TV-Series
Description
Josef Kō Hiraga is a central figure in the story, a young Japanese Catholic priest at the age of 24 who serves as a miracle examiner for the Vatican. His background is marked by extraordinary academic achievement and personal tragedy. Born in America to a Japanese-American primatologist mother named Ada and a Japanese musician father, he moved to Germany with his younger brother, Ryouta, during his childhood. A prodigious student, Hiraga skipped three grades, finished high school at fifteen, and earned a PhD from the University of Berlin by the age of seventeen. Despite attracting attention from numerous scientific organizations, he chose to join the Vatican instead. During his university years, his mother died of cancer before he could say goodbye, and soon after, his younger brother Ryouta was diagnosed with terminal osteosarcoma, a fact that heavily motivates his work to earn money for his brother's treatments.
In terms of personality, Hiraga is defined by a unique blend of profound faith and scientific rationality. He is described as kind-hearted and warm, with an unwavering trust in the goodness of others that can sometimes border on dangerous naivety. He possesses a strong and open-minded Catholic faith, yet as a scientist, he is rational and seeks empirical evidence. This duality defines his professional mission, as he aims to find miracles that cannot be explained by science. He is straightforward and blunt in communication, often missing jokes or sarcasm, and can be incredibly stubborn. When focused on experiments or projects, he becomes completely immersed, frequently neglecting basic needs like food and sleep, resulting in chronic dark circles under his eyes and a thin, petite frame. He pays little attention to his appearance, typically wearing his cassock and white gloves, and has no problem going out in his pajamas. He prefers to work alone as his investigative methods are considered unconventional, such as tasting unknown substances during an investigation.
Hiraga's primary motivation is twofold: to reconcile his belief in God with his scientific knowledge, and to save his younger brother. His work for the Vatican is not just a vocation but also a financial necessity, as his role helps cover the substantial medical expenses required for Ryouta's experimental treatments. He seeks scientific validation for divine miracles as a way to affirm his faith and, personally, to hope for a supernatural intervention that might cure his brother. This personal stake pushes him to his limits, leading to nightmares and psychological strain, but he generally refuses unethical shortcuts, such as an offer from a secret society to save his brother in exchange for his allegiance.
In the story, Hiraga fulfills the role of the scientific investigator for the "Seat of the Saints," a Vatican department dedicated to verifying alleged miracles from around the world. He is partnered with Roberto Nicholas, an Italian priest who specializes in cryptanalysis and theology. Their relationship is central to the narrative. Roberto acts as a caretaker, managing the household, cooking meals, and reminding Hiraga to eat and sleep, creating a nearly familial interdependence. Another key relationship is with the confined hacker genius Lauren Di Luca, with whom Hiraga shares an intellectual bond. He invented a complex board game called "The Game of Angels and Demons," similar to Go, which he plays with Lauren, engaging in deep theological debates during their games. Most critically, his relationship with his brother Ryouta is one of deep, parental-like devotion, as he raised Ryouta from a young age due to their parents' absence.
Throughout his investigations, Hiraga’s character is tested as he confronts fabricated miracles covering up sinister activities, from Nazi occultism to drug operations. Despite these revelations, his faith remains intact, though his emotional struggles intensify as his brother’s condition worsens. This drives him to work even harder to scientifically eliminate all other possible explanations for events, hoping to affirm a true divine miracle.
Hiraga’s notable abilities stem from his genius-level intellect. He specializes in biology and physics and carries his scientific equipment with him to investigate phenomena. He is also a polyglot, capable of speaking English, German, Italian, Latin, and Japanese, though he lacks confidence in the latter. Outside of his professional skills, his hobbies include collecting bugs and playing strategic board games.
In terms of personality, Hiraga is defined by a unique blend of profound faith and scientific rationality. He is described as kind-hearted and warm, with an unwavering trust in the goodness of others that can sometimes border on dangerous naivety. He possesses a strong and open-minded Catholic faith, yet as a scientist, he is rational and seeks empirical evidence. This duality defines his professional mission, as he aims to find miracles that cannot be explained by science. He is straightforward and blunt in communication, often missing jokes or sarcasm, and can be incredibly stubborn. When focused on experiments or projects, he becomes completely immersed, frequently neglecting basic needs like food and sleep, resulting in chronic dark circles under his eyes and a thin, petite frame. He pays little attention to his appearance, typically wearing his cassock and white gloves, and has no problem going out in his pajamas. He prefers to work alone as his investigative methods are considered unconventional, such as tasting unknown substances during an investigation.
Hiraga's primary motivation is twofold: to reconcile his belief in God with his scientific knowledge, and to save his younger brother. His work for the Vatican is not just a vocation but also a financial necessity, as his role helps cover the substantial medical expenses required for Ryouta's experimental treatments. He seeks scientific validation for divine miracles as a way to affirm his faith and, personally, to hope for a supernatural intervention that might cure his brother. This personal stake pushes him to his limits, leading to nightmares and psychological strain, but he generally refuses unethical shortcuts, such as an offer from a secret society to save his brother in exchange for his allegiance.
In the story, Hiraga fulfills the role of the scientific investigator for the "Seat of the Saints," a Vatican department dedicated to verifying alleged miracles from around the world. He is partnered with Roberto Nicholas, an Italian priest who specializes in cryptanalysis and theology. Their relationship is central to the narrative. Roberto acts as a caretaker, managing the household, cooking meals, and reminding Hiraga to eat and sleep, creating a nearly familial interdependence. Another key relationship is with the confined hacker genius Lauren Di Luca, with whom Hiraga shares an intellectual bond. He invented a complex board game called "The Game of Angels and Demons," similar to Go, which he plays with Lauren, engaging in deep theological debates during their games. Most critically, his relationship with his brother Ryouta is one of deep, parental-like devotion, as he raised Ryouta from a young age due to their parents' absence.
Throughout his investigations, Hiraga’s character is tested as he confronts fabricated miracles covering up sinister activities, from Nazi occultism to drug operations. Despite these revelations, his faith remains intact, though his emotional struggles intensify as his brother’s condition worsens. This drives him to work even harder to scientifically eliminate all other possible explanations for events, hoping to affirm a true divine miracle.
Hiraga’s notable abilities stem from his genius-level intellect. He specializes in biology and physics and carries his scientific equipment with him to investigate phenomena. He is also a polyglot, capable of speaking English, German, Italian, Latin, and Japanese, though he lacks confidence in the latter. Outside of his professional skills, his hobbies include collecting bugs and playing strategic board games.