Summary
Anji is a fallen-monk warrior who allies with Shishio to dismantle the Meiji government, blaming it for failing to halt the anti-Buddhist purge that destroyed his temple. This tragedy claimed the lives of five orphaned children under his care, who originated from families that opposed the Meiji restoration and were eliminated during the conflict. Despite his status as a fallen monk, Anji retains strong Buddhist convictions and seeks to cleanse the world of evil through salvation, even if it requires siding with malevolence. His title, "The Bright King," derives from Acala, one of the Five Wisdom Kings who shatters delusion and protects the faith, a role Anji believes he is destined to fulfill. As the third strongest and most merciful member of the Juppongatana, Anji holds the authority to decide who lives and dies, an agreement made with Shishio. He avoids using a sword directly, instead employing Futae no Kiwami (Double Layer Limit or "Mastery of Two Layers") to strike the ground and launch distant attacks, or more commonly, to enhance his fist strikes. During a forest encounter, he teaches this secret technique to Sagara Sanosuke, unaware that Sanosuke is allied with Kenshin. Anji is ultimately defeated when Sanosuke evolves the technique into the Triple Layer Limit (Sanjuu no Kiwami), delivering a three-part strike with his knuckles, fist, and finger tips. After being struck by the Sanju no Kiwami, Sanosuke convinces Anji that his current path does not align with the wishes of the deceased children he mourned. As he lies defeated, Anji glimpses the spirits of the children he once protected. Following Shishio’s death, Anji elects to serve a twenty-five-year prison sentence in Hokkaidou.
