Hino Choko

* Masked
* Unmasked

## Image Gallery

**Hino Choko** (日野 (ひの)  長光 (ちょうこう) , *Hino Chōkō*), also known as "**The Living God of Power**" (力の現人神, *Chikara no Arahitogami*?Literal translation: *Arahitogami of Power*), is one of Oda Nobunaga's retainers. Before he came under Oda, he had no name and was simply referred to by the title of "**Onigami**" (鬼神 (おにがみ) , *Onigami*). He is also one of the fighters participating in the Tenkaichi tournament, representing Hashiba Hideyoshi.

## Appearance

Hino Choko is a behemoth of a man, with a bulky body built with thick muscle. He has so far only been seen wearing a fundoshi, thick black spiked cuffs around his wrists and ankles and an oni mask with a mane of thick black hair covering his face.
After his mask is taken off by Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami, it is revealed that Choko is a bidanshi with a hairless face, long light-coloured hair, thick bisected eyebrows, visibly voluminous eyelashes, thick black markings underneath his large eyes and noticeably sharp canines; however his two most distinguishing features are his concentrically-ringed irises and the horn-like protrusion on the left side of his forehead. Choko almost always has a smile or positive expression on his face, rarely if ever frowning.

While he was the Onigami in Hino village, Choko's overall physical appearance was the same, although he had a get-up reminiscent of the divine being he was portrayed as being; he had black markings on his face, neck and shoulders, two basic necklaces adorned with fangs around his neck and his long hair was set into a unique and important-looking style. Regardless of the situation he was in, as the Onigami, Choko almost always had the same slightly smiling expression painted on his face.

## Personality

Hino initially remained mostly silent in all his appearances, save for aggressive growls. However he was completely subservient and loyal to his master Oda Nobunaga, performing tasks as and when asked without question. He showed a high degree of reverence towards the Shogun, as seen when he violently threw a metal fan in Shibata Katsuie's face, severely maiming him, after the daimyo spoke out against Nobunaga during their audience with him.

After his mask is removed by Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami, Choko's true personality is restored―it is correctly noted by the Sword Saint that Choko had been 'asleep' the entire time (highlighted by Choko himself greeting with a smile on his face); his complete shift in attitude, and even tone, is very noticeable, something the spectators of his fight noticed immediately.
Choko's true personality is openly affable and informally cordial; while generally quite polite, he will also casually and amicably mock and condescend others. As a result of his questionable upbringing by his mother, Choko is virtually indifferent to and utterly lacks consideration for the whims and struggles of other people. Choko's upbringing also left him 'empty', having no real desires or nature of his own and essentially making him nothing more than a force of nature used for his god-like strength; to this end, after Japan was unified and peace arrived, Choko willingly put himself to 'sleep' because he considered killing himself out of sheer boredom otherwise.
Interestingly, Choko places great importance on a person's name (very likely due to the fact that his mother never gave him one and that the name he currently goes by originally belonged to a man he once killed); according to him, the name makes the man!

## History

Born in Hino village in the mountains, he was able to stand just days after he was born and could understand speech in a matter of months. Due to his ravenous appetite, incredible intelligence and inhuman strength, he was soon feared and revered by the people of Hino village as an "Onigami". Raised by his mother (who kept him compliant by letting him suck on her breasts), the Onigami used his strength to settle disputes over watering rights with other villages in life-or-death sumo matches―however it didn't stop with just water, with the Onigami also plundering crops, money and wares as he believed it was his duty.
After one such sumo match, his defeated opponent asked for the Onigami's name. The Onigami was bemused by the question, eliciting the defeated opponent to introduce himself as "Choko", a rikishi recognised by Oda Nobunaga himself. Calling himself the Onigami, the rikishi named "Choko" pitied the irony that the boy wasn't even given a name and yet essentially had the power of the gods. At that, the Onigami crushed "Choko's" head, frightening the villagers and causing his mother to start angrily berating and threatening him for killing in a degrading manner again.

