Akiro Sato

Akiro Sato is a skilled Chihara-Kai member who works under Kume.
==Biography==
===The Test===
Sato is first seen washing his hands in a bathroom, where he first encounters with Jake Adelstein. He refused to answer his question about his fresh tattoo and would later be seen breaking up an argument at his table. As the gaijin hostess performed, he took an interest in her but was disheartened when she favored Jake's table over his own.
Sato assists his superior in a ceremony concerning the Chihara-Kai.
===Kishi Kaisei===
Sato demonstrates how to chop onions for some new recruits, and one of them disparages him, which Sato doesn't take lightly. Kume, Sato's superior, then orders him to redo his rounds as the protection fees have risen.
Sato is later shown waiting at an arcade to collect a protection fee from the owner and stops an argument between Duke and Samantha at the Onyx bar locker room. That night, Sato delivers the protection fees he has collected throughout the day to Kume. Upon inspecting them, Kume realizes that one of them is short and admits that Duke promised to pay for the missing total the next month.
Right around when Jake was talking to Samantha at the Onyx club, Sato entered the place and requested her. The two would briefly talk, mainly about the mark on his face that Kume gave him. They're soon joined by Jake, who starts up a conversation with them, and after Duke calls over Samantha, Jake continues his conversation with Sato, who seemingly warms up to Jake. Before Jake leaves to catch his train, Jake leaves his business card with him.
By the docks, Sato stares at some fishermen loading up some fish into some ice, and when one asks who Sato is, the other responds no one.
===Reading the Air===
Sato and Kume visit the bar that was held up by the Tozawa clan, and Sato roughs up one of the worker's mouths for besmirching the Chiharu-Kai by claiming he'll switch to the Tozawa clan. Later, outside, Kume would scold Sato for smacking the owner, claiming the owner would never have the guts to do it. As they continue walking and talking, Sato is reminded by Kume how he freed him from a life of hard work, gutting fish all day. Although they planned to visit a pachinko parlor next, a bunch of women's dresses caught their eyes.
Sometime later, Sato watched a newscast of the Tozawa members who attacked the club Kume, and he visited, and Sato recognized Jake.
Sato would later appear at the Onyx bar, where his gang delivered some dresses to Kume, and he obtained them earlier in the day to sell to the ladies. He'd discuss an argument between Polina and a group member. He'd then approach Samantha, say that none of the dresses there would look good on her, and offer to show her a special one in the backroom. In the locker room, Samantha tries on an orange dress and decides to buy it, though he then claims it's not for sale and asks that she return it.
Sitting in the Chiharu-Kai living room with a newspaper in hand, Sato witnesses a scene between a low-ranking member and a couple of executives, one of them being Kume. Sato would then focus his paper on the three members of the Tozawa clan who were arrested by the police. The article, of course, was written by Jake. Soon after this, Sato would discipline a member who claimed he had sex with a gaijin lady in the bathroom on the rooftop. There, Sato beat the foul-mouthed member to a bloody pulp and would be reprimanded by Ishida. Completely remorseful for his actions, Sato offers to find someone better to replace the foul-mouthed member he beat up so brutally.
===I Want It That Way===
Driving Jake home, Sato was asked by Jake what he had told his boss about him. Sato confesses that he told Ishida about him after he saw him on the news after the arrest of the three Tozawa members. Despite Jake's protest, he claims it'll lead to him gaining a new source. Although there was tension between them, it started to crack and break when Sato's radio started playing the Backstreet Boys, and he began singing the lyrics. This led to a minor debate between Jake and Sato on what the lyrics' context lyrics meant.
Eventually, Sato learns from his superior Kume that he heard from the owner of the Onyx bar, Duke, that Samantha plans on starting her own business and that he should deal with her. Kume also warns him not to screw things up because he has feelings for her, which Sato quietly assures him of, but he cannot really hide his dour look of displeasure at the order.
At the Onyx club, Sato is led by Duke to the locker room, where Samantha is, and after Duke warns her about messing with him, he demands that he leave. Once Duke is gone, Sato tries to reason with Samantha and claim he's not her enemy, but is trying to protect her, but she's not buying it.
By the bar, Sato meets with Jake, and he tells Jake that Samantha wasn't there. The two then talk about whether or not Jake has found any new information on the nasty rumor surrounding his boss and the consequences if it's invalid. Not wanting to stay any longer, Sato suggests they leave, and they do so.
At a dance club, Jake and Sato enjoy themselves, and later, he has sex with a lady he had the pleasure of meeting there at a love hotel. Sato would later treat Jake at an expensive restaurant, where he would talk about his home state, Missouri, and other questions that Sato asked him. Their conversation turns dark when Jake instigates a conversation with Tozawa himself, who gives his regards to his boss after he chats with Jake.
===Everybody Pays===
Sato accompanies Kume in recruiting a new person for their organization; Sato levels with the man and invites him to join, naming off-the-job perks. Outside, Kume notes how he was impressed by how Sato handled the man and was glad that he recruited him in the first place. However, Kume seriously asks if Sato dealt with Samantha, to which Sato claims he did.
