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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 Fist Of The North Star, a 1986 animated film loosely based on the homonymous manga and anime and set in a different continuity where events take place in different ways and where the roles and characterizations of the characters are sometimes different (as well as its anime comic adaptation). It is based on the character of the same name from the main series. Like the main version, he is Kenshiro's older half-brother and wants to conquer the world by proclaiming himself King of Fists and establishing a monarchy based on violence and terror but, unlike the original version of the character, he has a different and much more sinister and negative characterization.
History[]
Raoh appears in the film witnessing, together with his half-brother Jagi, the clash between their younger brother Kenshiro - appointed successor of the Hokuto Shinken by their adoptive father and sifu Ryuken - and Shin, master of the martial art of Nanto Nanto Koshū Ken and friend of long date of Kenshiro who, in love with Yuria, Kenshiro's girlfriend, out of jealousy defeats Kenshiro by scarring his chest with the famous scars in the shape of the Ursa Major constellation and kidnapping Yuria. At Jagi's protests about Kenshiro's unsuitability for the role of successor, Raoh allows him to give the final blow to the lifeless Kenshiro by throwing him into a ravine and claim the role of successor to the Hokuto Shinken - which for Raoh no longer has any value -, after which he goes to Ryuken's dojo telling him Kenshiro's death and his desire to conquer the sky. Ryuken, disapproving of Raoh's ambitions, tries to confront him but Raoh kills him, leaving his lifeless body in a pool of blood and proclaiming himself master of the world.
Over the following year, Raoh acquires more and more power, creating an immense army, conquering countless territories and defeating numerous enemies and, making himself known as the King Of Fists, establishing a terrible dictatorship through terror and destruction. Among his victims, also the Fang Clan, a tribe that lives in isolation, obtaining what it needs without harming anyone.
Raoh then decides to conquer Southern Cross, a city that Shin founded and rules tyrannically. He then kidnaps Yuria and faces Shin in combat, defeating him with a technique that will cause his death some time after their clash, which will allow a repentant Shin to tell Kenshiro that Raoh took the girl to Cassandra, his headquarters city .
In Cassandra, Raoh ties Yuria to a cross and, showing a flower in a vase that Yuria and little Rin - a little girl friend of Yuria and Kenshiro - have grown, announces to the crowd that if the one he deems guilty, cultivating the flower - a symbol of a hope that Raoh, self-proclaimed master of an age of darkness, does not believe in – he will not step forward, he will have the girl executed. This pushes Rei, successor of the Nanto Suichōken style of the Nanto Seiken to face Raoh to save Yuria in gratitude towards Kenshiro - who saved her sister Airi from Jagi, who kidnapped her after killing their parents -. Unfortunately Raoh proves too strong for Rei, repelling him with a series of Ki attacks that take the form of his fists and, after Rai uses a suicide technique to launch himself at him, distracting him by throwing his cloak in his face and hitting him with a tsubo which will reduce Rei to death, all without even getting off Koku-Oh, his gigantic black horse.
Rei, regretting having faced Raoh with such impulsiveness, survives in time to warn Kenshiro - having arrived on site - not to face Raoh, since her life is important for him to dedicate to the defenseless and weak in that terrible era. However, Rei's death instigates Kenshiro to face Raoh, and the two unleash all their combative aura, starting a terrifying fight that will devastate the surrounding environment, razing part of Cassandra and leaving the two wounded and exhausted, during which Yuria she will be thrown away by the power of their aura without anyone knowing anything about her anymore and, at the end of which, they both collapse on the ground exhausted. However, Raoh gets up and prepares to give the final blow to the unconscious Kenshiro, but at that moment little Rin intervenes, begging him not to kill Kenshiro. Sensing an enormous power in her that could one day be important for their era, Raoh decides to respect her request and takes leave, telling her to grow up, because the challenge to her and Kenshiro will only be postponed for him, after which he climbs onto Koku-Oh's back and he walks away.
In the home video version of the film, appropriately edited with additional scenes, the final fight between Raoh and Kenshiro ends in a stalemate. The anime comic of the film instead retains the cinematic ending, with Raoh as the winner.
Personality[]
In many details, Raoh's characterization remains quite similar to that of the original version of the character: he has a strong ambition and a terrible desire for power that leads him to want to conquer the world even at the cost of overtaking his family members and causing bloodshed of blood, he rules with an iron fist making himself feared by the masses and fighting other warlords (like Shin). He also appears much more evil than the original version, not intervening while Kenshiro is reduced to death by Shin without feeling any regret for Kenshiro's fate, ceding the title of successor of the Hokuto Shinken to Jagi and ordering his brother to give the final blow to Kenshiro and demonstrating that he has no feelings of love for Yuria, whom he in fact kidnaps and threatens to kill her. Since the character of Toki is missing from the film, the characterization of the character therefore does not undergo a progressive improvement. Despite this, he is not devoid of human qualities, as he shows respect towards Rin, accepting her request to spare Kenshiro but reiterating his hostility towards them.