Dr. Richard Hamaguchi Smith, referred to as Professor Hamaguchi in the original anime, stands as a cornerstone of humanity’s resistance against extraterrestrial forces. A visionary scientist and former commander of Camp Big Falcon, he engineered the Voltes V robot alongside Ned Armstrong, his trusted ally. Balancing scientific authority with paternal empathy, he mentors the Armstrong siblings and the Voltes Team, offering both tactical direction and emotional grounding to Jon Armstrong, the youngest member, whose early exclusion he contested before championing his innovations, such as the robotic companion Tako (or OCTO-1).

Born in the Philippines, he partnered with Baron Hrothgar—a Boazanian exile posing as Ned Armstrong—to forge Camp Big Falcon, a covert base for training pilots and orchestrating planetary defense against invasion. His physical presence mirrors his resilience: tall, gray-haired, and bearded, he employs combat skills like roundhouse kicks to thwart adversaries, defying his age.

His leadership merges tactical precision with familial rapport, nurturing unity amid crises. Narrative outcomes diverge across adaptations. The anime culminates in his sacrificial death, piloting a jet into a Beast Fighter to shield the team, echoing Mary Ann Collins Armstrong’s fate. The live-action version reimagines his end through betrayal: an android mimicking Ned Armstrong stabs him, triggering a military funeral honoring his legacy.

Adaptations contrast his battlefield engagement. The anime portrays him physically resisting capture and confronting foes, while the live-action emphasizes strategic command and emotional mentorship. Both iterations cement his dual legacy as Earth’s steadfast protector and the Voltes Team’s guiding paternal figure.