The hugely popular Golden Kamuy is set in Hokkaido in the late Meiji period after the Russo-Japanese War. The story follows people who learn of the existence of hidden Ainu gold and begin collecting prisoner embroidery that provides clues to its location. The protagonist, Sugimoto Saichi, shines in the midst of the fight over the hidden Ainu gold. His nickname is "Invincible Sugimoto." After fighting and surviving the Russo-Japanese War, he travels to Hokkaido, dreaming of striking it rich by dusting gold. It is during this time that he learns of the hidden Ainu gold. The protagonist is full of charm that draws the reader in. This time, we would like to introduce the charms of Sugimoto.
The "Immortal Sugimoto" is just so appealing
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Sugimoto has entered the vortex of conflict. He is constantly in danger. Sometimes he is scratched in the face by a brown bear, or kidnapped and beaten to a pulp. He has even had a dumpling skewer pierce his cheek. But even so, he remains "invincible." Sometimes he steals intestines from a dead person to make it look like his own stomach has been eaten, and gets taken to the hospital, where on the way he drags the driver out of the carriage and escapes. Desperate to find the Ainu gold, his strength is still fascinating.
The charm of the "immortal Sugimoto" who searches for gold nuggets for the woman he loves
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
After the Russo-Japanese War, he came to Hokkaido and started digging for gold because he needed money. Then he heard about the Ainu gold nuggets and started searching for them. So why does he need money so much? In fact, Sugimoto had two childhood friends, Umeko and Torajiro. They had a loving relationship, but when Sugimoto's parents died of tuberculosis, he pulled away from Umeko, as he didn't want to pass it on to her. Later, Torajiro and Umeko got married and were blessed with children, but Torajiro, who fought alongside Sugimoto in the Russo-Japanese War, told Sugimoto about Umeko's eye disease on the battlefield and the expense of raising a child. The two then decided to go pan for gold in Hokkaido together, but unfortunately Torajiro died during the war. Sugimoto was entrusted with Umeko in Torajiro's final moments, and he risked his life to search for gold for the woman he loved.
The "immortal Sugimoto" who tries to get Asirpa to meet her father is charming
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
As Sugimoto begins to search for the gold nugget for Umeko, he meets an Ainu girl named Asirpa. When he tells her about the gold nugget, it turns out that it's related to Asirpa's father hiding the Ainu gold nugget. So Asirpa and Sugimoto start working together. Their respective goals are Sugimoto searching for the gold, and Asirpa searching for her father. One day, the group heads to a horse race. Shiraishi has won big, and Sugimoto asks him if as long as he has the money, he doesn't need to take risky measures to search for the gold. Sugimoto scolds him. "You're saying you quit because you got the money you needed? That's a story... You really think I'd tell that girl?" As per their initial promise, Sugimoto is determined to bring Asirpa to see her father. That's the kind of man I want to be.
The "immortal Sugimoto" who eats brains emotionlessly is charming
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Sugimoto has eaten many Ainu dishes with Asirpa. Sometimes he eats the eyeballs. On days when he catches a fresh creature, he can eat the brains raw. When he eats the brains, Sugimoto is emotionless. For the Ainu, brains are also a precious food, and they must be grateful to living things. Whether he knows the feelings of the Ainu or not, he eats emotionlessly.
The "Immortal Sugimoto" charmingly educates Asirpa
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
No matter how much prey Asirpa catches, no matter how strong she is, she is still a child. Sugimoto takes good care of Asirpa. The first time Asirpa ate miso was during the horse meat sakura nabe scene. Since then, she has requested miso whenever possible. It was delicious. Asirpa calls miso osoma (poop), but this is the first time she has seen curry. She is shocked to see osoma on rice (white rice was a luxury item at the time). Sugimoto explains to Asirpa that it is osoma that is okay to eat. What a caring person.
The Merciful Man "Immortal Sugimoto" is Attractive
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
During the Russo-Japanese War, Sugimoto killed countless enemy soldiers, and even now, as he fights for gold, he does not hesitate to kill people, but he is actually a merciful man. Although he says that he had reasons for killing, he also says that the least he can do is to remember and kill. In the scene where Anebata, who wanted to have sex with the brown bear, dies with his thing stuck inside the bear, there is a scene where Sugimoto pities Anebata, saying, "So your love did not come to fruition despite your desperate wish..." Incidentally, when Sugimoto saw Anebata sticking his thing into the bear, he was so excited, saying, "Wow! Seriously! That's amazing!"
The charms of "Immortal Sugimoto" summary
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
What did you think? Immortal Sugimoto is a reliable, responsible, and humorous character, and I love him. His interactions with Asirpa and other characters are one of the charms of Golden Kamuy, and I can't take my eyes off him in the future. I can't wait to see how the story progresses.
