Tonegawa Yukio appears in "Kaiji" as the number two man in the Teiai Group. His harsh words and actions towards debtors, and the words he can say because he has survived in real life, are very memorable, making him a popular character within "Kaiji." Recently, he has been gaining more and more attention, with the release of "Middle Management Tonegawa," a series featuring Tonegawa as the main character. In this article, we would like to introduce 10 characteristics of Tonegawa Yukio.
1. Being at the mercy of Chairman Hyodo
Tonegawa is the second-in-command of the Teiai Group, but in reality, he is the one closest to Chairman Hyodo and is often overworked. At times, he is forced to go along with Hyodo's whims and complete impossible tasks. In fact, that "Limited Edition Rock-Paper-Scissors" game was also a gambling game born from the chairman's idea to "plan a devilish game."
2. Excellent, but Weak at Crucial Points
Tonegawa lost the e-card game against Kaiji. At that time, Chairman Hyodo assessed Tonegawa as someone who was good at managing things, but weak when it came to crucial moments. Tonegawa had risen through the ranks of the organization as the number two person in the Teiai Group. He may be an excellent manager, but when it comes to crucial moments that are unrelated to that, his weaknesses are revealed.
3. He's also adept at using social media.
Though Tonegawa is middle-aged, he's surprisingly adept at using social media. When he created the official Teiai Group Twitter account, he left its management to his subordinates, which resulted in an uproar, but Tonegawa was able to quickly calm the uproar, increase his number of followers in a short amount of time, and skillfully fight against haters, showing a glimpse of his skillful side when it comes to social media.
4. Surprisingly Big Eater
Tonegawa, a portly middle-aged man, ordered a large katsudon (pork cutlet bowl) for lunch one day. Because the restaurant was known for its generous portions, he ended up with an extra-large portion. Apparently, the bowl was a "sea of katsu," and he was expected to finish it all. Tonegawa was momentarily hesitant, but through persistence and determination, he still managed to finish the meal.
5. He was previously at the Minamihateruma Branch
Tonegawa sends farewell words to his subordinates who are being transferred to the Minamihateruma Branch. Tonegawa comforts his subordinates by saying that this transfer is in part a demotion, but that he is doing so with the belief that they will be able to return. Finally, Tonegawa shows them the scar on his neck. It was from a time when he was bitten by a sea snake at the Minami Hateruma branch office. Tonegawa has the image of having been on the elite road, but it seems that his life has not always been smooth sailing.
6. He's bad at gauging Chairman Hyoudou's mood.
As the number two man in the Teiai Group, Tonegawa has many opportunities to interact with Chairman Hyoudou. However, since Chairman Hyoudou is like a ticking time bomb who can't be predicted to get angry at any moment, Tonegawa must be careful with his words and actions. However, Tonegawa doesn't know how far he should take this, so he keeps repeating safe words and actions, but Kurosaki, who is also number two, is good at keeping the chairman happy while also toying with him, and is more liked by him than Tonegawa. Tonegawa is an excellent company employee, but he doesn't seem to be very good at reading the mood.
7. He's also a good dancer.
Tonegawa's impressive physique doesn't suggest much agility, but he's surprisingly good at dancing. He performed at a subordinate's wedding. At first, Tonegawa is taken aback by his colleagues' flash mob celebration, but considering it is his subordinates' big day, he joins in and performs a dance. Tonegawa may seem like a stiff person, but deep down he cares about his subordinates and seems to have a fun-loving side.
8. Surprisingly Caring for His Subordinates
Though Tonegawa has a reputation for being strict with his subordinates, he is surprisingly considerate of their stress and proactively provides them with opportunities to relax. He even hosts barbecues himself, creating spectacular feasts featuring the finest meats. Generally, no one wants to go to a barbecue hosted by their boss, but if it's an extravagant event like this, even a subordinate would want to go, and it would be a great way to release the stress of everyday life. Tonegawa also has a caring attitude towards his subordinates as a boss.
9. He can't tell his subordinates apart
The Teiai Group's costumes, such as black suits and sunglasses, are well-known, but their appearances make it difficult for Tonegawa to distinguish between his subordinates. Chairman Hyodo doesn't need to remember each of his subordinates' names, but Tonegawa is his direct superior, so not being able to tell them apart would hinder his work. Therefore, he tries to remember their names based on something other than their appearance, but their similar hobbies and confusing surnames make it impossible to tell them apart. Since the black suits don't have much of an impact on the story, viewers likely won't be able to tell them apart either.
10. He also attends his class reunions regularly.
Though Tonegawa is an executive at the Teiai Group, a large corporation, he also regularly attends his class reunions. However, his reason for attending the reunion is typical of Tonegawa, as his motive for living a self-indulgent life in his youth was a twisted one: to see what had happened as he got older. However, as he gradually deepened his friendship with his classmates, he began to enjoy the reunion. At the end, Tonegawa accompanied everyone as they sang the school song, thoroughly enjoying the reunion.
Summary
Tonegawa's cold, strict side is what makes him memorable when he's with Kaiji. However, while working at the Teiai Group, Tonegawa also struggles with relationships with his subordinates and the chairman, and lives an ordinary, everyday life as an office worker. Tonegawa has left behind a strong personality and famous quotes in "Kaiji," but if you take a look at his way of life and philosophy, you'll find that there are many aspects that can be used as references for our own lives, so be sure to take a look.
