TV-Series
Description
Genjirou Tanigaki hailed from the Ani village in Akita prefecture, within Japan's Tohoku region. A member of the traditional Matagi hunting community, he learned hunting skills from a young age, often wearing a minobocchi while accompanying hunters. Tanigaki had an older brother and a younger sister, Fumi, who married his close friend Kenkichi Aoyama. When Fumi contracted smallpox, she instructed Aoyama to kill her to prevent spreading the disease and urged him to leave the village. Discovering her body and Aoyama's absence, Tanigaki mistakenly believed Aoyama murdered her, sparking a quest for revenge. His decision to join the military and pursue Aoyama contributed to his mother's death from grief, as conveyed in a letter from his brother.
During the Russo-Japanese War, Tanigaki served in the Imperial Japanese Army's 7th Division. At the Battle of Port Arthur, a wounded soldier recognized his Akita dialect and mentioned knowing someone from Ani in his platoon, leading Tanigaki to identify Aoyama. At the Battle of 203 Hill, Tanigaki witnessed Aoyama sacrifice himself to save comrades by tackling a grenade-wielding Russian soldier. As Aoyama lay dying, Tanigaki confronted him and learned the truth about Fumi's death. Aoyama expressed deep regret and requested Tanigaki relay the circumstances to their families. This revelation, coupled with Aoyama's recognition of Tanigaki's kane mochi, caused Tanigaki to abandon his revenge. He later participated in the Battle of Mukden and observed tensions within the 7th Division, including Hajime Tsukishima's confrontation with Lieutenant Tsurumi.
Struggling with guilt over his mother's death and shame for leaving home, Tanigaki confided in Tsurumi about his inability to return to Akita. Tsurumi offered him purpose within the 7th Division, prompting Tanigaki to remain and prepare kane mochi with walnuts for the lieutenant. Physically, Tanigaki was a large, muscular man standing 185 cm tall, with dark brown eyes, short black hair, a thin beard, thick eyebrows, and significant body hair. After a fight with Sugimoto, he bore a small scar on his right cheek. His attire evolved from a standard military uniform to incorporating Ainu items like a matanpushi and an attush from Asirpa's grandfather.
Assigned to track Sugimoto and Asirpa, Tanigaki followed Asirpa's trail and confronted her in a tree. After a tattooed skin fell from the branches, he aimed his rifle at her, but Retar, a Hokkaido wolf, attacked him, breaking his leg. Asirpa intervened to save Tanigaki's life, though she lied to Sugimoto about his survival. Upon regaining consciousness, Tanigaki splinted his leg and became determined to hunt the wolf, driven by his Matagi heritage.
His path crossed with Tetsuzou Nihei, a legendary bear hunter. Initially dismissive of Nihei's use of a single-shot Murata rifle, Tanigaki later admired the hunter's philosophy of the "single shot"—emphasizing careful, decisive action over relying on multiple chances. They bonded over hunting the rare white wolf and shared bear meat meals, including Nihei's "Nihei style roasted heart" and blood sausages. Nihei's mentorship helped Tanigaki reconcile aspects of his Matagi identity.
After leaving the 7th Division, Tanigaki resided with Asirpa's grandmother, Huci, and a young boy, Cikapasi, in an Ainu village. He felt indebted to the Ainu for their care and developed protective instincts toward them. His relationship with Inkarmat, a fortune-teller, became central. Though initially wary of her motives, he grew deeply attached, risking his life to protect her. When Kiroranke accidentally stabbed Inkarmat during a confrontation, Tanigaki pursued him for revenge, resulting in Kiroranke's death. This action drew criticism for echoing his earlier misplaced vendetta against Aoyama, though Tanigaki expressed no regret.
Later, Tsurumi revealed Inkarmat was pregnant with Tanigaki's child and threatened their safety to force Tanigaki to rejoin the 7th Division and capture Asirpa. Tanigaki initially planned to feign cooperation but prioritized finding Inkarmat. With assistance from Ienaga and Koito, they escaped Tsukishima. During the final gold hunt, Tanigaki twice rescued Asirpa from falls—once from a bridge and once from a train—fulfilling his promise to return her to Huci.
