Masashi Yamada

Yamada is sociable, optimistic and eager to cooperate. His instinct upon entering the room is to have everyone introduce themselves, reflecting the orderly and approachable manner expected from a teacher.

His optimism becomes denial once the mission begins. Yamada clings to the idea that the hunt is staged entertainment even as the violence around him becomes increasingly difficult to explain that way.

He is not naturally malicious, but believing the mission to be a game makes him disturbingly willing to participate in hunting the Onion Alien.

Yamada has no supernatural abilities or established combat training.

He quickly learns the basic operation of the X-Gun and participates in pursuing the mission target, but he does not wear a Gantz suit and therefore lacks its enhanced strength and protection.

His willingness to use the weapon exceeds his actual combat competence.

Yamada is among the first people Kei Kurono and Masaru Katou meet in the Gantz room. He tries to turn the bewildering gathering into something understandable before the sphere announces the Onion Alien mission.

Once persuaded that the hunt is a television game, he participates in pursuing the target and expects successful players to be rewarded.

The adult Onion Alien attacks the unequipped newcomers and tears off Yamada's arms. Even while dying, Yamada struggles to maintain his fantasy that the entire experience is a television production and that he will somehow be returned safely.

Kei Kurono and Masaru Katou enter Gantz alongside Yamada during the first mission.

Takashi Inamori, Hiroshi Hatanaka and Kiyoshi Yoshioka are among the other newcomers who join the pursuit of the Onion Alien.