Juzo Okita (2199)

This article describes the character Juzo Okita as depicted in Space Battleship Yamato 2199 and its sequels. For his counterpart in the original Space Battleship Yamato and its sequels, see Juzo Okita (OS). For his counterpart in the live action film, see Juzo Okita (live action film).

REMAKE CONTINUITY

Juzo Okita
Native name	沖田十三 Okita Jūzō
Born	December 8, 2141, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Earth
Died	December 8, 2199 (aged 58), Yamato BBY-01
Buried at	Hero's Hill
Species	Earthling
Gender	Male
Affiliation	United Nations
Occupation	Military officer
Service	United Nations Cosmo Navy
Rank	Space Admiral
Service number	EP216107998OF
Unit	Japanese Fleet First Fleet
Commands held	Japanese Fleet United Nations Cosmo Navy Combined Cosmo Fleet First Fleet Yamato BBY-01
Battles	Click for full list
Relations	Unnamed son Unnamed female relative

I'll fight as long as I live. I will never despair. Even if I'm the last one alive, I will never despair.

—Juzo Okita

Space Admiral Juzo Okita (沖田十三, Okita Jūzō), alternatively spelled Jyūzō Okita or Jyuzou Okita, was a high-ranking officer in the United Nations Cosmo Navy. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the branch and the Combined Cosmo Fleet. Additionally, he was the fleet commander for the Japanese Fleet and the UNCN First Fleet, and the first captain of the space battleship Yamato during the Great Garmillas War.

A veteran soldier of the Second Inner Planetary War, Okita played a crucial role in resisting the Greater Garmillan Empire's invasion during the Garmillas War. In the Second Battle of Mars, he secured the United Nations' first decisive victory in the war. He later participated in Program Yamato, the journey of the space battleship Yamato toward planet Iscandar, which ultimately restored the Earth to its pre-war state and ended the conflict. Even after his death, his legacy continues through the members of Yamato's crew, especially Susumu Kodai, the battleship's third captain.

Biography

Early life and career

Okita was born on December 8, 2141 in the Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. He joined the National Space Defense Academy where he became friends with fellow student Ryu Hijikata. During his studies he pursued a PhD in astrohysics. After graduating, he began serving in the United Nations Cosmo Navy, seeing action during the Second Inner Planetary War. At some point in his youth he served aboard Defense Ship 36 where he met Hikozaemon Tokugawa, and the two would go on to become life-long friends. He eventually had a son, who followed in his footsteps and joined the Cosmo Navy. In his youth he also became friend and a mentor to Osamu Yamanami, the captain of his future flagship Kirishima.

Early conflict

Okita is relieved of his duties by General Serizawa

By year 2191, Okita had been promoted to the rank of Admiral and was in charge of the UNCN Japanese Fleet. On April 1st, the Uranus Surveillance Station detected three alien warships entering the solar system, and his fleet was sent to meet them in the orbit of Pluto. When the two forces met, the UN Space Defense Committee ordered Okita to open fire on the aliens, believing them to be invaders. However, Okita refused to follow the order, as this was the Earthling race's first encounter with an alien civilization. His insubordination led General Serizawa to relieve him of his post.

The Murasame, commanded by Captain Daigo Shima, was the first Earthling ship to fire against the aliens. The enemy fleet responded by destroying 80% of Earth's forces with their counterattack. Over the following years, the aliens, now identified as Garmillas, continued to relentlessly attack Earth, occupying the outer solar system and bombing the planet with planet bombs, turning it into a wasteland. The bombs also led Okita to contract Planet Bomb Syndrome, a chronic desease that followed him until the end of his life. He continued his work however, and only his close friends, Hijikata and Chief Administrator Heikuro Todo of the Far-East District, and his doctor Sakezo Sado were made aware of his condition.

Okita led the flagship Kirishima in the Second Battle of Mars

In 2198, Okita rallied all remaining UNCN forces in a last-ditch operation in the vicinities of Mars. The Second Battle of Mars, also known as Operation K2, was Earth's first real victory against the Garmillas. The battle saw the introduction of the shock cannon and pushed the Garmillas forces outside of the inner solar system. Sadly, Okita's son was among the many victims of the battle.

Program Yamato and Operation M

By 2198, the United Nations Forces had initiated Project Izumo to save the Earthling species by evacuating a contingent of survivors and sending them on a mission to find a new planet to colonize. However, the project was stopped when Iscandar, a planet in the Large Magellanic Cloud, sent Third Princess Yurisha Iscandar to provide the United Nations with the plans for the Wave-motion Engine. This technology would enable a UNCN ship to travel faster than the speed of light and reach Iscandar, where Queen Stasha Iscandar promised to provide the Cosmo Reverse System, a machine capable of restoring Earth's ruined biosphere to its former state. All of Project Izumo's resources were transferred to the new Program Yamato. Todo was named Chief Executive of Program Yamato Headquarters, and Okita was chosen to serve as the captain of the vessel selected to carry out the intergalactic journey. However, Yurisha, who was supposed to show the route to Iscandar to the Earthlings, and her aide Yuki Mori got into a car accident in May 2198. Mori lost all her memories, and the princess fell into a coma. To find the route to Iscandar, the United Nations put the princess's body in suspended animation and began tracing her memories.

Okita begs Kodai to retreat with them

To complete the engine, the last component, the Wave-motion Core, needed to be delivered to Earth by Yurisha's sister, Second Princess Sasha Iscandar. The UNCN launched Operation M and sent the First Fleet, its last remaining fleet, to act as a diversion for the Garmillas forces near Pluto to allow Sasha's ship to break through safely. Okita personally led the operation from Kirishima. The two forces met on January 17, 2199, the day scheduled for Sasha's arrival. The Garmillas fleet demanded unconditional surrender, which Okita refused. The resulting battle was catastrophic for the Earth side, and Okita suffered minor injuries. However, seven minutes after the first fire exchange, Sasha passed the orbit of Neptune, and Okita immediately informed UNCF Headquarters of their mission's success. He then ordered his remaining forces, which to his dismay accounted for only Kirishima and the destroyer Yukikaze, to retreat. Lt. Commander Mamoru Kodai, former gunnery captain of the Kirishima and commanding officer of Yukikaze, refused to follow the flagship and stayed behind to cover its retreat. Kodai stated that Okita was too important for the Earth to die, and despite the Admiral's appeal that the same was true for him too, he stood his ground. Heartbroken, Okita left the frontlines, mentally making one last plea for Kodai not to die, to no avail.

Okita vows to fight until the very end

Despite the loss of almost the entire fleet, the operation was considered a success as the Iscandarian princess managed to reach the surface of Mars where two UNCN officers collected the Wave-motion Core. However, this success came at the cost of Sasha's life, as her ship had malfunctioned while entering the Martian atmosphere, causing her death. Three weeks later, as Kirishima approached the Earth, the battleship passed near two planet bombs. Okita lamented not being able to do anything to stop them, but vowed to fight the enemy as long as he lived.

