Senketsu

Lore & Background

Senketsu is a Kamui, a pure Life Fiber garment created by Ryuko's father Isshin Matoi (secretly Sōichirō Kiryuin) to fight the parasitic alien Life Fibers. Ryuko stumbles across the sentient sailor uniform beneath the ruins of her father's home after a failed attempt to challenge Satsuki Kiryuin on her first day at Honnouji Academy. She names the outfit "Senketsu" and becomes armed with a scissor-shaped longsword called a Scissor Blade that can cut Goku Uniforms. Senketsu increases Ryuko's abilities while transformed, and the uniform appears to have a will of its own. Later, Ryuko learns that her father founded the anti-Life Fiber paramilitary organization Nudist Beach and created Senketsu specifically to fight the Life Fibers, which are actually parasitic aliens that prompted humanity's evolution to later feed on them.

In Their Own Story

After Ryuko discovers Senketsu, she uses it to challenge Satsuki Kiryuin, who responds by donning her family's Kamui Junketsu. Throughout the series, Ryuko battles numerous council members including the Elite Four, and later meets Nui Harime, who reveals herself as Isshin's killer and stole the other Scissor Blade. Ryuko eventually learns that she is Satsuki's presumed-dead younger sister and Ragyo Kiryuin's daughter; Ragyo's ex-husband Sōichirō Kiryuin faked his death and saved the infant Ryuko before taking the identity of Isshin as a disguise. In the climax, Ryuko pursues her mother Ragyo into space after everyone offers their Goku Uniforms to power up Senketsu. She manages to have Senketsu absorb Shinra-Kōketsu to rescind the order for all Life Fibers to cover the planet. Despite being victorious, Senketsu begins breaking down from absorbing Shinra-Kōketsu and sacrifices himself to ensure Ryuko safely returns to Earth.

Reader's Guide

Senketsu is a Kamui, a pure Life Fiber garment that grants its wearer superhuman abilities. It is a sentient sailor uniform that appears to have a will of its own. Ryuko obtains martial arts superpowers from wearing Senketsu, and she uses it alongside a Scissor Blade that can cut Goku Uniforms. The uniform was created by Ryuko's father Isshin Matoi (secretly Sōichirō Kiryuin) as part of Nudist Beach's efforts to fight the parasitic alien Life Fibers. Senketsu's power can be enhanced when others offer their Goku Uniforms to power it up, as seen in the final battle where everyone contributes their uniforms to help Ryuko pursue Ragyo into space. Ultimately, Senketsu sacrifices himself by absorbing Shinra-Kōketsu to ensure Ryuko's safe return to Earth.

Did You Know?

• Senketsu is a Kamui (神衣), which literally translates to 'Godrobe'.
• The name 'Senketsu' was given to the uniform by Ryuko Matoi after she discovered it beneath the ruins of her father's home.
• Senketsu was created by Isshin Matoi (secretly Sōichirō Kiryuin) as part of the anti-Life Fiber organization Nudist Beach.
• In the final battle, Senketsu absorbs Shinra-Kōketsu to rescind the order for all Life Fibers to cover the planet, then sacrifices himself to ensure Ryuko safely returns to Earth.
• Senketsu is a pure Life Fiber garment, unlike the Goku Uniforms worn by other students at Honnouji Academy which are constructed with Life Fibers but are not pure.