Hokuto no Ken
Fist of the North Star, 北斗の拳
In the year 199X, Earth has been devastated by nuclear war and its consequences have left the planet barren and lifeless. Only humans remain alive on this desolate land where food and water are scarce. Violence rules as civilization is lost and those who are stronger dominate over the weaker. However, in these dark times, a mysterious man named Kenshirou emerges with his ancient martial art known as Hokuto Shinken. With its deadly style, he fights against evil to bring hope to this new era. Is Kenshirou truly the savior of humanity?
Hokuto no Ken was published in English as Fist of the North Star by VIZ Media for 44 chapters from 1989 to 1997 in monthly comic book format, later collected into 4 graphic novels. After gaining rights to the series, Gutsoon! Entertainment later republished the series under the Raijin Comics imprint in full-color, original right-to-left format as Fist of the North Star: Master Edition from January 28, 2003 to May 19, 2004; only covering the first 9 volumes due to Gutsoon! becoming defunct in North America.
Kenshirou
ProtagonistKenshirou (Ken for short) is the 64th successor of the "Hokuto Shin Ken" style. He has seven scars on his chest in the shape of the "Hokuto Shichisei," or Big Dipper, that were put there by Shin A st...
Juuza
Juza of the Clouds was a martial arts prodigy who grew up as a rival to Raoh. He developed a unique self-styled martial art that reflected his free spirit. As a childhood friend of Yuria, he fell in l...
Kuro-Yasha
Kuro-Yasha is a short dwarfish man who worked as a servant of the main Hokuto bloodline. He wields two long claws in battle. He assists Kenshirou and Hyou, but dies fighting Kaious elite army....
Shuren
Shuren of the Flames is a leader of an army that specializes in fire manipulation. After Hyuis death, he challenges Raoh to seek revenge on behalf of Hyuis. He employs the "Five Chariots Passionate Fl...
Shuu
Shuu is a practitioner of the Nanto Hakurō Ken style, which makes him one of the Nanto Roku Seiken. He bears the responsibility of living in accordance with the Star of Benevolence's mission to serve ...
Fudou
The Nanto Goshasei fighter known as Fudō was once an outlaw called "Fudoh the Ogre." He attacked the Hokuto dojo, causing fear in young Raoh. However, a brave Yuria stepped forward to save some puppie...
Akashachi
...
Uighur
The fearsome warden of the Cassandra prison and one of the most powerful underlings of Raoh....
Airi
Younger sister of Reis who was abducted and sold into servitude by Jagi. The Fang Clan used her as a bargaining chip against Rei, but she was eventually rescued by Ken and Rei. She now resides in Mami...
Souther
Nanto Houou Ken is the strongest style in Hokuto no Ken and its master, Souther, is one of the most powerful fighters. This style features sharp slicing movements that target the external body, but un...
Yuria
Yuria is the fiancee of Kenshiro, who was taken away from him by his former friend Shin, a jealous rival, prior to the start of the series....
Juukei
Juukei was a master of the Hokuto Ryuuken style who trained three Rashou and Shachi. He had gone through demonic possession because of his misuse of this style, which led him to kill his wife and chil...
Mamiya
Yuria is a female leader in a village who resembles Kenshiros fiancee. She hires Ken and Rei to protect her village and later joins them on several story arcs. Although she lacks martial arts skills, ...
Shin
Kenshiros initial adversary in the series, Shin was Kenshiros friend and rival, who was taught in the martial arts style of Nanto Seiken, specifically Nanto Koshuuken (南斗孤鷲拳) or "Lone Eagle Fist of th...
Ein
Ein is a renowned tracker and headhunter who employs an unusual combat technique. He is commissioned to apprehend Kenshirou, but following a brief skirmish with Ken, Ein develops admiration for him. A...
Lui
Lin's twin sister was forbidden from living with her, but Falco couldn't bear to kill her. He left her under the care of his aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, Lui was kidnapped by Jakoh and imprisoned underg...
Sayaka
...
Geira
A portly Jabba the Hutt-like character runs a head hunting agency and employs Ein to capture Kenshiro. However, instead of being captured, Kenshiro appears before the agency's headquarters. Despite be...
Falco
Falco, also known as the Golden General, is Gento Kō Ken's successor in strength. Despite receiving orders from Jakoh to eliminate Hokuto and Nanto warriors for the Celestial Empress, he remains an ho...
Colonel
The Golan organization's founder was once a Red Beret commando and a skilled killer who used deadly boomerangs and Nanto Muon Ken style. He had extrasensory abilities to predict an opponent's actions ...
Kaiou
In the story, there's a character named Kaiou who claims to be the creator of the new century and the demon Kaiou. He is an elder brother of Raou and Toki, both of whom stayed behind in Asura while th...
