Takeda Kanryū (武田 観柳) is a former opium dealer and one of the main antagonists of the Tokyo arc. He hired Shinomori Aoshi and his four Tokyo Oniwabanshū subordinates, as well as numerous lesser warriors, as personal bodyguards and hitmen.
Appearance[]
Kanryū has brown center-parted hair and light brown eyes. He wears glasses and a light green suit with white gloves, a white undershirt, and a purple tie. He keeps his eyes closed with a polite smile while keeping his composure, though when he shows his true personality his eyes open and he develops a wide grin.
Personality[]
Kanryū seems to care only for money, as seen when he used Takani Megumi for making opium and didn't care about killing the very onmitsu that he hired as long as he kept his fortune. Kanryū tries to address others with a smile and composed, peaceful look, when in reality he looks down on everyone and has a quick temper that becomes apparent easily whenever he is insulted.
He is narcissistic but also cowardly when he realizes his enemy is more powerful than him, trying to buy them off with money or run away. He has no regard for human life, assassinating some of his own men simply because they failed and eating as he heard them scream, and doesn't understand the concept of honor, as he couldn't grasp why Kenshin went to great lengths to save Megumi since there was no monetary benefit for him. He has enough intelligence and cunning to run a successful opium business, and nearly brought down even Kenshin and Aoshi, failing only because of the sacrifice of the four Oniwabanshū.
Kanryū is severely arrogant, thinking his wealth can protect him and as a result hated Aoshi for talking back to him and saying what a coward he was while not listening to his orders. He truly is a spiteful disgusting creature who holds grudges against those he feels has wronged him, as he kills the Oniwabanshū simply because they talked back to him and is sadistic, having wanted to kill them off slowly, which proved to be his downfall as it allowed Beshimi the time to jam his gun with his dart long enough for Kenshin and Aoshi to stop him. He even tried to drag Megumi down with him as his accomplice, but failed when Kenshin silenced him.
Relationships[]
- Takani Megumi : Kanryū forced Megumi to fabricate opium (a new variant called Spider's Web) to increase his fortune and power, regardless of Megumi's suffering and the horrible cost for society that such drug carried.
- Shinomori Aoshi: Kanryū had Aoshi as his personal bodyguard and protector, although he constantly despised Aoshi using his money as a way to control him even though Aoshi also despised Kanryū as well. Ultimately Kanryū attempted to kill Aoshi with the Gatling Gun.
- Tokyo Oniwabanshu: Beshimi, Shikijō, Hyottoko and Han'nya were also Kanryū's employees (under the command of Aoshi). Kanryū killed them with the Gatling gun.
History[]
Tokyo Arc[]
A cunning money-minded industrialist, Takeda Kanryū starts an opium dealing business in Tokyo and forces Takani Megumi to make the drug after the murdering his previous opium maker for refusing to continue making this drug of death. The opium is a stronger, faster-working recipe called "Spider's Web." The purpose of his opium business is to generate enough profits to bring in modern Westernized weapons such as the Gatling gun and become an arms dealer, becoming the most powerful man in the world in the process. He hires his own private army in Tokyo, as well as the infamous Oniwabanshū who left Kyōto in search of never-ceasing combat. He thinks he has the Oniwabanshū under his thumb but when Himura Kenshin shows up at his mansion to save Megumi, he finds that he is mistaken. Instead, both Aoshi and his four personal men regard him as trash who is merely scum who attracts enemies, enemies they can then vanquish to further their reputation.
He resorts to using his Gatling gun to kill all his enemies in the mansion. He manages to kill the four Oniwabanshū as they protect their leader Shinomori Aoshi with a suicide charge. In the manga Kanryū uses all of his bullets killing the four members, and Kenshin defeats him in a furious rage. In the anime, the feeding ramp of his gun is jammed with a dart thrown by Beshimi, after which Kenshin renders him unconscious to be arrested by the police. As Kanryū is arrested, he tries to get the police to arrest Megumi, but Kenshin puts a white lie, telling the police that Kanryu had forced Megumi, The police leave her alone (though this deception was not unnoticed by Okubo and his spies), as Kanryū is taken away. Kanryū was sentenced to the Kabato Prison in Hokkaido.
Hokkaido Arc[]
Five years later, Kanryū manages to escape with other prisons when the Kenkaku Heiki attacked the prison. While running alone side of a river, the group comes in contract with Shimonji Rurio's squad. As the squad hands out swords, Kanryū declines a hand out and decides to pay for it with the money he gathered while on toilet duty. Shimonji decides to give Kanryū a hundred sword and tells him to sell them all. Kanryū then started to sell the sword he bought from the Kenkaku Heiki in Otaru with the other prisoners, under the name Gatou Ringo.
