TV-Series
Description
Tsubaki Iwanome is the manager of the Materials Compiling Group No. 3, a section within the Shinjuku Police Department that deals with unusual and often occult-leaning criminal cases. His dedication to pursuing these so-called "calamities" defines his role in the story, placing him in direct opposition to the various supernatural and criminal elements operating within Shinjuku’s underworld.
Iwanome’s background is rooted in a deep sense of duty and loss. He was the junior and a great admirer of his former superior, Miyabi Hosorogi, whose investigation into a mysterious symbol led to his disappearance and presumed death. This event has become the driving force behind Iwanome’s career, as he is determined to carry on Hosorogi’s will and uncover the truth that got his mentor killed. This passion sometimes puts him at odds with the more conventional and corrupt elements of the police force he must navigate to achieve his goals.
His appearance is notably unconventional for a police officer, leading many to comment that he looks more like a host or a bar patron. He has medium-length hair that he has dyed blond from its original black and sports multiple facial piercings, including studs near his eyebrow and various piercings on his ears. His work attire typically consists of colorful and loud clothing, such as bright shirts and red or camouflage trousers, though he is capable of wearing a standard business suit when the situation demands formality.
Iwanome’s personality is a carefully constructed balance of flamboyant sociability and concealed intensity. On the surface, he is often loud, gregarious, and affable, able to easily mesh with others and act as a non-threatening foil to his more intimidating partner. He can play the part of a rowdy drunk at bars to gather information, all while remaining sober and observant. However, this cheerful and energetic exterior masks a deeply passionate and hot-blooded nature. He is a capable and hardworking leader who commands the loyalty of his team, but underneath his breezy confidence lies an intense, and at times reckless, drive to see his mentor’s work through. While he is usually even-tempered and restrains his emotions to work within the corrupt police system, he can lose his composure, most notably when engaging with a fortuneteller he suspects of being connected to the symbol that haunts him.
His primary motivation is to complete the mission left unfinished by Miyabi Hosorogi. This overarching goal forces him to tolerate and operate within the very police hierarchy that rejected and possibly contributed to his mentor’s downfall. He is also motivated by a strong sense of justice, deciding to shoulder a burden himself rather than use ordinary citizens when he learns the truth about a parasitic entity known as the Fire-breathing Bug. This act of resolve ultimately convinced the entity to stop using civilian hosts.
His key relationships are central to his character. He shares a deep, unspoken bond with his late mentor, Miyabi Hosorogi, whose photograph can be seen in his home. He works closely with his partner, Kōzaburō Arase, who acts as the intimidating "bad cop" to his own more approachable persona and is one of the few who understands the depths of his hidden turmoil. As the head of the Materials Compiling Group No. 3, he is also the leader of several other colleagues, including Ranmaru Yatsu, Danjō Tozawa, and Saki Aikawa. He is also familiar with Lisa Kuraki and has a contentious relationship with the high-ranking but corrupt police official Hideaki Habaki.
Throughout the story, Iwanome undergoes significant development. He begins as a man haunted by his past, even engaging in reckless behavior like peeking at classified data to further his investigation. A flashback shows his superior chastising him for this, urging him to face the future. His conviction is tested and reaffirmed, such as when he decides to become a host for the Fire-breathing Bug himself. Later, he plays a crucial role in unmasking the traitor within the Metropolitan Police, directly confronting the corrupt system he has been forced to work within for so long. His journey shows a man learning to balance his consuming quest for justice with the practicalities of his position and the wellbeing of his team.
While not possessing overt supernatural powers like some characters he investigates, Iwanome has notable abilities as a police inspector. His primary skill is his keen investigative mind and his talent for information gathering, particularly by "meshing gears" with others and adapting to their moods to gain their trust. He is also known for giving all the local "troublemakers" their nicknames, or monikers, a task he undertakes with a sense of personal responsibility, even if he is self-conscious about his sometimes odd naming sense.
Iwanome’s background is rooted in a deep sense of duty and loss. He was the junior and a great admirer of his former superior, Miyabi Hosorogi, whose investigation into a mysterious symbol led to his disappearance and presumed death. This event has become the driving force behind Iwanome’s career, as he is determined to carry on Hosorogi’s will and uncover the truth that got his mentor killed. This passion sometimes puts him at odds with the more conventional and corrupt elements of the police force he must navigate to achieve his goals.
His appearance is notably unconventional for a police officer, leading many to comment that he looks more like a host or a bar patron. He has medium-length hair that he has dyed blond from its original black and sports multiple facial piercings, including studs near his eyebrow and various piercings on his ears. His work attire typically consists of colorful and loud clothing, such as bright shirts and red or camouflage trousers, though he is capable of wearing a standard business suit when the situation demands formality.
Iwanome’s personality is a carefully constructed balance of flamboyant sociability and concealed intensity. On the surface, he is often loud, gregarious, and affable, able to easily mesh with others and act as a non-threatening foil to his more intimidating partner. He can play the part of a rowdy drunk at bars to gather information, all while remaining sober and observant. However, this cheerful and energetic exterior masks a deeply passionate and hot-blooded nature. He is a capable and hardworking leader who commands the loyalty of his team, but underneath his breezy confidence lies an intense, and at times reckless, drive to see his mentor’s work through. While he is usually even-tempered and restrains his emotions to work within the corrupt police system, he can lose his composure, most notably when engaging with a fortuneteller he suspects of being connected to the symbol that haunts him.
His primary motivation is to complete the mission left unfinished by Miyabi Hosorogi. This overarching goal forces him to tolerate and operate within the very police hierarchy that rejected and possibly contributed to his mentor’s downfall. He is also motivated by a strong sense of justice, deciding to shoulder a burden himself rather than use ordinary citizens when he learns the truth about a parasitic entity known as the Fire-breathing Bug. This act of resolve ultimately convinced the entity to stop using civilian hosts.
His key relationships are central to his character. He shares a deep, unspoken bond with his late mentor, Miyabi Hosorogi, whose photograph can be seen in his home. He works closely with his partner, Kōzaburō Arase, who acts as the intimidating "bad cop" to his own more approachable persona and is one of the few who understands the depths of his hidden turmoil. As the head of the Materials Compiling Group No. 3, he is also the leader of several other colleagues, including Ranmaru Yatsu, Danjō Tozawa, and Saki Aikawa. He is also familiar with Lisa Kuraki and has a contentious relationship with the high-ranking but corrupt police official Hideaki Habaki.
Throughout the story, Iwanome undergoes significant development. He begins as a man haunted by his past, even engaging in reckless behavior like peeking at classified data to further his investigation. A flashback shows his superior chastising him for this, urging him to face the future. His conviction is tested and reaffirmed, such as when he decides to become a host for the Fire-breathing Bug himself. Later, he plays a crucial role in unmasking the traitor within the Metropolitan Police, directly confronting the corrupt system he has been forced to work within for so long. His journey shows a man learning to balance his consuming quest for justice with the practicalities of his position and the wellbeing of his team.
While not possessing overt supernatural powers like some characters he investigates, Iwanome has notable abilities as a police inspector. His primary skill is his keen investigative mind and his talent for information gathering, particularly by "meshing gears" with others and adapting to their moods to gain their trust. He is also known for giving all the local "troublemakers" their nicknames, or monikers, a task he undertakes with a sense of personal responsibility, even if he is self-conscious about his sometimes odd naming sense.