Seishiro Sakurazuka

Seishiro Sakurazuka (Japanese: 桜塚 星史郎, Hepburn: Sakurazuka Seishirō) is a fictional character that was created by Clamp and first appeared in the manga Tokyo Babylon, which he appears as a kind veterinarian who often shows romantic affection for onmyoji Subaru Sumeragi. During the story, it is revealed he is the Sakurazukamori (桜塚護, lit. "Cherry Blossom burial mound guardian"), Japan's number-one assassin who is targeting Subaru. The character returns in the apocalyptic manga X as a combatant in the battle of Armageddon, a Dragon of Earth and Subaru's rival. An alternative version of Seishiro appears in Clamp's crossover series Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle as a young treasure hunter who is searching for two vampires.

Seishiro Sakurazuka
Tokyo Babylon, X,
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle character
Seishiro Sakurazuka as illustrated by Clamp. The removal of his glasses are meant to reflect between his caring persona and his original persona.[1]
First appearanceTokyo Babylon (1990)
Created byClamp
Voiced by
Portrayed byShihodo Wataru (Tokyo Babylon 1999)
In-universe information
AliasThe Sakurazukamori
RelativesSetsuka Sakurazuka (mother)

Seishiro was created alongside Subaru and his twin sister Hokuto as the main characters for a dōjinshi novel. After undergoing major changes, he was used as a main character in Tokyo Babylon. Multiple actors voiced the character in animated adaptations of the manga.

Since his introduction in Tokyo Babylon, publications for manga and anime have received Seishiro favorably for his relationship with Subaru, which became one of the most famous rivalries in X. His role in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle also received positive responses for his action scenes and connections with the protagonist Syaoran.

Creation and concept
The four Clamp artists (from left to right): Satsuki Igarashi, Nanase Ohkawa, Mick Nekoi, and Mokona Apapa created Seishiro

Seishiro, with twin characters Subaru and Hokuto, were created by series creator Nanase Ohkawa for a dōjinshi novel about an onmyōji who hunts elves, of which only the beginning exists.[1] The characters were twice drawn for covers; these characters were used when South magazine asked Clamp to create a new series for them. In the dōjinshi, Seishiro was a veterinarian but his dark side was much less pronounced. Seishiro underwent more changes from this early design to the creation of Tokyo Babylon. Seishiro was easier to write than Subaru.[1] In the dōjinshi, Seishiro's shikigami was named Nandaro ("Just what is this?") and Clamp privately still refer to it by this name. According to Yasunori Kato, Subaru and Seishiro's respective designs pay homage to this character and the protagonist of the fantasy novel Teito Monogatari, who is widely credited with starting the "onmyoji boom" in Japan.[2] The early chapters involving Subaru's meeting with Seishiro set the events of the series' future. Since his introduction, Seishiro has been written with the idea of having an agendum that contrasts with his actions and dialogue with the other characters. Seishiro was the easiest character to write and Subaru, because of his good nature, was the most challenging. When designing Seishiro, Clamp wanted a strong contrast between his facade as a caring man and his cruel persona whenever he is wearing glasses.[1]

When production of Tokyo Babylon was finished, film director George Iida asked Clamp to help with a sequel movie in which Subaru and Seishiro would clash again.[3] Because of production issues, the characters' interactions were reduced and were used only in an audio drama. To promote the movie, Mokona drew illustrations of both characters.[4] Subaru and Seishiro appear in X because their relationship parallels those of Kamui Shiro and Fuma Monou.[5] A common theme involves the series' fate; Subaru expresses no interest in the future of the Earth, but he and his counterpart are still drawn to Tokyo on the Promised Day. As a result, a fatalistic atmosphere persists in the series.[6] Ohkawa found Seishiro to be childish because he only deals with what appeals to him; in contrast, Ohkawa found Fuma more adult-like.[7] In the sixteenth volume of the series, the rivalry between the two ended with Seishiro's death; according to Clamp Seishiro's death is permanent and he would not return in future chapters.[8]

In Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Clamp originally intended Subaru to be the protagonist of the protagonist, Syaoran, while searching for Seishiro. However, they ended replacing him with Seishiro to avoid repeating the same pattern Tokyo Babylon and X had regarding these two characters.[9]

