Kamui Shiro
Kamui Shiro, also written as Kamui Shirou, is a fictional character that was created by Clamp and introduced as the protagonist of the manga series X. Kamui is a young esper who returns to his home, Tokyo, after a six-year absence following his mother's last will. According to her, he can change the world's fate. He can either join the groups a Dragons of Heaven or Dragons of Earth and fight for mankind or the nature, respectively. Kamui has also appeared in the animated adaptations of X, in which he follows a different course of action, and he also appears as an alternative persona from a post-apocalyptic Tokyo in the manga Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle.
Clamp's head writer Nanase Ohkawa originally created Kamui during high school as character in a story involving warriors fighting for justice. His incorporation to X includes themes Ohkawa thought about since she was a student, such a possibility of an evil alter ego and whether mankind is more important than the Earth. The animated versions of X portray Kamui as neither as a strong nor a weak character due to the staff's preference. The character has been played by voice actors in the animated series including the Japanese Tomokazu Seki, Kenichi Suzumura and Mamoru Miyano. His English actors are Alan D. Marriott, Steve Cannon and Micah Solusod.
Publications for manga, anime and other media gave a positive response to Kamui Shiro. His character development in the series made them appreciate his role in the story as well his tragic role in the narrative. Kamui has also been popular within Clamp's fanbase, the authors often received positive feedback about him in the manga's beginning. Kamui's portrayal in Tsubasa also garnered positive responses through his encounters with the lead character Syaoran.
Creation and development
Kamui originates from a story Clamp's head writer Nanase Ohkawa wrote during high school. Kamui was one of the story's lead characters, who were fighting a losing battle for "justice". After finishing Clamp School Detectives, Clamp decided to write a story in which readers see the development of two groups, the Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth led by Kamui and Fūma, respectively. Several of the series' characters were created using the Osamu Tezuka's Star System technique were old designs incorporated in new characters with Kamui's exception which proved challenging due to his role. He was made to stand apart from other characters, and Ohkawa called his hairstyle and school uniform average. Clamp's lead artist Mokona believes this was influenced by the heroic character-type upon which he was based. As a result, Mokona felt that Kamui's final design fits her idea of the hero needed for the series. Their first illustration of Kamui gave them a feeling of Ashura, a character from RG Veda based on his appearance in Tokyo's destroyed area.The authors originally wanted to name the character from another character they created in series, but because the plot required him to have a meaningful name, the idea was scrapped and he was named "Kamui". Kamui was originally written as a high-school student from Kotori Monou's point of view to appeal to the audience of females. Kamui, however, was not popular with the readers, so Clamp rewrote parts of his personality. Mokona describes him as a "crazy dog", but readers disliked Kotori more than they disliked Kamui. Clamp kept the identity of Kamui's father hidden from Kamui. The artists said should the series continue, further exposition of Kamui's heritage would be developed.
Kamui's decisions reflects one of X main themes; caring for humans even if does not help the Earth. Ohkawa considers that while it common sense that people care about protecting the planet, it is more important to love friends and relatives. Ohkawa also applied to Kamui and Fūma ideas she had as a child, such as a dual nature, because she states people can be considered good or evil. As a result of Kamui losing Kotori and all of his relatives, Ohkawa emphazed Kamui's friendship with Fūma because she believes his feelings have become stronger. Across the manga, Kamui meets Subaru Sumeragi, whose rivalry with Seishirō Sakurazuka parallels Kamui's rivalry with Fūma Monou. Clamp referred to Kamui and Subaru as siblings; Kamui is supposed to learn from Subaru's final fight with Seishirō and avoid his final fight against Fuuma having the same tragic conclusion.
Alternative portrayals
For the X television series, director Yoshiaki Kawajiri decided not to explore Kamui's backstory early in the series and to focus more on his cold demeanor. Kawajiri considered Kamui weak because of how much it costs him to express emotions. As a result, he portraying Kamui as a strong person, though his weakness becomes noticeable as the narrative progresses. He is voiced in the film by Tomokazu Seki in Japanese and Alan D. Marriott in English. Kamui is voiced in the television series by Kenichi Suzumura in Japanese and Steve Cannon in English.Because Kamui did not have many lines in the original video animation, Suzumura lacked a full impression of him before more of his character was explored in the television series. Suzumura found his role complicated because he understands Kamui is neither the weakest nor the strongest character. Voicing Kamui meant Suzumura debuted as a singer for an X CD. In August 2011, Suzumura married singer and actor Maaya Sakamoto; as a gift, Clamp made an illustration of Kamui holding Tomoyo from Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, since the latter is voiced by Sakamoto.
