Hanazawa Saburou, known by his moniker Zetton, was a delinquent at Suzuran during Hana's first year. He was one of the The Four Kings in his generation, consisting of himself, King Joe of Housen, Nakajima Shinsuke of the Kurotaki Alliance, and Takeda Kousei of the Front of Armament.
Zetton later became a teacher at Tenkoukoku High.
Personality
Zetton embodies the archetype of a lone wolf, a tenacious and formidable combatant who readily embraces any challenge thrown his way. His exceptional strength commands a profound respect both within the confines of Suzuran and across Toarushi. While his demeanor can be described as eccentric and carefree, Zetton's character is also marked by an unwavering sense of loyalty to his friends. He often imparts sage advice and wisdom to those in his inner circle, emphasizing the depth of his connection to those he holds dear.
Plot
Kikyou Mid
Zetton attended Kikyou Mid, where he met Bouya Harumichi, who would become his closest friend. Before meeting Bouya, Zetton was unremarkable, well-mannered, and hardly noticeable [1].
His transformation began when the school's gym teacher, Nemoto, accused Zetton of hanging out downtown the previous night. Despite Zetton's confusion and attempts to explain, Nemoto publicly berated him. This confrontation escalated when Nemoto shouted at Zetton, triggering a sudden reaction from the young student who headbutted the gym teacher in the nose. This act earned him the nickname "Zetton" for toppling the figurative "Ultraman" of the school, Nemoto [2].
Zetton's newfound notoriety at Kikyou Mid made him the school's second-biggest star after Bouya. During his time at the school, he stood by Bouya, who was frequently approached by fellow students asking for his intervention in their fights. Zetton, on one occasion, chastised these students for their cowardice and lack of self-reliance.
Zetton later accompanied Bouya to Hattou Mid, a rival school, to settle a dispute. Although initially nervous about the confrontation, he gained confidence as they arrived. When Bouya engaged in a fierce battle against Hattou Mid's boss, Kawaji Hideo, Zetton watched with admiration. When Bouya emerged victorious, he warned Zetton to prepare to run, anticipating the Hattou Mid students' anger over their leader's defeat.
After Bouya returned from his suspension, he and Zetton shared a conversation on the school's rooftop before Bouya decided to leave Kikyou Mid [3].
Suzuran
Freshman
Zetton moved to Toarushi from a different town and entered Suzuran as a freshman. Zetton actively participates in the Freshmen War, where he clashes with various other newcomers. He defeats Aikawa [4], earning a reputation as one of the strongest freshmen. Despite his early reluctance, Zetton agrees to fight in the Freshmen War and becomes more closely aligned with Bouya's group.
After the Freshmen War, Zetton challenges Bouya himself, engaging in a fierce rooftop battle. Although he initially gains an advantage by taunting Bouya [5], the fight takes a turn when Bouya lands a powerful punch, defeating Zetton [6].
Subsequently, Zetton becomes more loyal to Harumichi and joins him on various adventures. When Bouya, along with Kunou Ryuushin and Tatsuya Bitou, confronts the Snake Heads, Zetton, Hideyoshi, Gunji, Masa, and Yonezaki embark on a journey to find Bouya. Their quest leads them into a confrontation with the Snake Heads, a notorious gang. Zetton battles against Mayumi Tetsuji but is defeated [7].
After this defeat, Zetton and his friends learn that Bouya and his allies are planning to confront the Snake Heads at the Nakazaki factory. Zetton rushes to join Suzuran's reinforcements, aligning with the Front of Armament and Housen. The war with the Snake Heads eventually concludes, leading to the generational shift within Suzuran.
In the midst of these events, a new threat arises when a band of thieves, led by Kai Yasunori, disrupts the balance among the newly appointed Four Kings. Zetton is involved in a Mexican Standoff between different factions but is unable to engage in battle.
