Shingo Yabuki

Shingo Yabuki (矢吹 真吾, Yabuki Shingo) is a reoccurring character who first appears in the series in The King of Fighters '97 as an edit entry. Creators to the series explain that he is designed to be the comic foil to Kyo. While Kyo was a hero, Shingo is meant to be a "simple and plain, everyday guy". To follow his character persona, he was also meant to be marketed on a lesser scale of importance for his introduction to the series.

He is voiced by Takehito Koyasu.

Story
Shingo is a huge fan of Kyo Kusanagi, and when he realized that they studied at the same school, Shingo started to ask Kyo time and time again to teach him his techniques, and Kyo only ignored him or beat him up. But Shingo pissed Kyo off so much that he agreed to teach him once. Shingo wrote down every move and practiced them everyday.

In 1997, he ran into Chizuru Kagura who was hosting a The King of Fighters tournament that year. He asked her to put him into the tournament, but there was no team for him, so she agreed to put him as a single entry. He entered the tournament to impress Kyo, but he was soon defeated. But, during the tournament, Kyo gave Shingo a pair of his gloves.

In 1999, Benimaru Nikaido asked Shingo to join him, K', and Maxima in that year's KOF. Shingo impressed everyone, because his team was that year's winner. In 2000, he entered alongside Benimaru, Seth and Lin, but wasn't so lucky. In 2001, Team Japan was reunited, but they needed a fourth team member and Shingo was called. He was extremely excited to fight with on the same team as Kyo. In 2002, he spent his time training with Saisyu Kusanagi, Kyo's father.

In 2003, Shingo teamed up with Benimaru and Goro Daimon. When they were eliminated, Benimaru and Daimon complimented him, but he got cocky and started yelling that he is no longer Kyo's fan, he is his rival. That's when Kyo appeared behind him and started beating him up. After Ash Crimson stole Chizuru's Yata Mirror, Shingo visits her in the hospital and promises to unite Kyo and Iori Yagami in order to investigate Ash and the weakened Orochi seal. In his team's ending, Shingo is badly beaten by Iori in his Riot of Blood state, who also knocks out Kyo. Ash then defeats Iori and steals his magatama.

Personality
He is one of the cheerful and silly characters in the series. He considers all fighters as his friends, making everybody see him as a weird but good kid. Shingo admires Kyo like an idol, and often dedicates his victories to him. He dreams of being able to wield flames like Kyo, which is stressed to the point of comic relief throughout the series. For instance, in The King of Fighters 2003, Shingo can randomly produce a small flame spark when performing his 115 Shiki: Dokugami Mikansei (Unfinished Poison Bite) attack. However, it seems that only Shingo can see this "flame", mainly due to Shingo not being a part of the Kusanagi bloodline.

Powers
Undefeatable optimism and spirit.

Excels at taking notes, being able to imitate moves he has seen only once (albeit not perfectly) by jotting down notes and pointers in his notebook, which he refers to during fights.

Fighting Style
He replicates several of Kyo's moves sans the flames. He isn't perfect though as he always takes out his handbook if he seems to forget a move. He also "messes up" certain moves (such as the 101 Shiki: Oboro Guruma Mikansei (Unfinished Twilight Wheel), Shingo Kinsei Ore: Mu Shiki, and Shingo Kinsei Oreshiki: Rouka Guruma) where he falls or collapses during or after their executions.

Music

 * Still Green - The King of Fighters '97, '98 and PS2 version of XI.
 * KD-0079 - The King of Fighters '99
 * Inner Shade - The King of Fighters 2000
 * The Invincible Flame - The King of Fighters 2001
 * Joyrider - The King of Fighters 2003
 * New Age - Arcade version of The King of Fighters XI

Image Song

 * The Song of Fighters II - Shared image song with other King of Fighters characters

Game Appearances



 * The King of Fighters 97
 * The King of Fighters 98 - also a computer challenger
 * The King of Fighters 99
 * The King of Fighters 2000
 * The King of Fighters 2001
 * The King of Fighters 2002 - unlockable in console versions only
 * The King of Fighters Neowave
 * The King of Fighters 2003
 * The King of Fighters XI
 * The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood - as a striker for Hero Team