TV-Series
Description
Genjirou Tanigaki hailed from Ani village in Akita prefecture's Tohoku region, steeped in the Matagi hunting tradition. He frequently accompanied hunters as a child, donning a minobocchi. In adulthood, he formed a close bond with Kenkichi Aoyama, who later married Tanigaki's sister Fumi. After Aoyama murdered Fumi and fled, Tanigaki enlisted in the military to pursue him. During service, he learned his mother succumbed to grief over these events.
At Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War, Tanigaki encountered a wounded soldier who mentioned knowing another soldier from Ani, fueling Tanigaki's belief it was Aoyama. During the Battle of 203 Hill, Tanigaki witnessed Aoyama sacrifice himself to save comrades by tackling a grenade-wielding Russian soldier. Mortally wounded, Aoyama expressed profound regret for killing Fumi and implored Tanigaki to relay his remorse to their family. This revelation led Tanigaki to abandon his quest for revenge, sharing kane mochi with Aoyama in their final moments. He later fought at the Battle of Mukden and joined the 7th Division under First Lieutenant Tsurumi, confiding in Tsurumi his shame over past actions and uncertainty about his purpose.
Tasked with tracking Sugimoto for attacking Hyakunosuke Ogata, Tanigaki encountered Asirpa in the wilderness. He pursued her footprints, deduced her evasion tactics, and ordered her down from a tree. When a tattooed skin fell nearby, he aimed his rifle at her, but Retar—a Horkew Kamuy (wolf god)—attacked him, shattering his leg. Asirpa intervened, preventing Retar from killing Tanigaki. Regaining consciousness, he applied a splint and resolved to hunt the wolf. Recovering in an Ainu village, he felt indebted to the community and chose to remain, gradually distancing himself from the 7th Division.
Tanigaki later partnered with legendary bear hunter Tetsuzou Nihei, who rescued him in the wilderness. Nihei educated him on Hokkaido bear behavior and hunting philosophy, emphasizing the "single shot" approach—acting decisively with limited chances. Their shared objective became hunting the rare white wolf Retar. Through their interactions, Tanigaki grew to respect Nihei's methods despite initial skepticism about his outdated Murata rifle. Tanigaki also developed protective bonds with Inkarmat, a fortune-teller, and Cikapasi, an orphaned boy. When Kiroranke accidentally stabbed Inkarmat during a confrontation, Tanigaki pursued and killed him in retaliation, unaware the stabbing was unintentional.
Learning Inkarmat was pregnant, Tanigaki prioritized her safety. He temporarily rejoined the 7th Division under duress when Tsurumi threatened Inkarmat and their unborn child, but later deserted permanently with aid from Kano Ienaga and Otonoshin Koito. He reunited with Inkarmat in Abashiri, and they escaped together. In his final actions, he helped Sugimoto protect Asirpa during a conflict on a train, catching her in a dramatic rescue.
Ultimately, Tanigaki returned to Ani village with Inkarmat, reconciled with his father, and fulfilled Aoyama's dying request by explaining Fumi's death and Aoyama's remorse. He and Inkarmat raised fourteen sons and one daughter, an inverse reflection of Nihei's family structure.
At Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War, Tanigaki encountered a wounded soldier who mentioned knowing another soldier from Ani, fueling Tanigaki's belief it was Aoyama. During the Battle of 203 Hill, Tanigaki witnessed Aoyama sacrifice himself to save comrades by tackling a grenade-wielding Russian soldier. Mortally wounded, Aoyama expressed profound regret for killing Fumi and implored Tanigaki to relay his remorse to their family. This revelation led Tanigaki to abandon his quest for revenge, sharing kane mochi with Aoyama in their final moments. He later fought at the Battle of Mukden and joined the 7th Division under First Lieutenant Tsurumi, confiding in Tsurumi his shame over past actions and uncertainty about his purpose.
Tasked with tracking Sugimoto for attacking Hyakunosuke Ogata, Tanigaki encountered Asirpa in the wilderness. He pursued her footprints, deduced her evasion tactics, and ordered her down from a tree. When a tattooed skin fell nearby, he aimed his rifle at her, but Retar—a Horkew Kamuy (wolf god)—attacked him, shattering his leg. Asirpa intervened, preventing Retar from killing Tanigaki. Regaining consciousness, he applied a splint and resolved to hunt the wolf. Recovering in an Ainu village, he felt indebted to the community and chose to remain, gradually distancing himself from the 7th Division.
Tanigaki later partnered with legendary bear hunter Tetsuzou Nihei, who rescued him in the wilderness. Nihei educated him on Hokkaido bear behavior and hunting philosophy, emphasizing the "single shot" approach—acting decisively with limited chances. Their shared objective became hunting the rare white wolf Retar. Through their interactions, Tanigaki grew to respect Nihei's methods despite initial skepticism about his outdated Murata rifle. Tanigaki also developed protective bonds with Inkarmat, a fortune-teller, and Cikapasi, an orphaned boy. When Kiroranke accidentally stabbed Inkarmat during a confrontation, Tanigaki pursued and killed him in retaliation, unaware the stabbing was unintentional.
Learning Inkarmat was pregnant, Tanigaki prioritized her safety. He temporarily rejoined the 7th Division under duress when Tsurumi threatened Inkarmat and their unborn child, but later deserted permanently with aid from Kano Ienaga and Otonoshin Koito. He reunited with Inkarmat in Abashiri, and they escaped together. In his final actions, he helped Sugimoto protect Asirpa during a conflict on a train, catching her in a dramatic rescue.
Ultimately, Tanigaki returned to Ani village with Inkarmat, reconciled with his father, and fulfilled Aoyama's dying request by explaining Fumi's death and Aoyama's remorse. He and Inkarmat raised fourteen sons and one daughter, an inverse reflection of Nihei's family structure.