The Demon Hunter Organization (退魔組織, Taima Soshiki?) is an important element of the Nasuverse within the stories of Kara no Kyoukai, Tsukihime, and Kagetsu Tohya. Though it is not often referred to directly, it is related to many of the core characters of those stories.
The Demon Hunter Organization is made up of four families, all of whom have a Psychic ability. The Demon Hunter Organization's main opponent are the Mixed-Blood descendants from the Oni Kind, which partially included the Tohno Family. However, even some members of the Demon Hunter Organization are known to have inhuman blood coursing through their veins.
The Purpose of the Organization[]
The main purpose of the organization is simple: destroy Demons or Mixed-Bloods that have thick demon blood, as they see them as an abnormality that must be corrected. A Demon is a disruption and Demon Hunters are a gathering of those who fix the disruption within nature but they can't fix the disruption within humans. Because the Demon Hunters are an organization in the lawful spell branch, created by humans to protect the human society, as such, they are not supposed to hurt humans. For that reason, they will have a difficult time against a Mixed-Blood, as they are not a disruption.
In order for a hybrid to be considered a disruption, the demon blood needs to become thicker than the human blood. These Demon hybrids who can't maintain the human side anymore are seen as being out of alignment, and the Demon Hunters finally see them as their target. However, when the hybrids go out of alignment, they become the worst enemy for the Demon Hunters. Because they have a human side, binding spells won't work on them and because they have the alien power of the Demons, it's impossible to stand up against them with the body of a human. In the past when weapons were undeveloped, killing them meant many casualties.[1] However the Nanaya family apparently did have some sort of understanding with the Tohno family, as evidenced by their reaction during the Tohno family's attack.
The Families[]
In Japan there are four known demon hunting families, however as time went by they became unnecessary. The enemy known as Mixed-Bloods, have slowly morphed from an evil that threatens society to a necessary evil. The Mixed-Bloods were no longer worshiped due to the emergence of the nation, so they compromised with human society and became organized. They skillfully brought those in positions of power to their cause, and became the ones in power. As a result, the Four Demon Hunter Houses could no longer maintain themselves.[2]
The relationships between the four families are unknown, but the Nanaya and Ryougi were once close friends.[3]
Nanaya[]
For a time, the Nanaya (七夜, Nanaya?) were considered the trump card of the Demon Hunter Organization. The Nanaya continued battling the Mixed-Bloods in the modern age because that was all they were good at.[2]
Though they possessed a Psychic ability in the form of Pure Eyes, what truly made them so powerful was their Nanaya Assassination Arts that drew upon the limits of the human body. With the two styles of Flashing Scabbard (閃鞘, Sensa?), the ability to attack extraordinarily quickly, and Flashing Dash (閃走, Sensō?), the ability to move so quickly as to appear to teleport, the Nanaya were able to move like spiders to use walls and ceilings as their footholds, and use unpredictable movements to confuse the opponent. Rather than focusing on their Psychic abilities like the other families, the Nanaya focused purely on the extermination of Demons, and uniquely developed a murderous impulse against non-humans, which would be used together with their techniques to great effect. So that their powers could be passed down to their descendants, the Nanaya maintained the purity of their bloodline by having incestuous relations between themselves.
Kiri Nanaya was the last head of this family and was considered one of the best assassins in the history of the Demon Hunter Organization, being able to fight demons on an equal ground when normally such a thing would be impossible as a human. The family was slaughtered by Kouma Kishima (Remake) under the orders of Makihisa Tohno (Remake). One child survived the attack: Kiri's son, Shiki Nanaya who would later become known as Shiki Tohno (Remake).