Journey to Iscandar

Toward the stars

Okita apologises to Kodai for leading to his brother's death

After returning from Operation M, Okita received medical care for his wounds at the Far-East District Underground City Central Hospital. As he was preparing to leave, Dr. Sado joked about his resilience, and Okita replied that he was being treated by the best doctor in the universe. He asked Admiral Hijikata for the device retrieved on Mars and was informed that it would be analyzed soon. Suddenly, a Cosmo Navy officer barged into the room demanding to speak with him. Hijikata stopped the young man and apologized for his rudeness, identifying him as one of his former students, Susumu Kodai. Upon hearing Kodai's surname, Okita asked if he was related to Mamoru Kodai, which he confirmed. The Admiral commended Mamoru, calling him a great man and apologizing for having led him to his death. He later looked at Kodai's file in his office. Just like his deceased older brother, he had been selected for Program Yamato. Okita received a phone call from Mori, who informed him that testing on the Wave-motion Core had been completed.

Okita swears he'll return alive to Hijikata

Okita then took part in a meeting with the leaders of the surviving UN blocs. The meeting was attended by representatives from the USA, EU, and Middle East, together with the United Nations Secretary-General. Okita informed them that Program Yamato would be initiated in 72 hours. The world leaders were preoccupied due to a Garmillas attack, which had targeted the building site of the space battleship Yamato, the ship equipped with wave-motion technology and being prepared for the 168,000 light-year journey towards Iscandar. To reassure them, Okita falsely stated that none of the candidates for the Yamato's crew had been injured in the previous attack, while in actuality, many of the selected crew members had been killed in action. The next day, Okita officially announced Program Yamato to both its participants and the general public. He showed a video message sent by Stasha, which had been retrieved together with the Wave-motion Core. He stated that the journey to Iscandar would be unlike anything humanity had ever experienced and that those willing to participate had to report the following morning at 0600. Later, he was confronted by Hijikata in his quarters. His friend asked him if he truly intended to leave the Earth given his medical conditions, but Okita remained adamant, promising he would go and return home. Seeing his resolve, Hijikata accepted the decision, and Okita asked him to protect the Earth for him when he was gone.

Kodai tells Okita of his predicament

On the morning of Yamato's planned takeoff, Mori informed the Admiral that all crew members had boarded the battleship on time. Okita was then approached by Lt. Susumu Kodai, who had been chosen as head of Yamato's tactics division. The officer was unsure about his assignment, and Okita revealed that all other candidates for the position had died in the previous bombing. He also added that the first choice would have been Kodai's brother Mamoru, whose death he felt personally responsible for. He went on to reassure the young Lieutenant, stating that he had been chosen due to his service record and that he believed he was the right man for the job, but leaving the decision ultimately up to him. Only moments after their discussion, a Garmillas interplanetary ballistic missile was detected on an impact course toward Yamato, and Okita immediately took command from the first bridge. The battleship still hadn't received enough energy to start its engine, but just as General Serizawa considered aborting the launch, every surviving UN bloc began sending its spare electricity to the ship. The Admiral immediately took the chance and ordered the main engine to be activated. As the battleship rid itself of its camouflage to take off, Kodai realized that Yamato had been hidden inside a World War II-era wreck. Okita confirmed this and ordered him to fire the main cannons at the incoming warhead. Kodai's shot was successful, prompting Okita to commend his work.

First warp and the floating continent

For this topic in more detail, see Destruction of the Jupiter Floating Continent

Okita explains the necessity of warp navigation to his crew

As Yamato left the atmosphere, the Kirishima came alongside to bid farewell, carrying Hijikata on board. Okita saluted his friend and his flagship from his cabin before informing the bridge officers that they would hold a briefing on warp navigation as soon as they reached the orbit of Mars. At the meeting, Okita and his XO, Shiro Sanada, explained the workings of faster-than-light travel and the necessity of being careful when using the Wave-motion Engine to warp. Kodai was confused about what could happen if they failed to warp correctly, so Okita simply explained they would have to be extremely careful during the process. He then informed the crew that they would perform a test warp as soon as they left Mars's area of gravitational interference and dismissed them.

During the test, the crew found themselves caught in Jupiter's gravity field, instead of arriving near Neptune, to their surprise. At Okita's inquiry, Chief Navigator Daisuke Shima, Daigo Shima's son, confirmed that the coordinates inputted were correct, so Sanada assumed that an unknown obstacle had influenced their route. Okita ordered his men to remain calm and asked for a report from the engine room. The Wave-motion Engine had malfunctioned, and Yamato was now falling inside of the gas giant's atmosphere. Luckily, they detected a bizarre floating continent in the atmosphere, and Okita ordered Shima to land the battleship there.

Sanada explains their findings on the alien plants to Okita

Upon investigating the continent's flora, Sanada informed him that it was almost identical to the alien plants that had been seeded on Earth. Thus, the entire environment had presumably been transported there by the Garmillas to aid in the garmillasforming of Earth. Suddenly, a small fleet of Garmillas ships attacked Yamato. After hearing suggestions from Sanada, Kodai, and Lt. J.G. Yasuo Nanbu, Okita ordered an energy bypass to fire the battleship's shock cannons even while the engine was still undergoing repairs, while also preparing the secondary guns to fire physical shells. As soon as the Wave-motion Engine returned online, he ordered the battleship to escape the continent and he decided to test the Wave-motion Gun, an experimental weapon based on the Wave-motion Engine, to destroy the enemy base. Sanada had doubts about the destructive capabilities of the gun but Tokugara, now the head of Yamato's engineering department, supported Okita's idea. The weapon had much more power than previously anticipated, and it ended up destroying the entire floating continent, rather than just the enemy base, and severely damaged Jupiter's atmosphere, much to Nanbu's gleeful surprise.

Okita thinks about the Wave-motion Gun's power as he watches the damage dealt to Jupiter

Somberly, Okita reminded him and the rest of the bridge crew that Yamato's goal was not to annihilate the enemy and that the battleship's weapons were only meant for self-defense. He later went back to his cabin and pondered whether humanity had obtained a power that could destroy the universe. He pragmatically concluded that he would better not think about it at the time and that if they were facing a test, they would simply have to show the correct path in their actions.

Fighting through the Solar System

For this topic in more detail, see Battle of Enceladus and Operation M2

Okita, Kodai and Mori lose their balance due to the Wave-motion Engine's malfunction

The day after, Okita attended a strategy meeting where the officers discussed attacking the Garmillas base on Pluto. He asked for Shima's opinion, but Shima told him that an attack would disrupt their schedule. Suddenly, the Yamato received an SOS signal from a UNCN ship on Enceladus. Okita asked for the vessel's ID but it was impossible to obtain. Sanada informed him that traveling to Enceladus would cost them two days. Kodai and Shima then debated whether or not to carry out a rescue mission, with Shima personally requesting it to the Admiral. Before they could make a decision, the Wave-motion Engine overheated due to the firing of the Wave-motion Gun. To complete the repairs, a rare mineral not present on board, Cosmonite 90, was needed. Luckily, a Cosmonite mine was located on Enceladus, so Okita ordered them to head there. They would use the occasion to carry out the rescue mission, but he specified that obtaining the mineral had the priority.