Subsequently, Kuzugami Tatsuo, the strongest delinquent in Japan and former member of the Manji Empire, arrives in Toarushi. He is hired to take down the Four Kings, including Zetton. Zetton, recovering from injuries sustained in previous battles, faces Kuzugami and loses. Toshio, Kuzugami's underling, is conflicted about his loyalty to Tatsuo.
As the battles escalate, Zetton encourages Toshio and eventually witnesses Bouya's victory over Kuzugami Tatsuo. He helps carry his senior home and reflects on the strength and greatness embodied by Bouya Harumichi, marking the end of an era and the dawn of a new one in the world of Suzuran [8].
Sophomore
During his sophomore year at Suzuran, Zetton found himself embroiled in a sensitive situation between Suzuran and The Front of Armament. Tesshou, the future head of The Front, learned that his little sister had been mistreated by two Suzuran students. In response, Takeda Kousei, the current head of The Front, personally visited Suzuran to resolve the matter [9].
Zetton was approached by Yonezaki and Kousei to discuss the situation. Initially hesitant, Zetton questioned Kousei's demands but became more cooperative after Tessho revealed the issue involved his sister. Zetton located the second student involved and swiftly dealt with him, delivering a powerful kick that sent the student flying [10].
Following this incident, Zetton and his fellow upperclassmen initiated a betting tradition during the freshmen battles at Suzuran. They wagered money on potential winners, with Zetton notably betting on "other" rather than the favored candidates.
During the Freshmen War, Zetton and Yonezaki met with King Joe and Ujiie Jun from Housen to discuss a Suzuran freshman's remarkable achievement of defeating Ujiie and eight other Housen hitmen. This feat left Zetton and Joe astounded [11].
Shortly thereafter, Zetton encountered Hanaki Guriko for the first time. The encounter left Zetton with a chilling sense of Guriko's immense strength. In a bid to provoke Guriko into a serious fight, Zetton tossed Guriko's phone off the roof. Enraged, Guriko engaged Zetton in a fierce battle. Despite Zetton's formidable strikes, he couldn't bring Guriko down, resulting in his third loss [12].
Word of Zetton's defeat quickly spread throughout the town, disrupting the power balance among the Four Kings and marking a significant shift in the ongoing struggle for supremacy in the delinquent world of Toarushi.
Senior
Even into his senior year, the power balance in the town had not been restored following Zetton's loss to Hanaki Guriko. Significant changes were occurring in Toarushi, with the Kurotaki Alliance collapsing and creating a lawless area in the eastern part of the town. Housen was dealing with internal strife, while Suzuran continued to face factional battles. The Front of Armament remained a constant force, but it too would experience a major change.
During Hana's Freshmen War, Zetton watched as the young freshman declared his ambition to one day rule Suzuran. He applauded Hana and expressed his support [13]. Zetton asked for Hana's name to remember it after witnessing Hana's victory in a fight against Katsuhiro.
In the following days, Zetton witnessed Hana's success in defeating Amachi. Eventually, he met Hana on Suzuran's rooftop. Zetton attempted to launch a sneak attack on Hana but was impressed by Hana's speed and ability to block his attacks. After their brief skirmish, Zetton and Hana engaged in a conversation about Suzuran's history, during which Zetton mentioned Hanaki Guriko as a formidable adversary. In an effort to motivate Hana and demonstrate the strength required to change Suzuran, Zetton sent Hana to confront Guriko.
Guriko met with Zetton and Yonezaki on Suzuran's rooftop after clashing with Hana. They emphasized the importance of Hana's development and his role in Suzuran's future. Guriko agreed to support Hana in achieving his goal of becoming Suzuran's head.
In the first semester, Suzuran went to war with its long-standing rival, Housen. Zetton had an encounter with King Joe of Housen under a bridge. King Joe had orchestrated the ambush of several Suzuran students, including Suzuran's fellow upperclassmen. Despite Zetton's willingness to face Joe in a one-on-one fight, they were jumped by two Housen graduates, Uchida and Kadoya, who had previously clashed with Joe.
