Being a master of several classic Japanese martial arts, Goemon excels at
Kenjutsu and
Battōjutsu. Using his trademark Zantetsuken sword (carried in an unadorned
shirasaya without a hand guard) he has the ability to cut through virtually any substance, even flying bullets, steel girders, automobiles, and multi-storied buildings. His training includes
Jujutsu,
Aikido, and
Karate, enabling barehanded vanquishing of several attackers at once with minimal effort. In spite of his invincible weapon and his martial arts expertise, Goemon prefers to incapacitate rather than kill opponents, usually by destroying their weapons and clothes with lightning fast sweeps of his sword. Since katanas traditionally must cut flesh before being returned to the scabbard, Goemon reacts to his non-lethal use of Zantetsuken by exclaiming, Goemon has an extreme sense of pride in his abilities, and when he cannot accomplish a task, feels shame and remorse afterward. Breaking Zantetsuken, as he did in a battle with Flinch in
The Mystery of Mamo, is a common cause of shame. He will also feel chagrin when he succumbs to his weaknesses, as when a woman ran off with his sword in
Memories of the Flame: Tokyo Crisis. On many of these occasions, Goemon will leave to meditate or further train to rid himself of his weak points. ''Goemon shows allegiance to Japanese culture as strictly as his traveling and unique lifestyle can allow; he often travels on the exterior of vehicles at casual MPH, but will relent to riding normally in chases. He dresses in a
hakama and
fundoshi, and prefers wearing his hair long and somewhat unevenly cut. He only eats Japanese cuisine and is willing to fast rather than settle for any Western options. He is a firm believer in Buddhism and Shinto. Although he may toast with champagne, his drink of choice is
sake. He occasionally has been seen smoking a
kiseru and usually wears a
Sugegasa style hat. Goemon's most often-seen pastime is meditation. Even under threat or when locked up, he is typically seated on the floor in a state of mental seclusion so deep he cannot be budged from his position. Other activities Goemon favors include fishing, attending
noh theater, listening to
enka jazz, and participating in martial arts competitions. Although typically a person of mellow aloofness, Goemon has been seen exploding with frustration, admiring beautiful women, and (very rarely) screaming in fright. Such out-of-character moments are usually treated as humorous takes. If Goemon has a true weakness, it is that he's a sucker for women. He readily trusts any woman who seems superficially trustworthy or innocent, often landing him in much trouble. At the same time, he fears sultry women will distract him from his training, and tends to blush or flee when any woman puts him in a less-than-modest situation. ==Actors==