Raoh
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character in the Fist of the North Star
manga franchise by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara
. He is the eldest of four honorary brothers who trained alongside the protagonist Kenshiro
in the ancient assassination art
of Hokuto Shinken
. Following his introduction in Chapter 42 of the original manga, Raoh serves as Kenshiro's primary rival and adversary during a great portion of the series, having already taken the mantle of , a tyrannical warlord that seeks to dominate the post-apocalyptic world. In contrast to Kenshiro's title as the "Savior of Century's End", Raoh is commonly referred as the within the story.
Raoh figures prominently throughout the remainder of the manga following the conclusion of his story arc and would continue serving as a central character in related works published following the conclusion of the original manga and its anime adaptation. He serves as a central character in The Legends of the True Savior
movie series and was the protagonist in his own spinoff manga and anime series Legends of the Dark King.
master. The manga and anime gives two different origins thorough the course of the story. In his first origin, Raoh and his biological younger brother Toki, were adopted by Ryuken after their real parents died. A second origin shows that a young Raoh and Toki, along with an infant Kenshiro
, were actually refugees from the Kingdom of Shura who were sent to Japan to be trained in the art of Hokuto Shinken by Ryuken after their homeland was torn apart by a civil war.
Raoh trained under Ryuken along with Toki and Kenshiro, as well as another student named Jagi. In spite of his ambitions to become the greatest martial artist in the world, Raoh lost the rights to the Hokuto Shinken succession to Kenshiro. Refusing to give up the style, Raoh killed his sifu Ryuken in combat and leaves to become the savior of the world.
school, and Ryuga, the elder brother of Kenshiro's fiancee Julia, among others. Raoh also took a giant black stallion named as his personal steed. After his attempt to recruit Ryuroh into his army, Raoh became more cruel in his campaign. Eventually, Raoh confronts Souther and the two battle until it ends in a stalemate and a temporary ceasefire between their armies.
After Souther's defeat, Raoh re-emerges to resume his "conquest of the heavens". He gauges the extent of his recovery by challenging Koryu, Ryuken's former rival for the Hokuto Shinken succession and defeats him. Raoh then challenges his brother Toki to a fight and defeats him, but spares his life out of sympathy because Toki was already dying from a terminal disease. Raoh later fights the warriors of the Five Chariots, who challenge Raoh on behalf of the Last General of Nanto Seiken. When Raoh discovers that the Last General is actually Yuria, he rushes to the Capital of Nanto to capture her only to be confronted by Kenshiro, who has now mastered the ultimate Hokuto Shinken technique of Musō Tensei, the Unconscious Transmigration of Souls. Raoh manages to escape from Ken and takes Yuria captive with him.
Vowing to overcome the fear he felt fighting Kenshiro, Raoh decides to challenge Fudoh of the Mountains, the first person who ever made him feel fear. During his confrontation with Fudoh, Raoh learns that the only way he can ever learn Musō Tensei is to experience true sorrow. Raoh decides to take Yuria's life to achieve, only to learn that she is already dying from a terminal illness as well. Feeling sympathy for her fate, Raoh is able to master Musō Tensei as well. In Legend of Raoh - Chapter of Fierce Fighting, prior to his final battle with Ken, Raoh kills some of the more power-hungry members of his army to ensure that his army would not be corrupted if he dies fighting Ken. Once at the Hokuto Renkitōza, the North Star Mind and Body Training Ground, Kenshiro and Raoh engage in a long grueling battle in which Kenshiro emerges as the ultimate victor. Raoh praises the strength Ken gained from fighting against other rivals before he uses his remaining life energy to the heavens and restore light to the world, also revealing that he had extended Yuria's lifespan by a few years by granting some of his spiritual energy and proudly declaring, "I don't have a single regret in my life." After the final battle, his ashes are brought by Kokuoh-go to Reina, which she takes back to Raoh's homeland, the Land of Asura.
