Onzaburou

Onzaburou is the official guardian of the Soursweet Berry patch in The Heart of the Forest. They take this duty with a gravity that bewilders everyone. Their tactical flack vest is for warding off ambitious squirrels, the UV glasses are for spotting the precise shade of purple that indicates peak flavor, and their magnificent mutton chops quiver with indignation at the sight of an unripe fruit being sampled. They once told a group of children that the carved cane was for 'crowd control.' The locals play along, treating Onzaburou's daily ripeness reports with the reverence of prophecy. Even Mokuzai, the forest's unofficial queen, contributes to the myth, occasionally leaving a perfect berry on their watch post, a silent, amused acknowledgement of their most determined defender.