Iwao is Ryo’s father and the current master of the Hazuki Style martial art. He is a character of high morals who respects devotion to one’s convictions, proper manners and above all, trust. He is very calm and composed, personifying simplicity and courage. His only hobby is Shodo (calligraphy) which he often uses when writing letters and postcards. As a master of martial arts, he is a strict Sensei and is never satisfied with relying solely on one’s natural talent. He has continued to adhere to a strict training regimen throughout his adult life. When he was young, he is said to have set out on an overseas journey to learn from the various great masters of the martial arts. Although his son Ryo sometimes rebels against his strictness, he still respects him as a mentor and dreams of emulating him. -Versus Books vol. 20