Raoh's presence figures prominently in the story arcs following his death, as his influences is felt on other characters introduced afterward such as Falco and Akashachi. In the Land of Asura, Raoh was worshiped as a hero by the villagers, who saw him as their only hope against the corrupt ruler Kaioh, who is in fact Raoh and Toki's biological elder brother. The final chapters of the manga reveals that Raoh has left behind a son named Ryu.
in the original Japanese versions of several Hokuto no Ken productions includes Kenji Utsumi
in the original television series and 1986 film (as well as in a few video games), Tesshō Genda
in the CGI animated short film Legend of Heroes, Takashi Ukaji in the Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu film series and Ten no Haō anime series, Rikiya Koyama
in the PSP game version of Ten no Haō and Fumihiko Tachiki
in the video game Hokuto Musō. Other voice actors have voiced the child version of Raoh such as Nobuo Tobita
in the original television series, Shigeru Shibuya
in the Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu movies and Takayuki Kondō
in the Ten no Haō series. In Episode 32 of the original television, Raoh's initial silhouetted appearance was voiced by Norio Wakamoto
.
In English language versions, Raoh was voiced by Wally Burr
in the Streamline Pictures' dub of the 1986 film and by Andrew Love
in Sentai Filmworks' release of Legends of the Dark King.
on April 18, 2007. A recording of the funeral service was included as a bonus feature in the Japanese DVD release of the film.
Fist of the North Star
is a Japanese manga series written by Buronson and drawn by Tetsuo Hara that was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1983 to 1988, spanning 245 chapters, which were initially collected in a 27-volume tankōbon edition by Shueisha...
manga franchise by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara
Tetsuo Hara
is a Japanese manga artist famous for drawing the series Fist of the North Star , which he co-authored with Buronson...
. He is the eldest of four honorary brothers who trained alongside the protagonist Kenshiro
Kenshiro
is the main protagonist of the manga franchise Fist of the North Star by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara. According to Buronson, Kenshiro's character design was inspired by the character of Max Rockatansky from the Mad Max film series and martial artist Bruce Lee.In the story, Kenshiro is the rightful...
in the ancient assassination art
Ansatsuken
is a Japanese neologism used frequently in fictional works to describe any martial art style or fighting technique that has been developed with the purpose of killing an opponent. The term is used interchangeably as well.- Examples in fiction :...
of Hokuto Shinken
Hokuto Shinken
is a fictional two thousand year old martial art that is shrouded in mystery, from the eponymous manga and anime franchise, Fist of the North Star. Hokuto Shinken is based loosely on Dim Mak kung fu, but very few conventional martial arts compare to it....
. Following his introduction in Chapter 42 of the original manga, Raoh serves as Kenshiro's primary rival and adversary during a great portion of the series, having already taken the mantle of , a tyrannical warlord that seeks to dominate the post-apocalyptic world. In contrast to Kenshiro's title as the "Savior of Century's End", Raoh is commonly referred as the within the story.
Raoh figures prominently throughout the remainder of the manga following the conclusion of his story arc and would continue serving as a central character in related works published following the conclusion of the original manga and its anime adaptation. He serves as a central character in The Legends of the True Savior
Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior
is a Japanese animated film series produced by TMS Entertainment and North Stars Pictures based on the manga Fist of the North Star written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara...
movie series and was the protagonist in his own spinoff manga and anime series Legends of the Dark King.
Character overview
Raoh is the eldest of the four adopted children trained by Ryuken, the previous Hokuto ShinkenHokuto Shinken
is a fictional two thousand year old martial art that is shrouded in mystery, from the eponymous manga and anime franchise, Fist of the North Star. Hokuto Shinken is based loosely on Dim Mak kung fu, but very few conventional martial arts compare to it....
master. The manga and anime gives two different origins thorough the course of the story. In his first origin, Raoh and his biological younger brother Toki, were adopted by Ryuken after their real parents died. A second origin shows that a young Raoh and Toki, along with an infant Kenshiro
Kenshiro
is the main protagonist of the manga franchise Fist of the North Star by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara. According to Buronson, Kenshiro's character design was inspired by the character of Max Rockatansky from the Mad Max film series and martial artist Bruce Lee.In the story, Kenshiro is the rightful...
, were actually refugees from the Kingdom of Shura who were sent to Japan to be trained in the art of Hokuto Shinken by Ryuken after their homeland was torn apart by a civil war.
