shishio. Sano figures out what Yumi is doing and stops her, but not before she sent the information about Kenshin's ultimate technique.
After Aoshi is defeated, they head off to the next room with Yumi being carried by Shishio. When Kenshin stops and says that he heard Kaoru's voice, Yumi and Sano check to see if Kenshin is alright. They then head to Sōjirō's room, which Yumi watches as Kenshin faces off against Sōjirō. During the fight, Sōjirō goes to change his sandals, since his straps have broken, which Yumi goes over and tells Sōjirō to kill Kenshin already. Sōjirō tells Yumi that Kenshin has gotten stronger and comments about how Kenshin is wrong since he wasn't protected, which Yumi worries about what Sōjirō had said. As Sōjirō goes back to fight Kenshin, Yumi tells him to finish Kenshin off. As Yumi watches the fight, she notices that something is wrong with Sōjirō. After Sōjirō had lost, Yumi cares for the unconscious Sōjirō, as Kenshin and Sanosuke head off. When Sōjirō wakes up, Sōjirō tells Yumi to take a secret path to Shishio's room and tell Shishio the secret of Kenshin's ultimate technique. Sōjirō also has Yumi give Shishio a sword that Shishio gave him and to tell Shishio that he is leaving. Yumi then heads off and meets with Shishio before Kenshin and Sano arrives.
As Kenshin and Sano arrive, Yumi greets them and guides them to where Shishio is at. Yumi notices that Kenshin is tired and offers him that chance to leave if he doesn't interfere with Shishio's plans but Kenshin declines. Yumi brings them to where Shishio is at, which she tells Shishio to take care while he fights. Shishio says that he will be fine, which Yumi watches as Shishio faces off against Kenshin. Yumi is relieved when Shishio has defeated Kenshin, but is shocked when Saito arrives and attacks. As Shishio defeats Saito and Sano, Yumi tells Shishio to finish them off which Shishio tells her to not rush him. Yumi is shocked when Aoshi suddenly arrives. Yumi then watches as Shishio fights against Aoshi. Yumi is surprised when Kenshin, Saito, and Sano suddenly get up. As Shishio continues his fight, Yumi becomes worried since 15 minutes have passed. Yumi explains why Hōji has to stop Shishio's fight, but listens are Hōji tells her to believe in Shishio.
As Shishio is in pain from Kenshin's ultimate technique, Yumi steps in between of Kenshin and Shishio and tries to get Kenshin to spare Shishio. Suddenly Shishio stabs through Yumi to wound Kenshin, which Yumi expresses how happy she is to be of use to Shishio. Yumi then tells Shishio to win and that she will be waiting is hell for him, which Yumi then dies.
Days later, Yumi is with Shishio when Hōji arrives in hell. The three then head off to take over hell.
Development & Reception[]
Designed as a "sexy accessory" for Shishio, Watsuki did not develop her love-motivated personality until later on. Her being sent to hell upon her death was met with fan letters of both praise and criticism.
In Live-action film[]
Maryjun Takahashi has been cast as Komagata Yumi in the 2014 live-action Rurouni Kenshin films and the trailer shows Hōji and herself, holding Kaoru as their hostage.
In the beginning of the film, Yumi was present along with Hōji and Sōjirō to witness Shisho's warning to Saitō when he caused Saitō's colleagues to burn to death right in front of Saitō.
Her outfit is considerably more modest in the film, mostly because, as cosplayers found out to their dismay, her manga look is all but possible in real life.
Trivia[]
- Watsuki noted that some fans cosplaying as Yumi had difficulty keeping the top up.
Gallery[]