Voice actors

In the Tokyo Babylon original video animation, Seishiro was first voiced by Takehito Koyasu, who was replaced by Tōru Furusawa for the 1996 film X. Otoya Kawano took the role in the television adaptation.[10] Hiroki Tōchi played Seishiro in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle,[11] and the character will be voiced by Yūichirō Umehara in the television series Tokyo Babylon 2021.[12]

In English, Seishiro was first voiced by Dean Fenton in Tokyo Babylon, by Garrick Hagon in the feature film X, Dave Mallow in the X television series,[13] and J. Michael Tatum in Tsubasa.[14]

Appearances

Tokyo Babylon

In Tokyo Babylon, Seishiro is a veterinarian who is working in Shinjuku, Tokyo. He meets 16-year-old Subaru Sumeragi, Japan's most powerful onmyoji, after Subaru's shikigami causes an unlikely meeting between the two at Ikebukuro railroad station. Seishiro and Subaru begin a year-long courtship; Seishiro often professes his love for Subaru, whose eccentric twin sister Hokuto enthusiastically supports the pairing, much to Subaru's embarrassment.[15] Seishiro protects Subaru on several occasions, even sacrificing his right eye to protect Subaru from a knife-wielding attacker.[16]

After a year passes, Subaru realizes his love for Seishiro, who reveals himself to be the assassin the Sakurazukamori, who was supposed to kill Subaru. Impressed with Subaru's purity, Seishiro made a bet in which, if Seishiro comes to love Subaru after living with him for a year, he would spare Subaru's life. Seishiro almost kills Subaru but Subaru's grandmother intervenes and free hims from the illusion, leaving herself crippled.[17] Seishiro disappears from Subaru's life; Hokuto, fearing he will come after her brother, offers up her own life in Subaru's place. Seishiro accepts Hokutu's offer and stabs her through the heart.[17]

Tokyo Babylon 2021

In the 1993 live-action sequel to Clamp's manga, Tokyo Babylon 2021, Seishiro is portrayed by Shihodo Wataru. The Sakurazukamori assassinates a former enemy of the Sumeragi clan but his signature hand-through-the-chest style of killing is repaced with magical strangulation. When targeting the same criminals as Subaru, the former friends engage each others in battle. As Hokuto possesses one of the girls and asks Subaru to end his hatred, Subaru decides to leave Seishiro.[18]

X

After leaving Tokyo following the events of Tokyo Babylon, Seishiro returns to Tokyo to assume his place as one of the Dragons of Earth, warriors who are destined to fight the Dragons of Heaven and eliminate mankind. He tries to kill the Dragons of Heavens but Kamui Shiro destroys his illusions. In a later encounter with Kamui, Seishiro retreats when Fuma Monou accidentally stops his powers.[19] In his role as a Dragon of Earth, Seishiro destroys the Nakano Sun Plaza, starting an earthquake. He encounters an adult Subaru and briefly fights him.[20] Still unemotional, Seishiro befriends Fuma, the leader of the Dragons of Earth. Seishiro observes a fight between his new ally and the Subaru which ends with the former's victory. Afterwards, Fuma who Seishiro that he is the only one who can grant his Subaru's wish.[21]

Seishiro encounters Subaru at the Rainbow Bridge for a final fight. As Seishiro deals his final blow, Hokuto's spell takes effect, leaving Subaru with his hand through Seishiro's chest, killing him.[22] Hokuto's final wish was that Subaru could not be killed the same way as her. As Subaru confesses that his true wish was existing in Seishiro's mind even through death, Seishiro smiles kindly to Subaru and says unknown words before dying.[23] After the battle, Fuma offers Subaru Seishiro's remaining intact eye, revealing Seishiro wished to erase Fuma's trace on Subaru, which Subaru accepts. After regaining his full sight, Subaru becomes the 14th Sakurazukamori and a Dragon of Earth.[24]

In a sidestory of the series, Seishiro becomes the Sakurazukamori by killing his mother, Setsuka. As she dies in his arms, she tells him he will also be killed by the person he loves.[25]

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle

In the crossover manga Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Seishiro is a young traveler who gained the power to travel between worlds from the witch Yūko Ichihara in exchange for his right eye. He searches for the vampire twins Kamui and Subaru and is a treasure hunter like his younger brother Fūma.[26] Although the reason for searching the vampire twins is unknown, Kamui states he will kill Seishiro if he finds them.[27] Seishiro possesses one of Sakura's magical feathers, which allows him to summon oni to fight for him and modify them into reshapable swords.[28][29]

Seishiro, who is an experienced fighter, teaches the dimension traveler Syaoran his kicking techniques.[30] Seishiro grows happy with his development, but tries to kill Syaoran in Oto Country when searching for clues about the vampires.[28] When visiting Japan to find the vampires' location, Seishiro is challenged by the other Syaoran, who wishes to obtain his feather.[31] In the course of the battle, Syaoran claims the feather,[32] although Fūma says this was his main aim from the start.[33] Seishiro leaves Japan to continue his search and is seen in the epilogue alongside his brother and the vampires.

