Chief Director Tokumaru (徳丸) is a major character in From Up on Poppy Hill. He manages the Rennovation Office of the Japanese Board of Education, inspecting The Latin Quarter.
Story[]
Shiro Mizunuma, Shun Kazama and Umi Matsuzaki want to prevent the demolition of the clubhouse, so they elect on travelling to Tokyo to appeal to him.
Tokumaru is found to be incredibly friendly, especially when compared to the school principal. He enjoys recounts of his own youth, so he does not reject the young trio, but welcomes them for a visit in-between board meetings. He also quickly becomes willing to tour the clubhouse and orders his secretary to reschedule his appointments for this purpose.
He also shows sadness towards Matsuzaki's fate; Yūichirō Sawamura fell in the war and Ryōko Matsuzaki had to raise the three children alone, the story in-part convinces him to come and inspect the clubhouse.
During his tour, he asks the philosophy-obsessed student about why he values the clubhouse. He understood the student's answer as a reference to Ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes, which he finds very amusing. Shun and Umi are in a hurry to get to the harbor to meet Yoshio Onodera, and leave moments after Tokumaru cancels the demolition. He hears of this and mutually agrees that young people should enjoy their lives.
Behind the scenes[]
- He is voiced by Teruyuki Kagawa in the original Japanese version, and by Beau Bridges in the English-dub.