Kenzo Sakata

Sakata is laid-back, pragmatic and morally unconventional. When Sakurai approaches him after prolonged bullying, Sakata does not offer conventional reassurance; he teaches the teenager how to fight back with powers capable of killing.

He admits that he has killed people himself and initially treats lethal retaliation as something Sakurai must decide for himself. Despite that harsh outlook, Sakata is not indifferent to human suffering. He becomes increasingly willing to intervene when innocent people are threatened.

Sakata also develops genuine affection for his student. The mentor relationship eventually becomes reciprocal, with each willing to risk himself for the other.

Sakata possesses powerful psychic abilities, including telekinesis and the capacity to exert destructive force directly on another person's body. He can manipulate objects, restrain opponents and attack without conventional weapons.

He can also stop or redirect projectiles through psychic force, making his powers effective against both humans and aliens. His experience allows him to teach Sakurai how to access similar abilities.

The power has a serious physical cost. Medical examination reveals that repeated psychic use has prematurely aged Sakata's internal organs, and his abilities gradually weaken as the damage accumulates.

Sakata first appears when Sakurai seeks him out after being driven toward suicide by relentless bullying. He identifies Sakurai's latent ability and teaches him how to use it.

When Izumi begins the Shinjuku massacre, Sakata and Sakurai attempt to stop him with their psychic powers. Both are killed and consequently materialize in the Gantz room, beginning their lives as hunters.

Sakata later earns 100 points during the Oni Alien mission and uses the reward to revive Sakurai. During the Nurarihyon mission, he remains behind to hold off the overwhelmingly powerful boss so the others can escape, sacrificing himself in the process.

Hiroto Sakurai is Sakata's student and closest companion. Sakata teaches Hiroto Sakurai to use psychic powers, while his decision to spend 100 points reviving his student demonstrates how deeply attached he has become to him.

Shion Izumi becomes Sakata's enemy when Sakata and Sakurai attempt to stop his Shinjuku massacre.

Kei Kurono earns Sakata's trust as leader of the Tokyo team. Sakata recognizes Kei Kurono's ability to organize hunters who would otherwise struggle to survive together.

Daizaemon Kaze and Reika Shimohira become fellow members of the cooperative Tokyo group with whom Sakata fights through later missions.