Kodai makes his report about Yukikaze

Upon Yamato's arrival on the Saturnian moon, he gave Sanada the task of directing the mining of Cosmonite. He then ordered Lt. Mori to take a medic and Yamato's autonomous sub-computer Analyzer to the SOS signal's origin point and told Kodai to escort them, despite Mori's opposition. During their stay on Enceladus, both Yamato and the rescue team were attacked by a Garmillas android unit, but they managed to defeat them. The repairs were completed and the ship took off. Kodai reported to Okita, revealing that the distress call was coming from the wreck of the Yukikaze, but that no survivors were found. Okita was saddened by the news and told Kodai they would not allow the same to happen to the Earth. The two saluted the sunken destroyer as Yamato moved away.

Shima swears to do his best to Okita

The battleship later encountered a planet bomb launched from Pluto and heading towards Earth. The sight convinced Okita that destroying the Pluto base was necessary, and he informed the main officers in a strategy meeting. Nanbu suggested using the Wave-motion Gun to destroy the base from afar, but Kodai rejected the idea since it would destroy Pluto entirely. Okita shut down the argument before it could escalate, concluding that the attack would be carried out without the weapon and giving Kodai command of the fighter squadron for the operation. He also asked Tokugawa to go to the CIC to look over the engine. Kodai later approached him in his cabin to request the transfer of a young crew member from the accounting department to the fighter squadron, which he accepted. Soon afterward, Shima visited him to ask him to report to the CIC. The Admiral asked him why he had come to tell him directly, and Shima informed him that he had lost his father in the vicinities of Pluto and that despite his previous opposition to the operation, he would support Okita's plan and do his best to make up for lost time. Knowing the truth behind Daigo Shima's death, Okita silently acknowledged his intentions.

Okita in command in the CIC during Operation M2

He took command of the operation from the CIC. Before the Garmillas base was found, however, Yamato was hit twice by a powerful enemy weapon, and Mori was unable to locate its firing point. Okita instructed Shima to emergency land on Pluto's ocean, but Yamato was hit again by the same weapon. Under a suggestion made by Sanada, Yamato faked being sunk and dived to make the necessary repairs underwater without being attacked. Sanada and his assistant, Kaoru Niimi, discovered an array of enemy satellites in orbit of Pluto, which had allowed the enemy to hit them without being noticed. Okita asked Niimi to calculate the Garmillas' attack timing. He then addressed the other officers, telling them it was only a matter of time before they were found out but that they would have to believe in Kodai and the other pilots and that they would strike back when the time was right. Lt. J.G. Saburo Kato contacted the bridge, informing them that he had located the enemy base. Sanada was unsure whether the facility was truly the enemy's main compound, but Okita declared that they couldn't win without taking risks and ordered Yamato to resurface.

Okita contemplates the victory

However, before they fired against the coordinates, Kodai located the real base hidden behind a stealth field. Okita proudly congratulated the tactics officer and asked him if he could spot any large enemy weapons, but he could not. Sanada assumed the weapon had to be hidden underground, so Okita asked Kodai to locate it by using his eyes. Using a periscope, Okita witnessed the destruction of one of the enemy's satellites thanks to Niimi's calculations before ordering to target the now-located weapon. He then led the battleship in a direct attack on the enemy base and ordered to pursue a small fleet of fleeing warships. After destroying all enemy forces, with only one vessel having managed to flee, Okita declared that the Pluto Frontline Base no longer existed and that the Earth had been freed from the threat of the planet bombs.

The line-crossing cerimony

As Yamato approached the edge of the Solar System, Todo contacted them to inform Okita that news of their feats had already reached the Earth and was fueling the citizens with hope. Okita was called from his cabin to the main bridge to participate in the Chief Executive's call. Although he believed they had just taken his first steps, Todo encouraged him and his crew to keep going forward and retrieve the CRS. However, the communication was interrupted due to the interference of the heliopause. To celebrate Yamato leaving the Solar System, Okita decided to throw a line-crossing ceremony. Kodai was confused as to how a cerimony held when crossing the Earth's equator would work in space, but Okita explained that it was a symbolic gesture to celebrate Yamato's important milestone. Niimi suggested that allowing each crew member to call their families on Earth one last time could help with their mental health, and the captain agreed.

Okita makes his toast to the crew

As the celebrations were underway, Okita got on a small stage to propose a toast. He addressed the crew, thanking them for their efforts during Operation M2 and urging them to look ahead, toward Iscandar and their ultimate goal. Having no one to call back on Earth, Okita began wandering through Yamato's hallways. He entered the analysis room and the engine control room, surprising Sanada and Tokugawa's assistant. The officers asked Okita if he needed anything, but in both cases, he replied negatively and apologized for bothering them.

Okita and Tokugawa drink together

He went back to his cabin and mused over a photo he had taken with his son. He was interrupted by Tokugawa, who noticed the photo and mentioned that a year had already passed from Operation K2. Much to Okita's embarrassment, he said that he had been informed of his visit to the engine room. He took out a bottle of liquor and jokingly asked if the captain had been looking for that, prompting a smile from Okita. The two sat on the floor and began drinking, reminiscing of their years of service together. Tokugawa asked him if he remembered their first ship, and Okita laughed at the memory, stating that it was so small they didn't even bother to name it. The engineer sadly wondered how many young men had died fighting while they got to grow old, but Okita said that he didn't want nor could he allow himself to count them, as people’s lives were more than numbers. He believed that their job as survivors was to ensure the young ones still had hope for tomorrow, and Tokugawa agreed.

Beyond the Solar System

Foe this topic in more detail, see Breakthrough of the Garmillas Encirclement

On March 5, Yamato was preparing to warp from the Sirius system to the Gliese 581 system. Okita realized that it was their last chance to get a look at Earth through their VLBI telescope, and asked Sanada to put the image on the first bridge's video panel. As they were 8.6 light-years away, the planet appeared as it had been eight years before, prior to the Garmillas bombing that had destroyed it. Okita encouraged his men to look at the Earth that they wanted to reclaim before ordering Shima to prepare for warp.

Sado and his nurse carry out a checkup for Okita

After the ship arrived at the Gliese 581 system, Doctor Sado examined him for any ill effects caused by the warp. The doctor feared that the mission to Iscandar was taking a toll on the Admiral's already declining health. Lieutenant Niimii entered the room to ask Okita's permission to explore one of the system's planets due to its apparent suitability for colonization. Okita believed that Yamato didn't have time for such a detour. When Niimii tried to protest his decision, he simply reminded her that the Izumo Plan had been scrapped. Their conversation was cut short as Yamato hit a solar storm, prompting Okita to return to the bridge and ask for a report. Sanada's analyses showed anomalous values in the Birkeland currents of the supposed flare, meaning the phenomenon was artificial. Okita ordered Sanada to find a route that they could safely traverse. However, at that moment, the Garmillan warship that had escaped the Pluto base warped out behind them and fired an unknown torpedo. He suddenly felt severe pain in his abdomen caused by his condition and only barely managed to order the firing of Yamato's stern torpedoes. A gaseous life form emerged from the destroyed enemy weapon and began consuming all the matter it encountered.

