Golden Kamuy is based in Hokkaido, the northernmost Japanese prefecture and the original home of the Ainu people — taking its setting from the real-life Russo-Japanese war in the early 20th century. Fans love the anime for its depiction of the lure of golden treasure, as well as its cast of unique characters.
Golden Kamuy is a story designed for adults. The anime has a universal appeal, with classic themes that often resonate with old cowboy movies — unlike some of the zanier manga/anime offerings out there. Its characters are multifaceted and flesh out the signs of the Zodiac in all their complexities.
12 Aries: Maiharu Gansoku Worships Strength
The Ram worships strength, and, under the right circumstances, enjoys violence, just like Gansoku and his love for the prison environment. He sees stenka, a Russian form of fist fighting, as his form of expression.
Gansoku even enjoys being hit by his opponents — it’s true the Ram can go way over the edge. More importantly, as a genuine Aries, he can also be kind and caring, and has a sense of chivalry when it comes to women.
11 Taurus: Saichi Sugimoto Is A Stubborn Romantic
Sugimoto is brave, tenacious, and will keep trying until he finds a way to defeat his enemies. What could be more like the Bull? Sugimoto the Immortal makes a promise to a dying comrade that he will keep until the day he dies, implying that he is as capable of kindness as he is violence.
He’s protective of those he cares about, and loves kids, like every true Taurus. The fact that Sugimoto's comrade’s widow is his former love makes his devotion that much more special.
10 Gemini: Otonoshin Koito Is A Whirlwind Of Kinetic Energy
An over-the-top combination of naïvety, high energy, and eccentricity, Koito is a true Gemini. He’s a whirlwind of energy and his actions can almost never be predicted.
Koito could be accused of being frivolous in the face of serious situations at times, but it’s a mistake to count him out as a lightweight. He’s also a skilled swordsman and, like most Mercury-dominated Gemini, is an extremely fast runner.
9 Cancer: Tanigaki Genjirou Is Loyal To A Fault
A member of the 7th Division, Tanigaki Genjirou is dogged when pursuing enemies, as well as loyal to his family, something that’s important to every Cancerian. However, he’s also consumed by thoughts of revenge after his sister dies.
Genjirou turns his back on his family and heritage — but it comes back to haunt him later, resulting in feelings of shame. He’s an honorable man who repays his debts and has a sense of righteousness: classic Cancer traits.
8 Leo: Hijikata Toshizo Is Ambitious And Optimistic
Imprisoned for decades, Hijikata has lost none of his energy or optimism — two chief characteristics of sunny Leo. He’s extremely ambitious, which goes without saying when the Lion is involved, and doesn’t hesitate to be ruthless or even merciless in battle.
Hijikata demands loyalty from his men as the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, or "New Select Brigade" — another aspect of the story that comes from real-life history.
7 Virgo: Hyakunosuke Ogata Is Proud And Practical
The former Superior Private of the 7th Division is as coldblooded as he is level-headed and analytical, not to forget an effective sniper. Ogata is a Virgo who’s gone a bit rogue — ruthless, but refuses to get violent for its own sake.
He’s also proud and doesn’t like to be challenged, something that members of this Zodiac sign hide under an amiable smile at first. Ogata's not above lying and deception if it gets him what he wants, which is a trait many Virgos try to keep secret.
6 Libra: Inkarmat Loves Style And Luxury
Inkarmat wears traditional Ainu clothing, which is striking and stylish — as a Libra would be under any circumstances. Like many Libras, she has a flair for the dramatic: in her case, it's fortune-telling.
Inkarmat has a talent for it and she’s not ashamed to make money from it either, going so far as to swindle her clients out of their money. This is because, like most Libras, she has a taste for luxury. While she can be devious, Inkarmat also cares about the fate of the Ainu.
5 Scorpio: Tokishige Usami Is A Merciless Scorpio Gone Bad
It’s not that Scorpios are necessarily bad guys — it’s just that when they go bad, they go big. Usami is called a born soldier by Tokushirou Tsurumi, like an aggressive attack dog incapable of guilt or remorse.
Usami is brutal and merciless: he displays the flexible kind of morality that says that if someone gets killed, it’s their own fault. He’s simultaneously capable of analytical thinking and sympathizing with the mind of a killer.
4 Sagittarius: Shiraishi Yoshitake Is Off-Beat And Carefree
An amazing escape artist with a carefree, offbeat nature, preferring to sneak around trouble than confront it aggressively — that’s an Archer by definition.
Yoshitake, the Escape King, is confident & a bit of a rogue and he loves chasing after women he finds pretty. In some ways, he could be considered a romantic. He may be physically weaker than most characters, but Yoshitake can easily manipulate people with his charm and his words.
3 Capricorn: Tatsuma Ushiyama Is A Confident Combatant With A Wild Side
Ushiyama the Undefeated displays the classic combination of traits of most Capricorns. He’s serious about his criminal business, showing a practical perspective towards his work. He also stays focused when he’s on the job and has given out good advice to others.
On the other hand, Ushiyama is a total womanizer. Like a true Goat, he’s pretty level-headed, but actually enjoys conflict and relishes a good fight against a worthy opponent. Ushiyama knows himself and is confident in his abilities.
2 Aquarius: Asirpa Is Independent, And Appears Aloof To Those Who Don't Know Her
Saichi first meets Asirpa when she saves him from a bear in the woods. She’s independent, very capable, and appears cold to the point of being almost aloof — until people get to know her. That’s a Water-Bearer to a T.
Once Asirpa is comfortable with people, she reveals a more lighthearted, or even childlike, side of her personality. As an Aquarius, she’s also the perfect combination of principles and pragmatism.
1 Pisces: Tokushirou Tsurumi's War Experiences Twists His Caring Soul
A little outrageous, a little eccentric — Tsurumi is a completely unpredictable Fish. He’s got his ambitions, but his path towards them are anything but straight.
Unfortunately, Tsurumi's war wounds and experiences have made him bitter, and, as a consequence, increasingly violent. It’s what happens to a beauty-loving Pisces who’s made to experience the horrors of war. Tsurumi is ruthless but does seem to display some regard and care for his subordinates.