Goro Daimon

Goro Daimon is a character who debuted as a member to the Hero Team in The King of Fighters '94, along with Kyo Kusanagi and Benimaru Nikaido. His character was created to add a practitioner of Judo to the cast, and many elements from his original designs, such as his geta and his victory cries, remained for his final look.

His official nicknames are The Rising Storm and Over-Towering Mountain Storm.

Development
The designers had a desire to create a judo athlete who uses dynamic body tosses. Despite the criticisms, the creators were very adamant that Daimon would fight with his Japanese geta (wooden clogs).

The idea for his earthquakes -as well as the other elemental powers for the rest of the Japan team- was derived from the anime Getter Robo. In the show, there were three featured heroes who served as the inspiration for the KOF trio: the protagonist had a "fiery" persona, his friend was "edgy and daring", and the third hero was the "down-to-earth giant". It is also a homage to a Japanese phrase of giving birth to fire (roughly translated: lighting strikes the earth which sparks the flame).

In The King of Fighters '97, Orochi Yashiro became his elemental rival, as both men share the ability to manipulate earth.

Story
Orochi Saga= Goro is a former Olympic gold medalist for Judo. He participated in Japan's mixed martial arts tournament to determine the members for the country's King of Fighters team. Although he got far into the finals, he lost against Kyo and was bumped to third place. A year later, he entered the 1994 King of Fighters tournament with Benimaru (second place) and Kyo. He eventually befriends his teammates and continues to enter with them.

On the day before the 1997 tournament, his mentor begged him to return to his professional Judo career. Goro agreed to follow his request after he finished his participation in the year's King of Fighters tournament. As was promised, he returns to the Judo circles and brings fame back to Japan. During his absence from the King of Fighters tournament, he finally married and fathered a son. Goro also became the mentor of his own dojo.

In 2001, Benimaru invites him to join the King of Fighters with him. Goro was reluctant to enter until he learned that Kyo came back to Japan. To relive his team's glory days and to bring more fame to Judo, he enters with his old teammates and Shingo Yabuki.
 * -|NESTS Chronicles=

In the 2003 tournament, he joined Benimaru and Shingo once more before he goes back to attend to his dojo. Due to Shingo's incapacitated state from The King of Fighters XI, Goro agrees to reunite the Japan team, worried for his teammates. He is well aware of the current events since Benimaru explained everything he missed to him. Although his teammates worry about endangering the stability of his professional career and dojo for the tournament, he assures them that he has and always will be fine. Aware of the dangers involved while facing Those from the Past, he joins the tournament to make his students proud and to stay beside his friends.
 * -|Tales of Ash=

In the KOF XIII tournament, he and Benimaru both watch Kyo as he fights once again with Iori to an unknown result.

When the tournament was announced, Saisyu Kusanagi summons the team into the Kusanagi residence, then informs them about a new threat which will cause untold chaos. He and Tung Fu Rue also requests the team to help his new students. When Shingo arrived Daimon offered a sparring match and swiftly defeats him, he tells Shingo to keep training. At Saisyu's request, the team enter the tournament once again.
 * -|XIV Arc=

After the tournaments conclusion, Daimon takes the championship belt and heads back to Japan with Benimaru.

Personality
Daimon always seems to have a very serious expression, and grunts a lot. However, he has a very warm heart, as he always takes his time to coexist with nature and immerse himself there. He also likes to teach youngsters about Judo in his free time. He also patiently serves as an adviser and mediator between Kyo and Benimaru. His old teammates nicknamed him "Goro-chan". He wasn't very popular with ladies due to his large and "scary looking" stature -a fact that he lamented for many years- until he was fortunate enough to meet the woman who would later become his wife.

Abilities
Powers=
 * Geokinesis/Terrakinesis - Using his incredible strength, Daimon can manipulate the grounds of the Earth to his advantage.
 * Seismic Wave - By smacking the ground, Daimon can create a seismic wave that can make anyone fall.
 * Explosive Stomp - Daimon can sometimes emit explosive attacks with his attacks.

