Golgo 13 Omake 16.5

Golgo 13, Special Edition Volume 3, Commentary (pp. 309~318)


Volume 3, Commentary
by Masatake Sugimori


In various interviews, Takao Saito has explained that a certain reflection he had during a childhood math class was what motivated him to create Golgo 13: "1+1=2 is just an arbitrary idea that only applies to mathematics."

"1+1=2" is one of the most basic and established facts in our world. It's an undeniable truth that leaves absolutely no room for discussion. But the young Takao Saito refused to think of it that way.

And this came at a time of defeat, when Japan had just lost the war. The "justice" preached by teachers and adults turned tail overnight. Societal values collapsed, only to be replaced by another set of values labeled "American Democracy." And teachers and adults continued to preach justice to their children, shoving away the old...

The birth of the character Golgo can be attributed to this adverse reaction Takao Saito had to the forced values of his childhood. I believe the secret to Golgo 13's appeal, or rather, its omnipresence, lies somewhere along these lines.


Chapter 11: Where The Stagecoaches Ran
If The Howls of Delos (Chapter 2), was Ohoka Seidan-like, then this chapter is Mitokoumon-esque. Tokugawa Mitsukuni, also known as Mitokoumon ("The Elder Lord of Mito"), hides his aristocratic status and travels across Japan, interacting with the common folk under the guise of a retired silk merchant. However, he seems to run into trouble wherever he goes, whether it be abusive officials, greedy merchants, or plotting elders. After these evil men have done all they can to make the people suffer, Mitokoumon reveals his true identity and cries, "I shan't forgive you!" And proceeds to punish the bad guys.

Each episode follows this exact same pattern. But it never gets old seeing the previously belligerent bullies suddenly scraping their heads to the ground in reverence when they see that one of the elder's retainers is holding up the Tokugawa family crest.

In Golgo's case, he neither tries to conceal his identity, nor does he intend to save people from evildoing. In fact, he remains unfazed even as a man is being murdered right in front of him. However, the evil gang gets carried away and makes the fatal mistake of attacking Golgo, leading to their total annihilation. Though there are some significant differences, the scene where the gang boss panics after discovering Golgo's identity is reminiscent of the evil officials prostrating themselves in front of the Tokugawa crest, and adds some real kick to the chapter.

Though Mitokoumon leaves every locale showered with cries of gratitude, reactions are mixed among the townspeople saved by Golgo. As the crowd parts, allowing Golgo to pass, they appear more fearful than grateful of the man who managed to destroy the evil gang in a matter of seconds. A very impressive final scene.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Arata Ogawa/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Hiromi Yamazaki/Yuji Otake/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 12: GT the Sniper
The various methods for seeking out Golgo's services are revealed as the series progresses, and this chapter marks the first time we see one of these methods in action. In this case, Golgo himself is pretending to be Golgo's contact.

The client grows impatient of the contact who repeatedly refuses to take him to Golgo. When Golgo reappears in front of his clients, he goes, "Forget about that... Tell me about the job..." He wants to have his own way with everything, as usual. When they remain suspicious of him, he answers, "The contact did his job within the 4 hours... And now the man himself has appeared in person..." As if to chide them for their stupidity. Even still, all this was done in the spirit of caution. Golgo trusts no one, even those that have sought out his services.

Speaking of caution, Golgo frequently sleeps with women before the job, but he hardly glances at the two beauties offered to him by the client in this chapter.

Golgo calmly refuses, explaining it off as a work habit, but did he refuse because he knew he was under surveillance and preferred not to have an audience? Or were the two Chinese beauties not to his liking? No—In this case, the most logical interpretation is that he thought there was a chance of him being caught off guard if he took on two women. There are zero instances throughout the series where Golgo takes on multiple women at once. Threesomes just aren't his thing.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Kazuo Koike/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Hiromi Yamazaki/Yuji Otake/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 13: Melancholy Summer
Apparently, Golgo makes a top-notch detective as well.

The target escaped the country by faking a marriage. The logical conclusion is that the woman was just a tool he used to make his escape. However, Golgo makes a deduction of his own after he learns that the couple had stayed at their honeymoon destination, the island of Malta, for nearly 10 days. His deduction is that the target's marriage might not turn out to be so fake after all. Despite the client's protests, Golgo continues to keep watch on the woman. Though it's pretty much taken right out of a TV detective series, the ending to this episode is almost unbearably sad.

Golgo was the only one who realized that the love they shared was real. And Golgo also becomes the one to bring their relationship to a close...

The chapter marks the first appearance of MI6 DG (Director General) Hume, another recurring character throughout the series.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Kazuo Koike/Takao Saito; Layout: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Takao Saito; Artwork: Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Takeshi Kanda/Hiromi Yamazaki/Yuji Otake/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 14: Bannings the Hunter
Bannings is introduced as an ICPO detective who has devoted himself to investigating Golgo for the past three years. Upon receiving his report, his superiors devise an ill-conceived plan to ensnare Golgo in a sting operation. Through his exhaustive investigations, Bannings knows better than anybody that Golgo isn't a man to be apprehended so easily, but his protests are ignored. As expected, the sting ends in a failure, and Bannings gives up his badge, challenging Golgo to a one-on-one battle. However, Bannings choose to shoot down the "bait" of the sting operation, Jim Henderson, sacrificing his life to destroy evidence of the ICPO scandal. Golgo's decision to burn the recording of the testimony may have been a salute to the man's tenacity.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Kazuo Koike/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 15: WHO!?
A hitman named Yellow Dashe has slipped into the manor of a wealthy individual disguised as a guest. The story progresses as a sort of mystery novel reminiscent of Agatha Christie.

The wife, Nancy, had broken ties with her dark past of helping Dashe carry out his hits, becoming a member of the social elite. When her "past" returns to take revenge, she is saved in the nick of time by Golgo, who had disguised himself as a priest. Though her "past" is now gone for good, Nancy is shocked to hear that her husband had known about Dashe all along, and silently flees the manor. It's a subtle touch of female emotion.

This chapter also contains a rare instance where Golgo conscientiously reports back to the client after completing his job.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Kazuo Koike/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 16: An Intersection of Murderous Designs
Two clients request Golgo to assassinate the same individual. Though the situation was arranged in part by the first client, Golgo's acceptance of both jobs is technically a breach of his own protocol. The clueless Jonathan Earp approaches Golgo as planned, playing the part of a complete "fool." One questions whether Golgo should really be tricking innocent citizens, though Earp may not be so innocent after planning and taking part in a murder.

Also in this chapter, Golgo makes the near-fatal mistake of not noticing the time bomb planted in Earp's bowling ball. He appears very surprised in the scene where the bomb explodes, and quite honestly, it was pure luck that prevented him from being caught in the explosion. Though he coolly analyzes, "Something else must've been going on... Something that had nothing to do with me..." he's clearly shaken up. Golgo hones his abilities by learning and adapting from incidents like this, but having a great deal of luck may also be an essential requirement of any professional hitman.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Kazuo Koike/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Masatake Sugimori
Golgo 13 historian and director of the Duke Togo Research Center. Chief editor of THE Golgo-gaku (Shogakukan).