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Kirei Kotomine

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Kirei Kotomine
Fate character
Kirei as depicted in Fate/Stay Night
First appearance
Fate/Stay Night (2004)
Created byKinoko Nasu
Designed byTakashi Takeuchi
Voiced byEN: Crispin Freeman
JA: Jouji Nakata

Kirei Kotomine (Japanese: 言峰 綺礼, Hepburn: Kotomine Kirei) is a fictional character and the main antagonist of Fate, a dark fantasy series created by the Japanese developer and publisher Type-Moon. He was introduced in Fate/Stay Night as the appointed overseer of the 5th Holy Grail War and later appears as a participant in the 4th Holy Grail War in the prequel Fate/Zero.

He was conceived by Kinoko Nasu as the overarching antagonist of the Fate franchise. His character was well received by video game publications, several of which had praised his relationship with Kiritsugu Emiya and his role as an antagonistic force.

Creation and conception

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In an interview with Alain Mendez and Mitsuru Uehira of Anime News Network, Japanese writer Gen Urobuchi had stated that Kirei's height in the original Fate/Stay Night visual novel was revised for Fate/Zero.[1] Urobuchi regarded Kirei as the "last boss" of Fate/Stay Night.[1] While Nasu had said that his strength came from his tenacity and numerous Command Seals.[2] Urobuchi expressed that he got a headache from trying to come up with ideas for Kirei in the final climactic battle between him and Kiritsugu. He also explained that he had difficulties when writing about Kirei's Bajiquan.[3] In Japanese, Kirei was voiced by the Japanese voice actor Jouji Nakata,[4] while in the series' English dub, Kirei was voiced by Crispin Freeman.[5] In an interview, Nakata noted that the scene in Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower where Kirei ate mapo tofu at a Chinese restaurant "had an impact on fans of the original work" who "loved" the character.[6]

Appearances

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Fate series

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In Fate/Stay Night,[7] Kirei Kotomine is introduced as a priest ostensibly acting as the impartial overseer of the "Holy Grail War", a battle royale among 7 participating mages (a.k.a. "Masters") who have harnessed the power of supernatural beings called "Servants".[8] Due to his experience as an elite assassin for the Church, Kirei is an expert practitioner in Chinese martial arts whose proficiency is magnified by his immense physical strength and numerous Command Seals.[9] He ultimately emerges as one of the series' main antagonists upon revealing he organized the present Grail War to manipulate its competing Masters into supplying Angra Mainyu, the destructive entity inside the "Holy Grail", with enough energy to be unleashed on humanity.

Fate/Zero

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At the time of his birth, Kirei Kotomine possessed Magical Circuits despite being of non-magus descent.[10] While possessing a strong moral compass, Kirei discovered early in his youth that he could only experience joy through others' suffering.[11][12] During the events of Fate/Zero, Kirei apprenticed himself to Tokiomi Tōsaka at his father's behest in order to secretly serve as his spy and ally against the other Masters in the Fourth Holy Grail War based in Fuyuki. Over the course of the war, he became obsessed with another Master, Kiritsugu Emiya, whom he grew to despise for taking his own humanity for granted and consciously suppressing it in pursuit of lofty ideals. After murdering Tokiomi and forming a contract with his "Archer" Servant, Gilgamesh, Kirei resolved to destroy not only Kiritsugu but the dream he had dedicated his life to as well. In a climactic duel to the death, Kiritsugu ultimately defeated the vengeful priest, leaving him fatally wounded. Nevertheless, Kirei was able to make a wish upon the cursed "Holy Grail" that resulted in much of Fuyuki's destruction.[13] Upon being revived by the Grail, Kirei committed his entire existence to freeing the dark power within it (i.e. Angra Mainyu).

