Eden of the East/Characters

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


The Main Characters

Akira Takizawa/Iinuma, Real name unknown

The main protagonist and Seleção No. 9, Akira Takizawa awakens outside the White House with no memories and stark naked. He befriends Saki Morimi, a Japanese college student on vacation in America on her way to catch a flight home. Armed with a Cell Phone, Takizawa learns he is part of a game created by one Mr. Outside to use the ten billion yen on the phone to improve the state of Japan. Takizawa meets his fellow Seleção, whilst trying to recover his memories before and after he was selected for the game. In Episode 10, Mononobe reveals Akira Takizawa is not his real name.

He was born on January 7, 1989, making him one day younger than Saki. Although that date is up for debate, seeing as how the passport he decides to use doesn't even have his real name on it, so his actual birth date is just as anonymous.

Voiced by: Ryohei Kimura (JP), Jason Liebrecht (EN)

  • Action Survivor: He gets involved in a lot of action - being attacked by a oil tanker, taking on a missile attack, escaping numerous explosions, etc, and always comes away relatively unscathed.
  • Amnesiac Dissonance: Discovers he was possibly responsible for the Careless Monday missile attacks, but actually used it as an excuse to save 20,000 NEETS that helped him evacuate citizens from being arrested for the same thing, and then erased his own memory to cover up his and their tracks.
  • Bavarian Fire Drill: Is very skilled at this
  • Big Fancy House: More like big fancy shopping mall.
  • Cell Phone: All of the Seleção have unique phones, including him.
  • Charm Person: Takizawa is quite the charmer, showing his Johnny to a businessman to give up his pants, and convinces a policewoman to let him and Saki go to the airport.
  • Chick Magnet
  • Cloudcuckoolander: He's pretty crazy and spontaneous, with and without his memory.
  • Cool Bike: He rides around on a neat yellow motorcycle. Why he can remember how to ride it is a mystery.
    • Makes sense actually. Memories on how to perform tasks and procedures are stored completely separately from memories about oneself and past life experiences.
  • Crowning Moment of Awesome: When he stops the missile attacks in Episode 11, and again when he gives all of his money to every person in Japan.
  • Easy Amnesia: Twice.
  • First Kiss: He gives Saki one in episode 5.
  • Foreshadowing: The fact that he picked the name "Akira Takizawa" from one of the various passports with his face on it should've been seen as a massive clue that it's not his real name.
  • Gag Penis
  • Genius Ditz
  • Genre Savvy: And how! In fact, some of the very few things he does remember are the numerous movies he's seen, and how they apply to his situation(s).
  • Gray Eyes
  • Guile Hero
  • Heroes Want Redheads
  • Heroic Bastard: In the films, he is accused of being the illegitimate son of the deceased prime minister of Japan. This is later proven to be false.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Willingly gives up his memories twice to save others. The first time he wound up naked in America, and the second time he became an international celebrity known as the Air King, and revealed to possibly be the son of the dead Japanese prime minister.
  • I Have Many Names: He has numerous passports. In the films he goes by the name of Akira Iinuma.
  • Identity Amnesia
  • Keet: Even in serious situations he retains a cheerful and friendly demeanour.
  • Knight in Shining Armor: To Saki, and somewhat Diana.
  • Last-Name Basis: Basically everyone calls him by his last name.
  • Memory Gambit: He pulls it off twice!
  • Naked First Impression: His first appearance involves him walking towards Saki and two cops completely naked, although his groin is covered by a Censor Box scribble.
  • Naked on Arrival
  • Nice Guy: It's impossible for anyone to hate this guy.
  • Pet the Dog: He owns an adorable Shiba Inu, previously owned by his mother.
  • Pop-Cultured Badass
  • The Scapegoat: Takizawa willingly makes himself this three times.
  • Shiny Midnight Black
  • Shout-Out: Takizawa comments that his situation when he finds himself in Washington is similar to The Bourne Series.
    • Or how his gun-closet is remiscent of Taxi Driver, and how Kate and Leopold is the first thing that pops into his head while standing over a bridge with Saki.
  • Take My Hand: Takizawa reaches out to Saki when departing home on a boat and she decides to stay with him.
  • The Tease
  • Will They or Won't They?: Takizawa and Saki throughout the anime and movies. They do sort of become a couple. Sort of.

