Joutarou Honma  

Doctor Saruta, 本間 丈太郎

In Tezuka's manga series, Saruta is easily recognizable by his large nose, which is covered with grotesque spots. Unlike Ochanomizu, who typically appears in lighthearted roles, Saruta plays a significant role in both Black Jack and Phoenix. He serves as an overarching protagonist alongside the title character in Phoenix, appearing in every story, sometimes as a main character and other times with a new name but always present and important. Throughout his many lives and deaths, Saruta demonstrates both the darker aspects of human nature and our capacity for resilience and transcendence. In Black Jack, Dr. Honma Jotaro is featured as a skilled surgeon who was expelled from the medical community due to jealousy and doubt about his research. He saved young Black Jack as a child, served as his father figure during his life, and inspired him to become a doctor. As the character in Phoenix best suited to understand the reincarnation system, it's fitting that Dr. Honma is also the one who most often reminds Black Jack about nature's power and the inevitability of death.