Matsui

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Matsui Ryoji (松井亮司) 31
Alias(es)	Mr. Matsui
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lucky Mutual Aid Society
Occupation/Role	Society representative, true founder, and primary operator 31 33
Status	Arrested following the police raid on the Lucky Mutual Aid Society 39
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background / History

Matsui operates behind the public face of the Lucky Mutual Aid Society. He recruits vulnerable people by presenting the organization as a lawful community that offers belonging, self-worth, and “good fortune,” while treating its members’ need for meaning as a profitable arrangement 8 10.

He recruited Harada Taro, a clairvoyant shut-in, and remade him into the public figure “President Oiwa.” While Harada supplied the psychic ability necessary to handle the society’s little ghosts, Matsui managed the group’s image, finances, and day-to-day operation 22 23 24.

Matsui identifies Inuyama Heita’s ability to see spirits after Heita disrupts an attempted possession of Suzuki. He subsequently seeks to bring Heita into the society, viewing the young psychic as a more useful and durable replacement for Harada 6 8 23 36.

Appearance

Matsui maintains a polished, professional appearance that contrasts sharply with the supernatural harm caused by his Kuman Thong.

• Usually wears a black, expensive suit 9 10.
• Habitually presents a fixed, “mask-like” smile 9.
• Beneath his clothes, his body is covered in bruises and bite marks inflicted by the little ghost attached to him; these marks are visible to psychics 28.
• His calm expression deteriorates into panic when confronted with the reality of the ghosts he exploits 37 38.

Personality

Matsui is charismatic, calculating, and highly manipulative. He recognizes what prospective members lack—money, recognition, safety, or belonging—and shapes his promises around those needs. He frames the society’s exploitation as a mutually beneficial exchange, claiming that followers gain meaning while the organization gains profit 10.

He is also pragmatic and ruthless in pursuit of control. When Harada becomes difficult to manage, Matsui weaponizes Harada’s hidden identity and psychiatric history to discredit him publicly. His intention is not merely to remove Harada, but to replace him with the younger and more useful Heita 34 35 36.

Abilities & Skills

Kuman Thong Exploitation

Matsui keeps a resentful little ghost attached to himself and uses Kuman Thong practices to provide the society’s supposed “luck.”

• Uses child spirits associated with abandoned or stillborn infants as vessels for the society’s rituals 28.
• Can maintain a connection with a little ghost after prolonged exposure, allowing him to direct its influence to a degree 24.
• Uses the ghosts’ resentment to create the appearance of good fortune for members rather than genuinely helping the spirits move on 17 28.
• Bears bruises and bite marks as the physical cost of carrying a little ghost 28.
• Cannot effectively control lesser spirits by himself and depends on a genuine psychic, first Harada and later the intended successor Heita 23 24.

Recruitment and Psychological Manipulation

Matsui is an adept recruiter who exploits emotional pressure, social isolation, and financial hardship.

• Recruits Heita by praising his ability to see spirits and promising an escape from poverty and mediocrity 8 10.
• Uses genuine but deceived members to make Heita feel indebted and emotionally tied to the society 21.
• Engineers an extortion incident against Heita, then arrives with society members to “rescue” him and establish trust 19 20.
• Encourages Heita to discipline a little ghost with a willow branch, concealing that the act would transfer resentment onto Heita 29.
• Manipulates public perception by exposing Harada’s secrets while presenting himself as a concerned protector of the society 34 35.

Organizational Control

Matsui is the society’s true operational leader despite Harada’s public position as President Oiwa.

• Founded the Lucky Mutual Aid Society and handled its accounts and internal administration 33 34.
• Designed Harada’s public identity and relied on his credibility to attract followers 23 34.
• Commands loyal senior members and underworld-connected security personnel to intimidate dissenters and control gatherings 35 36.
• Attempts to disperse members when Harada begins revealing the truth about the society’s spirits and rituals 36 37.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Kuman Thong little ghost — A pale child spirit attached to Matsui that helps him influence others and grants him access to the society’s supernatural “luck” scheme 6 8 28.
• Willow branch — Given to Heita as a medium for striking little ghosts; Matsui uses it to deceive Heita into taking on their resentment 28 29.
• Society records and medical documents — Used to expose Harada’s concealed identity and psychiatric history during their public power struggle 34 35.

Relationships

• Inuyama Heita — Recruitment target and intended successor. Matsui discovers Heita’s clairvoyance, engineers circumstances to gain his trust, and plans to replace Harada with him 6 20 23 36.
• Harada Taro / President Oiwa — Collaborator and public figurehead of the Lucky Mutual Aid Society. Matsui depends on Harada’s psychic ability but later moves to discredit and discard him 22 23 34 36.
• Qian Xiaoyi — Opposing investigator whose appearance and intervention disrupt Matsui’s control of the society 10 37 38.
• Suzuki — A prospective member whom Matsui attempts to subject to a Kuman Thong-related ritual; her mother’s devotion to the society gives him leverage over her 6 12.
• Lucky Mutual Aid Society members — Followers whom Matsui recruits through promises of fortune, belonging, and personal value, while concealing the spirits attached to their necklaces 10 33 37.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment of Heita

Matsui first appears while attempting to use a little ghost against Suzuki. Heita interrupts the attempt, revealing that he can see spirits; Matsui immediately recognizes the value of that ability and begins pursuing him 6.

He tracks Heita to Shanwai Lou, invites him to a Lucky Mutual Aid Society gathering, and presents the group as a legitimate place where Heita’s talent can be respected and rewarded 8 10.

Infiltration of the Lucky Mutual Aid Society

After the society’s ritual fails, Matsui grows suspicious of Heita but continues trying to recruit him 14. He later exploits a staged extortion and a public rescue to make Heita feel indebted to the organization 19 20.

Believing Heita has been won over, Matsui invites him to the senior members’ circle and reveals the Kuman Thong operation. He falsely claims the child spirits are being guided toward Buddhahood, while actually exploiting their resentment for profit 24 28.

Conflict with Harada Taro

Matsui’s dependence on Harada becomes a liability when Harada seeks greater control of the society. In response, Matsui publicly admits financial mismanagement before revealing Harada’s false identity and psychiatric history, turning the members against him 34 35.

As little ghosts attack Harada, Matsui prevents Heita from intervening and begins evacuating the hall. His plan is to let Harada fall and install Heita as a new psychic figurehead 36.

Downfall

When Harada attempts to expose the society’s ghost-filled necklaces, Matsui tries to suppress him through force and again pressures Heita to join him. Qian Xiaoyi then temporarily grants Matsui ghost sight, leaving him terrified by the very spirits he had used for power 37 38.

The police raid the society hall shortly afterward and arrest its leaders, ending Matsui’s control of the organization 39.

Notable Quotes

“They find meaning here, and we gain profit. It’s a fair trade.” 10

“Talented individuals shouldn't be buried among the mediocre masses.” 10