Eventually, though, the truth comes out, and Sato is forced to take responsibility for his actions by slicing off his right pinky on the rooftop with Kume and Ishida as witnesses. However, things change when Ishida reveals Kume to be the mole for Tozawa. Things start to escalate when Ishida forces Sato to kill Kume, but is too afraid to do so, and Kume calls him out for it and decides to jump off the rooftop instead. Ishida then takes back the gun and asks him whether he's meant to be a Chiharu-Kai or not. After walking out of the building, Sato looked at the crowd surrounding Kume's body, and he walked away softly, weeping at what he witnessed.
Sato sits at the bar area at the Onyx bar, attentively listening to Samantha sing her song. He is soon joined by Jake, who asks if he had a rough day too. Sato doesn't answer, and Jake takes it as he does. Jake then asks if Ishida's problem has been resolved, and Sato answers that it has been. When Samantha finishes her song, she approaches the table and asks if Jake would like to join her at a table. Jake agrees, and the two walk away as Sato pensively watches and then takes a shot of his drink. 
After Samantha returns and reads a note left to her by Matsuo, Sato pulls her away into the locker room, where he exclaims to her that there are "rules". Hence, Samantha fetches some money from her locker, gives it to him, and claims he's paid now. With the money in hand, Sato tries to kiss Samantha, but stops himself midway and apologizes for his inappropriate action. However, Samantha takes it a step further by kissing and embracing him. She'd later be mentioned by Polina, who told Jake that she had left earlier with Sato.
The two would then make out and have sex at Samantha's apartment. Once that was over, Samantha talked briefly about her past, and Sato revealed that his friend died that day and worried he'd end up like him one day. Samantha consoles him, stating if he wants to change his life, then change it.
Afterward, Sato returns to the Chiharu-Kai HQ and finds the dead body of one of the members. Continuing onward, he finds two more and soon finds one of the attackers dying from a knife wound. Sato demands to know why he attacked the HQ, but the attacker curses him with his last breath and dies.
Upon hearing a scuffle further into the place, Sato takes the knife from the dead body and heads onward to where it was coming from and finds Ishida defending himself against two assailants. Sato deals with one of them, and his life is saved by Ishida in the process when he is pinned to the floor by one of the attackers.
===The Information Business===
Sato visits a mechanic with his newly assigned subordinate and roughs him up to get information from him. Later, Sato ruminates about the night he faced off against the two assistants who attacked Ishida. He then receives a call from Ishida and confirms that the testimony from the mechanic confirms that the drugs will be shipped via the airport.
Sometime after, Ishida had a meeting between the East side and West side leaders. Sato and the Chiharu-Kai lieutenant, Kobayashi, explain that the information they received could be used against Tozawa. However, Kobayashi advises against it since it can be used as an excuse for Tozawa to retaliate against them, and when asked for his opinion, Sato agrees.
Ishida then asks Kobayashi to leave and asks that Sato stay; after pouring Sato a drink, Ishida asks him if the man he recently killed was his first. Sato answered yes, and Ishida informed him that his first kill should always unnerve him; his first kill did. However, he notes that the sequential ones won't. After a pregnant pause, Ishida asks what Sato really thinks about Kobayashi's opinion, to which Sato answers that it's best used with someone who has no real connection with them.
Later, Sato waits for Jake outside of Samantha's apartment and, when he arrives, asks him to follow him and leads him to where Ishida is.
Afterward, Sato is seen standing by the Onyx Bar near Akira as he signals him, and he acknowledges it. Once Samantha exits the Onyx Bar, the two would hook up and have sex in Samantha's apartment. After this, Samantha asks Sato about the cuts on his back, but he refuses to tell, claiming he wants to keep his work life separate from his life with her. Samantha understands and wishes to do the same, and after they make out a bit, Sato asks if she's hungry, and Samantha answers yes, so Sato leaves to prepare something.
Later, Samantha walks in on Sato preparing an omelet in her kitchen. Samantha asks who taught Sato how to cook, and he answers that his father did. His father wanted to be a chef, but didn't have the money to become one because of his incoming family. Sato also mentions that his father instilled his cooking talents into him as a boy, which pressured him, but allowed him to develop his current cooking skills. When Sato finished cooking the omelet, he cut it up and allowed Samantha to eat it. She takes a bite of a piece and lets Sato finish it.
In her living room, Samantha confides in Sato the meaning of her CTR ring, who gave it to her, and how someone connected to her father has tracked her down. When asked if she's told anyone else about her situation, Samantha answers no and notes her fear, which Sato consoles her by wrapping his arm around her.
At Matsuo's home, Sato sits on Matsuo's couch and, when he arrives home, relays a message for him by the Chiharu-Kai. He claims that Samantha is under the Chiharu-Kai's protection, but Matsuo rebukes it. Still, Sato stands his ground and threatens that if Matsuo ever approaches Samantha or enters the Onyx Club again, he'll start trouble with the Chiharu-Kai. However, Matsuo mentions he has a connection with Tokumaru, Ishida's elder. Matsuo then tries to contact him, but Sato stops him.
Sato then begs Matsuo to leave Samantha alone, and in doing so, he offers him money; however, Matsuo claims it wouldn't be enough to cover his costs. Hence, Sato bows to Matsuo and claims he'd be indebted to him if he left Samantha alone. Matsuo is amused by Sato's offer and claims he'll remember it when he's having sex with Samantha, which triggers Sato, leading to a scuffle between them and ending with Sato killing Matsuo. The aftermath of what Sato did leaves him visibly disturbed.
