Hiko Seijūrō XII was the 12th successor of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū and the predecessor to Himura Kenshin's own master, Hiko Seijūrō XIII. Not much is known about him other than the fact that he met his end when his student mastered Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū's final technique, Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki, and in doing so, killed him (a tradition of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū between teacher and student). In the anime, however, he is said to have had another student before Hiko Seijūrō XIII, namely Nishida Hyōuei, who failed to master Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki and was left fatally wounded as a result (though he later recovered). Although, he is never shown in the manga, a brief appearance in the anime reveals him to look identical, in figure, to his student, Hiko Seijūrō XIII.