Golden Kamuy began serialization in Weekly Young Jump in 2014. It is written by Noda Satoru. What's great about this manga is that it introduces the history and culture of the Ainu people as the story progresses. The history, culture, and customs are reported in such detail that you'd think the characters were Ainu. But did you know that the characters in Golden Kamuy were actually based on real people? Today, I'd like to introduce some of the people who are thought to be the models for them.
Origin of Immortal Sugimoto: Funasaka Hiroshi
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Sugimoto Saichi is well known for being immortal, but his original source is probably Sergeant Funasaka Hiroshi. He is also famous as a kendo practitioner, and has recovered many times from serious illnesses that military doctors would have given up on. In repeated battles, despite being in overwhelmingly disadvantageous situations, he is described as having killed three American soldiers with a handgun and stabbed two American soldiers carrying submachine guns to death with just a bayonet, and his nickname at the time was indeed "Invincible Funasaka." After being captured, he twice attempted to blow up American airfields, but failed. Nevertheless, he survived as a prisoner of war until the end of the war, and after returning to Japan, he founded the Omorido Bookstore. The name Sugimoto Saichi comes from the name of the author's real grandfather.
The original source of the escape king Shiraishi is Shiratori Yoshie
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
The original source of the escape king, Shiraishi, also known as Shiraishi Yoshitake, is Shiratori Yoshie, who was called the Showa's escape king. It is said that he was unable to bear the daily torture in the prison environment where he was first imprisoned, and decided to escape and carried it out. The story of his subsequent escape from Abashiri Prison is very famous. He escaped from prison by putting a little bit of the miso soup he was given each day on his handcuffs, causing the salt to rust the handcuffs. After that, he was repeatedly imprisoned and escaped, but he was touched by the kindness of a prison guard who gave him a cigarette and had a change of heart. He served his sentence as a model inmate and was released on parole.
This actually happened! The original source of the 7th Division is the 7th Division
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
The 7th Division, to which Lieutenant Tsurumi and Private First Class Ogata belonged, actually exists. It was called the Hokuchin Unit, and the battle for Hill 203, which appeared in the work, was also a real battle site. This is where the Siege of Port Arthur, said to be the fiercest battle of the Russo-Japanese War, took place, which led Lieutenant Tsurumi to betray the army, seize the gold bars and take control of Hokkaido. In real life, the war was so brutal that only about 40% of the soldiers survived. In fact, the author's grandfather, Sugimoto Saichi, was also in the 7th Division and actually belonged to the 27th Infantry Regiment. (Ogata also belonged to the 27th Infantry Regiment). Incidentally, it is said that Lieutenant Tsurumi was modeled after Regimental Captain Sumi, who actually led the 7th Division.
The origin of the undefeated Ushiyama: Ushijima Tatsuma
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
The undefeated Ushiyama, Ushiyama Tatsuma. His origin is the famous judoka Ushijima Tatsuma. With his overwhelming strength and hot temper, he was nicknamed "Demon Ushijima." Nicknamed the Fierce Tiger by his opponents, he is said to have drunk the blood of a soft-shelled turtle the night before a match. Unlike the sex-obsessed Ushiyama, he is known for training diligently. They even look a bit alike.
The origin of Anebata's love of animals Anthony Seton?
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
I wonder if this is the origin of the name. It must be Anthony Seton, who is famous for Seton's Animal Stories. After all, his name is Anebata Shiton. It's a bit of a phonetic spelling, but probably. By the way, Anthony Seton never felt sexual attraction to animals. After all, he was very conscious of his hairstyle, wasn't he?
Herman Webster Mudgett, the original source of Kano the Elder
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Herman Webster Mudgett, commonly known as H.H. Holmes, who is thought to be the original source of Kano the Elder, is a real doctor who became very wealthy by running a drugstore. After becoming very wealthy, Holmes built a hotel and it became a huge success. However, there are frequent disappearances. Holmes' hotel, like the real head of the family Kano's, had a torture room in the basement, and people could fall into the basement from all over the hotel. After his arrest, Holmes confessed to killing dozens of people, but the number of missing people does not match up at all, and it remains unclear to this day how many people he actually killed.
Summary of Golden Kamuy's original material
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
The fact that Lieutenant Tsurumi in Golden Kamuy betrayed the military because he was unable to receive reparations for the Russo-Japanese War is a true story. Also, in fact, Ainu people also participated in the Russo-Japanese War. However, this also means that the Ainu people, who were discriminated against at the time, will no longer be treated with contempt, and I am curious to see what the future holds for the Ainu who participated in the Russo-Japanese War. Perhaps the British, who were allied with Japan at the time, will join in. Speaking of the Russo-Japanese War, the Battle of Tsushima is also famous, in which the Baltic Fleet was completely defeated by the Allied fleet. That may also feature somewhere in the story. It's even more fascinating!