Later that night, at the Onyx Bar, Akira sat in the bar area, and when Samantha asked her what had happened to Matsuo, Sato's response was Matsuo would leave her alone now and alludes that he killed him. Things get tense when Jake arrives and gets aggressive with Sato, who nearly gets into a fight with Jake over what he had claimed was giving him false info about the meth shipment. However, Jake was forcefully escorted out of the place before any blows could be dealt.
===Sometimes They Disappear===
Sato appears again when he douses a bruised Naito with gasoline and threatens to set him ablaze with his cigarette. However, Naito concedes to sign some paperwork, and when he does, Ishida appears alongside Kobayashi to explain the terms of his agreement. After Ishida hears the good news about Tozawa, he orders Sato to order his men not to do anything that would disturb the peace with Tozawa. Or else they'll have to deal with him. Sato understood and closed the door to the car he was entering.
When it opens, Sato is indirectly mentioned when Samantha tries to convince Luna to join her club. However, Luna was unwilling due to being afraid that her boyfriend would expect a cut and take it over. Despite Samantha's earnest pleas and mention that the two of their work and personal lives are separate from each other, Luna wasn't convinced. This subject would later be touched upon when Samantha and Sato meet at a restaurant later that night. Samantha also mentions her missing friend Polina, who hasn't had contact with her in over a week. Sato claims that she may want to think things over alone, which doesn't alleviate her concerns, but Samantha then asks how Sato's work is going, and he responds the same.
The following day, Sato reprimands the new recruit for how he missed a mark on Ishida's shoes and orders him to redo it. Gen then asks Sato if he saw the movie The Matrix, to which he answers yes. So, Gen follows up with the question of whether he'd take either the Blue Pill or the Red Pill, and he answers whichever would make him get back to work.
Getting a phone call from his brother Kaito, Sato learns that their father had a minor stroke and had been hospitalized for it. His mother then confronts Sato, and although Sato offers to pay for the services his father would need for his condition, his mother acts aggressively toward him and demands that he leave. As Sato does, Samantha contacts him.
Sato and Samantha confront Akira outside of his club and demand answers about Polina. Akira fesses up about what he knows about Polina after Sato roughs him up a bit, and after learning that the manager handles the people who are in great debt, they confront the lady. However, the manager refuses to talk to Samantha, but is willing to speak to Sato, so Samantha waits outside, and he learns that Polina was sent to Yoshino. He also learns that although the Chihara-Kai protects the club, they allow Tozawa's men to go there, and they also ship the women in debt to Yoshino.
Not wanting to cause a scene that'd break the peace treaty between the two clans, Sato leaves the club and informs Samantha about Polina's whereabouts. Things then start to escalate between them when Sato questions their relationship with each other and breaks things off with her. Before Sato leaves her, he warns Samantha that Tokyo is dangerous and that people have disappeared.
===Yoshino===
One morning, Kobayashi proposes new ways to boost Ishida's profits, but Sato counters it with his own proposition. Before Sato could finish it, Ishida left and disciplined Koji for not correctly cutting the scallions to his miso soup. Ishida would then order Sato to properly discipline Koji for his failure, and then he returned to his room.
Sato is briefly mentioned by Samantha when she talks about the club that Polina was in debt to and how, after learning they're deep with Tozawa, he refuses to return there.
On the rooftop of the Chihara-Kai, Sato talks to Koji about his earlier mistake involving Ishida's miso soup. He consoles and advises him to do better in the future. Koji then asks if that was the same place where Kume killed himself, and Sato confirms it. Sato explains that Kume did what he did to repent for his own mistake and that Koji has a chance to rectify his mistake through sacrifice. He asks if Koji understands, to which Koji nods assuringly.
Afterward, Koji is shown trying to cut his pinky in response to his earlier mistake, but fails at that too. Sato would then bring him to a hospital to have his finger treated. When Koji is discharged, they leave, and when they get into their car, Sato spots an elderly couple together, which he superimposed as himself with his mother. This causes a car behind them to honk their horn at them, which Sato confronts the driver over, but seeing as the driver was a husband with his wife and child in the back. Sato backs off and drives away.
With Koji in the passenger seat, Sato drives him to a certain location, advising him that the Yakuza life isn't for him. Sato then gifts Koji a wad of cash and suggests that he buy new sneakers and a video game, while also saying he hopes that he doesn't catch him with a rival group or else he'd beat him up. When Sato asks what he should tell his uncle, Sato tells him to say, that he missed him. Sato then has Koji exit his car and watches him leave.
When Sato returns to the Chihara-Kai building, he finds Duke and Samantha exiting Ishida's office. Before Sato can get an answer from Samantha about why she's there, he's called into Ishida's office. There, he learns from Ishida that Samantha had negotiated to take a loan out with them. Ishida orders Sato to pay Duke the loss of revenue from Samantha's departure and to pay the money to Samantha's loan. Despite Sato's trying to dissuade Ishida from reconsidering, he refuses and assigns him to overwatch Samantha from now on, to which he agrees.
Sato would later that night visit Samantha's apartment and inform her that Ishida had accepted her to take a loan out from him. She'd receive the money the following afternoon, and he's to oversee her club. After Sato asks how her search for Polina is going, her tacit response makes Sato apologize for asking. They then part ways soon after, but before Sato enters his car, he's stabbed three times by Gen, leaving him wounded on the ground.
