Shichika Yasuri

Overview

Summary

Gallery

"But by that point, you will already have been torn to pieces."

— Shichika Yasuri

Shichika Yasuri
Kanji Name	鑢 七花
Kana Name	やすり しちか
Romaji Name	Yasuri Shichika
Character Information
Alias	Swordless Swordsman Kyotouryuu Kyotou Yasuri
Age	24
Gender	Male
Personal Status
Classification	Human
Relatives	Nanami Yasuri (Older Sister) Mutsue Yasuri (Father) Migiri Yasuri (Mother) Kazune Yasuri (Ancestor)
Professional Status
Occupation	Swordsman
Media
Work of Origin	Katanagatari Series
Novel Debut	Katanagatari Volume 1
Anime Debut	Katanagatari Episode 1
Voice Actor	Yoshimasa Hosoya

Shichika Yasuri (鑢(やすり) 七花(しちか), Yasuri Shichika), also known as Imaginary Sword: Rasp (虚刀「鑢」(キョトウ・ヤスリ), Kyotō Yasuri), is the protagonist of the Katanagatari Series. He is a the seventh head of the Kyotouryuu (虚刀流(きょとうりゅう), Kyotōryū, lit. "Imaginary Sword Technique"), a school of swordless swordsmen, and employed by Togame in order to find all 12 of Kiki Shikizaki's Deviant Blades.

Personality

Shichika is a straight-forward and casual person, often playing the straight-man to Togame's antics. Since he was raised on his island without anyone other than his family, he knows basically nothing about the outside world, not only being unaware of any social norms, but having a hard time even telling people apart. Aside from this, Shichika also shows a strong lack of empathy in the beginning of the series, being ready to kill all of his opponents even when others choices are available. However, as he spends more time on the outside, he learns to put himself in the place of others, showing growth when he finds a way to spare Konayuki Itezora, even when Togame clearly ordered him to kill her. This, however, is considered by others as a weakness, telling him that "his blade was dulled".

Ever since he learned of her goal from Koumori Maniwa, he said he is in love with Togame, and started to follow her, swearing loyalty to her. Even though he proclaims that he loves her, he doesn't show a lot of physical attraction to her. Even so, he follows her orders exactly and would even give his life for her without hesitation. After Togame's suggestion, Shichika started often using the catchphrase "however, by that point, you will already have been torn to pieces", which became iconic for the character.

After Togame's death, Shichika became cold and brooding, mercilessly slaughtering all who opposed him. However, some time after killing the Shogun, he seemingly regained his cheerful personality, due to Princess Hitei.

Appearance

Shichika is a very tall man with very long black hair with an ahoge, tied in a ponytail, and black eyes. He wears a pair of red hakama pants, and is most often topless, as he considers wearing full clothing bad for his movement when fighting.

Background

Shichika was born to the sixth generation head of the Kyotouryuu, a hero who defeated the rebellion, by killing Takahito Hida, that was exiled to an island, along with his family, after being suspected of murdering his wife Migiri. Shichika spent most of his childhood learning the art of Kyotouryuu from his father, who trained his child every day, hoping to make him the next head of the martial arts school. After finding out that Nanami was secretly watching the two train, Mutsue attempted to kill her, as he feared her monstrous power. Shichika, however, killed his own father, in order to protect his older sister.

Later, when spending their time on the island as usual, Nanami and Shichika were visited by a woman working for the Shogunate, a self-proclaimed schemer by the name Togame, who invites Shichika to join her on her search for the Deviant Blades, swords forged by the legendary blacksmith Kiki Shikizaki. Shichika is initially uninterested, but after being attacked by Koumori Maniwa, a member of the Maniwa Ninja Corps., and learning of Togame's history, Shichika changes his mind and joins her, setting forward the events of the series.

Abilities and Equipment

Kyotouryuu (虚刀流(きょとうりゅう), Kyotōryū, lit. "Imaginary Sword Technique"): As a practitioner of the legendary Kyotouryuu fencing school, he does not use a literal sword when fighting. Instead of a sword, he uses his hands and legs as weapons; the Yasuri family has historically been unable to handle real swords.

