Golden Kamuy Story: Why Everyone is Risking Everything for the Gold

Although you may not have heard of this title before, Golden Kamuy is actually a super famous series. It doesn’t just have a long-running anime with five seasons; in Japan, it even has a live-action movie series. You might have doubts about a live-action Golden Kamuy, but it is actually a successful title—it is a top-selling movie and has received a lot of positive reviews on Netflix.

If you have watched anime for a long time, you must have noticed this title; since Golden Kamuy has five seasons, it’s hard to miss. To be honest, I also skipped this series for a long time because I didn’t think it looked interesting, and I only started it quite recently. However, after watching it, I found that Golden Kamuy is a very compelling story—it's quite different from the typical anime you might know.

I think a lot of people haven’t noticed, but Golden Kamuy isn’t actually a shounen anime; it's a seinen anime. For those who might be hearing these terms for the first time, let me give you a quick explanation. Shounen anime is basically targeted at young teen males (roughly ages 12–18), while seinen anime is targeted at adult men, generally aged 18 to 40. Besides the target audience, there is another major difference: shounen usually doesn't contain graphic or disturbing scenes, whereas seinen often does.

Shounen anime like Black Clover, Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Toriko, and others may have desperate, sad, or even horrific moments, but ultimately the series won’t make you feel disgusted. Seinen is different. Series like Kingdom: Season 5, Gantz, Berserk, Terra Formars have scenes that are genuinely disturbing. If you try the uncensored version—which is the manga—there is a high probability you will have nightmares and won’t even be able to sleep.

Luckily, the Golden Kamuy anime is censored quite a bit, and I didn't have any nightmares after finishing the previous seasons and catching up to the latest episode. In fact, after watching the latest release—Season 5, Episode 6—and finally understanding the true meaning of the title, I was so impressed that I wanted to share this title with more people.

Since Golden Kamuy has five seasons, I’ve put together this story summary to help everyone get into the plot faster. I hope you find it helpful! However, before we dive in, please be aware: while this post only includes anime content and is free of manga spoilers, it covers the episodes in great detail. Please be careful and leave now if you aren't caught up or if you want to avoid spoilers entirely!

Source: TVアニメ『ゴールデンカムイ』公式 Official X account

The Heart of the Story - Asirpa and Sugimoto Saichi’s Quest:

The story of Golden Kamuy is actually quite simple: it follows Asirpa, an independent and capable young Ainu huntress, who teams up with Sugimoto Saichi, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese War. Together, they search for gold hidden somewhere in Hokkaido. Compared to other anime, Golden Kamuy has a very simple and straightforward goal, but of course, once they begin their journey, many unexpected things happen.

For those who don’t know anything about Golden Kamuy, let me briefly explain the "gold." In this world, a massive amount of gold is hidden somewhere in Hokkaido. It sounds like a fake or unbelievable story, but it is actually true. There is such an incredible amount of gold that it would be impossible for a normal person to move it all alone.

The gold can only be found by piecing together a ciphered map. While that sounds common enough, the "connecting part" isn't the main problem—the problem is how the map is made. The map is drawn as strange tattoos directly onto the bodies of Abashiri Prison escapees. This means that in order to complete the map, you have to skin the escapees and combine their hides to find the gold. This is not a difficult question: how can a normal person defeat these criminals and skin them just for gold?

The hunt for the gold wasn't designed for everyone; it was made only for those with the ability to kill and the ruthless mentality to use others for their own gain. This is why Asirpa and Sugimoto’s journey is so dangerous and intense—every enemy they face is risking their life and is ready to go to war for that gold.

Before diving deeper, I assume everyone has the same question: exactly how much gold is there? Since everyone is risking their lives and preparing for war, it wouldn't make sense if the amount wasn't impressive. The stash is actually 20,000 kan, which converts to roughly 662.9 billion yen in today’s currency.

It would be foolish to risk your life for a small prize, but when you know you have a chance to get over 600 billion yen, who would say no? With that kind of wealth, you can do anything. This is why the Imperial Japanese Army, a rebel faction, the Russians, and even the legendary Shinsengumi member, Hijikata Toshizō, have all joined the war for the gold.

