Nenji Kashiwazaki

柏崎念至 柏崎念至（かしわざき ねんじ）

Gender:Male
Height:165cm

Kyoto Exploration Group. Commonly referred to as "Okina" throughout the series. He runs a combined restaurant and inn called "Aoiya." Height: 165 cm, born in September 1819 (Bunsei 2). Hails from Kyoto Prefecture. Virgo, blood type AB. Hobbies: Information gathering. Special skill: Tourist guidance. First appearance at age 60. He is Misao's foster parent. He refers to himself as "Washi." Usually a lecherous old man, he sometimes shows a selfish side similar to Misao, such as when he forcefully promises to assist Kenshin against the Shishio faction. However, he is also perceptive of Kenshin's feelings, realizing that Kenshin does not want to involve Aoiya. When Aoiya is attacked, he repels intruders using a martial art called "Sexy Commando." He exclaims "Hyo" when surprised. He was once known as the most fearsome of the Oniwabanshu, displaying a hidden, terrifying ruthlessness behind his usual genial demeanor, such as torturing Shishio's covert operatives with nails and candles. In combat, he was skilled enough to fight on par with the previous leader and held an advantage against the transformed Aoshi by skillfully using two tonfas, although he ultimately could not fully defend against Aoshi's techniques and was defeated by the "Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren." As a result, he does not directly participate in the battle against the Juppongatana, instead taking on a role of giving instructions from within Aoiya. After the death of the previous leader, he was a strong candidate for the next leader but recommended Aoshi due to his hopes for the younger generation and volunteered for the Kyoto Exploration Group. In the "Hokkaido Arc," he attempts to respond to a telegram from Kenshin by writing a long letter, only to be chided by Omasu for the costliness of the word count. In the first anime series, he recognizes the characters drawn on the bodies of those killed by Shougo, a former leader in the persecution of Christians, as patterns derived from continental scripts used by hidden Christians. After the Black Knights arc, he sends Aoshi and others to Tokyo to bring Misao back. His design motif is based on Kaizou Jijirou from "CYBORG Grandpa G." In the character creation secrets where this was revealed, Okina's rough sketch included sunglasses. His name is derived from Kashiwazaki City in Niigata Prefecture. In the complete edition volume 22 rewrite, he is depicted with a well-trained body that defies his age, using giant steel tonfas and mechanical tonfas with various gimmicks, symbolizing his undiminished strength and skill as an old soldier. He is shown in a fundoshi. According to the author, it is "full of a man's romance." In the live-action film adaptation, he appears with settings mostly faithful to the original. However, unlike the original, he loses to Aoshi and, after being bedridden, attempts to ambush Aoshi with a concealed blade but is easily defeated. Although he avoids instant death, he dies after witnessing the battle between Kenshin and Aoshi. Weapons Concealed Cane His usual weapon. It can be split to reveal a chain inside, which he swings around. Tonfas His weapon when serious. Made of steel. In the live-action film, blades are concealed at the ends. In some games, Misao also uses them.