Tao
Leias sibling is her younger brother, who admired shachi and decided to join the asuran training camp despite opposition from his sister. however, he left the camp after being instructed to take the l...
Rei
In the Vizs English manga, Ray (Rei) inherits the esteemed Nanto Suichouken style, known as the most refined of the Nanto Seiken genres. He embodies the "Star of Justice" and is initially portrayed as...
Zeed
In the series, Zeed is the initial adversary that Kenshiro encounters. He leads a ruthless motorcycle group which has plundered multiple villages for their sustenance. On his forehead, he bears the ma...
Heart
In the King organization, led by Shin, there are four main leaders known as the Four Chief Vassals. One of them is Heart, who is renowned for his large size and rubber-like stomach that can absorb mos...
Hyou
Hyou is known as the Second Rashou. He belongs to the Hokuto lineage and is Ken's true older brother. As a child, he was separated from Ken, which led Juukei, his scarred forehead being evidence of th...
Bat
At 15 years old, Bat is an orphan who lived in a small village run by Toyo. When food supplies dwindled, he left the village so that the younger children could have his share. While traveling, he was ...
Han
In the confrontation between Kenshiro and Han, who is the Third Rashō and the first master from the Hokuto Ryūken school that Kenshiro encounters in Asura, Han utilizes a unique fighting style that en...
Jagi
Jagi is one of four brothers from the Hokuto clan and is known to be deceitful and evil in nature. He has a ruthless approach towards winning battles and often employs underhanded tactics. Following a...
Shachi
Shachi is Akashachi's son and was abandoned on Asura after their pirate father fled during an attack. There, he fell for Leia, a local girl, and became Jukei's fourth student. He mastered Hokuto Ryūke...
Mamu
...
Diamond
The character in question is an expert in bōjutsu and wears clown-like makeup. While attempting to execute a villager for amusement, he is confronted by Kenshirou. Eventually, Kenshiro defeats him usi...
Kiba Daiou
The Fang Clan's leader, also known as "Boss Fang" or the "King of Kiba," is a skilled master of Kazan Kakuteigi (華山角抵戯, "Huashan Horn Wrestling") style and possesses the ability to turn his body into ...
Ryuuken
Who was the previous master of the Hokuto Shinken style before Kenshiro? The sifu who trained and adopted Raoh, Toki, Jagi, and Kenshiro in this particular martial art technique was named Ryuken (リュウケ...
Hyui
The Wind Army's leader, Hyui of the Wind, utilizes his unique ability to manipulate wind pressure for slicing purposes. In the manga, he faces off against Raou immediately after making his debut and i...
Yuda
Nanto Kokakuken's successor, Yuda, specializes in long-range attacks with the style of Nanto Seiken. He is known as both "The Star of Enchantment" and "The Star of Betrayal." Despite being vain and tr...
Kaiser
The district general of Shura is known as Master Mouko-Ryuu Youkin Shou. This fighting style, called Mouko-Ryuu Youkin Shou, enables the user to remove an opponent's internal organs and fracture their...
Amiba
Amiba was a self-proclaimed genius who trained in Nanto Suicho Ken under Rofu. However, after failing to become his successor, he turned his attention to Hokuto Shin Ken. Despite Toki's refusal to sha...
Toki
The second of the four Hokuto brothers. A pacifist who seeks to use Hokuto Shinken as a healing art, Tokis self-made technique of Hokuto Ujō Ken (北斗有情拳, Hokuto Ujō Ken? "North Star Humane Fist") is an...
Lin
Introduced in chapter one as a young orphan living in the village where Ken and Bat are imprisoned, Lin becomes friends with Ken while working as his jailer. He helps her regain her voice by pushing a...
Raou
In the story, Raoh is the oldest of four children trained by Ryuken, who was once the master of Hokuto Shinken. There are two different origins for Raoh's background throughout the narrative. Initiall...
Rihaku
Rihaku of the Ocean (海のリハク) is a military general in the Goshasei group. Unlike other members, he has limited martial arts abilities and mainly uses intricate traps to safeguard Yuria from Raoh. He's ...
Tou
Rihakus daughter. As a young girl her life was saved by Raoh and she loved him. She kills herself when rejected by Raoh....
Shiba
He is Shuus son....
Ryuga
Ryuga is an individual who serves as the successor to the Taizan Tenrōken style of martial arts, which enables him to extract portions of his opponents' flesh while leaving them with a sensation of co...
Kouryuu
Kouryuu (コウリュウ, Kōryū?) was once a rival to Ryuken for the Hokuto Shinken succession. Despite losing this battle, he chose to live an ascetic lifestyle in the mountains. Later on, Raoh confronted him ...