Saki Morimi

A 22-year old university student in her graduating year, Saki meets Akira in Washington and two quickly become involved in each other's lives. Saki is Akira's biggest supporter and love interest. A member of Eden of the East, Saki's ability to enhance the price and value of junk items has helped the group to be successful. She plans to work in the company that her brother-in-law used to work for, because she is ashamed of living off their money. She could only go to college with the aid of her sister and her brother-in-law., whom she lives with after the death of her parents when she was a baby. While she is a selfless girl, she is very opinionated about the conditions of the country after Careless Monday.

She was born on January 6, 1989, therefore she is one day older than Takizawa. Again, providing that is his actual Date of Birth.

Voiced by: Saori Hayami (JP), Leah Clark (EN)

Eden of the East Members

Saki's inner circle of friends who make up the staff of an online image recognition system and recycling group. They start off as a one-room group until they expand into a full-time business with an office. The groups members include leader Kazuomi Hirasawa, deadpan programmer Mikuru "Micchon" Katsuhara, Satoshi Osugi who has a crush on Saki, spectacled Kasuga, Sis who has a fondness for cute things, and Yutaka "Panties" Itazu, known for (formally) not wearing any trousers and is a skilled hacker. Takizawa later becomes a member of the group.

Voiced by:
Hirasawa: Motoyuki Kawahara (JP), J Michael Tatum (EN)
Micchon: Ayaka Saitou (JP), Stephanie Sheh (EN)
Osugi: Takuya Eguchi (JP), Michael Sinterniklaas (EN)
Kasuga: Hayato Taya (JP), John Burgmeier (EN)
Sis: Kimiko Saito (JP), Lydia Mackay (EN)
Panties: Nobuyuki Hiyama (JP), Newton Pittman (EN)


The Seleção

The twelve Chosen Ones selected by Mr. Outside to save the country. Each member is given a special cell phone with ten billion yen which they must use to improve the country. Each Seleção has an unseen assistant linked to the cell phone named Juiz, who can help them fulfill almost any request they make, but each one spends some of their money. If they abuse their money, do not play the game, or spend all of their money, the Seleção will be eliminated by the engimatic Supporter, later revealed to be Mr. Outside himself.

  • Blessed with Suck: They're given a fortune, but are told that they'll be killed if they use it for personal gain, don't play the game, or run out of money, and are manipulated so that they'll fear being assassinated by their fellow Seleção.
  • The Cameo: Seleção 3, 7 and 8 only have cameo roles. 7 doesn't even physically appear.
  • Cell Phone: All Seleção have their own unique cell phone which they can use to call Juiz and spend their money - not to mention practically do anything with including wiping out their own memories.
  • Dark Messiah: Most of the Seleção appear to fill this
  • Screw the Rules, I Have Money: They can use their money to screw the rules and then some.
  • With Great Power Comes Great Insanity: Not to Light Yagami levels, but many of them are definitely in this direction.
  • You Gotta Have Blue Hair: No. 3 is an elderly, purple-haired woman.

Mr. Outside

The mastermind behind the Seleção game, also known as Nobleese Oblige. Mr. Outside is really an elderly billionaire named Ato Saizo, who now works as a taxi driver and randomly picked the twelve Seleção when they had rides in his cab, aside from Takizawa who was a newspaper boy passing by. Disillusioned with the state of the country, Ato Saizo took on his alias as Mr. Outside and kicked off the game, using his own money as that of the players. While it is hinted the Seleção that lose are killed, it is revealed that they only have their memories erased.

Voiced by: Hiroshi Arikawa (JP), Grant James (EN)

  • Anonymous Benefactor: Uses the alias Mr. Outside until his identity is revealed.
  • Badass Grandpa: His very ability to set up the game makes him badass. He also took out Hirasawa in one move and pushed him out of his taxi.
  • The Dog Was the Mastermind
  • Early-Bird Cameo: Ato Saizo cameos in Episode 10 when Saki and Micchon are in a cab to Takizawa's mall.
    • Even earlier in Episode 4 when he snatches a magazine from Takizawa, scolding him on reading politicial nonsense.
  • Eccentric Millionaire
  • Fiction500: Must be ultra-wealthy given his ability to give 10 billion yen apiece to twelve people.
  • I Have Many Names: Along with Mr. Outside, he also acts as Seleção No. 12 and the Supporter.

