TV-Series
Description
Bekkō is the enigmatic manager of the Z-Loan office and holds the crucial position of a Ferryman, also known as a Watashimori. His primary function within this role is to grant loans to zombies, entering into contracts that govern the activities of the deceased. He is depicted as a professional figure, often seen wearing tailored attire and glasses, with blonde hair and brown eyes, presenting an image of administrative precision.
On the surface, Bekkō often appears to be motivated by greed and self-interest, projecting a pragmatic and calculative facade. However, this initial impression belies a deeper, more compassionate nature. Despite his apparent stinginess, he is not reluctant to spend money when it comes to providing proper and respectful burials for the zombies his team encounters, nor is he hesitant to give financial aid to the families of the deceased. This duality reveals that beneath his businesslike exterior, he enforces a strict ethical standard and a sense of responsibility toward those who have passed on. His interactions are marked by a blend of administrative efficiency and a subtle, unspoken empathy, prioritizing the function of his system without disregarding the emotional weight of his work.
Bekkō’s role in the story is foundational, as he is the architect of the central premise. He is the one who created the life loan contract for the two main protagonists, Chika Akatsuki and Shito Tachibana, following a fatal bus accident, effectively bringing them back as zombies who must hunt other rogue undead to pay off their debt. As the story progresses into its later stages, his importance grows significantly. He becomes a key source of exposition, revealing hidden truths to Chika and Shito about the true nature of the world and the characters around them. He is instrumental in explaining the existence of Michiru Kita, identifying her as a singularity, an entity created to bring about the end of the world through a secret program known as the Eliza Project. His position allows him to assemble the necessary allies and explain the machinations of the committee and the Akashic Records, making him a central figure in the battle against the world's fate.
His key relationships are primarily professional, yet they carry significant weight. He is the boss and employer of the main zombie hunters, Chika and Shito, holding their contracts and debts. A particularly notable relationship exists between Bekkō and Shito, as they have a history that extends back to an encounter in Shanghai at the end of the nineteenth century, demonstrating Bekkō's longevity and non-human origins. Another critical relationship is with his sister, Kanro, who is introduced later in the narrative and harbors a deep-seated hatred for him.
Regarding his development, Bekkō is a static character in terms of personality, but his true nature and the scope of his power become more apparent as the narrative unfolds. He transitions from a seemingly simple loan shark to a cosmic-level entity. A defining moment of his character is his immunity to reality-altering events. When Michiru Kita rewrites existence using the Akashic Records, Bekkō remains fully aware of the original timeline and immediately re-establishes the Z-Loan office in the new world, proving his consciousness is unaffected by temporal shifts. As a Ferryman, he holds the terrifying authority to excise anomalies directly from the Akashic Records, though this reality-distorting power is something he wields only as a final resort.
Bekkō possesses several notable abilities that set him apart. His most defining trait is his probable non-human status, as he has lived for at least over a century without aging. Importantly, the protagonist Michiru cannot see a black ring on his neck, confirming that he is neither a doomed human nor a zombie, but something else entirely. He is also shown to possess an unexpected and highly specific talent: he is exceptionally skilled at ping pong, having once defeated Shito in a match without allowing him to score a single point.
On the surface, Bekkō often appears to be motivated by greed and self-interest, projecting a pragmatic and calculative facade. However, this initial impression belies a deeper, more compassionate nature. Despite his apparent stinginess, he is not reluctant to spend money when it comes to providing proper and respectful burials for the zombies his team encounters, nor is he hesitant to give financial aid to the families of the deceased. This duality reveals that beneath his businesslike exterior, he enforces a strict ethical standard and a sense of responsibility toward those who have passed on. His interactions are marked by a blend of administrative efficiency and a subtle, unspoken empathy, prioritizing the function of his system without disregarding the emotional weight of his work.
Bekkō’s role in the story is foundational, as he is the architect of the central premise. He is the one who created the life loan contract for the two main protagonists, Chika Akatsuki and Shito Tachibana, following a fatal bus accident, effectively bringing them back as zombies who must hunt other rogue undead to pay off their debt. As the story progresses into its later stages, his importance grows significantly. He becomes a key source of exposition, revealing hidden truths to Chika and Shito about the true nature of the world and the characters around them. He is instrumental in explaining the existence of Michiru Kita, identifying her as a singularity, an entity created to bring about the end of the world through a secret program known as the Eliza Project. His position allows him to assemble the necessary allies and explain the machinations of the committee and the Akashic Records, making him a central figure in the battle against the world's fate.
His key relationships are primarily professional, yet they carry significant weight. He is the boss and employer of the main zombie hunters, Chika and Shito, holding their contracts and debts. A particularly notable relationship exists between Bekkō and Shito, as they have a history that extends back to an encounter in Shanghai at the end of the nineteenth century, demonstrating Bekkō's longevity and non-human origins. Another critical relationship is with his sister, Kanro, who is introduced later in the narrative and harbors a deep-seated hatred for him.
Regarding his development, Bekkō is a static character in terms of personality, but his true nature and the scope of his power become more apparent as the narrative unfolds. He transitions from a seemingly simple loan shark to a cosmic-level entity. A defining moment of his character is his immunity to reality-altering events. When Michiru Kita rewrites existence using the Akashic Records, Bekkō remains fully aware of the original timeline and immediately re-establishes the Z-Loan office in the new world, proving his consciousness is unaffected by temporal shifts. As a Ferryman, he holds the terrifying authority to excise anomalies directly from the Akashic Records, though this reality-distorting power is something he wields only as a final resort.
Bekkō possesses several notable abilities that set him apart. His most defining trait is his probable non-human status, as he has lived for at least over a century without aging. Importantly, the protagonist Michiru cannot see a black ring on his neck, confirming that he is neither a doomed human nor a zombie, but something else entirely. He is also shown to possess an unexpected and highly specific talent: he is exceptionally skilled at ping pong, having once defeated Shito in a match without allowing him to score a single point.