Okita, collapsed over his post

He asked Shima if they could make their way through the hole in the plasma corridor, but Weather Officer Kenjiro Ota informed him that the red dwarf Gliese 581 lay on the other side of the pathway. Despite this, he ordered the ship to make its way toward the star, refusing Sanada's proposal to activate the battleship's Wave-motion Shield. Instead, he ordered the crew to put on environmental suits, to keep energy expenditure at a minimum, and to seal the bulkheads. He then asked Mori to continue to watch the enemy ship's movements on the radar, before another pang of pain made him clutch his chest and collapse. Sado rushed to the bridge, but Okita regained his composure before the doctor arrived. Keeping his cool, he stated that it was just his old wounds acting up. Sado played along to reassure the rest of the crew but insisted on carrying out a brief examination. As he gave the captain a nutrient injection, he sternly scolded him, reminding him that he had been asked to keep him alive and that he would have to follow his orders. Okita cut him off, saying he was well aware of what his actual condition was.

Suddenly, Mori and Sanada reported that the gas creature was being swallowed by Gliese 581, all according to Okita's plan. As a massive solar flare appeared in front of Yamato, Okita ordered Kodai to hit it with the Wave-motion Gun. He then ordered the ship to traverse the opening created by the weapon, which closed immediately after their passage, incinerating the pursuing Garmillas vessel.

Days later, Okita sat at a meeting with his officers where Sanada detailed the information they had managed to deduce from their analysis of one of the enemy androids that had been captured on Enceladus. They believed that Garmillas used their same mathematics and understood physics in the same way the Earthlings did, and the Admiral sumrised this by saying it “allowed them to play shogi with the same rules.” The automata suddenly went rogue and escaped from the analysis room, prompting Okita to deploy the security department to stop it. It eventually exited from the ship and began making its way to the automatic navigation room, where Yurisha was being kept. Okita reiterated that they couldn't allow it to enter the room, and that they would destroy it if there was no other option. However, the android's system failed before they could capture it.

The graveyard of the universe

Okita and the rest of the bridge crew inside of the dimensional fault

During one of Yamato's warps, the ship encountered an anomaly that significantly extended the crew's perception of the nanosecond of the warp. Okita believed that something might had tampered with the automatic navigation room, so he sent Mori to investigate, but to no avail. The battleship was eventually freed from the seemingly frozen time and found itself inside a dimensional fault. After assessing their situation, Okita was informed by Tokugawa that the engine had started to leak energy. He immediately ordered the engine to be shut down, noting that the rift was reversing the properties of regular space. Instead of the engine generating infinite energy from the vacuum, the ship was leaking all of its energy.

Kodai, Okita and Analyzer meet with Lower Storm Leader Ditz

Among the various wrecks present in that space was a still operational Garmillan battlecruiser. He refused to attack, stating that neither ship would have a chance of escaping if they fought, and that he was sure the enemy recognized that as well. The Garmillas ship soon hailed Yamato, and he ordered to open a channel with it. The Garmillas sent a liaison to Yamato, and Okita, accompanied by Kodai and Analyzer, went to meet with the alien. The messenger turned out to be a young female officer, who introduced herself as Lower Storm Leader Merda Ditz of the EX-178. She had knowledge of Yamato's capabilities and proposed a plan to free both ships from the dimensional fault by having Yamato shoot its Wave-motion Gun. This would have left the Earthling battleship immobile, but Ditz promised her vessel would tow Yamato out of the fault. Many officers did not trust the alien woman, especially because she claimed that the Earthlings had been the ones to start the war. Knowing she was in the right but unable to reveal the truth, Okita remained silent as his senior staff discussed the subject. However, he pragmatically concluded that their best option was to trust Ditz's plan.

Okita radioes captain Lang

Back on the first bridge, Okita had a call with Lieutenant Colonel Wals Lang, the commanding officer of the EX-178, and thanked him for his proposal. The Lieutenant Colonel agreed to leave Ditz behind aboard Yamato as a token of their goodwill, but specified that upon their return to normal space, she was to return to his ship, and Yamato and his ship would then return to being enemies. After the call was closed, Kodai mentioned that after they fired the Wave-motion Gun, they wouldn't have energy for the main cannons. Okita was aware of this but reiterated that it was a promise made between gentlemen. The procedure seemed to go as planned, but the towing cables were suddenly cut off before being reactivated soon after. Okita ordered his men to stay alert and focused as the battleship was returned to regular space.

Okita salutes the wreck of their benefactors' ship

Immediately after the two ships exited the fault, a large Garmillan fleet warped out and shot down the EX-178, before targeting Yamato. Kodai suggested a counterattack, but knowing the instability of the space that surrounded the opening to the dimensional fault, Okita ordered to turn the ship around. Surprised, Nanbu asked him if they were running away, which Okita confirmed. A dimensional quake soon shook the area, sucking in most of the fleet and leaving the surviving enemy vessel with no choice but to escape. As Yamato passed near the wreck of the sunken EX-178, Okita saluted it.

Dealing with Ditz and Shima

Shima bows to Okita after he commended his father

Okita attended a meeting with his key staff and Dr. Sado, who, after examining Ditz, reported that her DNA was essentially the same as the Earthlings'. Niimi suggested carrying out a more thorough interrogatory of the prisoner to Okita, but Kodai believed they should let her go, also opposing the idea of keeping her locked up. After a brief argument with Sanada, Okita stated that his opinion had not changed, and tasked Kodai with interrogating Ditz. He later walked into Yamato's on-board theater, where he found Shima watching a propaganda movie on the first contact with Garmillas. He sat behind him and listened as he talked about his father, expressing his hate for the Garmillans and reaffirming his certainty that they had been the ones to start the war. Unable to tell him the truth, Okita swore that his father had been a great man. Shima took his leave and continued to watch the film. Kodai met him in the room and reported that he hadn't managed to extract information from Ditz other than the fact that she put her honor above all else. As he got up from his seat, the Admiral affirmed that those who closed their eyes to the past were blind to the future, admitting he did not know where the quote originated from.

Later, Sanada informed him and the rest of the staff that they had located a possible enemy outpost. Despite Shima having already calculated an alternative route to avoid it, Okita insisted they use the occasion to release Ditz. The prisoner was released, but Shima's predicament with her claims did not end. At another meeting between officers, he started to argue with Kodai, prompting Okita to angrily call them out on their behavior. He suspended them from their duties and sentenced them to clean out various sections of the ship as punishment. He then went to Sado for a medical check-up and agreed to keep an eye on his blood pressure after being told it had risen slightly. The Doctor informed him he had heard of the previous commotion, affirming that young people often lost their temper easily, but that he had to keep himself under control too. Okita chuckled, stating that Sado always knew what was on his mind.

