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Chronology |
Kanzaki Kaori (神裂 火織 Kanzaki Kaori?) is a supporting character introduced in Toaru Majutsu no Index. Originally a magician affiliated with the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church, she rejected them and eventually joined Necessarius where she met Index and Stiyl Magnus and became friends with them. She is also a Saint and is currently one of the most formidable magicians in the series.
Though she rejected the Amakusas, she still feels a sort of longing for them, and eventually returns to them when they become a part of Necessarius to become their leader once again.
Etymology
It is likely, as many of her comrades are named after places in the Nagasaki Prefecture, that her name is derived from the Kozaki Catholic Church that can be found in Sasebo, Nagasaki. The kanji that the church uses for its name (神裂) is similar to her family name, Kanzaki.
In Volume 4, her family name 'Kanzaki' can be translated as The Breaker of God which makes reference to her developed ability to even kill gods from the Amakusa Church Style Remix of Church.
Appearance
She is a young eighteen-years-old woman, 170 centimeters in height,[2] with long black hair tied up in a ponytail that reaches her hips. She wears a short white T-shirt tied into a knot at the bottom, revealing her belly button; her dark blue jeans have one pants leg cut off to be very short. She uses a two-meter-long nodachi called "Shichiten Shichitou" as her weapon, it has been stated that her outfit follows the rules of asymmetry, which reinforces a small spell that allows her to balance herself and move herself more freely.[3] She sports a denim jacket over her usual attire in later novels.
She wears a flower patterned yukata when she is at Necessarius' dormitories.
Personality
Due to the events in her life as the Supreme Pontiff, and later as a friend of Index, Kanzaki turned into a cold and taciturn woman, always serious, and not in the mood for jokes, the proverbial ice queen. During the fight for Index, Touma asks why she didn't kill him, and the answer is not that she won't but she can't.[4] This extends to divine beings, such as Archangel Gabriel, despite the danger he posed to the world, Kanzaki could only distract him, and wished for Touma to end the Angel Fall, as she could never kill Gabriel.[5]
Her personality gradually changes, as with all the members of Necessarius that have met Touma, showing a kinder side to herself and others after Touma saves Index and helps to confront her past with the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church, feeling more comfortable and grateful to Touma becoming more prone to showing emotion and sometimes showing a little embarrassment with other people, having awkward interactions from her trying to thank Touma for saving the members of the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church on various occasions and Tsuchimikado Motoharu's attempts to encourage Kanzaki into various cosplay gear for Touma. Outside combat situations she pursues the behavior of a Yamato Nadeshiko,[6] however her manner of speech and demeanor when serious resemble that of a Samurai. She has also been described as innocent when it comes to sexuality, and this is further supported by the fact that she can't really understand most of Tsuchimikado's "make it up to Touma" daring suggestions.[7] Due to her demeanor and long time of residence, she is usually referenced as "the representative of Necessarius dorms" [8] when one is needed. By the statement of "Yamato Nadeshiko", it should be pointed out that the phrase is a Japanese term meaning "personification of an idealized Japanese woman".
She has been shown as being able to calm herself down by putting together a tower of tiles and then break them with a Karate chop while she is regaining her serenity; this is even played out comically as Kanzaki "pulls out the tiles seemingly from nowhere". So far the only character that has stressed her enough so that she is forced to use that soothing method has been Tsuchimikado Motoharu.[9]
Furthermore, as an apparent attribute of magicians, she is very weak with machines as shown when Academy City sends a washing machine which she complains about.[10] This later leads into a comical situation where the Washing Machine goes haywire after Kanzaki punched in random buttons after putting one of her pieces of cloth into it without proper judgment. In another opportunity she displays tender tears of happiness when the washing machine finally works perfectly as instructed, even going as far as hugging the object. This later leads to a running gag with the washing machine when Necessarius had to abandon their dorms and only take with them what was essential, Kanzaki noted that her most prized material possessions were her pet tropical fish and "her friend", a certain washing machine. She made absolutely sure that those two items would be saved even in that dire situation.[11]
Sometimes, Kanzaki can be hypocritical. She was angry at Acqua of the Back for using the full powers of a Saint to attack an innocent high school student because of his duties, even through she did the same thing herself the first time she met the said student.
