TV-Series
Description
Goemon Ishikawa XIII is the thirteenth-generation descendant of the legendary outlaw and master thief Ishikawa Goemon. He was created by Monkey Punch as a later addition to the original manga, appearing first not as an ally but as a fearsome enemy of Arsène Lupin III. The creator felt that the existing cast lacked a distinctly Japanese character, leading to the introduction of this traditional samurai to balance the group. Goemon is a rōnin, a masterless samurai, who primarily operates as a thief and sometimes as a spy.
In his first appearances, Goemon was a very dangerous adversary. Lupin had infiltrated his clan to steal a secret alchemical formula for forging indestructible sword blades, and his cover was blown by Fujiko Mine, who was Goemon's girlfriend at that time. This betrayal drove Goemon to make numerous attempts on Lupin's life, including hiring assassins as skilled as Daisuke Jigen. However, he eventually came to respect Lupin and concluded he could learn more by working alongside him than against him. His loyalty was cemented when Lupin sabotaged the legal case against the man who killed Goemon's uncle, allowing Goemon to take his revenge freely. Over time, this professional relationship deepened into a genuine, though often exasperated, friendship, and Lupin came to trust him implicitly.
Goemon is defined by his stoic, reticent, and deeply traditional personality. He is a man of few words who shows extreme pride in his abilities as a martial artist, and failure brings him great shame and remorse, often leading him to leave the group for periods of solitary meditation and training. His lifestyle is a testament to his allegiance to Japanese culture; he dresses in a hakama and fundoshi, wears his hair long, and prefers to travel on the exterior of vehicles rather than inside them. He strictly eats Japanese cuisine and would rather fast than eat Western food, meditates frequently, enjoys enka music and fishing, and drinks sake. He is a firm believer in Buddhism and Shinto. Despite his typically mellow and aloof demeanor, he can explode with frustration or be rendered speechless by beautiful women, who he admits are a great weakness. He is easily flustered by sultry women, whom he fears will distract him from his training, yet he is also naive and readily trusts any woman who appears innocent, often leading him into trouble. He is also notably bad with technology and modern gadgets, sometimes struggling with simple tasks like driving a car or using a smartphone, though his proficiency in these areas varies across different adaptations.
Goemon is a master of several classic Japanese martial arts, excelling in kenjutsu and battōjutsu. His training also includes jujutsu, aikido, and karate, allowing him to defeat multiple armed attackers with his bare hands. His most famous possession is his sword, the Zantetsuken, which is virtually indestructible and can slice through nearly any substance, including steel, concrete, flying bullets, and even entire buildings. Despite his lethal capabilities, Goemon usually prefers to incapacitate rather than kill, often using his sword to destroy only his opponent's weapons and clothing. Because a katana traditionally must cut flesh before being returned to its scabbard, he follows these non-lethal displays by lamenting his signature catchphrase: that he has once again cut a worthless object. He is also a skilled pilot and driver, though he prefers to be a passenger, and possesses other extraordinary talents such as exceptional cold tolerance, underwater breath control, and the ability to catch arrows or thrown daggers with his bare hands.
Within the Lupin gang, Goemon maintains distinct relationships with each member. He shares a much more amicable bond with Daisuke Jigen, viewing him as a fellow honorable warrior and a trustworthy partner. The two are frequently paired together on jobs and often serve as the voice of reason to keep Lupin in check. His relationship with Fujiko Mine is complicated and has worsened over time; he generally distrusts her due to her manipulative and self-serving nature, though on occasion he will ally with her if their goals align and she does not betray him. His relationship with Lupin is central to the series. While intensely loyal and willing to endure torture to protect Lupin, Goemon is easily annoyed by the master thief’s antics, especially his womanizing. He has even promised that his final act with Lupin will be to deliver his deathblow. Despite this, he readily assists Lupin, particularly when a heist involves a just cause, and occasionally opposes him directly when a job conflicts with his own rigid moral code. His character has shown development over time, moving from a bitter enemy to a steadfast, if sometimes exasperated, ally whose journey often involves reconciling his samurai honor with the chaotic and morally ambiguous world of thievery.
In his first appearances, Goemon was a very dangerous adversary. Lupin had infiltrated his clan to steal a secret alchemical formula for forging indestructible sword blades, and his cover was blown by Fujiko Mine, who was Goemon's girlfriend at that time. This betrayal drove Goemon to make numerous attempts on Lupin's life, including hiring assassins as skilled as Daisuke Jigen. However, he eventually came to respect Lupin and concluded he could learn more by working alongside him than against him. His loyalty was cemented when Lupin sabotaged the legal case against the man who killed Goemon's uncle, allowing Goemon to take his revenge freely. Over time, this professional relationship deepened into a genuine, though often exasperated, friendship, and Lupin came to trust him implicitly.
Goemon is defined by his stoic, reticent, and deeply traditional personality. He is a man of few words who shows extreme pride in his abilities as a martial artist, and failure brings him great shame and remorse, often leading him to leave the group for periods of solitary meditation and training. His lifestyle is a testament to his allegiance to Japanese culture; he dresses in a hakama and fundoshi, wears his hair long, and prefers to travel on the exterior of vehicles rather than inside them. He strictly eats Japanese cuisine and would rather fast than eat Western food, meditates frequently, enjoys enka music and fishing, and drinks sake. He is a firm believer in Buddhism and Shinto. Despite his typically mellow and aloof demeanor, he can explode with frustration or be rendered speechless by beautiful women, who he admits are a great weakness. He is easily flustered by sultry women, whom he fears will distract him from his training, yet he is also naive and readily trusts any woman who appears innocent, often leading him into trouble. He is also notably bad with technology and modern gadgets, sometimes struggling with simple tasks like driving a car or using a smartphone, though his proficiency in these areas varies across different adaptations.
Goemon is a master of several classic Japanese martial arts, excelling in kenjutsu and battōjutsu. His training also includes jujutsu, aikido, and karate, allowing him to defeat multiple armed attackers with his bare hands. His most famous possession is his sword, the Zantetsuken, which is virtually indestructible and can slice through nearly any substance, including steel, concrete, flying bullets, and even entire buildings. Despite his lethal capabilities, Goemon usually prefers to incapacitate rather than kill, often using his sword to destroy only his opponent's weapons and clothing. Because a katana traditionally must cut flesh before being returned to its scabbard, he follows these non-lethal displays by lamenting his signature catchphrase: that he has once again cut a worthless object. He is also a skilled pilot and driver, though he prefers to be a passenger, and possesses other extraordinary talents such as exceptional cold tolerance, underwater breath control, and the ability to catch arrows or thrown daggers with his bare hands.
Within the Lupin gang, Goemon maintains distinct relationships with each member. He shares a much more amicable bond with Daisuke Jigen, viewing him as a fellow honorable warrior and a trustworthy partner. The two are frequently paired together on jobs and often serve as the voice of reason to keep Lupin in check. His relationship with Fujiko Mine is complicated and has worsened over time; he generally distrusts her due to her manipulative and self-serving nature, though on occasion he will ally with her if their goals align and she does not betray him. His relationship with Lupin is central to the series. While intensely loyal and willing to endure torture to protect Lupin, Goemon is easily annoyed by the master thief’s antics, especially his womanizing. He has even promised that his final act with Lupin will be to deliver his deathblow. Despite this, he readily assists Lupin, particularly when a heist involves a just cause, and occasionally opposes him directly when a job conflicts with his own rigid moral code. His character has shown development over time, moving from a bitter enemy to a steadfast, if sometimes exasperated, ally whose journey often involves reconciling his samurai honor with the chaotic and morally ambiguous world of thievery.