TV-Series
Description
Matsushima, also known as Godan Matsushita or Matsushita 5-dan, is a supporting character in the afterlife school setting of the anime. He has a large build and is a master of judo, a skill he developed after losing his sight as a child. Matsushima was born with normal vision, but a high fever in his youth left him blind. This condition brought him closer to his older cousin, Hinako, who had been legally blind from birth. Initially uncomfortable around her, Matsushima’s perspective changed after his own sight loss. Hinako encouraged him to take up judo, and he excelled in the sport, eventually reaching the final of a major tournament. Shortly before his victorious match, Hinako gave him words of encouragement and then died in a car accident. Matsushima entered the afterlife burdened by guilt over how he had treated her and grief over her death, with a deep wish to remember her face despite his blindness.
In the afterlife, Matsushima becomes a member of the Afterlife Battlefront (SSS), the organization that rebels against the perceived unfairness of their deaths. He carries heavy weapons such as rocket launchers and machine guns into battle, and he never forgets a debt he owes, particularly when it involves food like niku udon. His personality is marked by determination, resilience, and vulnerability. He struggles with feelings of inadequacy and unresolved grief, but he also shows perseverance and a willingness to change. His central motivations are love for his cousin and guilt over his past actions.
Matsushima’s role in the story is that of a supporting member of the SSS, participating in operations alongside other characters. His key relationship is with his cousin Hinako, whose memory drives his emotional journey. Through the course of the narrative, Matsushima experiences significant personal growth, moving from self-reproach to acceptance and resolution. He ultimately reconciles with his memories of Hinako and is able to forgive himself, which allows him to pass on from the afterlife. His judo expertise makes him a capable physical combatant, and his use of heavy weaponry contributes to the group’s firepower during missions. The specific circumstances of his death remain ambiguous, consistent with the series’ treatment of many side characters.
In the afterlife, Matsushima becomes a member of the Afterlife Battlefront (SSS), the organization that rebels against the perceived unfairness of their deaths. He carries heavy weapons such as rocket launchers and machine guns into battle, and he never forgets a debt he owes, particularly when it involves food like niku udon. His personality is marked by determination, resilience, and vulnerability. He struggles with feelings of inadequacy and unresolved grief, but he also shows perseverance and a willingness to change. His central motivations are love for his cousin and guilt over his past actions.
Matsushima’s role in the story is that of a supporting member of the SSS, participating in operations alongside other characters. His key relationship is with his cousin Hinako, whose memory drives his emotional journey. Through the course of the narrative, Matsushima experiences significant personal growth, moving from self-reproach to acceptance and resolution. He ultimately reconciles with his memories of Hinako and is able to forgive himself, which allows him to pass on from the afterlife. His judo expertise makes him a capable physical combatant, and his use of heavy weaponry contributes to the group’s firepower during missions. The specific circumstances of his death remain ambiguous, consistent with the series’ treatment of many side characters.