Episodes
Saichi "Immortal" Sugimoto, a Russo-Japanese War veteran, is panning for gold in Hokkaido to provide for the widow of ...read more Saichi "Immortal" Sugimoto, a Russo-Japanese War veteran, is panning for gold in Hokkaido to provide for the widow of his dead comrade Toraji. His acquaintance Gotou tells him a story about how the man Nopperabo stole gold from the Ainu people, killing all those transporting the gold. Later in prison, he tattooed twenty-four inmates with parts of a map to the location of the gold. Then, while the prisoners were being taken out to be executed, they all escaped and went into hiding. Sugimoto doubts the story until Gotou later tries to kill him. Sugimoto fights back and Gotou runs off, but he is killed by a bear. Sugimoto then notices that he has tattoos on his body like those described in his story. Asirpa, an Ainu girl, saves Sugimoto from a bear attack, but they realize that Gotou was killed by another bear. Together with the wolf Retar, they kill the first bear when it returns to retrieve Gotou's body. After Sugimoto tells her the story, and Asirpa reveals that her father was among the Ainu people killed, Sugimoto proposes that they join forces: Sugimoto can get money for Toraji's widow and Asirpa can avenge her father. show less
Sugimoto and Asirpa head to the nearby port city of Otaru to look for the men with tattoos, but find no-one. However, a man with ...read more Sugimoto and Asirpa head to the nearby port city of Otaru to look for the men with tattoos, but find no-one. However, a man with a tattoo follows them back into the woods and they trap him. He reveals that someone has been killing the prisoners. While Asirpa is copying his tattoo, he is shot from a distance. Sugimoto confronts the shooter, a soldier from the Japanese Army’s 7th Division, and in the ensuing struggle the soldier is wounded and falls into a river. Later Sugimoto and Asirpa share a traditional Ainu meal of squirrels that Asirpa caught. Meanwhile the soldier, Private Ogata, is found in the river, still alive. Sugimoto and Asirpa then trap another prisoner with a tattoo. He refuses to tell them about Nopperabo. However their prisoner is Shiraishi Yoshitake, a master escape artist, and he cuts his bonds and runs off. Sugimoto gives chase but they fall into a freezing river. They strike a bargain to survive, and Yoshitake then reveals that the leader of the prisoners was an old samurai called Hijikata Toshizou and Nopperabo told the prisoners to meet in Otaru. As Yoshitake leaves, Sugimoto tells him that the army's 7th Division is also after the gold. show less
While hunting for food, Sugimoto and Asirpa are seen and pursued by four 7th Division soldiers. They split up, and one soldier ...read more While hunting for food, Sugimoto and Asirpa are seen and pursued by four 7th Division soldiers. They split up, and one soldier finds Asirpa, but she is saved by the wolf Retar. Sugimoto is also caught, but dives into a nearby bear's cave. When a soldier shoots into the cave, the bear charges out and kills them, but it also dies from its wounds. Meanwhile, Asirpa stops Retar, the last Horkew Kamuy, from killing the soldier who caught her. Sugimoto and Asirpa then travel to Asirpa's village, taking with them the baby bear that Sugimoto rescued from the cave. While staying at the village, Sugimoto learns much about Ainu culture. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Tsurumi leads a search party for the four missing soldiers. When reprimanded by Captain Wada for wasting resources, he bites a finger off the captain's hand. When the captain orders Tsurumi shot, a soldier shoots the captain instead. Meanwhile in a brothel in Otaru, Hijikata Toshizō ambushes the tattooed Ushiyama the Undefeated and then offers to work with to him collect the other tattoos by making copies, and stealing the tattooed skins already collected by the 7th Division. show less
While fishing for sculpin with Asirpa, Sugimoto meets her uncle who tells him that the gold is cursed as it was taken from their ...read more While fishing for sculpin with Asirpa, Sugimoto meets her uncle who tells him that the gold is cursed as it was taken from their sacred rivers, protected by the goddess of water. Sugimoto spends more time in the village, becoming acquainted with the Ainu and their culture. Asirpa’s uncle tells him the story of how Retar became Asirpa's loyal friend, but not her pet. Sugimoto leaves the village and returns to Otaru alone where he finds out about the incident with Ushiyama in the brothel. However, after a fierce fight with troops, he is captured by Lieutenant Tsurumi who calls himself Sugimoto's Grim Reaper. Tsurumi accuses him of being the one who beat up Private Ogata, but although Sugimoto denies that he is "Immortal" Sugimoto, Tsurumi doesn't believe him. Tsurumi's intention is to use the gold to buy weapons to take Hokkaido back from the Japanese Army. Meanwhile, Asirpa and Retar track Sugimoto to Otaru where she finds Shiraishi who tells her that the 7th Division has Sugimoto prisoner. Inside the headquarters, Sugimoto attacks the two soldiers he fought with earlier, twins who plan to torture him. show less
