Saisyu Kusanagi

Saisyu Kusanagi (草薙 柴舟, Kusanagi Saishū) is a character who debuted in The King of Fighters '94 as a victim in Rugal's gallery of defeated fighters. He appears as a mid-boss in The King of Fighters '95 and becomes playable for the first time in The King of Fighters '98. He was originally meant to have died in The King of Fighters '94 but was added in at the last minute of developing stages for The King of Fighters '95.

Story
Introduced in King Of Fighters '94, Saisyu Kusanagi is a vagabond and drifter. The previous head of the Kusanagi clan he embarked on a quest to challenge fighters around the globe. He fought Rugal Bernstein and was presumably killed, allegedly succumbing to injuries he sustained after their match. Kusanagi survived however and was later brainwashed by Rugal's secretary "Vice" in order to compete as a mid-boss in the semi-final round in KOF '95. He was supposedly defeated by his son "Kyo Kusanagi". Upon his second defeat, Saisyu mysteriously disappears... only to resurface again in a non-cannon event, the King Of Fighters '98! In The King of Fighters 2001, he appears before a distraught Shingo Yabuki (Kyo's student) and tutors him the Kusanagi Martial-Arts style.

Personality
Saisyu Kusanagi is simply an older more mellow version of his son Kyo. Never appearing overly serious unless the situation calls for it, like his son, Saisyu tends to appear as a bit of a slacker. This is quite evident based upon his attitude and body language during several win-poses; where he either laughs abrputly after winning a match (i.e. not taking the bout seriously), nonchalantly scratches his beard or generally seems uninvolved... almost bored by rubbing his stomach. 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 subsquently 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 visbly holds Saisyu with contempt during their pre-fight scene, by pointing at him and spitting! However he assumes his fighting stance and never acknowledges her insulting behavior.

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.

Fighting Style
Saisyu fights with the Kusanagi style of ancient martial arts, a japanese style of empty handed combat taught only to the Kusanagi.

Music

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

Voice Actors

 * Toshimitsu Arai - The King of Fighters series ('95, '94 Rebout, King of Fighters Kyo)
 * Keiichiro Sakagi - The King of Fighters series (98, 2000, Neowave)

Live Action Actors

 * Hiro Kanagawa - King of Fighters movie

Game Appearances



 * The King of Fighters '95
 * The King of Fighters '98
 * The King of Fighters R-2
 * The King of Fighters 2000 - As a Maniac Striker for Kyo
 * The King of Fighters Neowave
 * The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match
 * The King of Fighters '94: Rebout
 * The King of Fighters (pachinko) - event character

Mobile Appearances

 * The King of Fighters Mobile
 * The King of Fighters Mobile R-2

Cameo Appearances

 * The King of Fighters '96 - in Chizuru's stage
 * The King of Fighters 2001 - during the Japan team's ending
 * The King of Fighters XII - mentioned in Kyo's sidestory
 * The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match - background cameo
 * The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2 - background cameo (Neo Geo Land Stage), Kyo Kusanagi's Normal Outfit-Variation F