Rei (レイ) is the successor of Nanto Suichō Ken (南斗水鳥拳, "South Dipper Waterfowl Fist") style and is one of the Nanto Rokusei Ken, bearing the destiny of the "Star of Justice" (義星, Gisei).

Rei

Rei as he appears in the manga.
Name in Kanji レイ
Name in Romaji Rei
Alternate spelling(s) Ray, Lei
Fighting Style Nanto Suichō Ken
Allegiance(s) Kenshirō
Family Airi (younger sister)
Position(s) Mercenary
Appearances Manga (ch. 26-82), Anime (ep. 23-57), Rei Gaiden
Voice actor(s) Kaneto Shiozawa
Shin-ichiro Miki (Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu)
Takehito Koyasu (Hokuto Musou)

Fist Of The North Star

Searching for the kidnapper

When the imposter with Seven Scars killed his parents and kidnapped his sister Airi, Rei abandoned his humanity and roamed the wastelands as a lone wolf, surviving through any means necessary. Rei was hired by the Fang Clan to infiltrate Mamiya's village as one of its bodyguards. However, Rei betrayed them and helped Kenshiro thwart them off, believing it would be wiser to side with the stronger side. Afterwards, Rei went to the hideout of the Fangs with Ken and Mamiya to defeat their leader. However, the Fangs had managed to capture Airi from her previous captors and used her as leverage to coerce Rei into fighting Ken for them. However, Rei and Ken managed to trick the Fang Clan by striking each other's vital points at the same time, placing both of them in a temporary false state of death. After the Fang Clan was defeated, Rei was reunited with Airi.


Journeys with Kenshiro

Rei would become one of Kenshiro's most trusted allies. He exposed Amiba's true identity at the Village of Miracles and accompanied Kenshiro to the city of Cassandra, where the real Toki was imprisoned. Although Toki was saved, Rei was forced to rush back to Mamiya's village when he learned that Ken-Oh's army began to mobilize his troops. Rei fought the leader of the invasion squad and then challenged Raoh himself to a fight. However, Rei was defeated and struck in the vital point Shinketsushū sentencing him to three agonizing days to live.


Final wish and Tragic Death

After rescuing Mamiya from Medicine City, Rei learned that she was once one of Yuda's captives before she escaped and became the leader of her village. Swearing to avenge Mamiya's honor, Rei dedicated his remaining days to tracking down Yuda. However, Yuda managed to elude his pursuit, leaving Rei's struggle in vain. This was until Toki extended Rei's lifespan for another day by striking the vital point Shinreidai, which had the side-effect of transforming his hair white. Rei entered the final showdown with Yuda, and after a treacherous fight, he defeated Yuda with the technique Hishō Hakurei, the Soaring White Splendor. After the battle, Rei tells Kenshiro to live on as the hope of the new world before spending his final night alone in a hut to spare his friends and family from his gruesome death. Afterwards, Kenshiro ignites the hut as a funeral pyre for his fallen friend.


Fist Of The North Star (1986 Movie)

After finding out from Kenshiro that the man with Seven Scars (Fist Of The North Star in the english dub) is Jagi, the two men team up to confront him and recue Airi. After Rei recues Airi and Kenshiro kills Jagi, Kenshiro uses Hokuto Shinken to restore Airi's mind as she did'nt recognise Rei's voice and refers him as new master. But this time he was unable to heal her eye sight, but it was the flower Lin brought after Kenshiro gave to her that restored her eye sight and she and Rei are Reunited. After Joining Kenshiro on his quest, Rei travels to Cassandra with Bat and Lin while Kenshiro goes to recue Yuria from Shin. However Lin discovers that Yuria is held captive by Raoh, and after she gives her the flower while breaking in, the mighty conqueror holds an execution for Yuria if the person who gave her the flower does'nt come forth. To protect Yuria from execution and to repay his debt to Kenshiro, Rei sacrifices his life and fights Raoh during Ken's absence. But Rei was soon over-powered by Raoh and after being stabed in the vital point by Raoh's finger, Rei dies immediatly instead of dying a horrible death in three days. But before dying, Rei had the enough strength to ask Kenshiro to defeat Raoh and live for the sake of the children, for Yuria, and for the ones he loves dear to him.

Character Rating

From Hokuto no Ken: Kyūkyoku Kaisetsusho: Seikimatsu Haō Retsuden.

  • Level: A
  • Power: 3
  • Speed: 4
  • Skills: 4
  • Looks: 4
  • Charisma: 4

Trivia

  • Rei seems to adapt things from his friends. He first adapted the womens disguise from Yu in Rei Gaiden to attract and lure his enemies towards him. He later adapted the 'You're already dead' line from Kenshiro whenever he knows a person life will end in seconds after fighting Kenshiro.
  • Like Kenshiro, Toki, and Souther, Rei makes an appearance in one spin-off series, and that one being him as the main protagonist of his respective spin-off

Gallery