TV-Series
Description
Lieutenant Tokushirou Tsurumi is a high-ranking officer in the Imperial Japanese Army's 7th Division and a central figure in the unsanctioned pursuit of a hidden cache of Ainu gold. He possesses an average height and a muscular, lean frame, with dark hair slicked back, round dark eyes, and prominent cheekbones. His face is distinguished by a handlebar mustache and goatee, and a porcelain enamel plate covers his forehead, concealing a severe wound from the Battle of Mukden that left a portion of his skull missing; brain fluid occasionally leaks from this injury. He typically wears his military uniform, adapted for the seasons, and has been noted to own a shirt made from human skin.
Born in Niigata to a once-wealthy family in decline, his upbringing included training in skills such as piano. He graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy and entered military service. His career included an extended undercover operation in Vladivostok, Russia, under the alias Kouichi Hasegawa, where he worked as a photographer. There, he married a Russian woman named Fina, and they had a daughter, Olga. As part of his espionage, he taught Japanese to Russian revolutionaries, including Wilk, Kiroranke, and Sofia. His cover was eventually blown by the Okhrana, the Russian secret police, leading to a violent confrontation in which stray bullets from Wilk accidentally killed Fina and Olga. This tragedy profoundly shaped his worldview. He burned down his studio and returned to Japan.
After returning, he was assigned to the 2nd Division and later transferred to the 7th Division in Hokkaido. His career advancement was slow; he remained a second lieutenant for many years due to his family’s fallen status and an incident involving the death of a superior’s son, which resulted in a transfer. He was eventually promoted to First Lieutenant. He is highly skilled in intelligence gathering, analysis, and manipulation, fluent in Russian, and has a noted interest in taxidermy. His leadership is marked by immense charisma and a powerful ability to inspire loyalty through speeches that prey on the disillusionment of soldiers who felt betrayed by the government after the Russo-Japanese War.
His central motivation is to acquire the Ainu gold, ostensibly to fund a military coup to establish an independent nation in Hokkaido for wronged soldiers and their families. His deeper, personal motivations stem from the loss of his family in Russia. He holds Wilk directly responsible for their deaths and the Japanese government indirectly responsible, fueling a desire for revenge and a profound disillusionment with the state. This vendetta against Wilk became an obsession, leading him to sabotage Wilk’s efforts to build an Ainu alliance and pursue him relentlessly.
His personality presents a study in contrasts. He can appear compassionate, kind, and humble, as during his life as Hasegawa or in considerate interactions with loyal subordinates. Yet he is also calculating, manipulative, and capable of extreme brutality and violence, particularly toward traitors or those who insult him. He is pragmatic, patient, and methodical in long-term planning, often staying steps ahead of his adversaries. He claims his brain injury made his behavior more erratic and unpredictable, though it is unclear if this is genuine or a calculated affectation. He has a preference for Japanese sweets and a noted dislike for alcohol.
His actions directly shape the narrative. He masterfully recruits and manipulates a core group of skilled soldiers, including Hajime Tsukishima, Otonoshin Koito, Hyakunosuke Ogata, and Tokishige Usami, by exploiting their personal vulnerabilities and histories. His command extends to orchestrating large-scale operations, such as the assault on Abashiri Prison, to acquire the tattooed skins that hold the map to the gold. His eventual fate concludes with a final confrontation on a train, where he is fatally wounded.
Born in Niigata to a once-wealthy family in decline, his upbringing included training in skills such as piano. He graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy and entered military service. His career included an extended undercover operation in Vladivostok, Russia, under the alias Kouichi Hasegawa, where he worked as a photographer. There, he married a Russian woman named Fina, and they had a daughter, Olga. As part of his espionage, he taught Japanese to Russian revolutionaries, including Wilk, Kiroranke, and Sofia. His cover was eventually blown by the Okhrana, the Russian secret police, leading to a violent confrontation in which stray bullets from Wilk accidentally killed Fina and Olga. This tragedy profoundly shaped his worldview. He burned down his studio and returned to Japan.
After returning, he was assigned to the 2nd Division and later transferred to the 7th Division in Hokkaido. His career advancement was slow; he remained a second lieutenant for many years due to his family’s fallen status and an incident involving the death of a superior’s son, which resulted in a transfer. He was eventually promoted to First Lieutenant. He is highly skilled in intelligence gathering, analysis, and manipulation, fluent in Russian, and has a noted interest in taxidermy. His leadership is marked by immense charisma and a powerful ability to inspire loyalty through speeches that prey on the disillusionment of soldiers who felt betrayed by the government after the Russo-Japanese War.
His central motivation is to acquire the Ainu gold, ostensibly to fund a military coup to establish an independent nation in Hokkaido for wronged soldiers and their families. His deeper, personal motivations stem from the loss of his family in Russia. He holds Wilk directly responsible for their deaths and the Japanese government indirectly responsible, fueling a desire for revenge and a profound disillusionment with the state. This vendetta against Wilk became an obsession, leading him to sabotage Wilk’s efforts to build an Ainu alliance and pursue him relentlessly.
His personality presents a study in contrasts. He can appear compassionate, kind, and humble, as during his life as Hasegawa or in considerate interactions with loyal subordinates. Yet he is also calculating, manipulative, and capable of extreme brutality and violence, particularly toward traitors or those who insult him. He is pragmatic, patient, and methodical in long-term planning, often staying steps ahead of his adversaries. He claims his brain injury made his behavior more erratic and unpredictable, though it is unclear if this is genuine or a calculated affectation. He has a preference for Japanese sweets and a noted dislike for alcohol.
His actions directly shape the narrative. He masterfully recruits and manipulates a core group of skilled soldiers, including Hajime Tsukishima, Otonoshin Koito, Hyakunosuke Ogata, and Tokishige Usami, by exploiting their personal vulnerabilities and histories. His command extends to orchestrating large-scale operations, such as the assault on Abashiri Prison, to acquire the tattooed skins that hold the map to the gold. His eventual fate concludes with a final confrontation on a train, where he is fatally wounded.