Golden Kamuy, Episode 3: Kamuy Mosir
Role in the Episode
Noma Naoaki makes his debut as one of the 7th Division soldiers hunting Sugimoto and Asirpa. He plays a key role in recognizing Sugimoto as "Immortal Sugimoto" and initiates the conflict that leads to the bear encounter. His most significant moment is when he confronts the bear in a last stand, reinforcing the 7th Division's brutal nature.
Key Contributions in the Episode:
- Recognizing Sugimoto
- He identifies Sugimoto Saichi as a soldier from the Port Arthur field hospital.
- This directly escalates the situation, as Houzou and Fumio realize Sugimoto is a wanted man.
- Attempting to Capture Sugimoto
- He orders Sugimoto to surrender his weapons and get on the ground.
- He tries to assert dominance, showing the 7th Division’s confidence.
- However, he underestimates Sugimoto, which ultimately leads to chaos.
- Final Stand Against the Bear
- After Sugimoto jumps into the bear den, Naoaki agrees with Houzou’s plan to shoot into the den.
- When the bear suddenly attacks, he fights back with a knife, showing his resilience.
- His defiance against the bear aligns with the 7th Division’s hardened, militaristic mindset.
- However, he fails and is brutally mauled, ending his role.
Impact Rating: 4.5/10
Strengths:
- Introduces himself as a competent and fearless soldier before his demise.
- His recognition of Sugimoto advances the plot by confirming the 7th Division is hunting him.
- His death at the bear’s hands contributes to the episode’s action and brutality.
Weaknesses:
- He is ultimately a disposable character, serving to highlight the 7th Division’s aggression.
- His actions do not have lasting consequences, as the other soldiers continue the chase.
Final Verdict:
Naoaki serves as a strong but short-lived presence, contributing tension and conflict but meeting an abrupt and brutal end. His death reinforces the danger of the wilderness and Sugimoto’s luck in survival.
Golden Kamuy, Episode 5: Race
Noma Naoaki’s Role in the Episode:
Noma Naoaki appears only in a flashback sequence, meaning his role in the present timeline of the episode is minimal. His importance comes from his role in a past confrontation with Sugimoto Saichi, which serves as a way to reinforce Sugimoto’s determination, survival skills, and his reputation as "Immortal Sugimoto."
Key Contributions:
- Flashback of Sugimoto’s Survival Feat
- Noma Naoaki, alongside Tamai Houzou and Okada Fumio, is part of a group aiming their rifles at Sugimoto.
- This scene highlights Sugimoto’s extreme survival instincts as he chooses to flee into a bear’s den rather than face certain death from gunfire.
- The decision to run into the den and later kill the bear is a pivotal moment in Sugimoto’s backstory and reinforces his fearlessness and ability to escape death.
- Establishing a Parallel Between Sugimoto and Wilk
- Asirpa recalls this event and compares Sugimoto’s fearlessness to her father Wilk’s own survival instincts.
- This suggests that Sugimoto and Wilk share a similar mentality in confronting life-or-death situations, which strengthens the thematic connection between Sugimoto and Asirpa’s journey.
Impact Rating: 1.5/10
- Minimal Direct Influence: Noma Naoaki does not have any active role in the present timeline of the episode.
- Narrative Relevance: His only significance is in a flashback that enhances Sugimoto’s characterization, but he himself isn’t a major figure in the episode’s unfolding events.
- No Lasting Effect: Since he is not present in the current story’s timeline, his influence does not extend beyond reinforcing Sugimoto’s legend.
Thus, while he serves as a storytelling device for Sugimoto’s development, his overall presence and impact in this episode are minimal.