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| “ | Even the gods quake in fear before the power of my fists! | „ |
| ~ Raoh |
| “ | I do not have a single regret... for the life that I have lived! | „ |
| ~ Raoh's final words before sending his soul to Heaven. |
Raoh (in Japanese: ラオウ, Raō), also known as the King of Fists (in Japanese: 拳王, Ken'ō), is the main antagonist of the Fist of The North Star franchise.
In Japanese, he has been voiced by Rikiya Koyama in Legends of the Dark King, the late Kenji Utsumi in the 1990's movie and anime, Takashi Ukaji in most appearances, Tesshō Genda in Fist of the North Star: Legend of Heroes and J-Stars Victory Vs+, Fumihiko Tachiki in the Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage series, and Masami Iwasaki in Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise. In English, he was voiced by Wally Burr in Fist of the North Star: The Movie, John Snyder in the 1999 anime, Andrew Love in Legends of the Dark King: A Fist of the North Star Story, Dave B Mitchell in Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage, Patrick Seitz in Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, and Jason Douglas in Fist of the North Star: New Saviour Legend movie series.
Biography[]
He is the oldest adopted son of Ryuken, the elder brother of Toki and Sayaka and the younger brother of Kaioh. He was born on the island of Shura and was sent by Jukei along with Kenshiro and Toki to train under Ryuken. When they met, Ryuken originally wanted to train one of the two brothers, but Raoh demanded that he take both of them under his wing. Like Kenshiro, Raoh had a heart for Yuria. After Kenshiro became the 64th successor, Raoh decided to make his dream into an ambition. He started this by killing Ryuken. Raoh then vowed that he would master all martial arts and rule the heavens. To that end, he built an empire and gave himself the title of 'Ken-Oh'.
After the destruction of Cassandra Prison, Raoh went to Mamiya's village to challenge Rei, then Kenshiro. Ken-Oh ended his fight with Rei easily by striking his Shinketsushu pressure point, causing all of Rei's blood to hemorrhage out of his body. Raoh's second battle in Mamiya's village was against Toki until Kenshiro stood up. During the fight, Kenshiro discovered that Raoh had used the techniques of other martial artists. In the stalemate that followed, Raoh promised to see Kenshiro again. In the war with Souther, Raoh helped out Kenshiro and fought some of the emperor's lackeys. When Souther died, Raoh continued to recover.
After his recovery, Raoh fought with Ryuken's past rival Koryu and killed him. Toki then decided to keep his promise to stop Raoh personally and they fought in a field. As Toki began to die from radiation sickness, Raoh let him go out of mercy. Raoh's lieutenant, Ryuga at first saw his master as a savior, but in the battle with Kenshiro, Ryuga decided to end his own life along with Toki's.
Raoh then sought out the Last Nanto General. The elder Hokuto brother fought through the first 3 of the Goshasei (Hyui, Shuren and Juza) alongside his army. In the battle with Juza, Raoh discovered that Yuria was the Last Nanto General and had survived her apparent suicide at Southern Cross City. Kenshiro met his adoptive brother again in the Nanto General's castle and Kenshiro showed off the Musou Tensei technique. Now embedded with fear, Raoh retreated with Yuria in his hands at last. Raoh later then fought one of of the two surviving Goshasei fighters, Fudoh. While Raoh lost due to his fear, his men mercilessly killed Fudoh with ballista shots. Raoh noticed the misfiring and took his anger out on his men. Raoh went home and saw that Yuria was dying from the same radiation sickness that felled Toki, and for once, he sympathizes with her situation, sharing her sorrow of her sad fate. This would enable him to also master the Musou Tensei. Raoh then put her in a coma to slow the radiation's effect on her body. Kenshiro and Raoh fought their final battle at the Hokuto Renkitoza where they first met Yuria. After the final battle, Raoh proclaimed that he had no regrets in his life before sending his remaining life force into the sky, restoring light to the world. Raoh's lifeless body was buried alongside that of Toki's.
Later in the series, it is revealed that he made a promise of the people of the Land of Asura to liberate them from the terror of his older brother, Kaioh, after he defeated Kenshiro and Toki. His demise makes him unable to keep the promise, but Kenshiro takes his responsibility and successfully defeats Kaioh, bringing peace to the Land of Asura.
Near the very end of the manga, it is revealed that Raoh fathered a single biological son named Ryu. Kenshiro took Ryu under his wing, teaching him the techniques of Hokuto Shinken so that he may one day become the next successor of the fighting style.
