List of Samurai Shodown characters

This is a list of characters appearing in the Samurai Shodown series.

For the purposes of this article, the section headings list characters in the Japanese name order, the introduction will list the official English localized full name, and the information box will list the in-game shortened name of characters.

Amakusa Shiro Tokisada

Amakusa
File:Amakusa.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Shiro Tokisada Amakusa (天草 四郎 時貞, Amakusa Shirō Tokisada) is a recurring boss and playable character in the Samurai Showdown series. His distinguishing features in the series are his wild red hair and huge multicolored robe. He is based off the historical Amakusa Shirō, who led a Christian rebellion in the Shimabara region of Japan; where the bakufu army crushed his revolt and executed him.

Prior to to the events of Samurai Shodown, Amakusa is resurrected by the dark goddess Ambrosia; he uses the body of Shinzo Hattori (one of Hanzo Hattori's sons). His main plot involves him stealing Palenke stone, with which he intended to bring Ambrosia to the mortal world. The player prevents this from happening by defeating him. Upon his resurrection in Samurai Shodown IV, his spirit splits into two halves: one good and one evil.

Amakusa fights his opponents by attacking them with a levitating gem. The gem can direct itself with an impressive range, able to smash his enemies from the air and ground level from nearly any distance easily. At times, his gem may not compensate for opponents close to him; so he also has a multi-hitting slap attack when he is close. To confuse his adversaries, he may also teleport and hover above them before diving upon them with a damaging attack. He also projects fiery projectiles in the image of demons to his foes, making him a formidable long-distance fighter.

In Samurai Shodown III, Samurai Shodown IV,Samurai Shodown V Special, and Samurai Shodown VI Amakusa is a playable character. He returns in Samurai Shodown RPG as one of the game's main antagonists.

Andrew

Andrew
File:Andrew (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown VI

Andrew (アンドリュー, Andoryū) is one of the main protagonists and new characters from Samurai Shodown VI. He is portrayed as an American soldier who goes to Japan to stop a new menace to his relatively young country. He befriends Tokugawa Yoshitora. Andrew likes tea and reading; he dislikes tobacco and is self-conscious about dealing with women.

His character creation most likely takes inspiration from U.S. president Andrew Jackson; he shares the name "Andrew", and his stage is in front of the White House.

Asura

Asura
File:Ashura.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warrior's Rage (64)

The character Asura (アスラ) is a being who has a long-standing conflict with Yuga the Destroyer, who wreaks havoc in order to bring about "the unification of this world and the Netherworld". Yura imprisoned Asura in the Netherworld and he subsequently escapes when she is defeated during the events of Samurai Shodown 64. When he confronts Yuga, his clone assists him in slaying the fiend (see below).

Hanmen no Asura (反面のアスラ), or "Shadow Asura", is a clone of Asura created by Yuga using a forbidden technique. For some time during the plot of Samurai Shodown 64, this clone was completely loyal to Yuga but wavered when he realizes his affections for Shiki. He comes to love Shiki and wants to save her from her former master. Subsequently, he and his original band together and kill Yuga. However, upon Yuga's defeat, he begins to deteriorate because Yuga's magic is what kept him alive. For the sake of his clone, the two Asuras merge together and turn into one unique being. Before he merges with his original, Shiki became pregnant with his child.

In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation), Yuda (幽堕) is the product of Asura merging with Shadow Asura. Their merge allowed the two to live on, but the consequence of the fusion results in an unstable body with no memory from either Asuras' previous lives. Consequently, he is unable to utilize the dormant "Seven Ancient Weapons" due to the gloves on his hands. Yuda comes under the control of Clan 1, one of the three branch families of the shogunate linked to the Three Blades of Ritenkyo. He is secretly promised the position of shogun if the plans of Oboro (Jigen Taishi) succeed. If the plan fails, Yuda would be used as the political scapegoat to destroy evidence of Oboro's plot. His first mission is clearing out Ritenkyo.