Raoh trained under Ryuken along with Toki and Kenshiro, as well as another student named Jagi. In spite of his ambitions to become the greatest martial artist in the world, Raoh lost the rights to the Hokuto Shinken succession to Kenshiro. Refusing to give up the style, Raoh killed his sifu Ryuken in combat and leaves to become the savior of the world.
Legends of the Dark King
With the aid of his childhood friends Reina and Souga, gradually builds his army: conquering the Dungeon City of Cassandra, and taking over Goram the Demon King's castle as his own, and taking the name of . Among his many subordinates includes his adoptive brother Jagi, the Toki impersonator Amiba, Uighur the Warden of Cassandra Dungeon, Juda of the Nanto SeikenNanto Seiken
is a fictional martial arts style featured prominently in the manga and anime series Fist of the North Star. It is the opposite style of Hokuto Shinken, the main fighting style of the series. While Hokuto Shinken focuses on pressure points to destroy an enemy from within, Nanto Seiken teaches how...
school, and Ryuga, the elder brother of Kenshiro's fiancee Julia, among others. Raoh also took a giant black stallion named as his personal steed. After his attempt to recruit Ryuroh into his army, Raoh became more cruel in his campaign. Eventually, Raoh confronts Souther and the two battle until it ends in a stalemate and a temporary ceasefire between their armies.
Fist of the North Star and "Legends of the True Savior"
Raoh first appears in the story after Kenshiro and his allies have destroyed Cassandra. Raoh and his army begin to occupy Mamiya's home village afterward. Rei is the first warrior to challenge him, but he proves to be no match against Raoh and is defeated. He is then challenged by both, Ken and Toki, and managed to thwart both. In the end, Raoh fights Ken again and the battle between the two men end in a stalemate, with both too wounded to continue fighting. As revealed in the The Legends of the True Savior segment, Legend of Raoh - Chapter of Love in Death, after being forced to kill Souga in a ruse to boost his army's morale and dissuade them from revolting, Raoh's army battles Souther's army until Reina is injured while saving an infant caught in the crossfire. Raoh then saves Reina's life by striking a pressure point and entrusts her to Toki, leaving with her the pendant she gave to Raoh when he left the Land of Asura as a child.After Souther's defeat, Raoh re-emerges to resume his "conquest of the heavens". He gauges the extent of his recovery by challenging Koryu, Ryuken's former rival for the Hokuto Shinken succession and defeats him. Raoh then challenges his brother Toki to a fight and defeats him, but spares his life out of sympathy because Toki was already dying from a terminal disease. Raoh later fights the warriors of the Five Chariots, who challenge Raoh on behalf of the Last General of Nanto Seiken. When Raoh discovers that the Last General is actually Yuria, he rushes to the Capital of Nanto to capture her only to be confronted by Kenshiro, who has now mastered the ultimate Hokuto Shinken technique of Musō Tensei, the Unconscious Transmigration of Souls. Raoh manages to escape from Ken and takes Yuria captive with him.
Vowing to overcome the fear he felt fighting Kenshiro, Raoh decides to challenge Fudoh of the Mountains, the first person who ever made him feel fear. During his confrontation with Fudoh, Raoh learns that the only way he can ever learn Musō Tensei is to experience true sorrow. Raoh decides to take Yuria's life to achieve, only to learn that she is already dying from a terminal illness as well. Feeling sympathy for her fate, Raoh is able to master Musō Tensei as well. In Legend of Raoh - Chapter of Fierce Fighting, prior to his final battle with Ken, Raoh kills some of the more power-hungry members of his army to ensure that his army would not be corrupted if he dies fighting Ken. Once at the Hokuto Renkitōza, the North Star Mind and Body Training Ground, Kenshiro and Raoh engage in a long grueling battle in which Kenshiro emerges as the ultimate victor. Raoh praises the strength Ken gained from fighting against other rivals before he uses his remaining life energy to the heavens and restore light to the world, also revealing that he had extended Yuria's lifespan by a few years by granting some of his spiritual energy and proudly declaring, "I don't have a single regret in my life." After the final battle, his ashes are brought by Kokuoh-go to Reina, which she takes back to Raoh's homeland, the Land of Asura.
