Saisyu Kusanagi
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| Saisyu Kusanagi | |
|---|---|
| Game series | King of Fighters series |
| First game | King of Fighters '94 |
| In-Universe Information | |
| Birthplace | Japan |
| Blood type | B |
| Fighting style | Kusanagi style of ancient martial arts |
| Likes | Fishing, hunting Oyaji-Hunters |
| Dislikes | Heights (he has acrophobia) |
Saisyu Kusanagi is a video game character in the King of Fighters series. His first appearance was in KOF '94, but his presence in KOF '95 was never planned (because he was supposed to have died in KOF '94). During the final stages of KOF '95, he suddenly was inserted as a mid-boss. Given that spur of the moment appearance, it's quite unexpected that he's still a very popular character. During location tests for the game, some of his fans read the Chinese characters for his name as "Saisyu," and he came to be known as Shibafune in China.
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[edit] History
Saisyu is the father of the legendary Kyo Kusanagi, and current head of the Kusanagi clan. He has carried on the legend of the Kusanagi, and has passed it down to his son, Kyo, so he can continue his legacy. He is also - rather obviously - an expert in wielding the crimson flames that distinguish the Kusanagi clan. He does not need special gloves like Kyo does, since he is already skilled enough to wield it without much pain.
When very young, Saisyu was inculcated with the legend of the Kusanagi, their eternal battle against the Orochi and the war that they wage against the Yagami. He and Iori Yagami's father faced many times, following the bloody tradition of their ancestors. However, it was finally Yagami's own cursed Orochi blood that killed him in the end, due to the short lifespan the Orochi blood gives. Despite having to battle the Yagami, Saisyu wishes that some day the madness will end.
As a young man, he met and married Shizuka, who accepted Saisyu despite his fate - one filled with combat and pain. Despite his new family (including his son Kyo), however, Saisyu has constantly been on training journeys (or musha shugyou in Japanese), looking for another good battle. In his stead, Shizuka had to teach Kyo the principles of the Kusanagi.
Saisyu soon heard about a man named Rugal Bernstein. He was a criminal merchant with a great deal of both combat and criminal power. Saisyu sought out this new test, and found the Blacknoah, Rugal's ship. Upon arrival, Saisyu sensed a terrible, evil power, and thought it to be connected to the Orochi. He now felt compelled to destroy Rugal as soon as he could. Entering the Blacknoah, Saisyu challenges Rugal to a deathmatch. Rugal accepts happily, and soundly beats him. Before passing out, however, Saisyu identified that, indeed, Rugal commanded the power of the Orochi.
After his son, Kyo, took revenge on Rugal (who had survived his own suicide bombing after losing to Kyo in KOF94), Rugal decided to use Saisyu as a new ally. He ordered Vice to use her power to brainwash Saisyu into serving Rugal. Despite his willpower and the memory of his family, however, he soon became the loyal follower of Rugal. After Rugal captured the strongest fighters, Saisyu is ordered by Rugal to kill his own son. His friends, Benimaru Nikaido and Goro Daimon, took care of Saisyu in Kyo's stead, as he was too stunned to fight his own father. Saisyu fought, but since he was not in his right mind, he could not fight with his full power, and finally lost. Saisyu then bids Kyo to fight Rugal and destroy him before passing out. After Rugal is killed by his own power, Kyo seeks for Saisyu, only to discover that he is already gone. Saisyu had escaped, and now keeps searching the world for worthy opponents, but he knows now that the Orochi will be loose again in this world.
Many years later, after much more turmoil (the sealing of the Orochi power, the NESTS cartel), Saisyu approached Shingo Yabuki, who had been abandoned by his master Kyo and his other friends. The legendary Saisyu offered to train Shingo and make him a great warrior known all over the world. Shingo delights in the opportunity to train with Kyo's father, and joins him on his warrior sojourns.
[edit] Personality
Saisyu is very similar to his son; somewhat proud and arrogant. He loves his wife Shizuka and son Kyo very dearly and hates to leave them to go out training, but he feels his fate lies elsewhere. However, it seems that old age is finally coming to Saisyu, as he seems to be too lazy in his fights (scratching his own belly, picking his ear). However, Saisyu's experience and Kusanagi flames make him a fearsome fighter all the same. He is also very proud that his son has finally surpassed him, as he feels that the Kusanagi always get better by each generation.
[edit] Trivia
- Saisyu is the father of Kyo and uses many similar attacks. The only attacks they have ever had in common, however, are the 108 Shiki: Yami Barai, 100 Shiki: Oniyaki, and the Ura 108 Shiki: Orochinagi.
- He is also playable in The King of Fighters 98, where he is teamed up with Takuma Sakazaki and Heidern, as the Oyaji Team, and King of Fighters NeoWave, where his teammates are Shingo Yabuki and Kula Diamond, the three of them having previously been Mid-Bosses in other KOF games. He is also a secret character in King of Fighters 94 Re-Bout, a remake of KOF 94.
- Saisyu has been voiced by Keiichirou Sasaki.
- Saisyu appears as Kyo's Maniac Striker in KOF 2000.
- Saisyu has been training Shingo since the ending of KOF'01.
- He is an old friend of Takuma Sakazaki.
- Saisyu's look is based on famous samurai movie actor Toshiro Mifune.
- Saisyu was hastilly added to the cast of KOF:NeoWave before it's release, this is evident in that there is no change to his command list since his last appearance (KOF '98) and the addition of one very poor quality (in look and effectiveness) HDM move.
