Batou

Batou
Ghost in the Shell character
Batou of Section 9, as portrayed in the anime series
First appearance	Ghost in the Shell (manga)
Created by	Masamune Shirow
Voiced by	Japanese Akio Ōtsuka Shinji Ogawa (PlayStation game) Kenichirou Matsuda (Arise) English Richard Epcar David Kaye (OVA) Christopher Sabat (Arise)
Portrayed by	Pilou Asbaek (2017 film)
Profile
Aliases	Buttetsu (undercover)
Title	Sergeant
Affiliations	Public Security Section 9 U.S Army Rangers (formerly)

Batou (Japanese: バトー, Hepburn: Batō^?) is a main male character in Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell series. He is the second-best melee fighter in Section 9, and is the second in command under Major Motoko Kusanagi. He is a battle-hardened special operative with a long military career. Though he looks imposing, he is known for his warm heart and sense of humor.

While his name is officially romanized as "Batou", in some copies of the first film's subtitles and credits, it is spelled "Bateau" (the French word for "boat").

Batou's limbs are all augmented-cybernetic prosthetics; despite the fact that exercise provides negligible benefit, Batou enjoys jogging and weightlifting as a hobby. Shirow's characterization of Batou in the manga, and indeed the other members of Section 9, is notably more light-hearted than the characterization used in Mamoru Oshii's films of the same name. His eyes, though prosthetic, often bulge comically when he is alarmed. He frequently jokes with Motoko, Togusa, the Tachikomas, and practically everyone else who crosses his path. His serious side becomes much more pronounced in a chapter of the manga where Yano, a trainee of Batou's, is murdered by a cyber-criminal named Koil Krasnov. Batou loses his temper and impulsively calls up Section 9 Chief Aramaki, demanding an explanation for Yano's death, then storms off announcing (in the English translation), "That… Koil is dead meat!"

Batou had seemingly hated anyone who tried to make Section 9 fix the mess of another organization, such as the AI hijacking of the Jigabachi choppers in the SAC series. However, in the Ghost in the Shell movie he appears more stoic and silent than his TV and manga counterpart. Particularly in Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Batou also appears moderately distant and possibly bitter. In addition, he jokes around with a hint of irony being mentioned.