Chiaki

**Chiaki** is a character in the Netflix series, *Blue Eye Samurai*, who is voiced by Mark Dacascos.

## Biography

Chiaki was an assassin who tricked Eiji into making him a sword; he said his father was a bookbinder who'd been slain by a drunk *ronin*, and Chiaki wished to avenge him, claiming he would at least have a chance with one of Master Eiji's blades, even if it cost him his own life. Eiji agreed to forge a sword, but later told his apprentice, Mizu, that Chiaki was hiding something.

Mistaking Mizu for a boy when he saw her practicing with a bamboo stick behind Eiji's forgehouse, Chiaki gave her some basic instructions in sword handling, breathing and footwork- but then used his superior size and skill to undermine them and beat her, laughing and mocking her as a 'soft', weak half-breed.

The sword was well-crafted but ultimately broke before it was presented, likely due to Mizu's turbulent emotions during the forging process. When Mizu tried to take blame for the failure (having done most of the forging process herself) Chiaki struck her, only for Eiji to catch his wrist. Having felt Chiaki's hand, Eiji sternly stated that he was no book-binder but an assassin who has taken many lives. Chiaki's angry mood suddenly became smug and amused as he confirmed the blind man's words; he took the broken blade with him, eager to be known as "Blood-soaked Chiaki who carries Master Eiji's broken blade" and claiming it would make him a fortune. Eiji dismissed him as a soul drowned in blood, saying men like him "*always* find their broken blade."

He later became the leader of the Four Fangs, a small group of mercenaries for hire who are feared through much of Japan.

## History/Synopsis

In "Hammerscale", Chiaki and the Four Fangs set out after being hired by Heiji Shindo and Abijah Fowler to track down the "blue-eyed Samurai" who attacked the Shindo Dojo in Kyoto.

In "An Unexpected Element", Chiaki and his band visit the soba tavern owned by Ringo's father, who is still cleaning up bloodstains from Hachiman and Mizu's encounter. Chiaki asks about a young, arrogant samurai who passed through and "cut four fingers for a name." When one of the customers insultingly rebuffs Chiaki, the Four Fangs brutally kill him, then turn back to Ringo's father, who tells them Mizu left with his son two days ago. After visiting Shindo Dojo to confirm they are on Mizu's trail, the assassins continue, slaughtering everyone in their way at a road checkpoint without any provocation.

They finally track Mizu to a seaside cliff, where Chiaki tells her to remove her glasses, recognizing her eyes at once. Claiming that she's made wealthy enemies and that all of Kyoto is talking about her, they clash twice, forcing her back. Chiaki remarks that unlike the boastful Dojo students she's faced in Kyoto, "*Warriors* fight to kill." The Four Fangs corner her on the cliff's edge, but she jumps over, landing partway down. The Four Fangs jump to various nooks and crannies on the cliffside, encircling her; however, she defends herself successfully, slaying three of them before Chiaki throws his *Dao* swords at her and injures her shoulder, knocking her to the bottom of the cliff.

Pursuing her, Chiaki acknowledges that she is worthy of being cut down with his "true blade". He draws his broken *katana* and discards his mask, revealing his identity. Mizu claims his sword is stolen, but Chiaki laughs, saying that she is still soft. They charge one another; despite Chiaki's larger size, Mizu forces him back in their initial clash, but she is then distracted by Taigen moving behind a rock, allowing Chiaki to slash her side. He charges her from behind as she is kneeling, but Mizu throws her *katana* behind her, fatally impaling him through the chest. Stunned, Chiaki weakly protests that he doesn't deserve death "by an impure hand", but Mizu simply withdraws her sword, bids him a sarcastic farewell, and leaves him to die.

His broken blade is taken by Taigen, who later tries to give it to Mizu (as it is hers by right of conquest) but she declines, saying it is more suited to him (Taigen remains unaware *she* was the one who forged it)

## Personality

Chiaki proved himself a skilled tracker, successfully tracing Mizu from Tanabe island to Kyoto all the way to the coast with just a few leads. He and the Fangs showed no regard for the Shogunate's laws, slaughtering the guards and civilians at a checkpoint simply because they were in their way. He proved a reasonably skilled actor, convincing Eiji to forge him a sword so that he could 'avenge his father' and being unconcerned when Eiji discovered the truth on its' presentation. Nor was he particularly disappointed about the blade being broken; aftern an initial angry reaction, he quickly realized it might add to his fearsome reputation.

Despite saying "Dojos fight to boast, *warriors* fight to kill", Chiaki proved himself both boastful and arrogant. He had a habit of laughing mockingly or gloating whenever confronted by someone he considered beneath his level of skill and 'prestige' (especially when Eiji discovered his deception) and often bragged about his skill at killing. However, despite his undoubted brutality and willingness to take anyone's life in pursuit of his mission, his skill as a warrior was questionable, despite the Four Fangs' grim reputation. Even after taking a wound to the shoulder, Mizu was able to kill all Chiaki's subordinates and duel evenly with him despite his larger size and armor; he only managed to wound her due to her distraction by Taigen and even after this, she still succeeded in killing him. Chiaki remained arrogant and bigoted to the end, saying her mixed heritage made her "soft" and protesting on his death that he didn't deserve to be killed by "an impure hand."