Genjo Sanzo

Genjo Sanzo (Japanese: 玄奘三蔵, Hepburn: Genjō Sanzō) or Genjyo Sanzo is a fictional character in the manga and anime series Saiyuki. He is one of the four protagonists, loosely based on (or inspired by) the character Tang Sanzang.

For the Journey to the West character known as Genjo Sanzo in Japanese, see Tang Sanzang.
Genjo Sanzo
Saiyuki character
Genjo Sanzo as drawn by Minekura Kazuya
First appearanceSaiyuki Vol #1 (1997)
Created byMinekura Kazuya
Voiced byWataru Takagi (Japanese, OVA)
Toshihiko Seki (Japanese, original series)
David Matranga (English)
Lex Lang (English, Reload and Gunlock)
In-universe information
AliasKonzen Douji
Kouryu (the river drifter)
SpeciesHuman
GenderMale
TitleGenjo Sanzo, the 31st of China
Occupation
  • Expert martial artist
  • Expert marksmen
Weapon
  • Maten Sutra
  • S&W M36
  • S&W M36
Relatives
  • Rin Toku - father
  • Kouran - mother
  • Koumyou Sanzo - adoptive father/guardian
  • Son Goku - ward

Background

"Konzen Douji" was the first incarnation of Genjo Sanzo. Additionally he wore a god-forged golden coronet, a power limiter, to curb more than just his brute strength.[1] He shows the personality traits of someone who is quick to explode into fits of temper when bothered and also a surprising father-like gentleness and kindness with Goku that no one would have expected.[2]

When "Dr. Ni Jianyi" tell him his father was a government official named Rin Tokou, a political activist who was exiled to Oujyouin in Rishyu, the northern-most town of "Togenkyo". He was 51 years old when he met Sanzo's mother, a woman named "Kouran". She was 17 years of age and the daughter of a shop peddler. After he was conceived, his father went missing and his mother went off into the wilderness to bear the child alone. She died shortly after.[3]

Personality

A very brutal, worldly priest. He drinks, smokes, gambles, and carries a gun, which is pushing it even for normal people (let alone Buddhist monks). He's searching for the stolen Sutra of his mentor and father figure Priest Koumyou Sanzo, who was killed in Sanzo's youth by a mob of murderous Yokai. Sanzo is egotistical, haughty, and can be very cruel, yet our 23-year-old hero also has calm judgment, unwavering intensity, and surprising charisma. His favorite phrases, incidentally, are 'Die,' and 'I'll kill you.' His weapons of choice are the magical Maten Sutra, a handgun, and a paper fan for idiots. He's 177 cm tall (approx. 5'10") and is often noted for his good looks and drooping purple eyes.[4] He is "the 31st of China". He is one of the five highest priests in "Tougenkyo", but he has no intention of devoting himself to Buddhism, and is a corrupt monk who enjoys drinking, smoking, and gambling. Although he has a sharp eye and charisma to see things through, he also has a competitive and selfish side. His favorite phrases are "die" and "I'll kill you".[5]

He is the current holder of the Sanzo title and the wielder of very powerful sutras, though he is usually content to keep those stored away and shoot people immediately. He met his trio of party members through various traumatic adventures and brought them together, offering them a chance to start over. Despite his grouchy exterior, he is revealed to be a good person at heart.[6] Eduardo M. Chavez of Anime on DVD stating In the third volume "the fact that sanzo could accept going into battle with someone who was once close to him shows responsibility to his mission and to himself. He could have waited and risked his friends getting caught up in the violence. Instead, he took on the challenge, as difficult as it was, and faced it aware that he will always have the memories of a better time and that nothing will be able to take them away".[7]

Reception

In 2000, Genjo Sanzo won the Best Male Character award at the 23rd Anime Grand Prix.[8] In August 2001, issue of Newtype Magazine listed their top to anime titles. Gensōmaden Saiyuki was ranked ninth, and Genjo Sanzo, in the top ten male characters, was ranked sixth.[9]

In June 2004, on the 26th Anime Grand Prix Award, Saiyuki Reload was in the top ten Anime titles, It was ranked fourth, Meanwhile Genjo Sanzo was ranked seventh at the top ten Best Male Characters.[10][11] in 2005, on 27th Anime Grand Prix Award, Genjo Sanzo was the top of twenty best Male Character. It was ranked thirteenth.[12] In 2013, he was ranked 36th on ComicsAlliance's 50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics list.[13]

In January 2020, Genjo Sanzo character ranked eighth on Anime! Anime! website's poll of top 10 favorite characters "that look good with cigarettes".[14] On June 11, 2022, "nijimen" anime news site, ranking top 10 popular characters played by Toshihiko Seki, Genjo Sanzo character was ranked second.[15]

