There are a few notable anime characters that have a bird sitting on their head. This peculiar trait tends to make these characters stand out and become quite iconic. The most well-known example is Heihachi Edajima from the series Sakigake!! Otokojuku. Heihachi is a large, muscular man with a cute white dove named Hikoichi perched on top of his head. Other characters like Haruo Niijima from Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple and Principal Asano from Assassination Classroom also have birds that regularly rest atop their heads. While unusual, this quirky characteristic makes these characters memorable.
Heihachi Edajima from Sakigake!! Otokojuku
Heihachi Edajima is one of the main characters in the manga and anime series Sakigake!! Otokojuku. As the founder and headmaster of Otokojuku, a private school meant to turn boys into “men among men,” Heihachi cuts an imposing figure. He is extremely tall and muscular, with a prominent chin and a unique hairstyle that resembles a pompadour. But his most recognizable feature is the cute white dove named Hikoichi that is always sitting nestled comfortably in his large pompadour hairdo.
Hikoichi accompanies Heihachi everywhere and the two share an inseparable bond. Heihachi found Hikoichi when he was injured and nursed him back to health. Since then, Hikoichi chose to stay with Heihachi and often provides commentary or reactions to situations by flapping his wings or making dove noises. The bird’s presence balances out Heihachi’s intimidating physique, showing he has a softer side.
Heihachi’s Backstory
Heihachi had a difficult past that shaped his motivation for starting Otokojuku. He grew up in an impoverished rural village. After his father died, his family struggled severely financially and Heihachi was forced to take odd jobs from a young age to support his mother and siblings. The poverty and losing his father made Heihachi determined to become stronger mentally and physically.
As a youth, Heihachi was attacked by thieves who wanted to steal his hard-earned money. Fighting them off made Heihachi realize the importance of developing strength through adversity. It inspired his educational philosophies that he would later incorporate into Otokojuku’s rigorous curriculum.
Heihachi’s Personality and Leadership
Despite his threatening exterior, Heihachi genuinely cares about the wellbeing of his students. He puts them through extreme training exercises, like battling wild animals or surviving deadly obstacle courses, in order to help the boys overcome weakness and unlock their full potential.
Heihachi leads by example, joining in the exercises alongside students and pushing through any hardship without complaint. He acts according to a strict personal code of honor, integrity, and selflessness. This earns him deep admiration and loyalty from the Otokojuku students who look to him as an exemplary role model of masculinity and strength.
The Bond Between Heihachi and Hikoichi
While Heihachi is stern with his students, he shows his nurturing side through his interactions with Hikoichi. Heihachi found Hikoichi injured on school grounds and lovingly nursed the bird back to health, even fashioning a mini hospital bed just for him. This caring nature contradicts Heihachi’s usual gruff demeanor.
Hikoichi often serves as Heihachi’s conscience, appearing distressed when Heihachi loses his temper or acts obstinate. In response, Heihachi will gently comfort Hikoichi and reconsider his actions, showing how much faith he places in his feathered friend. The mutual care and affection between the hulking headmaster and petite dove is both comical and heartwarming.
Haruo Niijima from Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple
Haruo Niijima is one of the main supporting characters in the anime and manga franchise Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple. He stands out thanks to the alien-like mutations on his head that cause a little black bird to constantly perch on top of him.
Niijima’s Backstory and Personality
Niijima was genetically engineered by his mother, a brilliant but twisted scientist who experimented on her unborn child. This caused him to be born with an abnormally large and misshapen head that houses his extremely advanced brain. Niijima is a genius master of strategy and manipulation, though he uses these skills for underhanded goals.
Despite his high intellect, Niijima has a cunning, deceitful personality and regularly tricks people to benefit himself. His scheming know-how makes him skilled at gathering intelligence which he uses to blackmail classmates and even teachers at school. However, Niijima does help the protagonist Kenichi out occasionally when their interests align.