Source: TVアニメ『ゴールデンカムイ』公式 Official X account

The Turning Point for Asirpa and Sugimoto Saichi:

As everyone knows, war is one of the most cruel things in life. Sugimoto forced himself to survive every battle, earning the nickname “Immortal Sugimoto,” but his comrade didn't make it. Since Sugimoto had no dreams of his own and no plans for the future, he made a promise to his dying comrade to take care of his wife. That is why he ended up working in Hokkaido and eventually began this journey.

Taking care of a widow wouldn't normally be difficult, but the problem is that she is ill and needs money for proper medical treatment. To fulfill his friend’s final wish, Sugimoto needs a large sum of money—even if he doesn't need all 600 billion yen. At first, Sugimoto joined the hunt almost like it was a game; since he didn't care whether he lived or died, finding the gold seemed like the fastest and most efficient way to get the wealth he needed.

On the other hand, although Asirpa’s goal is somewhat darker, she accepted the offer because she wanted to avenge her father. Unlike a modern Japanese person, Asirpa is an Ainu who loves nature and is always grateful for what the earth provides. Because of this, she doesn't actually need the gold for herself and is willing to give her share to others. Much like Sugimoto, she didn't realize they would get caught up in so many conflicts; they truly thought it would be an easy job. 

The adventures of Asirpa and Sugimoto are really fun, and their interactions are fantastic. I especially enjoyed the meal scenes—they are so charming that they made me want to join them! While Asirpa and Sugimoto might wish their thrilling journey would never end, the story doesn't stay lighthearted forever. Eventually, it becomes clear that Asirpa has been part of a well-designed game created by her father, Noppera-bo.

After the appearance of Hijikata Toshizō and Tsurumi Tokushirō, Asirpa and Sugimoto’s journey changed dramatically. Both men are powerful and intense characters; they are truly trying to build something new and are daring enough to start actual wars against the Japanese Empire. Every time they make a move, they utilize many people and weapons, which inevitably results in massive casualties.

Unlike Asirpa, Sugimoto, and even their best friend Shiraishi Yoshitake, Hijikata and Tsurumi truly need the gold. They want to use it to create something grand and build a different future. Because of this, they pour all of their power into every conflict and are constantly plotting to lure Asirpa and Sugimoto into traps. 

Luckily, our main character is the “Immortal Sugimoto.” No matter what kind of traps lie in wait, he refuses to die and always overcomes every obstacle to reunite with Asirpa. The most beautiful part of their relationship is Asirpa's unwavering faith; no matter what happens to her, she believes Sugimoto will come for her. This trust gives her the mental strength to endure anything.

Source: TVアニメ『ゴールデンカムイ』公式 Official X account

“Immortal Sugimoto” and Asirpa’s Future:

Although Sugimoto Saichi is famous throughout the world of Golden Kamuy as “Immortal Sugimoto,” I want to be clear: this doesn't mean he has superpowers. Golden Kamuy is a realistic series; it doesn't feature any supernatural abilities or magic. People die very easily, especially in the heat of battle.

Sugimoto is “immortal” not because of any ability, but because of his refusal to give up and his lack of fear. Although he doesn't have grand dreams, a family, or a specific cause to fight for, his will to live is so strong that no matter the situation, fighting is always an option for him.

This explanation makes sense, but being able to fight doesn't necessarily mean you can fight well. So, how does Sugimoto survive so many near-death experiences? The answer is simple, yet nearly impossible for others to replicate: he unleashes every bit of power he has. Because he doesn't fear his own death—a trait he developed during the Russo-Japanese War—he is always able to fight at 100% capacity and maintain absolute focus.

Normally, no matter how talented you are, when you face a machine gun or a massive, terrifying bear, you will feel fear; you might become paralyzed, even if only for a second. But because Sugimoto doesn't fear death, he never hesitates. He focuses entirely on the moment and faces his opponents head-on. This mindset is his greatest weapon, helping him survive the traps set by Hijikata Toshizō and Tsurumi Tokushirō and eventually reuniting him with Asirpa.

