Goemon Ishikawa XIII

Creation

Goemon is unique to the series as he was the only character not there from the beginning. Monkey Punch, in an interview featured on the American Dead or Alive DVD release, mentioned he added Goemon later as he felt the manga needed a more Japanese character. As such, Goemon was primarily based on the character Kyūzō, the master swordsman of Akira Kurosawa's 1954 film Seven Samurai. From the role came Goemon's strict demeanor and fast draw blade, as well as the long-faced appearance of actor Seiji Miyaguchi.

Description

In the original manga, Goemon first appears as a very dangerous enemy of Lupin in chapter 28 "Appearance of Goemon" (五右ェ門登場, Goemon Tōjō). Lupin attempts to steal Goemon's master's alchemic formula through infiltration of Goemon's clan, but his cover is blown by Fujiko Mine, who is Goemon's girlfriend at the time. Goemon tries to kill Lupin over the next several installments, making attempts ranging from hiring assassins as skilled as Daisuke Jigen himself, to entering the service of three martial arts masters, to planting bombs in Lupin's belongings. However, he later decides that he could learn more working for Lupin than against him, and rather abruptly switches his allegiance. His position at Lupin's side is cemented when Lupin ruins the government's case against the man who killed Goemon's uncle, allowing Goemon to take his revenge as brutally and publicly as he wants without having to break into prison to do so.

By the events of the second manga series, Lupin trusts Goemon implicitly, and Goemon reciprocates. When a rival of Lupin's captures and hideously tortures Goemon, Goemon refuses to even respond to his interrogation, except to say that Lupin would find him and allow him to take revenge. Lupin then captures and seduces his rival's wife, and uses the information gleaned thereof to release Goemon, who slays his captor with Jigen's help.

In the original anime Goemon's relationship to Lupin starts off more professional than close friendship. By the second anime series, Goemon has developed a true loyalty to Lupin. However, he easily gets annoyed by Lupin's antics, especially Lupin's infatuation with women, Fujiko Mine in particular. He will occasionally oppose Lupin directly when Lupin's jobs or actions do not agree with his morals. He has even promised that the last act he will take with Lupin is delivering his deathblow. However, Goemon doesn't hesitate to help Lupin in serious situations, and readily assists him any time Lupin works for a just cause. However, in 1978's The Mystery of Mamo, he claims that he helps Lupin simply so he can keep his vow to kill him himself.

Goemon has a much more amicable relationship with Jigen. Goemon sees Jigen as a fellow honorable warrior, while Jigen sees Goemon as a trustworthy "foxhole buddy", and the two are frequently paired together during jobs, and usually help keep Lupin in check. On the odd occasion and increasingly in recent years, Goemon will ally himself with Fujiko, in spite of his distrust of her.

Voice actors

Goemon Ishikawa was first voiced by Gorō Naya in the CinemaScope version of the 1969 pilot film for the first anime, while Osamu Kobayashi voiced him in the pilot's TV version. However, Chikao Ōtsuka was given the role when the first anime was actually produced (1971-72). Goemon was taken over by Makio Inoue for the second anime (1977-78), who continued to voice the character until 2010, with one exception. Due to budget concerns, TMS decided not to employ the regular voice cast for the 1987 original video animation The Plot of the Fuma Clan, with Goemon voiced by Kaneto Shiozawa. The 2011 TV special Blood Seal - Eternal Mermaid marked the first appearance of Daisuke Namikawa as the character and he continues to voice Goemon Ishikawa to this day. Inoue did return to the role once more for the 2012 Lupin Family Lineup short original video animation.

William Ross voiced Goemon in the 1979 Toho English dub of The Mystery of Mamo, where the character's name was changed to "Samurai". Steve Kramer (1992-3, Streamline). Mark Franklin (1995, AnimEigo). Ardwight Chamberlain (1995, Streamline). Garrick Hagon (1996, Manga UK). Michael Gregory (2000, Animaze/Manga). Mike McFarland voiced the character for Funimation Entertainment's dubs of several TV specials and theatrical films between 2002 and 2005, and their 2013 dub of The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. Lex Lang voiced Goemon in the Phuuz dub for Pioneer/Geneon's release of the second anime between 2003 and 2006, and reprises the role for Discotek Media's upcoming dub of the fifth anime.

Live Film Actor

The 2012 film Lupin the Third featured TV and Film star Gô Ayano and the first live-action Goemon. Goemon, who wears traditional Japanese robes (usually a fundoshi and hakama) in the manga and anime, was at one point considered to wear contemporary clothes in this film. Ryûhei Kitamura expressed that "it would be nonsense for Goemon to exist in current society wearing samurai garb and carrying around a katana." In the completed film, however, Goemon wears robes similar to his drawn and animated counterparts.

Reception

In 2007, Oricon magazine polled readers on which characters they would most like to see in their own series. Goemon appeared in the number eight position on the female readers polls, and seventh place in the combined poll.