Sakae Jinnouchi

Born on August 1, 1920 (Taisho 9). 89 years old. Natsuki's great-grandmother. The 16th head of the Jinnouchi family, which has continued since the Sengoku period, and a leader-like presence in the Jinnouchi family, with a strong and somewhat intimidating personality. A former teacher, she has many students who became politicians, bureaucrats, and local influential figures, and she has a wide network in the political and business world. Her charisma is unparalleled in the story, and she has enough influence to move the country, greatly contributing to calming the chaos caused by OZ's malfunction by encouraging her students and old friends (including the current Chief of Police). She emphasizes the importance of human connections to her family and is a key person in the Jinnouchi family's unity in the story. She has a keen eye for people and entrusts Natsuki to Kenji even after his lie is revealed. During the Love Machine incident, she remains unashamed despite being scolded by the family and reveals that the funds she had given Wabisuke, by selling her precious mountain, were used for development. She swings a naginata at him during a banquet, driving him out, and urges the family to handle their own scandals. Later, she plays Hanafuda with Kenji and wins. The next morning, she passes away on July 31, just before her birthday, due to her chronic angina. The time of death is 5:21 AM, at the age of 89 (91 by traditional Japanese count). It is revealed that due to the chaos in OZ, the system managing her health data did not send information to Mansaku, making her the only person to die unnoticed due to OZ's chaos, while news programs report that there were miraculously no deaths. A letter she left for emergencies led to the reconciliation and reunification of Wabisuke and the Jinnouchi family. Her OZ avatar is the Jinnouchi family crest. She recognizes Kenji, whom Natsuki falsely introduced as "her boyfriend," as a man capable of being entrusted with Natsuki at first sight, and even after Natsuki's lie is exposed, she asks Kenji to take care of Natsuki. The setting that Sakae teaches Hanafuda to the entire family is an homage to the movie "Hibotan Bakuto: Hanafuda Shobu," starring Fuji, directed by Tai Kato. Shortly after the naginata incident, she asks Kenji to take care of her, inviting him to a Hanafuda (Koi-Koi) match, saying, "If I win, take care of Natsuki," which became her last appearance in life. Her funeral was held on her birthday, and some family members sang a birthday song in front of her portrait.