Keizo

Keizo
Kanji	慶蔵
Rōmaji	Keizō
Characteristics
Race	Human
Gender	Male
Hair Color	Black
Affiliation
Occupation	Dojo Owner Martial Arts Teacher
Personal Status
Status	Deceased
Relative(s)	Unnamed Wife Koyuki (Daughter)
Debuts
Manga Debut	Chapter 154

“	Don't compare yourself to other people. The opponent you fight is always yourself. What's important is becoming stronger than you were yesterday. If you continue that for ten or 20 years, you'll be magnificent. And then you will help other people.	”
	— Keizo to Akaza in Disgust

Keizo (慶 (けい) 蔵 (ぞう) , Keizō^?) was the owner of a martial arts dojo that taught the Soryu fighting style, and was the master of Hakuji, who would then go on to become the Upper Rank Three demon, Akaza.

Quick Answers

What martial arts style did Keizo teach at his dojo?

At his dojo, Keizo instructed the Soryu Style, a martial arts form he either created or learned from his master. The Soryu Style is a bare-fist technique that employs both the arms and legs for quick, potent strikes aimed at an opponent's neck and weapon.

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Who was Hakuji and how was he related to Keizo?

Hakuji was a pupil at Keizo's dojo and was entrusted with the care of Keizo's ill daughter, Koyuki. Keizo's faith in Hakuji was so strong that he proposed a marriage between Hakuji and Koyuki. Hakuji, who saw Keizo as both a father figure and a respected teacher, was deeply influenced by Keizo's teachings, even after his transformation into a demon.

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What is the significance of Keizo's black belt in his Jiu-Jitsu gi uniform?

The black belt in Keizo's Jiu-Jitsu gi uniform represents his expertise in Soryu martial arts. He utilized this skill to safeguard others, and displayed empathy by teaching Hakuji, an ex-convict, his martial arts style. Keizo's belief in Hakuji's potential led him to welcome Hakuji into his family and appoint him as the successor of his dojo.

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What physical characteristics set Keizo apart from other characters?

Keizo is characterized by his muscular build, unshaven stubble, and shoulder-length black hair that's tied back. He has bushy eyebrows and typically wears a Jiu-Jitsu gi uniform, complete with a dan black belt inscribed with the kanji for his martial arts style, Soryu. His physical abilities include remarkable speed and strength, enabling him to execute rapid punches and knock out adversaries.

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How does Keizo's martial arts style influence the character of Akaza?

Akaza's martial arts prowess and tactical intelligence are a direct result of Keizo's teachings. Keizo, an expert in the Soryu Style, trained Akaza in this bare-fisted martial arts style, which employs swift and powerful strikes using both arms and legs. Keizo also welcomed Akaza into his family and dojo, which had a profound impact on Akaza's character.

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Appearance

Keizo was a middle-aged man with a muscular body and unshaven stubble. He kept a shoulder length black hair which was tied and his eyebrows appears to be quite bushy.

Keizo wore a Jiu-Jitsu gi uniform consisting of a top and pants that is tied with a dan black belt with the kanji for his fighting style Soryu (素 (そ) 流 (りゅう) , Soryū^?) at the back.

Personality

Keizo was a kind and cheerful person who did his best to protect the others with his abilities, and he was optimistic and empathic enough to assign Hakuji, a former convict, to take care of his daughter, teaching him his Soryu martial arts style and ultimately welcoming him into his family by allowing him to marry Koyuki and be the next head of his dojo. His memory and instructions impacted Hakuji enough even after his transformation as a demon and the loss of his memories, especially after meeting Tanjiro Kamado who shared his same beliefs and benevolence.

History

One day, Keizo saved a man from bandits, who gave him the land his dojo was on as a gift. He was married and had a daughter, Koyuki, who was ill. Because he had no students, he took on handyman jobs to make money and had to leave Koyuki's care to his wife. Eventually the stress of Koyuki's needs and the fear of seeing her child die young led his wife to drown herself. After that, he did his best to balance making money and caring for Koyuki, even though he did not believe she would live long either. While on a trip, Keizo was asked to address an aggressive youth beating up people indiscriminately. He agreed, and faced the the boy Hakuji, knocking him out easily and taking him to his dojo. Seeing potential, Keizo offered Hakuji training and lodging in exchange for taking care of Koyuki.

