needabourbon | [Jigen Daisuke's Biography]

Character
Name: Jigen Daisuke
Fandom: Lupin III
Note: All Lupin III characters have very loose canon consistency. As seen with most specials, each director brings their own thoughts and ideas to storyboard each special. The only true consistencies are personalities and abilities.
Gender: Male
Age: Unspecified. Early 40’s.
Canon Reference: Strictly specials/movies.
Wing Color: “Tar black like his lungs.” :)

History

HeadcanonTimeline
Born 1-11-1934. Jigen’s father is a loyal member of the Chicago Outfit. (Headcanon)
1945. Jigen’s mother is murdered by the Chicago Outfit as punishment to his father. Jigen blames his father for her death.(Headcanon)
1950. At age 16, Jigen joins the Chicago Outfit as a lackey and begins to build his reputation.(Headcanon)
1957. Jigen murders his father to gain revenge for his mother’s death. He flees the states and disappears.(Headcanon)
1959. Reappears in Alaska.Attacking the main financial contributor to the American Army. He was betrayed by a man named Crazy Mash who shot Jigen twice in his left arm. Scars of the two bullets are left just above and just below his left elbow. (Hemingway Papers)
1960. Appears in South Africa as a hired bodyguard for a king’s daughter. She fell in love with him, and seemed to have a connection to her as well, though she was killed in a plane explosion. (Reference: Seven Days Rhapsody.)
1962. A rich man in the mafia named Galves hires Jigen Daisuke as a bodyguard. In a few mysterious encounters, Jigen meet both Lupin III and Ishikawa Goemon. (Reference: Episode 0 First Contact)
1962 and beyond. Adventures ensue with newly made partners in crime.

