Kyokutei Bakin

A writer from late Edo Japan, and one of Japan's best-known authors. His works include "Nansou Satomi Hakkenden (Nansou Satomi Eight Dog Chronicles)," "Chinsetsu Yumiharizuki (A Wonder Tale: The Moonbow)," "Keisei Suikoden" (an adaptation of the Chinese classic "The Water Margin"), "Kinsesetsu Bishonenroku (A Modern-Day Record of Handsome Youths)," and many more.

The well-known ukiyo-e artist and contemporary of Bakin, Katsushika Hokusai, contributed illustrations to many of Bakin's most popular works, including "Chinsetsu Yumiharizuki."

Born to a samurai family—a source of constant pride for Bakin—his innate talent for the written word ultimately led to him becoming the first Japanese person to make a living solely from writing.

Height/Weight: 157cm, 45kg

Origin: History

Region: Japan

Alignment: Lawful-Balanced

Sub-Attribute: Human

Gender: Female (Physically)

The ears and tail are just part of a costume!

True Name: Takizawa Okikuni. Kyokutei Bakin is his pen name, though he also went by the pseudonym Chosadoushujin. He was very proud and fastidious man who valued order and discipline above all. He is extremely well-versed in the history and traditions of various eras and regions, and particularly enjoys reading Chinese novels such as "The Water Margin," and even knows a fair amount of medicine and Confucian philosophy.

Born in Edo Fukagawa as the fifth son of a hatamoto younin (chief retainer), he worked many different jobs, including page to the Matsudaira clan, retainer to a hatamoto, head clerk at the Tsuruya publishing house, footwear merchant, and apprentice to a calligraphy master, before deciding to become a full-time writer at the age of 24. At 36, he took a trip to the Kyoto-Osaka area where he met well-known literary figures, which inspired him to begin publishing his work with greater frequency. In time, his novel "Sanshichi Zenden Nanka no Yume" and his epic "Chinsetsu Yumiharizuki" became highly popular, establishing him as one of the leading authors of his time.

During this period, Kyokutei Bakin also became close friends with the ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai, even letting him stay at his house for three or four months when Bakin was 39, Hokusai 46, and Hokusai's daughter, Oei, 6. Said to be over 180cm each, both Bakin and Hokusai were exceptionally tall, especially for the time and place, which made them quite the sight on the streets of Edo.

Tokimura Michi was born and raised in Edo. She was also a skilled dancer. Originally the daughter of a doctor in Edo Kanda, she became daughter-in-law to Kyokutei Bakin after she married his only son, Takizawa Souhaku. As part of her bridal training, she worked as a maidservant for the Matsudaira clan and for the Ooku in Edo Castle.

In Bakin's later years, after he lost his sight, she enabled him to continue his career by serving as both his eyes and brush, writing down his words as he dictated them to her. She was instrumental to the completion of the "Nansou Satomi Eight Dog Chronicles," a lengthy epic that took 28 years in total to finish. Michi had to learn how to read and write many difficult characters and words of Chinese origin as part of her dictation duties, and she struggled at times to meet Bakin's exacting standards, but she persevered and ultimately succeeded brilliantly. Now, even though Kyokutei Bakin has become a Servant, she serves as their shared Spirit Origin's base because he still can't see without her.

The familiar puppies who make up the eight Dog Warriors symbolize Bakin's unconventional creative process, with very high highs and very low lows.

Jin/Shinbei - The youngest Dog Warrior who frequently gets into mischief with Dousetsu.

Gi/Sousuke - A worldly dog who tends to miss out on many things because of his cautious, reserved nature.

Rei/Daikaku - The goodest of good boys. Perhaps worryingly so.

Chi/Keno - A beautiful dog who often fights with Shino.

Chu/Dousetsu - A noisy pup with a notoriously short fuse.

Shin/Genpachi - One of the younger dogs who nonetheless possesses great strength.

Kou/Shino - This dog is either majestic or shameless, depending on who you ask.

Tei/Kobungo - A big eater who should really learn to pace himself.

Svabhāva: B

A Buddhist phrase that means "the name makes the person." Here, it refers to the unique naming system Bakin used in many of his books. For example, the "fuse" in "Fusehime" has a deeper meaning of "a human who obeys a dog." Naming is both a prayer for creation, and a curse of righteousness. In the magecraft world, understanding a being's true name is essential to controlling it.

Eight Benevolences and Righteousnesses: A

These eight virtues are "Jin" (Benevolence), "Gi" (justice), "Rei" (courtesy), "Chi" (wisdom), "Chu" (loyalty), "Shin" (faith), "Kou" (piety), and "Tei" (respect), and are traditionally considered a crucial part of being a good person. The spirit beads that symbolize these virtues, each of which has the character for that virtue printed on it, flew off in eight directions after Fusehime died, and came to be possessed by each of the eight Dog Warriors from the day they were born. Eventually, once the Dog Warriors all came together, these mysterious beads then bestowed new power upon the goddess Fusehime.

Lost in Writing: A

A skill that reflects the countless busy days Kyokutei Bakin spent absorbed in the act of creation. Symbolizes the bond between Bakin and his daughter-in-law, Omichi, who supported him after he lost his sight.

『Nansou Satomi Eight Dog Chronicles』

Rank: A

NP Type: Anti-Personnel

Range: 1 - ?

Maximum Targets: 98

Nansou Satomi Hakkenden.

Kyokutei Bakin transforms into the goddess Fusehime, striding across the sky on Yatsufusa's back while under the protection of the gods. Fusehime's unwavering devotion to justice, a constant throughout the Eight Dog Chronicles, transforms into a spiritual blade, which she then uses in conjunction with her indomitable will to lay waste to all enemies in her path.

Fusehime.

A character in "Nansou Satomi Eight Dog Chronicles." The eldest daughter of Satomi Yoshizane, the founder of the Awa Satomi clan and descendant of Nitta Genji. One day, her father jokingly says to Fusehime's pet dog, Yatsufusa, that he would offer Yatsufusa Fusehime's hand in marriage if only Yatsufusa would bring him back the head of a vexing enemy general. To their surprise, Yatsufusa did exactly that the very next day, prompting Fusehime to volunteer to hide away in a cave on Mt. To along with Yatsufusa in order to keep her father's promise. Over time, Fusehime becomes pregnant from Yatsufusa's spiritual energy, and ends up taking her own life to prove her chastity to her father.

Upon her death, Buddhist prayer beads wreathed in spiritual energy that she wore everywhere she went flew off in eight directions, coming to reside in the bodies of eight dog warriors with ties to the Satomi clan. From then on, Fusehime became the guardian goddess of the Satomi clan, though she protected them from the shadows.

In Japanese, she uses the highly unusual "wanami" as her pronoun for herself. A proud, daring, and righteous woman who refuses to tolerate any wrongdoing, her physical age serves as the base for Kyokutei Bakin's Servant form.

Yatsufusa.

Another character in "Nansou Satomi Eight Dog Chronicles." An exceptionally large dog who was raised by tanuki, he adores Fusehime with all his heart. Mistakenly taking Satomi Yoshizane's jest about marrying his daughter as having been made in earnest, he hurried off to bring back an enemy general's head and ultimately returned victorious.

Although the lingering grudge of former enemies dwelled within his body, he was able to overcome it thanks to Fusehime's sutra readings. Though he unfortunately died of a wound from a stray bullet, in death, he remained by Fusehime's side as her faithful spirit dog.