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Saisyu Kusanagi (草薙ļ¼ˆćć•ćŖ恎ļ¼‰ ęŸ“čˆŸļ¼ˆć•ć„恗悅恆ļ¼‰) is a character who debuted in The King of Fighters '94 as a victim in Rugal Bernstein's gallery of defeated fighters. He appears as a mid-boss in The King of Fighters '95 and becomes a regular character for the first time in The King of Fighters '98.

Personality[]

Saisyu is simply an older, more mellow version of his son Kyo. Regardless, he is just as arrogant and cocky as Kyo; like father, like son. This is quite evident based upon his attitude and body language during several win-poses; where he either laughs abruptly after winning a match (i.e. not taking the bout seriously), nonchalantly scratches his beard or generally seems uninvolved... or bored by rubbing his abdominal muscles in a laxidasical show of bravado.

The only characters that seem to make him even remotely contrary are Rugal (who defeated him back in KOF '94) and seemingly to a lesser extent Kyo (his savior, who subsequently also defeated him a year later in KOF '95). Ironically enough he seems to harbor no indication of resentment or ill-will in the slightest towards Vice (one of Rugal's secretaries; a dominatrix who indulges in sadism), she brainwashed him in KOF '95. Vice visibly holds Saisyu with contempt during their pre-fight scene due to his strong resistance giving her notable difficulty, by pointing at him and spitting. However, he assumes his fighting stance and never acknowledges her insulting behavior, and is probably not even aware (or even care) that Vice is a natural enemy of his clan.

Powers[]

  • Pyrokinesis: Due to his Kusanagi heritage, Saisyu can control fire. He can create fire from thin air, create fire balls, deliver punches of fire, create pillars of fire and put his own body on fire. He is not immune to other types of fire. He cannot control other fires that he didn't create.

Skills[]

  • Fishing: Saisyu is adept at fishing, having done so for quite some time as a hobby.
  • Golf: Saisyu is a golf player, though probably does so to pass time.

Fighting Style[]

Saisyu is a master of the Kusanagi martial arts, an ancient empty handed system that incorporates fire based attacks and kenpō. He uses the basic form of the Kusanagi style, his arsenal is simple yet effective, akin to Kyo's original take on the style prior to '96 (as Saisyu still uses the Yami Barai); oddly enough, Saisyu's original technique, Tsumugari (All-Eyes Reaper), makes use of Kyo's Aragami technique as its initial blow. Likewise, in KOF XIV, Kyo himself likely has his Yaegaki Climax DM follow a similar motion to the SDM Tsumugari in its vein (with the former actually being a Reverse Method version of Tsumugari).

Music[]

  • Hall, Bass and Melody - The King of Fighters '95
  • In Spite of One's Age - The King of Fighters '98, R-2

Voice Actors[]

Live Action Actors[]

Appearances[]

Games

Mobile

Cameos

Anime

Etymology[]

His romanized given name uses the Kunrei-Shiki interpretation, reflecting his traditional personality. In modern romanization, his name can be read as Saishu as well.

  • The name Saisyu means "brush/brushwood; firewood" (ęŸ“) (sai) and "boat, ship/shipping, vessel, watercraft, steamship" (舟) (syu).
    • Interestingly, Saishu/Saisyu as a romaji homophone can also mean "the last" or "the end".
  • Saisyu's surname Kusanagi means "grass, herb, weed" (草) (kusa) and "mow" (薙) (nagi).

Trivia[]

  • He was originally meant to have died in KOF '94, but was added in at the last minute of developing stages for KOF '95.[1]
  • Early artwork shows Saisyu and Kyo having the Kusanagi symbol on their foreheads. The idea was referenced in one of the KOF Manhua's.
  • In Neo-Geo Freak 1998, the characters in KOF '98 have their own interviews. Here are Saisyu's response to the questions.https://archive.org/details/Neo-Geo_Freak_1998-08_Geibunsha_JP/page/n35
    • What is your aspiration in this competition? - "Well ... aspire ... I'm going to show the essence of Kusanagi style old martial art to my son. Sharpness of technology, power is still alive! I will make you feel the severity of battle now!"
    • Who would you like to fight the most? - "I don't know who it is, but I heard there's a guy who imitates my old martial arts ā€¦ I want to fight him."
    • Who would you like to team up with? / Who would you not like to team up with? - "Uh ā€¦ Well ā€¦ someone who seems to be right with me ā€¦ Yeah ā€¦ it seems Mr. Takuma would suit me well."
    • What is "KOF" for you? - "... reminds me of painful memories ā€¦! However, I will put an end to those painful memories through this tournament."
    • Finally, please give a word to your fans. - "Do not fall ā€¦ you will write on fire dust!"
  • Interestingly, despite the fact that his Kamukakari (Divine Consult) is a special move, it can be reversed/countered by Blue Mary's Head Buster, a move that normal counters only normals and command normals.