- Known members
Fujou[]
As the kanji in their name hints, the Fujou (巫浄, Fujō?) are a lineage of priestesses (miko). Due to the Parallel Worlds setting, the Fujou family in Tsukihime are Psychic users like the Asakami, Ryougi, and Nanaya. But in Kara no Kyoukai, they are a Magi lineage who specialize in Curses.[4]
Their Psychic ability grants a superior view of the world, by being able to peer into the world of Spirits, at the expenses of causing blindness. The Fujou familiy in Tsukihime, is a clan that has been passing down special abilities to their descendants through teaching of techniques and mystical knowledge like the Nanayas. While in Kara no Kyoukai, they are an ancient bloodline of Magi who pass on their abilities through blood. They specialize in acting as mediums, but originally their expertise was the use of Curses.
Since the Fujous possessed other "useful" skills besides fighting Mixed-Bloods, they focused on those areas instead and survived after retiring from the Demon Hunter Organization.[2] The family collapsed with the death of its last descendant, Kirie Fujou.[5]
Hisui (Remake) and Kohaku (Remake) belong to a branch family of the Fujou that fell into ruin after the pair’s mother broke one of clan’s taboos, which is why the two girls ended being picked up by Makihisa Tohno. They possess the power of the Synchronizer, to transfer their Life Force to others through sharing of fluids, which was maintained and passed down to their descendants thanks to bloodline relations.[6]
Known members:
- Kirie Fujou
- Yasunori Fujou
- Hisui and Kohaku's mother
- Hisui (Remake) and Kohaku (Remake) (branch family)
Ryougi[]
The Psychic ability of the Ryougi (両儀, Ryōgi?) family is to create dual personalities within themselves. The Ryougi believed that the mastering of one skill would result in the abandonment of another, so they attempted to cultivate two personalities in each member of the family to allow for different skills to be learned by each. Because a dual personality was difficult to detect in society as compared to the ESP of other families of the Demon Hunter Organization, they were able to survive when the era of demon hunting ended. When a child is born they are given one name written two different ways in kanji.
Their particular ESP of a dual personality is not without its drawbacks, however. The vast majority of the Ryougi became insane due to becoming unable to regulate their two halves within themselves and became murderous beasts, including Shiki Ryougi's grandfather.
The ultimate goal of the family was to bring forth a child with the Origin of 「 」, nothingness. In order to have a dual personality split perfectly into two halves, it was necessary to have an empty "container" without any impurity. After countless years of research, they were able to give birth to Shiki Ryougi, the pinnacle of their ideal. It appears that they possess a method to awaken the Origin of newborns, having done so with Shiki. The Ryougi also train their children in the arts of swordsmanship and self-suggestion, allowing them to become one with their weapons when in battle.
This family is apparently still active but no longer fighting Demons. They are now more like the Tohno family, in that they are wealthy landowners and represent Japanese upper class. The Ryougi have become a yakuzaWP family.[7][8] The Ryougi mansion has about 20 servants including the young ones.[9] Unlike the Tohnos, however, they live in a large Japanese-style mansion surrounded by groves of bamboo. They have a second house in Tokyo which is also surrounded by bamboo.[8]
The family relationship is somewhat distinct within the family.[10] The Ryougi household still observes the old Japanese dining traditions. In ancient Japan, hierarchical relationships were made readily apparent even within families. A dining table where everybody sat down and ate as equals would be unheard of. Rather, each individual is given their own table that indicates their status.[11]
The Yakou family are a branch family of the Ryougi.[12]
Known members:
- Shiki's grandfather
- Shiki's father
- Shiki's mother
- Kaname Ryougi
- Shiki Ryougi
- Mana Ryougi
- Mikiya Ryougi (married in)
Asakami[]
This family once had two branches; the main branch called "Asakami" (浅神, Asakami?) and the minor branch "Asagami" (浅上, Asagami?). The Psychic ability of the Asakami family is powerful Telekinesis. The Asagami Family notably comes from a long line of shrine maidens who communicated with Gods and the supernatural, and the surname was once spelled with the Chinese character meaning "deity."
