Hishima Sakazuki

Overview

Gallery

Hishima Sakazuki
Age	20 (apparent age)
Birthday	September 7
Gender	Male
Height	Around 180cm (5'11")
Affiliations	Shinjuku Reapers
Status	Alive
Voice Actor(s)	Shunsuke Takeuchi (Japanese) James Austin Kerr (English)

"I fear it may already be too late."

Hishima Sakazuki (坂筑 菱真, Sakazuki Hishima) is a Reaper in NEO: The World Ends with You, and is one of the elite Shinjuku Reapers.

He possesses an unnamed ability of emotional redirection. He can rechannel people's depressive energy outward and make them feel much better as a result.

Appearance

Hishima has dark grey hair that is longer on the top and short on the sides, and grey eyes. He wears some basic glasses. He wears a black jacket with a dark shirt underneath. He wears dark grey pants with light grey vertical stripes, black shoes, and a black glove on his right hand with a golden diamond-style bracelet on top of it.

Personality

Hishima is not serious about the Reapers' Game (though it is noted by other people that he seems plenty serious otherwise) and rarely participates in its management, claiming his heart is not really in it. Somewhat of an odd Reaper out, he’s a man of mystery: even his comrades can't discern whether he has some sort of ulterior motive.

He is intelligent and a stoic, but also cynical, sarcastic and stubborn. He has a rather dry sense of humor, almost never raises his voice and doesn't mince his words, being especially biting towards his old best friend Shiba and continues to do so in a more good-natured manner after they reconcile. He doesn't smile a lot, but when he does it is usually when he is showing his more friendly side or being humorous.

In his social network description, it is mentioned that he is actually quite compassionate deep down despite his grim and emotionless countenance, and even his ability is to make others feel better emotionally.

Story

Background

Prior to Shinjuku's Inversion, Hishima was a best friend and advisor to Shiba Miyakaze along with Tsugumi Matsunae. When the Composer of Shinjuku, Hazuki Mikagi, wished to "cleanse" Shinjuku, he recruited Angel Tanzo Kubo to be the Executor. Kubo was planted among the Shinjuku Reapers and granted Shiba special powers and manipulated him to believe he himself was the Executor. His change in personality concerned Hishima and he tried to watch Shiba from afar as a friend, but decided it was not worth the effort. Shinjuku was Inverted and Hishima along with most Shinjuku Reapers took refuge in Shibuya. Later, Shiba gained enough points to become Shibuya's Conductor.

NEO: The World Ends with You

Hishima first appears in NEO: The World Ends with You proper on Week 3, Day 1. He gives the Wicked Twisters advice that the Plague Noise can be defeated with light, but he does not go into any more detail, not wanting to unbalance the game. He dislikes the Wicked Twisters' hostility at him for being a Shinjuku Reaper but calls it "reasonable".

He again makes a brief appearance on Week 3, Day 2. Shoka asks him if he's seen Ayano, and he warns Shoka that Shiba will do anything necessary to destroy Shibuya and warns her to not underestimate the Plague Noise infecting Ayano. He wishes Rindo best of luck and then leaves.

When the Wicked Twisters pursue Kubo to Udagawa in Week 3, Day 4, they find the wall to Udagawa that Kubo put up has a Wall Reaper infected by Plague Noise. Hishima says that the Twisters missed their chance to stop the Plague Noise multiplying in Miyashita Park and they can take care of it now, but he implies the end result would likely be the same. After the Wicked Twisters defeat the Plague Noise in Miyashita Park, Hishima says that it is not his but the possessed Wall Reaper's right to let down the wall. Nagi Dives into the Reaper's mind and when they finish, the wall is down and Hishima is gone. Rindo doubts the Reaper dropped the wall, and Fret wonders if he just wanted the Twisters to help the Reaper. Nagi calls him "quite the pragmatist".

Near the end of Week 3, Day 6, Hishima visits Kaie's fortune-telling shop at Spain Hill. He judges Kaie, a former Shinjuku elite, for straying from Shiba, and Kaie tells him to reflect on himself before speaking of others. Hishima asks Kaie where he plans to go after Shibuya is Inverted - Kaie says he might stay and be erased if the next place is doomed as well. Kaie asks Hishima what he thinks Shiba wants. Hishima is uncertain but believes he may want to ascend to a higher existence.

Hishima appears on the Final Day at Tipsy Tose Hall, as the Twisters make their way to Udagawa to meet Kaie. He says he would abstain between Shibuya and Shinjuku, and says he is simply searching for someone. He wishes them well and leaves. Fret wonders if the person Hishima is searching for is Shiba, and says he should've tagged along with the Twisters.

