Daisaku Bandai

Daisaku Bandai (万代 大作) is a character featured in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School.

During his time in Class 66th at Hope's Peak Academy, his title was the Ultimate Farmer (超高校級の「農家」 lit. Super High School-Level Farmer). After leaving Hope's Peak, his title was updated to the Former Ultimate Farmer.

He is a member of the Future Foundation and is the Branch Office 11 Director. His responsibility as the director is assistance in restoring agriculture in disaster areas. He, along with the other Future Foundation Directors, is forced to participate in the Final Killing Game.

Early Life
Not much is known about Daisaku's early life other than at some point he was scouted by Hope's Peak Academy as part of Class 66th with the title of the Ultimate Farmer, later graduated to gain the updated title of the Former Ultimate Farmer. After The Tragedy occurred, he was recruited by the Future Foundation and became the Director of the Branch Office 11, where he was responsible for assisting in restoring agriculture in disaster areas.

Final Killing Game
Daisaku, alongside with the other Directors, attended the trial of Makoto Naegi; however, this only a cover for The Mastermind Kazuo Tengan's plot to force the Directors to participate in the Final Killing Game. Prior to Makoto's arrival, he discussed the trial with the other Directors (getting mocked by Ruruka Ando for his "creepy" voice "not matching how he looks" in the process) and lead the discussion to quickly become off-topic due to his nonsensical quotes. (Future Arc - Episode 01)

After Makoto, Kyoko Kirigiri, and Aoi Asahina arrive in the boardroom, Juzo Sakakura handcuffed Makoto, also punching him in the stomach. At Kyosuke Munakata's order, the trial was postponed. Daisaku remained inside the boardroom until the building started to shake due to the airplane missiles. He confirmed that there was an attack and all the exits to the facility has been cut off through his tablet. Directly after this, a cannister of sleeping gas was thrown inside the room, rendering everyone including Daisaku unconscious. (Future Arc - Episode 01)

When he woke up, Daisaku and the others found a Monokuma bracelet was attached to their wrists. Via a pre-recording on the large monitor set up by Kazuo, Monokuma delivered the rules of the Final Killing Game. Daisaku was also witness to Chisa Yukizome's bloody corpse fall from the ceiling fixture onto the boardroom table. (Future Arc - Episode 01)

Daisaku's Fate
Daisaku attempted to break the tension with another of his quotes but is unable to keep the situation from escalating. He left the room and returned to confirmed that they are indeed locked in with all the exits blocked. Everyone began to turn on each other. As Juzo goes to intimidate (and likely physically assault) Makoto, Daisaku spoke up in an attempted to get him to stop. Aoi also attempted to stop Juzo, though Ryota Mitarai also intervened, which resulted in him getting kneed in the stomach by Juzo. (Future Arc - Episode 02)

As a result of Daisaku seeing this event, his NG code was violated (Witnessing Violence by Participants), causing him to be injected with a painful, lethal poison through his Monokuma Bracelet. Seiko Kimura attempted to save him with her medicine after he collapsed, but failed when she confirmed that Daisaku had already died; something she would feel guilty over until her own death later in the killing game. (Future Arc - Episode 02)

Real Fiction
In Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, it is alleged by the mastermind Tsumugi Shirogane that the entire Danganronpa franchise is fictional in-universe; a series of games, anime, and later live-action dramas performed actors. In particular, Tsumugi, who is the Ultimate Cosplayer, claims she is only able to cosplay fictional characters (breaking out into a bright pink rash whenever she tries to cosplay a real person), and the fact she is able to cosplay as the whole cast of Danganronpa game characters is used as evidence to support her claim that all of the cast are fictional. However, due to a number of holes in Tsumugi's story which make her an unreliable narrator, whether or not she was telling the truth is deliberately left up to the player's interpretation; as a result, it is up to the player whether they believe Daisaku's story within the Danganronpa series was real, or a fictional story written by Team Danganronpa and performed by an actor.

Creation and Development
In the Danganronpa 3 limited edition release booklet, Kazutaka Kodaka detailed that Daisaku's character is based off of "Uncle ⬤⬤⬤". While it is not named directly, he is very likely referencing the American novel .

At the time of the novel's release it was regarded as groundbreaking, however in modern times it has been criticized for racially stereotyping African-born people with how their appearance, speech, and behavior are portrayed as well as perpetuating harmful views on slavery.