On September 10, 2022, "nlab.itmedia" ranking top 30 popular TV anime characters played by voice actor "Toshihiko Seki", The first place is decided by Saiyuki's "Genjo Sanzo" Collected 473 votes from total of 3176 votes.[16][17] In January 2023, Genjo Sanzo character ranked third on Anime! Anime! website's poll of top 20 favorite "monk" characters.[18]

  • Kazuya Minekura Draws New Illustration for Character Genjo Sanzo's Birthday in (Nov 29, 2018).
    Kazuya Minekura Draws New Illustration for Character Genjo Sanzo's Birthday in (Nov 29, 2018).[19][20]
  • Cover of the Third issue of the manga Saiyuki Gaiden, "Konzen Douji" was the first incarnation of Genjo Sanzo
    Cover of the Third issue of the manga Saiyuki Gaiden, "Konzen Douji" was the first incarnation of Genjo Sanzo

Further reading
  • Chatterjee, Rimibarnali (2019). "Kazuya Minekura's Saiyuki and the dynamics of Anglophone Yaoi fanfiction" (PDF). Department of English Jadavpur University. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  • Lam, Wing-keung Lam (2017). "Exploring the "Logic" of Topos with Sun Wukong". Globalizing Japanese Philosophy as an Academic Discipline. Vol. 6. VR Library. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  • AKhattab Umi; Tong Gin Chee (2008). "Exploring the "Logic" of Topos with Sun Wukong". Anime in Asia: Why not Japanese?: Rethinking the local-global cultural nexus. Vol. 2. Indian Journals. Retrieved August 13, 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Gin Chee Tong; TUmi Khattab (2008). "Exploring the "Logic" of Topos with Sun Wukong". Mecha, Meka: American, Japanese, or What? Debunking Cultural Imperialism. University of Melbourne. Retrieved August 13, 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

See also

References
  1. Kazuya Minekura (1998). "14". Saiyuki Gaiden. Vol. 3. Ichijinsha. ISBN 978-4-87025-406-0.
  2. Kazuya Minekura (December 2005). Saiyuki Gaiden. Vol. 1. Ichijinsha. ISBN 978-4-75805-203-0.
  3. Kazuya Minekura (October 2009). "Chapter 42". Saiyuki Reload. Vol. 9. Ichijinsha. ISBN 978-4-75805-445-4.
  4. "Saiyuki CHARACTER INFO". tokyopop. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005.
  5. "玄奘三蔵cv.関 俊彦". Anime News - Tumblr. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  6. "An Introduction to the "SAIYUKI" Anime". Crunchyroll. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  7. Chavez, Eduardo M. (August 26, 2004). "Saiyuki Vol. #3". AnimeOnDVD. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  8. "第23回アニメグランプリ　［2001年6月号］". Tokuma Shoten. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010.
  9. "Newtype Magazine lists their top 10 Anime titles, top ten male characters and top ten female characters". August 12, 2001. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  10. "第26回アニメグランプリ［2004年6月号］". Tokuma Shoten. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010.
  11. "Animage Awards 2004". Anime News Network. May 12, 2004. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  12. "第27回アニメグランプリ［2005年6月号］". Tokuma Shoten. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010.
  13. "ComicsAlliance Presents The 50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics Andrew Wheeler Andrew Wheeler". ComicsAlliance. February 14, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  14. タバコが似合うアニメキャラといえば？20年版 3位「ワンピース」サンジ、2位「銀魂」土方十四郎、1位は…. Anime! Anime! (in Japanese). January 13, 2020. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  15. "みんなが選ぶ！関俊彦さんが演じる人気キャラランキングTOP10【2022年版】". nijimen.net. 11 June 2022. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022.
  16. "声優「関俊彦」が演じたテレビアニメキャラクター人気ランキングTOP30！ 第1位は最遊記の「玄奘三蔵」に決定！【2022年最新投票結果】". nlab.itmedia.co.jp. 10 September 2022. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022.
  17. "声優「関俊彦」が演じたテレビアニメキャラクター人気ランキングTOP30！ 第1位は最遊記の「玄奘三蔵」に決定！【2022年最新投票結果】". Twitter. September 10, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  18. “僧侶”キャラといえば？ 3位「最遊記」玄奘三蔵、2位「東方Project」聖白蓮、1位は…. Anime! Anime! (in Japanese). January 30, 2023. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  19. "【本日11月29日】ウチの玄奘三蔵の誕生日をお祝いして下さった皆様、いつも本当にありがとうございます。 リーダーにはまだまだ身体張って頑張って貰う予定ですので、西の果てまでどうぞこれからも看守ってやって下さい。]". Twitter. Nov 29, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  20. "Saiyuki Creator Draws New Illustration for Character Genjo Sanzo's Birthday". Anime News Network. December 1, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
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