Fist of the North Star: Symbolism in Tower of Babel

Hokuto no Ken: Tower of Babel Symbolism in Episode 2

Hokuto no Ken, known as Fist of the North Star in English, is one of the most popular anime of all time. It follows a wandering martial artist named Kenshiro alongside his sidekick Bat, as they navigate a lawless post-apocalyptic Earth. An inspired blend of George Miller's Mad Max and Bruce Lee films, the trend-setter paved the way for countless animanga following it.

Note: The symbolism discussed here appears in Episode 2 across adaptations; the author is viewing the 2026 Prime Video reboot, while the original 1984 series tells the same King arc story.

Fist of the North Star: Misumi's Village and the Ziggurat

My first time experiencing this classic story has been with the recent remake on Amazon Prime Video. However, while the influence behind many popular shows stands out, the thing that caught my eye the most so far was the symbolism.

Episode 2 features Kenshiro and Bat saving an old man named Misumi from bandits. Revealed to be members of King's Gang (the primary antagonists of the first arc), they attempt to steal Misumi's rice seeds. The elderly farmer tries desperately to hold onto them, with the hope of planting them. His vision is to grow enough rice to be able to share with others, eventually avoiding the need for thievery and crime. Misumi is badly bullied, but our main characters save and escort him back to his village, prior to King's Gang launching a vicious assault on them.

The village of Misumi has a visibly large building with a Ziggurat-like appearance. A Ziggurat was the prayer tower and spiritual center for Mesopotamian cultures, including the Babylonians.

The Tower of Babel and Ziggurats: Biblical Symbolism in Hokuto no Ken

The Tower of Babel is one of the most popular Biblical stories. In a concise summary, the story describes humans banding together and crafting a building tall enough to reach the heavens. Their goal was to glorify themselves instead of glorifying God. God saw the effort and proceeded to scramble the common language into multiple languages, many of them being the ancestors of those we speak today. Without common speech, the shared effort ended. Humanity scrambled to different parts of the Earth as the tower's construction was abandoned, demonstrating both a reluctance to work together and God's fearsome power.

Historians and Biblical scholars speculate that the Tower of Babel would have been a Ziggurat, since the story's setting is generally placed in ancient Babylon (modern day Iraq).

Tower of Babel Symbolism in Fist of the North Star's Year 199X

Knowing this, it's no wonder why Fist of the North Star utilizes a ziggurat symbol. In this post-apocalyptic world, God has become those with might. The way Bat chases Kenshiro around as if he's a Messiah, and the awe with which Ken's enemies stare at his otherworldly Hokuto Shinken techniques affirms this sentiment.

King's Gang, with both their power in numbers and fighting techniques, also fall under this label of God. King himself certainly moves like one, constantly standing on high elevation and looking down on everyone else.

Misumi and his village met death for disobeying King's Gang. By refusing to give up their rice seeds, the bandits believed the villagers' disobedience served to glorify themselves instead of the Gang. Because the village valued their own insight over their oppressor's desires, suffering followed as they were slaughtered by the Gods of the New World.

Additionally, the symbol highlights how hard it is for humanity to work together without finding something in common. While Misumi's cause was both noble and logical, he didn't speak the same language as King's Gang. The language of violence and power. They shut down every one of the old man's attempts to persuade them, but not with logic, but with force. It's a testament to what prevails in the brutal post-apocalyptic world.

Why Fist of the North Star's Tower of Babel Symbolism Matters

The Tower of Babel symbolism in Fist of the North Star's second episode is one of many subtleties the show utilizes. It enhances the experience, as those who know the origins of the placed imagery can appreciate the bridging between real life and the anime.