List of Ronin Warriors characters
The following is a list of characters in the manga and anime series Ronin Warriors by Hajime Yatate.
Original Series Protagonists
The Ronin Warriors are a group of five who each wear an Armor and represent a virtue. In the OVA Message, they each gain a new suit of Armor from Suzunagi''.''Ryo Sanada
Ryo Sanada is the unofficial leader of the Ronin Warriors and the "Warrior of Flames". Though brash and impulsive, he is kind, loyal, and determined. He is the first of the five rōnin to arrive in Shinjuku during the Evil Dynasty's first invasion, having arrived with his companion, the white tiger, shortly before the attack, and the first to be rescued by Mia and Ully after their siege on Talpa's castle. Though they defeat Talpa, the Evil Dynasty resurfaces and captures Sage, Kento, and Cye. Along with Rowen, Mia, and Ully, Ryo ventures into the Nether Realm to rescue them and defeat Talpa for good.He wears the, which represents the element of Fire and the virtue "Jin" and makes him immune to flame, and wields the, dual katana that can connect at the kashira to form a double-bladed weapon. His finishing move is, which creates a column of white-hot energy. Ryo's transformation call is Armor of Wildfire, Tao-Jin.
Ryo later obtains the, which requires the energy of four other armors to summon. Along with the, which he acquires from Lord Sabre Stryke, they are used to perform, which releases the Armor's power as rays of light and flame. The Inferno and Wildfire Armors are destroyed following the battle with Mukala and the Black Inferno Armor.
Ryo comes from the ninja school of the Sanada Ten Braves, a group of ninjas believed to have assisted Sanada Yukimura, with the crest on his armor being a stylized version of the Takeda clan's family symbol.
In a Newtype poll, Ryo ranked #17 of the top 30 most popular male anime characters from the 1980s.
Kento Rei Fang
Kento Rei Fang, known in Japan as Xiu Lihuang is the Warrior of Earth. Kento is a descendant of a Chinese martial artist who came to Japan, and his family owns a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, Yokohama.He wears the, which represents the element of Earth and the virtue and is said to be the most violent of the Armors, and wields a weapon that is a cross between a three-section staff and a naginata. His finishing move is, which causes a massive earthquake-like disruption. Kento's transformation call is Armor of Hardrock, Tao-Gi.
His rival is Dais, who he defeats when the Ancient One sends him to Mt. Aso to learn how to focus his power and unlock his Armor's true power.
Sage Date
Sage Date, known in Japan as Seiji Date, is the Warrior of Light. He wears the Armor of, which represents the element of Light and the guiding virtue of. In the English dub of the series, his guiding virtue is Chi. His rival is Cale.Sage wields a nodachi and his finishing move is, a powerful thrust attack that also appears as a burst of energy beams. Sage's transformation call is Armor of Halo, Tao-Chi
When the Ancient One sends him to the Catasota Gulch Pinnacles to unlock his Armor's true power, Sage realizes that the Armors can be used for good or evil. In the OVA Gaiden, Shikaiden and the Mad Scientist capture him and his Armor is used to kill people in New York, including Rhuna's brother.
Sage's family name, Date, is derived from Date Masamune, with his hairstyle covering one eye being a reference to how Masamune was blind in one eye and was known as "''The One-Eyed Dragon".''
Cye Mori
Cye Mori, known in Japan as Shin Mori, is the Warrior of Water and the oldest of the Warriors. He wears the Armor of Torrent, which represents the element of Water and the virtue. His rival is Sekhmet.He wields a Jūmonji yari with prongs that can close, allowing him to grab opponents from afar or cut through obstacles, and the Armor is equipped with a tantō dagger and a claw-like weapon on the gauntlet. His finishing move is, a powerful burst of water. Cye's transformation call is Armor of Torrent, Tao-Shin.
When the Ancient One sends him to the Sea of Toyama to unlock his Armor's true power, he encounters a clone of himself, Red Torrent, which he defeats by purifying the water around him.
According to Cye, his family is said to be descendants of Mōri Motonari.
Rowen Hashiba
Rowen Hashiba, known in Japan as Toma Hashiba, is the Warrior of the Sky. He is childhood friends with Kento, having met through Kento's paternal grandfather, and close friends with Sage due to their similar interests. As the most intelligent of the Warriors and the most rational and level-headed, he often acts as a voice of reason to Ryo and Kento's temper. His rival is Anubis.He wears the, which represents the virtue of, or Inochi in the English dub. He wields a golden bow and his finishing move is the, a powerful light arrow. He also possesses the ability to create protective barriers. Rowen's transformation call is Armor of Strata, Tao-Inochi.
