Identity and background
Atomic Samurai, which has the original name Kamikaze (カミカゼ), adalah pahlawan profesional kelas-S dengan peringkat 3 di Asosiasi Pahlawan (Hero Association) in the world One Punch Man. He is known as one of the strongest heroes on Earth and an accomplished swordsman who is a member of Council of Swordmasters (Council Of Swordsmen). The name " Kamikaze” comes from two Japanese words, We (God) and Kaze (Wind), which literally means “Wind Spirit” or “Wind God”. The name refers to Japanese folklore about the typhoon that saved Japan from the Mongol invasion in 1281, as well as referring to the suicide attack tactics of Japanese troops during World War II. The name of the hero, Atomic Samurai, has a double meaning: his sword capable of producing slashes as fast and powerful as atoms, as well as a destructive force resembling nuclear power.
Atomic Samurai is depicted as a middle-aged man with long black hair tied into a ponytail, dark eyes, and a stern jaw. He has a small beard and can often be seen chewing on thin pieces of wood. His clothing reflects traditional samurai aesthetics with a modern twist: a hooded red coat with an atomic symbol on the back, an open blue haori, and a loose white robe tied with a white belt as well as two haori himo (haori strap). He always carried two swords on the left side of his waist: a katana (Nichirin Katana, an ancient sword inherited by Council of Swordmasters) and wakizashi (traditional Japanese short sword). The character design is inspired by Kyuzo, a character in the film Seven Samurai Akira Kurosawa's work, and in early webcomics, his sword shield resembles a swastika, but was changed to an atomic symbol in the manga and anime to avoid sensitive connotations.
Personality
Atomic Samurai has a complex personality, characterized by traits arrogant, excessive self-confidence, and a little degrading others, especially those whom he considered weak. He only respects individuals who are strong or equal to him, as seen when he refused to shake hands with Saitama because he considered him unworthy, saying that he would only greet with respect if Saitama achieved a higher S-Class Rank. Even so, he shows a humble attitude towards his respected fellow swordsmen, such as Bang (another S-class hero) and members Council of Swordmasters.
He cares deeply for his students, and Iaian, Okamaitachi, and Bushidrill, all of which are top-ranked Class-A heroes. Although he is often harsh, such as when forcing Iaian to continue honing his sword skills despite losing an arm, this shows his dedication to pushing his students to their full potential. He is also sensitive to comments about his age, feeling offended if he is called “old” or “middle-aged”. Atomic Samurai has a jocular side and enjoys Sword Arts as a game, often teasing monsters before finishing them off with quick slashes. However, when angered, he transforms into a demon-like figure with a burning fighting spirit, which makes him even more terrifying on the battlefield. He also hates things he considers inconvenient, such as post-incident interviews, and explicitly dislikes people he considers weak.
One of the interesting moments that show his personality is in the manga chapter One Punch Man 189, where he tests the strength of King, another S-class hero, out of curiosity about his reputation. In the test, he misinterprets King's actual panicked actions as a sign of supernatural powers, which suggests his tendency to judge people based on perceptions rather than facts. He finally decides to train himself harder after “losing” in this test, reflecting his dedication to Sword Arts and humility when facing someone he considers stronger.
Powers and abilities
Atomic Samurai is one of the strongest heroes in One Punch Man, with its main expertise lies in swordsmanship that's incredible. It is recognized as Earth’s Strongest Swordmaster (The strongest Swordsman on Earth) by the Hero Association. Here are the details of his abilities and techniques:
- Physical Abilities:
- Incredible speed and reflexes: Atomic Samurai is capable of slashing more than 100 times in one second, making him one of the fastest characters in the series. His speed allows him to dash past enemies while slashing with great precision.
- Strength and durability: Although his main focus is speed and accuracy, he has enough physical strength to deal with high-level monsters, including Dragon-level threats (Dragon-level threats).
- Survivability: He is able to block enemy attacks with his sword, even when facing very strong opponents.
- Weapons:
- Nichirin Katana: An ancient sword passed down through generations by Council of Swordmasters. This Katana is known for its exceptional sharpness and is a symbol of Atomic Samurai's status as an elite swordsman.
