Your hero is not a prince charming. He is a festive demon.

You can’t have a hero without a villain. Protagonist vs.Antagonist. Good vs.Evil.

This is a common plot or needless to say, most plots may directly or indirectly refer to this kind of concept. How about in real life? Yes. Dominant? Yes. When we conquer our fears or facing an incoherent obstacle, this kind of concept is quite popular. In movies or television specifically on dramas, it’s obvious. More or less popular. In a sense, it makes the audience happy or satisfied etc.

Out of curiosity, what if the author wants the audience to be in pity, sympathy, empathy, and compassion state? And I guess here comes the flaw and the roles of tragic heroes will come to play.

What is tragic hero? A tragic hero is a character in a work of fiction (often the protagonist) who commits an action or makes a mistake which eventually leads to his or her defeat. The idea of the tragic hero was created in ancient Greek tragedy and defined by Aristotle (and others). Usually, this includes the realization of the error (anagnorisis), which results in catharsis or epiphany. It has also the following sequence. That is “Great, Good, Flaw, Recognition, Downfall.”

Common tragic heroes in literature are Orestes in Aeschylus’ Oresteia, Othello etc. In movies, Anakin Skywalker, Bruce Wayne from Batman, Harvey Dent from Batman also. In games, Kratos from God of War, Big Boss from Metal Gear Solid. In anime, Itachi Uchiha from Naruto and Nagato. These are common tragic heroes. Some are depressingly true even we want to have them a better start or ending.

I always got one. One of my favorite tragic heroes of all time. From a television/tokasatsu, Kamen Rider series. Personally, I really like how the OST or background music depicts every character’s personality and sometimes their fate. I guess, it’s their unique way to guide or give hints about what kind of character in a tokasatsu series.Despite the common presumption of adding a dramatic effect into a series or episode, it provides a better understanding to the said story or plot and puts you in a proper mood to the scene itself.

Well, one of those tragic characters in the franchise is Kamen Rider Kabuki. His first appearance and also his last, the movie Kamen Rider Hibiki and the 7 Senki. (Although an antagonist, he had reasons of his own but technically he is one of the senki, so still one of the protagonist). The plot involves A secret war is taking place between the Oni- humans who have trained their bodies to be able to harness supernatural power- and the Makamou, demonic creatures that lurk in the forests of Japan. Into this conflict stumbles Asumu Adachi, a young boy who is unsure what he wishes to do with his life. He encounters one of the leading Oni of the Takeshi organisation- a cool and confident man named Hibiki- and soon they develop a student-teacher relationship.

Kabuki is a Taiko Oni and is one of the antagonists in the movie, having double-crossed Asumu and the others into believing he cares for humans (as per his staged fight with a Makamou). He also caused trouble among the seven Oni when they were accused of attacking humans (with Nishiki’s weapons found beside a murdered man, while it was actually him who committed it).

He revealed that he was disillusioned with his relation with humans because no matter how hard he fights and risks his life for them, they just call him an Oni, a monster, an animal. Thus, he forms a pact with the Makamou to become one of them. He has a soft spot, however, for children because even upon his defeat by Hibiki and death at the hands of Hitotsumi (one of the antagonists), he pleads for Asumu’s safety.

The movie was quite balance yet Kabuki’s character merely conclusive. A good man/protagonist turned bad due to his experiences. But nonetheless, it’s quite predictable that he possess a hidden plan behind.

Played by Toshinobu Matsuo

Kabuki’s story is relevant. It’s the so called part in the human nature. We sometimes are disenchanted to something or to someone by the fact we let our fears or hatred possesses our mind. But how matter we are in the dark areas of our lives, there’s a hope like a “soft spot.” The only redeeming for Kabuki is that he still have a soft spot and gives justice behind his downfall. My personal conclusion involves how I admire the greatness/realization behind the said downfall.

Let us consider this. “You and I are no different from each other. We are simply driven by our own sense of justice.”-Nagato from Naruto.

We are struggling. We are living in this world that maybe pure of hate but there is a goodness behind. That love will be a good result who can withstand it. We maybe different but we are struggling for the so called justice. Let this tragedy rings for justice.