Makoto is a young Japanese man who stands around five foot six. He has brown eyes, messy brown hair with bangs that fall over his forehead, long legs, and a thin build. In Case 2, he changes his hairstyle into an undercut. By Case 4, his appearance shifts dramatically. He slicks his hair back, wears a formal suit, and begins smoking, giving him a more hardened and mature look. His design was inspired by the actor Ryunosuke Kamiki, who is also five foot six in real life.

Makoto has a layered and complex personality. On the surface, he often comes across as slightly awkward but kind, and he tends to overreact to small things according to Laurent. However, when he is in the middle of a scheme, he can display striking confidence and charm, even managing to win the favor of powerful figures like Eddie Cassano. He is intelligent, resourceful, and capable of manipulating situations to his advantage.

His personality undergoes several changes throughout the series. Before becoming a con man, Makoto was an optimistic young adult, eager to start his career. This hopefulness faded because of three major events: his father becoming involved in an illegal operation, Makoto himself being charged with fraud, and the death of his mother. These hardships hardened him, and he willingly joined a fraud group, making a living by scamming elderly people and tourists. During this time, he confidently called himself Japan’s greatest con man.

After the events of Part 1, Makoto enters a period of reflection and begins questioning the purpose of his life. He gradually humbles himself and realizes that a stable job and routine can bring genuine fulfillment. This leads to emotional growth and a more mature outlook. During Case 4, however, Makoto becomes noticeably colder and sometimes appears emotionless. He seems to join the yakuza willingly and becomes involved in a human trafficking ring, and he also starts smoking regularly.

With his father imprisoned and his mother’s health deteriorating, Makoto desperately searched for work. He eventually found employment at a company selling health tea, where he first met Kudo. Unfortunately, the company was secretly running a consumer fraud scheme, and Makoto was arrested along with the other employees.

After his release on parole, his criminal record made it nearly impossible to find new work, and his mother passed away soon after. With no other way to survive, Makoto approached Kudo again and offered to partner with him, declaring himself Japan’s greatest con man despite his troubled past.