Juiz

The mysterious woman who helps the twelve Seleção and aids them with their various requests, no matter how absurd they may be. She is actually an artificial intelligence in the form of twelve devices disguised as cargo truck trailers which are constantly moved around for protection, until Seleção No. 1 Mononobe tracks down their locations. Juiz appears to have twelve different personalities to suit the Seleção.

Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa (JP), Stephanie Young (EN)

Detective Yusei Kondo

Seleção No. 4 and the second introduced after Takizawa. Kondo is a Japanese police officer and detective and pursues Takizawa to figure out if he is the true perpetrator of Careless Monday. He tries to steal his phone, only to be stabbed to death by his wife when she thinks he is having an afair with Juiz.

Voiced by: Hiroshi Shirokuma (JP), Christopher Sabat (EN)

  • Dirty Cop: Subverted. He is unafraid to use Juiz to assassinate criminals or others who bother him.
  • Four Is Death: He is the first to go.
  • Grumpy Bear: He's quite moody and pessimistic, believing that ten billion yen is not enough to save the country.
  • Karmic Death: Kondo's wife believes he is having an affair with Juiz and she kills him in revenge.
  • Kick the Dog: He attacks Takizawa, beating him up to steal his phone.
  • Mister Exposition: Kondo explains things to Takizawa during their encounters and manages to send Takizawa off to find the other Seleção before he dies.
  • Motive Decay: Kondo's motives are hard to make out. He seems to enjoy his new lease on life with the money has has, and has Juiz assassinate people that bother him. However, upon his death, he claims he was just trying to do the right thing in life.
  • Police Brutality
  • Poor Communication Kills: Kondo's wife repeatedly sees/hears him talking with Juiz and concludes he is having an affair, leading to her confronting him and stabbing him with a knife.
  • Sacrificial Lamb

Doctor Hajime Hiura

Seleção No. 5. Dr. Hiura is a brain surgeon who uses all of his money and is the second Seleção to be eliminated although he is the only one to be personally eliminated by the Supporter. Takizawa tracks him down to a state-of-the-art hospital for the elderly where he is the chief executive. A kind middle-aged man, Dr. Hiura embraces his known fate, having played the game not to save Japan but to rather improve the hospital systems. He mimics a phone call from Mr. Nobody to inform Takizawa of their involvement in the game. He is eventually eliminated, but it is revealed in the first movie that he is not dead but in fact simply had his memories wiped.

Voiced by: Shinji Ogawa (JP), Kent Williams (EN)

  • Go Out with a Smile: Dr. Hiura accepts his death when the Supporter appears.
  • Instant Sedation: Hiura drugs and knocks out Takizawa after he claims he is No. 9.
  • Hero with Bad Publicity: He accomplishes his goals through bribing politicians, and so in the press receives negative coverage as a source of political corruption. On the other hand, his patients consider him a saint.
  • The Medic
  • Nice Guy: The only Seleção aside from Takizawa and No. 3 who appear to be completely friendly.
  • Not Quite Dead: Panties discovers Dr. Hiura is alive and kicking, but his memories of the game were wiped by the Supporter.
  • Selfless Wish: Dr. Hiura is unafraid of dying, giving all his money to improve the medical system in Japan.

Kuroha Diana Shiratori

Seleção No. 11, Kuroha is president of a model agency, but also doubles as the infamous Johnny Killer who kidnaps criminals, tortures them and then chops off their penises with a cigar chopper. However, she is does this to help protect scorned women, possibly having been harmed sexually herself. She develops an interesting relationship with Takizawa, saving him twice. In the first movie, she follows Takizawa to New York to keep an eye on him, saving him from No. 6, and then sacrifices her version of Juiz to protect Takizawa's.