While walking through the village, the Onigami saw a mother breastfeeding her baby. Coming over, the Onigami tore the baby from the mother's grip, pinned the woman down and was about to suck on her breasts when he suddenly imagined the woman as his own angered mother. Stopping and letting the scared and penitent mother flee, the Onigami casually noted how weird the event had been while noticing the mother call her baby son by his name.
Coming home, the Onigami stated even babies had names and asked his mother for one. Visibly irked by the question, his mother told him he was "Onigami". Bemused, the Onigami concluded he must have done something wrong again. Just then, a villager burst in informing them a samurai had arrived looking for "Onigami". The Onigami came out, with his mother cowering behind him, and met the samurai, who introduced himself as Oda Nobunaga and informed them he had come to the village due to hearing about an evil "devil", surmising the Onigami to be none other than said "devil". As the Onigami politely tried explaining he wasn't a devil but actually an onigami, his terrified mother interrupted him and screamed he was the "devil" and was to blame (getting a confused glance from the Onigami in the process). Not hearing it, Nobunaga told his men to fire, with the Onigami and his mother getting struck by a barrage of bullets. Nobunaga uttered his surprise that the boy hadn't died, causing the boy to casually acknowledge the situation, adding that Nobunaga was mean and that getting shot hurt. Noticing the boy's change in attitude, Nobunaga asked what his true nature was, but the boy replied that he had no clue as he didn't get that kind of stuff, adding that it was funny since he didn't even get given a name. Fascinated by the boy, Nobunaga told him to live on as "Choko" and use his strength for his sake. Commenting that his strength got him a borrowed name, the boy asked if he could decline the offer, causing Nobunaga to respond that he would kill him as originally planned. Sarcastically responding to Nobunaga's ruthless demeanour, Choko indirectly agreed to the samurai's offer, before crawling over to his mother's corpse and having one final suck of her breasts (but noting it to be gross as it tasted of blood) and saying he didn't care anymore.

In 1579, Choko travelled with Nobunaga and displayed his supreme strength to Nobunaga's retainers at the grand sumo matches in Mount Azuchi. Afterwards, Choko joined Nobunaga on the battlefield during the latter's crusade to unite Japan, utilising his god-like strength however he fancied.

In 1590, after Japan had been united under Oda, Hashiba Hideyoshi asked Choko if he really wanted to go through with it, but the rikishi nonchalantly waved off the concern, saying he might kill himself out of boredom otherwise. With Hideyoshi saying he didn't get why and saying he had a right to know, Choko responded that it was a god's anguish and normal people wouldn't understand (irritating Hideyoshi). The daimyo warned Choko that the effects may be irreversible, but Choko merely replied that it wouldn't be an issue as he had a hunch Nobunaga would pull something big in the future. At that, Choko bid them adieu before putting the mask on.

## Plot

Hino Choko was introduced pulling in Oda Nobunaga's wheeled seat into the hall for the Shogun's audience with the current daimyos of Japan. During the audience, Hino threw a metal fan into Shibata Katsuie's face, severely maiming him, after the daimyo spoke out against Nobunaga's plan.

102 days later, at Ozaka castle, Hino brought the attention to the opening of the Tenkaichi tournament by loudly banging taiko.
Shortly before the second match was about to begin, after Nobunaga complained of his boredom, Hino appeared carrying a large obscured die. Being ordered to throw it, he launched the oversized die into the air (with it almost landing on Mori Ranmaru).
At the end of the day, Hino was noted by Ranmaru to be by Nobunaga's side, alongside Yasuke.

On the second day of the Tenkaichi, Hino appeared and enthusiastically danced alongside Mori Ranmaru as the latter was announcing the third match of the tournament! With Mori introducing the first fighter, Hino made his exit.

