Heitaro Kawara

Heitaro Kawara was the original leader of the Kawara Yakuza. Unlike most Yakuza, Heitara valued honor and his Yakuza was more like policemen instead of thugs which helped kept the small town safe. He hired a woman name Osuzu (who happened to be the daughter of his friend) to teach his son Sousuke Kawara. However, a Yakuza called the Nagatomi Gang led by Rikiei Nagatomi arrived in town and caused chaos.

He is voiced Hidekatsu Shibata in the Japanese version and voiced by Simon Prescott in the English dub.

Biography
A group of travelers named Jin, Fuu and Mugen arrive in his town. The trio bickered with each other and ran off in different directions. After Jin saved Sousuke, Heitaro agrees to hire Jin as his body guard. Later, he finds out that his own son killed a member of the Nagatomi gang after they were harassing Fuu and Osuzu. To prevent a gang war, Heitaro proposed a deal: If Heitaro wins the dice game, then he will kill himself. But if Heitaro loses the dice game, then Sosuke is returned to his father, but the Kawara Gang's territory will now belong to the Nagatomi Gang. Against Souske's pleas, Heitaro agrees.

Jin tries to persuade Heitaro to not do the deal, but Heitaro stubbornly refuses, saying he will dishonor the Yakuza. He gives Jin something to give to his son, and during the deal Heitaro's dice roller is either captured or killed. During the gambling meeting, he meets his former follower Ishimatsu Just then, Fuu arrives and becomes Heitaro's dice roller. Heitaro wins, and to honor the deal Heitaro kills himself by killing seppuku.

After Heitaro's death, Rikiei, in a fit of rage, swears that he will kill all the Kawara gang and capture their territory, and chokes Sousuke Kawara. However, just then Mugen arrives to kill Rikiei of his own agenda, and Heitaro's death is avenged by Ishimatsu who kills Rikiei after realizing Rikiei only cares for himself. In the aftermath, his son becomes the head of the Kawara Gang.