Background
She was tremendously blessed as a child. She was born as a Saint, and was chosen to be the Supreme Pontiff of the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church since birth. She has the uncanny ability to succeed in no matter what she does,[12] though she realizes that when something fortunate happens to her, something unfortunate happens to others in turn. However, those people who are unfortunate, still admired her regardless, and through hither, Kanzaki became disillusioned with her sect, blaming herself for their misfortune. This led her to despise the concept of luck and fortune as her fortune in turn only bring misery to those around her from what she can see, as it has been mentioned in the novels she no longer wants to see innocent people rushing to protect her, dying in the process, and saying with their last breath that it's alright as long as she's fine.
Three years before the start of the series, Kanzaki defects from the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church to the Anglican Church, and becomes a part of the Church of Necessary Evil. There, she meets Tsuchimikado Motoharu,[13] who teaches her proper English, as well as Stiyl Magnus, and Index, where they become good friends.[14]
She is later told by the church that Index needs her memories erased once a year, since her mind has been overloaded by too much information since she only has 15% of the brain left for the rest of its functions. Having found no way to have Index preserve her memories, she opted to take pictures of them together one last time. Both Kanzaki and Stiyl are later persuaded by Laura Stuart to erase Index's memories, weeping by her side and giving her the pictures that they took in memory of the time they spent together. Even then, both of them tried to create new memories with Index, but later grew weary of the process of trying to make new memories with her and the fact that Index was often pained when she realized that she would forget them again, because of this they gave up, and allowed Index to believe that they were enemies of hers and were after the Grimoires.[14]
Abilities
Her magic name is Salvare000, "Be the salvation of those who cannot be saved" (救われぬ者に救いの手を Sukuwarenu Mono ni Sukui no Te o?). Unlike her partner Stiyl, she uses magic to magically strengthen her body, and is proficient in non-magical combat. Her ability has been stated to be within one of the 10 best magicians in London.[15]
As a magician who immigrated to England and transferred to the Anglican Church, Kanzaki Kaori, has knowledge of both Western and Eastern magic styles. Basically, in a fight with her, she can overwhelm the enemy from 360 degrees. The wires, the magic from the wires and then herself. Other skills in the Amakusa Style include excluding civilians from being involved from magician's combat like Stiyl's 'Opila' runes and enchant water to heal all external wounds and scars, Kanzaki mentioned that they can even enchant food as to give it a healing effect that would be applied just by eating.[1]
Christianity derived
- Stigma (
聖痕 Seikon (Sutiguma)?): It is the ability to call upon God's power as a Saint who has bodily characteristics similar to the Son of God, she is endowed with super-human capabilities. Kanzaki uses this in combination with the Amakusa Style to perform magic that can stand up to Christian Angels.[16] - Like Stiyl she can use the Opila Rune (ᛟ) to create an area that no one enters outside intended targets.[17]
- St. Peter's Interception Spell: Kanzaki is capable of using this common anti-flight spell against targets using Magic to fly without wings.[18]
- Saint-derived Healing Magic: Developed when Kanzaki Kaori had lost her comrades and was going down the path that Saints often go down, this magic is based on her qualities as a Saint and the feats of resurrection carried out by the Son of God. While it was unable to carry out its intended function, it was later used to forcibly raise Brunhild's Saint side during their battle.[19]
Mixed-religion derived
Amakusa's Style Combat: She uses the spells of an organization that belonged to the Kakure Kirishitan who were persecuted during the Edo period in Japan. Due to their use of Shinto and Buddhism as a front for their Christian church, they ended up constructing a unique style that fused those religions to the point of it being unclear what parts are camouflage and what parts are real. Kanzaki Kaori could use Christian, Buddhist, and Shinto magic. Of course, that also means she can use each separate type of magic power that is the source of their spells and switch them for the best outcome of the situation. By wielding her nodachi known as Shichiten Shichitou (七天七刀 Shichiten Shichitō?, lit. "Seven Heaven Seven Swords", Yen Press: Seven Heavens Sword or Seven Heavens, Seven Blades), she can use the following attacks:
Kanzaki Kaori using her Nanasen.
