TV-Series
Description
Akio Tademaru is the younger brother of Shiki Tademaru's father and a scholar specializing in Kemono folklore. During his student years, he accompanied his brother to investigate the Kinshi-Go legend. There, they encountered Kumi Yamagumonoko, an Arachne Kemono. His brother fell in love with Kumi, resulting in her pregnancy with Shiki. Akio concluded the legend of the golden silk-producing spider (Nishikigumo) originated from an Arachne Kemono. Unlike his brother, however, Akio sought to exploit this discovery for personal gain. After his brother died in a forest accident—a claim Akio made—he assumed the role of Shiki's caretaker after his birth.
When Shiki contracted an illness as an infant, Kumi, lacking human medical knowledge, sought Akio's help. He manipulated her desperation, proposing to monetize her abilities under the guise of securing Shiki's future. Akio initiated experiments to artificially recreate the golden silk-producing hybrid from the legend. Over six years, he subjected Kumi to non-consensual breeding with multiple forest Kemono, resulting in over 100 offspring. Most were failures, but one—Aya Tademaru—could produce healing golden threads. The trauma caused Kumi to fall into a coma. Akio instructed Aya to encase her in a healing cocoon, though she remained comatose. He concealed Kumi in a water-filled pool to control Aya, treating both as tools.
Akio aimed to sell the golden threads to eliminate disease and injury, seeking historical fame and wealth. His plans were thwarted when Yoko Inari, superintendent of the Shinjuku police, blacklisted him to prevent human awareness of Kemono. Akio maintained a facade of benevolence toward Shiki, lying about his parents' deaths and deflecting questions about Kumi's condition. His true personality was manipulative, self-serving, and devoid of remorse; he relished his achievements and saw the experiments as justified for his legacy.
During the Shiki arc, Akio encountered Inugami and his team in Kinshi-Go. He introduced himself as Shiki's uncle and claimed both parents were dead. Inugami, suspicious, confronted him later, secretly allowing Shiki to listen via phone. Akio admitted to the experiments and his brother's death, triggering Shiki's rage. Aided by the failed hybrid offspring—who viewed Akio as a father and echoed Kumi's phrases—Akio fought Shiki's group but was defeated. After Aya helped locate Kumi, Shiki spared Akio, deciding living without a legacy was a harsher fate. While fleeing, Akio encountered Nobimaru and died in an unexplained explosion.
As a human, Akio possessed no supernatural abilities. His relationships were transactional: he exploited Kumi and Aya, manipulated Shiki, and saw the hybrid offspring as expendable tools. His sole motivation was securing his historical legacy, summarized in his final words to Shiki: he valued what he left behind over a long life.
When Shiki contracted an illness as an infant, Kumi, lacking human medical knowledge, sought Akio's help. He manipulated her desperation, proposing to monetize her abilities under the guise of securing Shiki's future. Akio initiated experiments to artificially recreate the golden silk-producing hybrid from the legend. Over six years, he subjected Kumi to non-consensual breeding with multiple forest Kemono, resulting in over 100 offspring. Most were failures, but one—Aya Tademaru—could produce healing golden threads. The trauma caused Kumi to fall into a coma. Akio instructed Aya to encase her in a healing cocoon, though she remained comatose. He concealed Kumi in a water-filled pool to control Aya, treating both as tools.
Akio aimed to sell the golden threads to eliminate disease and injury, seeking historical fame and wealth. His plans were thwarted when Yoko Inari, superintendent of the Shinjuku police, blacklisted him to prevent human awareness of Kemono. Akio maintained a facade of benevolence toward Shiki, lying about his parents' deaths and deflecting questions about Kumi's condition. His true personality was manipulative, self-serving, and devoid of remorse; he relished his achievements and saw the experiments as justified for his legacy.
During the Shiki arc, Akio encountered Inugami and his team in Kinshi-Go. He introduced himself as Shiki's uncle and claimed both parents were dead. Inugami, suspicious, confronted him later, secretly allowing Shiki to listen via phone. Akio admitted to the experiments and his brother's death, triggering Shiki's rage. Aided by the failed hybrid offspring—who viewed Akio as a father and echoed Kumi's phrases—Akio fought Shiki's group but was defeated. After Aya helped locate Kumi, Shiki spared Akio, deciding living without a legacy was a harsher fate. While fleeing, Akio encountered Nobimaru and died in an unexplained explosion.
As a human, Akio possessed no supernatural abilities. His relationships were transactional: he exploited Kumi and Aya, manipulated Shiki, and saw the hybrid offspring as expendable tools. His sole motivation was securing his historical legacy, summarized in his final words to Shiki: he valued what he left behind over a long life.