Okita discusses his actions with Kodai

He went back to his cabin and longingly stared at his son's picture. Kodai came in to clean the room, and Okita told him he wanted to speak with him. The two sat down, and he revealed to the young Lieutenant what had happened on the day of the first contact and how he was relieved of his duties for opposing a preemptive attack. He asked Kodai if he thought he had done the right thing. His subordinate believed so, but Okita argued that a soldier should never disobey his orders. Even so, he stated that there were times when a soldier had to act as a human being and refuse an order he deemed wrong.

The Planet Bomb Syndrome worsens

Sado operates Okita

Yamato came under attack while traveling through a protoplanetary system. Okita took control from the ship's CIC and ordered the battleship to hide behind a large rocky body to avoid enemy torpedoes. However, during the battle, he collapsed due to his Planetary Bomb Syndrome, which had caused his lungs to fail. He was immediately taken to the medical section where Sado performed an emergency operation. He regained consciousness some time after the hostilities had ended and was met by Tokugawa and Kodai, who were waiting at his bedside. Okita asked what had happened to Yamato, and Tokugawa informed him that they had survived thanks to Kodai's efforts. Sado mentioned that he had disobeyed orders during the battle, but Sanada had chosen not to discipline him, and Okita was happy to acknowledge this.

Okita determinedly stares as Yamato surpasses the enemy flagship

The Admiral was forced to remain in bed for a while. About twenty days later, he returned to the bridge as Yamato faced a large Garmillan fleet at Carell 163. He overruled Sanada's orders to launch the fighter squadron, saying they did not have time to deploy their planes. Instead, he ordered to raise the shield and break through the enemy's blockade, replying to Kodai's hesitation that they'd need to take risks to succeed. He ordered all fire to be concentrated ahead, even as the engine stopped working due to the heavy damage. He determinedly compelled his men to keep moving forward and to concentrate their efforts on the enemy flagship. After they passed it, he ordered the engine to be put at full speed to escape, but Yamato was faced with another wave of enemy warships warping out. Surrounded, the battleship was faced with overwhelming fire, but before it was destroyed, the enemy suddenly stopped their attack and retreated. In his mind, he silently wondered what had happened to the enemy.

Okita wonders on the Iscandarians' true intentions

On April 30th, Okita once again fainted in his cabin. Sado stated that he had overexerted himself at Carell 163, and even though he was recovering well from the surgery, he needed to be put on bed rest. During his absence, a faction supporting Project Izumo, led by Niimi and Head of Security Lieutenant J.G. Shinya Itou, which had infiltrated Yamato to put the plan to escape the Earth into action. While the battleship was making a stop at Beemela 4, an exoplanet suitable for human colonization, the group took control of the ship. However, with help from Sado, one of his nurses, and Warrant Officer Toru Hoshina, Okita descended to the main bridge and retook control. After order was re-established on board, Kodai informed him that he had retrieved information on a subspace gate during an outing on Beemela 4's surface, which would allow Yamato to skip several light-years ahead in its schedule. Later, he and his officers confronted Hoshina, who revealed that he had been acting under secret orders from Todo to infiltrate the Project Izumo Faction's ranks and stop their eventual mutiny. Shima partly blamed himself for the outcome of the situation, stating that the time Yamato had lost on its schedule played a part in the attempt to abandon the Yamato Program. However, Okita reassured him that Kodai's discovery would make them regain all lost time. He also added that all of that situation might have been a trial set by the Iscandarians.

The warp gate and the Planet Balun Breakthrough Operation

For this topic in more detail, see Planet Balun Breakthrough Operation

Sado, Sanada and Okita analyze the comatose Yurisha

A meeting was held to discuss the subspace gate and Yamato's next steps. Shima confirmed that the gate could save them 30,000 light-years of travel, and Sanada explained that the control satellite was nearby, but they weren't sure if they could reactivate it. They had discovered that a different alien race from the one that built the gate system was currently in control of it. Okita asked who the current owner of the gates was, and Sanada replied that it was the Garmillans. Okita and Sanada inspected the Automatic Navigation Room to fix technical issues and brought Doctor Sado to analyze Yurisha's status, thus revealing the truth to him. The doctor was unable to fix the system's problems and questioned why Okita would keep the Yurisha's existance a secret from the rest of the crew. The Admiral recounted what he had told Kodai about refusing to execute a wrong order, and admitted he should have been honest with his men from the start. He agreed to reveal the truth to the crew and assume full responsibility for it personally. After Sanada successfully reactivated the control satellite, Okita addressed the crew via radio to inform them that the subspace gate was now online. He then proceeded to reveal the truth about Yurisha and how she was currently in a coma in the Automatic Navigation Room, while also addressing false rumors that had spread on board about Mori being the alien princess in disguise. Unexpectedly, Yurisha herself came forward, revealing that her spirit had possessed the body of a young crew member.

Okita, Sanada, Kodai, and Hoshina met with her in the captain's cabin. Okita thanked her for helping them in the reactivation of the subspace gate, but she coldly asked that they show their gratitude through actions instead of words. Sanada then informed him that they had mounted a version of the gate's control system on a captured enemy fighter and they would use it to carry out a reconnaissance on the other side of the gate. Okita asked who would be tasked with such a dangerous mission, and Kodai replied that the decision had been left up to Lt. Kato. After the recon plane departed, the Admiral stated that to not waste any more time, they would depart as soon as the three hours chosen for the mission expired, whether or not the pilot had returned to Yamato in time. He apprehensively looked at his clock as Yamato prepared to leave, but the recon plane eventually made it back in time.

Okita during the Planet Balun Breakthrough Operation

He listened as a nurse reported that the pilot had only sustained minor injuries during the mission, and looked as the information he had retrieved from the other side of the gate was uncovered. An enormous enemy fleet, numbering in the tens of thousands of ships, was gathering around the rogue planet Balun outside of the subspace gate. Sanada suggested leaving immediately, but he refused, stating their best chance was to rush through the fleet and exit through another gate lying on the other side of the planet. At his orders, Yamato arrived at Balun and began tearing through the enemy lines. arrived at Balun and began tearing through the enemy lines. He instructed his crew to concentrate all fire forward, but the enemy ships closed in and shot through the Wave-motion Shield. To deceive the enemy, Yamato pretended to sink in Balun's stormy atmosphere, only to resurface on the other side of the rogue planet. As the battleship got into position in front of the other gate, Okita ordered to fire the Wave-motion Gun at Balun's artificial core and then release the ship's gravity anchor. The weapon's recoil pushed Yamato inside of the gate, while the reaction made Balun collapse, taking most of the enemy fleet with it.

