OVA
Description
Kiichi Goto serves as the captain of Section 2 Division 2 within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Special Vehicles Division. He is a man whose outward demeanor of laziness and apathy sharply contrasts with his inner reality as an exceptionally shrewd and capable officer. Born in the Taito Ward of Tokyo and a graduate of political science, his career path included stints as a normal police officer and in public security before he was assigned to command the eccentric second division.
Physically, Goto is characterized by his drooping eyes, a perpetual melancholy expression, and the cigarette that is almost always in his hand. He is often seen around the office wearing traditional Japanese wooden sandals, a habit related to his chronic athlete's foot. His personal life appears to be sparse; he is a known gambler on horse races, enjoys fishing and karaoke, and typically keeps beer and whiskey in the office refrigerator, sometimes indulging during work hours.
On the surface, Goto embodies the stereotype of an incompetent middle manager. He is frequently seen slacking off, listening to horse race broadcasts, and avoiding any form of strenuous activity. This lazy facade, however, is a deliberate mask that allows him to operate with immense freedom. Beneath it lies a razor-sharp strategic mind and a deep understanding of human psychology, earning him the nickname Razor Goto within the police force. He is a master manipulator, capable of orchestrating events and people to achieve his desired outcomes without ever giving a direct order. His philosophy aligns with laissez-faire: neither giving orders nor enforcing them, yet he has no qualms about subtly guiding behavior through skillful planning and persuasive talk. Goto often knows the truth of a situation long before his subordinates do, and possesses a small sadistic streak that leads him to let them struggle through the detective work for his own amusement.
Goto's primary motivation is a deep-seated belief in justice, though his methods are often seen as underhanded or villainous by those around him. His past holds the key to his current position. He was once a rising star in the police force, but a certain undisclosed incident fundamentally changed his perspective on the organization. This incident, which in some versions of the story involves the loss of his wife while he was in public security, led him to abandon his ambitions and accept a posting to the seemingly dead-end Special Vehicles Division 2, a unit far removed from the political infighting of the upper echelons. His goal shifted from personal success to protecting his team and quietly ensuring justice is served, often by outmaneuvering his superiors and political adversaries.
In the story, Goto functions as the unseen anchor for Section 2, a unit filled with powerful but unpredictable labors and pilots. While his subordinates like Noa Izumi and Asuma Shinohara are on the front lines, Goto works behind the scenes, handling political negotiations, managing the fallout from their frequent destructive incidents, and neutralizing threats before they fully materialize. He shares a complex and key relationship with Shinobu Nagumo, the captain of Section 1, who respects his abilities but frowns upon his unorthodox methods; there are strong implications of a romantic interest from Goto that remains unrequited. Within his own unit, he works most closely with Detective Matsui, acting as the analytical brain to Matsui's legwork. Though his subordinates are often frustrated by his laziness and manipulation, they are also protected by his fierce, if understated, loyalty. He consistently prioritizes minimizing damage to his team and their careers, using his political acumen to shield them from serious punishment.
Goto rarely, if ever, pilots a labor, but his notable abilities lie entirely in his intellect and political savvy. His strategic awareness is so acute that he can anticipate incidents from the smallest signs. His manipulative skills are legendary, so much so that Shinobu Nagumo once commented that if he had not become a policeman, he would have made a name for himself as a genius swindler. On the rare occasions he is forced into physical action, he demonstrates surprising competence, though he is visibly annoyed by the need to exert himself. Throughout the narrative, Goto experiences little personal development because his worldview was already forged in the past; rather than changing himself, he is the catalyst for change and stability in others, the unchanging, calculating center around which the chaos of Section 2 revolves.
Physically, Goto is characterized by his drooping eyes, a perpetual melancholy expression, and the cigarette that is almost always in his hand. He is often seen around the office wearing traditional Japanese wooden sandals, a habit related to his chronic athlete's foot. His personal life appears to be sparse; he is a known gambler on horse races, enjoys fishing and karaoke, and typically keeps beer and whiskey in the office refrigerator, sometimes indulging during work hours.
On the surface, Goto embodies the stereotype of an incompetent middle manager. He is frequently seen slacking off, listening to horse race broadcasts, and avoiding any form of strenuous activity. This lazy facade, however, is a deliberate mask that allows him to operate with immense freedom. Beneath it lies a razor-sharp strategic mind and a deep understanding of human psychology, earning him the nickname Razor Goto within the police force. He is a master manipulator, capable of orchestrating events and people to achieve his desired outcomes without ever giving a direct order. His philosophy aligns with laissez-faire: neither giving orders nor enforcing them, yet he has no qualms about subtly guiding behavior through skillful planning and persuasive talk. Goto often knows the truth of a situation long before his subordinates do, and possesses a small sadistic streak that leads him to let them struggle through the detective work for his own amusement.
Goto's primary motivation is a deep-seated belief in justice, though his methods are often seen as underhanded or villainous by those around him. His past holds the key to his current position. He was once a rising star in the police force, but a certain undisclosed incident fundamentally changed his perspective on the organization. This incident, which in some versions of the story involves the loss of his wife while he was in public security, led him to abandon his ambitions and accept a posting to the seemingly dead-end Special Vehicles Division 2, a unit far removed from the political infighting of the upper echelons. His goal shifted from personal success to protecting his team and quietly ensuring justice is served, often by outmaneuvering his superiors and political adversaries.
In the story, Goto functions as the unseen anchor for Section 2, a unit filled with powerful but unpredictable labors and pilots. While his subordinates like Noa Izumi and Asuma Shinohara are on the front lines, Goto works behind the scenes, handling political negotiations, managing the fallout from their frequent destructive incidents, and neutralizing threats before they fully materialize. He shares a complex and key relationship with Shinobu Nagumo, the captain of Section 1, who respects his abilities but frowns upon his unorthodox methods; there are strong implications of a romantic interest from Goto that remains unrequited. Within his own unit, he works most closely with Detective Matsui, acting as the analytical brain to Matsui's legwork. Though his subordinates are often frustrated by his laziness and manipulation, they are also protected by his fierce, if understated, loyalty. He consistently prioritizes minimizing damage to his team and their careers, using his political acumen to shield them from serious punishment.
Goto rarely, if ever, pilots a labor, but his notable abilities lie entirely in his intellect and political savvy. His strategic awareness is so acute that he can anticipate incidents from the smallest signs. His manipulative skills are legendary, so much so that Shinobu Nagumo once commented that if he had not become a policeman, he would have made a name for himself as a genius swindler. On the rare occasions he is forced into physical action, he demonstrates surprising competence, though he is visibly annoyed by the need to exert himself. Throughout the narrative, Goto experiences little personal development because his worldview was already forged in the past; rather than changing himself, he is the catalyst for change and stability in others, the unchanging, calculating center around which the chaos of Section 2 revolves.