Personality

As Jigen Daisuke is not a descendant of a famous or historical figure like his thieving companions, there is little to be said about his past and more to be said about who he has made himself to be today. The middle-aged gunslinger has a rumored in Legend of the Gold Babylon to have a quick-draw of 0.3 of a second, can drive like an amazing maniac, and is quick to gain knowledge on anything that he needs to know. Needless to say, Jigen rarely brags about these techniques and simply accepts them as they are and applies them to every job that can make him some money. On occasion the man is hired as a mercenary, though he usually prefers to work alongside his partners Lupin and Goemon. (And occasionally Fujiko.) Loyal, quick and brave, Jigen Daisuke is the gunman and best friend to the great thief, Arsene Lupin III.
Jigen’s responsibility varies depending on the situation at hand. Most times, he is reliable and never lets a job go unfinished, while other times he wants nothing to do with Lupin and his wild shenanigans. Though being part of an organization at a young age taught Jigen to obey the chain of command,once he left the Chicago outfit and arrived in Japan to meet Lupin III and Ishikawa Goemon did he finally take charge for himself. He changed his focus to working alongside his fellow thieves rather than obey their commands. (Though you will often see Lupin bossing both Jigen and Goemon around like he is the leader of the group, Jigen pushes this aside and simply considers it a friendly request.)
The sense of responsibility may have been altered as Jigen took on Japan as his ‘homeland’ after fleeing from America. From the moment he arrived in Japan, he adopted the culture as if it were his own from the start and that might have included the responsibility aspect of the Japanese. He is determined and bold as any formal Japanese man except with a brash touch of the American gunslinger and womanizer.In any serious cases, Jigen would be just as likely to attempt to save a woman’s life as Lupin or Goemon would be. Though Lupin would expect a little lovin’ afterward, Jigen is more like Goemon in the sense that “saving the woman is enough reward for me” and would leave it at that. Due to his pride, he also refuses to ask anything major of his friends feeling that he could do it himself. In the event that he does need help, he simply suggests instead of demands. There is a level of respect that Jigen holds to everyone and considers it his ‘responsibility’ to be able to take care of himself in any situation.
Given that Jigen has adopted the Japanese attitude of being determined and brave, that doesn’t stop him from making fun of the situation or deciding to turn tail and run. Often in the get-away stages of an operation, when he is seen driving from near death or a high-speed chase, Jigen will be grinning like he’s a little boy behind the wheel of a nice car. In the next moment though, he can pop his head out of the window and be shooting down his pursuers with no sign of the joy at all. This goes to show that even in the grim situations, such as their escape from the underground base of Area 51 in the special Angel Tactics, in which Jigen doesn’t mind the bullets flying at him and just smiles at the thrill of danger.
Jigen Daisuke met with his partners Arsene Lupin III and Ishikawa Goemon in the early 60’s. Though they are all thieves in their own ways, Lupin sets the example of “best thief ever” to both Goemon and Jigen. Lupin III is known for being a master of disguise, deception and trickery, often escaping from an Inspector Zenigata who has been after Lupin for more than 20 years. Ishikawa Goemon is not much of a thief as he is a traditional samurai; though this doesn’t stop him from using his talents to cut through bank vaults with his trusty Zantetsuken sword. Quiet and reserved, Goemon tends to do and speak what he feels must be done and said, unlike Lupin who does and says whatever he wants whenever he wants. Jigen would be considered the moderate between Lupin and Goemon—keeping silent and calm most of the time, but still speaking his mind whenever he wants to.
Relations between each of the characters are madein many of the specials, though what is mostly shown is the bonding between Lupin and Jigen.In Green vs. Red, there is a point when Jigen has a computer set up on top of a school building’s roof top. After a few attempts of trying to hack into a system, he gives up and goes into the school to look for Lupin. As he finds him, he quickly puts Lupin into a friendly headlock for a moment before dragging him back up to the roof to help out. Though this moment is small in the movie’s entirety, it’s a simple show of their relationship that is almost brotherly and that the two of them can be playful in a serious way, even at their age.
Goemon and Jigen have a quiet bond, where little needs to be said. As in Tokyo Crisis, when Jigen and Goemon are attempting to retrieve Zantetsuken, both of the men help each other get through security and guards. As Jigen’s toothache pains him and even causes him to fall, Goemon jumps in to help him up and out mainly in his own determination to get his blade back into his hands. At the same time Jigen’s tooth is knocked out, Goemon recovers Zantetsuken. Immediately following, nothing can stop the duo from their swift escape. Little moments like these show that Jigen and Goemon have a brotherly chemistry and can easily connect.
His love life started at his mid-twenties as he was hired to be a bodyguard to a king somewhere in South Africa. The king’s daughter soon fell in love with Jigen while he seemed attached enough to want to keep her safe. He sent her away though as she was escaping, the car that transported her lost control and crashed into a plane. From the moment he witnessed this, Jigen felt regret and despair—that he was the one who should have died instead. This left a scar in Jigen’s aging heart and taught him not to get too close to women. Though he refuses to have relations with women, he also refuses not to be a gentleman around them. When he saves Linda during Angel Tactics, he finds it difficult to be distrusting of a woman he had just saved. It’s only until she starts shooting at him in attempt to kill him does he realize that being chivalrous isn’t always paid back well. After these two experiences, he has learned not to be as trusting towards women but still treat them with the respect unless they prove that they don’t deserve it.
Another woman in Jigen’s life is one that he is not necessarily proud to know. Mine Fujiko. She is Lupin III’s supposed lover and is Jigen’s least favorite woman in the world. Mine Fujiko depends on Lupin, Jigen and Goemon to do the dirty work of a heist before she swoops in an attempt to take away the grand prize right before their eyes. She teases men with her charm and voluptuous boobery to get what she wants, and often shamelessly lures the Lupin team into dangerous situations without much of a warning at all. Fujiko appears to be one of the only aspects of Lupin’s life that Jigen does not approve of. When Jigen often calls her a “broad” or mentions how she only does what she does for the money of it, Lupin is sharp to defend Fujiko from Jigen and Goemon’s bitter remarks. She is a constant reminder to Jigen not to allow women to get too close without questioning their motives beforehand.
The sense of revenge was imbedded in Jigen’s heart at an early age with the murder of his mother by his own father. From this, Jigen had it hammered into his mind that when someone close to him loses their life to a killer that he must avenge them by killing their murderer or fulfilling the last wish of the deceased. In other words, Jigen is the type to have the respect needed not to let it affect the task at hand, while still honoring the dead. In $1 Money Wars (Also known as “Missed by A Dollar”) Lupin fakes his own death to gain something of an upper hand without informing anyone else of his plan. Jigen and the rest of the team are distraught by the circumstance but decide not to let the job go unfinished. This isn’t the only thing the Jigen won’t let unfinished though, for he decides that he wants revenge on Lupin’s “killer” and begins plotting. A similar instance is shown in The Last Job, where Zenigata supposedly is killed and Jigen makes the decision not to let the job go unfinished because of Zenigata’s untimely death. He urges the team to continue on and keeps his respect to that of the dead.

Strengths
[Physical]
Jigen Daisuke is a talented mercenary and assassin. He is well acknowledged with many types of weapons, including the PTRS Anti-Tank Rifles down to his S&W Model 19 Combat Magnum. In The Hemingway Papers, he shows his ability of precise aim by deflecting a bullet headed right for him. Though this is a very intimidating ability, it’s often disproven by the simplest things; such as someone simply dodging, or his concentration being broken by something sudden or heavily distracting. It also appears,in The Return of Pycal, that when Jigen’s allergies kick in, that his gains an acute sense of hearing.
Even in times with wounds, Jigen has the combined physical and mental strength to carry on his mission. By constructing something of an anti-tank rifle into his crutch, Jigen is able to fulfill his ‘gun-slinger’ title even with a wounded shoulder. Also, with the same wounded shoulder, he is able to operate a small helicopter and ride a motorcycle. On other occasions, such as the Return to Pycal, when Jigen’s allergies are acting up, it seems all the man wants is a good nap, but doesn’t let the sniffles stop him from following Lupin right into the heart of danger.
It is shown throughout the specials that Jigen is very experience behind the wheel of just about any automobile, boat, plan and motorcycle. He can use just about out-maneuver anything with just about anything else. (Example: In Elusiveness of the Fog, Jigen is seen steering a small luxury boat through the streets of a small town to escape Zenigata’s horde of policemen.) It is also shown in Angel Tactics that Jigen has the ability to create a superb “old man scientist” disguise that, for a moment, tricks Zenigata himself. It’s not before Zenigata actually realizes it, do Jigen, Lupin and Goemon swiftly make their exit out of Area 51.Another example that Jigen can also be a man of disguise is in $1 Money Wars where Lupin has bought out a small oil rig company, Fujiko and Jigen dress up as business associates talking to investors. Jigen shows that he has done the financial research of the oil-business by publicly speaking to other representatives of companies looking for investments.