Daimon fights with Kodokan Judo techniques, plus a personal striking style. Much of his techniques also have a slight earth motif, enough to cause tremors (via his iconic Jiraishin/Mine Quake move). In terms of playstyle, Daimon focuses on singular strikes, deft evasion and versatile grapples, with his signature DM being the Jigoku Gokuraku Otoshi (Hell Sukhavati Dropper).
 * -|Fighting Style=

Two of his strongest moves are also named after famed proverbs; his original HSDM in 2002, Neowave and 2002 UM is known as the Fuurinkazan (Wind Forest Fire Mountain), named after the proverb of the same name. Meanwhile, his Neo Max DM is named as Kyouten Dou'chi (Surprised Heaven & Moving Earth), a term for earth-shattering amazement.

Music

 * Esaka - The King of Fighters '94
 * Funky Esaka - The King of Fighters '95, '98: UM (with Benimaru and EX Kyo)
 * Esaka? - The King of Fighters '96, '98
 * Flame of Invicibility - The King of Fighters 2001
 * J - The King of Fighters 2002
 * Joyrider - The King of Fighters 2003
 * Esaka Continues... - The King of Fighters XIII
 * Esaka ~Acid Remix~ - The King of Fighters XIII (when the music is set to "Type B", console version only, shared with Kyo Kusanagi and Benimaru Nikaido)
 * Yappari ESAKA - The King of Fighters XIV
 * ESAKA!! - The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match

Voice Actors

 * Masaki Usui - The King of Fighters '94~XIII
 * Takahiro Fujiwara - The King of Fighters XIV~present
 * Shunsuke Takeuchi - The King of Fighters for Girls
 * Ryūzaburō Ōtomo - Dengeki Bunko drama CD

Appearances
Games=
 * The King of Fighters '94
 * The King of Fighters '95
 * The King of Fighters '96
 * The King of Fighters '97
 * The King of Fighters '98
 * The King of Fighters '99: Evolution - As a Striker-only character
 * The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise - As a striker
 * The King of Fighters 2000 - As a Striker for Seth
 * The King of Fighters 2001
 * The King of Fighters 2002
 * The King of Fighters 2003
 * The King of Fighters: Neowave
 * The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match
 * The King of Fighters XII
 * The King of Fighters XIII
 * The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match
 * The King of Fighters XIV
 * CR The King of Fighters


 * -|Mobile=
 * Metal Slug Defense (unlockable)
 * The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Online
 * The King of Fighters Destiny (Game)
 * The King of Fighters: World
 * The King of Fighters All Star
 * The King of Fighters: Orochi Go
 * The King of Fighters M: Fighting Stars Assembly
 * The King of Fighters for Girls
 * SNK Fighting Age


 * -|Cameos=
 * Capcom vs. SNK - background cameo in Kyo vs. Benimaru matches
 * Capcom vs. SNK 2 - background cameo in Kyo vs. Benimaru matches
 * KOF: Maximum Impact - background cameo
 * Days of Memories (fourth title) - in-text cameo
 * The King of Fighters (pachinko)
 * The King of Fighters 2
 * SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy - his sillhouette and name appears in the gameplay; also in Miss X's ending
 * Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - background cameo in King of Fighters Stadium Stage


 * -|Anime=
 * The King of Fighters: Destiny

Trivia

 * Kyo, Benimaru and Daimon are the winners of all The King of Fighters tournaments hosted in Orochi Saga. And the most recent ones in XIII and XIV. Their victories are confirmed in Team Stories, Light Novels and cutscenes.
 * In his interview for KOF '98, he responded that he would like to fight the Masters Team sometime. Here are the response to the rest of the questions.
 * What is your aspiration in this competition? - "I will do my best."
 * Who would you like to fight the most? - I would like to fight with Mr. Saisyu Kusanagi, Mr. Takuma Sakazaki, Mr. Heidern.
 * Who would you like to team up with? / Who would you not like to team up with? - "I didn't think about anything other than teaming up the team so far."
 * What is "KOF" for you? - "A great place where you can prove the depth of induction."
 * Finally, please give a word to your fans. - "Well ... hmm ..."
 * In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Daimon was voted as the staff's forty-fourth favorite character. He shared the spot with Street Fighter character, Alex.