===Don't Ever F**king Miss===
Kobayashi and another Chihara-Kai member visited Samantha's club and informed her that Sato was out that day and they were his replacement for an inspection. Although Samantha allows them to conduct their inspection, Samantha tries to contact Sato, but cannot reach him. At the Chihara-Kai HQ, Sato's younger brother Kite visits the place and asks if his brother is there since their hospitalized father wants to see him. However, none of the members there had seen Sato and demanded Kite leave, which he did.
Kite receives a phone call from a doctor who finds his phone number in his brother's wallet. Hastily, Kite visits the hospital Sato was at and is left speechless about his brother's condition. When he asks the doctor to save his brother, three members of the Chihara-Kai take him out of the hospital and drive him away in a car with Gen behind the wheel.
Sato was later shown to have been transferred to an undisclosed location owned by the Chihara-Kai. A doctor there reports that none of Sato's vital organs were damaged; however, there's a high risk of infection and that the next few days will be critical for him. When the doctor asks who will stay and watch over him, Gen offers, but Ishida claims he'll do it and requests that his men leave. After they do, Ishida approaches Sato and claims he'll make the one who did it will suffer.
As Sato lies in bed with Ishida by his side, watching a TV drama, Samantha contacts him via his cellphone. She leaves him a message, asking him to contact her and meet with her that night.
Eventually, Kobayashi reports that Sato has awoken, and when Gen asks if he revealed who attacked him, Kobayashi denies it. Gen would later be ousted as Sato's attacker when he visited the Tozawa clan to protect him for what he had done.
Sato awakens with Ishida by his bedside, and Ishida notes this and asks if he can move his arm. Sato then tries and confirms that he can. Sequentially, Ishida calls in Koji, Taro, and Yuta, who drag in Gen, and placing a knife in Sato's hand, he orders Sato to kill him. However, Sato can't get himself to do it, so Ishida orders Gen to become Sato's lifelong servant to spare his life. Once that is settled, Gen is dragged out of the room, and Sato drops the knife.
===Be My Number One===
Watching from his car, Sato watches his mother clean a gravestone and, when finished, asks his driver, Gen, to take him away.
Afterward, Sato attends a ceremony to welcome back a member who had "graduated" from "university" Naoki Hayama. Ishida then gives the member the title of wakashira and gives the title of wakashira-daiko to Sato while also assigning him as Hayama's partner.
Later, an update on Tozawa and his clan is given in Ishida's office. After Ishida agrees with Hayama that the Tozawa clan should be dealt with, Sato suggests using "tools." However, Ishida rebukes that suggestion and then asks Hayama and Kobayashi to leave but asks Sato to stay.
Sato later enjoys some ramen with his brother Kaito, who asks for more money from him to pay for his tuition. Curiously, Sato asks if their mom knows if he's asking him for money, which Kaito doesn't answer. Hence, Sato says that he has no money to give him at the moment, but promises if a job he's working on works out, he'll give him more. Not wanting to be a mooch, Kaito offers to work for Sato to earn his keep, and Sato asks if he knows how to use a computer, to which he answers yes.
Afterward, Kaito sets up a website to sell some sneakers for Sato, which he asks if it's really true. Sato then claims that a sneaker shop in Shinjuku defaulted on a loan, for which he took their inventory as payment. This prompts Kaito to ask if what they're doing is legitimate, and Kaito apologizes and asks him to continue working.
Sato visits Samantha at her club office, and after they catch up, Sato tells Samantha that she needs to rehire Claudine according to Ishida's orders. Samantha refuses, as her contract with him states that she can run the club as she pleases.
Eventually, Sato watches as Hayama handles the manager of the male hostess club, which gave him a difficult time before. Outside, Hayama advises Sato that's how one handles difficult people and comments on how the Chihara-Kai have become soft in his absence. By the car, Hayama asks if Sato believes they'll retaliate, to which Sato nods yes, and Hayama proclaims he hopes they do. Once Hayama gets into the car, Sato will follow.
That night, Sato buys a Tarkov gun for 300 thousand yen at a dealer's home and asks for more to be provided. When pressed as to why, since Yakuza don't normally use guns. He answers that he wants to be safe than sorry.
Later, Sato dropped by Samantha's club and asked if they could use one of the lockers to leave some paperwork in. Samantha accepted, and Sato proceeded to leave the gun he had purchased in one of the lockers. Before he left, Samantha asked that he drive Erika home. Quietly, Sato agreed, and the two traded glances before the two parted ways.
===Old Law, New Twist===
At Club Polina, Sato stands by the bar and observes as his senior Hayama and crew enjoy themselves at their table. They soon stir up trouble, catching Samantha's attention. She confronts Sato to ask him to stop Hayama's antics, but he claims he can't. Once the situation was resolved, Sato receives a cold stare from Samantha but does nothing.
Driving Erika home, Sato hears Erika's stomach growling and is a bit embarrassed by it. Sato offers to take Erika somewhere to eat; however, she declines, stating she has to return home. Erika offers Sato some leftovers from her house, and Sato agrees to the offer. There, Sato meets Daichi, and after they talk for a bit, Sato agrees to read Sato a bedtime story. As Sato read Daichi his bedtime story, Erika would walk in on this and put Daichi to bed. After Sato and Erika finished their meal, they bonded over a brief chat and then kissed before parting ways.