In his ending, he encounters his daughter, Mikoto, who has been used by Oboro for his fiendish purposes. The dormant part of both Asuras revive themselves instinctively and Yuda releases the evil within Mikoto (which is revealed to be Yuga). Yuda returns to the demon world (Makai) meaning to keep Yuga sealed there for eternity.

Asura also appears in Samurai Shodown! 2 for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. He makes an outside series appearance in Neo Geo Battle Coliseum.

Caffeine Gaira

Gaira
File:Gaira.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown III

Gaira Caffeine (花諷院骸羅, Kafuin Gaira) is the grandson of Nicotine Caffeine and a monk in training. He hears of the terror that Gaoh Kyougoku Hinowanokami is causing and seeks to end it. After defeating Gaoh, he finds he is discontent with his life. His grandfather, Genan, Earthquake, Wan-Fu, and Sieger suggests he join them in baldness to achieve happiness. Gaira refuses, but finds himself with a shaved head in the end nonetheless.

Years later, with his hair grown back, he and his grandfather have an argument, causing Gaira to leave his home and venture out on his own. During his travels, he witnesses Zankuro Minazuki slaughtering an entire village. Gaira, transfixed in horror, could not bring himself to move and stop the massacre. Upon Zankuro's departure, Gaira becomes ashamed of his fear. He decides to go out on a journey to defeat the "demon", but finds Zankuro already slain. He takes the body, buries and then enshrines it.

Shortly after, the grave is destroyed. He senses that Zankuro's soul had resurrected, but was sealed once again. Deciding that whoever defeated Zankuro was very dangerous, he heads out to Shimabara. During his mission he also encounters Basara Kubikiri, sensing him to be an evil spirit and exorcises him. After Zankuro's second death, Gaira continues on as a monk.

Samurai Shodown III showed the departure of giant and muscular characters (such as Earthquake, Sieger, and Wan-fu) from the cast. Gaira, however, became the "giant" in their place as he boosts incredible strength for close-ranged fighting. He attacks his enemies with a belt of gigantic prayer beads and his fists. With this combination of weapons, he can grapple and rush into people in his range. He technically may not cut anyone but has the power to rival several bosses in strength. Also, he may "seal" certain actions or "dizzy" his foe, similar to his grandfather.

Gaira has also appeared as a playable character in Samurai Shodown IV, Samurai Shodown V, and Samurai Shodown VI. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG was an occasional guest member and he was unplayable.

Caffeine Nicotine

Nicotine
First game	Samurai Shodown II

Nicotine Caffeine (花諷院和仲, Kafuuin Nikochin) is the chief priest of Koka-in (a pun on "Cocaine"), a temple deep in the mountains of Hida, and former master swordsman who taught Haohmaru and Genjuro. A fierce warrior, he once exorcised many demons in his prime, but became a priest after a defeat to a certain evil one. As an elderly yet wizened warrior, he offers sage advise to Haohmaru and others. Hearing his young disciple and grandson, Gaira, was attacked by demons, he takes up his sword and travels to save him. After the demon's defeat, he returns to his life in the temple. He later housed Mikoto's upbringing before she ran away to Ritenkyo.

He fights with a wooden staff and magical sealing cards. Of these cards, he can send projectiles from a high or low angle, confusing players as to which position they should block. The character also possesses a move that can reverse controller movements for a time. Because of his small stature, his attack range is short, though largely effective when once in range.

Aside from Samurai Shodown VI, Nicotine only appears playable in the game he premiered. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG was an occasional guest member thus was unplayable.

Cham Cham

Cham Cham
File:Chamcham.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown II

Cham Cham (チャムチャム) is the younger sister of the character Tam Tam. She secretly took a village heirloom, the "Tangiers Stone" (タンジルストーン, Tanjiru Sutōn), to play with when a goblin snatched it away. She thought her parents would be angry because of it so she she sets out with her pet chimpanzee "Paku Paku" (who is actually Tam Tam transformed as punishment for his failure to protect the stone) in order to look for it.

