Changes: First character popularity poll

Revision as of 03:46, 6 November 2011

Kurapika (クラピカ Kurapika) is a character from Hunter ×Hunter. One of the main characters, he seeks power to get revenge for a bloody past.

Appearance

In terms of appearance, Kurapika is a blond-haired, gray-eyed (blue-eyed in the 1999 anime) young man who, during the first part of the series, wears a blue and orange colored garment with a N like symbol in the middle.

Personality

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Kurapika with his Scarlet Eyes activated.

Kurapika is a level-headed and intelligent individual, possessing vast knowledge. Of sound judgment, his focused analyses have saved his friends from the brink of death many times. He can appear cold and distant, due to his incessant drive to avenge his clan. Only his companions Gon, Leorio and Killua seem to have thawed his often icy demeanor.

Kurapika has also proven to be a balanced fighter on several occasions. He had two large tantō hidden below his overshirt in the first story arc. In the Yorknew City arc, he uses a set of chains on his right hand materialized from his nen. When Kurapika's emotions are being enraged, his eyes turn scarlet red -- a trait only possessed by members of the Kurta tribe. As of the Yorknew City arc, Kurapika has trained himself to activate his scarlet eyes at will. In this state, he is able to use nen of all categories to their maximum potential.

Background

Kurapika is a member of the Kuruta clan, a reticent group of people that chose to live in obscurity in the Lukso Province. They possess eyes that turn flaming scarlet in times of anger or emotional agitation - a color that remains eternally in the iris at the time of death. The legendary brilliance of such scarlet eyes caused them to have high demand as a collector's treasure.

A few years prior the start of the series, the Phantom Troupe came to Kurapika's village and massacred all the members of his tribe, leaving behind scores of dead bodies with eyes gouged out in their wake. As the last surviving member of his clan, Kurapika vows to gain back all the stolen eyes of his people, by tracking the Phantom Troupe down and seeking revenge, even if he must sacrifice his life in the process.

Kurapika is the current leader of Neon Nostrade's bodyguards.

Nen Abilities

Kurapika is a Materialization-type nen user, one that can conjure objects according to his imagination. The weapon that he conjures is a unique one -- five chains that extend from each finger on his right hand. Some of the fingers were specially designed to deal vengeance on the Phantom Troupe. He is able to conceal his chain using "In" in order to bind his opponent without their knowledge until it's too late.

Nen Ability: Emperor Time (Absolute Mastery)

When Kurapika's eyes turn scarlet, he shifts from a Materialization-type to a Specialization user. This state is called "Emperor Time", and it allows him to utilize all the types of nen to 100% efficiency. In the manga, Kurapika explains this using the terms "Level" and "Force/Accuracy". Kurapika's "Levels" in the various nen categories remain the same during Emperor Time, however, his Force & Accuracy for every category is raised to 100%. Thus, if Kurapika's Level in Materialization type were 10, his Level in Emission (the polar opposite nen type) would be 4, and during Emperor Time, he would be evenly matched against a Level 10 Emission type nen-user. Outside of Emperor Time, his Force & Accuracy in Emission would at most be only be 40%.The explanation of this ability was shown during Kurapika's fight with Uvogin.

To increase his effectiveness against the formidable Phantom Troupe, Kurapika places strict restrictions on the usage of his nen blades:

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Thumb Nen Ability: Holy Chain (Healing Thumb)

Shaped like a cross, it cures wounds by drawing from the Reinforcement type. When Kurapika is in his Specialization state, its ability is enhanced and can heal serious injuries within seconds.

Index Finger Nen Ability:

The purpose of this chain has yet to be revealed.

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Middle Finger Nen Ability: Chain Jail (The Restraining Middle Finger)

Shaped like a hook, it wraps around enemies and restricts their movement. Also forcefully causes its prisoners to enter Zetsu, shutting off their aura and preventing the use of Nen abilities. Escape from the Chain Jail is only possible through brute force. Kurapika imposed a limitation onto this chain -- it can only be used to deal with members of the Phantom Troupe. If this condition is violated, Kurapika will die. This condition was needed in order to increase the strength of the ability.This chain was so powerful that Uvogin, the strongest in physical strength amongst the Troupe, couldn't break free.

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Ring Finger Nen Ability: Dowsing Chain (The Guiding Ring Finger)

Kur

File:Kurapica35.jpg

Kurapika blocks off bullets using his Dowsing chain

apika uses this frequently under normal situations, for defensive and offensive purposes. It is also useful for other investigative activities, like determining the location of missing individuals. He also uses this chain to identify if someone is lying. It has a small ball-like weight at the end which moves in the direction of whatever he is dowsing for. This chain is first seen used against six professional assassins who were targetting him.

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Little Finger Nen Ability: Judgment Chain (Arbiter Little Finger)

The Stake of Retribution, a blade on the end of the chain, enters the victim's body and wraps around the heart. Kurapika sets two conditions and if the victim violates either one, the chain crushes the heart, killing them. It can only be used while Kurapika's eyes are scarlet. Kurapika himself has a blade wrapped around his heart, which he used to set the conditions of use for his Chain Jail ability. It is first used against Uvogin.

Other Skills

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Kurapika using two swords prior of the series.

Kurapika's physical strength seems to increase whenever his scarlet eyes are activated. He is also capable of fighting using two bokken swords (Tantō in the 1999 anime) hidden under his over shirt.

Trivia

Kurapika ranked second in all of the 3 popularity polls that have been conducted so far by Weekly Shounen Jump.
Despite his clan named, Kurapika was never been shown with full name. However, "Kurapika Kurta" is the name given by the fans.
Kurapika wears two earrings, although only one is mostly seen throughout the series.
Kurama, one of the main characters in Yoshihiro Togashi's other manga and anime Yu Yu Hakusho bears some similarities to Kurapika
- Both are mistaken for females due to their physical appearance
- Kurapika is also shown to change differently from the Hunter Exams, and became very different in the Yorkshin City Arc
- Both Kurama and Kurapika use whip-like weapons