Tōkichirō Endō

**Tōkichirō Endō** (円堂 藤吉郎) is a character featured in *Danganronpa Kirigiri*. Tōkichirō is a mysterious old man who is a member of the Victims Catharsis Committee. His role in the organization is to act as the 12th District's scout and persuade many victims of crime to partake in a Duel Noir.

## History

### Sirius Astronomical Observatory Murder Case

In December, Tōkichirō first appeared at the hospital where Tadashi Asakura was at in order for the latter to receive medication for his missing legs. He notes that Tadashi isn't getting paid nearly enough for what had happened to him, causing Tadashi to become suspicious and nearly walk away, believing he was a part of some religious sect. Tōkichirō piques Tadashi's interest in asking if he wants vengeance and to take back his own life, which had been ruined by the arsonist of five years ago. He hands over the card for the Committee and tells Tadashi that if he was interested, he'll have to come to the park outside.

When Tadashi's arrives to hear Tōkichirō out, the old man says he'll reveal the true culprit's identity on one condition: Tadashi has to kill him the culprit himself. After Tadashi accepts he explains the Committee's meaning of 'Catharsis' which needs three things. First, Determination to kill (which Tadashi has). Second, Money (which Tadashi didn't have, but in that case they'll fund him to get it). Third, and finally, Techniques since killing someone requires a technical touch, though these Techniques have to be purchased. Tadashi thinks that they really are just scammers since they demand money for their Techniques, but Tōkichirō explains that the cost is covered by the 'sponsorship' which is funded by the wealthy who seek to gain entertainment from watching someone take back their own life. Or, to put it simply, using Tadashi's revenge as a means of a game.

He then details the means of getting true Catharsis. While Tadashi could bludgeon the true culprit to death with a bat, it would be revenge, but not Catharsis. He explains that Tadashi will have to buy the Techniques which are comprised of different 'cards' that range from murder weapons or suitable locations to kill. After a suitable 'deck' is built, the cost will determine the Detective summoned for the game. Tōkichirō also inform him the Detective will learn of his tricks and he isn't allowed to kill the Detective for 168 hours. While Tadashi considers this unfair, Tōkichirō explains this is just for game balance.

From there, Tōkichirō tries to dissuade Tadashi from thinking about losing, but does inform them that if he does the Committee will cut ties with him and want the money back. Since Tadashi can't pay them back normally, they have insurance policies placed in his name in case he dies. With that in mind, Tōkichirō encourages Tadashi to try not to lose. Tadashi accepts playing the game, the Duel Noir, since he wants to find out the truth of the arson and its true culprit. Tōkichirō laughs and tells him he likes that look in his eyes, before informing him the detective win rate is over 28%, meaning most who choose to go through with a Duel Noir usually succeed. Tōkichirō informs him to come back to the park again at 10 AM as a way to let Tadashi think about the Duel Noir before fully accepting it. He also warns him to never tell this to anyone or else the Committee won't appear before Tadashi again.

With the Duel Noir at the Sirius Observatory, it's evident that Tadashi had fully accepted the challenge.

### Duel Noir

Tōkichirō continues to help scout for other cases within the twelfth district in the shadows.

### Edenside Amusement Park Case

After the case was over, Tōkichirō’s business card is seen in an image at the end of volume six, within a black envelope addressed to Yui Samidare.

### Final Duel Noir

At the end of February, Tōkichirō ends up on the bus that both Kyoko Kirigiri and Yui were taking away from the Detective Library, though neither knew of his role as member of the Victims Catharsis Committee. However, Yui did take note of the scar on his cheek.

In March, because of the presence of Tōkichirō's card in her possession, Yui believes it might be the best chance of getting to Mikado and stopping the Committee. Thus, she alone resolves to use it (she had not revealed its existence to Kyoko yet). Heading into a fast food restaurant, she dials the number, only to hear someone's phone begin to ring. Sitting by himself is Tōkichirō, who picks up the phone and begins talking. He was wondering what Johnny left Yui, but notes it just moves his schedule up further. Yui interrupts and asks about his goal. Tōkichirō responds that his goal is to simply assist Yui, who quickly gets the hint she's supposed to be the culprit behind the next Duel Noir. Tōkichirō goes into how common civilians don't really make for good culprits, but since Yui has experienced multiple Duel Noirs, she would be perfect for it.

