- "Catastrophes happen when we conform, when we trust ourserlves thinking that we have everything under control. When we believe that everything is resolved without worrying about what will come. We must evolve too."
— Isao Shinomiya to Gen Narumi.[4]
Isao Shinomiya (
Appearance[]
Isao is a very tall and muscular middle-aged man with short blond hair, a moustache and beard, big wild green (yellow in the anime) eyes and thick, messy eyebrows that usually shows a serious look on his face.[5][10]
Ten years ago, Isao had a more youthful appearance and lacked his moustache.[11]
Isao's combat suit was special compared to the standard combat suit's worn by other Defense Force members. It was designed to fit him only, so it was given a dignified jet-black look with a military atmosphere, without making the lower body too tight.[12]
Gallery[]
Personality[]
Isao is a very authoritative and serious man, being also very demanding towards his subordinates and his daughter Kikoru Shinomiya.[2] As the Director General of the Defense Force who has served many years in it’s ranks, he is a far-sighted man who gave his orders firmly in sight of future threats and is also not above using living kaiju as weapons to empower the Defense Force.[13]
Isao's strong romantic relationship with his wife Hikari Shinomiya brought him to be very affected by her death and ever since then, he became cold and distant with Kikoru, demanding her to become the "perfect soldier" so that she wouldn't suffer the same fate as her mother.[2] His strictness wasn't limited to just his family alone as he acted the same way with his subordinates and his former student Gen Narumi.[8][14]
However, despite his apparent cold and serious behavior, Isao showed a more caring side when he remembered Kikoru's words about Kafka Hibino and when he personally informed the latter about his decision to keep him alive, going against his high-ranked colleagues to give Kafka a chance to prove himself to them.[13] Until the end, his only concern was the sake of the next generations, fighting for it with all of his might to ensure a safer future to those after him, to the point of being willing to sacrifice himself like his wife did.[15]
Power & Abilities[]
Overall Abilities: Isao was the Director General of the Defense Force and had absolute authority over the entire organization. In the past, he was known as the "strongest soldier" in the entire history of the Defense Force,[16] although Isao himself admitted that he had grown weak (due to old age) and his current strength was a mere shadow of it's former glory.[15] Despite this, he was still strong enough to fight on par with a berserk Kaiju No. 8[17][18] and nearly kill Kaiju No. 9,[15] two of the strongest kaiju's in the entire series. Even Gen Narumi, the current captain of the First Division and "Japan's Strongest Anti-Kaiju Combatant", stated that he could never beat Isao.[8][14]
Powers[]
- Shield: While wearing Numbers Weapon 2, Isao was able to produce a shield that could protect him from powerful attacks. His shield was strong enough to withstand attacks from a berserk Kaiju No. 8.[17]
- Maximum Output: Isao used his shield at maximum power.[18]
- Sonic Attacks: Through the usage of Numbers Weapon 2, Isao was able to use Kaiju No. 2's ability to produce sonic blasts, expanding the range of his strikes.[17]
- Energy Attacks: While using Numbers Weapon 2, Isao could release highly destructive energy that is similar to electricity from his gauntlets.[18] He could also use Kaiju No. 2's Main Burst attack which almost completely destroyed Sapporo.[19]
- High Unleashed Combat Power: As the former Director General of the Defense Force, Isao was capable of using a high amount of his combat suit's power. Although the exact number of his unleashed combat power remains unknown, he was able to release the full power of Kaiju No. 2.[15]
- Immense Strength: Despite being passed his physical prime,[20] Isao possessed a tremendous degree of physical strength. During his battle with Kaiju No. 8, the force of their fist colliding together was strong enough to destroy multiple layers of an extra-fortified training shelter.[17] He could also match the immense strength of Kaiju No. 9.[15]
- Enhanced Speed and Reflexes: Isao was incredibly fast, being able to speed blitz and attack Kafka before he realized what happened,[10][16] and was quick enough to save Akira Kurusu from Kaiju No. 9's attack.[21] His reflexes were also remarkable, as he was capable of dodging some of Kaiju No. 8's extremely fast attacks.[17]
