Golden Kamuy is a gripping anime series set in early 20th-century Hokkaido, following war veteran Saichi Sugimoto and Ainu girl Asirpa as they hunt for hidden gold amid rival factions. It explores profound themes of survival, cultural identity, loyalty, and the scars of war, blending intense action with moments of cultural insight and human connection.
This curated collection of 25 quotes highlights the series’ emotional depth, character growth, and thematic resonance, drawing from key arcs to inspire reflection on resilience and bonds.
1. I am the Immortal Sugimoto!
Episode 1 (Wenkamuy)
Saichi Sugimoto
Defiant battle cry during a desperate fight, showcasing Sugimoto’s unbreakable will to survive and his transformation from war-scarred soldier to relentless protector, tying into themes of endurance.
2. The weak get eaten.
Episode 1 (Wenkamuy)
Asirpa
Spoken while hunting, this underscores Asirpa’s pragmatic Ainu wisdom on survival, marking her growth from innocent girl to empowered guide, emphasizing nature’s harsh realities and strength.
3. I refuse to lay down and die! I’ll survive, no matter what!
Episode 2 (Nopperabo)
Saichi Sugimoto
Uttered in a life-or-death struggle, it highlights Sugimoto’s raw determination and emotional scars from war, driving his character arc toward redemption through loyalty and protection.
4. We’re alive, so of course we get hungry.
Episode 3 (Kamuy Mosir)
Asirpa
A peaceful moment sharing food, reflecting themes of life’s simple necessities and cultural harmony, fostering Asirpa’s bond with Sugimoto and her development as a bridge between worlds.
5. Killing people sends you to Hell? Then I’ll get a VIP seat!
Episode 4 (Grim Reaper)
Saichi Sugimoto
In a brutal confrontation, this reveals Sugimoto’s haunted acceptance of violence, deepening his internal conflict and growth toward finding purpose beyond survival in friendship.
6. I’m an Ainu girl for a new era!
Episode 5 (Race to the Entrance)
Asirpa
Declared with pride during a cultural exchange, it signifies Asirpa’s evolving identity and defiance of traditions, connecting to themes of cultural preservation and personal empowerment.
7. There’s one way not to die I learned in the war. Don’t be killed.
Episode 6 (Hunter’s Soul)
Saichi Sugimoto
Shared in a tense standoff, this pragmatic wisdom exposes war’s toll on Sugimoto, highlighting his survival instincts and gradual shift toward valuing loyalty over isolation.
8. To blame Kamuy for anything that you don’t know and stop thinking for yourself is a bad thing to do.
Episode 7 (Complication)
Asirpa
In a reflective discussion on Ainu beliefs, it shows Asirpa’s intellectual growth and rejection of superstition, tying into themes of self-reliance and cultural adaptation.
9. I’ve been a king for a while already. An escape king though.
Episode 8 (Eyes of a Murderer)
Yoshitake Shiraishi
Humorous yet poignant during an escape, it illustrates Shiraishi’s resourceful cunning and loyalty, marking his arc from lone survivor to trusted ally in the gold hunt.
10. When I think that the world that Asirpa’s seeing has me in it, I feel like it’s cleansing me, and that saves me.
Episode 9 (Gleaming)
Saichi Sugimoto
A vulnerable confession in a quiet moment, revealing Sugimoto’s emotional healing through friendship, emphasizing themes of redemption and the restorative power of human bonds.
11. Fate can be changed.
Episode 10 (Fellow Traveler)
Inkarmat
Spoken during a fortune-telling session, it challenges destiny’s grip, reflecting Inkarmat’s mysterious wisdom and her role in inspiring character growth amid uncertainty.
12. I like gambling. I will bet it all on you two.
Episode 11 (Murderer)
Yoshitake Shiraishi
Pledging loyalty in a risky alliance, this underscores Shiraishi’s shift from self-preservation to deep friendship, connecting to themes of trust and shared survival.
13. I’m neither fit for gold hunting nor overthrowing the government. I just want to live a simple life that is suitable for me.
Episode 12 (Trickster Fox)
Genjirou Tanigaki
In a moment of introspection, it highlights Tanigaki’s desire for peace post-war, showing his development from soldier to seeker of normalcy and loyalty.
14. Children born from parents who don’t love each other become adults lacking something essential, don’t you think?
Episode 13 (Edogai the Taxidermist)
Hyakunosuke Ogata
Revealed in a cold reflection, this exposes Ogata’s emotional void and betrayal tendencies, tying into themes of fractured psyches and the cost of isolation.
15. I need men with resolve at my side. I need men willing to do dirty jobs that will make your hair stand on end.
Episode 14 (Fakes)
Tokushirou Tsurumi
Rallying troops in a scheming arc, it showcases Tsurumi’s manipulative charisma and ambition, highlighting themes of loyalty’s dark side and war’s lingering madness.
16. Your attitude towards first lieutenant Tsurumi isn’t healthy. I’m going to keep positive and believe in first lieutenant Tsurumi.
Episode 15 (Let’s Talk About the Old Days)
Otonoshin Koito
In a tense confrontation, this reveals Koito’s naive devotion, marking his growth toward questioning blind loyalty amid themes of leadership and personal conviction.
17. I told her that I will definitely return so she is not allowed to die until then.
Episode 16 (The Great Plan to Infiltrate the Asahikawa 7th Division!!)
Genjirou Tanigaki
A heartfelt promise during recovery, emphasizing Tanigaki’s emotional depth and commitment, connecting to themes of survival through love and redemption.
18. It’s not right that people like you exist.
Episode 17 (Inside the Belly)
Hyakunosuke Ogata
Uttered in betrayal, it underscores Ogata’s moral detachment, driving his arc of self-serving ambition and the series’ exploration of war’s dehumanizing effects.
19. I don’t know much about god. The only world I’m interested in is this one.
Episode 18 (Ani Nekko)
Toshizou Hijikata
In a philosophical exchange, this grounds Hijikata’s pragmatic worldview, highlighting his enduring loyalty to earthly causes and themes of legacy.
20. Even now, I’m still a prisoner of those memories.
Episode 19 (Kamuy Hopunire)
Inkarmat
Confessing past traumas in a quiet moment, it reveals her vulnerability, fostering growth through shared understanding and tying into themes of healing from loss.
21. Collaborate, or to kill each other right now. Make a choice.
Episode 20 (Blue Eyes)
Toshizou Hijikata
During a high-stakes negotiation, this forces alliance decisions, showcasing Hijikata’s strategic mind and the series’ focus on fragile loyalties in survival.
22. I am your Grim Reaper. I can blow out your candle of life anytime.
Episode 21 (The Sound of an Ambush)
Tokushirou Tsurumi
Threatening in battle, it amplifies Tsurumi’s menacing presence, reflecting his descent into obsession and themes of power’s corrupting influence.
23. You can only call someone a sniper when they shoot people
Episode 22 (New Material)
Hyakunosuke Ogata
Coldly stated in combat, this exposes Ogata’s ruthless efficiency, advancing his arc of isolation and the moral ambiguities of war survival.
24. I want to hear something optimistic, like ‘Let’s do this together’.
Episode 23 (On the Night of the New Moon)
Asirpa
In a moment of doubt, it shows Asirpa’s yearning for unity, highlighting her emotional maturity and themes of friendship as a survival anchor.
25. How does it feel to be missing part of your brain? Now we are missing brain bits buddies.
Episode 24 (Call Out)
Tokushirou Tsurumi
Twisted humor post-injury, revealing Tsurumi’s unhinged resilience, connecting to themes of war’s psychological toll and distorted bonds of camaraderie.