Zetton questioned Joe's reluctance to fight him individually, suspecting that he was about to be ambushed. Ultimately, Zetton fought and defeated both Uchida and Kadoya, showcasing his resilience and combat skills [14]. However, King Joe himself intervened and managed to strike Zetton with a lead pipe, effectively defeating him [15].
Following this confrontation, an all-out war erupted between Suzuran and Housen, lasting for three days and resulting in numerous injuries. The police eventually intervened, temporarily halting the conflict [16].
The final battle between Suzuran and Housen was arranged by phone call between King Joe and Hideyoshi, taking place at the Monster's Forest. Zetton watched as Suzuran's underclassmen faced off against Housen's representatives, with each senior placing bets on the outcome.
Then, a phone call between King Joe and Hideyoshi decided the time and location of the wars grand finale. 5 AM the following morning at the Monster's Forest.
After the conclusion of the battle, Zetton and his peers retired from the front lines, marking the end of an era.
Soon after the war with Housen, significant changes occurred in the town. Takeda Kousei, the head of The Front of Armament's 5th generation, was forced to retire due to illness. On Kousei's departure day, both King Joe and Zetton bid him farewell with gifts. Zetton, having no money, gave Kousei a bag of adult magazines as a parting gift.
With the seniors retired from active fighting, Suzuran went to war with the Jet Black Scorpion. Suzuran's sophomores, including Butcher, Kurosawa, and Tokio, were initially targeted by Scorpion's leaders Kamata and Tahara due to past conflicts.
The war against the Scorpion was a four-way battle involving Butcher's faction, Tokio's Harada Faction, Kurosawa's group, and Hana's freshman faction. Each faction played a role in dismantling the Scorpion, with Butcher dealing with internal issues in his army, Tokio and his group confronting Kamata and his team, Kurosawa seeking revenge for an attack on Guriko's girlfriend, and Hana and his freshmen defeating Tahara and his underlings.
With Zetton's fellow peers having made plans for their futures after high school, Zetton himself decided to become a teacher and to return to Suzuran.
As the day of the 27th class graduation approached, Kurosawa informed Yonezaki, Masa, Gunji, and Hideyoshi that Shirai, a former senior whom Zetton had defeated, was planning to gather friends to attack Zetton. The seniors chose to handle the situation themselves and asked Guriko to attend the graduation.
On the day of the graduation ceremony, Zetton received a photo of himself with Yonezaki, Masa, Gunji, and Hideyoshi from Akutsu Kinji. Emotional and reflective, Zetton prepared to bid farewell to Suzuran.
After the ceremony, the group of seniors met and decided to get some food together. They reminisced about their time at Suzuran and expressed gratitude for their friendship. Zetton noted that something was missing, leading them to decide their futures with a symbolic can toss into a bin.
Post-Graduation
Two years after his graduation from Suzuran, Zetton was out for a jog when he encountered two familiar faces, Suzuran seniors Tsukishima Hana and Tominaga Toranosuke. Tora asked Zetton about his progress with his studies, and Zetton, although cheerful, seemed annoyed by the question. He revealed that he had taken an academic ability test the previous week and acknowledged that the academic work was challenging. However, he made it clear that he wouldn't back down and was determined to achieve a passing grade.
During their conversation, Zetton noticed that Hana was wearing the Bullshit belt. Hana explained that Guriko had given him the belt at the end of the previous year, assuming that Hana would graduate as the strongest. Zetton found humor in Guriko repeating his last year and the journey of the Bullshit belt, which had been passed down from one senior to another.
Zetton shared some words of wisdom with Hana, emphasizing that being the strongest is not as important as being the greatest man. He encouraged Hana to focus on being a great person rather than obsessing over strength [17]. After their conversation, Zetton bid farewell to Tora and Hana.
As Hana's senior year progressed, Zetton took his academic pursuits seriously. He passed the central exam and also completed an entrance exam for a university in Tohoku, indicating his commitment to furthering his education [18].
