Vice Admiral Yamakaji is a Marine officer, and one of the five vice admirals who led the Buster Call on Enies Lobby.Yamakaji is a tall and broad-chested man. He has a slightly wrinkled face, a round nose with prominent nostrils, thick lips, and a wide, round chin. He has brown buzz cut-styled hair[5] which connects to a thick beard that covers his entire chin. He is always seen with his eyes closed and with a cigar in his mouth. He is also often seen with a cheerful smile. He wears a dark brown double-breasted suit with a black tie underneath, all over a yellow dress shirt with a red polka dot pattern. He also wears brown pants and brown shoes. Like most high-ranking Marine officers, he drapes his standard Marine coat over his shoulders like a cape. He also wears a standard Marine cap.

Twenty-seven years ago, his appearance was very similar. He lacked his beard, instead just having some stubble on his chin, as well as sideburns. He wore an orange suit and a red tie over a white dress shirt, and already had his Marine coat and cap at that time.