Hikatori - Once a great warrior, Hikatori was also a lover and patron of the arts, as well as a thinker. He fought in the battles for the unification of Japan in the late 16th century. However, the subsequent unification did not meet his expectations. Hikatori believed that Ieasu Tokugawa and his descendants, who effectively ruled the country instead of the emperor, completely contradicted the ideals of unification. Therefore, he joined the rebellious Kageushi, to whom he pledged loyalty after initial successes. As Kageushi began to lose, driven by a sense of divine right to fight, he decided that the end justified the means and gradually descended into the use of dark forces. Hikatori, believing he was acting out of necessity to liberate Japan from the usurper, followed him. When the Commander, Hikatori's student and friend, observed his master's turn towards evil, he renounced his allegiance. They clashed violently, and the Commander lost, sustaining severe injuries (the effects of which he still feels today—he may limp or occasionally experience agonizing pain). However, Hikatori spared him. A few years later, Hikatori died but was resurrected by Kageushi, who placed him at the head of his ashura demon army. Hikatori blindly followed his master's orders until the massacre of his home village, including his loved ones. Finally, he rebelled against Kageushi, who stripped him of part of his power, including the ability to exist in the physical world. As a demonic spirit, Hikatori contacts his former friend—the Commander—and convinces him to fight Kageushi, supporting him with the remnants of his demonic strength. Hikatori seeks to defeat Kageushi to erase the shame of serving the wrong master, who also caused the slaughter of his family, and to completely lose his demonic powers, which prevent him from dying. Hikatori wishes to die to possibly reunite with his loved ones in the afterlife.

Commander - an older, experienced man, balanced and skilled in his craft. In his youth, he was under Hikatori's command, his student and friend (akin to the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin). Hikatori pledged loyalty to Kageushi, who gradually descended into evil. When the Commander observed this, he renounced his allegiance, leading to a severe conflict and a duel between them. The Commander lost, sustaining severe injuries (the effects of which he still feels today—he may limp or occasionally experience agonizing pain), but Hikatori spared him. Several decades have passed since then; the Commander has aged, and his former master died and was resurrected by Kageushi, allowing him to live on as an ashura despite being significantly older than the Commander. When Hikatori realized his mistakes, he turned to the only friend he had—the Commander—to help him regain his humanity and honor. The Commander agrees, though with pain, feeling resentment and even disgust towards Hikatori for past events, but also with joy—knowing that his once noble and honorable master has returned to the path of righteousness and has a chance for redemption.

Traits: Wisdom of a senior—the Commander has experienced much, participating in many battles, including against demonic forces. He is calm, principled, and just. He lacks a sense of humor and, in his thoughts, seeks a heroic moment to end his life on the battlefield.

Narrative: The story of his relationship with Hikatori will be revealed piece by piece. Initially, it will be known that they are acquainted, but only later will it emerge that they once became adversaries, betraying each other and fighting. The second pillar of the Commander's story is his "search" for death—the fact that he is already old and hopes to finally die heroically. This will somewhat conflict with the need to ultimately defeat Kageushi. Ultimately, the Commander plans that in the event of victory, when Kageushi falls and Hikatori becomes human again and—due to age—dies, he himself will commit junshi to follow his former master to the grave.

Kageushi - a trusted general of Mitsunari Ishida, one of the opponents of Ieyasu Tokugawa, who effectively ruled Japan after its unification. Ishida rebelled against Tokugawa and lost after the great Battle of Sekigahara. He was sentenced to death by beheading. After the battle, Kageushi swore vengeance and to complete his lord’s mission. At the urging of a witch who suddenly appears in his life, he steals Ishida’s severed head. It is then used to perform a demonic ritual that imbues Kageushi with dark power, granting him the ability to create an army of ashura.

Kageushi begins to achieve success in his conquest of Japan, but the demons demand more and more, and soon reclaiming Japan from Tokugawa’s rule becomes irrelevant — what truly matters is the fighting and killing itself.

One of Kageushi’s top commanders was Hikatori, who died in battle and was resurrected by demonic power. However, he managed to break free from its influence after the massacre of his home village, which led him to rebel. In response, Kageushi stripped him of part of his power — including the ability to physically exist in the world.

POSTACIE:

Kanashimi: Path of Samurai was born out of a fascination with Japanese culture. Although it has inspired countless works in pop culture, it’s still possible to create the right blend of motifs to offer a fresh take on the theme. In Kanashimi (which translates to Sorrow), demons ravaging villages are juxtaposed with the inner demons the protagonists must face. The serious subject matter fills the space left by the fantasy backdrop, creating a mature story filled with moral complexity.

While crafting the world and story, I drew heavily from real-life feudal Japanese history. Among others, we encounter the samurai master Musashi Miyamoto, the shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, and the general Mitsunari Ishida. The narrative gains a unique flavor by weaving fantastical elements into actual historical events — such as the Battle of Sekigahara or the theft of Ishida’s severed head.

Building such a precise world required thorough research into Japanese history, culture, myths, and folklore. But this research was pure pleasure, as the creative potential of the Land of the Rising Sun is absolutely extraordinary — which explains its enduring presence in global pop culture.