In Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, the death row convicts forced to search for the Elixir of Life only makeup half of the manga and anime's cast. The other half are the executioners of the Yamada Asaemon clan, who are all assigned to watch the criminals while on their search, with the order to execute them if they attempt to cause trouble or try to escape.
The executioners of the Yamada Asaemon clan are all skilled swordsmen in their own right and claim to be able to behead a person with only one stroke. The Asaemon executioners are all rigorously trained and ranked, with only the best being able to become the head of the clan. Here are Hell's Paradise's strongest Asaemon executioners, ranked by their strength and skill.
Spoiler warning for the anime since this information is based on the manga.
8 Tenza
Tenza is the 10th-ranked Asaemon, putting him in the running for the future head of the clan. He recruited Nurugai and served as her attendant during the early days of the expedition. Tenza was a kind man who protected Nurugai despite the government labeling her a criminal.
As a swordsman, Tenza was known for his incredible speed, faster even than others in the Asaemon clan. While his overall technique was rather lacking, his willpower and determination allowed him to triumph and last longer against foes that should have defeated him handily.
7 Genji
Genji ranks 8th in the Asaemon clan, marking him as one of the most skilled swordsmen in the clan. He is a stoic man who began watching over Yuzuriha after his own criminal was killed, believing she was too dangerous to leave alone.
Genji's specialty is his incredible strength, which allows him to fight off the island's incredible monsters with ease. While his role in the story is rather small, his appearances are enough to show off his unparalleled physical power.
6 Isuzu
Despite being an unranked member of the clan, Isuzu was recruited to join Shugen and Jikka on their expedition to the island, also with fellow unranked Kiyomaru. Isuzu is an ardent follower of Shugen and executes his orders loyally.
Although she is a woman, Isuzu has a large physique and impressive strength, which she leverages in combat. She used two blades in battle, which could combine to form a double-sided naginata. While she may not have been the most skilled swordfighter in the Yamada Asaemon clan, Isuzu was a person that was seen as capable by the incredibly strict and discerning Shugen.
5 Fuchi
Fuchi is the 9th-ranked Asaemon and the executioner in charge of Gantetsusai. Fuchi's main strength is his intelligence and knowledge, which surpasses even those who are higher ranked than him. Unlike his fellow clansmen, Fuchi prefers to study medicine and frequently expresses his interest in dissecting the various species he encounters on the island.
Despite his physique and interests, Fuchi is still a skilled swordsman in his own right. Despite having a smaller build than his fellow Asaemon members, Fuchi's agility and skill allow him to overwhelm the many monsters wandering the island, as well as the many other terrors hiding there.
4 Sagiri
Sagiri is the 12th-ranked Asaemon in charge of Gabimaru, making her one of the main characters in Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku. Despite being a woman, Sagiri is in the running for the next head of the Yamada Asaemon clan, and her sword skills naturally match that reputation.
Sagiri is a powerful swordswoman, capable of fighting on par with Gabimaru. Sagiri's speed and reflexes are unmatched, able to take even Gabimaru by surprise, and when she learns Tao on the island, she becomes a more fearsome threat against the island's denizens. Sagiri's only flaw is her lack of battle experience, which she quickly overcomes throughout the series.
3 Shion
Shion is ranked 4th among the Asaemon clan swordsmen, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that he is blind. He is much more experienced in the sword than others, leading him to take on a mentor role to others such as Tenza and Nurugai.
Shion is one of the few characters to have mastered Tao before going to the island, which is how he was able to sense his surroundings without his sight. He learns more about manipulating Tao while on the island and can use it to enhance his mastery of swordsmanship.
2 Jikka
Despite being the 3rd-ranked member of the Asaemon clan, Jikka does not seem to take his duties seriously. He is often quite laid-back, and he has even sold his sword, having to use a bamboo sword in its stead. Despite this, Jikka is an incredibly powerful swordsman, and one of the most dangerous threats in the series.
While also being an incredibly skilled fighter, Jikka's most powerful strength is his intuition, which allows him to determine the right moves to make to defeat his opponent. This alone makes him a dangerous opponent that is nearly impossible to take down.
1 Shugen
The serious and strict Shugen serves as the de facto leader of the second expedition for the Elixir of Life, which is undertaken sometime after the first expedition lands. As the 2nd-ranked member of the Asaemon clan, Shugen's strength and authority within the clan are undeniable.
Shugen is a master swordsman, so much so that he is able to replicate the fighting style and mannerisms of his fellow Asaemons, to the point that his opponents feel as if they are fighting the person in question. His proficiency in this skill is so high that he can even change his Tao to match those he copies.