Takeshi Koumoto

Takeshi is innocent, affectionate and remarkably trusting despite an abusive home environment. His belief in Muscle Rider gives him a way to understand Kaze's extraordinary strength and the frightening world into which Gantz places him.

He quickly becomes attached to Kaze and follows his instructions closely. Kaze's protection gives Takeshi a sense of safety he had lacked at home.

Repeated missions make him surprisingly composed for a four-year-old. Although still dependent on adults, Takeshi begins responding to danger with the confidence he learns from Kaze.

Takeshi possesses no innate supernatural abilities, but the Gantz suit grants him greatly enhanced strength, speed and durability despite his tiny body.

He learns to activate the suit deliberately and imitates Kaze's close-combat techniques. Most notably, he reproduces the powerful backward throw or "back attack" associated with his guardian.

His size remains a disadvantage, but the suit allows him to defend himself against enemies that an ordinary child could never survive.

Takeshi's introduction shows him drawing Muscle Rider while living in an abusive household. His mother's boyfriend violently attacks him for eating a pudding, and Takeshi dies from the injuries after the adults leave him without medical help.

He awakens in the Gantz room and identifies Kaze as the hero he had imagined. Kaze protects him through his first mission and later takes Takeshi into his own home after learning how the child entered Gantz.

Takeshi continues accompanying the Tokyo team and becomes increasingly capable with his suit. His presence also changes Kaze, giving the solitary fighter someone whose safety matters more than finding stronger opponents.

Daizaemon Kaze is Takeshi's protector and adoptive father figure. Takeshi believes Daizaemon Kaze is Muscle Rider, while Kaze eventually accepts responsibility for raising and protecting him outside Gantz as well as during missions.

Kei Kurono leads the organized training sessions Takeshi attends with the Tokyo team.

Reika Shimohira, Yoshikazu Suzuki, Hiroto Sakurai and Kenzo Sakata become fellow members of the team surrounding Takeshi and his guardian.