The Mutant Bird on Niijima’s Head
Perched atop Niijima’s bulbous head is a small black bird with red eyes and a long pointed beak. Its eyes sometimes glow menacingly when Niijima is plotting something sinister. This mutated bird is permanently attached to Niijima’s head and cannot be removed.
It can communicate telepathically with Niijima and often helps warn him of danger. Niijima can also share the bird’s vision to scout ahead remotely. The bird will flap aggressively when Niijima is angry or stressed. Overall, it acts as a useful ally and literal partner in crime to the scheming Niijima.
Reactions to Niijima’s Strange Appearance
Most characters think Niijima’s massive head and bird companion make him look ludicrous. His unusual features tend to unsettle and frighten his classmates. Niijima is used to being treated like a freak and ostracized.
However, Kenichi and his other allies eventually warm up to Niijima over time and see beyond his bizzarre exterior. They come to appreciate Niijima’s intelligence and the aid he provides, building an unlikely friendship with the mutant strategist. Still, Niijima’s alienesque mutations remain his most distinguishing traits.
Principal Asano from Assassination Classroom
Principal Asano is the head administrator at Kunugigaoka Junior High School in the popular series Assassination Classroom. He has regal attire, a commanding presence, and a small ornamental bird resting on his head.
Principal Asano’s Role
As principal, Asano oversees all operations at Kunugigaoka Junior High. He runs the school according to his philosophy that students must be molded to succeed academically through strict discipline and high-pressure competition.
Asano is obsessed with making his school Japan’s number one ranked institution. He is a stern authoritarian figure who demands absolute excellence from students and staff. Those who fail to meet his expectations face severe consequences.
Asano’s Bird Companion
Asano has a small, stuffed bird perched on his head at all times that matches his prim outfit. It sits perfectly poised with wings spread as if frozen mid-flight.
This bird is simply an ornamental accessory rather than a real animal. It represents Asano’s background in traditional Japanese arts and his rigid, controlled personality. Having a dignified bird on his head projects an air of power and sophistication befitting his station.
Reactions to Asano’s Unusual Accessory
Most characters simply accept the bird on Principal Asano’s head as an eccentric quirk of his strict persona without remarking on it. However, students speculate in hushed whispers about how odd it is for an administrator to flaunt a decorative bird in such an unconventional way.
The bird ruffles in agitation when Asano is irked by perceived failures of staff or students not adhering to his high standards. Its reactions mirror Asano’s moods in its own stoic fashion. Overall, this impassive bird is a fitting complement to the Principal’s austere nature.
Similarities Between these Characters and their Birds
While coming from very different anime, Heihachi Edajima, Haruo Niijima, and Principal Asano have some commonalities:
Birds Reflect the Characters’ Personality
In all cases, the birds complement some aspect of their human counterpart’s personality or backstory. Hikoichi shows Heihachi’s softer side; Niijima’s mutated bird assists with his scheming; and Asano’s bird echoes his stern demeanor.
Birds Add Distinctiveness
The birds make these characters stand out visually and aid viewer recollection. They take already unique character designs and add even more distinctiveness.
Birds Act as Partners
Rather than just being random accessories, the birds have a bond with their human associates. Hikoichi and Heihachi share affection; Niijima’s bird communicates telepathically; Asano’s bird mirrors his moods.
Birds Balance Personalities
The sweet Hikoichi counters Heihachi’s machismo; Niijima’s sinister bird matches his duplicitous nature; and Asano’s bird complements his stiff discipline. The birds provide pleasing complementary contrasts.
Conclusion
In summary, anime characters like Heihachi Edajima, Haruo Niijima, and Principal Asano who have birds accompanying them tend to share common traits. The birds accentuate their personalities, make them more visually distinctive, act as partners, and provide counterbalances. This article explored some well-known examples in depth, analyzing how the birds add deeper dimensions to their human counterparts. While an unusual trait, bird companions clearly make these characters more engaging and memorable.