The Large Magellanic Cloud and the Rainbow Star Cluster

For this topic in more detail, see Battle of the Rainbow Star Cluster

Yurisha and Okita discuss the Wave-motion Gun

As Yamato approached the Tarantula Nebula, Okita went to visit the Wave-motion Gun room. Nanbu asked if he needed anything and he answered negatively and took his leave. Outside of the door, Princess Yurisha was waiting for him and provocatively told him that what laid in the other room was a tool of war. The Admiral offered her some tea in his cabin, and the two continued their discussion. Yurisha affirmed that she had brought the wave-motion theory to Earth to help them traverse the stars, and that wave-motion energy could not be turned into a weapon under any circumstance. Okita explained that they had to build a weapon to protect themselves during the journey, and the princess concluded that Sanada had built the wave-motion gun with that purpose in mind. However, she believed that creating such a tool made Earth no different from their Garmillas adversaries. Yurisha questioned whether they would truly only use the Wave-motion Gun in self-defense, but Okita simply asked her to believe in them. She asked him why he hadn't questioned Iscandar's refusal to bring them the Cosmo Reverser directly. Okita believed that they were being tested by Yurisha and her people, but she replied that she was merely an observer for her sister Stasha. Heasked her to observe if that was the case, so that Stasha could decide whether the Earthling race was worth saving.

Later, Okita attended a meeting to decide whether to traverse the unstable nebula ahead of them or circumnavigate it. Shima had calculated a route to circumnavigate the nebula's most dangerous section, the Rainbow Star Cluster. However, Okita concluded that doing so would give the enemy time to mount a counterattack, making them lose the advantage gained at Balun. Therefore, he ordered the ship to travel through it and asked his men to maintain an alert status. As the time to warp neared, Okita looked at his family's photo before descending to the first bridge and assuming command. He went over the possibility of their enemy being the same commander they had faced on Carell 163 in his mind.

Soon after, a group of Garmillan fighters appeared, and Okita ordered all crew to battle stations. Another group of planes appeared seemingly out of nowhere and destroyed Yamato's sensors, much to Okita's surprise. He concluded that the enemy had somehow found a way to warp small objects, which Nanbu and Kodai couldn't believe was possible. He retorted that they couldn't fight by relying only on what they already knew since the enemy commander was excellent. Believing the enemy had more in store, Okita asked to keep an eye out for more attacks, replying to Nanbu's uncertainty about using his own eyes that, with the ship blinded and deafened, victory depended on their human abilities. He also instructed them to use the data they had gathered to find a nearby current of ion turbulence.

Okita congratulates Niimi on her work with the missile

Suddenly, a large enemy missile was shot directly into the Wave-motion Gun's muzzle and began making its way toward the ship's engine. At Sanada's suggestion, the imprisoned Niimi was released and ordered to hack into the missile to reverse its course. He was soon notified that a Garmillan firearm had been shot inside the ship, and he ordered Kodai to take command of the defenses. An enemy unit had boarded Yamato and taken Mori with them before making their escape. Following their retreat, a wave of torpedo bombers attacked Yamato, damaging it further. However, Niimi managed to stop the missile's advance, prompting Okita to congratulate her. As the fighter squadron returned to the battleship, Okita ordered them to resupply as fast as they could and asked if the ion turbulence had been located. At that moment, the bulk of the enemy formation decided to attack the battleship directly. Okita acknowledged the enemy commander's move, and as the missile's course was reversed to target the enemy fleet, he ordered the ship to take evasive maneuvers toward the ion turbulence despite Shima and Ensign Ota's reluctance. He ordered to shoot down the missile as it aligned with the fleet, taking down two out of the enemy warships. Another one was shot down, and by concentrating all fire against it, Okita managed to lure the last one inside the ion turbulence.

Okita and Domel talk before the latter's sacrifice

The ship's mobile bridge unit detached, hooked under Yamato's third bridge, and contacted the Earthling ship. Okita passed the communication to the main video panel and introduced himself to Colonel General Elk Domel, the enemy commander. The two shared their mutual admiration, and Okita expressed his desire to cease hostilities and stop the bloodshed. However, Domel refused to stand down, explaining that in his eyes, that'd mean wasting his comrade's sacrifices. He wished blessings and honor to both Earthlings and Garmillas before cutting communications. Realizing the enemy commander was going to blow himself up, Okita ordered the evacuation of the ship's lower levels. Luckily, the Wave-motion Shield was repaired moments before the explosion, saving Yamato from being destroyed. Okita ordered to divert power to the engine and speed away.

Following the battle, Okita attended a funeral cerimony for the fallen. he gave a heartfelt eulogy, stating that though their goals may have differed, they will pray for the souls of both armies’ soldiers to return in peace to their home planets.

Meeting with Admiral Ditz

After the previous battle, Yamato was in dire need of repair. To relieve Kodai of his stress following Mori's kidnapping, Okita ordered him to lead a reconnaissance mission to Leptapoda, the only planet in the area with the resources needed to repair the ship. After the meeting, Niimi intended to return to the brig, but Okita stopped her, stating that it was not where she belonged.

Okita leads a delegation to meet Admiral Ditz

Kodai was accompanied by Yurisha, who had returned to her own body after the previous battle, and they crash-landed on Leptapoda's surface. There, they met a group of Garmillan rebels led by former Astro Fleet Supreme Commander Admiral Gul Ditz, who led a revolt on a prison facility on the planet. With Yurisha's mediation, Okita led a delegation to meet with the rebel leaders. Although they could not agree to an alliance, the two parties made a non-aggression pact, and Lower Storm Leader Merda Ditz, the Admiral's daughter, was left aboard Yamato to serve as a liaison. During the meeting, Okita and the crew discovered that Iscandar, the destination of their journey, was the double planet of Garmillas and that the Garmillans had a profound respect and reverence for Iscandar's people. They were also informed of the political situation in Garmillas and that the Greater Garmillan Empire was ruled over by Supreme Leader Abelt Desler, a tyrannical dictator. Additionally, General Domel's wife, who had joined Ditz's group, informed the Yamato crew that Lieutenant Mori had been on Leptapoda and was being taken to Desler after being mistaken for Yurisha.

Okita begs his body to resist a little longer

The two sides separated and went off in different directions. Okita recorded the events in his captain's log, noting that he hoped their cooperation with Ditz might lead to a better future. Suddenly, as he was recording, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He put down the mic and begged his body to hold on just a little longer. Sado soon made another examination of him and realized that his condition was severely worsening. Before he could tell him so, Okita stated that he was already aware of it, but smiled saying they had already made it that far.

Battle at Garmillas

For this topic in more detail, see Battle of the Imperial Capital

Okita gives a rousing speech to his crew

As Yamato approached the Salezar system, Okita gave a speech to his men, motivating them for the final warp before Iscandar, and instructed them to maintain combat status 1. Yamato warped out near the orbit of Epidora, the system's fifth planet. However, only moments after warping out, the gas giant was destroyed by an energy beam fired from a point between Iscandar and Garmillas. The beam only narrowly missed Yamato. Okita immediately realized that the weapon that had fired at them was a Wave-motion Gun, and ordered the crew to continue flying toward the inner star system at sub-luminal speed to avoid being hit by another shot. Concluding that they had no way of winning if they didn't enter the enemy's range, he changed the battleship's destination to planet Garmillas.