Daisaku's design and character are reminiscent of these racist stereotypes with his passive demeanor, dark skin, natural hair, and talent, while his large grin seems to be based off further stereotypes seen in. This is even further showcased in the Danganronpa 3 stageplay adaptation where the actor playing Daisaku, Ittetsu, is in.

Kodaka also detailed the concept that became Daisaku was originally wanting to have a character with the title "Former Super High School Level Farmer" (農家キャラ lit. Farmer Character) to show that the Future Foundation wasn't an organization about just fighting, but also had sections dedicated into procuring, securing, and distributing food sources.

Anime director Yuuji Higa was the one who came up with the idea to give Daisaku a "cutesy voice" that contrasted his large appearance ; additionally, Kodaka cited enjoying Daisaku's Japanese voice actor Rie Kugimiya's performance and stated Kugimiya opted to make Daisaku sound like "the mascot character". His voice and design can be compared to and paralleled to Ryoma Hoshi from Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, where Daisaku has a higher feminine voice and large build, Ryoma has a very deep voice and child-like appearance.

There was also an intended scene where Daisaku would be shown plowing a huge field, showcasing his talent, but due to time constraints it had to be cut, much to Kodaka's dismay.

Name
In the original Japanese, Daisaku's full name is written as 万代 大作. His given name Daisaku is written as 大作, compromising of the kanji for "large" (大) and "harvest" or "production" (作), with the kanji combined it can mean "masterpiece" or "large-scale work". His family name Bandai is written as 万代, consisting of the kanji "10,000" (万) and "generation" (代), with the kanji combined it can mean "thousands of years" or "all generations". When reading his full name, it means "large harvest for all generations" in direct reference to his talent as a farmer.

Kodaka and his team wanted a "pretty bluntly toy-like" name for his family name, and for Daisaku's given name, Kodaka wanted to give off the impression of a farmer.

Alternate Fates
Daisaku appears as a cameo in Ultimate Talent Development Plan, which exists in a separate alternate universes where the casts of the games still attend Hope's Peak Academy, but no students are in peril.

Other Alternate Fates
In the Danganronpa 3 stageplay adaptation, Daisaku survives his NG Code Poisoning due to Aoi using Seiko's antidote on him. He saves Makoto, alongside Sonosuke Izayoi and Koichi Kizakura who were also cured with Seiko's antidote, by fighting off brainwashed security personnel with leeks. His fate afterwards is unknown.

Appearance
Daisaku is an adult male standing at (213 cm) 7' 0", making him the tallest character in the entire franchise, and weighs around (146 kg) 321 lbs, making him one of the heaviest characters in the franchise second only to Hifumi Yamada, with a large muscular build. He has dark brown skin, stylized black eyes, and has his black hair styled in an afro. He also has trimmed black facial hair and a slight light blush on his cheeks.

He wears a tan opened suit with a Future Foundation logo pin on its lapel, a white shirt with a green circle design on the front, a black belt, wooden, and a straw hat he wears tied around his neck.

Personality
Daisaku is a gentle giant. One of his most notable quirks is him making up his own sayings such as "the strawberry seed only shows its face three times", but no one has any idea what they mean. Daisaku himself admits that they don't mean anything, he simply enjoys saying them. While his voice has been described as "creepy" by others as it's more feminine than his build suggests, it doesn't seem to bother him and even thinks of it as a compliment.

He also dislikes violence, and even attempted to stop fellow Future Foundation member Juzo from physically assaulting Makoto.

Ultimate Farmer
Very little is shown or even known about Daisaku's talent, other than his skills being enough to have him scouted by Hope's Peak Academy and joining the Future Foundation as the Branch Office 11 Director, with his responsibility being to assist in restoring agriculture in disaster areas. He also likes organic vegetables but dislikes supplements.

Quotes
DR3=

Extra=

List of Appearances
Games=
 * Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (Ultimate Talent Development Plan only; Cameo)

Anime=
 * Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School - Future Arc
 * Monokuma Gekijō (Yūgengaisha Mirai Kikan)

Manga=
 * Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen Comic Anthology
 * Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen Dengenki Comic Anthology

Stage Plays=
 * Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen THE STAGE 2018

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Дайсаку Бандай Daisaku Bandai Daisaku Bandai Daisaku Bandai