- Wakizashi: A short sword that equips his katana, used for additional attacks or melee situations.
- The atomic symbol on his sword shield (changed from the swastika in the webcomic) reflects his destructive power.
- Sword Techniques:
- Atomic Slash: His flagship technique, where he performs over 100 quick slashes in one second. This technique is usually used when he runs past an opponent, leaving the enemy in small pieces. This technique is very effective against large monsters or groups of enemies.
- Air Blade: A technique that allows Atomic Samurai to create slashes using air or wind pressure. It can attack from a distance, block enemy attacks, and complete attacks in one fluid motion.
- Atomic Beeline Slash: A variation of the more focused Atomic Slash, allowing it to attack with greater speed and precision in a straight line.
- Passive ability (in-game One Punch Man: The Strongest):
- Dalam game, Atomic Slash-nya dapat menurunkan statistik DMG Free enemy, allowing his team to deal greater damage. The attack also had an effect Shatter, which increases the damage of the next attack.
- His passive Skill allows him to attack back after a type team member Duelist attack, with additional damage up to 30% (stackable) and double damage to the main target.
Relationships and interactions
- Students: Atomic Samurai has three main disciples, namely Iaian, Okamaitachi, and Bushidrill, all of which are top-ranked Class-A heroes. He values them very much and encourages them to keep growing, albeit with a tough approach. He also shows affection in his own way, for example by staying supportive of Iaian after losing an arm.
- King: In manga chapter 189, Atomic Samurai is curious about King's powers and tries to test them. A funny misunderstanding occurs when he thinks King has supernatural abilities due to his confusion in the Apple-cutting test, which makes Atomic Samurai decide to train harder.
- Saitama: Atomic Samurai initially disdains Saitama due to his low rating, refusing to shake his hand and deeming him unworthy. This reflects his arrogant nature of respecting only the strong.
- Bang and other Swordsmen: It shows respect to Bang and members Council of Swordmasters, shows a humble side when dealing with those he considers equal or superior.
Appearance in the story
Atomic Samurai appears in various important arcs in One Punch Man, both in manga, anime, and webcomic. Some of the key moments include:
- Fighting Monsters: He is often seen finishing off high-level monsters with ease using his Atomic Slash, demonstrating his prowess as a swordsman.
- Arc Monster Association: In the fight against Black Sperm, Atomic Samurai menunjukkan kemampuan bertarungnya melawan ancaman level Naga. This fight is also hinted at in the 2017 Halloween cover, where it is depicted as Taketori no Okina (characters from Japanese folklore).
- Tes King: As mentioned, he tries to test King in Chapter 189, which results in a funny misunderstanding but also shows his dedication to constantly improving himself.
Interesting Facts
- Seiyuu: Atomic Samurai disuarakan oleh Kenjiro Tsuda, a famous seiyuu who also voiced characters like Nanami (Jujutsu Kaisen), Jigen (Boruto), Hannes (Attack on Titan), dan Overhaul (My Hero Academia).
- Popularity: In character poll One Punch Man, Atomic Samurai ranked 16th, indicating that he is a character that fans are quite fond of despite not being the main protagonist.
- Design Inspiration: The design is inspired by Kyuzo in Seven Samurai, and the change of its sword-protective symbol from the swastika to the atom indicates a cultural adaptation for a global audience.
- Disadvantages: Although very strong, his arrogant nature and tendency to be careless in some fights can be a weakness, especially if he underestimates opponents.
Conclusion
Atomic Samurai is an interesting character in One Punch Man, combining classic samurai aesthetics with incredible superpowers. His arrogant yet dedicated personality, coupled with his unparalleled sword skills, made him one of the most outstanding S-Class Heroes. Although he has a tendency to belittle others, his dedication to Sword Arts and his students show a deeper side of his character. With techniques such as Atomic Slash and Air Blade, as well as its important role in the story, Atomic Samurai is a symbol of strength, discipline, and fighting spirit in the world One Punch Man.