1986 Movie[]
- In the 1986 movie, Raoh watches alongside Jagi as Shin defeats Kenshiro and kidnaps Yuria. After which, he orders Jagi to dispose of Kenshiro by throwing him into an abyss to perish in darkness. He also gives Jagi the title of successor, which was now worthless to him. Raoh visits Ryuken at the Hokuto dojo, confirming Kenshiro's "death" and his own goal to conquer the heavens. Ryuken is left with no choice but to seal his eldest son's power but Raoh murders his master and leaves the dojo to fulfill his ambitions.
- During the follow year, Raoh begins his path of conquest by eliminating rival warlords, such as the Fang Clan, before marching to Southern Cross to challenge Shin. Upon his arrival he captures Yuria (who was in the midst of escaping) and defeats Shin, leaving him alive long enough to warn Kenshiro.
- Raoh returns to his stronghold of Cassandra in anticipation of the final battle, using Yuria as his bait. However, Kenshiro arrives too late to save Rei, who himself challenges Raoh to save Yuria. The two Hokuto brothers engage in a bloody clash which is brought to a halt when Lin intervenes. Realizing the role Lin will play in the future, Raoh leaves the battlefield and postpones his war with Kenshiro for another day.
- Whereas in the original Japanese theatrical release and English dub, Raoh is the victor only for Kenshiro to be saved by Lin, this was changed in the Japanese home video version where the fight ends in a stalemate.
Personality[]
Ever since his childhood, Raoh was motivated by a fervent desire to grow and become the strongest, driven in large part because of the death of his parents thus motivating him to grow stronger to survive. As he trained and grew along the years, so did his goals, becoming a highly ambitious individual who would pursue greater strength and the might to conquer even the heavens themselves. Determined and unafraid he was willing to challenge anyone who would obstruct his plans, even Gods if needed. He was notably more compassionate in his younger days, climbing a cliff one-handed with Toki and demanding Ryuken to adopt the two of them. He even asked Toki to seal his fists if he ever went stray, showing strong morality.
In his adulthood, however, he's power hungry and extremely ruthless, inflicting a slow and painful death on his foes on purpose so that they would live long enough to fear him and thus cement his own status as the strongest King of Fists. For all his nearly arrogant belief on his power, he could still offer praise to fighters who could match him, and was an honorable combatant. He is disgusted by those who would dare filth a proper match, and even went as far as snapping the neck of a violator at one point. Although his ambitions run deep, there is still compassion in his heart, as he was able to mourn others including those that he killed himself.
Although normally confident of his power and willing to face any challenger that comes before him, Raoh was not entirely devoid of fear and was in fact easily destabilized in the face of a person with sorrowful eyes, because only a person who knows love can feel sorrow, which Raoh had discarded for his ambitions. Upon being struck with fear for the first time he becomes increasingly aggressive even with his own men and is tormented by the prospect that his status as the King of Fists may be in peril due to the fear he felt after facing Kenshiro who mastered Muso Tensei through sorrow. Ultimately Raoh had warmer feelings, especially for Yuria although he refused to admit them. Yuria believes that Raoh may have wanted Kenshiro to beat him all along since power and fear can conquer the chaotic world, but can never achieve true peace.
In the 1986 film Raoh is not in love with Yuria, and captures her shortly after the girl manages to escape from Shin, taking her hostage and tying her to a crucifix, promising to execute her if the owner of a flower grown in a vase (symbol of the hope of that apocalyptic world, which Raoh shuns) should not step forward and confess to having committed what the King of the Fists considers a crime. Despite this, he is not without saving qualities, given that, after defeating Kenshiro in combat, he accepts the pleas of Rin to spare his life, and walks away promising to postpone their confrontation. final at another time.
In the True Savior Legend film series and Legends of the Dark King, Raoh's characterization remains largely the same as in the original series. However, the deep respect and friendship towards the brothers Reina and Souga, his childhood friends, is added (even if this does not prevent him from executing Souga with his own hands when he suspects that the attack against him is his work) and the reciprocation of the feeling of love that Reina feels for him.
Victims[]
- Ryuken
- Rei
- Juza
- Huey of the Wind
- Shuren of the Flame
- Fudo
- Ryurou
- Gaiya
- Sakuya (indirectly)
- Koryu
- Kokuoh'son
- Souga
- Giraque
- Kiba Daioh (1986 movie)
- Shin (1986 movie)
[]
 Fighting Game Villains
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Dragon Ball: Naruto: Bleach: One Piece: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Yu-Gi-Oh!: Fist of the North Star: Death Note: Hunter x Hunter: Yu Yu Hakusho: Assassination Classroom: Rurouni Kenshin: Original characters: | ||