Yamada Asaemon Shugen

Yamada Asaemon Shugen is a high-ranking member of the Yamada clan in the anime Hell's Paradise (Jigokuraku), specifically the 2nd-ranked Asaemon and a former assistant instructor. He's widely regarded as the strongest and most skilled executioner in the clan.

In the anime's second season (covering the reinforcement/arrival of the second expedition), Shugen leads a new team sent to the island of Kotaku (also called Shinsenkyo) to retrieve the Elixir of Life after the first group's failure and the deaths of fellow Asaemon. Upon discovering evidence of his clan's members being killed, he becomes fiercely determined to eliminate any surviving criminals (whom he views as inherently evil and responsible) and any monstrous threats on sight, issuing a kill-on-sight order.

Shugen is portrayed as a stern, diligent, and highly principled figure with an unwavering sense of justice and morality. He takes immense pride in his role as an executioner and shows deep care for his Yamada clansmen, but his black-and-white worldview—rooted in personal tragedy and a hatred of criminals—drives him to ruthless extremes to enforce what he sees as absolute justice. This makes him a formidable and antagonistic force, especially toward characters like Gabimaru.

Physically, he's depicted as a stern man of average height with sharp, dark hair and intense eyes, often dressed in distinctive black Asaemon attire rather than the standard white. His combat prowess is overwhelming, emphasizing his status as one of the most dangerous opponents in the series.