Fate/Stay Night

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In the first route of Fate/stay night simply called Fate, Kirei Kotomine emerges as the story arc's main antagonist after kidnapping Illyasviel von Einzbern to use her as a vessel for the Grail's cursed contents. In the ensuing climax, Shirō Emiya ultimately defeats him by destroying his heart with the Azoth Sword. In the second route, Unlimited Blade Works, Kirei attempts to use Rin Tohsaka as the vessel for the Grail only to be killed by his Servant, Lancer, well before the story's conclusion. In the final route, Heaven's Feel, he serves as both a protagonist and one of the story's primary antagonists. By prolonging Sakura Matō's life [14] and facilitating her growth as the Black Grail,[15][16] he plays a crucial role in ensuring her corruption by Angra Mainyu. However, his plans are foiled when Shirō and Rin manage to convince Sakura she is truly loved, thereby giving her the resolve to break free of the entity's hold. As the fully developed Angra Mainyu prepares to enter the world, a mortally wounded Kirei surfaces to prevent Shirō from getting in its way. Subsequently, the two engage in a brutal fight to the death until Kirei's heart gives out. Accepting defeat, he declares Shirō the winner of the Fifth Holy Grail War before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

Other series

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He also appears in Fate/Extra[17] and Fate/Grand Order,[18] among others.

Reception

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Critical response

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Kirei eating mapo tofu has received widespread acclaim.

In the Type-Moon 10th Anniversary Character Poll that was taken in 2012, Kirei had ranked at number eight.[19] While in a Manga Tokyo poll from 2018, he was voted as the seventh most popular Fate character behind Illyasviel von Einzbern and Gilgamesh.[20]

Reception of Kirei and Kiritsugu Emiya's relationship, however, was mixed.[21][22] With Carlo Santos of Anime News Network saying that it came across as "flat" compared to the other character's relationships.[21] Theron Martin of the same website noted that Kirei's gradual development over the course of Fate/Zero had gone "a long way" towards explaining his behavior in Fate/Stay Night, which he felt made the relationship between Rin and Sakura Tohsaka clearer.[23] Japanator's Elliot Gay had noted his role as a "foil" to Kiritsugu's plans.[24] Aiden Foote of THEM Anime Reviews found their relationship to be one of the highlights of the series.[22] While Richard Eisenbeis at Kotaku had said the series should've had a backstory for Kirei.[25] In a July 2015 poll, his rivalry with Kiritsugu was voted as the 11th best in the anime series.[26]

Analysis

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In his analysis of the magical system and details of the personalities of the characters, Makoto Kuroda sees in the idea of Shirou to become a “champion of justice” a direct analogy with the traditional view of the life of bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, seeking to save other people at the cost of their own efforts and suffering.[27] In Kuroda's view, Buddhist concepts are opposed to the elements of Christian ethics contained in the plot through the opposition of Shirou and Kirei Kotomine in the form of the main character's rejection of the interpretation of Angra Mainyu as a creature who accepted the sins of others in the name of salvation.[28]

In "From waifus to whales: The evolution of discourse in a mobile game-based competitive community of practice", Kotomine is as dark figure who deliberately becomes a more comical character when eating a tofu in such a hot temperatures that causes the character accidentally remove his clothes while taking the meal. This is also supported by the performance of his voice actor Jouji Nakata.[29]

