Sugimoto Saichi, also known as "Immortal Sugimoto," searches for the Ainu's hidden gold. Asirpa, who travels with him, is always full of playfulness. She has a wide range of expressions and her emotions are easily shown on her face. Having grown up in the Ainu culture, she is truly innocent. It seems that Asirpa has a deep connection to the Ainu gold. The pair of Sugimoto and Asirpa unfold a storm of fierce battles and little anecdotes. We will introduce the charm of this playful Asirpa.
Asirpa's background is also fascinating
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Asirpa's Japanese name is "Kochobe Asuko," which in Ainu language means new year and future. She is a quarter Ainu, with a mother from Hokkaido and a father from Poland and Sakhalin. His father's name is Wilk, and he came to Hokkaido from Russia a long time ago with his friend Kiroranke. His father is said to be the one who hid the Ainu gold bars. It was because of this background that Asirpa, who saved Sugimoto from a bear attack, cooperated with him.
Asirpa teases Shiraishi to the max, which is very charming
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Shiraishi, the King of Escapees, is one of the embroidered ex-prisoners who started working with Sugimoto and Asirpa. Asirpa mercilessly teases Shiraishi, a completely useless man who falls for traps set up to catch prey and gambles away the money he's entrusted to her. Although it's said that "no" can mean "yes," Asirpa's merciless jabbing of Shiraishi reaches the point where, in the bonus chapters of the third volume of the manga, she plays whack-a-mole with Shiraishi as he emerges from a hole.
Asirpa is charming because she doesn't kill people but beats her prey to death
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Asirpa doesn't want to kill people (obviously). Animals that kill and eat people become evil gods and are sent to hell, so the Ainu don't eat the meat of such animals or take their fur. She has sworn not to kill people so that she won't end up like that. But her prey is a different story. She beats seals to death and crushes mice with stones. That's the way she should live. There's something fascinating about the sight of an innocent girl trying her best to catch prey in order to survive.
Asirpa's expressive faces are charming
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Asirpa's emotions are easily shown on her face. When she eats something delicious, her face is filled with bliss. When she is able to eat miso, she takes every opportunity to ask for it, and when she is scornful, emotionless, or catching her prey, she shows a variety of charming expressions. My favorite expression is the one she shows when she is drunk and Sugimoto asks her, "Please don't forget me even after I die," and her response. She is still a young girl, after all. Asirpa always cleanses my heart.
Asirpa's concern for Sugimoto is brave and charming
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Asirpa's goal is not the gold, but her father. Sugimoto, who is after the gold, helps her on her journey. However, Sugimoto is often captured. He is tortured and seriously injured. At times like that, Asirpa goes to his rescue, but every time she worries that Sugimoto might be dead. At times like that, the usual keyword "immortal Sugimoto" comes up and saves the day, but Asirpa is a brave girl who genuinely worries about Sugimoto at all times.
Asirpa is charming with her spot-on sense of humor
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Asirpa's other side is when she slips in some little jokes. My favorite scene is when Sugimoto's group happens to meet Ushiyama (a former prisoner with embroidery) at a hotel. Ushiyama has a square bump on his forehead, probably from his dedication to judo. Asirpa, who becomes friends with Ushiyama through a strange turn of events, names him Chinpo Sensei, based on Ushiyama's theory on men, that men are dicks. After a series of twists and turns, the hotel collapses. Asirpa searches for Chinpo Sensei among the rubble. Asirpa picks up what looks like a square bump and calls him Chinpo Sensei. No, no, it's just fishcake.
Asirpa is charming as she teaches us about the Ainu
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Asirpa's role in this anime is to be a guide who teaches us about Ainu culture and traditions. Therefore, Asirpa knows a lot of things. From herbs that go well with meat, to how to catch game, to Ainu traditions and culture. This may be a natural thing for the Ainu, but it's really educational. Sugimoto and his friends probably respect the Ainu people. So they must be grateful to be given raw brains every time.
Summary of Asirpa's charms
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Golden Kamuy is an unusual Manga Taisho award-winning work that does not have any romance elements. However, there are occasional scenes in which Asirpa seems to care deeply for Sugimoto. Will the two of them develop romantic feelings in the future? I'd like to keep an eye on these two and enjoy the rest of the story. Thank you for reading.
