TV-Series
Description
Karamatsu Matsuno is the second-eldest of the six Matsuno sextuplets. His name is derived from the Japanese word for the larch tree, though it also carries a pun on the word "kara," which can imply emptiness or hollowness, a theme that plays into his character. As a child, Karamatsu was cheerful, energetic, and impulsive, often rushing into fights without thinking and ending up as the group's scapegoat. This childhood energy, described as an "empty spirit" or karagenki, masked a more sensitive and timid core. During his teenage years, this timidity became more pronounced as he developed acne and a subdued, worried demeanor while struggling to find his own identity among his identical brothers.
In adulthood, Karamatsu has constructed a flamboyant, self-styled persona to project confidence and coolness. He is easily identified among his brothers by his thicker eyebrows, his preference for blue clothing, and his most prized accessory, a pair of blue sunglasses which his brothers frequently break. He often wears leather jackets with skull motifs, rolled-up sleeves, and occasionally, garish items like sequined pants or clothing emblazoned with his own face. His speech is poetic, drawn-out, and peppered with random English words as he poses dramatically and refers to his hypothetical female admirers as Karamatsu Girls. Despite his best efforts, these attempts at being cool are almost always ignored or met with ridicule, leading his brothers, particularly Ichimatsu, to give him the derogatory nickname Kusomatsu, or Shittymatsu.
Beneath his confident facade, Karamatsu is deeply insecure, lonely, and craves validation from his family. He is actually quite timid and easily intimidated, and his deep, smooth voice will become noticeably higher when he is under pressure, revealing his nervousness. When pressured, he tends to comply with demands, rationalizing this meekness as him being the nicest person in the world. He is also surprisingly sensitive, and has broken down crying to his brother Choromatsu about how cruelly the others treat him, even admitting that their behavior sometimes makes him want to kill them. Despite this, he possesses a remarkable resilience, always bouncing back from failure and maintaining his dedication to his painful, cool-guy image.
His role in the story is primarily that of comic relief, often serving as the butt of the joke due to his cringeworthy behavior and the brothers' collective mistreatment of him. In one notable early episode, he is kidnapped by the oden vendor Chibita, but his brothers make no effort to rescue him, throwing fruit at him instead. This poor treatment is a recurring theme, though his role shifts slightly in later seasons, where he occasionally gains more focus and a modicum of respect from his siblings.
His relationships with his brothers are complex and often strained. Ichimatsu is the most openly hostile, constantly mocking and physically attacking him, a dynamic that some interpretations suggest stems from jealousy over Karamatsu's unshakable confidence. Osomatsu, as the eldest, often leads the bullying but still shares a bond with him as the two oldest. Choromatsu is frequently embarrassed by his antics, while Todomatsu, his frequent childhood partner in crime, is now often mortified by his behavior. Jyushimatsu remains more neutral but distant. Despite being the target of their scorn, Karamatsu generally remains oblivious to the true depth of their animosity, often interpreting their actions as a unique form of brotherly affection. He is also artistic, demonstrating hidden skills in painting and sewing, and has shown a capacity for deep care, such as when he fiercely avenged a pet goldfish.
Karamatsu does show potential for development, particularly as depicted in the Osomatsu-san film. In this story, his past regrets become a catalyst for the plot, forcing him to confront his younger, more isolated self and the origins of his adopted persona. The act of his future self giving him a pair of sunglasses and falsely promising that he will have a girlfriend is portrayed as a pivotal moment that seals his path toward becoming a dramatic, "painful" adult. This suggests that his core motivation is a deep-seated desire for connection and a sense of individuality, however misguided his methods for achieving them may be.
In adulthood, Karamatsu has constructed a flamboyant, self-styled persona to project confidence and coolness. He is easily identified among his brothers by his thicker eyebrows, his preference for blue clothing, and his most prized accessory, a pair of blue sunglasses which his brothers frequently break. He often wears leather jackets with skull motifs, rolled-up sleeves, and occasionally, garish items like sequined pants or clothing emblazoned with his own face. His speech is poetic, drawn-out, and peppered with random English words as he poses dramatically and refers to his hypothetical female admirers as Karamatsu Girls. Despite his best efforts, these attempts at being cool are almost always ignored or met with ridicule, leading his brothers, particularly Ichimatsu, to give him the derogatory nickname Kusomatsu, or Shittymatsu.
Beneath his confident facade, Karamatsu is deeply insecure, lonely, and craves validation from his family. He is actually quite timid and easily intimidated, and his deep, smooth voice will become noticeably higher when he is under pressure, revealing his nervousness. When pressured, he tends to comply with demands, rationalizing this meekness as him being the nicest person in the world. He is also surprisingly sensitive, and has broken down crying to his brother Choromatsu about how cruelly the others treat him, even admitting that their behavior sometimes makes him want to kill them. Despite this, he possesses a remarkable resilience, always bouncing back from failure and maintaining his dedication to his painful, cool-guy image.
His role in the story is primarily that of comic relief, often serving as the butt of the joke due to his cringeworthy behavior and the brothers' collective mistreatment of him. In one notable early episode, he is kidnapped by the oden vendor Chibita, but his brothers make no effort to rescue him, throwing fruit at him instead. This poor treatment is a recurring theme, though his role shifts slightly in later seasons, where he occasionally gains more focus and a modicum of respect from his siblings.
His relationships with his brothers are complex and often strained. Ichimatsu is the most openly hostile, constantly mocking and physically attacking him, a dynamic that some interpretations suggest stems from jealousy over Karamatsu's unshakable confidence. Osomatsu, as the eldest, often leads the bullying but still shares a bond with him as the two oldest. Choromatsu is frequently embarrassed by his antics, while Todomatsu, his frequent childhood partner in crime, is now often mortified by his behavior. Jyushimatsu remains more neutral but distant. Despite being the target of their scorn, Karamatsu generally remains oblivious to the true depth of their animosity, often interpreting their actions as a unique form of brotherly affection. He is also artistic, demonstrating hidden skills in painting and sewing, and has shown a capacity for deep care, such as when he fiercely avenged a pet goldfish.
Karamatsu does show potential for development, particularly as depicted in the Osomatsu-san film. In this story, his past regrets become a catalyst for the plot, forcing him to confront his younger, more isolated self and the origins of his adopted persona. The act of his future self giving him a pair of sunglasses and falsely promising that he will have a girlfriend is portrayed as a pivotal moment that seals his path toward becoming a dramatic, "painful" adult. This suggests that his core motivation is a deep-seated desire for connection and a sense of individuality, however misguided his methods for achieving them may be.