Tatsu Mandala is a character of Lupin the 3rd Part 1.
History[]
Tatsu worked for Kamaitachi as his top henchman. When Kamaitachi had his surgery to plant the "The Star of Killamanjaro" into his chest, he was asked to come into his room and witnessed his boss wanting to wipe out his memories for six months. He also saw the doctor being murdered as he dashed out of the door not wanting his memories removed. Kamaitachi ordered that if anyone knew his secret before the six month deadline to get rid of them as he handed his machine gun to him.
When the rain cleared up, Lupin III and Daisuke Jigen were walking when Tatsu tried to take them out with a machine gun as someone else was driving. They dived into the grass however he managed to shoot at Lupin's arm only causing a burn. As he was coming back, Lupin threw an explosive attached to the knife at the bumper of the car. The car exploded however Tatsu managed to get away.
Kamaitachi passed away as Lupin, Jigen and Fujiko Mine were talking about his death. Tatsu was ear-wigging outside the door however Jigen noticed so Lupin opened the door and he fell down to the floor. Jigen grabbed him, put his magnum to his face and asked who hired him. Tatsu replied that it was Kamaitachi and he was only following orders.
As he was talking to Lupin, Tatsu said that he failed to take him out. He glared at Fujiko knowing that his boss was going to have his memory restored on the day that he died. Both Tatsu and Lupin interrogated Fujiko as she might have known the secret. As soon as Lupin mentioned to put Fujiko into the memory loss machine, she dashed out of the door. Just as Lupin was about to make love to Fujiko, Tatsu pointed his gun at Lupin and saying that they both had to die. He also says that if they live, he could never face his late boss. While Lupin persuaded him not to be loyal to a dead man, he mentions that his body is going to be cremated in a few hours. Fujiko dashed off and he hit Lupin at the back of his head with his machine gun to chase after Fujiko.
In a hideout by the mountains, Tatsu decided to join Lupin and Gan-Tetsu Hammer. They noticed that Jigen was late and Lupin claimed that he didn't want him as his partner. It turned out that Jigen was above them and jumped down. Lupin says that his henchmen had to follow his orders and as Jigen asked why Tatsu was there, Lupin said that he started to work for the Lupin Syndicate as of today.
When Jigen asked what happened to Fujiko, Tatsu claimed that she got away. They decided to introduce themselves with Lupin being first, then Gan-Tetsu Hammer where he jumps up in the air and plants explosives quickly around Lupin. Tatsu then says him name but Lupin interrupts him says that he doesn't need to know his specialties as he was about to use his gun. He observed that Jigen mentions that one of them might be a spy and asks for a password that Gan-Tetsu says comic after co. Lupin said that if he says three then Tatsu says "Lupin the 3rd" while holding two fingers and a thumb. Jigen claimed that they were good for rookies but Lupin pressures him to say a password for "ha" and pulled out his magnum, Lupin shot the gun out of his hand. Tatsu then murdered Jigen with the machine gun. Lupin was about to say something to Tatsu however he knew that it was a spy.
As Lupin was talking to Fujiko, both Gan-Tetsu and Tatsu opened the door to show the corpse of "Jigen" who was actually Okosama Ranchi in disguise and witnessed Lupin giving the phone to Fujiko to release Jigen.
Lupin explains to him and Gan-Tetsu about the plan to get the gem from the corpse. The hearse is going from Kamaitachi's mansion to the police station. There is going to be two points of interest with the second being a crossroad that resembles a swastika, there are two roads before the destination. Jigen claimed that it was boring searching a dead man however Lupin was willing to give it a try. No weapons will be used in the plan to prevent the police from knowing and Tatsu asks if the police find out but Lupin claimed that "there is no room for mistakes".
Both him and Gan-Tetsu jumped down the mountain, he got into the police van to drive while Gan-Tetsu was on lookout. After his partner pulled the caution sign to go with Lupin and Jigen, he drove off.
The heist was successful and he got out of the police van to wait for Lupin, Jigen and Gan-Tetsu. Lupin gave him the gem then threw the gem to Fujiko. As Tatsu jumped onto Fujiko's motorbike to get away, Jigen shot him in the back. It is unknown whether he is alive or dead.
Etymology[]
- The name Tatsu means "dragon" (辰).
Notes[]
- The wiki adapts the translation used in the Spanish Animax dubs and the 1979 Italian dub translation but changed to Western order. The alternative Japanese kana writing also uses Tatsu.