Hoozuki
Seiyuu / Dub
Summary
Hoozuki serves as the brilliant yet sadistic deputy to Enma, the King of Hell, where he manages the myriad issues arising within the underworld. In his leisure time, he dedicates himself to caring for animals and cultivating Goldfish grass. Physically, he is a tall, slender oni with middle-parted black hair, a single forehead horn, large pointed ears, and prominent fangs. His slanted grey eyes feature permanent red markings at the corners that remain even after sleep or washing. He typically wears a black yukata with red lining and an obi, adorned with a Chinese lantern embroidery on the back that symbolizes his name. Hoozuki is rarely without his extraordinarily heavy, toothed metal club, which he wields effortlessly thanks to his superhuman strength. While Momotaro and King Enma note his resemblance to Hakutaku, many women, including the Stone Princess and female minions, find him quite handsome, and he takes great pride in his personal grooming. Personality-wise, Hoozuki is stoic and serious, generally maintaining his composure unless Hakutaku or Enma Daio are involved. He admits to enjoying his position as Enma’s right-hand man primarily because it allows him to manipulate and control the Underworld from the shadows. Though often labeled a sadist, he denies the title, preferring to resolve conflicts through violence, which he views as the fastest solution. He derives sadistic pleasure from this approach, such as when he told Momotaro to settle their dispute with force in Hell. His intellect is equally sharp, allowing him to dominate arguments and intimidate enemies like Satan and Momotaro’s animal companions. His verbal cruelty can cause severe mental anguish, leaving victims traumatized, depressed, or vomiting blood upon subsequent encounters. He is unforgiving, once punishing Enma by grinding his prized Goldfish plants into juice for attempting to escape the garden. Hoozuki possesses impeccable organizational skills and mastery over herbal brewing, combat, and plant rearing, making him indispensable to Hell’s operations. He excels at multitasking, such as using leftover offerings to feed the Ten Kings or sending Momotaro to work in Heaven’s peach orchard. Minions frequently seek his help, relying on his blend of cunning and brute strength to solve their dilemmas. Despite his harsh exterior, he has a deep affection for animals, harboring disgust for humans who abuse them. He treats Momotaro’s companions as friends and has expressed plans to visit Australia’s wildlife and frequent zoos in the human world, disguising his horns and ears to pose as a ninja. He is cordial toward women, befriending Peach Maki and helping her punish a thief. During their imprisonment in Cold Hell, Oko wore his overcoat to survive the freezing temperatures. His romantic preferences are eccentric; he values resilience over conventional beauty, stating he would marry a woman willing to drink his brain-tissue miso soup. This disregard for traditional aesthetics makes him popular among women attracted to his reserved demeanor and looks, despite his sadistic nature. The stripping hag frequently attempts to flirt with him to no avail, while female oni in Shugou Hell are often seen giggling at his presence. Hoozuki is a deep sleeper, and waking him prematurely provokes terrible wrath. Enma once received a vicious kick for disturbing his stag-beetle viewing, and Shiro nearly died of fright when Hoozuki grabbed his tail upon waking. A recurring gag in the anime involves Hoozuki becoming enraged whenever someone compares his appearance to Hakutaku.