Sword and Wires Techniques
- Nanasen (七閃 Nanasen?, lit. "Seven Flashes", Yen Press: Seven Glints): Kanzaki Kaori's main attack, which uses 7 wires which can 'split' into thousands to surround and cut the enemy, though only Kanzaki can go that far due to her attributes as a Saint.
- Yuisen (唯閃 Yuisen?, lit. "Single Flash", Yen Press: Single Glint): An attack which infuses Kanzaki's sword with magic, giving her the capability to harm even Christian angels. It is also said to be used only when necessary and even then only when a kill was guaranteed.[20]
- Wire magic: Using her wires as a three-dimensional magic circle, Kanzaki can create a variety of magic spells for her to use.[21]
- Boundary of Forbidden Wires (禁糸結界 Kinshi Kekkai?, Yen Press: Prohibition Barrier): A spell originating from South East Asia, Kanzaki creates a Magic Circle using her wires. It summons a god to protect an area. Just like Stiyl's Opila runes, this spell creates a people clearing field and addition to that changes their perception about the areas where the people is in.[12]
- Kanzaki is able to cast either fire or ice spells using her wires.[20] She is able to use a fire spell, referred to as Red Lotus Flames (紅蓮の炎 Guren no Honō?) that allows her to summon a strong red flame to surround the target, creating three explosions upon the target, and finally, Kanzaki can choose to slash the target with her sword.[21]
- Using the wires, she can create a massive defensive spell. Since she used it on the area around Buckingham Palace, it is likely that the spell is as large as that area. The magic barrier created from the spell is powerful enough to withstand several bunker cluster missiles.[22]
- Battoujutsu (抜刀術 Battōjutsu?): It is a swordstyle that focuses on powerful strikes that "start in a split second" and "end in a split second", meaning that energy isn't miss-used outside the attack while the sword is sheathed. Kanzaki is not particularly fond of the style.[5]
- Cutting lightning (雷切 Raikiri?, Yen Press: Thundercleaver): Also called Raikiri,[23] Kanzaki can use a spell based on the Japanese legends of swords slicing through lightning in order to cut through and neutralize electric attacks such as those from Mjölnir.[24]
Other Abilities
- Breaker of God (神を裂く者 Kami wo Saku Mono?, lit. "He who cleaves God", Yen Press: God Slayer): It is basically a magic mode which Kanzaki Kaori can enter by regulating her breathing and requires from her nodachi to use it, while in this "mode" Kanzaki abilities will increase tremendously to the point where her performance can only be described as "super human"; her blood vessels, muscles, nerves, organs and bones all obtain the ability of the God Breaker under the spell. The spell puts great strain to Kanzaki, and during her battle with Archangel Gabriel, she is forced to use her Battoujutsu style to conserve energy.[5]
- Communication Spells: In her own sidestory, Kanzaki used two different methods of Communication Spells, one was a charm which she gave to the Ymir's Ocean Girl which activated after receiving blood upon itself [25] and the other one was in her phone which allowed her to speak with the Jeans Shop Owner in her battle against Brunhild Eiktobel.[19]
- Using an unnamed ability, she is able to withstand the environment of outer space and atmospheric reentry, as seen in the movie Toaru Majutsu no Index: Miracle of Endymion.
Equipment
- Shichiten Shichitou (七天七刀 Shichiten Shichitō?, lit. "Seven Heaven Seven Swords", Yen Press: Seven Heavens Sword): A two-meter-long nodachi Kanzaki Kaori uses for various very powerful spells, one of them is her Yuisen which can even harm Christian angels. It is her primary weapon since she is still an Amakusa-Church member, which use Magic primary with their favorite weapon.