Zetton continued his physical training, striving to get back into top shape. During one of his runs, he encountered a brick wall that he used to jump off when he was younger. Feeling nostalgic, Zetton attempted the jump, but it resulted in him breaking his foot.
Despite this setback, Hana expressed his confidence in Zetton, believing that he would succeed in the exams. Tora agreed with Hana's sentiment.
As a teacher
With his determination and commitment to his studies, Zetton eventually graduated from university. Following his graduation, he embarked on an internship at a high school in a northern prefecture.
After facing rejection from most schools, Zetton finally secured a job as a teacher at a school called Tenkoukou High [19] in Betsunoshi. He felt confident in his knowledge of history, particularly the Sengoku period. With his determination and his new career as a teacher, Zetton had taken a significant step forward in his life beyond Suzuran.
Fights
Zetton is proficient in Karate [20] and has even shown donning the Karate Gi [21].
- Zetton vs. Hotta, several underlings - Won [22]
- Zetton vs. Aikawa Koji - Won [4]
- Zetton vs. Hideyoshi - Won [23]
- Zetton vs. Bouya - Lost [24]
- Zetton vs. Mayumi Tetsuji - Lost [7]
- Zetton vs. Kuzugami Tatsuo - Lost [25]
- Zetton vs. Guriko - Lost [12]
- Zetton vs. Uchida, Kadoya - Won [14]
- Zetton vs. King Joe - Lost, ambushed [15]
- Zetton vs. Butcher - Won [26]
- Zetton vs. Kuze Kazuma - Won [27]
- Zetton vs. Watari Kouki - Won [28]
- Zetton vs. Magashira Junzou - Lost, with Judo rules (and Zetton held back his finishing axe kick) [29]
- Zetton vs. Ashibou Maito - Won [30]
Trivia
- Zetton's name is a homage to a kaiju character of the same name. This kaiju, Zetton made its appearance in the tokusatsu series "Ultraman," echoing the reference to Nemoto, another character in the series. Significantly, Zetton, just like its namesake, made history by toppling Ultraman.
- Zetton became the second owner of the Bullshit Buckle that is secretly passed down by Harumichi Bouya. Upon his graduation, Zetton entrusted it to Guriko, continuing the legacy.
- Zetton's favourite food is chestnut parfait [19].
- Zetton finds solace in reading and jogging [19].
- Zetton has a scooter which he nicknamed as 'Kurokoma'. This moniker pays homage to the famed horse from Japanese folklore [31].
Gallery
References
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 58, page 25
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 58, page 30
- ↑ Crows Gaiden: Harumichi Bouya
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Crows; Chapter 58, page 45
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 61, page 18
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 61, page 36
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Crows; Chapter 72, page 24
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 93, page 52
- ↑ Crows: The Aftermath; Chapter 3, page 31
- ↑ Crows: The Aftermath; Chapter 3, page 19-20
- ↑ Crows: The Aftermath; Chapter 5, page 10
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Crows: Aftermath; Chapter 6, page 13
- ↑ Worst; Chapter 4, page 23
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Worst; Chapter 13, page 17
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Worst; Chapter 13, page 20
- ↑ Worst; Chapter 13, page 50
- ↑ Worst; Chapter 91, page 10-11
- ↑ Worst; Chapter 130, page 6
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Worst Gaiden: Mr Zetton; Chapter 1
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 61, page 24
- ↑ Worst Gaiden: Mr Zetton; Chapter 3, page 50-52
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 56, page 27
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 60, page 6
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 61, page 36
- ↑ Crows; Chapter 91, page 33
- ↑ Worst; Chapter 26, page 19
- ↑ Worst Gaiden: Mr Zetton; Chapter 2, page 43
- ↑ Worst Gaiden: Mr Zetton; Chapter 6; page 29
- ↑ Worst Gaiden: Mr Zetton; Chapter 20; page 45
- ↑ Worst Gaiden: Mr Zetton; Chapter 22, page 30
- ↑ Worst Gaiden: Mr Zetton; Chapter 19