On the second loop, Rindo searches for someone to help convince Shiba. When he goes to Kaie, he suggests Hishima, saying they used to be close friends and doubts that Hishima has abandoned all feeling. He says they should find him at Tipsy Tose Hall, as he doesn't check his messages often. Rindo uses Replay to travel back to where he met Hishima. He correctly guesses Kubo is the mastermind behind Shibuya's destruction. Hishima refuses to help speak to Shiba believing he'd only further provoke him, but again wishes the best for the Twisters and Shibuya. Rindo travels back earlier to Cat Street, where he explains Hishima refusing to help them to Uzuki. She is outraged by him abandoning his former best friend and calls him to harshly reprimand him. Hishima concedes and goes with the Twisters to the Scramble Crossing to confront Shiba. He mocks Shiba for being tricked by Kubo and urges him to come to his senses and pause the Game, which Shiba does. When Kubo releases the Soul Pulvis, it overwhelms the Wicked Twisters and Hishima and Shiba. Before Hishima is devoured and erased by Soul Pulvis, he tells Shiba he's glad they could reconnect and his fatuity never fails to make him smile.

When Rindo first meets Hishima in the third loop of the Final Day, Hishima thinks he failed to persuade Shiba when he hears Rindo has turned back time again. Rindo assures him he did a great job but needs to further convince Shiba to join their cause. Hishima is doubtful and jokes Shiba has never cooperated once, as getting Shiba to change his actions would be extremely difficult and wishes he could imprint an idea into Shiba's head. He suggests getting Tsugumi Matsunae to talk to him and consider the errors of his ways as she has been with him for a long time, but doesn't know how to get her as she is sealed in a Mr. Mew doll. After Tsugumi is finally freed Rindo approaches him again and asks for his help, where Hishima gets déjà vu and has some memories of the other loops. He agrees to convince Shiba with Tsugumi. There, Tsugumi reminds Shiba of a now exorcised Kubo and Hishima explains the efforts Kaie and Susukichi took to oppose Shiba and Kubo. Hishima criticises Shiba for abandoning the other Shinjuku Reapers and selfishly caring about the Game and welcomes Shiba when he calls off the Game. During Operation: Awakening, Nagi dives into Shibuya and is overwhelmed by the thoughts. Hishima channels the depressive energy outward and says Nagi is predisposed to absorbing negative energy.

In the epilogue, Hishima leaves Shibuya along with Shiba, Kaie, and Tsugumi to rebuild Shinjuku. When Hishima asks to join, Shiba says Hishima is the one who can insult Shiba best and asks him to stomp on his embers - Hishima refuses because he thinks Shiba's actions are embarrassment enough. He goes with them because he can't stand idly by while Shinjuku is restored.

Relationships

Shiba Miyakaze

"Our paths diverged. That is all. It means that he changed, and I declined to change with him. You had just become a Reaper at the time, so perhaps you do not remember. Once he obtained his strange new powers, he was different. I had intended to watch over him from afar, as a friend might do. But I soon found it wasn't worth the effort. I concern myself with Shiba no longer."

— Hishima explaining his relationship with Shiba to Shoka, SHI • BU • YA (Week 3, Day 7')

Prior to Shinjuku's Inversion, Hishima was a close friend and advisor to Shiba Miyakaze along with Tsugumi Matsunae. Their relationship began deteriorating when Hazuki Mikagi planted Kubo among the Shinjuku Reapers and granted Shiba special powers that manipulated Shiba to believe he himself was the Executor. The change in personality concerned Hishima and he tried to watch Shiba from afar, but Hishima describes him as being "blinded by sycophancy" towards Kubo. Hishima gave up on Shiba seeing it as too much effort, and newer Shinjuku Reapers such as Shoka were shocked to find that they used to be best friends.

Once the Shinjuku Reapers left for Shibuya, Hishima was avoidant of Shiba and most other people. Even when asked to by the Twisters, Hishima refuses to believing he'd only provoke him further. He only concedes after being called by an aggressive Uzuki Yashiro, who berates him for being a poor friend to Shiba while he was being controlled by Kubo. When he does talk to Shiba he enjoys mocking him, saying annoying Shiba is a bonus when intervening at the Scramble Crossing. When Soul Pulvis overruns the city in SHI • BU • YA, Hishima very briefly reconnects with Shiba and says his fatuity never fails to make him smile.

In the epilogue Hishima insults a reformed Shiba for abandoning Shinjuku and refuses to mock him further saying his actions were embarrassment enough. He accompanies Shiba to rebuild Shinjuku, hoping his old friend can restore their city to its former glory.

Rindo Kanade

"I am not exactly certain what you're here to talk about. What I am certain of is that you, Rindo... ...know far more than you should."

— Hishima to Rindo, SHI • BU • YA (Week 3, Day 7')

Hishima treats Rindo briskly at the beginning of Week 3. He gives vague clues or pessimistic advice about Shiba to the Twisters, but before leaving in Dearly❤beloveD (Week 3, Day 2) he specifically addresses Rindo to wish him luck, saying he "will need it".

During the time loops of the Final Day, Hishima becomes aware of the knowledge and influence Rindo's Replay has - when Rindo travels to talk to Hishima after convincing Uzuki to scold him over the phone, the first thing he says to Rindo is tell him he "knows far more than he should" about Kubo and Shiba's relationship, and correctly guesses Rindo can time travel. He is reluctant to follow Rindo's plans to talk to Shiba and talks lowly of himself with him - he assumes when he learns their plan failed in SHI • BU • YA it is due to his insufficient persuasion rather than a Replay-amplified Soul Pulvis overwhelming them.