Rowen's surname, Hashiba, is likely derived from Toyotomi Hideyoshi's original surname, Hashiba.
New Series Protagonists
Gai
Gai, possessing a fondness of Japanese pop-songs from the 80s, he is the son of Ramaga who rebels against his father and defects to the DST and their defense of Earth. He uses the Red and bears the virtue of Jin.Musashi Hojo
Musashi Hojo, A good-natured member of the DST assigned to a corrupt group that Gai easily dispatches. He uses the Cyan Armor of Waterfall and bears the virtue of.His surname is likely derived from Hōjō Ujiyasu, head of the Odawara Hōjō clan during the warring states period.
Yamato Hojo
Yamato Hojo, Musashi's older brother who originally tried to join the DST before Ramaga's invasion but was rejected for his insubordinate nature. He uses the Orange and bears the virtue of.His surname is likely derived from Hōjō Ujiyasu, head of the Odawara Hōjō clan during the warring states period.
Kaito Uesugi
Kaito Uesugi, A music enthusiast who first tried to join the DST before Ramaga's invasion but washed out. He has a vendetta against Ramaga as the Brave Ten's invasion of Earth caused his grandmother's death. He uses the Blue and bears the virtue of.His surname is likely derived from Uesugi Kenshin.
Shion Ishida
Shion Ishida, former teammate of Ryusei and the original designer of the armor gears for the DST before resigning over the death of their old team. He succeeds Ryusei in using the Green and bears the virtue of.His surname is likely derived from Ishida Mitsunari.
Ryusei Oda
Ryusei Oda, serves in the Defense Special Incident Countermeasures Headquarters, known as DST, where he is responsible for training the next generation of Troopers. He is described as a dependable older brother figure to the team.His surname is likely derived from Oda Nobunaga, one of the most influential warlords in Japanese history and known as the first of the "three great unifiers" of Japan.
Antagonists
Talpa
Talpa, the Emperor of the Dynasty, known in Japan as Arago, the Sovereign Archdemon, is the main antagonist of the series. One thousand years ago, he attempted to conquer Earth, but was defeated by the Ancient One, who banished him to the Nether Realm. As his Armor remained on Earth and could not be destroyed, the Ancient One split it into the nine Armors: Five ending up with Ronin Warriors while Talpa took the other four and gave them to four humans who became his Dark Warlords.In the present day, Talpa returns and conquers Tokyo, sending the Warlords to do his bidding. Eventually, he confronts the Warriors, absorbing them and the Warlords to regain his physical form, but is vanquished by the Armor of Inferno. Though assumed to be destroyed, he later returns along with Lady Kayura, seeking to gain the Armor of Inferno for himself. He nearly succeeds in absorbing the nine Armors, but is thwarted by Anubis' sacrifice before being defeated by Ryo's sacrificial gambit.
Dark Warlords
Anubis
Anubis, the Dark Warlord of Cruelty, known in Japan as Shutendōji, the Ogre Demon General, is the initial leader of the Four Dark Warlords. Four hundred years ago, he was the warrior, whose ambition and bloodlust made him susceptible to Talpa's influence.In the present day, he is the first of the Warlords to fight the Warriors. After several battles, Talpa, sensing that Anubis was showing weakness, uses the Nether Spirits to return him to the Dynasty's control. However, he is saved after Kento defeats the Spirits and, after the Ancient One makes him realize that Talpa was using him, renounces the Dynasty.
Though he disappears after Talpa's first defeat, he later returns after taking on the Ancient One's role as protector. Though the Warriors are initially distrusting of him, Anubis proves himself by aiding them in battle. After meeting Lady Kayura, whom he recognizes as the last living member of the Ancient One's clan and seeks to redeem, he sacrifices himself to free her from Lord Badamon's control, giving her his Armor and the Ancient One's staff.
Anubis wears the Armor of Cruelty, also known as the Armor of Cruelty, which represents Spring and the virtue of Chū. He wields a kusarigama and his finishing move is, in which he sends his chain into the ground and it emerges as several chains.
His Japanese name, Shutendōji, is a reference to the demon from Japanese folklore.
Cale
Cale, the Dark Warlord of Corruption, known in Japan as Anubis, the Darkness Demon General, formerly, is the third Warlord to fight the Warriors. He wears the Armor of Corruption/, which represents Winter and the virtue Kou, or Tei in the English dub. He wields a nodachi and claw-like armor spikes and his finishing move is, which fires several black lasers.According to The Encyclopedia of YST, if Cale was to use his powers for good, he would guide those lost in the darkness. His human name may be in reference to Sasaki Kojirō, a reputable swordsman and duelist from the late 16th and early 17th centuries.