When they started to have trouble selling all the swords, Kanryū decides to hear Alan out when he wanted to talk about money. Kanryū hides in a large vase when Alan and the other came to talk. Kanryu listens in on Alan's conversation with the head clerk. When Alan says that they should open a Kamiya Dōjō to teach swordsmanship, Kanryū says that he agrees with that he says that they don't have anyone to teach swordsmanship. Alan and the other says that they know someone, which Kanryū agrees to meet with them.
Later that night, Kanryū meets with Alan and the others but is surprised when the teacher Alan was talking about is Himura Kenshin. Kenshin then forces Kanryū to explain how he was imprisoned at Kabato Prison, along with how he escaped and met the Kenkaku Heiki. After they are finished with their conversation, Kenshin asks where the Kenkaku Heiki are but says that he doesn't know since the Kenkaku Heiki meet with them about once or twice a week. Kenshin decides to set up an ambush and starts to explain their plan. As Alan brings up a reward for their efforts, Kanryū agrees with Alan's demand. Kenshin asks if Alan to be like Kanryū, which Alan replies that he doesn't but still wants a reward.
The next day, Kanryū waits for Kenkaku Heiki with Alan while Kenshin and Sano wait outside the build for the Kenkaku Heiki. While waiting, Kanryū asks Alan to let him be his teacher and explains how they are similar. Kanryū then explains how money is the most fair and equal thing is all of the world and explains why he thinks that. When Ashitaro and Asahi come back from shopping and talk about what they happen in town, which Kenshin confronts Kanryū about the Gatou Gun. Alan explains how he feel that Kanryū is not selling the Gatou Guns, which Kanryū says that he must he the work of the Kenkaku Heiki, who must have stolen the Gatou crest from him. Suddenly Ono breaks into the room and attacks Kanryū but Kenshin and Sano move Kanryū out of the way. As Sano decides to face Ono, Kanryū escapes with Kenshin, Ashitaro, and Alan.
As Kenshin reaches the Shuei Syndicate, and starts to question them after defeating everyone, Kanryū shows up and comments about how Kenshin has to use his head more since all he does is charge right in. Kenshin asks why Kanryū is here, which Kanryū replies that he is angry at the Kenkaku Heiki for stealing the Gatou brand. Kanryū then tells Alan, while calling Alan his disciple, to use his intellect and theory to find out where the Kenkaku Heiki is located. When Alan manages to figures out the general location where the Kenkaku Heiki's base might be, Kanryū congratulates Alan on his good work. The four then start to head towards the river, but Kenshin decides to split from the group to help with the people in trouble while the others continue on.
Kanryū, Alan, and Ashitaro manage to find the Kenkaku Heiki's base and starts to for a plan. They decide to have Ashitaro cause a distraction, while Kanryū and Alan sneak into the base. Kanryū and Alan manage to find some rifles and confront Honda. Kanryū starts to make demands, but Honda declines and uses a piece of paper from his book to cut Kanryū. Honda then attacks with more paper, which prompts Kanryū and Alan to quickly take cover. Once Honda runs out of paper, Kanryū takes a shot at Honda, who retaliates by using multiple sheets of paper to act as a barrier to repel the bullets. Alan examines the paper and reveals that the paper is made from Aluminum. Honda applauds Alan's deduction and explains that he has more books of paper to use, but says that he will let them live if Kanryū begs for forgiveness and hands over all the money he had accrued. Alan says that they are not going to do that and tells Kanryū to run. As Honda launches more bladed paper at the duo, Kanryu and Alan use boards to block the paper and manages to make it to the supply tent.
As Alan spreads gunpowder around to stop Honda from launching his paper, but it doesn't work and Alan is wounded. Just as Kenshin and Ashitaro arrive, Kanryū gets on his knees and begs for forgiveness. Kenshin starts to insult Kanryū, but Kanryū tells Kenshin to shut up and explains to the swordsman why he is such a money grubber. Alan realizes that Kanryū's hands are not touching the ground and is only pretending to surrender to buy time. Alan then tells Ashitaro to draw his sword, which Kanryū is shocked by this. Kanryū and Alan manage to avoid the explosion by hiding within the tent. The two notice that Honda manages to survive the explosion, which the two start to look for something to face Honda with. The two manage to find a Gatling Gun and confront Honda with it, when Kenshin prepares to face Honda. Honda comments about how the Gatling Gun is useless and fires several pages at the two, which Kanryū counters by firing the Gatling Gun and deflects each sheet of paper. Honda becomes furious with this and continues his assault, but Kanryū counters by unloading more bullets in retaliation. As Kanryū runs out of bullets, Honda comments about how Kanryu made the same mistake as 5 years ago, but Kanryū has Alan reload the gun. The two then continue to clash, in which Kanryū manages to wound Honda but doesn't kill him since he needs Honda to write an official confession that the Kenkaku Heiki has borrowed the name of Gatou.
