In this second part, we continue on our exploration of the 1980s' manga series Kenji in comparison to Shenmue. We will take a look at the personalities of the two main characters, and then explore themes and story connections between the two creations.
Previous Part: Exploring the Manga 'Kenji' and Shenmue
Kenji vs Shenmue: The Protagonists
The main characters of both Kenji and Shenmue - Kenji Goh and Ryo Hazuki, respectively - are Japanese school students with an interest in martial arts.
Their personalities, however, are rather distinct from each other, understandably as Kenji is still a carefree primary school pupil at the start of the series, as compared to Ryo who is a senior high school student who experiences the shocking loss of his father in the prologue of the game.
In the initial chapters of the manga, we observe that Kenji is a good-hearted, cheerful child who often causes his mother despair at his mischievous ways. He has a great fondness for his grandfather, whom he loves to spend time with and learn martial arts moves and history. He is also quick to stand up to bullies and protect those weaker than himself. When he grows older, he is driven to travel to China in order to search for his missing grandfather.
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| Kenji's light-hearted nature can be seen frequently, such as when tries to balance a ruler on his head as he is scolded by his school teacher |
In Shenmue, on the other hand, Ryo Hazuki also exhibits many of the same traits of determination and belief in justice, but is weighed down by his grief at the loss of his father. He tends not to open up easily to others around him trying to help, and keeps to himself. His motivation for his journey for China is thus for much darker reasons, as he seeks to locate his father's killer.
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| Grief takes a heavy toll on Ryo |
Kenji vs Shenmue: Mentors
The protagonists in both have had a key mentor during childhood to instruct them in martial arts, and to impart wisdom about how to live life.
In the case of Kenji, this is his grandfather (on his father's side), and their close relationship in the early chapters is delightfully portrayed in their playful interactions. His grandfather cares about Kenji's wellbeing, buying him medicine when he gets injured in a fight, and he speaks on Kenji's behalf when his mother is upset at his neglect of studies. He has a child-like sense of humor, and he and Kenji enjoy teasing each other when together. We learn that the moves the grandfather teaches Kenji are Bajiquan, as he was stationed in China during the Second World War.
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| Kenji and grandfather joke around during bathing |
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| Kenji's grandfather gives serious advice |
For Ryo Hazuki, his childhood mentor was his father, Iwao. A master of the Hazuki Style of martial arts, he also gives Ryo advice about life - an example of this can be seen in the flashback at the dinner table where he encourages Ryo to appreciate and eat his carrots. In comparison with Kenji's grandfather, he has a stricter demeanor, although his love for his son is still apparent.
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| Iwao scolds Ryo for pushing aside his carrots |
Kenji vs Shenmue: Other Significant Characters
With both stories revolving around Chinese martial arts, there are plenty of interactions with both supportive and antagonistic characters along the way. A newly-learned move or technique often paves the way to defeat a character that would previously have been far superior.
Kenji receives instruction on fighting moves from his grandfather growing up, as well as locals such as the owner of a Chinese restaurant and the head of a karate dojo. Once overseas, he is taught by a number of experts and forms friendships with many of the children and adults he meets as he travels. In terms of enemies, early in the story the protagonist takes on bullies at school, delinquent university students, a motorbike gang and even the yakuza. In Hong Kong and China, he encounters a number of enemies skilled in the martial arts, and the series builds to a climax with a final lone battle against a single particularly dangerous enemy high on a mountaintop.
In Shenmue, Ryo learns moves locally from people such as his friend Tom at the hotdog stand in Yokosuka, a homeless man at New Yokosuka harbor, and later in Hong Kong and China from people such as martial arts masters Xiuying at Man Mo Temple and Grandmaster Bei in Niaowu. Enemies he encounters in the chapters so far include a motorbike gang, the Yellow Heads gang in Kowloon, members of the Chi You Men criminal organization. Lan Di represents the "nemesis" character, and is seemingly unbeatable early on. How will their final showdown play out?
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| Tom, one of Ryo's friends from his hometown of Yokosuka |
Kenji vs Shenmue: Themes
This section highlights similar themes or parallels that can be noted within the stories of Kenji and Shenmue, some minor, others more significant.
Overcoming Challenges with Martial Arts
Plot progression in both stories is closely integrated with progression in the mastery of martial arts techniques. The learning of a new move, and its application in combat to gain an advantage, is key to success in combat which advances the plot.
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| Kenji learns a technique to dodge and strike... |
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| ...and later applies his learning to deal with his opponent's attack. |
Several similar situations occur in Shenmue also, one iconic moment being in Shenmue II when Ryo applies the Counter Elbow Assault that he learned from Xiuying to defeat Dou Niu on the rooftop of the Yellow Head building.
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| Ryo performs the Counter Elbow Assault to defeat Dou Niu |
Protecting the Weak
Martial arts are used in several places in the stories positively to protect or rescue the weak.
Here, Kenji comes to the aid of a pupil at school being bullied.