[Mental]
Jigen’s concentration is almost unbelievable sometimes. He is able to reach half of his body out of a speeding little car to aim, shoot and hit oncoming missiles. With enough focus, he can even deflect oncoming bullets. Not only this, but he is able to suppress mental images that would normally haunt a man for years, with a few exceptions. Jigen is able to shoot multiple men down with accurate precision to avoid killing them. In other rare cases, Jigen’s precision is used to quickly put down threats and not give them a second thought. Sometimes it seems that it is because Lupin III is with Jigen that he is able to push the thoughts aside and focus on the task at hand. The humor that his monkey-friend brings lifts his spirits enough to even make Jigen feel a little silly sometimes.

[Emotional]
This is mixed with the mental strengths that Jigen is able to concentrate at the task at hand without letting his emotions get involved. In Elusiveness of the Fog, the three men are in a boat travelling with a small boy. He playfully replies to the boy that he is, “Old man number 2, Jigen Daisuke” even though he had just finished and was about to take out several opposing forces. Also, in Seven Days Rhapsody, he is able to put aside a bad past with an old friend in order to take up a new job. Even though his old friend was indirectly involved with the killing of his (possible) first love, Jigen decides that it’s time enough to put the past behind him and move on with the present job.

Weaknesses
[Physical]
Just like any man with great strengths, there are great weaknesses to be had. Some weaknesses are more embarrassing than others; like toothaches. In Tokyo Crisis, Jigen is seen nervously pacing the front of a dental clinic, unnerved of the operation ahead. His good monkey friend Lupin III busts in the side of the dental office and ‘rescues’ Jigen from his horror. The gunman then puts up with the ache for a majority of the show, though his accuracy for shooting with his magnum is hindered as the pain shooting to his tooth from the recoil of the gun distracts his concentration. It isn’t until heis punched in the jaw that the tooth is knocked out and the pain is relieved. Immediately afterward, he is able to aim with ultimate precision.

[Mental]
Originating from America, Jigen was born without much of a superstition, or thought of the supernatural. It wasn’t until he claimed Japan his homeland and familiarized himself with the culture did the supernatural begin to take its toll on Jigen’s nerves. In the Elusiveness of the Fog special, Jigen witnesses the strange occurrence that driver’s in their cars begin to disappear into thin air. Another time when Jigen’s nerves were shot was his encounter with Mamo in The Secret of Mamo. After Fujiko, Lupin and he are drugged to have a hallucination, Jigen wakes to find Mamo levitating just outside their room window. Not to say that these events wouldn’t freak anyone else out but Jigen takes them to heart and mind that there are endless possibilities when it comes to the supernatural experience.

[Emotional]
Although Jigen respects women and will be the knight-in-shining-armor when they are in distress, he holds a great deal of caution when around them. He feels, from experience, that if he allowed a woman to get too close that something bad would happen to her (or to him). One example is from Angel Tactics, where a green-haired woman named Linda is being held in an alley-way by thugs. Though this is a set-up, Jigen is there to save the day and is almost intrigued by her speed and show of magic after the event. While in a bar watching her performance, Linda then attacks Jigen in attempt to kill him. This taught Jigen that even women he ‘saves’ and seem innocent or interesting could be looking to kill him at any moment.
It is also known that Jigen Daisuke is very untrusting of strangers, especially the strangers that he learns so much about before even meeting them. It is seen in the special First Contact that his first encounter with Lupin III is that of a duel, which they are equally matched, and until the very moment of their capture is nothing but a war between an inevitable friendship. Jigen never once let his guard down around Lupin or Goemon, even in the calm conversations that they may have had. He always expected something to happen and it wasn’t until he and Lupin drove away together did they finally become partners. It seems that Jigen is cautious about what he says and does around strangers, though he shut himself away entirely. He will be honest to an extent, everything after that is strict information for the gunman and his team.

Other

Jigen’s favorite smokes are Pall Mall Longs or secondly, Marlboros.
He prefers whiskey or bourbon without ice. In $1 Money Wars, he takes a Dry Manhattan because he is reminiscent of America.
In Secret of Mamo, Jigen called his hat his trademark. Though he often loses it—he always gets it back.