Etymology

His family name 坂筑 is made up of the kanji for slope and an ancient musical instrument. 菱真 is from diamond-shaped and truth.

Quotes

• "Plague Noise causing you grief?"
• "It's possible we've passed each other by at some point. But I believe this is our first formal meeting. My name is Hishima Sakazuki. I hail from Shinjuku." - Hishima introducing himself
• "Your hostility is unwelcome, but understandable."
• "I come bearing a warning about the leader of the Reapers. It may interest you to know... He is not happy with you. If he has his way, you all will be erased before the day is done. So you had best either find a way to defeat his Noise, or make yourselves scarce."
• "Try changing the lighting. The Plague Noise react to a certain kind of light. You may find them more manageable under its influence."
• "That is up to you to find out for yourselves. I would hate to take the fun out of the Game, after all."
• "I have said enough. Any more would unbalance the Game."
• "I do take my job seriously, despite appearances."
• "No. It is up to you to find it...and use it effectively. I have no more business here."
• "How goes the Game? Nothing, I suppose. Merely curious. There's no need to answer, if you'd rather not." - to Shoka
• "Why? Do you mean to save her? Fair enough, though I advise you to reconsider. Be smart about this, Shoka. You heard Shiba. While he may be going about it all wrong, he means to put both the UG and RG to rights." - to Shoka about Shiba
• "I wish I knew. Though I have my suspicions. He may believe it is his purpose to bring about the destruction of Shibuya. Think what you will; it doesn't change the facts. He will see his mission done. And by any means necessary." - about Shiba
• "Now then... You there, leader of the Wicked Twisters. Best of luck. You will need it." - to Rindo
• "You are too late. Shibuya is as good as destroyed."
• "If only you had arrived earlier. You could have completed the mission and passed through the wall. You knew the Noise are gathering in MIYASHITA PARK, and that halting their multiplication would allow you passage. ...Did you not? This mission was the key to stopping the explosive spread of Shibuya Syndrome. And, of course, to allowing you to advance beyond this wall. How very tragic that you missed such a crucial opportunity. If only things had gone differently."
• "Not quite, but the end result would be much the same. Make of it what you will."
• "I see Shibuya is in shambles. Ayano and Susukichi have both been erased. And you've strayed from his side, just like Shoka and Tsugumi." - to Kaie
• "I do not know what his ultimate goal is. Perhaps he intends to ascend to some sort of higher existence." - about Shiba
• "Neither can I—not even after all these years..."
• "That is an excellent question... Where, indeed."
• "Were I pressed to choose between Shinjuku and Shibuya... ...I would abstain. My actions are not guided by my allegiance to any particular city."
• "I am searching for someone."
• "That is none of your concern. You should focus your time and energy on the task before you. I wish you well."
• "So, I was right. After eliminating the impossible, he was the only one remaining. Although he never did leave enough evidence to make a final determination." - about Kubo
• "As I'm sure you are aware, Shiba and I are on exceptionally bad terms. My presence would only serve to provoke him further."
• "That was ages ago. It has no bearing on the present. I'm afraid you'll have to find someone else to help you. And I do hope it goes well for you. Genuinely. I'd hate to see Shibuya go up in flames."
• "...At any rate, I highly doubt I will be able to convince him of anything. But, seeing as the situation is rather dire from all perspectives, I find myself willing to humor you."
• "Around the time you acquired them several years ago, you also made contact with a "certain something"—or someone, as it were. All the while completely nescient of their true nature. One far different from the deity you once revered them as. You fell at the feet of an idol like an utter fool."
• "I'm speaking of the man who flattered you into fancying yourself the Executor: your subordinate, Tanzo Kubo. You were blinded by sycophancy. Why, he pulled the wool over your eyes and then led you by the nose!"
• "Come to your senses already, Shiba. Any longer and I won't be able to withhold my laughter."
• "Your expression suggests said "something" is rather unpleasant."
• "Ah. Which means your plan was unsuccessful. Were my persuasive powers insufficient in changing Shiba's mind?"
• "Indeed. I've not seen him cooperate once in all the years I've known him. ...Heh. No, I jest." - about Shiba
• "And here I was, ready to indulge you with a taste of my witty sense of humor."
• "You sound as if you've rehearsed that line. I had a feeling. A sensation not unlike déjà vu. Even though you've changed the course of fate, it seems a portion of my previous consciousness has remained intact."
• "Precisely. How exhausting it must've been to have your strings pulled for three full years."
• "You left your friends behind in your single-minded lust for power."
• "And sully the soles of my shoes? I think not. You've chosen to run from the city you once ruled. I needn't embarrass you further." - to Shiba
• "I'd be mortified if I were caught abiding by outdated protocol."
• "Glad we could reconnect, old friend. Your fatuity never fails to make me smile." - to Shiba

Trivia

• Concept art shows Hishima being envisioned as being bald. The creator's comment in the artbook also mentions Hishima's physical design was in the works before he had a concrete role in the story.
• Hishima’s surname “Sakazuki” refers to the cups used in drinking sake, more specifically the ones used in a ancient traditional Japanese ceremony that two or more participants partake in to become “blood brothers.” It is often used by Yakuza.