Ma, Sougetsu
Summary
Ma Sougetsu, appearing first in Battle 67, is a 44-45 year old Dou and Satsujin Ken associated with the Yami Symbol of the Moon. He serves as the Chinese Kenpo Master of Yami's One Shadow Nine Fists, specializing in powerful fist styles. As the elder brother of Ma Kensei and master of Tanimoto Natsu, he is a tall, muscular middle-aged man with short black hair and a thick beard, typically dressed in an open vest exposing his chest, dark pants, and armbands, while constantly carrying a gourd. In his youth, he was clean-shaven. Sougetsu is depicted as a cruel and apathetic individual who disregards the well-being of others, attacking without hesitation, even targeting his niece, Ma Renka. He maintains a stoic demeanor, never showing surprise, and Tanimoto describes him as a bully who enjoys tormenting his disciple during training. Despite this, he possesses deep faith in his student, believing in his victory against Yomi and occasionally worrying for him. However, he pushes Tanimoto beyond his limits with forceful demands. A compulsive drinker, he is almost always seen consuming sake from his gourd. His character evolution reveals complexity; while the original Sougetsu was a wrathful, revenge-driven murderer with no redeeming qualities, the current portrayal shows sympathy. After Kenichi attempted to save him from a fire, Sougetsu accepted his impending death with gratitude, choosing to let Kenichi live. This shift is highlighted by Tanimoto Natsu’s emotional reaction to his apparent death, contrasting with his previous silence. Young Sougetsu trained in Chinese Kenpo with Kensei, becoming a master but alienating others with his domineering presence. Bitter and lonely, he concluded that martial arts were meant for destruction, becoming a murderer at age 20 and fleeing his country, though he claimed he had nowhere to go regardless. He later accepted Tanimoto as a student after being bribed with expensive wine. Despite his villainous nature, his bond with Kensei persisted, as drunken Sougetsu would frequently boast about his brother’s skills.