The fall of the Asakami branch was self-inflicted. They worshiped the captured Mixed-Bloods as guardian gods, and their lineage became diluted due to the continued interbreeding with their own enemies. In the end, they almost became Mixed-Bloods themselves. The Demon Hunter became the Demon, such is the tragedy of the Asakamis.[2]
With the family's main branch collapsed, their minor branch still exists, though now is only a business organization. It is unknown if the family bears any relation to the Asagami Private Girls Academy that Akiha Tohno attends but Fujino Asagami's father sponsors the Reien Girl's Academy.[13] The Asagamis are a special case for they completly deny all of their former ways as Demon Hunters, believing that modern human society no longer has any need for people with supernatural abilities.
The movie points out the difference by having Ryougi Shiki pronounce the name of the main branch as "Asakami" whereas the minor branch remains "Asagami". In the novel the difference in the kanji used is presented, but the pronunciation between the two remains the same.
- Known members
- Miyuki Asakami
- Hanefune Asakami
- Fujino Asagami (last known descendant of the Asakami family)
- Kouzou Asagami (Miyuki's second husband)
References[]
- ↑ Kagetsu Tohya - Ten Nights of Dream - Red Demon God /Prologue
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3
[] TYPE-MOON Fes. Official Pamphlet 10th Anniversary Q & A Booklet:
Q: Asakami, Fujou, Ryougi, Nanaya are natural enemies of Half-Blood. Besides Nanaya, do the other three houses still hunt Half-Bloods?Q: Asakami, Fujou, Ryougi, Nanaya are natural enemies of Half-Blood. Besides Nanaya, do the other three houses still hunt Half-Bloods?
A: The other three houses have done so in the past. However, it is no longer necessary as time goes on. The cash cow... and the basis of the existence of the four houses ----- the enemy known as Half-Blood, have slowly morphed from an evil that threatens the society to a necessary evil.
The Half-Bloods were no longer worshiped because the existence of the nation, so they compromised with the human society and became organized. They skillfully brought those in positions of power to their cause, and became the ones in power.
As a result, the Four Demon Hunter Houses could no longer maintain themselves. Some became fallen, others reestablished themselves through other means.
In the end, the only ones battling the Half-Bloods were the Nanayas. As to why, it was because that was all they were good at.
The Ryougis and Fujous possessed other "useful" skills besides fighting Half-Bloods, so they focused on those areas instead and survived.
The fall of Asakami was self-inflicted. They worshiped the captured Half-Bloods as guardian gods, and their lineage became diluted due to the continued interbreeding. In the end, they almost became Half-Bloods themselves. The mummy-hunter became the mummy, such is the tragedy of the Asakamis.Q:浅神、巫浄、両儀、七夜は混血の天敵だぞうですか、七夜以外の三家も混血狩りのようなことをしていたのでしょうか?
A:ぞりゃ残り三家もしていましたとも。しかし時代が進むにつれ需要を失ったのです。四家の飯の種......もとい、敵である混血たちはいつの間にか社会悪から必要悪にシフトていました。
国から天神地祇が失われ、混血たちは人間社会と折り合いをつける為に組織化し、巧みに権力者たちを取り込み、権力を使う側になっていったのです。
そうなると退魔四家に居場所があるはずもない。あるものは没落、あるものは違う方法で家をもり立てていきました。最後まで混血退治を請け負っていたのは七夜だけ。なぜって、彼らには“それ”しか取り柄がなかったから。
両儀や巫淨は、退魔の他にも“使い道のある”技があったのでそちらをメインにして生き残りました。
浅神の衰退は自業自得。あれは捕まえた混血を家の守り神として飼育、ないし配合していくうちに血が薄れ、最後には自分たちもほとんど混血になっていた、というミイラ取りがミイラになったパターンです。 - ↑
[] TYPE-MOON Fes. Official Pamphlet 10th Anniversary Q & A Booklet:
Q: Are Ryougi's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception a type of Eyes of Clarity?Q: Are Ryougi's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception a type of Eyes of Clarity?
