Kurapika

Lore & Background

Kurapika's Nen type is Conjuration in the form of multiple chains he commands attached from his right hand. However, when his eyes turn scarlet, he becomes a Specialist. His specialist ability, Emperor Time: Absolute Mastery (絶対時間（エンペラータイム）, Enperā Taimu), allows him to utilize 100% of all types of Nen but shortens his lifespan by one hour for every second he uses it while his eyes are scarlet. His middle finger ability, Chain Jail, forces the target into a state of Zetsu, preventing them from using Nen. His index finger ability, Stealth Dolphin, appears only when Emperor Time is active; it manifests as a dolphin-like figure only he can see that allows him to steal an opponent's ability, learn its basic details, and grant it to someone else for a single use. His ring finger ability, Judgement Chain, is placed on the heart to enforce a condition—while it does not itself prevent Nen use, Kurapika used it to force Chrollo to obey commands, including the condition that he cannot use Nen or contact the Troupe (the Zetsu effect was imposed separately by Chain Jail).

In Their Own Story

Kurapika participates in the Hunter Exam alongside his newfound friends Gon Freecss, Leorio Paradinight, and Killua Zoldyck in order to become a Blacklist Hunter and gain the resources to take vengeance for his people and retrieve their eyes. Despite some initial hostilities, Kurapika befriends Leorio after they help Gon save a crew member on the ship taking them to the Hunter Exam. In the final tournament phase, a participant named Hisoka Morow tells Kurapika that he can provide clues that will lead him to the Troupe. Kurapika aligns himself with the Nostrade mafia family as soon as the opportunity presents itself and soon becomes head of Nostrade's bodyguards. When the Troupe attacks the city, Kurapika tests his power by facing one of their strongest members, Uvogin, killing him in the process thanks to his Specialist skill. Kurapika captures the leader, Chrollo Lucilfer, but later returns Chrollo to his teammate Pakunoda in exchange for Gon and Killua. Pakunoda's experience with Kurapika leads to her own death. Kurapika is later invited to join the Zodiacs as the "Rat" based on Leorio's recommendation, and only accepts upon being told that Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou has the last batch of Kurta eyes that he needs to retrieve. This leads to his accompanying Woble Hui Guo Rou to the Dark Continent as her bodyguard.

Reader's Guide

Kurapika is introduced as the sole survivor of the Kurta Clan, a race with treasured irises that turn scarlet in times of anger or emotional turmoil. Five years prior to the series, the entire Kurta clan was eradicated by a criminal group known as the Phantom Troupe, who desecrated the Kurta's bodies by stealing their scarlet eyes, thereafter selling them on the black market. Kurapika's Nen type is Conjuration, but when his eyes turn scarlet, he becomes a Specialist. His Emperor Time ability shortens his lifespan by one hour every second he uses it. He kills Uvogin, captures Chrollo Lucilfer with Judgement Chain, and later joins the Zodiacs as the "Rat" to retrieve the last batch of Kurta eyes from Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou.

Did You Know?

• Kurapika was inspired by the Ohmu creatures in Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind film; their eyes change to bright red when enraged, similar to Kurapika's eyes turning scarlet when suffering rage.
• In the first animated adaptation by Nippon Animation, an original ending was planned where Kurapika dies as he destroys the Phantom Troupe, but Togashi did not like this scenario and it was scrapped.
• The 2013 film Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge is based on an unpublished story Togashi wrote around 10 years earlier.
• Kurapika is voiced by Yuki Kaida in the 1999 series and Miyuki Sawashiro in the 2011 series in Japanese; for English adaptations, he is voiced by Cheryl McMaster in the 1999 series and Erika Harlacher in the remake.