Kōdō Yukimura (雪村綱道 Yukimura Koudou) is a doctor in service to the shogunate and Chizuru Yukimura's father. He has been missing since shortly after his arrival in Kyoto in Season 1 and is one of the main antagonists in Season 2. He is notorious for creating Ochimizu and Rasetsu.
Kōdō is not based on any historical character.
Appearance
He appears to be a friendly man, having been constantly shown with a smile in Chizuru's flashbacks. He is bald, seemingly having no hair on his head at all, and wears the general traditional clothing of the Bakumatsu Period.
Personality
In Chizuru's flashbacks, he was a caring father and someone who also cared for the people as a doctor in the area they lived in. It is later revealed that he was researching the Ochimizu to regain what little demon power he believed he should have gotten (as he was a decedent of the Yukimura Clan, of a demonic bloodline and whose decedents possessed remarkable healing and strength abilities). This obsession with power, in turn, drove him to the edge of losing his mind over it, experimenting on Shinsengumi and other warriors before he turned himself into a demon. Of course, he also felt a need to restore the Yukimura Clan to its prior glory as a demon clan, and was planning on using Chizuru.
Skills and Abilities
Kodachi is originally a short katana. By the end of the Edo period, it referred to a large wakizashi. It was usually worn as a half of a pair with a larger sword, such as a katana.
It is known that Koudou taught Chizuru how to use the kodachi, so it is assumed that he was skilled in using the kodachi as well. Along with his knowledge of western medicine, he was a working doctor, giving him extensive knowledge and ability in the medical field. When he turned into a full demon, he was given regenerative abilities and overpowering strength.
Story
This article contains major SPOILERS. Be careful if you do not know the full story yet.
First Season
At the beginning of the story, Chizuru states that he had not contacted her at least a couple months prior before she ended up in Kyoto. It is later revealed by the Shinsengumi that Koudou is missing, possibly captured or in hiding. The only time Koudou appears in this season is in Chizuru's flashbacks when he informed her of his leave. He is never shown but mentioned countless times.
About a year later, Chizuru finds out that Koudou was the one who made the Ochimizu and was researching it on the Shinsengumi members, making him the cause of the Rasetsu. In a few more months Kazama informs Chizuru that her father has betrayed the Bakufu and is now on the enemy side.
Second Season
It's revealed that Koudou is not Chizuru's real father, instead, he is actually her relative that took her in after the main Yukimura family was destroyed. Koudou has defected from Kazama's side and turned against him, wanting to destroy humanity and repopulate the earth with Rasetsu. He has developed a newer, stronger Rasetsu that can function in daylight. Shiranui later informs Harada that Koudou wishes to start another war just for the sake of being able to feed his new Rasetsu.
After a fierce battle between his Rasetsu, Shiranui, and Harada, Koudou is left defenseless for a moment, but Shiranui runs out of bullets. Koudou then takes advantage of this and draws a bomb out from beneath his clothing, about to throw it at Shiranui. However, Harada uses the last of his energy to throw his spear at Koudou, causing him to drop the bomb, which then explodes at his feet.
Koudou is last seen taking Chizuru to Sendai Castle by force. He tries to convince her to lead the demons and Rasetsu but is betrayed by Sannan who kills all his creations with the help of Hijikata and Heisuke. Three of the Rasetsu attempt to attack Chizuru but Koudou protects her with his body. Hijikata slays them all but he is too late as Koudou has already collapsed after having been pierced through his heart. His last words reveal that he has never believed in Rasetsu's future but he tried his best to restore the Yukimura family for Chizuru's sake. He apologizes for not being a father figure to her and encourages her to follow the path she believes in. The last thing he hears before life leaves his body is that Chizuru has always loved him as her real father and has always been proud of him.
Third Season
Being a prequel, Hakuouki: Reimeiroku introduces Koudou in Episode 6 for the first time. He is brought in the Rōshigumi by Nishiki Niimi and Kamo Serizawa under the order from Bakufu. Koudou comes bearing gifts: the Water of Life that can increase one's power in battle along with granting remarkable healing abilities. The same evening, the serum is tested on one of the Rōshigumi members sentenced to commit suicide for breaking the Rules of Conduct. As expected, the man loses his sanity and attacks his comrades, however, despite the horrifying predicament, Koudou joins the squad and is allowed to continue the research along with Niimi and Sannan.
Eventually, Koudou manages to dilute the Ochimizu to some extent and the new Rasetsu keep their sanity slightly longer. He also creates special medicine to help with bloodlust. As he notices that the Bakufu pay a lot of attention to Chōshū, he realizes that the times are changing, and the Bakufu does not have as much authority anymore, so he stages his death by setting his clinic on fire and escapes.
Gallery
Trivia
- He was one of the only living members of the Yukimura Clan.