Sugimoto is sharp enough that he noticed Noppera-bo’s selfish plan without even needing many details from Asirpa. Among the Abashiri convicts, there is only one person who knows Asirpa’s Japanese name: Hijikata. While this may seem insignificant at first, in the world of Golden Kamuy, only one person should have known that name—her father, Wilk.

When Sugimoto realized Hijikata knew her Japanese name, he began to piece the story together on his own, and his theory turned out to be correct. Wilk (who is also known as Noppera-bo) had given Hijikata that name to help him find Asirpa in Hokkaido, because she is the final key to the gold. So, although every Abashiri convict seems to have an equal chance of winning the game, Wilk had actually chosen the winner in secret.

Now we understand that this is actually a fixed race set by Wilk, but this leads to one question: why Hijikata? Among all the Abashiri convicts, why didn't Wilk choose someone else? It is because Hijikata is the only one who dares to challenge the Japanese Empire, and the only one capable of creating a new world where the Ainu can live freely.

Source: TVアニメ『ゴールデンカムイ』公式 Official X account

Since Hijikata is a legendary figure, it makes sense logically. If he succeeds, the Ainu will be able to survive in a new society—which sounds great! However, this leads to another question: if Wilk had already chosen Hijikata, why did he need to drag Asirpa into all of this? Hijikata wanted the gold; if Wilk had simply forced him to protect Asirpa, she wouldn't have had to endure so many nightmares.

This is exactly why Sugimoto gets angry and changes his goal. Wilk wanted Asirpa to fight like a warrior alongside Hijikata for the future of the Ainu. He didn't want her to sit on the sidelines while Hijikata fought; he wanted her to participate. Therefore, he prepared this massive "show" just to force Asirpa to join Hijikata’s forces and eventually wage war against the Japanese Empire. Wilk is a madman—though he fought his whole life, he still wasn't satisfied. He wanted his daughter to become just like him, always fighting for a grand, distant dream.

When Sugimoto realized Wilk’s plan, his goal changed. At first, he only wanted the gold to help his friend's widow, but now his priority is protecting Asirpa. He wants to ensure she doesn't have to kill anyone or get sucked into a life of war. Unlike Sugimoto, Asirpa is pure; although she eats raw meat and animal brains, she has never killed a human and has no desire to do so.

Sugimoto respects Asirpa’s morals and uses all his strength to protect her, even killing on her behalf so she won't have to. While they originally started this journey because Sugimoto wanted gold and Asirpa wanted to protect him, everything has changed now that Wilk's plan has been revealed.

Sugimoto no longer cares about the gold; he is focused entirely on protecting Asirpa and trying to give her a normal, peaceful life. On the other hand, knowing her biological father set everything in motion, Asirpa has reached a point of no return. She must continue moving forward—and now, she must find the gold.

Sugimoto is no longer the one who will decide how to use the gold; that choice now belongs to Asirpa. As the final key to the treasure and the only daughter of Wilk, Asirpa has no choice but to fight until the end to claim it. Although the war has become incredibly complicated and dangerous, she is lucky to have her strongest knight by her side. No matter what happens, “Immortal Sugimoto” will always be there, fighting right along with her.

Source: TVアニメ『ゴールデンカムイ』公式 Official X account

Conclusion:


Although the core plot of Golden Kamuy—finding the hidden gold—is quite simple, the journey is consistently dangerous and intense. Golden Kamuy is a famous series, but because it contains scenes that can be quite disturbing, it isn’t an anime I can recommend to everyone. However, if you are able to handle the scenes, please believe me: Golden Kamuy will give you a completely unique experience unlike any other.

Thank you for reading this post! I will be publishing more content soon, including anime story explanations, character deep-dives, and much more, so please stay tuned! While waiting for the other posts, please leave as many episodic reviews as possible, as there are many challenges from AnimeOshi are waiting for you!