Saotome (五月女, さおとめ), full name Hikaru Saotome (五月女光, さおとめ ひかる), is a second year exchange student at Hanazono High School that was first featured in Downtown Nekketsu March: Super-Awesome Field Day!. He is described as being smart, having good looks and a likable personality, though is awkward around girls.
Saotome is considered the second strongest delinquent of his school behind Riki, though dislikes violence and does not show off his power. He views Sugata of Nekketsu High School as his rival.
Appearances[]
Downtown Nekketsu March: Super-Awesome Field Day![]
Saotome debuts in Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day! as a member of Hanazono High School's team. In the Battle Royal minigame, he will have access to the Aura Punch.
Surprise! Nekketsu New Records! The Distant Gold Medal[]
Saotome appears as a member of Hanazono High School's team.
In the localization Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge, Saotome is renamed to Nathan "Nate" Vanderpoole of Washington High School.
Downtown Nekketsu Baseball Monogatari: Yakyū de Shōbu da! Kunio-kun[]
Saotome appears as a member of Hanazono High School's team.
Nekketsu Kōkō Online: Yamada no Fukushū[]
River City Super Sports Challenge[]
Saotome appears as a member of Hanazono High School's team.
River City: Tokyo Rumble[]
Saotome appears alongside Sugata in a part-time job challenging Kunio to a fight. Upon completion, they are unlocked in the Rumble and Dodgeball gamemode.
River City: Knights of Justice[]
River City Super Sports Challenge ~All Stars Special~[]
This remake of Super-Awesome Field Day re-imagines the events of that game. The story takes place after River City: Rival Showdown.
In the story mode, Saotome first appears with Riki before the final match of the tournament where the two are talking to Gōda and Godai about the sudden announcement of the other teams dropping out of the tournament. Saotome believes the final match will be a good way to pay back Nekketsu High School what they owe. During the ending of the game, Saotome compliments Kunio and his team for their strength. Saotome suggests the team go out together for the night in celebration for doing well in the tournament, to which Riki agrees and decides to take everyone out to eat. Saotome puts the bill onto Riki, which he then appears confused though doesn't attempt to argue as Saotome is already pushing him offscreen.
Saotome is a member of Hanazono High School's team and can be played outside of the story mode. Saotome is able to use the Aura Punch and the Dash Aura Punch.
Downtown Nekketsu Jidaigeki[]
River City: Rival Showdown[]
River City: Rival Showdown is a remake of Downtown Nekketsu Story. The game takes place before River City Super Sports Challenge ~All Stars Special~.
In the story mode, Saotome is first seen during the second day at Hanazono High School trying to explain to Sonokawa that they weren't responsible for attacking Senridai High School students. If Kunio does not prevent Riki from being jumped by Taira at Starpark Café, Kunio will instead assist Saotome, Maeda, and Wataru in their fight against the Senridai students.
On the third day, Saotome will be seen rushing in to Starpark Café after being called by Mami's friends, who alerted him that she's been kidnapped by Ryūichi and Ryūji. Saotome asks the girls if they're okay, though appears shocked when he realizes Kunio is also present, to where Kunio then asks him to stay behind and protect Mami's friends. Saotome comforts the girls and ask them if they know anymore details about what happened.
River City Melee: Battle Royal Special[]
Saotome returns as a member of Hanazono High School's team and is involved in the story mode. Saotome is able to use the Aura Punch and the Aura Swing.
River City Melee Mach!![]
River City Saga: Three Kingdoms[]
Saotome plays the role of Zhou Tai, a general in Sun Quan (Riki)'s army.
In the story mode, Saotome is first seen during the final chapter where he'll be waiting in Lukou for Guan Yu (Kunio) to be finished with preparations. During the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhou Tai and Gan Ning (Shimizu) will assist Guan Yu in his fight against Yue Jin (Mochizuki). When playing on any difficulty above moderate, Guan Yu is able to ask Zhao Tai to depart before completing any of the required quests. Zhao Tao will attempt to convince Guan Yu that leaving without any preparations will be a bad idea as the event won't go down in history and that it'd be a detriment to his reputation. If Guan Yu persists on leaving early, Zhou Tai begrudgingly goes to inform Sun Quan that they're ready to leave, which will trigger the comedy route regardless of your current reputation. After Guan Yu successfully defeats Cao Cao (Yamada)'s army by himself, Sun Quan gets angry with him for letting Cao Cao get away and fights Guan Yu in an attempt to knock some sense into him, to which Zhou Tai assists Sun Quan in the fight.
River City Girls 2[]
In this continuity, Saotome is reimagined to be angsty and nihilistic.
Saotome is first seen at either entrance in Downtown, where the protagonists go to talk to him in hope of getting some information about the yakuza, though he is first pretty reluctant on talking to the group. When he is told by the protagonists that they're trying to clear out the yakuza and how it'd be beneficiary for him, he decides to share that if they find Marian, she may be able to help them out. Saotome points them to the basketball court first, as the local yakuza team plays there and she's often seen clearing them out soon after. When the protagonists finish helping Williams fix Downtown's power, Saotome is seen again nearby the subway and informs the group that he got jumped by the yakuza while he wasn't looking. The protagonists ask if he fought back, to which he replies that he didn't see the point in doing so as they're all outnumbered by the yakuza. Saotome points the group to the subway, where he's seen Marian leading a group of yakuza through the area.
Other media appearances[]
Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (4koma Manga Kingdom)[]
Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun Gaiden River City Girls[]
Saotome was to be played by Masamune Usui, though the play would be cancelled due to one of the cast members testing positive for COVID.[1]
Localized versions[]
- In Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge he is renamed to Nathan "Nate" Vanderpoole and is a member of Washington High School.
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