Banken

Name
Kanji	番犬
Kana	ばんけん
Römaji	banken
Translation
Meaning	Guard Dog
In Other Languages
Finnish	Vahtikoira

Status
Alive

Affiliation
Current	A human's guard dog

Information
Gender	Male
Breed	Tosa
Birthplace	Northern Alps
Voice Actor
GDW	Shirō Saitō

Banken (“guard dog“) is an unnamed guard dog seen in the beginning of Ginga Densetsu Weed. He is big and strong and takes his duty seriously. He gives no mercy for intruders.

Ginga Densetsu Weed Manga

After Nero orders Sasuke to find GB, and take him to stand guard while he kills geese at a farm. GB refuses and leaves with Weed to go find Smith. After the visit, Weed and GB go back the way they came, and see Sasuke chasing the geese and being attacked by Banken. Weed attacks, but isn’t able to do much. GB, seeing Weed’s courage, charges into battle. After a brief scrap, Banken senses Smith’s arrival, and flees to his doghouse. He is not seen again in the series, but GB mentions him to Sasuke when the Ōu dogs pass the area.

Ginga Densetsu Weed Anime

Banken was watching the farm GB and Sasuke were to steal ducks from. GB tricks Sasuke into making him think there is no guard dog, and Sasuke gets attacked by the guard dog when trying to hunt down a duck. GB flees with a dead duck while Weed intervenes to save Sasuke, but Banken easily throws Weed off. GB hears Weed fighting and rushes back to help out by attacking the guard dog. Banken gets ahold of GB’s neck and starts to strangle him. Weed keeps attacking Banken, causing him to throw Weed at a wall. Weed goes into a sort of trance and attacks using the Battōga, ripping off Banken’s left ear. Smith appears and Banken hides in his doghouse, sensing Smith’s ferocity, and begs for forgiveness.

Trivia

• Banken is not his name, it simply means guard dog in Japanese.