Nichirin

Nichirin
Characteristics
Race	Human
Gender	Male
Status	Alive
Abilities
Abilities	Superhuman Physical Prowess Master Swordsmanship
Weapons	Katanas Sun Blade (Formerly)
Status
Occupation	Swordmaster
Affiliation	Council of Swordmasters
Partner(s)	Spring Mustachio (Disciple)
Media
Manga Debut	Chapter 69
Anime Debut	Episode 19

Nichirin (ニチリン, Nichirin) is a swordmaster and the head of the Council of Swordmasters.

Appearance

Nichirin opened eyes

Nichirin is an elderly man whose face is covered in wrinkles, giving it a wooden appearance. He has short white hair, and his eyes appear to be cut, with a pure white hue. His attire consists of a black kimono paired with a white haori. Following the battle against the Monster Association, his lower body, which he lost while fighting Fuhrer Ugly, was entirely replaced with cybernetic parts.

Personality

Nichirin is a very stern individual, yet caring and confident, offering Kamikaze help when requested. In the battle against Fuhrer Ugly, he willingly sacrificed himself to save Spring Mustachio from the foe's acidic attack.

History

At some point in the past, he trained Spring Mustachio, who became one of his best disciples.

Plot

Human Monster Saga

Super Fight Arc

Nichirin attends a meeting of the Council of Swordmasters, where Kamikaze requests assistance in capturing and killing Garou, fearing that Bang might fail. The council members agree, except for Haragiri, who mocks Atomic Samurai's plea. Haragiri then reveals the Monster Cells, which he received from the Monster Association, and transforms into a Mysterious Being. Nichirin threatens Haragiri, stating that he will get serious if he does not cease his nonsense. However, Haragiri arrogantly continues, ordering the others to consume the cells or face death. When the council vehemently refuses, he attacks Kamikaze, but Kamikaze strikes first, killing him.

Monster Association Arc

Nichirin and Atomic Samurai being attacked by Fuhrer Ugly

Nichirin, along with Amahare, Zanbai, and Spring Mustachio, comes to Atomic Samurai's aid against Black Sperm. While defending against numerous copies of Black Sperm, they are confronted by Fuhrer Ugly, who arrives in his mutated form, covered in Gums' stomach acid. Nichirin witnesses the monster brutally kill Zanbai by spitting acid onto his head. He and Atomic Samurai attempt to defeat Fuhrer Ugly using their techniques, Iai Rahu-Ashura Slash and Atomic Slash, but they fail to harm the monster, as its body is protected by the digestive fluids, which melt their swords. Fuhrer Ugly quickly retaliates with his Full Body Melting Punch, and Spring Mustachio and Iaian rush to defend their masters. Amahare jumps in, kicking Atomic Samurai and Iaian out of the way just in time, while Nichirin shoves his student away. As a result, Amahare is killed by the acidic punch and Nichirin is mortally wounded, dissolving from the waist down.

As he is on the verge of death, Nichirin activates his mythical pearl to summon the legendary sword Sun Blade and hands it to Atomic Samurai, entrusting him with the quest to find the Moon Blade. Before becoming unconscious, he tells Spring Mustachio are to follow his own path, leaving his student heartbroken.

Later, his upper body is held by Spring Mustachio while Tanktop Master, who is carrying many injured heroes, and Fubuki attend to his wounds. As a giant ship approaches, Tanktop Master prepares to throw them onto the ship's deck, but King, having seen Saitama on board, stops him. A sudden flood of water surrounds them, but thankfully, Pig God arrives just in time to swallow and save everyone from the deluge.

Neo Heroes Saga

Neo Heroes Introduction Arc

It's revealed that Nichirin survived the wounds, having his lower body replaced with cybernetic parts.

This section is missing information. You can help by expanding it.

Abilities and Powers

As the leader of the Council of Swordmasters, Nichirin is very powerful and highly skilled in swordsmanship. During the Monster Association raid, he easily sliced through multiple clones of Black Sperm and demonstrated the ability to cut a massive block of concrete in half. Atomic Samurai was confident enough in Nichirin's strength to ask him to assist in pursuing and fighting Garou instead of relying on the Hero Association.

Physical Abilities

Nichirin splits the ground in half

Immense Strength: Despite his old age, Nichirin is incredibly strong, capable of splitting the ground in half with his sword. He can also generate air slashes that slice through massive cliffs of rock from a great distance.

Immense Speed and Reflexes: Despite his age, Nichirin displays remarkable speed, drawing his sword and slashing at speeds faster than the normal human eye can perceive. He was one of the few, alongside Atomic Samurai, unafraid to face Haragiri after his transformation into a Mysterious Being, fully aware that Haragiri could draw his sword faster than the speed of sound. Nichirin's speed allowed him to slice multiple clones of Black Sperm before they could react. Furthermore, his immense speed combined with his swordsmanship enables Nichirin to swiftly and precisely slice an apple many times without leaving any cuts on the fruit, due to the cut sections rejoining themselves perfectly.

Enhanced Endurance: Despite his severe injuries, including having the lower half of his body melted, Nichirin maintained consciousness and briefly conversed with Atomic Samurai and Spring Mustachio while enduring great pain from blood loss.

Fighting Style

Nichirin performs many slashes with Iai Rahu-Ashura Slash

Master Swordsman: As the leader of the Council of Swordmasters, Nichirin is exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship, able to hold his own against many clones of Black Sperm, a Dragon-level Mysterious Being. He demonstrated remarkable precision when performing rapid slashes on an apple, causing its pieces to meld back together without visible cuts, a feat described by Atomic Samurai as "slicing the blade through gaps between the cells."

• Iai Rahu-Ashura Slash (居合羅喉阿修羅斬, Iai Rago Ashurazan; Viz: Slice and Sheathe Rago-Ashura Slash): Nichirin performs many quick sword slashes in an attempt to slice the opponent to pieces. The technique bears a resemblance to Atomic Samurai's Atomic Slash.

Miscellaneous Abilities

Master Teacher: As a master swordsman, Nichirin is shown to be very skilled at instructing and raising disciples in the art of the sword. He personally taught and trained Spring Mustachio, an A-Class hero, in swordsmanship.

Equipment

Nichirin activates the Mythical Pearl Necklace to pull out the Sun Blade stored in it

Mythical Pearl Necklace: Nichirin possesses a mythical pearl necklace that generates a pocket dimension for storing the Sun Blade. The pearl is activated by crossing two fingers together.

Katana: Nichirin carries a cane katana on his person. The sword was melted off after coming into contact with Fuhrer Ugly's digestive acids.

Trivia

• Nichirin (ニチリン, Nichirin) literally means the Sun.
• Nichirin's face appears to be modeled after either Tsutomu Yamazaki, a Japanese actor well known for his role as a samurai in the period drama series Hissatsu Shiokinin (1973), or Takeshi Kitano, a Japanese comedian and movie director well known for his role as a blind swordman Zatoichi in the movie Zatoichi (2003).