TV-Series
Description
Genma Shizume is a character from the anime series Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor. He is a Contractor, a type of individual who possesses supernatural abilities but must perform a compulsory action, known as an obeisance or remuneration, each time they use their power. Genma serves as a field operative for Section 3, a division of the Japanese government that deals with Contractor-related matters.
Genma has a relaxed and easygoing personality that contrasts sharply with the often cold and logical demeanor typical of Contractors. He is known for his jovial disposition and is frequently at odds with his more serious and sharp-tongued colleague, Mina Hazuki, who often accuses him of being a pervert. Genma does not seem to take her criticisms to heart, maintaining his casual and somewhat flippant attitude. This carefree nature extends to making off-color comments, occasionally implying an inappropriate interest in children, which further contributes to the tension with his teammates.
His primary motivation, at least on the surface, appears to be following the orders of Section 3. However, as the series progresses, it is revealed that his true motive is more complex and self-serving. Genma is a double agent secretly working for the Central Intelligence Agency. This betrayal is driven by an unknown agenda, leading him to commit acts of treachery against his own team, including the murder of his partner, Yōko Sawasaki. His actions suggest that his ultimate loyalty lies not with his country or his fellow Contractors, but with his own interests or the promises of his foreign handlers.
In the story of Gemini of the Meteor, Genma is part of the team tasked with capturing the rogue Contractor known as Hei, as well as the young girl Suou Pavlichenko, whom Hei protects. He participates in several missions to apprehend them, including a confrontation at a train station and a direct battle where he uses a truck as armor. During a fight with Hei, Genma reveals a crucial piece of information that Hei was seeking: that Izanami, a mysterious entity of great power, is actually his former comrade, Yin. Beyond his pursuit of Hei, Genma forms a peculiar relationship with Misaki Kirihara, formerly of the Japanese National Police. While she is working undercover within Section 3, Genma often seeks her out for conversations, discussing the nature of their missions and the enigmatic Izanami, creating an odd, uneasy alliance.
Genma has several key relationships within the narrative. He works most closely with Mina Hazuki and Yōko Sawasaki. His dynamic with Mina is particularly contentious, as she views him as a nuisance and a lecher, while he remains unbothered by her disdain. His relationship with Yōko is more cooperative, but ultimately, he is the one who hunts down and kills her after she is kidnapped by Hei, an act he performs as part of his role as a CIA spy. His interactions with Misaki Kirihara are nuanced; he seems to genuinely enjoy her company and provides her with information, but he also uses her to further his own hidden objectives.
Genma does not undergo a traditional development arc but instead is revealed to be a different character than initially perceived. Introduced as a seemingly loyal, if somewhat crude, government agent, his true nature as a traitor emerges only later. This shift recontextualizes his earlier, laid-back attitude, presenting it as part of a mask hiding a more calculating and ruthless Contractor. His final development is his exposure and subsequent demise; after his betrayal is discovered, he is confronted and killed by Mina Hazuki, who stabs him through the head with her wooden sword.
Genma possesses a powerful and versatile ability based on material manipulation and absorption. By making physical contact with an object, he can absorb its material and use it to form a suit of armor around his body. He typically favors durable substances like metal and concrete, which provide immense defensive capabilities, making him nearly impervious to standard firearms. This armored form also dramatically enhances his physical strength, with his punches gaining enough impact force to crush opponents and wreck vehicles. He is a practitioner of traditional budō, which complements his brute-force combat style. Every time Genma uses his ability, he is forced to perform his obeisance, which is a form of moxibustion therapy. This requires another person to light several piles of incense on his back, an act he is often seen undergoing alongside his teammates Yōko or Mina.
Genma has a relaxed and easygoing personality that contrasts sharply with the often cold and logical demeanor typical of Contractors. He is known for his jovial disposition and is frequently at odds with his more serious and sharp-tongued colleague, Mina Hazuki, who often accuses him of being a pervert. Genma does not seem to take her criticisms to heart, maintaining his casual and somewhat flippant attitude. This carefree nature extends to making off-color comments, occasionally implying an inappropriate interest in children, which further contributes to the tension with his teammates.
His primary motivation, at least on the surface, appears to be following the orders of Section 3. However, as the series progresses, it is revealed that his true motive is more complex and self-serving. Genma is a double agent secretly working for the Central Intelligence Agency. This betrayal is driven by an unknown agenda, leading him to commit acts of treachery against his own team, including the murder of his partner, Yōko Sawasaki. His actions suggest that his ultimate loyalty lies not with his country or his fellow Contractors, but with his own interests or the promises of his foreign handlers.
In the story of Gemini of the Meteor, Genma is part of the team tasked with capturing the rogue Contractor known as Hei, as well as the young girl Suou Pavlichenko, whom Hei protects. He participates in several missions to apprehend them, including a confrontation at a train station and a direct battle where he uses a truck as armor. During a fight with Hei, Genma reveals a crucial piece of information that Hei was seeking: that Izanami, a mysterious entity of great power, is actually his former comrade, Yin. Beyond his pursuit of Hei, Genma forms a peculiar relationship with Misaki Kirihara, formerly of the Japanese National Police. While she is working undercover within Section 3, Genma often seeks her out for conversations, discussing the nature of their missions and the enigmatic Izanami, creating an odd, uneasy alliance.
Genma has several key relationships within the narrative. He works most closely with Mina Hazuki and Yōko Sawasaki. His dynamic with Mina is particularly contentious, as she views him as a nuisance and a lecher, while he remains unbothered by her disdain. His relationship with Yōko is more cooperative, but ultimately, he is the one who hunts down and kills her after she is kidnapped by Hei, an act he performs as part of his role as a CIA spy. His interactions with Misaki Kirihara are nuanced; he seems to genuinely enjoy her company and provides her with information, but he also uses her to further his own hidden objectives.
Genma does not undergo a traditional development arc but instead is revealed to be a different character than initially perceived. Introduced as a seemingly loyal, if somewhat crude, government agent, his true nature as a traitor emerges only later. This shift recontextualizes his earlier, laid-back attitude, presenting it as part of a mask hiding a more calculating and ruthless Contractor. His final development is his exposure and subsequent demise; after his betrayal is discovered, he is confronted and killed by Mina Hazuki, who stabs him through the head with her wooden sword.
Genma possesses a powerful and versatile ability based on material manipulation and absorption. By making physical contact with an object, he can absorb its material and use it to form a suit of armor around his body. He typically favors durable substances like metal and concrete, which provide immense defensive capabilities, making him nearly impervious to standard firearms. This armored form also dramatically enhances his physical strength, with his punches gaining enough impact force to crush opponents and wreck vehicles. He is a practitioner of traditional budō, which complements his brute-force combat style. Every time Genma uses his ability, he is forced to perform his obeisance, which is a form of moxibustion therapy. This requires another person to light several piles of incense on his back, an act he is often seen undergoing alongside his teammates Yōko or Mina.