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Methos vs. Aoshi??

Poetry in Blue home

Oni. . . who???

They move in secret. They work in shadow. Nothing can be kept from them. Anonymity is their friend. And they love to wear black.

And no, it's not what you think.

They are the Oniwabanshu, also referred to as the Oni gang in the syndicated series Samurai X. Like most probably majority of the viewers on its syndicated run, I thought that they had a rather scary name (since Oni='demon'). But in the original series (Rurouni Kenshin), they had a more or less 'tamer' name, which literally meant 'Garden Guards.,' (the word is a conjunction of words 'O'=some sort of honorific + 'niwa'=garden + 'ban'=guard or watch + 'shu'=plural term).

They were called that because they literally stood guard in the palace gardens of Edo castle during the Tokugawa regime. They were the emperor's personal guards, and personal spies as well.

Their leader is called an okashira, which meant honorable head. In the start of the RK series, we are introduced to Shinomori Aoshi as the okashira of the remaining Tokyo Oniwabanshu. Later on, during the Kyoto arc, his former ward, Makimachi Misao, had taken over to continue the struggle to fight against Shishio Makoto.


Will the real okashira please stand up???


Which brings us to this question. Followers of the anime and manga alike might have debated it in their heads as to who got the title. After all, it wasn't really made clear as to who's the boss right now. So,. is it Misao, or is it still Aoshi?

It's pretty obvious in the anime series that Misao is the okashira (and has been adamant in pointing that out ^^;). Aoshi never took back the role, because he'd been loping around the temple since, and, on episode 89, Misao insisted that she be called by that honorific.

In the manga, though, it's a different story, so to speak...

(WARNING!! Some manga spoilers ahead! If you don't want to know, cover your eyes!)

I've been skimming through the various translations online, and have been noticing the slight hints on this point.

Consider Aoshi's battle with the puppetmaster, Gein. As far as Gein knows, Aoshi is the okashira of the Oniwabanshu, and he didn't deny it ('This is my last duty as okashira of the Oniwabanshu...'). But it could also mean that he didn't admit it, either. It made me think that the rest of the world still think he is still the leader, that the rest didn't want him submitted to the disgrace of the truth behind his upheaval.

But during the Jinchuu arc, he carried himself accordingly as a leader normally would. He recognizes authority, and I'm sure he wouldn't undermine Misao's, if she is okashira. He still does recognizes Okina's merit as advisor, and he did follow his order/request when he asked him to go with Misao and help the Kenshin-gumi.

Here's my little two cents in. Aoshi wouldn't think of taking back the title after having violated the sanctity of that title. Even after all that he's done, he is still an honorable man, and wouldn't deem himself deserving of being restored as leader. But, at the same time, he would be disgraced if he was discarded without considering his former stature. The others know that. Besides, Aoshi still has his pride. It could be possible that he's acting as adviser to the current okashira (Misao) who, one has to admit, is still lacking in training for the post.


So what does mina-san think? Feel free to email me your opinion on it. Make yourselves heard and see your thoughts posted! Of course I have the prerogative to choose what's to go here, so please take it easy on the words, ne?