Description
Seitarou Tanabata is a low-ranking guard in Building 13 at Nanba Prison. He has long, spiky blue hair usually tied in a low ponytail decorated with gold stars, fair skin, and deep pink eyes, often recognized for his handsome looks. His uniform is the standard guard attire for Building 13, featuring a red armband on his left arm.
Personality-wise, Tanabata is reserved, soft-spoken, and notably timid, setting him apart from more forceful colleagues. This meekness leads to frequent bullying by inmates who show little respect for his authority, often reducing him to tears. He displays profound surprise and emotional gratitude when treated kindly. Despite his gentle nature, he occasionally shows determination in striving to perform his duties effectively. He avoids confrontations by trying to befriend inmates instead of disciplining them, reflecting his lack of self-confidence and belief in his own inadequacy. Yet, he consistently shows kindness and politeness towards inmates and junior staff, expressing genuine concern for others' well-being, such as noticing and asking about a fellow inmate's emotional distress.
His background includes a namesake connection to the Tanabata star festival, with his given name incorporating the character for "star" (星). He likes konpeitou, yudofu, work, and family, dislikes shiitake mushrooms and violence. His hobbies are sewing, reading, and mental arithmetic, with favorite colors being sky blue and cherry pink, mirroring his hair and eyes. He possesses an exceptional memory, particularly excelling at karuta, where he swipes cards with remarkable speed.
Within the prison, his early interactions involve being teased by Cell 13 inmates like Jyugo, Uno, Rock, and Nico upon his introduction. He participates as part of the staff overseeing events during the New Year's Tournament arc. Later, in the Building 5 arc, he suffers physical assault alongside Jyugo when colleagues Rock and Yamato turn violent, highlighting his vulnerability.
Relationships with Cell 13 inmates evolve into mutually respectful friendships, particularly with Jyugo and Nico. He views Hajime Sugoroku, the supervising officer of Building 13, as a mentor figure. He receives a transfer offer to Building 7 from Nijimasu Nanairo, indicating professional recognition despite his insecurities, though he requests time to consider the proposal. In non-canonical media, such as a special episode, he appears in a high school setting as a new teacher facing similar challenges with delinquent students and relying on Hajime for support.
Personality-wise, Tanabata is reserved, soft-spoken, and notably timid, setting him apart from more forceful colleagues. This meekness leads to frequent bullying by inmates who show little respect for his authority, often reducing him to tears. He displays profound surprise and emotional gratitude when treated kindly. Despite his gentle nature, he occasionally shows determination in striving to perform his duties effectively. He avoids confrontations by trying to befriend inmates instead of disciplining them, reflecting his lack of self-confidence and belief in his own inadequacy. Yet, he consistently shows kindness and politeness towards inmates and junior staff, expressing genuine concern for others' well-being, such as noticing and asking about a fellow inmate's emotional distress.
His background includes a namesake connection to the Tanabata star festival, with his given name incorporating the character for "star" (星). He likes konpeitou, yudofu, work, and family, dislikes shiitake mushrooms and violence. His hobbies are sewing, reading, and mental arithmetic, with favorite colors being sky blue and cherry pink, mirroring his hair and eyes. He possesses an exceptional memory, particularly excelling at karuta, where he swipes cards with remarkable speed.
Within the prison, his early interactions involve being teased by Cell 13 inmates like Jyugo, Uno, Rock, and Nico upon his introduction. He participates as part of the staff overseeing events during the New Year's Tournament arc. Later, in the Building 5 arc, he suffers physical assault alongside Jyugo when colleagues Rock and Yamato turn violent, highlighting his vulnerability.
Relationships with Cell 13 inmates evolve into mutually respectful friendships, particularly with Jyugo and Nico. He views Hajime Sugoroku, the supervising officer of Building 13, as a mentor figure. He receives a transfer offer to Building 7 from Nijimasu Nanairo, indicating professional recognition despite his insecurities, though he requests time to consider the proposal. In non-canonical media, such as a special episode, he appears in a high school setting as a new teacher facing similar challenges with delinquent students and relying on Hajime for support.