A: Yes. The Ryougis and Nanayas were good friends! (A long time ago)
Although the two types of eyes are inheritable, if you consider regular Mystic Eyes as traits that modify the body..... something like the inheritance of the traits of the parents' body...... then Eyes of Clarity are the inheritance of fate and destiny......the offspring continues the parents' will and their quest.
Even though Eyes of Clarity are the parents' karma reflected in the offspring, they can only be inherited by "humans" with high spiritual potential.
In other words, Mystic Eyes of Death Perception are a type of hybrid power. The cheating powers of both Shikis ought to have a limit!Q:式の直死の魔眼も浄眼の類ですか?
A:イエス。両義と七夜は仲良しさん!(大昔は)
どちらも遺伝で備わるものですが、魔眼は人体改造的な遺伝……親の肉体の特徴を継承させる……ものとしたら、浄眼は宿命的な遺伝……親の精神性、修練の答えとして子供に受け継がれる……ものである。
親の因果が子に報い、というが、浄眼は高い精神性を持った「人間」にのみ受け継がれるものなのです。
つまり直死の魔眼はハイブリット。>>シキって名前の奴らはチートにも程がある。 - ↑
[] December of 2001 Avz:
It's the first post on the spoiler boards!
I'm asking this here since it's a bit of a spoiler.
The complete edition of Kara no Kyōkai coming out at the winter comiket is going to have errors corrected,
but does that include changes to the setting as well?
(For example, in Tsukihime the succession of the Fujou main family is done through the passing down of techniques,
while in Kyōkai it is determined by blood.)
Kinoko:
I'll answer that!
Regarding the Fujou, the setting isn't quite the same.
Though Rakkyo and Tsukihime have a lot of points in common, there are a few tiny differences in the details.
One of those is the Fujou. In reality they're actually ESP users like the Asagami, Ryougi, and Nanaya. But in Rakkyo they are a magi lineage.
Other than that... oh, right, there's Aoko's age. If Rakkyo and Tsukihime were the same world then Aoko would only be a little bit older than Tohno Shiki. The Aoko in Rakkyo has not yet gained the title of "Miss Blue", and is still training in Misaki Town.
It's probably best to think of it as subtly shifted parallel worlds.Avz:
ネタバレ掲示板に初カキコミです。
ここで、ネタバレっぽい質問になるのですが、
冬コミ発売の『空の境界』完全版では加筆修正が
行われるということですが、修正部分は設定も含めるのでしょうか?
(例:月姫では巫浄本家の継承は技術の伝承で行われていたが、
境界では、血統により継承がおこなわれていたフシがある点)
きのこ:
オコタエシマス、カタカタ。
巫浄に関しての設定は微妙に異なるのです。
何かと類似点が多い「らっきょ」「月姫」ですが、細かい所で異なる部分があります。
その一つが巫浄。実際、浅神、両儀、七夜は超能力に類する物ですが、「らっきょ」の巫浄は魔術師の家系です から。
他には……そうですねー、青子の年齢とか。「月姫」と「らっきょ」がまったく同じ世界だとすると、青子って 志貴よりちょい年上なだけになってしまいます。「らっきょ」での青子さんはまだミス・ブルーなんて呼ばれて おらず、三咲町で修行中だったり。
微妙にズレた平行世界、とでも思っていただければ幸いかと。 - ↑
[] Kara no Kyoukai Special Pamphlet - Encyclopedia: Fujou Kirie [Person's name], p.037-038 [T] Kirie Fujou [Person's name]
A woman in her late twenties. One of the three who made contact. A descendant of an ancient shaman lineage. A character defined by day-dreaming and floating.
Kirie was a woman plagued by disease and spent her life in the hospital ward. After losing her sight, she viewed the world with renewed clarity, and was set free by Araya Souren with another body.
However, without a goal, Kirie had nowhere to go. She lingered and floated, resulting in several victims.
