Summary
Rokurou Okajima, known to his friends as "Rock," serves as the male protagonist of the series. Originally a Japanese salaryman for Asahi Industries in Tokyo, his life changed dramatically when he was taken hostage by the Black Lagoon crew. After his department chief, Kageyama, abandoned him to cover up a smuggling operation in which Rock was an unwitting participant, Rock joined the Lagoon Company. Despite facing gunfire from both friends and foes, he remains humble and mild-mannered, often appearing shocked by the brutality of the Southeast Asian criminal underworld. He retains his business attire, including a tie, short-sleeved dress shirt, and dress pants, reflecting his persistent corporate persona even as a pirate. Rock generally prefers diplomacy over violence, though he has occasionally questioned whether he is suffering from Stockholm syndrome since joining the crew. Within the Lagoon Company, Rock handles account management, diplomacy, negotiation, and interpretation, in addition to running errands. His background in the resource investigation department at Asahi Industries has made him skilled in geology. He is also a talented linguist, fluent in both Japanese and English, with familiarity in Spanish, Romanian, and Russian. His tolerance for alcohol is surprisingly high, a trait developed during his years as a hard-drinking, career-climbing salaryman. Rock’s earnest nature has drawn the attention of several key figures in Roanapur, including Balalaika, Mr. Chang, Rowan "Jackpot" Pigeon, Yolanda, Eda, who has developed a crush on him, and young Garcia Lovelace, whom he trusts implicitly. He acts as the heart of the Lagoon Company, providing a moral counterbalance to his jaded teammates and bringing a sense of light to the dark world of Roanapur. Dutch has noted that the company feels complete with Rock, whose influence is more potent than any gun, suggesting that his "bullets" are the type that could ricochet back at the user. Rock is arguably one of the luckiest characters in the series, surviving numerous life-threatening situations ranging from hostage-taking to being shot at. He has endured the wrath of Revy, Balalaika, Roberta, and Sawyer. Mr. Chang personally appointed Rock to assist Garcia Lovelace, a decision that was met with disapproval by the Lagoon Company. Over time, Rock begins to enjoy his life as a pirate and grows more comfortable with corruption. During a conversation with Fabiola, he reveals a darker, sadistically ruthless side of his personality, likely influenced by Revy and the harsh environment of Roanapur. Benny has even observed that there are aspects of Rock that frighten nearly everyone in Roanapur. Although Rock has a family in Tokyo, he feels little connection to them due to their apathetic attitude toward him. It was later revealed that he failed his college entrance exams on his first attempt, which led his family to lower their expectations of him. He has a father, a mother, and an older brother who was academically gifted and secured a job in the Japanese government. According to the manga, Rock was born in the 49th year of the Showa period, which corresponds to 1975 or 1976.
