Masahiro Takenaka was born in Tokyo's Adachi ward and has spent his adult life moving from one revolutionary cause to the next. He started with the Japanese Red Army before circumstances forced him to flee the country—many of his former comrades were arrested. These days, he's a co-leader of the Protectors of the Islamic Front, where he works alongside his partner Ibraha, a relationship defined by genuine friendship despite their frequent disagreements.
What sets Takenaka apart from the more ideologically rigid people around him is his pragmatism. Years in the field have taught him to think clearly and rationally, even under pressure. He's known for being calm, personable, and good-natured—unusual qualities in someone with his background. As a committed communist, he's also an atheist, which sometimes puts him at odds with the religious motivations of his organization.
His tactical mind came into play during an operation in Basilan, Philippines. Takenaka correctly deduced that the Lagoon Company was working with Mr. Chang's Triad to transport documents related to an assassination plot targeting the U.S. President. He managed to capture Rock, mistakenly believing the papers were on him (they were actually with Revy), but lost his prisoner when Revy, Shenhua, and Leigharch coordinated a rescue.
Perhaps most telling of his character: when Ibraha ordered their hired insurgents into what amounted to a suicide attack on a government base, Takenaka made the harder choice and killed his friend rather than let the operation spiral into pointless carnage.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