Voiced by: Rei Igarashi (JP), Christine Auten (EN)

Daiju Mononobe

The Big Bad of the show, and Seleção No. 1. A former politician, Mononobe became head of Ato Saizo's company and planned to become Mr. Outside himself. He is quite resourceful and smart, identifying most of the Seleção, and recruits No. 2 and 10 to work with him. His ultimate goal is to become ruler of Japan via terrorist attacks and eventually he plans to overthrow the government and replace it with a new one at the cost of individual freedom.

Voiced by: Atsushi Miyauchi (JP), John Gremellion (EN)

  • Corrupt Corporate Executive
  • Government Conspiracy
  • Magnificent Bastard: He's got one plan after another to try and "save" Japan from missile attacks to overthrowing the government, Mononobe is a cunning man in his own right.
  • Predatory Business: Subverted. This trope involves actual people instead of businesses, Mononobe firing missiles to eliminate the other Seleção's versions of Juiz. He succeeds in taking down No. 2 and No. 12, whilst Kuroha (No. 11) blocks a missile to keep Takizawa in the game.

Jintaro Tsuji

Seleção No. 2, Tsuji works with Mononobe and Yuki. Unlike them, he is not really interested in Mr. Nobody's game and just wants it to be other, and hasn't used any of his money. In the first film, Tsuji markets Takizawa as the Air King and plots to sacrifice him as a matyr and hero of Japan. This plan ultimately falls through when Mononobe destroys his version of Juiz, and then sends tax auditors to remove his remaining money.

Voiced by: Koji Yusa (JP), Todd Haberkorn (EN)

  • Affably Evil: Tsuji is not really a villain but is a bit of a manipulative guy. He helps Yuki out after he eliminates himself from the game and goes into hiding.
  • A Glass of Chianti: During many of his scenes in the movie he has a cocktail glass in hand with some kind of drink in it
  • Cool Boat: He owns a big yacht.
  • Evil Debt Collector: Mononobe sends an army of these to remove Tsuji's money.
  • Nice Hat
  • Orcus on His Throne: Tsuji spends most of his time lounging around on his fancy yacht.

Ryo Yuki

Seleção No. 10. Ryo Yuki works with Mononobe and Tsuji to win the game. A disgruntled employee, Yuki is quite Ax Crazy and wants to missile Japan into oblivion. After Mononobe abandons him to win the game alone, Yuki destroys his own phone to fake his death and get revenge on Mononobe. He goes to Tsuji who helps him track down Mononobe, whom he shoots dead, only to be run over by Mononobe's car.

Voiced by: Masakazu Morita (JP), Jerry Jewell (EN)

  • Ax Crazy: More like missile-crazy.
  • Evil Is Not Pacifist: He's horrified during the series when Mononobe uses his car to run down Panties, but as Mononobe points out, he has no qualms about using missiles to kill thousands of people.
  • Evil Minions: He was one to Mononobe until he was betrayed by the latter.
  • Not Quite Dead: Yuki faked his death by destroying his cell phone but surprised Tsuji when he revealed he was alive.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: When he encounters Mononobe at the end of the second movie.

Taishi Naomoto

Seleção No. 6. Naomoto is an eccentric filmmaker who goes Ax Crazy in his plan to kill Takizawa and Saki for a film -- by blowing them up whilst they have a shower together. His plan falls through thanks to Kuroha, and he tries to kill Takizawa with a flamethrower whilst recording the scene. He is arrested soon after.

Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino (JP), Josh Grelle (EN)

  • Ax Crazy
  • Fate Worse Than Death: Naomoto is arrested and loses his memory at the end of the second film, freaking out when he discovers he is in a police station.
  • Mad Artist
  • Mad Bomber
  • Prima Donna Director: He practically mirrors the comments made about Michael Bay.
  • Pyromaniac: Comes at Takizawa and Saki with a flamethrower.
  • Shipper on Deck: Of a really weird and perverse kind- hard to figure how else to to describe his desire to get Takizawa and Saki to shower together so he can blow them up.
  • Smug Snake: And his Juiz shows him no respect because of it, making it clear how stupid she finds his plans.
  • Stuff Blowing Up: He attempts to blow up Takizawa and Saki whilst wanting them to have a shower together, due to there "never being a scene like that before".
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