Tsuzuki, Asato
Summary
Asato Tsuzuki serves as the central protagonist of the narrative. Born in 1900, he was twenty-six years old when he passed away and ascended to the rank of Shinigami. Although he died at that age, his appearance remains somewhat youthful, a likely consequence of dying in a hospital after spending eight years in a comatose state. By the start of the first volume, he is ninety-seven years old. Within the Shokan/Summons division, Tsuzuki holds the position of the oldest employee, ranking just below Chief Konoe, yet he is also the lowest-paid staff member due to his perceived incompetence. He has a penchant for sake, apple pie, Cinnabon, sleeping, and teasing Hisoka. Among his fellow Shinigami, he is infamous for his lazy demeanor and insatiable appetite. His preferred color is light green, and he maintains a flower garden where he grows tulips and hydrangeas. The second volume, titled Last Waltz, delves deeper into his bond with his sister. In volume five, Storybook, he bestows the name Luka upon a nameless female character who had previously been referred to only as 'girl.' This character had introduced him to dancing and gardening, activities in which he excels, as well as cooking, which yields results as toxic as poison. These culinary efforts consistently cause adverse reactions, as seen in volume four, Hokkaidō. There, the Queen goes missing after consuming a muffin Tsuzuki baked, which Yuma and Saya had inadvertently left behind, causing her disappearance while she remains unaware of how she left her 'kingdom.' Tsuzuki forms an immediate and deep affection for his current partner, Hisoka. He shares a strong friendship with Watari but experiences a sometimes strained dynamic with Tatsumi, a former partner. He generally gets along with most Meifu employees, except for Hakushaku, who persistently hits on him, and Terazuma, with whom he engages in a fierce rivalry. His relationship with Muraki is particularly turbulent; while Tsuzuki despises Muraki for his cruelty toward Hisoka, himself, and almost everyone else, his unwillingness to harm others prevents him from killing Muraki outright. Despite being one of the cheeriest characters, Tsuzuki conceals a dark past involving terrible deeds committed during his life. Both the manga and anime hint that he murdered numerous people, either intentionally or as a side effect of other actions. This truth surfaces during the Devil's Trill Arc when he is possessed by the powerful demon Saagantanasu. Doctor Muraki reveals through his grandfather’s research that Tsuzuki was a patient of the elder Muraki for eight years and is not entirely human. During this period, he survived without food, water, or sleep, and could not die from injuries, evidenced by numerous failed suicide attempts. Muraki suggests Tsuzuki possesses demon blood, indicated by his purple eyes, a revelation he finds difficult to accept. Tsuzuki commands the power of twelve Shikigami and utilizes ofuda magic. He also possesses immense stamina, allowing him to sustain massive bodily damage without dying and to heal almost instantly. While this trait is later established as common among all Shinigami, Tsuzuki was the first to demonstrate it, a capability seemingly linked to his abilities before death.
