Genjyo Sanzo&rsquo;s master and the parent who raised him, this man is the previous Sanzo priest. He picked up the baby floating down the river, named him &ldquo;Kouryuu&rdquo; and brought him up. He was the protector of both the &ldquo;Seiten Sutra&rdquo; and the &ldquo;Maten Sutra&rdquo;, but as soon as he entrusted it all to Genjyo Sanzo, he was attacked by youkai opposition and died. That life ended at 47 years. He is endlessly good-tempered and soft-mannered, but he moves at his own pace and is a natural fool. Even so, he shows a side so philosophical it is as though he can see far into the future.    His is an old acquaintance of Goudai Sanzo, and together they spent their days as apprentice monks under the teachings of Arch-Bishop Jikaku. Koumyou succeeded to the &ldquo;Seiten Sutra&rdquo; and Goudai to the &ldquo;Muten Sutra&rdquo;. Their friend, the youkai Tenkai Sanzo, walked the path of Sanzo priest with them, but with his death the &ldquo;Maten Sutra&rdquo; Tensan possessed was given to the care of Koumyou as well. Although this writing takes place 12 years after his death, Koumyou is a key person in &ldquo;Saiyuki&rdquo;.     __Source:__ Saiyuki.wikia

Many years ago, humans and demons lived in harmony. But that unity ended when demons started attacking humans and plotted a mission to unleash Gyumao - an evil demon imprisoned for thousands of years. Now, Genjo Sanzo, a rogue priest, must team up with three demons - Sha Gojyo, Son Goku, and Cho Hakkai - and embark on a perilous journey to the west to stop these demons from resurrecting Gyumao and restore the balance between humans and demons on Earth.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

He claims to enjoy playing crazy or insane characters; Greed (Fullmetal Alchemist) and Asura (Soul Eater) being some of his favorites.

__Non-Anime Roles:__

- Aestivum Svafrlam Forden - Metaphor: ReFantazio (VG)

Genjo is a Buddhist priest in the city of Shangri-La, which is being ravaged by yokai spirits that have fallen out of balance with the natural order. His superiors send him on a journey far to the west to discover why this is happening and how to stop it. His companions are three yokai with human souls. But this is no day trip—the four will encounter many discoveries and horrors on the way, and on the road, Genjo will wonder … can he really trust his supernatural companions?
 
(Source: Kodansha USA)

Priest Genjo Sanzo and companions Cho Hakkai, Sha Gojyo, and Son Goku maintain their westward journey to stop the resurrection of the demon Gyoumao. As the reputation of the Sanzo Ikkou precedes them, they continue to fight demon assassins at every turn, but they must also deal with increasing tensions within their group in order to defeat a powerful enemy.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Ken Narita is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator. His real name is Tsutomu Narita. He is currently a freelancer.


The fearsome foursome continue their journey west towards Shangri-La, encountering new challenges and new adventures along the way. Their legend precedes them, but not always in the way one might expect. The Minus Wave that apparently drove all the youkai in the land mad looks like it might have missed one, as Sanzo, Gojyo, Hakkai and Goku meet a lone guardian and the band of children he cares for. Fear and misunderstanding run throughout this particular leg of the journey, including between the members of the Sanzo group! 
 
(Source: Tokyopop)

The Sanzo Ikkou continues its westward journey, on a mission to prevent a demonic resurrection. As Genjo Sanzo, Cho Hakkai, Sha Gojyo, and Son Goku fight their way to their goal, their path is fraught with internal strife. When they encounter a formidable pair of adversaries from the west, the cohesion of the group -- and the fate of the mission -- may be at stake.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Taking place in the past it offers a view at the Saiyuki quartet before their formation and their journey to the west. First OVA starts with Sanzo and his master, also with Ukoku (known as a later Ni Jianyi). Second OVA shows first meeting of Goku and Sanzo. Third OVA considers the events after Hakkai's sins and his trial (that we know from first season of "Saiyuki") and his decision to live in Gojyo's house.

Saiyuki Ibun recounts how a man grew up to become the pivotal character Koumyou, years before the first Saiyuki storyline.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Sanzo Koumyou