Gein

Gein is analytical, secretive and fascinated by technological development. Personal loyalty matters far less to him than gaining opportunities to test his creations under genuine battlefield conditions.

He believes warfare drives technological progress and deliberately attaches himself to violent organizations for that reason. Shishio and later Enishi provide environments where experimental combat machines can be tested against exceptional fighters.

Gein also takes considerable pride in his craftsmanship. He evaluates his creations as works of engineering and becomes particularly attached to projects that demonstrate sophisticated deception as well as physical performance.

Gein descends from a line of craftsmen specializing in karakuri mechanisms. He creates large human-shaped combat puppets, including the Iwanbou models, that conceal their mechanical nature beneath convincing external bodies.

He controls his creations using Zankousen, extremely strong diamond-edged wires. These threads are not merely control mechanisms: Gein can use them directly in combat, where their sharpness allows them to cut flesh and damage bone.

Years of manipulating heavy puppets have also given Gein surprising physical strength despite his age. His engineering knowledge extends beyond conventional puppetry to detailed anatomical construction and sophisticated mechanisms.

[His most psychologically effective creation is a corpse doll modeled on Kaoru Kamiya. Gein constructs it with enough detail to convince Kenshin and his companions that Kaoru has been killed, making the deception central to Enishi's attempt to destroy Kenshin emotionally.](#spoiler)

Gein first operates behind the scenes as the creator and controller associated with Iwanbou. His interest in Shishio's organization comes from his belief that war provides the strongest stimulus for technological advancement.

He later joins Enishi's Six Comrades, though unlike members driven by personal grievances, Gein has no meaningful desire for revenge against Kenshin. Jinchū simply gives him another battlefield on which to test his work.

[During the attack on the Kamiya Dojo, Gein operates an advanced Iwanbou model against Kenshin. More importantly, he creates the false corpse used to convince Kenshin that Kaoru has been murdered. After his role in the plan is complete, Enishi and Heishin decide that he has become expendable. Gein survives an attempt to eliminate him, but Aoshi Shinomori anticipates that the proud craftsman will return to retrieve his masterpiece. Aoshi traps and defeats him at the graveyard, forces him to reveal Kaoru's location, and kills him.](#spoiler)

Enishi Yukishiro employs Gein during Jinchū because his technical skills are essential to the psychological component of the plan against Kenshin.

Makoto Shishio previously provides Gein with a battlefield environment in which to test his technology.

Iwanbou is the identity associated with Gein's best-known series of combat puppets. Gein's successive models demonstrate his continuing effort to refine their performance.

Kenshin Himura serves as both a target of Jinchū and a formidable test for Gein's combat technology.

Kaoru Kamiya becomes the model for Gein's elaborate corpse doll, which is used to make Kenshin believe she has been murdered.

Aoshi Shinomori recognizes that the supposed corpse is artificial and later anticipates Gein's return for it. Their confrontation ends with Aoshi extracting the information needed to locate the real Kaoru.

Hyougo Kujiranami, Inui Banjin, Otowa Hyouko and Yatsume Mumyoui are Gein's fellow Six Comrades.