Goemon Ishikawa XIII carries the legacy of his namesake ancestor as the thirteenth-generation renegade samurai. Initially targeting Arsène Lupin III to protect his clan's sword-making or alchemic secrets, repeated failures against the thief led him to recognize Lupin's value as a mentor in strategy and thievery. This shift forged a lasting, selective alliance; Goemon joins Lupin's operations only when personally interested or morally aligned. His personality strictly adheres to traditional Japanese culture. He consistently wears a hakama and fundoshi, prefers Japanese cuisine, and meditates as his primary pastime. He takes fierce pride in his martial prowess, feeling deep shame if his sword breaks or he succumbs to distraction. A key weakness is susceptibility to seemingly innocent women, often resulting in betrayal, though he flees overt seduction to maintain discipline. Other vulnerabilities include a fondness for Japanese food exploited by adversaries and a protective instinct toward children. A master martial artist, Goemon excels in kenjutsu, battōjutsu, karate, jujutsu, and aikido. His signature katana Zantetsuken (or Ryusei) slices with absurd sharpness, cleaving steel, vehicles, buildings, and even natural phenomena like tornadoes—demonstrated in *The Columbus Files* when he bisected a building to aid Lupin and Fujiko Mine harmlessly and dissipated a tornado with one strike. Despite this lethality, he prefers non-lethal outcomes, disarming foes by destroying weapons or clothes, afterward remarking, "I have cut yet another worthless object," adhering to his belief that a katana must draw blood before sheathing. He once deflected multiple close-range gunshots, including from Daisuke Jigen, while meditating with closed eyes. Within Lupin's crew, Goemon serves as the primary close-quarters combatant and occasional safe-cracker. His loyalty to Lupin mixes with frequent annoyance at Lupin's hedonism, especially concerning women. He shares mutual warrior respect with Jigen, often collaborating directly. Interactions with Fujiko Mine are marked by distrust due to her betrayals, though tactical alliances occur—like protecting an amnesiac Fujiko and aiding the Columbus Egg recovery in *The Columbus Files*. Technical ineptitude provides humor; he revives engines via karate chops when conventional methods fail. Cultural clashes, discomfort with modern technology, and social situations add further comedy. He follows Buddhist and Shinto principles, influencing his celibacy and ethical critiques of Lupin's "sinful" behavior, though he faces internal conflict when women challenge his vows. Leisure includes fishing, attending noh theater, and listening to enka jazz. Financial naivety sees him lose money to enlightenment scams or give funds to dubious causes.