TV-Series
Description
Karamatsu Matsuno is the second-born of the Matsuno family's six identical sons. His name is derived from the Japanese word for the larch tree. As an adult, he is most often seen wearing a signature outfit consisting of a black leather jacket, a grey tank top, blue jeans, and a pair of sunglasses, which are his most prominent accessory. This look is frequently complemented by his noticeably thicker eyebrows compared to his brothers. During his adolescence, he is depicted as having chronic acne and a more subdued, worried expression while wearing the uniform of Akatsuka High School.
As an adult, Karamatsu is characterized by a confident, energetic, and charismatic facade. He is often oblivious to his surroundings and takes everything presented to him with extreme seriousness, frequently speaking in a drawn-out, poetic, and dramatic fashion. He desperately tries to project an image of a cool and charming Casanova, using outdated pickup lines and confident one-liners in an attempt to win the hearts of women and men alike. However, these attempts almost always backfire spectacularly, earning him the derogatory nickname Kusomatsu, which translates to Shittymatsu, from his brothers, particularly Ichimatsu. Despite this constant failure and the ridicule he faces, Karamatsu possesses a remarkable level of resilience and determination, always bouncing back from his humiliations and continuing to dedicate himself to his cringeworthy but confident public persona.
Despite his outward bravado, a pivotal revelation in the series (episode 35) shows that Karamatsu is actually timid and easily intimidated by other people. When placed under even the slightest pressure, he becomes obedient and compliant. This shyness is also evidenced by his deep voice becoming noticeably higher when he is nervous, suggesting that his cool posturing may be a front to mask a more sensitive and vulnerable interior. This inner sensitivity is further confirmed when he is seen crying to his brother Choromatsu about how mean the others are to him, going so far as to claim he sometimes wants to kill them. His childhood self was characterized as a cheerful and carefree boy with a large appetite and an impulsive nature that often led him into trouble or injury. He was noted to be not particularly intelligent, a bit of a crybaby, and had a tendency for his bravado to be an empty spirit.
Karamatsu's primary motivation appears to be a deep-seated need for validation and a desire to be perceived as cool, admirable, and above all, unique from his identical siblings. His elaborate outfits, poetic speech, and confident declarations are all attempts to carve out an individual identity and receive attention and affection from those around him, specifically from women like Totoko Yowai, with whom he is infatuated. Within the story, his largely unsuccessful antics serve as a major source of comedy, positioning him as a prominent comic relief character. In the first season, he is often the primary target of neglect and mockery from his family, exemplified by an episode where his brothers do not bother to rescue him from a kidnapping. However, in the second season, he earns more respect and is featured in more focused episodes, while his younger brother Todomatsu takes over the role of the most frequently ignored sibling.
As the second-oldest, his relationship with his brothers is central to his character. He is the younger brother of the eldest, Osomatsu, to whom he often refers as Aniki, a term that acknowledges both a brotherly bond and Osomatsu's self-appointed role as the family's leader or boss. In turn, Karamatsu is the older brother to Choromatsu, Ichimatsu, Jyushimatsu, and Todomatsu. His dynamic with the other brothers is complex; they frequently dismiss and belittle his attempts to be cool, yet he shows moments of fierce loyalty and protectiveness, such as confronting Osomatsu when he feels he has crossed a line by hurting another brother. He is also identified as a friend of the oden cart vendor, Chibita. Beyond his comedic role, Karamatsu displays some notable abilities, including a talent for painting and sewing, hinting at an artistic inclination that contrasts with his other failed attempts at appearing talented.
As an adult, Karamatsu is characterized by a confident, energetic, and charismatic facade. He is often oblivious to his surroundings and takes everything presented to him with extreme seriousness, frequently speaking in a drawn-out, poetic, and dramatic fashion. He desperately tries to project an image of a cool and charming Casanova, using outdated pickup lines and confident one-liners in an attempt to win the hearts of women and men alike. However, these attempts almost always backfire spectacularly, earning him the derogatory nickname Kusomatsu, which translates to Shittymatsu, from his brothers, particularly Ichimatsu. Despite this constant failure and the ridicule he faces, Karamatsu possesses a remarkable level of resilience and determination, always bouncing back from his humiliations and continuing to dedicate himself to his cringeworthy but confident public persona.
Despite his outward bravado, a pivotal revelation in the series (episode 35) shows that Karamatsu is actually timid and easily intimidated by other people. When placed under even the slightest pressure, he becomes obedient and compliant. This shyness is also evidenced by his deep voice becoming noticeably higher when he is nervous, suggesting that his cool posturing may be a front to mask a more sensitive and vulnerable interior. This inner sensitivity is further confirmed when he is seen crying to his brother Choromatsu about how mean the others are to him, going so far as to claim he sometimes wants to kill them. His childhood self was characterized as a cheerful and carefree boy with a large appetite and an impulsive nature that often led him into trouble or injury. He was noted to be not particularly intelligent, a bit of a crybaby, and had a tendency for his bravado to be an empty spirit.
Karamatsu's primary motivation appears to be a deep-seated need for validation and a desire to be perceived as cool, admirable, and above all, unique from his identical siblings. His elaborate outfits, poetic speech, and confident declarations are all attempts to carve out an individual identity and receive attention and affection from those around him, specifically from women like Totoko Yowai, with whom he is infatuated. Within the story, his largely unsuccessful antics serve as a major source of comedy, positioning him as a prominent comic relief character. In the first season, he is often the primary target of neglect and mockery from his family, exemplified by an episode where his brothers do not bother to rescue him from a kidnapping. However, in the second season, he earns more respect and is featured in more focused episodes, while his younger brother Todomatsu takes over the role of the most frequently ignored sibling.
As the second-oldest, his relationship with his brothers is central to his character. He is the younger brother of the eldest, Osomatsu, to whom he often refers as Aniki, a term that acknowledges both a brotherly bond and Osomatsu's self-appointed role as the family's leader or boss. In turn, Karamatsu is the older brother to Choromatsu, Ichimatsu, Jyushimatsu, and Todomatsu. His dynamic with the other brothers is complex; they frequently dismiss and belittle his attempts to be cool, yet he shows moments of fierce loyalty and protectiveness, such as confronting Osomatsu when he feels he has crossed a line by hurting another brother. He is also identified as a friend of the oden cart vendor, Chibita. Beyond his comedic role, Karamatsu displays some notable abilities, including a talent for painting and sewing, hinting at an artistic inclination that contrasts with his other failed attempts at appearing talented.