Reception

Seishiro has been well received by publications for manga and anime. Mania Entertainment writer Mike Dungan said Seishiro's role in Tokyo Babylon is comical and that it is difficult to find his romantic intentions for Subaru genuine.[34] Despite initially finding Seishiro a "cliche", the reviewers from Manga Bookshelf were interested by the true meaning of his actions with Subaru and were surprised by Seishiro's betrayal of Subaru, which contrasts with other stories in which an traitor would redeem himself; the reviewers also questioned Seishiro 's motivations in the past.[35] The Fandom Post liked Seishiro's inclusion in Tokyo Babylon because he constantly tries to assist Subaru in his jobs despite Subaru being unaware of it.[36] His role in the OVAs was praised as it would attract older fans from X.[37] Novelist Yoshiki Tanaka was initially critical of the way Subaru's and Seishiro's personalities were written, calling it as a typical use of a relationship to appeal to female readers. When re-reading the manga, Tanaka found the relationship more striking because of the elements of tragedy and the foreshadowing of their original meeting.[38] In the book Manga: The Complete Guide, Jason Thompson says the manga is famous in the West for being one of the first portrayals of a homosexual relationship, comparing Subaru and Seishiro with the seme and uke couple despite the romance not being explored until the ending.[39]

Critics also commented on the character's return in X; Sequentalart praised his first fight against Kamui for involving Kamui's friend Kotori as a target and for the way Clamp illustrates Seishiro's spells.[40] Zac Bertschy from Anime News Network called Seishiro one of the deepest villains in X, sating he was already developed in Tokyo Babylon. His confrontation with Subaru in the television series was praised mainly because their character designs were updated from those in Tokyo Babylon.[41] Manga News enjoyed his interactions with Fuma because they form a friendship while causing an earthquake, coming across as strong villains.[42] Mania Entertainment's Chris Beveridge agreed with Bertschy, calling the episode of their final battle one of the best from the series, and saying it is focused on the way their backgrounds are shown and the portrayal of tragic elements.[43] In the book Understanding Manga and Anime, Robin E. Brenner said Seishiro's and Subaru's relationship is one of the most explicit in X, and that the romantic feelings between these two male characters are uncommon in western stories. Brenner stated Seishiro's unheard last words were meant to force readers to interpret them themselves, which is characteristic of manga series.[44] In regards to Seisiro's role in Rintaro's 1996 movie, EWric Luce of EX said viewers who have not not read Tokyo Babylon would not understand Subaru's vendetta against Seishiro and that they kill each other quickly in the movie's initial scenes.[45] Manga News stated while the fight between Subaru and Seishiro is one of the most anticipated because Subaru has changed since his sister was killed, he still cannot bring himself to stop loving Seishiro. This is made clearer by Subaru's depressed portrayal when Seishiro activates Hokuto's spell to make Subaru kill him, ending his will to live.[46] In a later review, Manga News said while Subaru is still upset by Seishiro's death, Fuma giving him Seishiro's eye positively affects Subaru. Becaue Seishiro wanted to give Subaru his eye to replace his blind one, the character has now obtained a legacy from his love that gives him hope to live.[47]

In the first character-popularity poll for Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Seishiro was voted the sixth-most popular character from the series.[48] Manga News liked his role in Tsubasa because of his teacher-student relationship with the young Syaoran, the imposing manner he adopts, and that the character is more fully explored in this story arc.[49] Seishiro's fight against the original Syaoran was praised for balancing the amount of exposition on which the narrative relies with the foreshadowing of other events.[50][51] According to Excite, because multiple voice actors have portrayed Seishiro, fans of the character have multiple favorites and that for the 2021 anime adaptation of Tokyo Babylon, many fans are looking forward to the character's new voice.[10]

References
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