Goemon Ishikawa XIII
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| Goemon Ishikawa XIII 石川五ェ門 | |
|---|---|
| Image:Goemonishikawa.jpg Goemon Ishikawa | |
| Nationality: | Japanese |
| Gender: | Male |
| Age: | Unknown |
| Height: | 180 cm |
| Weight: | 63 kg |
| Preferred Weapon: | Zantetsu-Ken (katana) |
| Voiced by: | Osamu Kobayashi (1969) Chikao Otsuka (1971) |
| AKA: | Ramón (Mexico) Francis (Spain) |
Goemon Ishikawa (石川五ェ門 Ishikawa Goemon) is a fictional character in Kazuhiko Katō's anime and manga series Lupin III.
Goemon Ishikawa is the thirteenth generation of renegade samurai, beginning with the real-life historical figure Ishikawa Goemon (石川五右衛門). He is usually quiet and participates in Arsène Lupin III's exploits less frequently than Daisuke Jigen.
While Goemon might be considered one of Lupin's friends, it starts off more of a professional relationship than friendship. By the second series, Goemon has developed a true loyalty to Lupin (refusing to give away Lupin's secrets when tortured in one second series episode, for example). However, he easily gets annoyed by Lupin's antics (especially Lupin's infatuation with women in general and Fujiko Mine in particular), and sometimes even directly opposes him when Lupin's jobs do not agree with his morals. However, he doesn't hesitate to help Lupin in serious situations, and readily assists him any time Lupin works for a just cause. Many theorize that Goemon associates with Lupin out of admiration for his profession, as Goemon's ancestor was a master thief himself. Goemon has a much more amicable relationship with Jigen. Goemon sees Jigen as a fellow honorable warrior, while Jigen sees Goemon as a trustworthy "foxhole buddy," and the two are frequently paired together during jobs.
If Goemon has a weakness, it is that he's even more weak with women than Lupin is. He readily trusts any woman who seems superficially trustworthy, often landing him in much trouble. He also fears women will distract him from his training, and tends to blush or flee when a woman is put in less than modest situation. Ironically, Goemon is the Lupin gang member who has come the closest to getting married, which almost happened in The Fuma Conspiracy.
He also is very bad with money, and constantly charges Lupin for his services. What he does with the money is a usually complete mystery, although in $1 Money Wars he gives it to the female leader of a cult (who, of course, promptly runs off with it). Goemon also has an extreme sense of pride in his abilities, and when he cannot accomplish a task (such as breaking Zantetsuken in a battle with Flinch from Mystery of Mamo) or succumbs to weakness (as when a woman ran off with his sword in Tokyo Crisis) usually feels extreme shame and remorse afterward.
It should be also be noted that in one second series episode (#20: "Goemon's Revenge"), Goemon visits his Iga Ninja sensei. Goemon is commonly thought to be a samurai, but this episode depicts him as having had the training of a master ninja, perhaps giving some reason behind his willingness to find thievery as an acceptable practice, in spite of his samurai ways.
[edit] Goemon's sword - Zantetsuken
Goemon is an incredibly gifted martial artist, both in hand-to-hand and melee combat. In the TV series, his sword, Zantetsuken (斬鉄剣), meaning "iron-cutting sword", has had a number of origin stories over the years, including have been made from the metal of a fallen meteor, or made from a special alloy passed down through Goemon's clan. It can literally cut anything; airplanes and cars are a frequent target, but tanks, skyscrapers, and even lightning have been sliced apart by the blade. Objects cut by Goemon will fall apart a couple of seconds after he cuts them up with his blade, usually after he has returned Zantetsuken to its sheath. Goemon is so fast and skillful with it that he blocks bullets with the blade, even from submachine gun fire.
To Goemon's dismay, Zantetsuken is usually used to cut inanimate objects, which Goemon considers unworthy of his blade, rather than human flesh. It is revealed in the second anime series that Zantetsuken has one known weakness; it cannot cut konnyaku gel. Zantetsuken has also been known to chip or break under certain circumstances; it usually serves to show that circumstances have grown dire for Goemon and the rest of Lupin's gang. It is unknown how Goemon has the blade repaired after these situations.
The second series also gives Zantetsuken a more mystical ability; on a few occasions, the blade acquires a shadow, showing death lurks nearby for Lupin and his gang. Likewise, when the shadow disappears, it shows that the danger has passed. This trait of Zantetsuken appears to be unique to Shin Lupin III, however, and has never been used in any version of Lupin III afterward.
In the manga, the sword goes by a different name, Ryusei (meaning "shooting star"), but has the same essential properties. FUNimation, for unknown reasons, gave Zantetsuken the name the Almighty in their English dubs.
Goemon's most famous phrase is "Once again I have cut a worthless object," which he says whenever he uses Zantetsuken to do something spectacular that he nonetheless considers mundane (for instance, cutting of Lupin's burning clothes off him in one stroke while Lupin was flying through the air in Castle of Cagliostro). This has been referenced many times in other anime and manga, and has become something of a joke within Lupin itself. In Da Capo of Love: Fujiko's Unlucky Days, Lupin even tells Goemon, "No one is better at cutting worthless objects than you!"
[edit] Origins
Goemon is unique to the series as he was the only character not there from the beginning. Monkey Punch, in an interview featured on the American Dead or Alive DVD release, mentioned he added Goemon later as he felt his comic needed a more Japanese character. There are three different versions of the meeting and joining.
In the original manga, Goemon is targeted by Lupin to steal the secrets of how to make his sword. In later issues, Goemon is sent by his masters to kill Lupin, but after failing many times, he decides Lupin can teach him more and joins his side.
In episode five of the first anime series, Goemon is tricked into going against Lupin by Old Man Momochi, who wants them both out of the way so he can claim the title of world's greatest assassin. The two both outwit him and survive. Two episodes later, Lupin attempts to steal the sword formula; Goemon joins with him in the end. The two episodes pull in several elements from the manga stories.
In the 2002 TV special "First Contact", Goemon met Lupin when he was searching for the Zantetsuken, the only sword he felt worthy of his abilities. Lupin, Jigen, and Fujiko all served as adversaries until being forced to work together to survive. There are hints that parts of the story may be made up at the end of the special, however, so not everything can be taken as true.
All of the meetings have one moment in common; Lupin tricks Goemon into slicing a vial of liquid that bursts into flame when exposed to air. This ignites the samurai, who quickly turns the tables and lights Lupin on fire as well.
