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(Hanayama Kaoru)
Hanayama Kaoru(Japanese:花山 薫) is aKeisuke Itagaki's manga series "Baki the Grappler" and its derivative works. His prototype is Kei Hanagata, a high-ranking member of the Japanese yakuza group Ando-gumi.
Introduction
Born with incredible grip strength and a perfect physique, he never trains, believing that for the strong to train or investigate their opponents is an injustice to the weak.However, in the early parts of the manga, he did send people to investigate Baki.At the age of 15, he became the leader of the Hanayama-gumi within the Fujiki-gumi yakuza organization, and inherited the unique Hanayama family tattoo "The Standing Man" on his back.The second year of Genna...
His fighting style is the type with maxed-out attack and zero defense. His signature move is a charged haymaker with his back turned to the opponent (Grip Strength x Weight x Speed = Destructive Power). Although it leaves large openings, it usually lands. Ralf's Galactica Phantom in the King of Fighters series contains elements paying homage to Hanayama.
Although he often serves as a stepping stone for new characters in the main story and doesn't have a high win rate, he is often perceived as extremely strong due to his cool fighting style (of course, Hanayama is indeed very strong, but within the main cast, he can only be considered relatively weak).
History
He fought Baki Hanma for the title of the strongest teenager on Earth. However, after he admitted Baki was stronger (due to Baki's incredible plot armor), Yujiro Hanma suddenly attacked. Kizaki intended to attack Yujiro with a knife, but Yujiro pushed his hand, causing the knife to wound Hanayama's jaw, while mocking him for being just a brat after all.Yujiro, you are truly despicable right now!
Participated in the Maximum Tournament held by Mitsunari Tokugawa and was defeated by Katsumi Orochi's Mach Punch.
In the Most Evil Death Row Convicts arc, he demonstrated immense physical strength and incomparable grip strength in his battle against Spec, ultimately crippling him after the opponent had exhausted all his tricks.However, even in a vegetative state, Spec continued to practice the butterfly stroke in his consciousness. ItagakiScience.jpg
During the Pickle arc, he engaged in a contest of strength with Pickle on the street, showing power comparable to a Triceratops.
At the beginning of Baki-Dou, out of boredom, he challenged the former Strongest Creature on Earth, Yujiro Hanma, and was easily defeated (though he did manage to make Yujiro's nose bleed). After Retsu Kaioh was killed by Musashi, he accepted a request from the police to fight Musashi, using his bones to resist Musashi's slashes, but was ultimately defeated due to severe injuries.
In Baki-Dou (2018), as one of the fighters, he fought a sumo wrestler, knocking him unconscious with a single punch, then waited for him to wake up and made him concede.
In Baki Rahen, he warmed up with Junichi Hanada, but his charged haymaker was countered by Hanada's takedown. Later, in his fight against Jack Hanma, his charged haymaker was enhanced; despite Jack's Goudou being incredibly fast, he still struck Jack's face twice, though his fists were bitten. Jack bit Hanayama multiple times, but howled in pain as Hanayama used his immense grip strength to pinch his face, tear his flesh, and "wring him like a towel." After Hanayama kicked Jack to the ground, the fight was interrupted by the police. Readers initially thought Hanayama had the upper hand, but the next chapter revealed Jack suffered little damage, while Hanayama lost consciousness from massive bleeding after Jack bit his neck and was rushed for emergency treatment.
Others
Speaking of Kaoru Hanayama, one cannot help but mention the Otokodachi. Speaking of the Otokodachi, have you heard the story of the Standing Man?Even if you've heard it, listen to it again, you bastard! In the second year of the Genna era, the Hanayama family was brutally raided by bandits. The one who was supposed to die that night was saved by a traveling gambler staying for the night, who hid the last of the Hanayama bloodline under a temple bell. Even after being hacked to death on the spot, the gambler remained standing. Later, to commemorate this gambler's chivalry, the heads of the Hanayama family in every generation would have the "Otokodachi" tattooed on their backs...
In the first manga series, it was mentioned that both the gambler and the bandits had served the Toyotomi family (actually, there was a translation error; the bandits were former Toyotomi retainers who thought that if the gambler had served the Toyotomi, their fate might have been different), adding another misdeed to the Tokugawa name.
- Baki Gaiden: Scarface (Hanayama Gaiden)
A Baki spin-off work illustrated by Yukinao Yamauchi.
Kaoru Hanayama, who often serves as a stepping stone in the main series, received an exaggerated power-up in this spin-off. Consequently, fans refer to him in this work as "Saint Hanayama" and view him as a different character from the main series version. It is usually regarded by Baki fans as a parallel universe work,namely the "Saint Hanayama Universe." However, since Baki-Dou (2018) mentioned content from this work, Saint Hanayama has officially joined the main universe.
- Baki Gaiden: Kizadura (also known as Hanayama Gaiden)
A Baki spin-off work illustrated by Yukinao Yamauchi.
It tells the story of Hanayama Kaoru's school life. (Mostly comedic content, such as the powerful Hanayama often being lectured by the Tokyo University graduate Kizaki about his studies until he can't lift his head.)
Character Memes
- Have you heard the story of the "Standing Man"?
The tattoo "Standing Man" engraved on the back of every generation's head of the Hanayama gambler family.
- The Old Three
Refers to the Standing Man, Wild Turkey whiskey (drinking it by snapping the bottle neck), and playing cards (Hanayama can tear a small piece off a deck of cards using only finger strength). These three things are always used as examples to demonstrate Hanayama's strength, hence they are called the "Old Three."
- Attack on Hanayama
From the Death Row Convicts arc of Baki Part 2; because Hanayama, with his cheeks blown off, looked very much like the [Colossal Titan] from "Attack on Titan" (doge). He then sent Speck flying onto a streetlight with a single punch. Because the battle was so exaggerated, it was firmly remembered by fans. At that moment, Hanayama surpassed God
- We're talking about Hanayama Kaoru here!
From the Death Row Convicts arc of the second part; during the battle with Speck, a policeman(Shinzo Katahira)witnessed the entire battle and later described it using body language. Because the lines and movements were so classic, it became a meme.
- Hand-squeezed rose essential oil
While visiting his seriously ill mother, Hanayama squeezed essential oil directly from roses and applied it to her face. Hanayama, you are so gentle!
- oo, you are so gentle
From the Miyamoto Musashi arc; before Hanayama and Yujiro started fighting, Yujiro was asked for an autograph and tore the paper into four pieces, leading Hanayama to comment: "Truly the gentlest on Earth..."
Combined with the "Motobe, you are so strong" meme, this sentence structure was born.