Lt. Col. Matsuda was an officer of the Imperial Japanese Army who was posted in Germany, mainly to learn aeronautics from the German Luftwaffe. In March of 1945, he returned home onboard U-1324, commanded by Capt. Wentzel Ahbe. One other passenger, SS Lt. Col. Spielberger, managed to board the U-Boat before leaving Kiel, Germany, carrying a painting, &quot;The Twelve Knights Led by Brunhilda&quot;, believed to be painted by Adolph Hitler (over sixty years later, it was revealed that it was a meaningless painting).    Unlike Spielberger, who rarely left his quarters, Matsuda openly socialized with Ahbe and his crew. He even taught the German crew shogi (Japanese chess), which he played with them during his journey to the Japanese base in Batavia, located in the South China Sea.    For the most part, U-1324 was lucky, avoiding enemy patrols, and even torpedoing an enemy tanker in the Indian Ocean. However, the ship ran into a U.S. Navy patrol near Batavia, and was depth-charged into a dive bow-first into the floor of the ocean. With escape impossible and not wishing the disgrace of capture, Matsuda committed seppuku (ritual suicide).

Okajima Rokuro is a Japanese businessman in a town full of Japanese businessmen. His normal day consists of social drinking with clients and being kicked around by his bosses. He finally gets a break though, as he's sent by his company to the tropical seas of Eastern China to deliver a disc. But his boat gets hijacked by a band of mercenaries hired to retrieve the disc. Rock (as he is newly dubbed by his captors) catches the interest of the only female merc Revy as she thinks he's worth a ransom, taking him hostage. However, the disc that was stolen has a terrible secret that's unknown to Rock, which causes massive confusion and chaos for both him and his kidnappers.

Hiro Kanagawa is a Vancouver-based actor. He was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. He is perhaps best known as Principal Kwan from 'Smallville'. His most notable anime role is Gihren Zabi from' Mobile Suit Gundam', He is currently the voice of Mister Fantastic on 'Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes'. Kanagawa is also a playwright, and screenwriter.

Rokurō Okajima is just an average Japanese salaryman, living an average life. But when he's taken hostage by the crew of the Black Lagoon, Rokurō finds himself thrown headfirst into a deadly world of outlawed heroes, brutal villains, and blazing gunfights. Where he ends up is anyone's guess, but one thing is for certain—he's in for a wild ride!
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(Source: Viz Media)

Masuda