Facebook – Top 100 FAVORITE Fictional Characters: 86

****SPOILERS TO FOLLOW****

86: Kikuchiyo
Created by: Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni and Shinobu Hashimoto, and played by Toshirō Mifune for the film “Seven Samurai”
First Appearance: 1954

In a story that has been retold more times than anyone could ever even comprehend, the characters of Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” are well-known, at least as far as the architypes are concerned. We all know of the poor village of farmers, the horrible bandits, and the noble warriors that stand between them. But in each re-telling of this story (Star Wars does one, A Bug’s Life is one, there is an anime based entirely around this idea, Three Amigos is a conceptual reinvisioning of the story, not to mention The Magnificent Seven and a variety of other western films, just to name a few), one drastic flaw is present; the character of Kikuchiyo is never as well depicted or even represented. No, in the whole of the Seven Samurai myth, only the original gets this guy right.

Among all the stoic warriors that help protect the villagers crops and livlihoods, none is more complex than Kikuchiyo. A man who starts off as a goofy loner that no one wants to even pal around with eventually transforms into a noble warrior with ties to the class of people he aims to protect. His mission is simple: to help those that he can. He does so in a number of ways that are at times whimsical and at other times deftly heroic. This is why I think he is the most memorable of all the samurai to be featured in Kurosawa’s epic. He’s the only one with additional layers of depth and personality that allows him to function as more than a simple hired blade, but more of a true character.

His best side comes out, though, when the samurai discover that the villagers they aim to protect have robbed, kidnapped, and slaughtered samurai in the past. This causes some major strife between the groups, one that leads many of the seemingly more level-headed warriors to contemplate destroying every living thing in the town, whether it walks or crawls. And who amongst this group stands for the villagers? Kikuchiyo, that’s who. It is the reveal that he, himself, used to be from the poorer side of life and that he understands the villagers views and distrust of the warriors’ kind that calms the samurai and maintains the peace amongst those in the village. If not for his selfless unmasking of his origins, there would have been mass carnage and bloodshed.

But for all of his humility and understanding, there is still a brash and vain side to the clownish warrior, often times abandoning reason for additional weapons, better posts, or even a split-second illusion of strategy. This costs lives that needn’t be lost, and a pain in Kikuchiyo for the loss of friends and brothers-in-arms at various parts of the village seige and offensive. He laments his decisions and showcases a humanity that gives further glimpses into his person that none of the other samurai are lucky enough to display.

His high moral value, too, is of note, defending honor and loyalty when and wherever he can. He allies himself once and never questions that alliegence during the entire story. He hates the bandits when they show a complete lack of mercy, and he hates his fellow warriors when they question their reasons for helping. But he never once takes up arms or words with the villagers he means to save. This is maybe his greatest trait, in my opinion.

His death, at the film’s closing, climactic battle, is noteworthy as being the most badass in the film. But, while I’ll get to that more in a bit, here, I do want to say that it showcases the best of Kikuchiyo; he was a brave warrior, a loyal friend, a stalwart protector of the innocent, a skilled master of weapons, and a man made of wit and charm. His last act amongst the living is one for the ages, and the climax of the entire narrative.

Favorite Portrayal:
The film version, without a doubt. Any question regarding this is dumb. Dumb.

Favorite Quote:
To his horse, that is angering him:
“You fool! Damn you! You call yourself a horse! For shame!”
The horse starts to move away from him:
“Hey! Wait! Please! I apologize! Forgive me!”

Favorite Moment:
He kills the fucking bandit leader in an act that is at the same time revenge and justice. Its his killing stroke, after having been effing shot. Its the highlight of the whole damn movie, in my opinion.

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Added September 2, 2016
Reading through this, all I want to do is watch the movie, again. But Aubrey hates it. So I’ll never see it again.
This dude, though. This is the dude.