The Beastly Charms of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku – Unveiling Yuzuriha and Senta's Animalistic Essence

In the previous season of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, a thrilling battle royale storyline unfolded, introducing a captivating ensemble of characters (several of whom meet their demise early on). Notably, the kunoichi Yuzuriha and the assigned Yamada Asaemon, Senta, stood out among them. Throughout the 13 episodes, it becomes evident that the character pairings serve a greater purpose beyond the shogunate's pursuit of the Elixir of Life.

For Senta and Yuzuriha, their connection lies in their shared inclination towards deception. They both navigate the world by concealing, manipulating, or disregarding the truth, albeit from distinct perspectives. Symbolically, Yuzuriha is likened to a vixen, while Senta is compared to a tanuki, emphasizing their animalistic nature.

Folklore

Prince Hanzoku Terrorized by Nine-Tailed Fox

The fox is a well-known symbol of mischief, cleverness, and trickery in the western world. It is often associated with outsmarting both predators and prey. In certain parts of the world, foxes are considered pests, posing a threat to livestock and causing general inconvenience. These traits of trickery and mischief also hold true for foxes in the east. However, in Japanese folklore, foxes, referred to as kitsune, are also portrayed in a supernatural or divine light, similar to cats. According to this folklore, kitsune possess paranormal abilities that grow stronger with age, including the power to transform into humans. The number of tails a kitsune has indicates their wisdom and experience. This concept is evident in popular anime series like Naruto, as well as in the Vulpix Pokémon, which evolves into the mystical Ninetales.

It is important to note that Japanese folklore includes stories of both good and bad kitsune. The latter category is known as the "nogitsune." However, the prevalent belief is that foxes have a divine origin, stemming from their relationship with early farmers who used them to control rats in rice fields. In Japanese mythology, the Bake-danuki is another shapeshifting creature similar to the fox. However, their trickery is more for humor and playfulness, while foxes are believed to tempt humans through their shapeshifting abilities. The phrase "A kitsune has seven transformations, but a tanuki has eight" is used to highlight the superior deceptive abilities of the tanuki, while grouping them in the same category as foxes. This dynamic is reflected in the manga series Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku through the relationship between Yuzuriha and Senta, with one character quickly discerning the true thoughts and feelings of the other.

Great Pretender

Senta and Yuzuriha – Hell's Paradise Jigokuraku Episode 4

The use of animal metaphors in Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku to depict Senta and Yuzuriha creates significant connections that confirm their intended meanings. During Gabimaru's initial encounter with Yuzuriha, he refers to her as a "megitsune" or a vixen. This choice of words implies that Yuzuriha exudes a seductive aura, particularly after her deceptive actions towards Makiya the Apostate. Yuzuriha's role as a femme fatale becomes apparent in episode 4, and Gabimaru's use of the term vixen effectively captures the multi-layered deception associated with her.

In contrast, Senta's similarity to a tanuki is revealed in a flashback during Episode 12 when he discusses his feelings for Yuzuriha with Sagiri. While they were approaching the island together, Yuzuriha astutely observes that Senta is disinterested in his responsibilities or the Yamada Clan. As someone who also conceals her true intentions, Yuzuriha playfully refers to Senta as a tanuki, acknowledging his pretentious nature. These moments are crucial because understanding the connotations of these animal metaphors helps convey the various attributes of the respective characters.

Character Design

Fox and Tanuki Yuzuriha and Senta Hell's Paradise Jigokuraku

Yuzuriha's kunoichi attire is both subtle and bold in how it reveals certain areas of her body while still covering a significant portion. With open shoulders, the middle of her chest, and outer thighs, her outfit exposes a considerable amount of skin while allowing her the necessary mobility of a typical ninja outfit. This combination of revealing and covering gives Yuzuriha a seductive allure that she employs in her line of work. Interestingly, the exposed areas of Yuzuriha's outfit correspond to the white fur on the chest and front legs of a common fox, which accentuates the animal's renowned red fur. Additionally, like a fox, Yuzuriha's pants gradually taper into a darker hue, resembling the "socks" of a fox's paws and giving her legs a fox-like appearance. Yuzuriha's habit of closing her eyes while smiling further reinforces this association.

On the other hand, Senta's attire, resembling the standard Yamada Asaemon garb, does not strongly convey his connection to a specific animal. However, his adorable round face and beady eyes, framed by round glasses, give Senta a gentle and harmless appearance. Furthermore, Senta has small, round ears (a detail omitted in the anime adaptation). The round frames of his glasses are particularly significant as they mirror the circles around a tanuki's eyes (even though tanuki are unrelated to raccoons). Additionally, the uniform spikes of hair on either side of Senta's small ponytail mimic the spiky tufts of fur found on a tanuki's face. Considering all of these factors and the various sources of inspiration behind Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, it is safe to say that Yuzuriha and Senta bear a striking resemblance to animals.

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku is available to stream on Crunchyroll.