- Steel Wires (
鋼糸 ?): Seven steel wires of global historical value, drop-forged by a swordsmith named Samonji (左文字?),[5] which Kanzaki uses to perform her main attack, Nanasen.
- Kanzaki Kaori's Clothes: Kanzaki's get-up is also special. Wearing asymmetrical clothes she can create a spell of unknown effect, most likely it would be a defensive spell. The clothes are deliberately made in that way to allow the balance on both sides to be used more effectively.[3]
Relationships
Index
Kanzaki Kaori and Index were close friends before Index had her memories erased. After Index had her memories erased, Kanzaki tried to make more memories with her again, but after a while she gave up on making more memories with Index and allowed Index to think that they were enemies. Even though Index no longer remembers her, she is still very important to Kanzaki.
Kamijou Touma
Touma is someone that Kanzaki feels a lot of debt to. This started after he saved Index, something Kanzaki was unable to do. Then he helped out the Amakusa's and she felt her debt to him continue to grow. She was once persuaded by Tsuchimikado Motoharu to try and pay off her debt to Touma by wearing a fallen angel ero maid costume for him. It is unknown what exactly happened but when they saw each other again Touma could only call her the "Fallen Angel Ero Maid", which made her angry. This led to some people believing that she is in love with him, although whether or not she is has yet to be seen. As a side effect, she became overly conscious toward Touma. When he disappeared after World War III, she showed signs of depression about living in a world where he was not around. She would sometimes think about all Touma has done and what he said to her when they first meet about protecting people. Her relationship with Touma is viewed with curiosity by others. Saiji said that he declined Knight Leader’s inviting Kanzaki to a ball after he visited the Amakusa Christian’s living quarters in London. He said: "You can go home. Our priestess likes to lead a young man rather than being led by an older gentleman." According to Orsola, it has now become a rumor that spread across half of London that Kanzaki has a crush on Kamijou Touma, which from their various interactions between the two leads to many people thinking Kanzaki has a crush on Touma. Even people like Laura Stuart makes fun of her using this rumor on at least one occasion.[26]
Stiyl Magnus
Stiyl is a partner. She shares and understands Stiyl's love and devotion toward Index.
Tsuchimikado Motoharu
Motoharu is someone who gets under her skin. Kanzaki shows definite concern towards Motoharu in his self-destructive magic use in the Angel Fall arc, stating to Touma that "Kanzaki's too kind," and that "If I were to use this method, I would definitely be stopped by her. She's just like that."[27]Motoharu never lets her know that he was the one who cast the Red Spell to destroy Touma's house, giving her the illusion of being completely in Touma's debt for saving her life. He later encouraged her to wear "Fallen Angel Ero Maid" costume to tease her.
Character Art Designs
Design Evolution
Haimura Kiyotaka states that Kanzaki Kaori's design had the most in it, and as such gave him the most trouble.[28] Despite this, she has the least number of revisions in the characters introduced with designs in volume 1, second only to Komoe, easily matching the deformed style that was required with the light novel format.
A common theme that Haimura went for Stiyl and Kanzaki is that ever since their introduction in Volume 1, the gap between age and appearance in the magic side characters has been much greater than in the science side characters. When he read the first draft of Volume 1, he came with the impression that it was the story of children rebelling against the reasoning of adults. Stating that:"...I thought Kamijou would have seen Stiyl and Kanzaki as adults that used reasonings and principles that a child would refuse to accept." Haimura believed that the Index novels would go on for so long, as such he went with the designs that did not match their age, and by volume 7 Haimura began regretting his decision.[28]
By volume 12, Kanzaki becomes affected by Haimura's deformed art style, and to which Haimura even references. Kanzaki's autumn look, apart from adding a denim jacket, Haimura also had her hair tie look more like a ribbon, as well as her pants low rise.
Gallery
.jpg "Stiyl Kanzaki (Kiyotaka).jpg (370 KB)")
.jpg "Kanzaki Kaori & Apharmd C (Virtual-On game).jpg (281 KB)")
Trivia
- Some of the 'cosplays' Motoharu suggested are maids, angels, fallen angels and/or ero versions of one or mixes of them, which later on making "fallen angel accident" at the end of the Volume 16.