In "Desire and the Flexible Grail: The Japanese Fate Franchise and Evolving Notions of Arthurian Power" Kotomine is seen an archetype of Christian priest from fiction who initially shows himself as a kind man by devoting himself to the priest and often attempting to bond with the heroine Rin Tohaksa. However, the revelation of the Holy Grail War conflict between mages expands on the character who is a servant in the conflict and reavels a darker side.[30] In "El rey de los héroes: Gilgamesh en los anime y mangas del universo Fate", scholars from Universidade de Lisboa noted that Kotomine is corrupted by Gilgamesh across Fate/Zero as a result of teaching his morals and become allies in future installments even if Gilgamesh's characterization changes in related Fate works.[31]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Interview: Fate/Zero Screenwriter Gen Urobuchi". Anime News Network. October 21, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  2. ↑ Type-Moon (2017). Fate/complete material II Character material. Enterbrain/Kadokawa Corporation. pp. 66–69. ISBN 9781772940138.
  3. ↑ Type-Moon (2008). Fate/Zero material. Japan: Winfanworks.
  4. ↑ "Fate/Stay night TV Anime's 7th Ad Highlights Kirei Kotomine". Anime News Network. September 27, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Fate/Zero English Dub Preview". Crunchyroll News. April 16, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ "「劇場版Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel]」リレーインタビュー（4）中田譲治＆関智一 "僕いちばん"と思っているのがギルガメッシュ". アニメハック (in Japanese). Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Official Type-Moon product information page". Type-Moon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 28, 2006. Retrieved November 30, 2006.
  8. ↑ Type-Moon (2004). Fate/Stay Night (Windows) (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten/Aniplex.
  9. ↑ Fate/complete material II: Character Material –– Characters: Kirei Kotomine, p.066-069. Nasu Kinoko & Takeuchi Takashi-Character Discussion.
    Takeuchi: Speaking of strength, who is stronger, Ciel or Kotomine?
    Nasu: Ciel is overwhelmingly strong due to her circuits, constitution, and immortality. The strength of Kotomine at the time of Zero was due to his abnormally large number of Command Spells and his tenacity towards Kiritsugu. It was truly the brightest moment of his life. The Kotomine at that time could even win against Ciel.
  10. ↑ Type-Moon.TYPE-MOON Fes. 10th Anniversary Event Official Pamphlet. 7 July 2012.
    "Q: Kirei's wife Ortensia is covered with wounds in the design draft, is it because she has a body similar to Caren's? Also, Command Spells appeared on Kirei due to the fact that he somehow possesses Magic Circuits despite being born in a non-magus lineage. Does this mean Caren also has Magic Circuits?
    A: Kirei's wife is an albino, and is immunodeficient. As a result, she can die from even a tiny wound, thus her body appears tattered. What Caren inherited is the aspect of 'prone to be plagued by illnesses'. This is truly an ordeal given by God.
    About the Magic Circuits, a normal person rarely acquires Magic Circuits. You can consider such cases sudden mutations. However, Kirei is not of this type. Kirei's Circuits were a gift from the divine sacrament, rewarding his father Risei's years of pious worship. Kirei was born with 'the right to recreate the miracles in the divine sacrament'. This 'right', in other words, was the Magic Circuits. Caren did not inherit the Circuits."
  11. ↑ Type-Moon. "interlude 15-4: Death of a saint". Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel. Day 15 – limited.
    "Defective from birth —— The man [i.e. Kirei Kotomine] did everything he could after accepting the fact. He couldn't understand morals, but had common sense. So his teenage years were spent trying to overcome his defect. But it never happened. The man's purgatories and sufferings were entirely useless. And his final attempt was a woman....The man chose a woman with no future. She was terminally ill, only expected to live for a few years. Did he choose her because of that, or was that his only choice? He still doesn't know. Their life together lasted for about two years. The man tried to love the woman. The woman tried to love the man, did love him, and even had his child. But the result didn't change. It was because the man derived his happiness from the woman's suffering and his child's despair. The more he tried to love, the more their suffering saved him. The contradiction didn't make the man suffer. He doesn't even know if he suffered. But the more the woman tried to cure him, the more he wanted to see her grieve. The woman was a saint. She was sickly, but she was still a saint for him. It need not be said how faithful she was or how deeply she understood his anger. That's why the man was in despair. No human will ever understand him and try to heal him to her degree. And this woman still could not fill the void.Then —— there was no need to live and question right and wrong. He was born defective...."
  12. ↑ Type-Moon. "To Angra Manyu / All evils of the world." Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel. Day 16 - FINAL
    Kirei Kotomine: "—— Emiya Shirou. As you feel supreme bliss in others' happiness. I feel supreme bliss in others' unhappiness.....I envy you people. What I sought, but could not obtain. What I obtained, but could not obtain. Many things slipped out between my fingers, no matter what commandment I used. What other people called happiness —— Did not bring me any joy."