Yamato encountered three carriers in the vicinities of Garmillas. But before Sanada could activate the Wave-motion Shield, Okita stopped him. Instead, he chose to decelerate the battleship and launch their Cosmo Falcons. As the fighters took care of the enemy forces, he ordered Yamato to descend on the planet to face the enemy directly in their capital city, Baleras, intending to attack and storm Baleras Tower, Supreme Leader Desler's seat of power. As they fought the remaining enemy forces through the city, he asked for the shields to be raised and to ram the tower. Despite feeling another pang of pain from his illness, he maintained his composure and ordered everyone to equip their weapons. He asked Kodai to take command of a boarding party to storm the Leader's office. However, a vessel suddenly detached from Baleras Tower and left Garmillas. Yurisha sensed that Mori was on board that ship, but Kodai confirmed to Okita that he would assemble the boarding team as he had been asked.

Okita orders to fire the Wave-motion Gun

At that moment, Okita was notified of a large object that had started to fall from orbit and was heading straight for the imperial capital, endangering both Yamato and the Garmillan civilians in the city. He ordered them to prepare the Wave-motion Gun since only that weapon could destroy such a massive object. Yurisha realized that he was letting his actions speak for him, just as she had requested he do months prior, and he gave her a knowing nod.

Okita faints immediately after the end of the battle

Kodai ultimately decided that it was his duty to save Mori. Okita allowed him to do so by relieving him of his duties as a tactics officer. Seeing Yurisha pout at the thought of being left behind on this mission, he smiled and allowed her to tag along with Kodai. Nanbu fired the Wave-motion Gun at Okita's orders, saving the imperial capital. Immediately after, Okita fainted once again, but soon regained consciousness and witnessed the destruction of a large enemy space station in orbit between Garmillas and Iscandar.

Stay on Iscandar

Okita, Analyzer, and Sado ejoy the Iscandarian see at sunset

After the intense battle, Yamato dislodged from Baleras Tower and landed on Iscandar. Okita was put on bed rest in his cabin and sent a message to his crew as the ship entered Iscandar's atmosphere, thanking them for their service. Due to his condition, he couldn't join the delegation sent to meet Queen Stasha and instead spent the day with Doctor Sado and Analyzer. At sunset, he was taken on a wheelchair to the open-air deck, where he savored the smell of Iscandar's sea and wondered how long it had been since he had last experienced it. Doctor Sado commented that he wished to bring that odor back to Earth, and the Admiral agreed that this was why they had come to Iscandar.

Okita, Sanada and Kodai meet Stasha

Initially, Queen Stasha had doubts about whether to gift the Cosmo Reverse System to the Earthlings, citing their usage of Wave-motion Energy as a weapon. She eventually decided to fulfill her promise and personally went to Yamato to meet with Okita. She explained that to work, the CRS needed an element to activate it. When the Admiral asked what that element would be, she replied that Yamato itself would be turned into the receptacle for the Cosmo Reverser. He told the Queen they were well aware of the gravity of what they had done, turning the hand of salvation Iscandar had extended to them into a weapon. To his surprise, Stasha revealed that the Iscandarians had been the first to create Wave-motion Guns and had used them to bring bloodshed to the Large Magellanic Cloud. She begged Okita not to repeat their folly, and he promised her they wouldn't. This promise, together with an armistice signed with the new Garmillas government created after Desler's apparent death in the previous battle, became part of a treaty signed to receive the Cosmo Reverse System.

Okita and his men listen to Mamoru Kodai's message

Stasha also gave Yamato a holographic note capsule containing a recording from Mamoru Kodai, who had been taken by the Garmillas and had crashlanded on Iscandar. Okita and the rest of the crew listened closely to Mamoru's message, which contained his firm conviction that the Earthlings could find a way to coexist with the aliens.

On July 27, as Yamato finished receiving the CRS, Okita made another broadcast to the crew from his cabin, announcing the start of their return journey back home.

Journey to Earth

Encounter with Gatlantis

For this topic in more detail, see Hunt for the World of Tranquillity

Kodai and Okita laugh together

Exactly a month after Yamato departed from Iscandar, Kodai visited the recovering Okita in his cabin as he was listening to a vinyl record. The young man stated he was not there on any official business, so Okita prepared him a cup of tea. Kodai asked about the music playing, and he replied it was originally a German folk song, but that a Japanese version also existed. He explained it was about old friends parting, hoping to see each other again. He concluded that saying farewell was difficult, but that friends always meet again eventually. Kodai mused over the fact that he had managed to meet someone again on Iscandar but had eventually been forced to say goodbye. Okita realised he was talking about Mamoru, and recalled that the first time he had met him he was about the same age his younger brother was then. He stated that he wished Mamoru could have served aboard Yamato with them and that, although it was strange, he felt that he was still there by their side. Kodai told Okita he would have been interested to hear the Japanese version of the song, and the Admiral jokingly replied he'd put a request on the onboard radio. The two shared a laugh and were interrupted by Doctor Sado, who was coming to examine the captain. Kodai took his leave, and Okita asked him to visit him again. After the young Lieutenant left, Sado mentioned that the two looked like father and son, surprising Okita.

Okita at the battle of Shambleu

Later that day, the battleship was attacked by an alien force that identified itself as coming from the Gatlantis Empire. Okita remained in his quarters, but when Yamato's emergency warp brought her into what appeared to be a pocket dimension outside of known space, he met with Kodai, Niimi, and Sanada to discuss the situation. The XO stated that such a space should not theoretically exist, but the Admiral concluded that it was exactly where they were. He also agreed that some form of conscious mind must have led them there. About half a day later, the Gatlantean fleet followed Yamato to the pocket dimension, and the battleship engaged them in battle alongside a Garmillan fleet that had remained stuck with them. Okita did not take part in the fighting, but he put on his command uniform and smiled as he looked at their unexpected allies following them into battle. After the end of the hostilities, he gave the vinyl he previously listened to with Kodai to the radio, which broadcasted the Japanese version of its song to bid their new allies farewell.

The Galactic Theater Gate and the return to Earth

In September, Kodai visited Okita in his cabin again. At this point, Okita's condition had worsened to the point that he had become bedridden. As Yamato was traveling through the subspace gate towards the Milky Way, it was attacked by a large Garmillas warship which anchored itself over Yamato to board it. From his cabin, Okita looked up at the enemy vessel. The battle was eventually won, but Sanada reported to Okita that multiple crew members had been killed or injured, including Lieutenant Mori who had been shot and was now in a coma. The Admiral asked if there was any chance she'd recover, but to his sadness, Sado replied that a miracle would need to happen.

Okita wishes for the young generation to inherit Yamato's soul

As Yamato neared the Solar System, Okita slept in his cabin and dreamt of Mamoru Kodai. He was awakened by Tokugawa, who was staying at his bedside, and saw he was having a nightmare. Upon hearing Kodai's name. the Chief Engineer mentioned that he had served alongside them aboard Kirishima, and Okita immediately guessed he was talking about the Second Battle of Mars. Tokugawa mentioned it was the one battle they had won, and Okita gravely stated that the victory had come at a great cost. After a moment of silence, he asked his friend if he thought Yamato was a good ship, which he did. Okita was proud of his ship and stated that, although his life was coming to an end, Yamato would live on and that he wanted to pass its soul to the younger generation. Tokugawa asked why he was so gloomy, but Okita reassured him that he would not die until he had seen the Earth again with his own eyes. As Tokugawa took his leave, he remembered that Mamoru Kodai had been chosen to be on Yamato, but the Admiral replied that his younger brother was fulfilling his role excellently.