A common trope Clamp enjoys using is identical characters. When the manga Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle was made, Subaru was envisioned as Kamui's twin brother. Clamp had fun writing this version of these characters despite not being identical brothers. Subaru was intended to have a larger role in Tsubasa, mentoring the protagonist Syaoran, but he was replaced by Seishirō. As in the original Clamp works Tokyo Babylon and X, Subaru was chasing Seishirō; Clamp decided to reverse this for Tsubasa, making Seishirō the one chasing both brothers. In Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations OVAs, Kamui is voiced by Mamoru Miyano in Japanese and Micah Solusod in English.
Characterization and themes
Kamui is introduced in X as an antisocial person who often becomes distant with his childhood friends Kotori and Fuma. He is driven by the loss of his mother who taught his child about his importance in regards to the world's future. His given name implies the two possible natures he can give to the planet through his supernatural powers and hidden potential. Despite his mannerism, Kamui reveals his personality is a facade when Hinoto shows him the future death of Kotori as well as his relation with the end of the world which heavily angers him. This later causes him to reflect on his actions and reveal his true self as he shows his real kind demeanor towards Kotori to protect her from Hinoto's vision. Following the death of his aunt, Kamui shows his true resolve in regards to the apocalypse; He is not interested in society or the planet's pollution but instead wants to protect his two childhood friends. This causes the transformation of Fuma into the opposite Kamui who kills Kotori to bring despair to his former friend.Kotori's death causes a major impact into Kamui, but manages to recover thanks to one of the Dragons of Heaven, Subaru Sumeragi, who would become his mentor in the narrative. He accepts the path of the Dragons of Heaven as he expresses his love towards mankind. From this point on, Kamui becomes more concerned about his role in the Armageddon due to the lives his enemies might take in the process but is powerless against the sadistic Fuma. His weakness is further explored as, unlike the other Dragons of Heaven, Kamui is unable to create a magical barrier need to protect areas around Tokyo to protect.
Appearances
In the ''X'' manga
In X, Kamui is introduced as a young esper who returns to Tokyo after a six-year absence following his mother's death. Contrary to the kindheartedness with which his childhood friends Fūma and Kotori Monou remember him, Kamui appears distanced and cold, and avoids interacting with them. Following his arrival to Tokyo, Kamui is observed by two groups known as the Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth, who are interested in Kamui's ability to change the world's fate. Princess Hinoto contacts Kamui and warns him if he does not become the Dragons of Heaven's leader, Kotori will be murdered. Still confused about what he should do, Kamui meets his aunt Tokiko Magami, who sacrifices herself to create the weapon "Sacred Sword", which Kamui must wield to change Earth's fate.After Tokiko's death, Kamui gains a full understanding about his mission. He can either become a Dragon of Heaven and protect mankind from extinction or he can become a Dragon of Earth and destroy mankind to protect the Earth. As a result of starting to care about Fūma and Kotori again, Kamui instantly becomes a Dragon of Heaven. Fūma awakens a sadistic alter-ego known as the Dragon of Earth's "Kamui". The new Fūma kills Kotori to torture Kamui but escapes after the arrival of the Dragons of Heaven. One of them, Subaru Sumeragi, helps Kamui recover from his traumatic experience by encouraging him to grant his own wish, which is recovering the original Fūma.
For the next month, Kamui starts living with the Dragons of Heaven Sorata Arisugawa, Arashi Kishū and Yuzuriha Nekoi, which helps him form new friendships while often meeting Subaru. He and the Dragons of Heaven work with Hinoto's assistance to protect Tokyo's barriers from the Dragons of Earth and avoid the Earth's destruction. Kamui encounters Fūma several times during his fights but is unable to defeat him. In the series' latest chapters before its indefinite hiatus, Kamui summons the Sacred Sword and again encounters Fūma alongside Subaru, who tells him he will never defeat Fūma unless he identifies his true wish.