Kazuo Henmi
Kazuo Henmi is a character from the manga series Golden Kamuy. He is one of the escaped convicts bearing a tattoo from Abashiri Prison and a serial killer responsible for numerous murders across Japan. Despite his violent history, he conceals his true nature under the guise of an unassuming, polite worker.
Overview
Kazuo Henmi is a character from the manga series Golden Kamuy. He is one of the escaped convicts bearing a tattoo from Abashiri Prison and a serial killer responsible for numerous murders across Japan. Despite his violent history, he conceals his true nature under the guise of an unassuming, polite worker.
Appearance
Despite being nearly forty years old, Kazuo Henmi has a youthful appearance owing to his small stature and childish facial features. He has black hair and black eyes, giving him the look of an ordinary man. As an escaped convict, his body is marked with a prison tattoo.
Personality
On the surface, Kazuo Henmi is polite, soft-spoken, and modest. Beneath his mild exterior lies an extreme autoassassinophilia, finding intense gratification in the thought of being violently slain by a powerful opponent while resisting with all his might. When focused on a target, his demeanor shifts into intense obsession.
Abilities
Kazuo Henmi possesses high combat capabilities, having slain over one hundred individuals throughout Japan. He has a habit of carving a kanji character onto his victims' backs. He excels at blending into social environments, such as herring fisheries, and acts ruthlessly to eliminate anyone who threatens to expose him.
Background
Originating from Shimotsuke Province, Kazuo Henmi suffered a traumatic childhood event when he watched a wild boar kill his younger brother. Observing his brother struggle until death created in him a twisted obsession with life's final moments. After committing widespread murders, he was imprisoned at Abashiri Prison, later escaping to hide in a herring fishery. Upon encountering Saichi Sugimoto, he sought a duel to the death with him, which ultimately ended when an orca dragged him into the sea after he sustained fatal injuries.
Relationships
Kazuo Henmi developed a passionate obsession with Saichi Sugimoto, viewing him as the ideal adversary who could grant his desire for a fatal duel. He was acquainted with Shiraishi Yoshitake from sharing a cell at Abashiri Prison, though Shiraishi was repulsed when Henmi confided his disturbed desires to him.
Trivia
Kazuo Henmi's name and concept are inspired by the real-world American serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. He is fond of strawberries but avoids spicy food due to an easily upset stomach. The manga's author, Satoru Noda, frequently uses depictions of Henmi as his self-portrait avatar.