Cham Cham is a catgirl in appearance, and has feline mannerisms; for example, she walks on all fours when disarmed (she holds her weapon in one hand when she has it). Her taunts are also animalistic (in one, she meows and stretches like a cat, while in the other, she sits on her haunches and scratches behind her ear with her foot). Her boomerang can be thrown high into the air or at ground level, leaving her unarmed for a time; however, this may not be a total disadvantage, as her claws and kicks are enough to keep her stable. Paku Paku may also be summoned to attack for her, which includes throwing skulls, emitting fireballs, and a spinning spit-kick attack.

Despite being a popular character, she was not featured in newer games until she appeared in the PSX port of Samurai Shodown IV, Samurai Shodown RPG, and in Samurai Shodown VI. A pachinko game was developed surrounding her, adding more friends to be like her.

Charlotte Christine Colde

Charlotte
File:Charlotte (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Charlotte Christine Colde (シャルロット＝クリスティーヌ＝ド＝コルデ, Sharurotto Kurisutīnu do Korude) is a female fencer with blond hair wearing plate armor. She is a minor French noble, but the prefers the company of commoners. Her physical design is based off Oscar François de Jarjayes from the manga The Rose of Versailles; her name is actually a distortion of the Japanese phonetic interpretation of Charlotte Corday.

Whilst on her travels through the French countryside, she caught word of a "series of calamities" with no natural pretenses. Being an ever-vigilant warrior, she sets out to investigate. She ends up traveling to Japan in order to do battle with Amakusa who is the source of the evil plaguing her home country. Afterwards, she returns home to take part in the French Revolution.

In Samurai Shodown II, she finds the goddess Ambrosia to be the further source of the malicious acts occurring around the world and sets out once again to defeat the deity. At this time, she admired Haohmaru greatly but ends her affections when she sees his lover, Oshizu.

Common with most fencers, most of her slashing attacks revolve around stabbing from a distance, avoiding body contact as much as possible. Her most powerful strike is a three-point slash, forming a triangle when completely drawn. Her standing kicks hop her across a short distance and is capable of avoiding some low ground attacks. When first introduced, her move set only consisted of Splash Front -a button mashing move which traveled her forward- and Power Gradation -a perfectly horizontal anti-air attack. Her next appearance in Samurai Shodown II granted her access to Tri-Slash, a chargable projectile.

Charlotte also went on to be playable in Samurai Shodown IV, Samurai Shodown RPG, Samurai Shodown! 2, Samurai Shodown V, and Samurai Shodown VI.

Daruma

Daruma
File:Daruma (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Daruma's the recluse who freely comes and goes from Ritenkyo. He wanders all over Japan. He's the surrogate parent of Ran Po and Minto, but since he cannot shake his habit of wandering, he only watches over the two when he stays in Ritenkyo. His nature is thoroughly free from worldly matters and he loves a stiff belt more than anything.

The siblings Ran Po and Minto like this Daruma and he thinks the world of them, too. As a manifestation of Daruma's affection, he provided them with two necklaces of a small wooden Bodhidharmas he had crafted as a hobby. He's a man of many mysteries and almost no one knows of his past. His true identity is the Legendary Duelist who once drove a villainous family to annihilation. No one in Ritenkyo has ever entertained the thought that this odd old man has such a history, and Daruma has never dreamed of telling anyone either.

One day as Daruma returns from his wanderings, he realizes Ritenkyo has fallen on hard times (violence, robbery and murder are everyday affairs) and resolves to assume his past identity and punish those at the root of all this, the Three Blades of Domination.

Earthquake

Earthquake
File:Earthquake (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Earthquake (アースクエイク, Āsukueiku) is a Texan who had trained under the same master as the ex-sailor Galford D. Weller, Ayame, but quit early due to lack of interest. Thanks to some of this training, however, despite his enormous body, huge in both height and girth, Earthquake became deceptively fast and tricky. His ninjutsu combined with his size made him a formidable warrior. He used this to his advantage and became a bandit, somehow becoming the leader to his own bandit gang.

