Who is Keizo?
Keizo was the proprietor of a dojo where he taught the Soryū martial arts style. As Akaza’s master during his human life, Keizo was a robust middle-aged man with a muscular build and a stubbled face. His black hair, which reached shoulder length, was neatly tied back, and he had notably bushy eyebrows.
His attire was that of a traditional Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, complete with a gi uniform secured by a dan-ranked black belt. The back of his gi was adorned with the kanji for “Soryū,” the name of the martial arts style he taught.
Keizo’s Personality and Background
Keizo was a compassionate and optimistic martial arts dojo owner who believed in second chances, demonstrated by his decision to take in Hakuji, a former criminal, entrusting him with the care of his daughter and teaching him Soryū martial arts. He even accepted Hakuji into his family, allowing him to marry his daughter Koyuki and naming him as his successor. Keizo’s teachings and values left a lasting impression on Hakuji, which endured even after Hakuji’s transformation into a demon.
Keizo’s dojo was situated on land gifted to him by a man he saved from bandits. After his wife’s tragic suicide, overwhelmed by the fear of their daughter’s illness, Keizo juggled earning a living and caring for Koyuki. His encounter with Hakuji, who was lashing out violently due to his own life’s hardships, led to a pivotal moment where Keizo saw potential in the young man. He offered Hakuji a place in his home and dojo in exchange for Koyuki’s care.
Conflict arose when the heir of a neighboring kenjutsu dojo, infatuated with Koyuki, left her during an asthma attack. This led to a decisive match between the two dojos, where Keizo and Hakuji emerged victorious, securing a promise of peace from the defeated dojo’s head.
As Koyuki’s health improved, Keizo proposed Hakuji as the next dojo head and Koyuki’s husband. However, tragedy struck when the kenjutsu dojo’s heir, breaking his father’s peace promise, poisoned Keizo’s well. Keizo and Koyuki drank the poisoned water, and despite Keizo’s desperate efforts to save his daughter, both succumbed to the poison—Koyuki dying first and Keizo enduring hours of agony before his death.