As Alan comments about how amazing a Gatling Gun is, Kanryū replies that it is exhilarating but also says that the Gatling Gun is illegal to use. Kanryū then thinks about how he was so eager to earn money fast that he wound up encountering a Gatling Gun. Kanryū thinks about how he was glad to have met the Gatling Gun, but they can no longer be together and bids the Gatling Gun farewell while bowing to it. Kanryū then covers the Gatling gun in a sheet and tells Alan that they should continue their conversation from the warehouse. Kanryū says that Alan should join him, which Alan asks about Ashitaro and Asahi. Kanryū says that he doesn't need fools, which Alan decides to pass on Kanryū offer and explains his reason. Kanryū says that Alan has made the wrong choice, and tosses Alan a coin while explaining how that was the first coin that he got at the bottom of the guard's toilet at the Kabata Prison. Kanryū tells Alan to come visit the great merchant, Ringu Gato, after they had fallen so low that they are left to scavenge for leftovers and he will bless them with an exquisite feast spiced with regret. As Ashitaro shows up and chases Alan away, Kanryū says good-bye to his disciple.
As Kenshin shows up and prepares to draw his sword, Kanryū raises his hands and says that he gives up. Since it seems that Kanryū plans to leave the Gatling gun behind, Kenshin tells Kanryū that his status will remain as emergency evacuation caused by destruction. Kenshin also tells Kanryū that he should leave before he changes his mind, which enrages Kanryū and exclaims that Kenshin is repeating the same actions as he did five years ago with Megumi Takani. Kanryū states his disgust at his fate being in hands of the "great Ishin Patriot" and asks how righteous can Kenshin be. Kenshin explains how he can't wield a sword to judge but can wield a sword to protect, and reveals that while he doesn't know what it's like to eat out of a pot of clay, he does know what it's like to eat out of a pot of weeds. Kenshin then tells Kanryū that soon Aoshi will be coming to Hokkaido, which shocks and terrifies him. Kanryū nervously asks why Aoshi is coming to Hokkaido, to which Kenshin states that he invited Aoshi to help with the current incident with Kenkaku Heiki. As Kenshin explains how he will be would be powerless to protect Kanryū if he encounters Aoshi, but notices that Kanryū has already left. Kanryū is seen running away, when he accidently kicks up a barrel of gun powder and Ashitaro ignites it to create another explosion.
Days later, Kanryū is still running away and comments about how he has to get away since Aoshi is coming. Kanryū says that the great merchant Ringu Gatou will rise again and this time be won't go anything illegal but that he will just exploit a gap in the law. Kanryū then falls and suddenly realizes something. Kanryū gets up and says that he will be a great businessman with political ties instead of just being a great merchant. Kanryū then says that he will change the law so they owning a gatling gun is legal. Kanryū then continues to run away and thinks about how he and his beloved gatling gun will be back.
Development and Reception[]
To be added
In Live Action Film[]
Kanryū was played by Teruyuki Kagawa, but he had Gein and Inui Banjin as his bodyguards, rather than the Oniwabanshū. Originally the two characters were Enishi's comrades who appeared much, much later. In the film, he is shown to be Saitō Hajime's enemy. When Kenshin and Sano roll over his body guards, he starts firing at them with his gatling gun. Saitō then comes in and uses his Gatotsu to perform an aerial attack, dodging the bullets and capturing Kanryū. At the end of the film, he's seen laughing while being taken to prison, trying in vain, to tell the escorting police officers to join him in the opium business.
Trivia[]
- Although he was an opium dealer, Kanryū's true desire was to be an arms dealer.
- Kanryūis one of the only enemies of Kenshin's whom he truly detests without even the slightest bit of respect, the only others being the Hiruma brothers (Gohei and Kihei), Isurugi Raijūta and Otowa Hyōko. This is most likely because of Kanryū's cowardice, narcissism and complete disregard for human-life, as well as him having the nerve to ask Kenshin for mercy, after coercing Megumi into manufacturing opium for him and murdering 4 of the Oniwabanshū in cold blood. In fact, Yahiko considers him lucky that Kenshin had now swore off killing people, otherwise he apparently would have killed Kanryū on the spot.
Gallery[]
