Golden Kamuy is a huge hit and has won the Manga Taisho Award, but there may be some who haven't seen it yet or have only skimmed through it. In this article, I'd like to give a brief summary of the main characters, their outlines, and the relationships between them. To begin with, Golden Kamuy is a story about several groups searching for hidden Ainu gold, and while they engage in fierce conflict, they search for prisoners (the tattoos on their bodies are a sign that the gold is there), who are clues to the gold. So let's get started!
Summary of the main characters of Sugimoto's gang: Sugimoto Saichi
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
The protagonist of this work, known as "Invincible Sugimoto," who survived the Russo-Japanese War. After the war, in order to pay for the medical treatment of an eye disease suffered by his friend's wife, who he was also in love with (his friend died in the Russo-Japanese War), he set out to dig for gold in Hokkaido, hoping to strike it rich. One day, he heard a story about a hidden Ainu gold nugget from an old man. To his surprise, the man turned out to be a tattooed prisoner. This prompted him to begin his search for the gold nugget (searching for the prisoner).
Summary of the main characters of Sugimoto's gang Asirpa
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Asirpa, an Ainu, meets Sugimoto early in the story. It's the scene where she discovers that the man who told Sugimoto about the Ainu gold nuggets has been killed by a brown bear. However, unable to hand over the body to Higuma, Sugimoto tells Asirpa about the Ainu gold. Asirpa immediately believes him. Why? It turns out that Asirpa's father was deeply involved in hiding the Ainu gold. Sugimoto teams up with Asirpa to search for the gold and Asirpa to search for her father.
Summary of the main characters of the Tsurumi gang: Lieutenant Tsurumi
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Lieutenant Tsurumi is the survivor of the 7th Division and leads the 7th Division. His goal in finding the gold is to take over Hokkaido. He mourns the loss of his compatriots in the Russo-Japanese War, betrays his country after Japan fails to collect reparations from Russia, and begins searching for gold. He is quite an eccentric man who sometimes has strange quips coming out of his head, but he thinks highly of Sugimoto and wants to recruit him in the search for the gold. They often fight, but sometimes cooperate. Tsurumi's gang includes members of the 7th Division, with Sergeant Tsukishima and Lieutenant Koito often appearing as his aides.
Hijikata Gang - Summary of Main Characters - Toshizo Hijikata
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
He is a former Shinsengumi member who is said to have died in the Boshin War, but in this work he is plotting to create a country (Shinsengumi) with Ainu gold bars. He is still a sword demon, and doesn't look his age. In fact, Hijikata is also one of the prisoners, and a clue to the gold. He is also being pursued, but he is searching for other prisoners. He is already at war with Lieutenant Tsurumi. They seem to respect each other. Of course, they are complete enemies.
Hijikata Gang - Summary of Main Characters Nagakura Shinpachi
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Nagakura Shinpachi, a former Shinsengumi member, also helps Hijikata. Of course, he is old, but he is said to be the strongest member of the Shinsengumi. At first, he talks like a retired old man, but when the battle begins, he is strong. Frighteningly strong. He is a fellow member of Hijikata Toshizou and seems to get along very well. Another character in the Hijikata gang is Ushiyama, who is also a prisoner and a clue to the gold.
Summary of the main characters of Sugimoto's gang: Shiraishi Yoshitake
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Shiraishi was known as the escape king. He has a special skill of dislocating his shoulder at will. He also joins Sugimoto's gang in the beginning. Their goal is to split the gold. However, he is actually in cahoots with Hijikata's gang. It remains to be seen how he will fare in the future. By the way, when he is with Sugimoto and the others, he is the one everyone picks on and is a source of comedy.
Sugimoto's gang? Summary of main characters Kiroranke
Source: Golden Kamuy ©Noda Satoru/Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
Kiroranke is a friend of Asirpa's father. He also acts with Sugimoto's gang. Kiroranke was a former worker in the 7th Division. He pretends not to know Lieutenant Tsurumi, but in the scene where he reunites with Asirpa's father, he betrays Sugimoto's gang along with Private First Class Ogata. Where does he belong? Is he a new force? What is his goal?
Sugimoto's gang? Summary of main characters: Private First Class Ogata
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
He is also a former member of the 7th Division. He originally worked with Lieutenant Tsurumi, but at some point he works with Sugimoto. And then, together with Kiroranke, he betrays Sugimoto. The connection between these two is also a mystery. What is their reason for searching for the gold?
Summary of main characters Finally
Source: Golden Kamuy © Noda Satoru / Shueisha, Golden Kamuy Production Committee
The setting has changed significantly from Hokkaido. Finally, Russia... I'll leave it to you to enjoy reading and watching from here on out. If I go into too much detail, I don't want people to read Golden Kamuy as a result of this, because it will only be a quick read, which I don't like. Golden Kamuy is full of various hints, Ainu history, and other detailed information, which is what I like about it. So, please do check it out! Whether you're reading it for the first time or rereading it, please enjoy it thoroughly!
