TV-Series
Description
Jofuku, also known as Xu Fu, is an immortal bartender running the "New Jofuku" bar in Saga Prefecture. He originates from the historical Chinese alchemist Xu Fu, who served Emperor Qin Shi Huang and sought the Elixir of Immortality. Discovering the elixir—a substance called "Furofuki" on Mount Kinryu in Saga—bound him eternally to the prefecture's destiny. His immortality and physical state fluctuate with Saga's prosperity and collective memory: decline causes rapid aging and frailty, while revitalization restores youth and strength. During the Meiji era, when Saga vanished from official maps, he became a bedridden old man unable to move or speak. In Saga's late-1980s economic boom, he appeared as a muscular blond youth. By 1994, he stabilized into his current form—gray-haired, partially bald, with a mane extending past his neck.
Across generations, Jofuku acts as a surrogate father and mentor. In the Meiji era, he recruited the orphaned Kiichi Momozaki to restore Saga's status, guided by advice from Kiichi's grandfather. He simultaneously bonded with Yugiri, an oiran executed in 1882 after taking blame for a rebellion to reclaim Saga's autonomy. Her indirect role in reviving Saga's name saved Jofuku from fading, securing his lifelong gratitude. In 1989 (depicted in the Gaiden manga), he adopted Tae Yamada, an employee at his Karatsu Burgers chain. His overprotectiveness caused temporary estrangement, but they reconciled to combat "Sagako"—supernatural entities menacing Saga. Leading the "Sagako Busters," Jofuku used limited clairvoyance to detect threats, though imprecisely. After Tae's 1994 death, he assured her friend Eikichi her soul would persist in protecting Saga.
Presently, Jofuku mentors Kotaro Tatsumi, endorsing his project to resurrect seven deceased girls as the zombie idol group Franchouchou. He openly critiques Kotaro's methods as "crazy" and deliberately provokes him by misnaming Franchouchou (e.g., "Sagaces"), yet their dynamic reflects mutual respect. Jofuku communicates cryptically and manipulates technology to project holograms through televisions. His bar displays artifacts like a group photo with Kiichi, Ito, and Yugiri, highlighting his centuries-spanning ties to Saga's guardians.
Jofuku wields supernatural powers tied to Saga's well-being: necromancy, limited omnipresence to sense events across the prefecture, and clairvoyance to vaguely foresee crises. These abilities wane during Saga's declines, as when he failed to aid the Sagako Busters during a major 1989 assault. His core weakness is the "Curse of Saga," a force sabotaging efforts to save the prefecture and directly eroding his vitality. Jofuku declares he and Saga are "one in body and soul," embodying its spirit through a millennia-long struggle against the curse—including a prediction of unprecedented disaster at the Reiwa era's dawn.
Trivia notes include his bar's decor featuring real-world sites like the Jofuku Longevity Hall museum and his habit of misnaming Franchouchou (e.g., "Saga ettes," "Genkai Zombie Energy Park") as intentional motivational tactics. Character credits identify him as Xu Fu, with Gaiden manga lore cementing his connections to Yugiri and Tae.
Across generations, Jofuku acts as a surrogate father and mentor. In the Meiji era, he recruited the orphaned Kiichi Momozaki to restore Saga's status, guided by advice from Kiichi's grandfather. He simultaneously bonded with Yugiri, an oiran executed in 1882 after taking blame for a rebellion to reclaim Saga's autonomy. Her indirect role in reviving Saga's name saved Jofuku from fading, securing his lifelong gratitude. In 1989 (depicted in the Gaiden manga), he adopted Tae Yamada, an employee at his Karatsu Burgers chain. His overprotectiveness caused temporary estrangement, but they reconciled to combat "Sagako"—supernatural entities menacing Saga. Leading the "Sagako Busters," Jofuku used limited clairvoyance to detect threats, though imprecisely. After Tae's 1994 death, he assured her friend Eikichi her soul would persist in protecting Saga.
Presently, Jofuku mentors Kotaro Tatsumi, endorsing his project to resurrect seven deceased girls as the zombie idol group Franchouchou. He openly critiques Kotaro's methods as "crazy" and deliberately provokes him by misnaming Franchouchou (e.g., "Sagaces"), yet their dynamic reflects mutual respect. Jofuku communicates cryptically and manipulates technology to project holograms through televisions. His bar displays artifacts like a group photo with Kiichi, Ito, and Yugiri, highlighting his centuries-spanning ties to Saga's guardians.
Jofuku wields supernatural powers tied to Saga's well-being: necromancy, limited omnipresence to sense events across the prefecture, and clairvoyance to vaguely foresee crises. These abilities wane during Saga's declines, as when he failed to aid the Sagako Busters during a major 1989 assault. His core weakness is the "Curse of Saga," a force sabotaging efforts to save the prefecture and directly eroding his vitality. Jofuku declares he and Saga are "one in body and soul," embodying its spirit through a millennia-long struggle against the curse—including a prediction of unprecedented disaster at the Reiwa era's dawn.
Trivia notes include his bar's decor featuring real-world sites like the Jofuku Longevity Hall museum and his habit of misnaming Franchouchou (e.g., "Saga ettes," "Genkai Zombie Energy Park") as intentional motivational tactics. Character credits identify him as Xu Fu, with Gaiden manga lore cementing his connections to Yugiri and Tae.