"Listen to me, Kyōka. I know how you feel. But... some things are simply impossible. No matter how much a natural-born assassin like you seeks light... A flower that blooms in the dark can survive only within the dark. If you pursue the light, its heat will burn you up in the end." |
Kōyō Ozaki (
Appearance
Kōyō is a tall and slender woman with cherry red eyes[note 1] and light, scarlet hair tied into a traditional Japanese bun with three[note 2] golden kanzashi, another hair clip on the right side of her head, composed by a light pink furry hair clip and red ribbon which forms a five-petal flower
Kōyō wears red eyeshadow, light pink lipstick and red painted nails. She dons a black-and-pink kimono with red spider lilies as it's pattern with a maroon bow/ribbon with white borders with bellflower patterns[note 3], she wears a mantle that goes shades of pink from darker below her feet[note 4] and brown lace shoe heels.[note 5]
(notes to add, Kōyō has violet eyes in the manga, the anime reduced the three kanzashi into two, the bellflower patterns on Kōyō's obi was changed to maze-like pattern, the anime added flowers on her mantle, and the anime changed it into simple brown shoes)
In order to steal a document as a gift to Kyōka Izumi, she disguised herself as a postman to attack a Special Division for Unusual Powers' transport vehicle.[3]
.png "Koyo disguised (manga).png (543 KB)")
Others
.png "Koyo Ozaki (Wan! Anime).png (98 KB)")
Personality
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Kōyō sheds tears.
Kōyō holds herself with grace and dignity but wastes no efforts hiding her dark nature. As a result of her failed escape from the Port Mafia, Kōyō is an extreme cynic, jaded against things like hope and love. Kōyō doesn't believe in the benefits of 'light' and claims that people born in 'darkness' are destined to never branch out for the light. With her eloquent speech, Kōyo often equates people to flowers. Some born in darkness, some destined to wilt. In her own words, "they [flowers] never have the chance to drop... if they remain mere buds", indicating she believes that no one will always remain pure and that that purity is a waste compared to how they are when they fall. As a result, Kōyo both detests and fears 'light', thinking there's nothing but disappointment and despair once exposed.[4]
Kōyō's direct express of distain.
Around her comrades, Kōyō maintains her composure but has a much more laid back approach, and enjoys leisure time with her peers, such as the mafia's boss and her fellow executive.[5] Towards others like Ace, however, she isn't the least bit subtle in her distrust and comes off very passive-aggressive.[3]
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Kōyō teases Atsushi.
For all her grace, Kōyō's intense mindset leaves her prone to lashing out with cruel words and violent attacks - nothing out of the ordinary for a mafioso.[1][6] Ruthless and brutal, Kōyō seldom holds back in a battle, only doing so for Kyōka Izumi's sake, and she is not above attacking when her target isn't looking.[6]
After their hostility lowers, Kōyō extends some of her humor towards Atsushi Nakajima, but only once thus far, making a joke about how Osamu Dazai got information and cooperation out of her.[7]
Kōyō mentored Kyōka, consequentially being the cause of Kyōka's extreme fear of change when she first joins the Armed Detective Agency. For some time, Kōyō drilled a dreary, hopeless mindset into Kyōka to ensure she would never leave the mafia. She goes as far as to lie by telling Kyōka she's directly responsible for her own parents' murders, poisoning Kyōka's mind.[4]
"Stop! You'll hit Kyōka!
Claiming this to be only for Kyōka's well-being, Kōyō projects her frustrations with life onto Kyōka. It takes Dazai's input for Kōyō to finally stop obsessing over Kyōka's defection and let the girl grow and think for herself. Nonetheless, Kōyō's attachment to Kyōka drives her to intercept a Special Division for Unusual Powers armed transport vehicle – leaking the true events of Kyōka's past to the girl[3] – and later makes a point of never physically harming Kyōka during the Cannibalism operation.[6] This careful mindset extends somewhat to other detectives, however, Kōyō only states that she dislikes the thought of harming Kyōka's friends.
Far from fearless, even Kōyō panics at the possibility of suffering through Dazai's infamous torture methods.[8]
Ability
- Main article: Golden Demon
Kōyō has the ability to control the Golden Demon (
| Golden Demon ( | ||
|
Manga Debut: | Chapter 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Anime Debut: | Episode 17 | |
| Ability: | Materialized Guardian | |
Background
Kōyō's attempt at escaping Port Mafia, alongside an unknown man.
When she was young, she tried to leave the Mafia together with a man whom she admired. Nevertheless, they both were caught and the man was killed. Since then, she has held a grudge, but only against the Mafia's former leader who did those heinous acts.[7]
A year after Ōgai Mori takes over the mafia, Kōyō is assigned to oversee (not necessarily mentor) Chūya Nakahara, after he joins the Port Mafia. As a result, Chūya answered directly to her much of the time. Although she feels exasperated and too young to be called 'ane-san' (姐さん, literally "elder sister"?) by the boy, it's clear she later grows to accept it when she gets older.
Battles
- Main article: List of Battles
|
Atsushi Nakajima vs. Kōyō Ozaki | Win |
|
Kyōka Izumi vs. Kōyō Ozaki | Unsettled |
|
Jun'ichirō Tanizaki and Kyōka Izumi vs. Kōyō Ozaki | Win over Tanizaki (interrupted by Kyoka) |
Appearances
- Chapter 17 - The First Job
- Chapter 18 - Flowers and Autumn Leaves, Snow and Gold
- Chapter 19 - The Three-Way Battle
- Chapter 26 - Will of Tycoon
- Chapter 27 - Upon the Shattering Shores (flashback)
- Chapter 30 - The Silent Tower and the Raven's Feast
- Chapter 31 - The Twin Darkness (cover)
- Chapter 37 - Closing the Party
- Chapter 42 - Sins Granted by the Hand of God
- Chapter 43 - Cherrirs!
- Chapter 46 - The Masked Assassin
- Chapter 48 - Mutual Destruction, Part 2
- Chapter 53 - Echo, Part 3
- Episode 17 - Three Companies Conflict
- Episode 19 - Will of Tycoon
- Episode 20 - Though the Mind May Be Wrong
- Episode 21 - Double Black
- Episode 24 - If I May Shed Away My Burden Now
- Episode 28 - Only a Diamond Can Polish a Diamond
- Episode 29 - My Ill Deeds Are the Work of God
- Episode 31 - Part 1: Herurisu! / Part 2: Portrait of a Father
- Episode 33 - The Masked Assassin
- Episode 34 - Cannibalism (Part 1)
- Episode 37 - Echo
- Episode 43 - Tragic Sunday (cameo)
Quotes
Etymology
- The name Kōyō means "crimson, deep red" (紅) (kō) and "leaf, plane, lobe, needle, blade, spear, counter for flat things, fragment, piece" (葉) (yō), Kōyō itself means "Autumn leaves, autumn colors, maple".
- Kōyō's surname Ozaki means "tail, ridge" (尾) (o) and "cape, peninsula" (崎) (saki/zaki).
Namesake
- Main article: Real-life References#Kōyō Ozaki
Kōyō Ozaki (Jan 10, 1868 – Oct 30, 1903)
|
Trivia
- Kōyō is one of the only characters to refer to Mori by his first name.
- Ozaki shares her birthday with Yukichi Fukuzawa, on January 10.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Chapter 18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Volume 5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Chapter 43.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Chapter 17.
- ↑ Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Chapter 37.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Chapter 48.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Chapter 26.
- ↑ Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Chapter 19.
- ↑ Bungo Stray Dogs Manga: Volume 5, Author Guide.
Notes