In Ozaka castle, Hino Choko was introduced alongside Hashiba Hideyoshi. Towering over his opponent, Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami, who was amicably trying to converse with him, Hino eventually looked down at the Sword Saint and uttered the word "kill". Soon entering the Twin Dragon's Cage and standing opposite Kamiizumi, Hino merely growled before powerfully launching himself at the swordsman before Mori could even finish announcing to begin! Narrowly missing the Sword Saint with his stomp, Hino switched to attacking Kamiizumi was a furious volley of powerful tsuppari, which the latter seemed to nonchalantly avoid. With Kamiizumi then choosing to take Hino's next palm thrust, the Sword Saint ending up dropping the rikishi to the ground. Returning to his feet with a great roar, Hino attempted to grab the Sword Saint, who nimbly avoided him with a forward somersault, stealing Hino's mask and sending him sprawling into the cage wall in the process. Clutching his face, the now 'awake' Hino then turned to face the unknown aura behind him and politely greeted Kamiizumi with a smile on his face.
Seeing Kamiizumi properly, Choko asked who he was but interrupted Kamiizumi before he could respond, saying he'd make it a quiz and try to guess instead! Being told by the Sword Saint not to make him wait too long, Choko began to take in his surroundings, spotting Oda Nobunaga and stifling his laughter as he realised how old Nobunaga had become and how close to death he was. Behind him, Hideyoshi welcomed Choko's return, with Choko mocking that a monkey was speaking Japanese in response; Choko then commented that Hideyoshi hadn't changed, with the daimyo agreeing and welcoming him again. Properly having a look around, Choko quickly ascertained the situation and correctly realised that the person before him was Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami the Sword Saint. Apologising for making the swordsman wait, Choko added that he'd had killing on lock since he was young. Choko then casually asked if Kamiizumi had a name he wanted to be called by but the swordsman replied it was an odd thing to ask and if they couldn't just get started. However Choko asserted that it mattered since the name made the man. Coming to agree, Kamiizumi told Choko to call him "Bushin" as he was the strongest in the world.
Voicing his like of the name, Choko added that Kamiizumi call him "Onigami", before launching into a rapid series of attacks. Despite getting faster, Choko acknowledged with admiration that the Sword Saint was evading every blow. Choko then tried an attack from above, which Kamiizumi also evaded, before attempting a frontal strike from the ground. With Kamiizumi moving out of the way at the very last second, Choko's frontal charge ended up smashing and uprooting the cage out of the way. Immediately following up his charge with an overhead hook kick, Choko smashed his foot down, surprising everyone with the result. Lightly commenting on the Bushin's evasion, Choko said they don't call Kamiizumi "Bushin" for nothing, before asking how he dodged the strike, saying he'd meant to end it with said kick.
Voicing his interest, he asked to see just how far the Bushin's power went, before driving at the swordsman at high speed and striking with a palm thrust! Being sidestepped, Kamiizumi sent Choko hurtling backwards into the uprooted cage. Kamiizumi chuckled that even that strike didn't do much, but Choko grinned that it was the worst he had been hurt since getting shot by Oda Nobunaga. Guessing that there was a principle behind the Bushin's strike, Kamiizumi confirmed Choko was correct, adding that controlling the flow of power was the law of martial arts. Happy to hear it, Choko said it sounded fun, revealing he hadn't cared about laws or martial arts until just now since they'd never done much to him. Choko then surmised how he thought the technique worked, saying he'd give it a try but Kamiizumi replied that it was actually much harder to execute than it seemed. Choko casually acknowledged that he couldn't pull it off like *Kamiizumi* could, but he shouldn't be counted out because he was also referred to as a "god". At that, Choko lifted his right leg high into the air and kicked forwards with such immense force that he sent a vorpal blade of air flying towards the Bushin. With the air blade destroying the sheathe of one of Kamiizumi's swords, Choko then said that the air blade was essentially his own katana, before challenging the Bushin to a *real* sword fight.

## Powers & Abilities

Befitting of his great size and musculature, Hino Choko has proved himself to be an incredibly physically powerful individual. In his introduction, he was seen single-handedly pulling in Oda Nobunaga's notably large and heavy-looking wheeled seat, even with the added weight of Nobunaga and two of the latter's attendants on top; he then later impressively launched a human-sized die into the air without much effort. Hino has also shown great aim in conjunction with his great physical strength, as seen when he instantly maimed Shibata Katsuie by throwing a metal fan into the lord's skull.
A true indication of his fearsome physical strength was seen during the initial stages of his fight with Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami. With a single bound (which cratered the ground he was standing on), Hino was able to cover the distance to his opponent and stomp down with enough force to shatter the ground, and the force of his strikes deformed and warped the thick metal bars of the Twin Dragon's Cage with Hozoin Inshun reckoning them to be strong enough to crush bones.