Stances and Fatal Orchids

• Fatal Orchid One: Kyouka Suigetsu (鏡花水月(きょうかすいげつ), Kyōka Suigetsu, lit. "Flowers Reflected on a Mirror and the Moon Reflected on the Water's Surface")
  • Form One: Suzuran (鈴蘭(すずらん), Suzuran, lit. "Lily of the Valley")
• Fatal Orchid Two: Kachou Fuugetsu (花鳥風月(かちょうふうげつ), Kachō Fūgetsu, lit. "Beauties of Nature")
  • Form Two: Suisen (水仙(すいせん), Suisen, lit. "Daffodil")
• Fatal Orchid Three: Hyakka Ryouran (百花繚乱(ひゃっかりょうらん), Hyakka Ryōran, lit. "Many Flowers Blooming in Profusion")
  • Form Three: Tsutsuji (躑躅(つつじ), Tsutsuji, lit. "Azalea")
• Fatal Orchid Four: Ryuuryoku Kakou (柳緑花紅(りゅうりょくかこう), Ryūryoku Kakō, lit. "Red Blossoms and Green Willows")
  • Form Four: Asagao (朝顔(あさがお), Asagao, lit. "Morning Glory")
• Fatal Orchid Five: Hika Rakuyo (飛花落葉(ひからくよう), Hika Rakuyo, lit. "Blossoms Fall and Leaves Scatter")
  • Form Five: Yorugao (夜顔(よるがお), Yorugao, lit. "Moonflower")
• Fatal Orchid Six: Rakka Rouzeki (落花狼藉(らっかろうぜき), Rakka Rōzeki, lit. "Running Amok")
  • Form Six: Kakitsubata (杜若(かきつばた), Kakitsubata, lit. "Rabbitear Iris")
• Fatal Orchid Seven: Shichika Hachiretsu (七花八裂(しちかはちれつ), Shichika Hachiretsu, lit. "Being Torn to Pieces​")

Other Moves

• Kiku (菊(きく), Kiku, lit. "Chrysanthemum")
• Botan (牡丹(ぼたん), Botan, lit. "Tree Peony")
• Yuri (百合(ゆり), Yuri, lit. "Lily")
• Oniyuri (鬼百合(おにゆり), Oniyuri, lit. "Tiger Lily")
• Sakura (桜(さくら), Sakura, lit. "Cherry Blossom")
• Bara (薔薇(ばら), Bara, lit. "Rose")
• Sumire (菫(すみれ), Sumire, lit. "Violet")
• Ume (梅(うめ), Ume, lit. "Plum")
• Sagigusa (鷺草(さぎぐさ), Sagigusa, lit. "Fringed Orchid")
• Zakuro (石榴(ざくろ), Zakuro, lit. "Pomegranate")
• Ayame (菖蒲(あやめ), Ayame, lit. "Calamus")
• Mokuren (木蓮(もくれん), Mokuren, lit. "Lily Magnolia")
• Outou (桜桃(おうとう), Ōtō, lit. "Cherry Fruit")
• Noichigo (野苺(のいちご), Noichigo, lit. "Wild Strawberry")
• Kikyou (桔梗(ききょう), Kikyō, lit. "Chinese Bellflower")
• Hinageshi (雛罌粟(ひなげし), Hinageshi, lit. "Red Poppy")
• Jinchouge (沈丁花(じんちょうげ), Jinchōge, lit. "Winter Daphne")
• Ominaeshi (女郎花(おみなえし), Ominaeshi, lit. "Yellow Patrinia​")
• Ichou (銀杏(いちょう), Ichō, lit. "Ginkgo Biloba")
• Sazanka (山茶花(さざんか), Sazanka, lit. "Zasanqua")
• Rengezou (蓮華草(れんげそう), Rengezō, lit. "Chinese Milk Vetch")
• Tanpopo (蒲公英(たんぽぽ), Tanpopo, lit. "Dandelion")

Quotes

• (Shichika's old catchphrase) "What a hassle."
• (Shichika's catchphrase) "But by that point, you will already have been torn to pieces."

Appearances

• Katanagatari Light Novel Series
• Katanagatari Anime Series
• Seishun Kijinden! Nishio Gakuen Manga Series

Trivia

• Shichika Yasuri literally translates to "Seven Flower Rasp". His father's name, Mutsue, partially translates to "branch", symbolically making him the product of the tree that is Kyotouryuu. The "seven" part of his name is also in reference to him being the seventh head of Kyoutouryuu, this character also being contained in his sister's name.
• Shichika's first name is made up of the first two kanji in the Japanese word for "being torn to pieces" (七花八裂(しちかはちれつ), Shichika Hachiretsu), which led to his future catchphrase.
• Kyotouryuu can be translated as "no sword technique".