TV-Series
Description
Brother 3, also known as San'noji, is a member of the Empty Seven, a group of monks who sought the power of the Number One and Number Two headbands. He is the most laid-back and pacifistic member of this clan, often seeming disinterested when the other brothers gather to plot violence against the protagonist, Afro. A distinctive feature is that he almost always wears a pair of headphones marked with the number three, bobbing his head to music and physically turning away from the group's discussions. On the rare occasions when he does speak, he is revealed to have a Southern American accent, which contrasts sharply with the other monks.
Brother 3's personality is defined by his preference for non-violent solutions. While his brothers advocate for direct confrontation and assassination, he often suggests more passive alternatives, such as reviewing the credentials of potential assassins rather than deciding through combat. This philosophy reaches its peak when Afro invades the Empty Seven's temple. Instead of attacking, Brother 3 sits by the door with a pot of hot tea and rice crackers, calmly chanting the phrase headband please in Japanese. He makes no move to fight and is simply ignored by Afro, though his offer of refreshments is accepted by Afro's companion, Ninja Ninja. This singular act of passive resistance allows him to be the only member of the Empty Seven to survive the original conflict, as the other brothers are killed or grievously wounded.
Years later, in the events of Afro Samurai: Resurrection, Brother 3 has undergone a subtle but notable shift. He is shown caring for Brother 1, who was left paralyzed after his encounter with Afro. Now running a gambling house, Brother 3 seems to harbor resentment over the deaths of his clan members. When Afro seeks him out for information on the new Number Two, Brother 3 attempts to exact a form of revenge. He challenges Afro to a game of dice, wagering his own life for the information. Brother 3 cheats using loaded dice, but Afro immediately uncovers the ruse. Beaten and facing death, Brother 3 reveals his survival instinct remains strong. He quickly provides the location of the Number Two headband, which is in the possession of a man named Shichigoro, in order to save his own life.
In terms of abilities, Brother 3 is not a formidable fighter. His skills are notably inferior to those of Afro or the legendary warrior Justice. His true strengths lie in his cunning, his ability to read a situation, and his remarkable survival instinct. His survival is not due to combat prowess but to his unique status as the only member of the Empty Seven who recognized the futility of directly confronting Afro. By the time of the film, he demonstrates a talent for deception and cheating at games of chance, though not successfully enough to outwit a warrior of Afro's perception.
Brother 3's personality is defined by his preference for non-violent solutions. While his brothers advocate for direct confrontation and assassination, he often suggests more passive alternatives, such as reviewing the credentials of potential assassins rather than deciding through combat. This philosophy reaches its peak when Afro invades the Empty Seven's temple. Instead of attacking, Brother 3 sits by the door with a pot of hot tea and rice crackers, calmly chanting the phrase headband please in Japanese. He makes no move to fight and is simply ignored by Afro, though his offer of refreshments is accepted by Afro's companion, Ninja Ninja. This singular act of passive resistance allows him to be the only member of the Empty Seven to survive the original conflict, as the other brothers are killed or grievously wounded.
Years later, in the events of Afro Samurai: Resurrection, Brother 3 has undergone a subtle but notable shift. He is shown caring for Brother 1, who was left paralyzed after his encounter with Afro. Now running a gambling house, Brother 3 seems to harbor resentment over the deaths of his clan members. When Afro seeks him out for information on the new Number Two, Brother 3 attempts to exact a form of revenge. He challenges Afro to a game of dice, wagering his own life for the information. Brother 3 cheats using loaded dice, but Afro immediately uncovers the ruse. Beaten and facing death, Brother 3 reveals his survival instinct remains strong. He quickly provides the location of the Number Two headband, which is in the possession of a man named Shichigoro, in order to save his own life.
In terms of abilities, Brother 3 is not a formidable fighter. His skills are notably inferior to those of Afro or the legendary warrior Justice. His true strengths lie in his cunning, his ability to read a situation, and his remarkable survival instinct. His survival is not due to combat prowess but to his unique status as the only member of the Empty Seven who recognized the futility of directly confronting Afro. By the time of the film, he demonstrates a talent for deception and cheating at games of chance, though not successfully enough to outwit a warrior of Afro's perception.