Cards[]

SNK vs SNK vs SNK vs KOF98UM OL KOF All Star

Sprites[]

King of Fighters R-2 The King of Fighters '95 The King of Fighters '98: The Slugfest

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ā†‘ Official character profile from KOF anniversary website.
The King of Fighters characters
KOF '94 Logo Sprite Kyo Kusanagi ā€¢ Benimaru Nikaido ā€¢ Goro Daimon ā€¢ Terry Bogard ā€¢ Andy Bogard ā€¢ Joe Higashi ā€¢ Ryo Sakazaki ā€¢ Robert Garcia ā€¢ Takuma Sakazaki ā€¢ Ralf Jones ā€¢ Clark Still ā€¢ Heidern ā€¢ Athena Asamiya ā€¢ Sie Kensou ā€¢ Chin Gentsai ā€¢ King ā€¢ Mai Shiranui ā€¢ Yuri Sakazaki ā€¢ Kim Kaphwan ā€¢ Chang Koehan ā€¢ Choi Bounge ā€¢ Heavy-D! ā€¢ Lucky Glauber ā€¢ Brian Battler ā€¢ Rugal Bernstein
KOF '95 Logo Sprite Iori Yagami ā€¢ Billy Kane ā€¢ Eiji Kisaragi ā€¢ Saisyu Kusanagi ā€¢ Omega Rugal
KOF '96 Logo Sprite Leona Heidern ā€¢ Mature ā€¢ Vice ā€¢ Kasumi Todoh ā€¢ Geese Howard ā€¢ Wolfgang Krauser ā€¢ Mr. Big ā€¢ Chizuru Kagura ā€¢ Goenitz
KOF '97 Logo Sprite Shingo Yabuki ā€¢ Yashiro Nanakase ā€¢ Shermie ā€¢ Chris ā€¢ Blue Mary ā€¢ Ryuji Yamazaki ā€¢ Orochi Iori ā€¢ Orochi Leona ā€¢ Orochi Yashiro ā€¢ Orochi Shermie ā€¢ Orochi Chris ā€¢ Orochi
KOF '99 Logo Sprite K' ā€¢ Maxima ā€¢ Whip ā€¢ Bao ā€¢ Li Xiangfei ā€¢ Jhun Hoon ā€¢ Kyo-1 ā€¢ Kyo-2 ā€¢ Krizalid
KOF '99 Evolution Logo Vanessa ā€¢ Seth ā€¢ Syo Kirishima ā€¢ Alfred ā€¢ Fiolina Germi ā€¢ Gai Tendo
KOF 2000 Logo Sprite RamĆ³n ā€¢ Lin ā€¢ Hinako Shijo ā€¢ Kula Diamond ā€¢ Clone Zero ā€¢ Foxy ā€¢ Candy Diamond ā€¢ Another K' ā€¢ Another Iori ā€¢ Another Benimaru ā€¢ Another Robert ā€¢ Cosplayer Kyoko ā€¢ Kang Bae Dal ā€¢ Smart Chang ā€¢ Cool Choi ā€¢ Kaoru Watabe ā€¢ Baitang ā€¢ Duck King ā€¢ Lilly Kane ā€¢ Kim Jae Hoon ā€¢ Kim Dong Hwan ā€¢ Unknown ā€¢ King Lion ā€¢ Kim Sue-il ā€¢ Kaede ā€¢ Duke Edwards ā€¢ Rocky ā€¢ Athena ā€¢ Neo & Geo ā€¢ G-Mantle
KOF 2001 Logo Sprite May Lee Jinju ā€¢ K9999 ā€¢ Ɓngel ā€¢ Zero ā€¢ Ron ā€¢ Glugan ā€¢ Igniz ā€¢ Misty ā€¢ Nests
KOF EX Logo Moe Habana
KOF 2002 Logo Sprite Kusanagi
KOF EX2 Logo Reiji Oogami ā€¢ Jun Kagami ā€¢ Miu Kurosaki ā€¢ Sinobu Amou
KOF 2003 Logo Sprite Ash Crimson ā€¢ Duo Lon ā€¢ Shen Woo ā€¢ Tizoc ā€¢ Gato ā€¢ Malin ā€¢ Maki Kagura ā€¢ Adelheid Bernstein ā€¢ Mukai
KOF MI Logo Alba Meira ā€¢ Soiree Meira ā€¢ Lien Neville ā€¢ Mignon Beart ā€¢ Chae Lim ā€¢ Duke ā€¢ Rock Howard
KOF XI Logo Sprite Oswald ā€¢ Elisabeth Blanctorche ā€¢ Momoko ā€¢ B. Jenet ā€¢ Shion ā€¢ Magaki ā€¢ Silber ā€¢ Sho Hayate ā€¢ Jyazu ā€¢ Hotaru Futaba ā€¢ Itokatsu ā€¢ Tung Fu Rue
KOF MI2 Logo Luise Meyrink ā€¢ Nagase ā€¢ Jivatma ā€¢ Ninon Beart ā€¢ Hyena ā€¢ Hanzo Hattori ā€¢ Kyo Kusanagi Classic ā€¢ Wild Wolf ā€¢ Mr. Karate II ā€¢ Armor Ralf ā€¢ Richard Meyer
KOF MIRA Logo Xiao Lon ā€¢ Makoto Mizoguchi
KOF '98UM Logo Nightmare Geese
KOF 2002UM Logo Nameless
KOF XII Logo Raiden
KOF XIII Logo Hwa Jai ā€¢ Saiki ā€¢ Evil Ash ā€¢ Mr. Karate
KOF XIV Logo Shun'ei ā€¢ Meitenkun ā€¢ Gang-il ā€¢ Luong ā€¢ Xanadu ā€¢ Sylvie Paula Paula ā€¢ Kukri ā€¢ Mian ā€¢ Nelson ā€¢ Zarina ā€¢ Bandeiras Hattori ā€¢ King of Dinosaurs ā€¢ Hein ā€¢ Nakoruru ā€¢ Mamahaha ā€¢ Mui Mui ā€¢ Love Heart ā€¢ Alice Garnet Nakata ā€¢ Antonov ā€¢ Verse ā€¢ Najd (Aila)
The King of Fighters XV Logo Isla (Amanda) ā€¢ Dolores ā€¢ Krohnen McDougall ā€¢ Re Verse ā€¢ Otoma Raga ā€¢ Haohmaru ā€¢ Darli Dagger ā€¢ Unnamed "Special" DLC Character
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