Hump Day Husbandos: Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Tiger & Bunny)

The long-awaited second season of Tiger & Bunny has finally been made fully available as of last month. As an anime original that first released way back in 2011, it was great to finally see the series make a return. It was certainly a long time coming, and while I personally still need to find the time to explore its last few episodes before I tackle part two of this latest season for a review, here is the one and only reason why you should already be watching.

If I had to choose a favourite main character of any anime show, it feels like it would be impossible to top Kotetsu. It’s high time I show my appreciation for this shining star, who will never be appreciated enough in my eyes.

Who is Kotetsu T Kaburagi, AKA Wild Tiger?

Kotetsu is the main character of Tiger & Bunny, and is also known as Wild Tiger in his superhero incarnation. He works alongside his superhero buddy Barnaby, who functions as the deuteragonist of the show. The series follows its makeshift narrative from the viewpoint of Kotetsu, but audiences would have doubtless naturally gravitated towards him even if he wasn’t the focus.

The defining trait of his character — and the source of his motivation — is how he is perceived by others as one of the most unpopular superheroes on Hero TV. Despite ranking as one of the least favoured heroes in terms of popularity within his home city, his ideology and genuine desire to simply keep others safe is what spurs him on and fulfils him far more than the competitive, heavily sponsored system he is working for.

Why we love him

Kotetsu has always preferred being out in the field to facing the press and carrying out interviews. Rather than keeping the company happy, his mind is always on providing constant service to those in need, instead of appealing for viewing figures and presenting a superficial outward appearance to keep sponsors pleased.

We love him already for that alone, and it goes without saying that there ends up being much more to him than this initial set-up might suggest. The series goes the extra mile in making Kotetsu so extremely likable whilst giving him substance — he’s a charismatically flawed individual. It’s especially evident with his tendency to be overkeen or naïve, so much so that his very own proactive and well-intentioned nature gets the best of him at the worst of times.

What most of it comes down to is that Kotetsu embodies what makes a classic superhero. He idealises his job from the very beginning, and he never forgets the reasons why he decided to pursue it as a career when he was a child. He didn’t want to go into the job for praise or adoration, but simply to keep others safe.

He had to be convinced that his powers could save others rather than hurt them. This was mentioned to him as a child, and he carries this knowledge forward into adulthood to reassure and reaffirm others who doubt themselves, much like he once did. And he goes on to learn how to hone his powers to protect others with every last ounce of strength he can muster as time goes by. This ends up being a major plot point — but one we’ll refrain from spoiling in detail right now!

Why you will love him

All in all, Kotetsu comes from not just a heartfelt place, but also a relatable one. He has very human flaws, and a need to balance his work commitments and family life. The entire point of the show was to draw in working adults who are interested in an Americanised superhero tale — indeed, as much ahs been said by the show’s producers in the past. It’s something that can’t be reiterated enough: Tiger & Bunny appeals to a wide-reaching demographic rather than a targeted audience.

The many ways one can interpret the relationship between Tiger and Bunny was what drew me to the show back when it was first released, but as an adult, its refreshing representation of two older males at the forefront of the action continues to be its best, most distinctive defining element. A lot of this is down to how Kotetsu faces personal conflicts and hardships that older audiences will particularly relate to, but best of all is how he manages to stay motivated and positive through it all. It’s truly uplifting and inspiring.

For example, Kotetsu learns how to face the potential of having to retire way before he originally intended to. At another point, his relationship with his daughter becomes strained due to his inability to find time away from work to visit her. This, in turn, fuels his loneliness, as he continues to feel the pain and isolation after losing his wife five years ago.

This is barely scratching the surface of the difficulties Kotetsu faces in series one alone, and that’s not even mentioning the big one: his stressful relationship with Barnaby. Barnaby could not be any less interested in working with Kotetsu, but they are paired together and forced to somehow make it work.

There is simply too much good to mention when it comes to his character. He is not the brightest tool in the shed and would much rather throw himself into situations rather than think any of them through. While this sense of air-headedness also carries over into his inability to properly or correctly feel out others’ concerns or their own state of emotions, Kotetsu always means well.

While the general public’s opinion of him is bad enough, his own colleagues also tend to sideline him more often than not. Despite this, he takes up a parental role to any number of them, wanting to provide his own guidance and support. Kotetsu, for everything he has and continues to struggle with in his own personal life, remains incredibly loyal to everyone and anyone he makes a connection to. This can even be seen well after death, as reminded whenever his hand is in shot, as he continues to wear his wedding ring.

Despite just how remarkably brilliant everything else about the show is, Kotetsu is the heart and soul of Tiger & Bunny. It would simply not be the same without his authentic and infectious self moving it along at all times. You can and should see for yourself via Netflix today. It’s feel-good all over – with just a dollop of angst to keep all of us on the edge of our seats. He also happens to be voiced by Hiroaki Hirata, AKA Sanji from One Piece. What’s not to love?

^{Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on them. This is at no additional cost to you and helps support Rice Digital!}