As an aside, the Fujous made a living by channeling (e.g. wayward spirits, Gods, etc). They are a house as ancient as the Ryougis and Asakamis. Although the itako of Mount Osore lost their sight due to looking into the realm of the dead, Kirie's power blossomed as a result of losing her sight to illness.巫条霧絵【ふじょう―きりえ】【人名】
二十代後半の女性。接触する三人のうちの一人。古い呪《まじな》い師の家系。白昼夢と浮遊。
病魔に蝕《むしば》まれ、病室で一生を過ごした女性。失明した事からより明確に外界を認識できるようになり、荒耶宗蓮によって自由になるもう一つの体を与えられた。
が、もとより目的のなかった彼女には行くあてはなく、ただ浮遊するにとどまり、何人もの被害者を生み出してしまった。
また、巫条は口寄せを生業とする一族で、両儀、浅神に並ぶ古い家柄。恐山のイタコは冥界を見る為視力を失うというが、彼女は病魔に視力を奪われる事でその力を開花させてしまったのだ。 - ↑
[] Tsukihime Dokuhon PlusPeriod - TSUKHIME Dictionary: Fujou [Family name], p.187 Fujou [Family name]
As their name suggests, they are a lineage of shrine maidens. Similar to the Nanaya, they pass down special abilities to their children. However, they do not do so through blood, but rather the transmission of skills and knowledge.
The woman who inherits the Fujou name is destined to lose her sight, for being unable to see the material world comes hand in hand with the ability to peer into the world of spirits. Hisui and Kohaku both came from a branch of this family, and unlike the Fujou, this branch did pass on their abilities through blood. However, Hisui and Kohaku's mother violated a taboo and the branch fell into ruin, which led to the two children being taken in by Tohno Makihisa.
By the way, it doesn't have any bearing on Tsukihime, but the picture below is what Hisui and Kohaku's mother looked like when she was young.巫浄【家名】
- ↑
[] Kara no Kyoukai - Chapter 2: “A Study in Murder (Part 1)” Movies Q & A Pamphlets
Q: Shiki’s father seems like a really scary person. What does he do for a living?Q: Shiki’s father seems like a really scary person. What does he do for a living?
Nasu: Naturally, he’s Yaku――*cough*, I mean, he manages a diverse portfolio of companies. He occasionally acts as a “consultant” for rival organizations, and has a large number of “freelance employees” on retainer in his home. And he’s a bit old-fashioned, so he won’t hesitate to resort to violence when the occasion calls for it.
Takeuchi: I see. Basically, you’re saying it was a really dangerous thing that Mikiya did.
Nasu: Oh, and he’s also a member of the Gourmet Club.Q:式のお父さんはとっても怖そうな人ですが、普段は何をしている人なんですか?
奈:そりゃ当然ヤク――ごほんごほん、複数の会社を多角的に経営し、時には競争相手の企業の相談役にもなり、自宅にフリーランスな構成員を何人も抱え持ち、時に暴力も辞さない、昔ながらの名十です。
武:なるほど。幹也がどんだけやばい行動をしていたのかって話ですね。
奈:あと美食クラブの会員です。 - ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Adventures of Lord El-Melloi II Volume 2: The Devil of the Wandering Sea (Upper) - Chapter 1
- ↑
[] Kara no Kyoukai - Chapter 2: “A Study in Murder (Part 1)” Movies Q & A Pamphlets
Q: The Ryougi mansion is really huge. How many people live there? They must have a lot of servants, right?Q: The Ryougi mansion is really huge. How many people live there? They must have a lot of servants, right?
Takeuchi: Well to start with, there’s the beautiful mother.
Nasu: Though, regrettably, there aren’t any twin maids and the elder brother is off living on his own. As for servants, I guess there are about 20 if you include the young ones.Q:とっても大きな両儀邸ですが、何人くらいが住んでいるんですか? やっぱりお手伝いさんとかが沢山いるんですか?