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| Kenji protects a classmate and stands up to a group of bullies |
Shenmue also has several scenes throughout the story where Ryo protects those weaker than himself from bullies, gang members and even land sharks.
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| Ryo to the rescue of Nozomi and a little boy at Sakuragaoka Park |
Evading Combat
One similar situation that occurs in both works is where the protagonists learn that sometimes it is better not to engage in combat at all.
In Shenmue, Ryo is astonished to learn that the homeless man at the harbor chose not to fight members of the motorbike gang despite his martial arts expertise; in the manga, Kenji's grandfather gives him the advice that there are times when it is better to run away.
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| Wise words from the homeless man at the harbor in Shenmue |
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| Grandpa advises that the point of learning martial arts is "to help you form bonds and friendship". |
Virtues Associated with Martial Arts
In the manga, Kenji's grandfather explains to him the "five cardinal virtues":
- REN (仁): Kindness and compassion
- YI (義): Helping others and being righteous
- LI (礼): Being polite and having proper manners
- ZHI (智): Higher knowledge and wisdom
- XIN (信): Being trustworthy
In Shenmue, the Four Wude (武徳, meaning "martial virtues") are four principles or virtues that are central to martial arts practice and philosophy. Ryo learns about these from characters he interacts with on his journey, and uses them to guide his actions. They are:
- GON (功): Discipline yourself to keep training everyday without neglect
- DAN (胆): Be brave and stay calm to make the right decision
- JIE (戒): Keep your heart free of conceit and do not use force thoughtlessly or flaunt your technique.
- YI (義): Always act without hesitation to do what you perceive is right.
Only one of the Wude, YI (義), is also one of the Five Cardinal Virtues, however in general the concepts and principles show similarities.
Seven Virtues, Seven Wude?
In addition to the Five Cardinal Virtues, another two virtues are introduced thereafter in the manga, bringing the total to seven virtues.
These two additional virtues are:
- YAN (厳): Being hard on yourself, and
- ONG (勇): Courage
While seven is far more than the four Wude seen in Shenmue, in fact, it was revealed a couple of years ago, in a post on the Shenmue Dojo forums by user LanDC, that seven Wude had in fact been planned at one point during the game's development, appearing in an early version of the Shenmue II script (the "Legend of Akira" books).
The Wude as a Test
Kenji is later tested on his knowledge of the five cardinal virtues:
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| At a later point, Kenji is tested on his knowledge of the Five Virtues |
In a similar way, in Shenmue II, Ryo is denied a meeting with Lishao Tao until he has learned about the Wude, setting him on the next part of his quest.
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| Ryo's introduction to the Wude |
Although Ryo is not asked to actually recite the Wude in the released game, leftover dialogue text about the Wude was found in recent years that had been originally intended for a section of the game set in "Miao Village". The entire section was cut before release of Shenmue II, but dialogue text has been extracted from the files of an early version.
In it, the village priest, Master Yunhai, asks Ryo to recite and explain the Wude in order to prove his connection with Man Mo temple:
Master Yunhai: In that case, you must also know the Four Wude.
Ryo: Yes, I do.Master Yunhai: Well then, let's hear them.
This suggests that Ryo was going to have been tested on his ability to recite the correct Wude. Interestingly, the dialogue also contains Ryo's "wrong" replies, and some of these match five cardinal virtues in the Kenji manga:
Ryo: One is XIN (信).
Master Yunhai: Ah. And what does it mean?
Ryo: Do not betray others and be trusted by others.Master Yunhai: Hmm. That is important, but it is not one of the Wude.
Ryo: One is LI (礼).
Master Yunhai: Ah. And what does it mean?
Ryo: To respect one's superiors and treat them with courtesy.Master Yunhai: Hmm. That is important, but it is not one of the Wude.
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| Ryo attempts to pass Master Yunhai's test (mock-up image) |
The Futility of Seeking Revenge
Although Kenji is not motivated to avenge the death of a family member or similar in the manga, seeking revenge is a theme that is incorporated into the story.
During his travels in China, Kenji encounters a young boy whose father was killed during a kung fu fight. The boy is determined to accompany Kenji on his journey in order to get revenge. Initially, Kenji advises against it, pointing out that this could start an endless cycle:
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| Kenji warns about the cycle of revenge |
Despite this, the boy ends up traveling by his side and they eventually stumble upon the alleged killer.
Contrastingly, Ryo's motivation in Shenmue is to avenge the death of his father. Along the way, he receives warnings from people around him such as Xiuying, advising him not to go down the path of vengeance.
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| Xiuying is worried that Ryo will be led down an evil path through seeking revenge. |
The resolution remains to be seen, but perhaps a hint lies in the resolution of this conflict in the manga's story... (I won't spoil it here for those who wish to read the manga!).
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| The decision to kill or let his father's killer live... |
Final Comment
I hope you're enjoying our journey into the parallels between Kenji and Shenmue.
In the next post in this series, we will be digging into the stories in more depth, focusing on significant locations visited and story elements that are shared between the two.
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