Hermes

Gender: Male

Hermes is a talking motorrad who travels with Kino to various countries and lands.

Hermes was found broken in an alley by the original Kino during his stay in the Land of Adults. The original Kino and the then eleven-year-old child fixed him, although at the time Hermes could not talk to them. The original Kino decided to give him the name Hermes, after their previous motorrad.

~!After the original Kino is killed, Kino uses Hermes to escape the Land of Adults. They keep riding until they collapse into a field filled with flowers. Hermes calls them Kino, believing that to be their name, and they decide to accept the new name to honour their saviour's death.!~

Hermes is often pessimistically realist, unbiased, and usually comes across as the comic relief character. He has a tendency to complain, which sometimes annoys Kino. Despite this, he is a very reliable companion both mentally and physically, as he is the only person who Kino can speak with about their innermost thoughts. He is naive and innocent in many ways, often believing things that are only meant as a joke. He also has a habit of trying to state famous quotes, but usually forgets or changes them, prompting Kino to correct him. Although Hermes can be interpreted as a caring companion towards Kino, Hermes however does not care whoever his rider is. His sole purpose is to provide speed while a rider provides him with a direction and balance. If Kino were to be killed, he would have to wait for an extended period of time before another traveler utilizes him as a mode of transportation. Kino is well aware of Hermes's purpose as a motorrad and fiercely protects him from anybody attempting to steal or damage him, as well as themself in order for Hermes to continue having a rider.

Hermes is also extremely intelligent in literal data. He can assess physical situations to an extremely complex degree but is annoyingly vague in expressing it. In the anime, he uses his knowledge to assess a mythical flying machine that was indeed able to fly provided with sufficient thrust.

In Gakuen Kino, Hermes is a cell phone strap. He is described as two canvas strips connected by a brass buckle with a Brough Superior SS100 engraved upon it. His personality has not changed.

(Source: Kino's Journey Wiki, edited)