Lord Noriyuki

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caption=Usagi (left), Noriyuki (center) and Tomoe (right)
Cover of "Usagi Yojimbo" v3 #18, art by Stan Sakai
comic_color=background:#80ffff
character_name=Lord Noriyuki
real_name=Noriyuki
publisher=Dark Horse Comics
debut="Albedo" vol. 1, #3 (April 1985)
creators=Stan Sakai
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
status=Active
alliances=Tomoe Ame
previous_alliances=
aliases=
relatives=
powers=Daimyo of the Geishu Clan|

Lord Noriyuki is a fictional supporting character in the "Usagi Yojimbo" comic book. He first appeared in "Albedo" vol. 1, #3 (April 1985), in the story "Lone Rabbit and Child."

Fictional character biography

Noriyuki is the current daimyo of the Geishu Clan's province. Although he is still a young panda cub, he has proven extraordinarily capable in his position for his age for the intricate task of rule while still keeping his innocent spirit. This includes some developing physical skills such as being able to sense an intruder in his chambers even when asleep and to waken quickly and yet subtly enough to launch an attack.

His closest advisor is Tomoe Ame, a female feline samurai with extraordinary skill which she demonstrated when she saved his and his mother's lives from a ninja assassination attempt. For that spectacular display of skill, Noriyuki's mother appointed Tomoe as her son's personal bodyguard, a position she still holds today.

His personal appeal has also been a factor in reducing internal schisms in his clan such as when he inadvertently met the hiding rebel, General Ikeda, and reconciled with him for his role in an earlier insurrection. This extended to Ikeda protecting the lord from assassins and Noriyuki offered to reinstate him to his former rank. Ikeda declined and offered the compromise of his son, Motokazu, joining Noriyuki's court when he came of age after his father trained him. Although Ikeda later died in battle, Noriyuki was better than his word in bringing Motokazu into his household early to eventually become his personal page and later promoted the valiant cub to samurai.

Unfortunately, Noriyuki has proven as gullible about mistreating Tomoe as his father. A villainous advisor, wishing to get the female warrior (who learned of his treacherous nature in a dream) out of the way, has advised that she be married. The young panda accepted that advice without asking Tomoe if she desired it, making the marriage an unwanted imposition. Whether or not Noriyuki will realize that he is being unfair to her and release her is unknown for now.

Appearances in other media

*Lord Noriyuki appears in the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" 2003 series episode "The Real World".

External references

* [http://usagiyojimbo.com/characters/noriyuki.html Lord Noriyuki at Usagi Yojimbo Dojo]