TV-Series
Description
Yajima Kintaro began as a high school dropout and leader of a major bōsōzoku gang. After his first wife, Akemi, died in childbirth, he sought stability to raise their son, Ryuta, first working as a fisherman. His life changed when he saved Morinosuke Yamato, chairman of Yamato Construction; this act earned him an offer to join the company's sales department, launching his career as an unconventional salaryman.
Physically imposing, he maintained a distinctive look, often wearing a white headband and sometimes carrying Ryuta, making him stand out in the corporate world. Fearless and morally driven, he confronted dishonorable behavior regardless of rank, using physical force against corrupt colleagues, yakuza, or unethical rivals, and leveraging his past gang connections. His blunt speech and rejection of corporate deference frequently shocked others.
Beyond Ryuta, his personal life included marrying Misuzu Suenaga, a politically connected widow with a daughter, Mimi, from her affair with a late politician. This expanded his family duties and occasionally brought Misuzu's influence into his professional struggles. Lingering grief for Akemi surfaced at times, especially when encountering women resembling her.
Throughout his career at Yamato Construction and later a foreign bank, he consistently fought corruption in the construction industry—bid-rigging, bribery, worker exploitation. His methods evolved from relying on physical confrontations to employing strategic tactics like financial audits or public exposure, reflecting a recognition of past recklessness and the need for more measured approaches to achieve lasting change, though his core defiance persisted.
His influence extended beyond professional victories; he inspired disillusioned colleagues to reclaim self-respect and challenge corporate injustice. His magnetic personality drew fierce loyalty from former gang members, yakuza allies, and reformed coworkers, forging complex alliances. Despite an idealistic portrayal, he developed awareness of his limitations, particularly the consequences of his impulsiveness on family and allies.
Physically imposing, he maintained a distinctive look, often wearing a white headband and sometimes carrying Ryuta, making him stand out in the corporate world. Fearless and morally driven, he confronted dishonorable behavior regardless of rank, using physical force against corrupt colleagues, yakuza, or unethical rivals, and leveraging his past gang connections. His blunt speech and rejection of corporate deference frequently shocked others.
Beyond Ryuta, his personal life included marrying Misuzu Suenaga, a politically connected widow with a daughter, Mimi, from her affair with a late politician. This expanded his family duties and occasionally brought Misuzu's influence into his professional struggles. Lingering grief for Akemi surfaced at times, especially when encountering women resembling her.
Throughout his career at Yamato Construction and later a foreign bank, he consistently fought corruption in the construction industry—bid-rigging, bribery, worker exploitation. His methods evolved from relying on physical confrontations to employing strategic tactics like financial audits or public exposure, reflecting a recognition of past recklessness and the need for more measured approaches to achieve lasting change, though his core defiance persisted.
His influence extended beyond professional victories; he inspired disillusioned colleagues to reclaim self-respect and challenge corporate injustice. His magnetic personality drew fierce loyalty from former gang members, yakuza allies, and reformed coworkers, forging complex alliances. Despite an idealistic portrayal, he developed awareness of his limitations, particularly the consequences of his impulsiveness on family and allies.