- Immense Durability: Isao was an extremely resilient man. Due to his combat suit's defenses, he was able to endure powerful attacks from Kaiju No. 8 and continued to fight.[17][18]
- Immense Endurance: Isao possessed immense levels of physical endurance and stamina. Even in old age and being severely injured with a broken left arm, he was able to get back up and fight after taking a devastating punch from Kaiju No. 9.[21][15]
Abilities[]
- Martial Arts Mastery: Isao was an extremely skilled close-quarters combatant. His mastery in martial arts allowed him to improve his own fighting style, which was passed down to other Defense Force officers.[22] He easily overwhelmed Kafka Hibino with powerful punches,[16] fought on par with Kaiju No. 8,[17] and was even capable of exchanging blows with Kaiju No. 9 with only one arm.[15] Isao had also mastered other forms of combat such as swordsmanship and sharpshooting, and even trained Gen Narumi.[8][14]
- Leadership skills: As the former Director General of the Defense Force, Isao had absolute authority over the entire organization. For more than thirty years since his days as a captain, he served as the heart of Japan's neutralization efforts.[23] Although he received objections from all of his subordinates, Isao was still willing to use a living kaiju as a weapon to empower the Defense Force, showcasing a far greater sense of duty to the protection of Japan.[13]
Fighting Style[]
Isao's fighting style is named Squadron Style Combat Technique (格闘術, Kakutō-jutsu).[17] It is a fighting style focused on hand-to-hand combat, perfected by Isao himself.[22] The foundation of this fighting style is derived from the lower body where the user channels the power created with the legs into their fists.[24] Isao used it in tandem with his combat suit and gauntlets, managing to fight like a daikaiju using hand-to-hand combat techniques.[17]
- Number One: Barrage Blast (1式: 蓮破, Isshiki: Hasu Yabu): Isao hit his opponent with a powerful elbow strike.[15]
- Number Two: Force Blast (2式: 発破, Nishiki: Happa Yabu): Much like Kaiju No. 2 would often do, Isao expanded the range of his strikes by empowering his fist with destructive sonic blasts.[17]
- Number Three: Twin Blast (3式: 双破, Sanshiki: Sō Yabu): Similar to his second technique, Isao expanded the range of his strikes by empowering both of his fists with destructive sonic blast.[18]
- Number Four: Rising Blast (4式: 昇破, Yonshiki: Nobori Yabu): Isao hit his opponent with a powerful uppercut.[15]
- Number Five: Spiral Blast (5式):[25]
- Number Six: Thunder Emperor (6式: 雷帝, Rokushiki: Raitei): Despite being used by Kaiju No. 9 instead of Isao, this technique involves using two powerful electric fists, powered by a subsequent shockwave.[26]
Battles[]
- Isao vs Kaiju No. 8 (Interrupted): Chapter 34 - Chapter 37
- Isao vs Kaiju No. 9 (Lost): Chapter 49 - Chapter 51
Equipment[]
Handgun: Isao used to carry a handgun on his side.[10]
Numbers Weapon 2 (
- Gauntlets: Marked FS-1002 and provided by Izumo Tech, Isao's personal weapon are two powerful gauntlets made from the corpse of Kaiju No. 2. The gauntlets can release highly destructive energy, similar to electricity, that he used to attack his enemies from a distance.[18]
Etymology[]
- The name Isao contains the kanji for "achievement, merits, success, honor, credit" (功).
Trivia[]
- Isao likes jazz, whiskey, chess and animal videos.[1]
- Isao has a vain side that prevents him from having his reading glasses on in front of Kikoru.[1]
- Isao ranked #9 in the first character popularity polls.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Isao's character profile
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chapter 7
- ↑ Chapter 39
- ↑ Chapter 40
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chapter 33
- ↑ Chapter 52
- ↑ Chapter 6
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Chapter 86
- ↑ Chapter 9 (B-Side)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Chapter 34
- ↑ Chapter 44
- ↑ Numbers Weapon 2 info.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Chapter 38
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Chapter 87
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 Chapter 50
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Chapter 35
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8 17.9 Chapter 36
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Chapter 37
- ↑ Chapter 51
- ↑ Chapter 10 (B-Side)
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Chapter 49
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Chapter 66
- ↑ Chapter 54
- ↑ Chapter 67
- ↑ Chapter 111
- ↑ Chapter 108