Okita gives one last look at the Earth before dying

On December 8, the day of Okita's 58th birthday, Yamato approached the Earth. The Admiral was sitting in his chair in his cabin and asked Sado to be left alone for a moment. As the Doctor left, he thanked him for everything he had done for him. He then took his family photo out of his pocket and watched it one last time. With tears streaming down his face, he watched the Earth and thought back at all the memories it brought to him, before peacefully passing away.

Post-mortem

Okita's spirit becomes the element powering the CRS

However, as Okita was dying, the spirit of Mamoru Kodai who had been housed inside the Cosmo Reverse System since Yamato's departure from Iscandar, activated the device to bring Mori back to life. As his final wish, Mamoru decided to give the CRS and Yamato as a whole back to Okita's dying spirit. The Admiral's soul thus became part of the Cosmo Reverser, and with its activation, it became the element that restored the Earth to its original appearance.

Okita's spirit appears to Kodai for the first time

Okita's spirit appeared to Kodai on three different occasions as a messenger of the goddess Teresa of Terezart. On December 2, 2202, he encouraged Kodai to board Yamato to reach the planet of the goddess. Three weeks later, as Kodai prepared to depart aboard Yamato against the wishes of HQ, Okita appeared again to quell his doubts and encourage him to show his resolve. In early 2203, he visited Kodai again as Yamato made its way to Terezart. Kodai expressed his concerns, stating that he was not a capable leader and had been unable to keep the promise of not using the Wave-motion Gun. However, Okita reassured him, stating that he was doing a good job and that he should follow his heart as it knew which direction to go.

Okita's spirit, with Mamoru and Hijikata's spirits at his sides, appears on Yamato's bridge

Lastly, as Teresa descended from her dimension to join Yamato in its last attack in the Golem Assault Battle on June 1, 2203, Okita appeared to Kodai and Mori on Yamato's main bridge, together with the spirits of all the comrades that had fallen during the battleship's two journeys, including Mamoru.

Legacy

The Yamato crew gathers in front of Okita's statue in late 2202

Kodai and Mori hug at Hero's Hill in October 2205

After his death, Okita was buried at Hero's Hill. A statue was erected in his honor, which became a common meeting spot for members of the Yamato crew. A bas-relief of him was also put up in Captain Yamanami's cabin aboard Andromeda and was later gifted to the Yamato crew. It was then placed on the battleship's main bridge. In the years following his death, Okita became an important guiding figure for the Yamato crew and his friends Yamanami and Hijikata. Kodai, in particular, was heavily influenced by the late Admiral and sought guidance from him during the most difficult moments of the Gatlantis Campaign and afterward. He would often go to Hero's Hill to confront Okita's statue when facing great stress.

Okita's influence on his crew was so undeniable that Todo, Serizawa, and Yamanami often refer to the Yamato crew as "Okita's children".

Personality

Okita kept a family picture with his deceased son in his cabin aboard Yamato

Admiral Juzo Okita was a renowned military strategist who also had a vast understanding of astrophysics and science. He was characterized by his calm and composed demeanor, even in the face of extreme danger, and had a strong will paired with an unyielding fighting spirit. Despite being a veteran soldier, Okita knew the preciousness of achieving peace and the folly of war better than anyone. He commanded respect with his presence and was generally stern and serious with his subordinates, but he could also be kind and forgiving when the situation called for it. Having lived through multiple battles, he saw many young men die while he stayed alive, and this burden, especially the loss of his son, heavily influenced him. He refused to count the losses, believing that human lives were not mere statistics, and saw his duty as a survivor to fight on and ensure the younger generation still had hope for the future. In his last days, he became concerned with leaving behind a legacy for his young crew, hoping they would inherit Yamato's soul. He had always wished to visit space not as a soldier, but as a man of science.

Kodai and Okita formed a father-son relationship

Throughout his life, Okita formed many valuable friendships with his colleagues. His closest confidants were Chief Administrator Heikuro Todo and his medic, Doctor Sakezo Sado, together with his long-time comrade Hikozaemon Tokugawa and his best friend, Admiral Ryu Hijikata. He was also friends with his subordinate and pupil, Captain Osamu Yamanami, the captain of his flagship Kirishima. While he formed a bond of respect with most of his crew members during Yamato's journey to Iscandar, he grew particularly close to Lieutenant Susumu Kodai, despite the young man initially blaming him for his older brother's death. After solving their initial disagreements, the two formed a father-son relationship that strengthened as the journey went on.

Okita had the respect of many UN officials, except for General Kotetsu Serizawa, who grew envious of his success during the Great Garmillas War, especially Operation K2.

Battles

Great Garmillas War

• First Contact with Garmillas
• Second Battle of Mars
• First Battle of Pluto
• Reconnaissance-in-force of the Yamato
• Second attack on Yamato
• Destruction of the Jupiter Floating Continent
• Battle of Enceladus
• Operation M2
• Breakthrough of the Garmillas Encirclement
• Skirmish Outside of the Dimensional Rift
• Encounter with the Garmillas Dimensional Submarine
• First Battle against Domel
• Planet Balun Breakthrough Operation
• Battle of the Rainbow Star Cluster
• Battle of the Imperial Capital
• Battle with Desler in Subspace (bystander)

Hunt for the World of Tranquillity

• Battle of Kappadokia (bystander)
• Battle of Shambleau (bystander)

Behind the scenes

Okita is based on Matsumoto's father, who was a Major in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force and flew a Nakajima Ki-84 in Battle of Leyte Gulf. For this reason, his character was designed with the appearance of an old man in mind, despite him being born in 2147 in the original series, thus being only 52 years old. To fix the discrepancy between his age and apperance, Space Battleship Yamato 2199 gives him an earlier birth date, making him 57 by the time of the series.

Additionally, Okita's name and surname come respectively from Shinsengumi captain Okita Sōji and Japan's founding father of sci-fi, Unno Juzo. His response to to the Garmillas' demands of surrender is based on the response made by Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe to the Germans' ultimatum during the Battle of the Bulge.

His new appearance was designed by Nobuteru Yuki. He is portrayed by Takayuki Sugaoin Japanese and Brian Mathis in English.

Okita's rank is erroneously stated to be Vice Admiral in the English version of Space Battleship Yamato 2199.

Gallery

Juzo Okita drawn by Space Battleship Yamato 2199 manga artist Michio Murakawa

Juzo Okita character design sheet

Juzo Okita character design sheet in Ace with Scarlet Eyes

Notes

• He was born on the 200th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and died on the 258th anniversary.
• In the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 manga adaptation he's depicted with battle scars all over his body.