Sōichirō Kuwahara

Sōichirō Kuwahara (also romanized as Soichiro Kuwahara) is a key member of the Third Recon Team in the Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There! anime. He's a 50-year-old Sergeant Major in the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), serving as the second-in-command to Lieutenant Yōji Itami.

As the oldest and most experienced soldier in the unit, Kuwahara is portrayed as a dependable, level-headed veteran with decades of military service. He's highly skilled in leadership and remains in excellent physical condition despite his age. He often steps up to take charge when Itami is absent or steps away (such as after Itami goes off to fight the Flame Dragon solo, leading to Itami's temporary relief from command).

He's sometimes referenced with a past reputation as a strict "Drill Sergeant from Hell" (or "Demon Sergeant") from his earlier days training recruits, though in the anime he comes across as calm, practical, and reliable—the steady backbone of the team during missions in the Special Region.