Shozo Yaginuma

Background

Shozo Yaginuma was a university friend of Toshiya Utsurogi. He once worked at a cutting-edge company conducting research on genetically modified crops. In order to cure Yo Utsurogi 's allergy to wheat, he performs repeated genetic engineering experiments on wheat to create a completely new variety not belonging to any existing genetic lineage. He realizes it most likely was one of the first wheat precursors that humans encountered and ends up naming it the Gleanings of Paradise.↗↗↗

Yaginuma regrets reviving the wheat, but it is too late. The wheat forces Yaginuma to quit the company he was conducting genetic research for and move to a rocky summit of a mountain in the Kanto region, where he pioneers a village suitable for cultivating the crops. The wheat chooses to make Yaginuma the leader since a community needs someone for administrative purposes and to assimilate outsiders into the village.↗↗↗

Greeting the Visitors

Yaginuma sees Rohan taking photos of the wheat and is glad to hear Rohan's positive reaction toward the wheat fields. He approaches Rohan from behind, as he claims that the wheat is basically God in his village. Utsurogi catches up and hugs his friend, as the two are happy to see each other again after a long time. Yaginuma introduces himself to Rohan and the group heads into the village. Rohan notices that the ground did not seem suitable for growing wheat.↗

Yaginuma passionately describes how the symbiotic relationship between wheat and humans dates back to the Agricultural Revolution, emphasizing that wheat's encounter with humanity was just as fateful for its own reproduction. He presents two different ears of wheat, highlighting the differences between the ancient Gleanings of Paradise and modern varieties of wheat.↗

Rohan asks Yaginuma if the Gleanings of Paradise really do change one's constitution once they eat it, to which Yaginuma confirms that it does, but it depends on their own temperament. As they walk through the village, Rohan and Utsurogi observe villagers manually grinding the wheat, wholly engrossed in their task and ignoring their guests. Yaginuma describes the process as a ritualistic act of accepting God.↗↗

Bullish Transformation

Yaginuma serves Rohan and Utsurogi bread he cooks using the freshly ground wheat at his house. Yaginuma explains how the wheat tastes better when it's simmered in a porridge, which he promises to treat them to the next day. Rohan argues that they should offer it today so he doesn't have to stay another day longer with his busy schedule, but Yaginuma remains steadfast about maintaining the date of their harvest ritual, as it is a strictly observed custom.↗

The next day, Rohan, Utsurogi, Yo, and Yaginuma, gather around a pot set over a fire as they prepare to cook the wheat into a porridge. Rohan notices the villagers in a peculiar posture, bent over like elderly people, when harvesting wheat. Yaginuma explains that it's more convenient for farm work. Utsurogi's behavior becomes even more erratic, as he tries force-feeding his daughter and starts consuming spilled porridge from the ground, behaving more like a wild animal than a human.↗↗

Later in the middle of the night, Yaginuma secretly takes Utsurogi away from the hut and continues feeding him more kernels of wheat. When he leaves the hut, Rohan and Yo sneak in to try saving Utsurogi, who they discover has transformed into a half-bull hybrid.↗↗

End of the Village

Yaginuma returns and orders the transformed Utsurogi to seize Rohan and Yo. Utsurogi manages to grab Yo, and carries her toward Yaginuma. Yaginuma reveals that he wants Rohan to use his manga to extol the virtues of the Gleanings of Paradise wheat. He believes that once Rohan consumes the wheat, he will be compelled to promote it willingly. Suddenly, Yaginuma slaps Utsurogi on his back, making him vomit out a porridge of the Gleanings of Paradise.↗

In the aftermath of the village fire, the wheat fields of the Gleanings of Paradise were completely destroyed. The villagers, initially hesitant to leave the mountain, were eventually persuaded by the local government and rescue teams to accept aid. At the hospital, they showed signs of recovery, with many, including Yaginuma, recalling their time under the wheat's influence as a hazy dream.↗↗

Profile details

Status: Alive (TSKR)↗