Goemon Ishikawa (石川五ェ門 Ishikawa Goemon) is a fictional character in Kazuhiko Katō's anime and manga series Lupin III.

Goemon Ishikawa is the thirteenth generation of renegade samurai, beginning with the real-life historical figure Ishikawa Goemon (石川五右衛門). He is usually quiet and participates in Arsène Lupin III's exploits less frequently than Daisuke Jigen.

While Goemon might be considered one of Lupin's friends, it starts off more of a professional relationship than friendship. By the second series, Goemon has developed a true loyalty to Lupin (refusing to give away Lupin's secrets when tortured in one second series episode, for example). However, he easily gets annoyed by Lupin's antics (especially Lupin's infatuation with women in general and Fujiko Mine in particular), and sometimes even directly opposes him when Lupin's jobs do not agree with his morals. However, he doesn't hesitate to help Lupin in serious situations, and readily assists him any time Lupin works for a just cause. Many theorize that Goemon associates with Lupin out of admiration for his profession, as Goemon's ancestor was a master thief himself. Goemon has a much more amicable relationship with Jigen. Goemon sees Jigen as a fellow honorable warrior, while Jigen sees Goemon as a trustworthy "foxhole buddy," and the two are frequently paired together during jobs.

Goemon is an incredibly gifted martial artist, both in hand-to-hand and melee combat. In the TV series, his sword, Zantetsu-Ken (斬鉄剣), meaning "iron-cutting sword", has a number of origin stories, including have been made from the metal of a fallen meteor, and it literally can cut anything. Objects cut by Goemon will fall apart a couple of seconds after he cuts them up with his blade. Goemon is so fast and skillful with it that he blocks bullets with the blade, even from submachine gun fire. It is revealed in the second anime series that Zantetsuken has one weakness; it cannot cut konnyaku gel. To Goemon's dismay, Zantetsu-Ken is usually used to cut inanimate objects, which Goemon considers unworthy of his blade, rather than human flesh, In the manga, the sword goes by a different name, Ryusei (meaning "shooting star"), but has the same essential properties.

If Goemon has a weakness, it is that he's even more weak with women than Lupin is. He readily trusts any woman who seems superficially trustworthy, often landing him in much trouble. He also is very bad with money, and constantly charges Lupin for his services. What he does with the money is a usually complete mystery, although in Money Wars" target="_blank" >^* he gives it to the female leader of a cult (who, of course, promptly runs off with it). He also has an extreme sense of pride in his abilities, and when he cannot accomplish a task (such as breaking Zantetsuken in a battle with Flinch from Mystery of Mamo) or succumbs to weakness (as when a woman ran off with his sword in Tokyo Crisis) usually feels extreme shame and remorse afterward.

It should be also be noted that in one second series episode, Goemon visits his Iga Ninja sensei. Goemon is commonly thought to be a samurai, but this episode depicts him as having had the training of a master ninja, perhaps giving some reason behind his willingness to find thievery as an acceptable practice, inspite of his samurai ways.

Goemon's most famous phrase is "Again I have cut a worthless object", which he says whenever he uses his sword to do something spectacular that he nonetheless considers mundane (for instance, cutting all of Lupin's burning clothes off of him in one stroke while Lupin was flying through the air in Castle of Cagliostro). This has been referenced many times in other anime and manga, and has become something of a joke within Lupin itself. In Fujiko's Unlucky Days, Lupin even tells Goemon, "No one is better at cutting worthless objects than you!"

Origins

Goemon is unique to the series as he was the only character not there from the beginning. Monkey Punch, in an interview featured on the American Dead or Alive DVD release, mentioned he added Goemon later as he felt his comic needed a more Japanese character. There are three different versions of the meeting and joining.

In the original manga, Goemon is targeted by Lupin to steal the secrets of how to make his sword. In later issues, Goemon is sent by his masters to kill Lupin, but after failing many times, he decides Lupin can teach him more and joins his side.

In episode five of the first anime series, Goemon is tricked into going against Lupin by Old Man Momochi, who wants them both out of the way so he can claim the title of world's greatest assassin. The two both outwit him and survive. Two episodes later, Lupin attempts to steal the sword formula; Goemon joins with him in the end. The two episodes pull in several elements from the manga stories.

In the 2002 TV special " First Contact", Goemon met Lupin when he was searching for the Zantetsuken, the only sword he felt worthy of his abilities. Lupin, Jigen, and Fujiko all served as adversaries until being forced to work together to survive. There are hints that parts of the story may be made up at the end of the special, however, so not everything can be taken as true.

All of the meetings have one moment in common; Lupin tricks Goemon into slicing a vial of liquid that bursts into flame when exposed to air. This ignites the samurai, who quickly turns the tables and lights Lupin on fire as well.

Lex Lang-potrayed characters | Fictional iaidouka | Fictional samurai | Lupin III characters