After the events of the gold hunt, Tanigaki settled in Ani with Inkarmat and raised 15 children—14 sons and one daughter. He never revisited his initial goals of explaining Fumi's death to his family or confronting his father. Creator Satoru Noda expressed regret that Tanigaki and Ariko were not more involved in the story, noting their potential dynamic. Tanigaki's abilities included sharpshooting and wilderness survival, honed as a Matagi. He wielded an Arisaka Type 30 rifle and later inherited Nihei's Murata rifle, which he passed to Cikapasi.
During the Russo-Japanese War, Tanigaki served in the Imperial Japanese Army's 7th Division. At the Battle of Port Arthur, a wounded soldier recognized his Akita dialect and mentioned knowing someone from Ani in his platoon, leading Tanigaki to identify Aoyama. At the Battle of 203 Hill, Tanigaki witnessed Aoyama sacrifice himself to save comrades by tackling a grenade-wielding Russian soldier. As Aoyama lay dying, Tanigaki confronted him and learned the truth about Fumi's death. Aoyama expressed deep regret and requested Tanigaki relay the circumstances to their families. This revelation, coupled with Aoyama's recognition of Tanigaki's kane mochi, caused Tanigaki to abandon his revenge. He later participated in the Battle of Mukden and observed tensions within the 7th Division, including Hajime Tsukishima's confrontation with Lieutenant Tsurumi.
Struggling with guilt over his mother's death and shame for leaving home, Tanigaki confided in Tsurumi about his inability to return to Akita. Tsurumi offered him purpose within the 7th Division, prompting Tanigaki to remain and prepare kane mochi with walnuts for the lieutenant. Physically, Tanigaki was a large, muscular man standing 185 cm tall, with dark brown eyes, short black hair, a thin beard, thick eyebrows, and significant body hair. After a fight with Sugimoto, he bore a small scar on his right cheek. His attire evolved from a standard military uniform to incorporating Ainu items like a matanpushi and an attush from Asirpa's grandfather.
Assigned to track Sugimoto and Asirpa, Tanigaki followed Asirpa's trail and confronted her in a tree. After a tattooed skin fell from the branches, he aimed his rifle at her, but Retar, a Hokkaido wolf, attacked him, breaking his leg. Asirpa intervened to save Tanigaki's life, though she lied to Sugimoto about his survival. Upon regaining consciousness, Tanigaki splinted his leg and became determined to hunt the wolf, driven by his Matagi heritage.
His path crossed with Tetsuzou Nihei, a legendary bear hunter. Initially dismissive of Nihei's use of a single-shot Murata rifle, Tanigaki later admired the hunter's philosophy of the "single shot"—emphasizing careful, decisive action over relying on multiple chances. They bonded over hunting the rare white wolf and shared bear meat meals, including Nihei's "Nihei style roasted heart" and blood sausages. Nihei's mentorship helped Tanigaki reconcile aspects of his Matagi identity.
After leaving the 7th Division, Tanigaki resided with Asirpa's grandmother, Huci, and a young boy, Cikapasi, in an Ainu village. He felt indebted to the Ainu for their care and developed protective instincts toward them. His relationship with Inkarmat, a fortune-teller, became central. Though initially wary of her motives, he grew deeply attached, risking his life to protect her. When Kiroranke accidentally stabbed Inkarmat during a confrontation, Tanigaki pursued him for revenge, resulting in Kiroranke's death. This action drew criticism for echoing his earlier misplaced vendetta against Aoyama, though Tanigaki expressed no regret.
Later, Tsurumi revealed Inkarmat was pregnant with Tanigaki's child and threatened their safety to force Tanigaki to rejoin the 7th Division and capture Asirpa. Tanigaki initially planned to feign cooperation but prioritized finding Inkarmat. With assistance from Ienaga and Koito, they escaped Tsukishima. During the final gold hunt, Tanigaki twice rescued Asirpa from falls—once from a bridge and once from a train—fulfilling his promise to return her to Huci.
After the events of the gold hunt, Tanigaki settled in Ani with Inkarmat and raised 15 children—14 sons and one daughter. He never revisited his initial goals of explaining Fumi's death to his family or confronting his father. Creator Satoru Noda expressed regret that Tanigaki and Ariko were not more involved in the story, noting their potential dynamic. Tanigaki's abilities included sharpshooting and wilderness survival, honed as a Matagi. He wielded an Arisaka Type 30 rifle and later inherited Nihei's Murata rifle, which he passed to Cikapasi.