Kiyohiko Shiraishi
A tattooed escape artist who joins Sugimoto's group to trace the map to the Ainu gold.
Kiyohiko Shiraishi is an escape artist and a tattooed convict from Abashiri Prison. He is recruited by Saichi Sugimoto and Asirpa to help them trace the tattoos of other escaped prisoners, as his own tattoos are part of the ciphered map to the hidden Ainu gold. Unlike the other convicts, Shiraishi is not a violent killer, and Asirpa suggests cooperating with him by simply tracing his tattoos rather than killing him.
- Role
- Former Imperial Army Officer / Gold Hunter
- Affiliation
- Imperial Japanese Army (Retired), Sugimoto's Group (Temporary)
- First Appears
- Chapter 1
- Status
- Alive
- Key Skill
- Tactical Analysis & Intelligence Gathering
Lore & Background
Shiraishi is first encountered by Sugimoto and Asirpa as they search for tattooed convicts from Abashiri Prison. Because Asirpa opposes needless killing, she suggests they cooperate with prisoners they find by tracing their tattoos instead of skinning them. Shiraishi becomes the first such recruit, joining their group as they clash and cooperate with other parties collecting the tattoos, including First Lieutenant Tsurumi and Hijikata Toshizō. His skills as an escape artist prove valuable as the group navigates the dangers of Hokkaido.
In Their Own Story
The snow crunched under Shiraishi's boots as he emerged from the forest, hands raised in surrender. 'I'm not like the others,' he said, his breath forming clouds in the cold air. 'I can help you read the map without killing anyone.' Asirpa studied him with cautious eyes, then nodded. Sugimoto kept his rifle trained on the escape artist, but lowered it when Shiraishi showed them the intricate tattoos covering his back. 'Trace them,' Shiraishi offered. 'That's all you need. No blood required.'
Reader's Guide
Kiyohiko Shiraishi is a tattooed convict who escaped from Abashiri Prison, carrying part of the ciphered map to the Ainu gold on his skin. Unlike many of the other convicts, he is not a murderer, which makes him a more cooperative ally for Sugimoto and Asirpa. His primary role in the group is to provide access to his tattoos, allowing the team to trace the map without resorting to violence. As an escape artist, he also brings practical skills for evading capture and navigating dangerous situations. Shiraishi's personality is marked by a survival instinct and a willingness to negotiate rather than fight. He joins Sugimoto's group as they pursue the gold, clashing and cooperating with other parties like First Lieutenant Tsurumi's 7th Division and the last living samurai, Hijikata Toshizō. His connection to Asirpa is particularly important, as her opposition to needless killing is what allows him to join the group alive. This sets him apart from other tattooed convicts who are hunted and killed for their skin.
Did You Know?
- Shiraishi is one of the tattooed convicts who escaped from Abashiri Prison, where the Ainu miner was once held and tortured for the gold's location.
- Asirpa specifically suggests cooperating with Shiraishi by tracing his tattoos rather than killing him, because she opposes needless killing.
- Shiraishi's tattoos are part of a ciphered map that was split among multiple prisoners, who were always intended to be murdered and skinned.
- He joins Sugimoto's group as they clash and cooperate with other parties collecting the tattoos, including First Lieutenant Tsurumi and Hijikata Toshizō.
- Shiraishi is described as an 'escape artist,' a skill that proves useful as the group navigates the dangers of Hokkaido.