Shiraishi takes Asirpa to the 7th Division headquarters to rescue Sugimoto. Meanwhile, Sugimoto is being beaten up by the twin ...read more Shiraishi takes Asirpa to the 7th Division headquarters to rescue Sugimoto. Meanwhile, Sugimoto is being beaten up by the twin soldiers, but he is saved by Tsurumi's intervention. Later, Shiraishi breaks into Sugimoto's cell, freeing him, so that when one of the twins returns to kill him, Sugimoto kills him first. Sugimoto then feigns a stomach injury, and is sent to the hospital, but he uses the opportunity to escape. He is pursued buy Tsurumi, but after Asirpa shoots Tsurumi's horse, he allows Sugimoto to escape, calculating that Sugimoto can collect the tattoos more efficiently. Back at the headquarters Shiraishi, disguised as a soldier, realizes that he couldn't find the tattooed skin because Tsurumi was wearing it underneath his jacket. Sugimoto contritely returns to Asirpa who gives him a mighty thump. Meanwhile Hijikata buys weapons and goes with Nagakura Shinpachi to meet Shibukawa Zenjirō a bandit leader, and form an alliance. However, Shibukawa refuses and attacks instead, and he and all of his men are wiped out. Later, while hunting deer, Asirpa and Sugimoto come across the tracks of two men with a dog. One is the famous bear hunter, Tetsuzō Nihei and the other is Tanagaki, a Matagi soldier.. show less
After killing a bear, Tetsuzō Nihei tells Tanagaki that he wants to hunt the last wolf. Meanwhile Asirpa and Sugimoto track a ...read more After killing a bear, Tetsuzō Nihei tells Tanagaki that he wants to hunt the last wolf. Meanwhile Asirpa and Sugimoto track a wounded deer and find it the next day. However, at the last moment, Sugimoto freezes and cannot fire his rifle and shoots wildly as the deer hits him, but the wolf Retar brings it down. Retar detects the other hunters, so Asirpa and Sugimoto leave, taking what meat they can. Nihei and Tanagaki hear the shot, and after they find the dead deer and wolf tracks, they then prepare to hunt the wolf. When Asirpa and Sugimoto return to their camp, Shiraishi is waiting. He has news that tattooed prisoner named Nihei with an Ainu dog has been seen in Otaru. As the hunters wait for the wolf, Asirpa, Sugimoto and Shiraishi track the hunters. Sugimoto ambushes Nihei , but his dog Ryuu deflects Sugimoto's rifle and Nihei counterattacks which results in a bloody confrontation. show less
Sugimoto and Shiraishi fight with Nihei and Tanagaki who then captures Asirpa. This enables them to subdue and tie up Sugimoto ...read more Sugimoto and Shiraishi fight with Nihei and Tanagaki who then captures Asirpa. This enables them to subdue and tie up Sugimoto and Shiraishi, however they manage to escape. Later, while carrying Asirpa, Tanagaki is shot by a poisoned arrow from a deer trap. She saves him, but Nihei is unconcerned and is still obsessed with hunting the white wolf. Retar runs to Asirpa's aid and with his mate, a grey wolf, they attack Nihei. Nihei is fatally wounded by the wolves, but dies peacefully after seeing the white wolf. Sugimoto and Shiraishi return to the village with the injured Tanagaki and Nihei’s tattooed skin. Tanagaki tells them that Lt. Tsurumi believes that there is far more gold than is rumored, and wants to use it to seek justice for the 7th Division. More that half of the men were casualties in the ill-advised frontal assault on hill 203 at the siege of Port Arthur. They were then treated as outcasts after their commander committed suicide. Tsurumi wants to use the gold to set up a munitions factory to provide employment and income for the island. Later, Hijikata heads into Otaru with Ushiyama to continue his search for tattooed prisoners. At a brothel, Ushiyama finds Shiraishi and gives chase. show less
As Ushiyama chases Shiraishi, they encounter Lt. Tsurumi and the 7th Division which results in a street battle. However it is ...read more As Ushiyama chases Shiraishi, they encounter Lt. Tsurumi and the 7th Division which results in a street battle. However it is only a distraction so that Hijikata can raid the bank, leaving with loot and the katana Izuminokami Kanesada. Meanwhile Shiraishi uses Ryuu and some of Ushiyama's clothing to track down Ushiyama, but is caught instead and is pressured into working with Sugimoto and Hijikata. Meanwhile there are rumors of a tattooed prisoner who is also a psychopathic killer, Henmi Kazuo. Sugimoto, Shiraishi and Asirpa go on a whale hunt with a group of fishermen and unknowingly rescue Henmi Kazuo after he falls into the water. Henmi manages to keep his tattoo concealed from Sugimoto, but later he decides that he must kill Sugimoto or die in the attempt. show less