Sato is mentioned during Samantha and Jake's conversation about how she wants Hayama out of her club. Jake notes that there's little Sato could do because Hayama outranks him. Samantha then asks Jake to talk with Sato; however, Jake declines, noting that he was kicked out of her former club the last time they spoke. When Jake asks Samantha why she doesn't ask him herself, she claims that business and pleasure don't mix. Hence, Jake suggests that she meet with him as a friend.
Sato invited Kaito and his Chihara-Kai members to a karaoke party that night. During this time, Kaito is asked if his brother has mentioned Hayama to him, but he answers quizzically about who Hayama is. Another member notes that Kaito doesn't tell him anything, which Sato interjects, saying they're there to have fun and not talk business. With that, the group continued partying the night away.
The following day, Sato meets Samantha at her club, and she demands that Hayama be banned from her club. However, Sato reasons that if she wants that, she'd better get information from Masa about the new shopping district. Although Samantha refuses, she's left with no choice as the girl she fired, Claudine, was a spy for Ishida. However, now that Masa is only interested in Samantha, she has to pick up where Claudine left off and get the information Ishida wants from Masa. With that, Sato claims that Samantha has until tomorrow to give an answer and leaves.
That night, Kaito shows Sato the results of the sneaker-selling website. Hayama arrives when Kaito talks about their parents and his wish to be like them. He immediately takes an interest in Kaito's website, and the more he learns about it, the more Sato grows anxious.
Eventually, Sato is met by Jake, who apologizes to him about his meltdown toward him at the Onyx Bar. The two rebond over their recent injury mishap, and Sato offers to take Jake out to eat, which he accepts.
At the restaurant, Sato is informed about Tats' situation. Although he agrees to help, Jake rejects it after learning that he'd have to join the Chihara-Kai when he's released. Sato also makes Jake foot the bill for their meal.
Samantha briefly mentions Sato when she meets with Ishida about the information he wants.
===Like a New Man===
Sitting at an arcade with his brother Kaito, Sato plays Street Fighter II with him and loses against him. They then talk about whether Kaito was seeing a girl from Kabukicho, whom he admits Hayama had introduced him to. At first, Sato tries to advise Kaito to stay away from Hayama, but Kaito refuses. Kaito then gets up and leaves, making Sato angrily call out to him.
Sato meets with Samantha and explains to her the map she needs to look for and where she can learn the station's name. Samantha thinks it is fortuitous that she'll be visiting Masa's home for dinner since that's where the map is kept. Concerned about Samantha's well-being, Sato warns her that she must get what Ishida wants, or else he's uncertain he can protect her. Put off by Sato's concern, Samantha claims that she'll do it.
Later, Sato visits Erika's home, but is met by Daichi at the front door. Sato then has a "duel" with Daichi and loses, thereby dying on the couch. Daichi then notices the tattoo on his arm and says that his father had the same. Erika then enters the room, and before Sato can get up, Daichi says that he has to stay down since he's "dead", but Sato argues that dead people revive around O-bon. Hence, Daichi asks if Sato will play with him again, which Erika claims he will.
Sato, along with Hayama, attends a meeting in Ishida's office, where he learns that Tozawa has returned and is furious that the clan has made moves on his turf. Ishida also apologizes for his behavior toward Sato about using guns and enlists Hayama to retrieve some from a former Chihara-Kai member located in Nagano. His name is Ota, and he's to be paid for his gun supply, so Sato and Hayama were excused.
One of the members of Club Polina, Joanna, mentions Sato when she asks Erika about her relationship with him, but she downplays it, saying they're only getting to know each other. Samantha is then mentioned as no longer being interested in Sato, and Erika doesn't know that the two were once a couple. One of the ladies there then claims that Erika needs to sort through some things.
En route to Nagano via a train, Hayama buys a beer for himself and Sato; when the two enjoy it and talk a little, Sato asks Hayama to leave his brother alone, which Hayama refuses. Hayama's response leaves Sato looking dejected.
Sato is briefly mentioned in a conversation between Samantha and Erika when it's revealed that Erika has feelings for Sato, but hasn't committed to a relationship with him yet. This is because of her previous relationship with a Yakuza, and Samantha advises her to be open with what she wants from him.
Arriving at the Nagano station, Hayama and Sato meet with Ota, with whom Hayama is already acquainted. When Sato introduces himself to Ota, he calls him "Sugar" instead since his name is synonymous with sugar substance. Ota then enlists Sato to drive his truck to his place, where the guns are located. Before they leave, Sato demands to know why Hayama didn't tell him that he already knew Ota; Hayama claims that Sato was acting stressed again and should be laid off. Hence, Sato drives them off to Sato's place.
At Ota's place, they learn that Ota's supplier won't arrive until the following morning, which upsets Sato, who had expected to pick up the guns and leave. However, regardless of what Sato has to say, Hayama orders him to fetch more firewood, and Sato does begrudgely. He'd later watch the two play a knife game together and, after using the toilet, was roped into participating in it himself. Hayama held Sato to the ground while Ota handled the knife, but he stabbed Hayama in the leg, causing Hayama to lose his cool and punch and stab Ota in the stomach.
Sato chastises Hayama for what he did, and Hayama "fixes" the situation by slicing Ota's neck, and killing him. Hayama then douses the place with gasoline and sets his house on fire. Also, to Sato's dismay, they can't take Ota's truck because the keys are inside the burning house, forcing them to walk out of there.
