Jiro Yamada is a character from the sci-fi comedy anime series Martian Successor Nadesico. A brash and cocky man-child, Yamada is obsessed with giant robot anime and the idea of being a big-shot space hero. So great is his fanaticism that he even changed his name (though not officially) to "Gai Daigoji", which according to him is his soul name and a much better one than the "boring" name his mother gave him.
Japanese Voice: Tomokazu Seki
English Voice: Brett Weaver
History[]
It is unknown what kind of life Yamada led or what his job was before he was recruited by Nergal as an Aestivalis pilot. What is known is that he is overly enthusiastic about the prospect of being a pilot and protecting the Earth from the invading Jovians. However, shortly after boarding the Nadesico, Yamada starts playing around aboard an Aestivalis mech and inadvertantly breaks his leg.
During his time on the Nadesico, Yamada expresses his passion for the anime show Gekigangar 3 and develops a somewhat heated friendship with back-up pilot and fry-cook Akito Tenkawa. While Yamada is initially angry with Akito for stealing his spotlight as he would have been the only pilot aboard the ship, the two prove to be a formidable team as they battle against the UEAF forces trying to prevent the Nadesico from leaving Earth.
Death[]
Jiro Yamada's service aboard the Nadesico is cut short in the series' third episode "A Goodbye That Came Too Soon". Following the ship's escape from Earth, Yamada goes to the hangar to decorate his Aestivalis fighter with a selection of Gekigangar stickers. At this time, Sadaaki Munetake and a group of captive UF officers (held prisoner for attempting to hijack the ship in the previous episode) escape and steal a shuttle off the Nadesico. Yamada witnesses the escapees and Munetake shoots him so that he cannot raise the alarm. Yamada's death causes a great deal of anguish for Akito throughout the rest of the series.