After he is awakened again, Choko's physical strength, speed, athleticism and fighting sense return to their peak original state; Ito Ittosai comments that Choko is able to see and instantly react to Kamiizumi's movements when attacking him. He also becomes frighteningly acrobatic, able to lithely and fluidly move his incredibly bulky frame in order to pull off attacks from every direction, with the 6th Generation Fuma Kotaro's recognition of Choko becoming even more balanced after waking up corroborating this. Most impressive is his god-like physical strength: with a single frontal charge, Choko was able to uproot and send the entire Twin Dragon's Cage flying through the air. Even in his youthful days, Choko showed incredible strength, capable of explosively crushing a man's skull with a single palm thrust. He also possesses equally tremendous durability: he survived getting shot down by Nobunaga's ashigaru, coming away with minor injuries and even being able to move around very shortly after being shot. During his fight with Kamiizumi, he proved that his boned were hard enough to stop the Martial Gods sword, resulting in Hozoin commenting that he didn't think he could beat Choko without hitting a vital spot.

### Martial Arts

**Sumo** (相撲術, *Sumō-jutsu*?Literal translation: *Sumo Arts*): Hino Choko is an undefeated and unrivalled rikishi. Even while 'asleep', Hino is well-versed in sumo-jutsu enough to fire off a rapid volley of tsuppari?Literal translation: *Tsuppari*.

**Kamaitachi (Divine Dancing Blade)**  (神舞太刀 (かまいたち) , *Kamaitachi*?Literal translation: *God(ly) Dancing Tachi*): A superhumanly powerful technique, where Choko kicks forwards with such immense force that he sends a slicing vacuum wave at his target. When he used the technique against Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami, the resulting vacuum wave sliced open and destroyed the sheathe covering Kamiizumi's sword.

* **Kamaitachi: Twin Blades** (神舞太刀·双刃 (そうじん) , *Kamaitachi: Sōjin*?Literal translation: *God(ly) Dancing Sword: Twin Blade(s)*): Functioning in the same principle as Kamaitachi, Choko fires off the *two* vacuum blades by slashing forwards with his arms. The rikishi managed to land a glancing cut on the Bushin using this technique.
* **Kamaitachi: Chaotic Dance** (神舞太刀·乱舞 (らんぶ) , *Kamaitachi: Ranbu*?Literal translation: *God(ly) Dancing Sword: Chaotic Dance*): Functioning in the same principle as Kamaitachi, Choko fires off a multitude of vacuum blades via a salvo of kicks and arm slashes.

**Earth Crawling Spirit** (地 (じ) 這荒 (ばいあら) 魂 (みたま) , *Jibai-aramitama*?Literal translation: *Desolate Earth Crawling Spirit*): Performing the starting movements of a sumo shiko, Choko then stomps down on the ground with ridiculous force, cratering and shattering the ground in his nearby vicinity, which is followed by a "wall of air pressure" from the stomp. Choko uses the technique to destabilise the footing of his opponent, in order to charge them down while they are unsettled.

## Notes & Trivia

* He is based on the real life rikishi Hino no Nagamitsu. It was said that after Oda Nobunaga summoned hundreds of rikishi and watched them compete at Mount Azuchi, Nagamitsu caught Nobunaga's special attention with his display of sumo and was rewarded greatly for it.

## References

1. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 14 (page 4), the hiragana for Hino's name is finally given.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 1 (pages 66-67).
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 1 (pages 19-20).
4. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 18 (pages 39-40).
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (page 3).
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (page 13).
7. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (page 30).
8. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (page 26).
9. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (page 32).
10. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (page 35).
11. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 8-11).
12. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 11-15).
13. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 16-18).
14. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 19-28).
15. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 29-31).
16. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 32-33).
17. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 1 (pages 11-12).
18. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 8 (pages 6-7).
19. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 18 (pages 7-11).
20. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 18 (pages 17-18).
21. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 38-39).
22. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 40-41).
23. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 42-44).
24. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 19 (pages 25-28).
25. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 17 (page 30).
26. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 18 (pages 16-17).
27. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 20 (page 44).
28. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 20 (pages 45-46).
29. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 21 (page 23).
30. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 21 (page 25).
31. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 21 (pages 34-35).
32. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 21 (pages 12-13).