===Illness of the Trade===
Trudging through the snow, Sato and Hayama continue onward after their disastrous night at Ota's home. Although Hayama wanted to take a break, Sato wanted to continue onward and was frustrated by their situation. Hayama brushes it off, citing they still have the money, but Sato lashes out at Hayama, making the two confrontational. Before either of them makes a move, a car down the road pulls up, and Sato approaches it, asking for a ride. The driver and his passenger look at Sato cautiously, and the driver says there's no room for them. Sounds of a baby could then be heard from the backseat, but Sato, with a softer tone, still asks for his consideration.
Inside the back seat of the car with the baby, Sato strikes a deal with Hayama to use his source to receive weapons and claim they were from Ota instead. Hayama was impressed by the idea, but curious about the condition, to which, Sato claims that he leave Kaito alone or else he'll inform Ishida about what had happened in the cabin. All but a chuckle from Hayama was given, and then he demanded that the radio be turned off, which made the baby cry.
Afterward, at Club Polina's locker room, Sato shows Hayama the weapon he got from his source, and when Hayama asks him if he ever had sex with Samantha, she enters the room surprised by what she sees. Sato then asks Hayama to grant them some time alone, and Hayama allows it. Sato tells Samantha that the gun was only supposed to be there temporarily, but Samantha understands that it's not really "her" club. She then walks off.
Sato and Hayama would later deliver the guns they got from "Ota" to Ishida, who accepts them, but when he excuses the two, Ishida notices that Hayama is limping. Hayama blames it on pulling a muscle after chasing Sato, Ishida acknowledges what Hayama said, but asks Sato to stay. The two then talk about the recent news announcement about the Shimbashi Station, though Sato claims Samantha's efforts were a waste. Ishida claims that it may have been a part of her plan as the architect, and she has scheduled a meeting with him at her club. He wants Sato to come along and be ready to give a lesson if need be, which he tacitly acknowledges.
Sato meets with Jake at the batting cage, who gifts him one shoe to thank him for helping him with Tats. For the other shoe, Jake asks Sato about the illness of the trade. Sato then explains that any Yakuza that gets that dies, even though they do crazy things to prolong their lives, such as going to Thailand and getting a blood transfusion from a German doctor. The process only buys them six extra months of time. Thanks to what Sato had informed him of, Jake gave him the other shoe, but it wasn't his size. However, Jake suggests that Sato give them to his brother, and Sato agrees but warns Jake that he's still in debt and leaves.
Visiting his brother's dorm, Sato runs into his mother, Rie, who had been waiting for his brother Kaito. The two would talk about how Kaito's behavior would get him expelled. They'd also discuss of how Kaito wants to be like Sato and how Rie wants Sato to prevent his brother from doing it. Their conversation finishes off with Rie's disappointment in Sato for joining the Yakuza, but Sato reminds Rie that he only did it after his father kicked him out of the house. Rie gets the final word claiming she'll blame Sato if Kaito dies.
Driving in the backseat with Ishida, Sato hears from him how things will proceed, and he then asks him the truth about how Hayama and he got the guns. Sato confesses that he went against Ishida's request and got a gun. However, Ishida didn't hold this against Sato and claimed that his judgment saved his brothers and that he expected him to become the next clan leader. The claim leaves Sato speechless, and he admits that he feels happy about it to Ishida.
At Club Polina, Sato sits with Erika, who mentions that Daichi is a good kid. Soon, two masked assailants arrive, and they shoot up the place, killing Masa and two customers in the process. Amid this, Sato regroups with Ishida, who asks that Sato not die, but Ishida is then gunned down by one of the men, leaving Sato devastated by what he had witnessed.
===I Choose You===
A flashback shows Sato being introduced to Ishida by Kume. Initially, Ishida isn't impressed by Sato and tries to pay him off for his time; however, Sato rejects it and insists that he join. He's then asked a few questions about if he's willing to go to prison, die, or even kill, all of which he answers yes. Finally, impressed with Sato, Ishida asks for one last thing from him: his absolute loyalty to him. Sato answers yes, and Ishida accepts him while asking Kume to get him prepared.
In the present, Sato rides in the back of a car with the bloody and wounded Ishida beside him, demanding that Gen take them to a hospital. However, Ishida asks that he be taken to his office, where Shimizu can take care of him. It's there that Hayama argues with Sato for not involving him in the meeting where Ishida was shot. Furthermore, Hayama admonishes the thought of taking Ishida to a hospital since the police are on an arresting spree. After Hayama states that it's Sato's fault for Ishida's present condition, and leaves the office. Sato stays with Ishida, who takes off his oxygen mask and whispers something into his ear. Ishida then starts to abruptly cough, and Sato grabs Shimizu's attention.
Sato is contacted by a concerned Jake, who informs him of his situation. When Sato asks about Samantha, Jake details that she's been taken in by the police. Satisfied to hear that, Sato warns Jake that things will get worse from then on out and asks that he not contact him again. He then hangs up on him.
Sato is seen mourning Ishida's death in his house, Hiroto is led to him by Gen. The two then meet with Hayama, who is choosing a photograph for Ishida's funeral. Sato tacitly watches the conversation between Hayama and Hiroto until Hiroto leaves.
Kaito briefly mentions him, saying that Sato messaged him during his meeting with Hayama to inform him of Ishida's death. Hayama would then claim that Tozawa's next target after Ishida was Sato.
