Rengie Tanaka
CharacterRengie Tanaka is a short-tempered stickup man invented for the live-action Cowboy Bebop on Netflix, appearing in its opening chapter. He seizes a casino floor with his crew, only to run headlong into Spike and Jet, whose intervention leaves him bruised, bagged, and handed over with a busted leg.
Appearance
Tanaka keeps his black hair long and gathered into a bun, framing dark eyes and a pointed goatee. His wardrobe runs to a black leather jacket thrown over a beige turtleneck, finished with a dark belt, matching trousers, and shoes.
Personality
A quick temper defines Tanaka, paired with open contempt for big business, the sort of grudge that shapes his choice of targets and his readiness to take a room hostage.
History
Tanaka leads a group, Frank and Norman among them, in taking over the Watanabe Casino, where they hold manager Carol and other patrons captive. Spike and Jet turn up and cut through most of the crew, but Tanaka clings to an elderly woman as leverage. Frank then emerges from the restroom, sizes up the standoff, and produces a disrupter weapon. Spike shoots him, and the discharged gun tears a hole in the casino wall, opening the room to the vacuum of space. Tanaka is nearly pulled out through the breach until Spike hauls him back and Jet trips the emergency shielding. Once the danger passes, Spike checks whether he can deliver the bounty roughed up, gets Jet's approval, and flattens Tanaka with a cheap-shot punch. Jet later hands him to the ISSP for a trimmed payout, the damages eating into the reward, and when Tanaka curses at him during the handover with Chalmers, Jet snaps his left leg with one kick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rengie Tanaka in Cowboy Bebop?
Rengie Tanaka is a short-tempered criminal created for Netflix's live-action Cowboy Bebop, introduced in the opening episode Cowboy Gospel.
What does Rengie Tanaka do at the Watanabe Casino?
Rengie Tanaka leads a crew that takes over the Watanabe Casino, holding manager Carol and other patrons hostage.
How do Spike and Jet capture Rengie Tanaka?
Spike Spiegel and Jet Black storm the casino and cut through most of Tanaka's crew. After a hostage standoff nearly pulls him into space, Spike hauls him back and knocks him out before Jet takes him into custody.
What happens to Rengie Tanaka's leg?
Jet Black breaks Rengie Tanaka's left leg with a kick after Tanaka curses at him during the handover to the ISSP.
Who are Rengie Tanaka's accomplices in the casino heist?
Rengie Tanaka's accomplices in the casino takeover include Frank and Norman.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Rengie Tanaka? The Cowboy Bebop Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Cowboy Bebop anime series, manga, and official materials. Cowboy Bebop was created by Hajime Yatate, published by Sunrise, and animated by Sunrise. All rights to Cowboy Bebop and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byHajime Yatate
- Published bySunrise
- Animated bySunrise
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Anime, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
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