Asirpa discovers the body of a man killed by Henmi and realizes he may be in the fishery. Meanwhile, Henmi lures Sugimoto away ...read more Asirpa discovers the body of a man killed by Henmi and realizes he may be in the fishery. Meanwhile, Henmi lures Sugimoto away from the others, but they encounter 7th Division soldiers and Tsurumi. Henmi is shot while killing two soldiers, and Sugimoto helps him escape. Henmi then tries to kill Sugimoto on the beach, but Sugimoto engages him in a violent struggle. Henmi relishes the fight to the death even as he is fatally stabbed. Suddenly, an orca beaches, grabs Henmi and returns to the ocean. As Sugimoto, Shiraishi and Asirpa follow the orca in a boat, itplays with Henmi's body, tossing it in the air. Sugimoto dives in to retrieve Henmis body while Asirpa harpoons the mammal which tows their boat out to sea. They escape the 7th Division and remove Henmi's tattoo. Meanwhile two soldiers find Tanagaki in the Ainu camp with Osama and his grandmother. They wrongly suspect Tanagaki of killing his companions and pretend to leave, but then try to kill him with a sniper rifle. Tanagaki realizes that are factions within the 7th Division with different agendas. Osama gives Tanagaki Nihei's rifle with only one bullet and he prepares to defend himself and the two Ainu against his former comrades. show less
Tanagaki, a Matagi, uses his woodcraft experience to escape his former comrades, Ogata and Nikaidou. He sets a trap by luring ...read more Tanagaki, a Matagi, uses his woodcraft experience to escape his former comrades, Ogata and Nikaidou. He sets a trap by luring them to the carcass of a deer killed by a bear which attacks then Nikaidou. Ogata exposes himself assuming Tanagaki is unarmed, but is shot by Tanagaki with his one bullet. Just then, a 7th Division soldier, Mishima, arrives and tells Nikaidou that Lt. Tsurumi is on his way, however Ogata, still alive, shoots Mishima. Tsurumi's troops arrive and Tanagaki escapes in the confusion while Tsurumi cruelly forces Nikaidou to expose any other traitors in his troop. Sugimoto, Shiraishi and Asirpa now have five tattoos. While Sugimoto discusses Hijikata's involvement, Shiraishi falls into the river and is grabbed by Iwan Onnechep Kamuy, a giant Huchen. However he is saved by an Ainu, Kiroranke Nispa, who kills the fish. Kiroranke he knows about the stolen gold, and says that Asirpa's father is Nopperabo and is now in Abashiri Prison. Together, Kiroranke, Sugimoto, Shiraishi and Asirpa head towards Abashiri via Sapporo to confront Nopperabo. show less
Ushiyama Tatsuma checks into the Sapporo World Hotel run by the very attractive widow Ienaga Kano and makes advances towards ...read more Ushiyama Tatsuma checks into the Sapporo World Hotel run by the very attractive widow Ienaga Kano and makes advances towards her, but then Sugimoto's group arrives. The hotel is filled with booby traps and secret passageways, and Ienaga drops Shiraishi through the floor to avoid him meeting Ushiyama. Shiraishi finds himself in a basement torture chamber and Ienaga drugs him unconscious. Later, Ushiyama is also dropped into the basement. Shiraishi tries to tell him that the proprietor is a former prisoner dressed as a woman, however lust and too much beer clouds Ushiyama's mind. Meanwhile Sugimoto finds Ienaga drooling over the beauty of the drugged Asirpa and attacks her. Ienaga escapes only to be cornered by Ushiyama who has recovered his senses. She runs through the hotel, pursued by the men for their separate reasons. A series of events during the chase triggers a massive explosion, destroying the hotel, and burying Ushiyama and Ienaga in the rubble. Sugimoto's group continue on their way to Abashiri Prison without the tattoo of Ienaga. Later, Ushiyama emerges with the body of Ienaga. show less
In the lawless town of Barato, Hyakunosuke Ogata sees Hijikata while having a shave in a barbershop. In Sapporo, Shiraishi meets ...read more In the lawless town of Barato, Hyakunosuke Ogata sees Hijikata while having a shave in a barbershop. In Sapporo, Shiraishi meets Ushiyama who takes him to Ienaga who is also still alive, and secretly gets a copy of Kazuo's tattoo. Shiraishi then reunites with his companions without telling them about Ushiyama and Ienaga. They go hunting near Naganuma to raise funds to buy explosives and catch a red-pelted "Trickster Fox" along with some river otters. In Asirpa's village they meet a travelling Ainu fortune teller named Inkarmat wearing a red fox fur. She advises Sugimoto to forsake his plans, however Asirpa does not trust her. Shiraishi takes their money to the horse races with Inkarmat where he wins on two races using her predictions. Meanwhile Kiroranke meets some old friends who ask him to ride a horse in the last race for a yakuza boss and lose. Shiraishi bets all his money on the last race, but Kiroranke wins the race, causing Shiraishi to lose his money. In Barato, Hyakunosuke Ogata finds Hijikata and offers him a tattooed skin to join his group. Shiraishi tells Sugimoto and the others that one of Ienaga's clients saw a tattooed skin in Yuubari, and he convinces them to go there instead of Abashiri. Sugimoto's group now have five tattooed code skins. show less