Eventually, Sato learns from Gen that Hayama has spoken to Kaito at his university. That night, he figured out that Kaito had researched where Tozawa was going, and he stopped him from trying to assassinate Tozawa. Deducing that Hayama ordered Kaito to do what he did, Sato asks Kaito why he'd do it in the first place, and Kaito says that Tozawa had planned to kill him. Learning that Tozawa had left the scene, Kaito scornfully leaves himself.
Sato would confront Hayama in Ishida's former office about making Kaito try to assassinate Tozawa, despite promising not to get him involved in their line of work. However, Hayama denies Sato's plea and threatens to kill all that he holds dear, including Samantha, Erika, and Daichi. Because of that threat, Sato nearly confronts Hayama again, but he instead stares at the Chihara-kai emblem and leaves.
Sato visits Erika to talk with her, and she alludes to wanting to end her relationship with Sato for fear of dragging herself and Daichi into Yakuza life again. He understands and is allowed to say his goodbyes to Daichi, who he tells is going on a trip far away. Entrusting Daichi to protect his mother, Daichi gifts Sato his toy sword to protect himself.
Afterward, Sato visits Samantha's apartment and informs her that Erika asked him to stay away from her, and he agrees to do it, but he also thinks that he should stay away from Samantha too. Although Samantha invited Sato into her apartment, he at first rejects it but is later seen inside it and has sex with her.
===The War at Home===
After spending the night with Sato, Samantha learns about Sato's younger brother, Kaito, and discloses her plans from now on to him. Before Sato leaves, Samantha asks that Sato return after he attends Ishida's funeral, and he agrees.
Besides Gen, Sato respectfully bows to Ishida's ceremonial funeral attendees. He's later seen sitting in the crowd as Kaito, who is also there, refuses to make eye contact with him. Soon after Tozawa makes his appearance and talks with Hayama, the temp leader would vent his frustrations about Tozawa's brazen appearance there. He suggests that Sato order the men to round up their weapons to attack, but Sato advises against it. This is met by a harsh rebuke from Hayama, who asks if the men there agree with Sato, but nobody speaks up. Hayama then demands to know if Kaito agrees with what Sato said, and Kaito sides with Hayama. Then, Hayama asks Sato if he cannot follow his orders, which Sato claims he will.
Cutting vegetables with his brother Kaito, Sato tries to reason with him about Hayama, but Kaito is quick to dismiss his brother's plea. Hence, after commenting on how Hayama has "no honor," Sato takes Kaito to a different location. There, Sato discloses the fiasco that occurred in Nagano involving Hayama and him, where he killed the ex-member named Ota. Sato then has Kaito promise that if he finds a way to leave the clan, he'll take it, and Kaito agrees. The two then go on their separate ways, but Kaito watches as his brother leaves.
That night, on the rooftop of the Chihara-kai HQ, Sato is confronted by Hayama and the rest of the clan members while Kaito is restrained. Hayama calls out Sato for back-talking him, and after roughing him up a bit, he threatens to kill Kaito if he doesn't stop. Sato does and is banished from the clan by Hayama and walks out of the building.
===The Noble Path===
Samantha asks Sato for a gun for her protection after an encounter with Tozawa at the police station, who addressed her by her name. Sato agrees, which leads him to inform her that Hayama has ousted her from the Chihara-kai. When asked by Samantha what about his brother, he gives her a tacitly forlorn look, but then asks her what he should do from now on as all he's ever done was Yakuza work. Samantha recommends he run a tattoo parlor, but seriously answers that they're in the same boat and should support each other. Sato agrees and, before he leaves, suggests that she use the gun if any member of the Chihara-kai visits her.
When Samantha visits the club where Akira once worked, its owner, Inaba, indirectly mentions him, asking where he's at, but Samantha answers that it's just her.
Sato would later confront Hayama in a bathhouse when he tried to have his brother leave the Yakuza clan. Hayama refuses, and when he orders the members to kill him, Kaito proclaims that Hayama has killed a member in the mountains, and Sato corroborates it. Having enough with Sato, a fight breaks out between him and Sato. When Hayama has Sato in a stranglehold, Gen arrives and kicks him away, allowing Sato to hit him with a flurry of punches and, with the help of the other members, drown Hayama to death. With that settled with, Sato left without saying a word.
Afterward, Sato drops Kaito off at their mother's home. Their mother, Rie, offers Sato some tea, but he refuses, citing that the life he now lives would endanger them.
Later, Sato would be found on Samantha's bed and would inform her that his brother was safe. Samantha was happy to hear that but refused to answer how her day went, asking to talk about it the next day. Sato understood and hugged her.
===Consequences===
While in Ishida's office, Sato learns from Etsuo and Taro that while Gen and five other members haven't reported on that day, they've likely been threatened by Tozawa. It cites plausible rumors claiming that Tozawa's group is giving them two choices: join him or die. Realizing the weight of the current situation, Sato dismisses the two and contemplates things over.
Later, Sato visits Ichikawa, leader of the Ichikawa-gumi, to propose an alliance between the two clans to stop Tozawa. However, Ichikawa had already joined hands with Tozawa. However, because of Hayama's "departure", Ichikawa suggested he broker a meeting with Tozawa to allow the Chihara-kai to join the Tozawa alliance.
