Saichi Sugimoto is a former soldier from the Russo-Japanese War who earned the nickname "Immortal Sugimoto" for his seemingly unbeatable record on the battlefield. After his service ended, he returned home to Hokkaido determined to pan for gold—he'd promised his dying best friend he'd support his family, and he needed the money to make good on that debt.
While mining, Sugimoto heard about a legendary stash of Ainu gold that had been hidden away. The man who buried it had been imprisoned, but supposedly left a map of sorts: clues tattooed across the skin of fellow inmates. This discovery sent Sugimoto on a larger quest than he'd originally planned.
He's genuinely skilled in combat—tough enough to kill a rogue bear with just a knife and bayonet—but he's not the type to revel in violence. Despite the blood on his hands and his reputation, he's principled. When asked why he earned his immortal moniker, he explained it plainly: the secret to staying alive is not getting killed. He fights to survive, not for glory.
His most distinctive feature is the scarring on his face—two perpendicular scars cutting across his features, with a third branching off like a tree limb. Battle wounds cover the rest of his body as well.
Style-wise, Sugimoto sticks to a practical look: he wears his old military gear (cap, high boots, trousers) year-round paired with a kimono he keeps tucked and belted practical for movement. In winter he adds a dark blue trench coat and a foreign scarf to the mix.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