- Though no one knows what really happened at the end of volume 16 when Kanzaki decided to wear "Fallen Angel Ero Maid" costume that Motoharu give to her, the event left Touma traumatized enough to fear the "third angelic shadow that differed from Misha Kreutzev and Kazakiri Hyouka". This even affected his attitude toward Kanzaki in volume 17 as he started to call her Fallen Angel Ero Maid after their first meeting in volume 17.
- Kanzaki was among the characters that were featured on a set of Toaru-themed Tarot cards were released by Animate for the series 20th anniversary. The cards were based on the Major Arcana of the Rider-Waite deck, and Kanzaki's card was The High Priestess, with the image used being from Toaru Majutsu no Index Volume 4.[29][30]
Quotes
- (Speaking to Kamijou Touma, Vol. 1) : “The speed of my slash woven by my Shichiten Shichitou, Nanasen, can kill a person seven times in the period known as ‘an instant’. People call this an instant kill. Calling it a certain-kill would not be incorrect either”
- (While sending off Touma, before Misha, Vol. 4) : "Yeah. Though it's a little disrespectful for me to say this, I decide to trust you for now. Just like the time when you saved that child in front of me, this time, please save me"
- (Speaking of the Amakusa, during Vol. 7) : “I have no right to stand in front of them now, and they don’t need my power now. I’m like an auxiliary wheel of a bicycle”
- (To a certain washing machine, Vol. 12) : "That Archbishop... why did she have to get such a complex and bothersome thing?"
- (Speaking to Laura Stuart, during Vol. 16) : "Shut up, you big amateur! I decided, after seeing that bastard Tsuchimikado laughing perversely at me while we were at the seaside house, I realized that this was all of because of you, stupid woman! If not for his stupid woman, I wouldn't need to show any gratitude, and I wouldn't need to show any more respect to this stupid woman!"
- (Internal monologue, during Vol. 16) : "Erotic fallen angel costume, how could that sort of object be used to judge a woman!?"
- (After greeting Touma, during Vol. 17) : “I am not a fallen angel, I am not erotic, and I am not a maid!! I-it’s true that…after the battle with Acqua, I…did v-v-various things. I admit that. But ‘Fallen Angel Ero Maid’ should not be the first words out of your mouth when you see me!!”
- (Speaking to Laura Stuart, during Vol. 18) : “And given all the magical incidents you’ve gotten that boy wrapped up in, aren’t you the one who should be wearing the Fallen Angel Ero Maid!?”
- (Speaking to Orsola Aquinas, during NT Vol. 21) : “To be honest, I am not confident I have it in me to continue fighting. I killed someone. Whatever form they might have taken, the Crowley’s Hazards were still people. I violated my magic name. So I am not sure how I should wield magic now.”
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 07 Epilogue
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 1 Part 1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 16 Chapter 1 Part 9
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Episode 04
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 3 Part 5
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS Chapter 3 Part 1
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 16 Epilogue Part 1
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS Chapter 3 Part 2
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 16 Epilogue
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index II Episode 18
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 18 Chapter 6 Part 10
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 2 Part 5
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 1 Part 3
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Toaru Majutsu no Index Manga Chapter 007
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 01 Chapter 2 Part 4
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 2 Part 6
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 1 Part 5
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 4
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Kanzaki Kaori Chapter 8
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 16 Chapter 3 Part 3
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 16 Chapter 3 Part 1
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 18 Chapter 7 Part 5
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 22 Chapter 11 Part 2
- ↑ Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 4 Part 4
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Kanzaki Kaori Chapter 2
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 16 Prologue
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 4
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Rainbow Spectrum: notes on Volume 1, translated by js06 and posted on Animesuki by user hao-sama
- ↑ Animate
- ↑ Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 04
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| Kanzaki Kaori | William Orwell | Silvia |
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| Brunhild Eiktobel | Number Ten Saint | Kanzaki Kigomi |
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