When Tozawa received an update on how many Yakuza clans were aligning themselves with his Yabuki, Tozawa learned that only Sato from the Chihara-kai had yet to answer. However, he did receive the offer from Ichikawa as he had planned; Yabuki thought it'd be a matter of time before they conceded. On the other hand, Tozawa wanted to hurry things along and wanted Yabuki to deal with it.
Sato talks with Gen about body disposal and then has a heart-to-heart with him about why he's so loyal to him. Gen confesses that Sato showed him mercy when Ishida likely wouldn't have. Finding Gen's response intriguing, Sato mentions that Tozawa had offered a deal through Ichikawa to join his side. When Sato asks Gen for his advice, Gen can't give one but respects Sato's decision, whatever it may be. They're then joined by Etsuo, who informs them that Jake wants to speak with them, and Sato agrees, but only if Gen can listen in. Jake agrees and asks for shelter because he has incriminating evidence against Tozawa.
That night, Sato asks Jake how long it would take him to draft his story, and he answers that it is not long. While noting how crucial his story would be to his plans, Sato confesses that to Jake, it'd make it all the more difficult to protect him. It's then that four of Tozawa's members enter the building and shoot the place up, killing every Chihara-kai member they encounter. Sato wants Jake to escape with Gen, but as they do, Sato catches Etsuo sacrificing himself to allow Sato to escape, despite his protests against it. In the end, all who remained escaped out of a car.
Sato and Jake soon arrive at a Chihara-kai safehouse, where Jake starts writing an article about Tozawa, an FBI informant. Midway, Jake asks to use the phone but isn't allowed to. Ironically, Sato receives a call from Samantha, who asks to stay at the Chihara-kai building. Sato denies it, stating there was a shootout there. Hence, she asks to stay at the safe house, and at first, Sato denies it, but under pressure, agrees. Later, Samantha arrives at the hideout alongside Misaki, shocking Sato and Jake.
===Endgame===
Sato argues that Misaki's presence at the Chihara-kai hideout poses a danger to them all, and Samantha argues she had no choice in the matter. However, Sato doesn't care and proposes trading Misaki into Tozawa for peace, but Samantha dissuades him, citing Jake's sexual relationship with her. Hearing this unnerves Sato, and he backs off.
Although Sato had barred anyone from using phones at the place, Jake managed to convince Misaki to allow him to use hers so he could contact his superior at the Meicho.
Listening to Jake lament that everything that had gone wrong was his fault, Sato claimed that Jake only acted for someone in his profession. He also added that there are sometimes bad consequences for them and noted his worry about being unable to protect the ladies while also stating that Tozawa will likely find them soon. Jake then suggests contacting someone who could help them, despite the risks.
Amid Jake's conversation with Hiroto, Jake asks Sato for the address of the hideout.
Sato listens in on a conversation between Hiroto and Misaki about getting her approval for a warrant search of the Yoshino that's in her name. Misaki gives her signature of approval, and after she leaves, Hiroto talks with Sato alone. After Hiroto confirms that Sato knows about what they're searching for, Hiroto offers it to Sato, who questions why not give it to Jake or the police. However, Hiroto claims that it's beyond that now, and insists that Sato take and do whatever he believes is best with it.
Inside the main room of the hideout, Sato informs Samantha that Hiroto will send police offers to protect them and that he's going to follow up on a plan to take down Tozawa.
Afterward, Sato is driven somewhere, where he meets with Hiroto. He hands him the FBI documents and tells him to do what he will with them. After Hiroto notes that everything is now in his hands, Sato drives off.
Sato learns from Samantha about the meeting between Misaki, Jake, and Tozawa at a certain location. Hoping that Sato can keep up with his work. Sato thanked Samantha, who wished him good luck. Sato and Gen then participate in the emergency meeting with the other Tokyo Yakuza members revealing Tozawa's betrayal by working with the FBI. Ichikawa, whose building they used for the meeting, suggested they have one more person join them for the confrontation with Tozawa.
During Jake and Hiroto's conversation together about when Tozawa will be arrested, Hiroto confesses that Sato has the FBI documents and will use them to enact his own justice.
Eventually, in a private room in a restaurant, Sato, as the rep for the Chihara-kai, orders Tozawa to take a seat, but he refuses to listen to Sato. However, Tanaka informs him of Sato's position and orders Tozawa to listen to Sato, which he does.
Sato then argues that Tozawa was an informant for the FBI, and at first, Tozawa denies it, but soon admits it, citing it was for a good cause for the Yakuza. It's when Tozawa offers to pay them all off using his wife's finances. Kazuko arrives and tells him he can either finish himself, or they'll do it. Tozawa chooses the latter, and everyone in the room leaves.
Outside, Sato gives Samantha the peace sign as he enters his car.
Sometime later, Sato has the ascension ceremony performed for him.
Eventually, Samantha visits him in his new office and tells him that she's leaving the city for a while and will be in touch with him when she returns.
==Appearances==
:;Season One
*The Test
*Kishi Kaisei
*Read the Air
*I Want It That Way
*Everybody Pays
*The Information Business
*Sometimes They Disappear
*Yoshino
:;Season Two
*Don't Ever F**king Miss
*Be My Number One
*Old Law, New Twist
*Like a New Man
*Illness of the Trade
*I Choose You
*The War at Home
*The Noble Path
*Consequences
*Endgame
==Trivia==
==Gallery==
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==References==
Category:Characters
Category:Chihara-Kai