武:とりあえず、美人のお母さんがいます。
奈:残念ながら双子の使用人はいません。出番のない兄貴は離れでくさってます。……使用人、若衆あわせて二十人ぐらいでしょうか。 - ↑
[] Kara no Kyoukai - Chapter 2: “A Study in Murder (Part 1)” Movies Q & A Pamphlets
Q: I noticed that there’s a bamboo grove near the Ryougi mansion. In the spring, do they ever do things like hunting bamboo shoots together as a family?Q: I noticed that there’s a bamboo grove near the Ryougi mansion. In the spring, do they ever do things like hunting bamboo shoots together as a family?
Takeuchi: …Probably not.
Nasu: But they at least go on walks, for sure! Though it’s really just Papa Ryougi and Mama Ryougi.
Occasionally, Shiki will see them spending time together out there from her room.Q:両儀邸の傍にある竹林が気になります。やはり、春になると一家揃って竹の子狩りとかしているのですか?
武:いやだから、普通に考えたらないだろ、それ。
奈:でも散歩ぐらいはするよ、きっと!両儀父と両儀母の組み合わせだけだろうけど。
式はたまに、そういう両親を部屋から見かけたりしているんですよ。 - ↑
[] Kara no Kyoukai - Chapter 2: “A Study in Murder (Part 1)” Movies Q & A Pamphlets
Q: How are relations in the Ryougi household? Like, do they sit down and enjoy meals together as a family?Q: How are relations in the Ryougi household? Like, do they sit down and enjoy meals together as a family?
Takeuchi: …Probably not.
Nasu: The Ryougi household still observes the old Japanese dining traditions.
In ancient Japan, hierarchical relationships were made readily apparent even within families.
A dining table where everybody sat down and ate as equals would be unheard of. Rather, each individual is given their own table that indicates their status.Q:両儀家の家族仲はどんな感じなのですか?家族団らんでご飯を食べたりするの?
武:いや、普通に考えたらねーだろ、あの家でそういうのは。
奈:膳のシステムがまだ生きてるのかも知れませんねー。
昔の日本は家族であっても上下関係がはっきり決まっていて、みんな平等にご飯を食べる「食卓」というものがありませんでしたから。
膳というのは一人一人に与えられた「身分を表す食卓」と思いねえ。 - ↑ The Adventures of Lord El-Melloi II Volume 2: The Devil of the Wandering Sea (Upper) - Chapter 2
- ↑
[] Kara no Kyoukai Special Pamphlet - Encyclopedia: Reien Girls' Academy [Place name], p.044 [T] Reien Girls' Academy [Place name]
Kokutou Mikiya's sister, Kokutou Azaka's school.
A mission style all-girls academy. A sterile boarding school.
Originally it was a sister school of some seminary in England, but recently other girls' academies had emerged using Reien as the template. The sponsor seemed to be Asagami Fujino's father.礼園女学院【れいえんじょがくいん】【地名】
黒桐幹也の妹、黒桐鮮花が通う学校。
ミッション系のお嬢様学院で、全寮制の無菌室。
もともとはイギリスにある神学校の姉妹校なのだが、最近は礼園を手本にした女学院が出来たらしい。出資者は浅上藤乃のお父さんだとか。
Main works |
Tsukihime • Tsukihime anime • Tsukihime PLUS-DISC • Kagetsu Tohya • Melty Blood • Melty Blood Re-ACT • Melty Blood Act Cadenza • Melty Blood Actress Again • Hana no Miyako |
Remake Works |
Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- • Melty Blood: Type Lumina • Tsukihime -The other side of red garden- |
Terms |
Advantage • Age of Gods • Ahnenerbe • Bajiquan • Church • Dead Apostle • Demons • Demon Hunter Organization • Familiar • Magecraft • Magical Girl • Marble Phantasm • Mystic Eyes of Death Perception • Reality Marble • Psychic • Tohno • True Ancestor • Vampire |