TV-Series
Description
Gorô Saruwatari is one of the two main protagonists of the story, a Japanese mountain climber of formidable physical strength and an equally formidable personality. Initially introduced while conquering Mount Everest, his defining moment comes when he spots the International Space Station from the summit, an epiphany that shifts his ambitions from the world's highest peaks to the vastness of outer space.
In terms of background, Saruwatari does not come from an elite or privileged class. He deliberately chooses a working-class path to achieve his dream, taking a job as a construction worker to gain hands-on experience with heavy machinery and complex engineering challenges. It is this specific blue-collar expertise that sets him apart, as his ability to navigate high-risk environments and operate powerful equipment with precision becomes his ticket to the stars. In one notable instance, his skill at rescuing a trapped coworker without causing a structural collapse brings him to the attention of the International Space Agency. Eventually, he begins training in Russia and flies aboard the Gagarin shuttle to the International Space Station, where he contributes to the construction of the Horner cargo vessel, part of the multinational Nexus program designed to access lunar Helium-3.
Saruwatari's personality is loud, exuberant, and unabashedly primal. He is frequently described as a beer-swilling, table-dancing party animal with a crude and sometimes callous demeanor. He is a womanizer and a hard drinker, qualities that often clash with the more sanitized image of a professional astronaut. However, he is not simply a brute. He possesses a sharp intelligence that allows him to calculate orbital mechanics under pressure, and he displays moments of genuine humanity, such as when he comforts a dying French climber on Everest. Critics have noted a contradiction in his nature; he can be cocky and unaffected by tragedy one moment yet dedicated and brilliant the next, creating a character who is rough-edged but generally good-hearted underneath.
His primary motivation is the desire to conquer new frontiers. After mastering mountains, space becomes the next logical and obsessional goal. He is driven by a muscular, optimistic sense of ambition, viewing the cosmos as a grand frontier for those bold enough to seize it. While his personal goal is exploration, the narrative forces him to navigate a tightening web of state, corporate, and military interests all vying for control of lunar resources.
In the story, Saruwatari serves as the civilian counterpoint to his rival, Jack "Lostman" Woodbridge, a former US Navy ace pilot who becomes entangled with military space projects. Their friendship and rivalry form the emotional core of the series, creating a bond of masculine camaraderie forged on a mountaintop but tested in the political and physical dangers of space exploration. While their paths diverge drastically, they reflect on each other's progress as they race toward the Moon. Key relationships also include his romantic interest, Riyoko Ikeuchi, though his interactions with women are often portrayed as conquests rather than deep partnerships. He is also shown caring for his younger sister, Akemi.
The character undergoes significant development as the story transitions from personal ambition to a wider political drama. He is assigned dangerous tasks, such as preventing a damaged German transport vessel from crashing into Sydney, and testing the new Japanese Moon Walker mecha for lunar exploration. During an underwater test of the Moon Walker, a tragic accident leads to the death of a safety diver. His response to this incident is complex; he appears nonchalant about the death itself but becomes fiercely determined to investigate the cover-up, exposing a corrupt professor who falsified data to keep funding flowing. This arc shows a move from simply being a skilled laborer to a man willing to challenge corrupt institutions.
Regarding his abilities, Saruwatari’s primary talent is his intuitive and uncanny skill with heavy machinery. Whether operating a crane on a construction site or piloting complex space infrastructure, his hands-on experience makes him invaluable. He is physically imposing and incredibly durable, able to survive the rigors of space adaptation and high-stress rescue operations. He also demonstrates a knack for zero-gravity maneuvering and on-the-fly engineering solutions to life-threatening mechanical problems. While he lacks military training, his raw intelligence and practical knowledge of physics allow him to perform complex calculations under fire, proving that the "builder" can be just as effective as the fighter pilot.
In terms of background, Saruwatari does not come from an elite or privileged class. He deliberately chooses a working-class path to achieve his dream, taking a job as a construction worker to gain hands-on experience with heavy machinery and complex engineering challenges. It is this specific blue-collar expertise that sets him apart, as his ability to navigate high-risk environments and operate powerful equipment with precision becomes his ticket to the stars. In one notable instance, his skill at rescuing a trapped coworker without causing a structural collapse brings him to the attention of the International Space Agency. Eventually, he begins training in Russia and flies aboard the Gagarin shuttle to the International Space Station, where he contributes to the construction of the Horner cargo vessel, part of the multinational Nexus program designed to access lunar Helium-3.
Saruwatari's personality is loud, exuberant, and unabashedly primal. He is frequently described as a beer-swilling, table-dancing party animal with a crude and sometimes callous demeanor. He is a womanizer and a hard drinker, qualities that often clash with the more sanitized image of a professional astronaut. However, he is not simply a brute. He possesses a sharp intelligence that allows him to calculate orbital mechanics under pressure, and he displays moments of genuine humanity, such as when he comforts a dying French climber on Everest. Critics have noted a contradiction in his nature; he can be cocky and unaffected by tragedy one moment yet dedicated and brilliant the next, creating a character who is rough-edged but generally good-hearted underneath.
His primary motivation is the desire to conquer new frontiers. After mastering mountains, space becomes the next logical and obsessional goal. He is driven by a muscular, optimistic sense of ambition, viewing the cosmos as a grand frontier for those bold enough to seize it. While his personal goal is exploration, the narrative forces him to navigate a tightening web of state, corporate, and military interests all vying for control of lunar resources.
In the story, Saruwatari serves as the civilian counterpoint to his rival, Jack "Lostman" Woodbridge, a former US Navy ace pilot who becomes entangled with military space projects. Their friendship and rivalry form the emotional core of the series, creating a bond of masculine camaraderie forged on a mountaintop but tested in the political and physical dangers of space exploration. While their paths diverge drastically, they reflect on each other's progress as they race toward the Moon. Key relationships also include his romantic interest, Riyoko Ikeuchi, though his interactions with women are often portrayed as conquests rather than deep partnerships. He is also shown caring for his younger sister, Akemi.
The character undergoes significant development as the story transitions from personal ambition to a wider political drama. He is assigned dangerous tasks, such as preventing a damaged German transport vessel from crashing into Sydney, and testing the new Japanese Moon Walker mecha for lunar exploration. During an underwater test of the Moon Walker, a tragic accident leads to the death of a safety diver. His response to this incident is complex; he appears nonchalant about the death itself but becomes fiercely determined to investigate the cover-up, exposing a corrupt professor who falsified data to keep funding flowing. This arc shows a move from simply being a skilled laborer to a man willing to challenge corrupt institutions.
Regarding his abilities, Saruwatari’s primary talent is his intuitive and uncanny skill with heavy machinery. Whether operating a crane on a construction site or piloting complex space infrastructure, his hands-on experience makes him invaluable. He is physically imposing and incredibly durable, able to survive the rigors of space adaptation and high-stress rescue operations. He also demonstrates a knack for zero-gravity maneuvering and on-the-fly engineering solutions to life-threatening mechanical problems. While he lacks military training, his raw intelligence and practical knowledge of physics allow him to perform complex calculations under fire, proving that the "builder" can be just as effective as the fighter pilot.