Tanishi is a yakuza boss living and operating within Tokyo and the former employer of the pickpocket Myōjin Yahiko.
Appearance[]
Tanishi is an ugly man with short black hair, no eyebrows, a large nose with bumps, black marks under his eyes, and wrinkles around his face. Tanishi wears a black haori over a white shirt, vertical striped pants, and white socks.
Personality[]
Tanishi has a great deal of contempt for the fallen samurai that make up the Meiji era's rogues and considers his position as a yakuza boss preferable. However, he does appear to have respect for those samurai whose pride and skills remain strong.
Relationships[]
- Gasuke: Tanishi is Gasuke's boss.
- Myōjin Yahiko: Tanishi is Yahiko's former boss.
Abilities[]
It is unknown what Tanishi is capable of, but he was able to recognize that Kenshin had the eyes of a true hitokiri.
History[]
With the poor Myōjin family owing a large amount of money to Tanishi, the gangster took their son under his wing after their death, sending him out into the city to steal and taking a percentage of the young thief's take each month, but Yahiko's pride as a shizōku would frequently get in the way of their business.
Tokyo Arc[]
When Yahiko was being punished for not bringing in any money, Tanishi tells Gasuke to not hurt him so much, so that Yahiko can properly apologize to them. As Yahiko tells them that he wants to quit, Tanishi asks how Yahiko plans to make a living. Suddenly Himura Kenshin enters Tanishi's lair, requesting that Yahiko be released from the yakuza boss' service, Tanishi acquiesces, realizing that the look in Kenshin's eyes is that of a true hitokiri.
Trivia[]
- He is voiced by Yoshisada Sakaguchi in the Japanese version.
Gallery[]