Raoh's presence figures prominently in the story arcs following his death, as his influences is felt on other characters introduced afterward such as Falco and Akashachi. In the Land of Asura, Raoh was worshiped as a hero by the villagers, who saw him as their only hope against the corrupt ruler Kaioh, who is in fact Raoh and Toki's biological elder brother. The final chapters of the manga reveals that Raoh has left behind a son named Ryu.
Voice actors
Raoh's voice actorsSeiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
in the original Japanese versions of several Hokuto no Ken productions includes Kenji Utsumi
Kenji Utsumi
is a Japanese voice actor and actor from Kitakyūshū, affiliated with the self-founded Ken Production. He is married to fellow voice actress Michiko Nomura....
in the original television series and 1986 film (as well as in a few video games), Tesshō Genda
Tessho Genda
is a Japanese voice actor. He is employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce. When he debuted, he used his real name, . as artist name. Because he had experience with ballet, he was known by the nickname "Pirouette Genda."...
in the CGI animated short film Legend of Heroes, Takashi Ukaji in the Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu film series and Ten no Haō anime series, Rikiya Koyama
Rikiya Koyama
' is a Japanese actor and voice actor who is a member of Haiyuza Theatre Company.He has done popular voicing roles in Hajime no Ippo, Utawarerumono and Kamen no Maid Guy.He is also known by the nicknames "Rikki" and "Riki-chan".- Biography :...
in the PSP game version of Ten no Haō and Fumihiko Tachiki
Fumihiko Tachiki
is a Japanese voice actor and narrator.-Career:Formerly a blues singer and known for his low voice, Tachiki is best known as the narrator for the pre-fight movies for Pride Fighting Championships and currently for Dream...
in the video game Hokuto Musō. Other voice actors have voiced the child version of Raoh such as Nobuo Tobita
Nobuo Tobita
is a Japanese seiyū from Mito. He is represented by Arts Vision.He is most known for the roles of Kamille Bidan , Albert Heinrich/004 , and Sueo Maruo...
in the original television series, Shigeru Shibuya
Shigeru Shibuya
is a Japanese voice actor.-Voice roles:*Jackie Tonomura in Gundam Seed*Gene Starwind in Outlaw Star*Saji Keisuke in Iketeru Futari*Shinsuke in Samurai Champloo*Jun Kurosu in Persona 2: Innocent Sin...
in the Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu movies and Takayuki Kondō
Takayuki Kondo
is a Japanese voice actor from Tottori Prefecture, Japan. He is affiliated with Air Agency.-Anime:*Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai as Tetsudo Hisakawa*Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland as Tantoris...
in the Ten no Haō series. In Episode 32 of the original television, Raoh's initial silhouetted appearance was voiced by Norio Wakamoto
Norio Wakamoto
is a veteran male seiyū and budō expert affiliated with Sigma Seven. He was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and was raised in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from Waseda University...
.
In English language versions, Raoh was voiced by Wally Burr
Wally Burr
Wally Burr is an American voice actor and director. He was best known as the voice director for the Generation 1 cartoon and The Transformers: The Movie. Aside from voicing some incidental characters, he has also filled in roles for regular voice actors who were unavailable for taping. He is also...
in the Streamline Pictures' dub of the 1986 film and by Andrew Love
Andrew Love
Andrew Love is an American actor and voice actor who work for Funimation Entertainment, ADV Films, Seraphim Digital, and OkraTron 5000. He graduated from the University of Houston with a B.A. degree in acting and directing...
in Sentai Filmworks' release of Legends of the Dark King.
In culture
To promote the theatrical release of Raoh Den Gekitō no Shō (an animated retelling of Kenshiro's final battle with Raoh), the producers of the film conducted a mock funeral service that was held at the Koyasan Tokyo BetsuinKoyasan Tokyo Betsuin
is a temple located at Minato Ward Takanawa 3-15-18 in Tokyo. The persuasion is Koyamsan Shingon Sect and the principal image is Kūkai. It stands next to the Takanawa Police Station.-History:...
on April 18, 2007. A recording of the funeral service was included as a bonus feature in the Japanese DVD release of the film.