Yui starts to refuse at once, up until Tokichiri reminds her that she has someone she has to kill: the one who killed her sister,Mayu Samidare. This causes Yui to be quite conflicted, but Tōkichirō reassures her that she has until tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock to talk out the details. Tōkichirō leaves the restaurant, with Yui heading to the table that he was at and picking up the paper he left behind. On said paper was a map to where the location would be. The next day, Yui would scout out the area to watch for Tōkichirō, but would find herself getting wrapped up in a meeting with Mikado Shinsen at the park instead.

On the train back, following the aftermath of Yui's traumatic meeting with his Chairman, an old man goes to her seat. She stands up to offer it to him, but he tells her that she doesn't have to do that. The voice belongs to Tōkichirō, and causes her to sit back down. It was then he asked if she found her answer yet. Given the Duel Noir that took place, it's known that she had come to accept his offer.

### Tōkichirō's Fate

After the final Duel Noir case, it remains unknown if Tōkichirō escaped capture or was arrested due to Kyoko and her new team's efforts to apprehend the corrupt detectives and remnants of the Committee that were plaguing the world. It was an effort that had most of the 'fallen' gone by the time Kyoko had enrolled in Hope's Peak Academy, effectively disbanding the Committee's operations for good, regardless if Tōkichirō was active or not.

## Appearance

Tōkichirō is a pale old man with white sideburns and a short beard. He wears a black jacket over a white dress shirt with a black necktie and black dress pants. He also wears a black fedora hat with a wide rim that shades his eyes and walks using his black cane.

## Personality

As a member of the Victims Catharsis Committee, Tōkichirō is a very professional man who holds great manipulation skills to sway potential challengers to face off in a Duel Noir, despite his shady appearance. He is polite and cool-headed when facing the hot-headed Tadashi and has a fair play mentality when it comes to the idea of delivering 'Catharsis' and the potential benefits/consequences of agreeing to the terms of the Duel Noir. He is impressed by and takes some personal enjoyment by those who has determination to go through with a such a high risk game.

As a member of the Victims Catharsis Committee, he agrees with their philosophy in allowing victims of crime to get a chance to take back their way. However, if someone were to fall short of this, he merely believes that just weren't prepared enough to gain 'Catharsis'.

## Relationships

### Victims Catharsis Committee

Tōkichirō is immensely loyal to the Committee and it's ideals to the point he dutifully scouts out potential challengers for their Duel Noir. It's to the point that if someone scouted were to fail in the Duel Noir he blames it on them as the committee's 'Catharsis' is perfect in his eyes.

### Tadashi Asakura

Tōkichirō scouted Tadashi to be the challenger in a Duel Noir and seemed to be impressed by the determination he held in going through with it, encouraging him further by mentioning the win rates. However, this seems to be merely professional, as he (alongside the rest of the Committee) cut ties as soon as Tadashi loses. Likewise, Tadashi only uses him to get his revenge and has no qualms in giving out any information to see Tōkichirō and the Committee stopped.

### Yui Samidare

Tōkichirō held in interest in Yui given that she had his card, stalking her around to see what might be her use for it. Once Yui does call him, he treats her like how he handles his other potential 'Victims', being able to use his manipulation skills to at least get her to be conflicted on if she should take up a Duel Noir or not, instead of outright denying it. He was also interested to see how someone who was challenged by the Duel Noir multiple times as a 'Detective' would act as a 'Victim' for it instead. However, just like with Tadashi, this interest is merely professional and he held no true care for her wellbeing.

As for Yui herself, given that her main goal was the defeat of the Victims Catharsis Committee, she disliked Tōkichirō and tried to refuse his attempts to persuade her to take up a Duel Noir. Though, between the thought of getting revenge for Mayu and her own traumatic encounter with Mikado, she ended up giving in to his offer the next day.

## Trivia

* "Endō" (円堂) means "round hall".
* "His given name, "Tōkichirō" (藤吉郎), is composed of the characters 藤 - "wisteria", 吉 - "good luck" and 郎 - "son". Its meaning altogether could be translated as "Fortunate Son of the Wisteria".
* The demonic figure seen behind Tōkichirō in the photo above could be Tadashi Asakura as a way to hide his appearance.