  13. ↑ Type-Moon. "Go along the cheek / Conflict / That which cannot be surrendered." Fate/Stay Night: Fate. Day 15 - Utopia.
    Saber: "Answer me. Why does Archer still remain? What caused that fire? Why are you still alive even after being beaten by Kiritsugu…!?...."
    Kirei Kotomine: "I do not even need to tell you. Ten years ago—the Holy Grail was incomplete but full, and it was possible to obtain it. I merely touched it. You and Kiritsugu were powerful, so I wished for a diversion to separate you two. But I was surprised by the diversion that occurred....."
    Saber: "—Then you caused that fire with the power of the Holy Grail…!?"
    Kirei Kotomine: "Who knows? I think the Holy Grail would have done the same thing even if I was someone else. It is a thing of that nature. People call it an omnipotent vessel, but only blood, darkness, and curses fill it. You saw it as well, right? The darkness that spilled out from it when you destroyed the Holy Grail...."
    Saber: "Nonsense. The Holy Grail is a magical vessel that grants the wishes of its possessor. That fire must have been your wish...!"
    Kirei: "Only the result. The process was not what I had in mind. I only wished for people to be gone from that place...I do not know about the original Holy Grail, but this Holy Grail is merely a vortex of power. It cannot make precise calculations or correct any inconsistencies. It is only pure power. It is like a great weapon. If the possessor wishes for great riches, it will kill everything around it to bring happiness to its possessor."
  14. ↑ Type-Moon."Set position / Rain." Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel. Day 9 – RAIN.
    Rin Tōsaka. " So, how's Sakura? You did that much so—–"
    Kirei Kotomine: "She escaped death, but it is just temporary. I removed most of the crest worm, but some parts were buried too deeply to be removed. Some of it has eaten into the nerves. I can extract it all if I remove her heart, but that will kill Sakura as well. All I could do was remove the crest worm that did not metabolize with her nerves, decreasing her pain and the pressure from Zouken. Her life should have ended tonight, but I prolonged it on a whim...."
  15. ↑ Type-Moon."What is hidden in the Holy Grail." Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel. Day 14 – servant eater.
  16. ↑ Type-Moon. "interlude 15-4: Death of a saint". Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel. Day 15 – limited.
    Kirei Kotomine: "What are you talking about? You don't need to hide it Matō Sakura..."
    Sakura Matō: "W–—What do you mean?"
    Kirei: "I said there's no need to hide it. You are not another personality. You were swallowed by the mud and have become addicted to violence, but you are still Matō Sakura. You don't need to prepare another personality to excuse yourself..."
    Sakura: "What are you saying!? You're the one who made me like this!..."
    Kirei: "I won't deny it. I kept you alive so that you would remain its Master. You measured up to my expectations, and you are about to give birth to Avenger. You have easily accomplished what I could not."
  17. ↑ Jewett, Kate Mitchell (July 27, 2020). "Type Moon's Studio BB Announces Remake Fate/Extra Record". GameLuster. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  18. ↑ Liu, Stephanie (January 1, 2023). "Fate/Grand Order New Year 2023 Servant is Rasputin". Siliconera. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Results Announced for Type-Moon's 10th Anniversary Character Poll". Crunchyroll News. July 8, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Choose the Best Fate/stay night Character and Route!". Manga Tokyo. November 24, 2017. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  21. 1 2 "Fate/Zero Blu-Ray – Box Set 1 [Limited Edition]". Anime News Network. December 20, 2013. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Fate/Zero". THEM Anime Reviews. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Fate/Zero". Anime News Network. July 6, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  24. ↑ Gay, Elliot (October 2, 2011). "First Impressions: Fate/Zero". Japanator. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Fate/Zero Sets a High Bar for All Other Fighting Anime". Kotaku. September 26, 2014. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Japanese Fans Rank Anime's Most Memorable Rivalries". Otaku USA. July 2, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  27. ↑ Kuroda, Makoto (2013). "Identity of Summoned Heroes : Aspects of Psyche and Phases of Persona in Fate/stay night Existence, Phenomenon and Personality". p. 47.
  28. ↑ Kuroda, Makoto (2013). "Identity of Summoned Heroes : Aspects of Psyche and Phases of Persona in Fate/stay night // Existence, Phenomenon and Personality". p. 50.
  29. ↑ Britt, B. C.; Britt, R. K. (2021). "From waifus to whales: The evolution of discourse in a mobile game-based competitive community of practice". Mobile Media & Communication. 9 (1): 3–29. doi:10.1177/2050157920934509.
  30. ↑ Risden, E. L. (2022). "Desire and the Flexible Grail: The Japanese Fate Franchise and Evolving Notions of Arthurian Power". The Arthurian World. Routledge. pp. 519–530.
  31. ↑ Pichel, A. I. F.; Domínguez, V. S. (2025). "El rey de los héroes: Gilgamesh en los anime y mangas del universo Fate". Revista Historia Autónoma. 26: 100–126. doi:10.15366/rha2025.26.005.
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