Keizo asks Hakuji if he would become his successor to his dojo.

One day, the heir to the nearby kenjutsu dojo developed an attraction to Koyuki. He acted on his feelings by dragging her out of her home for a date, but he abandoned her on the ground when she had an asthma attack. When he found out, Keizo was so upset that he arranged to have a match between the two dojos. He and Hakuji prevailed even though Keizo went easy on them, leading to the head of the dojo vowing to never again cause trouble for them. Eventually, Koyuki's health improved around the time she turned 16, at which point he offered Hakuji ownership of the dojo and Koyuki herself to take as a bride. Hakuji agreed, but left to visit his father's grave and share the good news first.

However, by this point the rival dojo's head had died, and the heir who had caused so much trouble chose not to honor his father's vow of peace. While Hakuji was visiting his father, the new head and a few underlings poisoned the well Keizo and Koyuki took water from. The two unknowingly drank the poison, and upon realizing what happened, Keizo carried Koyuki to and ran to the doctor's home, unaware his daughter had already died. Being stronger than Koyuki, the poison took longer to kill him, and Keizo spent several hours suffering before he died.

Synopsis

Infinity Castle Arc

Keizo appeared when Akaza faced Tanjiro Kamado; the boy's actions and personality had reminded the demon of Keizo's own righteous ideals and beliefs, causing Akaza to lash out at him for presenting a reminder of his hated past to him.Later on in the battle, Akaza is beheaded but continues to fight, all while imagining Keizo speaking to him as he attempts to kill Tanjiro and the Hashira Giyu Tomioka. Eventually, Akaza is seemingly stopped from attacking Giyu by Koyuki's spirit, causing him to relieve his past.

When Akaza commits suicide by destroying his own body and ceasing his regeneration, Keizo appeared to him and told Akaza that they would never abandon him, even though he could not be in Heaven with them.

Abilities

Overall Abilities

Despite being a normal human, Keizo was an exceptionally skilled martial artist, capable of defeating a group of bandits singlehandedly and knocking Hakuji, a boy of renowned skill, endurance, and violence, unconscious with a series of extremely quick punches. He was also a highly capable teacher, teaching his Soryu Style to Hakuji, who would go on to master the style and use it as the basis of his martial arts-based Blood Demon Art, Destructive Death.

Physical Abilities

Peak Physical Condition: Even as a human, Keizo was very fast. able to punch Hakuji in rapid succession before the boy could even react to him. Additionally, Keizo was remarkably strong, as he could knock Hakuji unconscious for over an hour, despite Hakuji possessing enough physical stamina to endure judicial beatings severe enough to make grown men faint as an 11 year old boy.

Fighting Style

Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant:

• Soryu Style (素 (そ) 流 (りゅう) 式 (しき) , Soryū Shiki^?): A bare-fist martial arts fighting style that Keizo either invented himself or was taught by his own master. He was able to overpower Hakuji when he first met him despite the latter being able to defeat seven adult men. He later taught the style to Hakuji.

Relatives

Mother

Father

Keizo

Spouse

Hakuji

Koyuki

Trivia

• Keizo's name contains the Kan-on'yomi reading of "jubilation, fortuitous, celebration" (慶 (けい) , kei^?) and the Go-on'yomi for "storehouse, stock, reserve" (蔵 (ぞう) , zo^?).
• Keizo's dojo had no other students besides Hakuji because all potential students were driven away be the kenjutsu dojo who coveted his land.
• Whereas Keizo suffered a prolonged death, Koyuki had succumbed to the poison very quickly.

Quotes

• (To Hakuji) "Whatever you do, everyone is a baby at first. You get help from others and gradually learn. Don't compare yourself to other people. The opponent you fight is always yourself. What's important is becoming stronger than you were yesterday. If you continue that for ten or 20 years, you'll be magnificent. And then you will help other people."
• (To Hakuji) "Our indomitable spirit in whatever hardship we face, it never breaks. We are not samurai. We do not carry a katana. But we carry swords in our hearts."
• (To Hakuji) "Yes, but I beat up and defeated that criminal earlier, so it's all right now!"
• (To Akaza) "Time for you to be reborn!"