When Amakusa Shiro Tokisada started creating havoc, he decided to steal all the world's treasure. A year later, Mizuki Rashojin came into his mind and told him that if he killed those she told him to, she would reward him with gold each time. After the defeat of Mizuki, Earthquake and his henchmen went to the Makai, enchanted by the promise of greater treasure. After they entered, the entrance was sealed and they were never heard of again.

One of Earthquake's earliest advantages over several fighters was the incredible reach of his kusarigama, reaching fighters from nearly the other side of the field without too much trouble. His main move was to spin rapidly and travel across the screen. His attacks are powerful but slow and his height makes him an easy target if he missed. His moves were also limited, making it sometimes difficult to catch quick characters. In Samurai Shodown II, he gained more ninjutsu techniques to better compensate for his weaknesses such as teleporting, fire breathing, and illusions. Aside from his weapon, he also fights opponents with his farts and burps.

Earthquake however also appeared in Samurai Shodown VI, Samurai Shodown RPG (as an unplayable minor villian), and the crossover fighting game SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom.

Galford D. Weiler

Galford
File:Galford.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Galford D. Weiler, better known as Galford (ガルフォード, Garufōdo) is an American ninja who fights along side his pet husky, Poppy (also accompanied by Poppy's puppies, Papa, Pipi, and Pipa). After the death of his father, Galford left his four older sisters and ran away from home to become a sailor, where he learned about the ninja of Japan. Facsinated by their stories of heroics and mysticism, he decided to learn from them. He completes his training in the Koga style under Hanzo's wife (Earthquake trained with him too but he quits early). Throughout the series, Galford seeks to uphold justice throughout the land. In Samurai Shodown 64, his life goal is to become a superhero of justice. On two separate occasions, it is shown that he harbors feelings toward Nakoruru.

In the prequel, Samurai Shodown V, Galford notices that one of Poppy's puppies is missing after Gaoh's defeat. Going back to the battlefield, they find her puppy stuck in an evil force field. Galford jumps in and throws her out, but becomes stuck in the force field himself. Unable to break free, he bids Poppy farewell. As the force field sucks him up the sky, however, Poppy saves him by throwing him out and taking his place. Galford then raises one of Poppy's puppies under her mother's name to honor Poppy's loyalty.

Aside from the addition of Poppy to his arsenal, most of Galford's attacks mirrored Hanzo's in most aspects in early incarnations. As the series progresses, however, Galford becomes the faster but slightly less powerful of the two ninja. His Slash form also integrates a semi-reliance on Poppy, creating a semi-long distanced hit-and-run style of fighting. His Bust form, however, relies on grappling and up close-combat. His projectile element is lightening, or "plasma" as it is dubbed by the creators, differentiates from Hanzo's fire as it only flies straight horizontally rather than traveling in a slinky-like motion.

Galford is playable in all of the games in the series with the exception of Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation).

Gaoh Kyougoku Hinowanokami

Gaoh
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Gaoh Kyougoku Hinowanokami (兇國日輪守我旺, Kyōgoku Hinowanokami Gaō) is the shogun of Japan, and undersaw a pupil: Yoshitora Tokugawa. Concerned about the well-being of his country and famine that had recently affected it, he decided to rebel against the emperor and to this means, attempted to recruit as many followers to his cause as he could. He also saw potential in his pupil and the views he himself endorsed. Confident he would rule the country in regards to his beliefs, he told Yoshitora that Japan would only prosper if he accepted the throne. Yoshitora refused however, and Gaoh, determined to bring about a new regime to the country decreed that he would simply have to kill him and become Shogun instead.

The two then battled furiously, but Yoshitora prevailed. Dying, Gaoh explained to his pupil why he rebelled: the famine that had been sweeping Japan would have killed everyone since the current Tokugawa didn't care. As he died, Gaoh begged for Yoshitora to become Japan's Shogun. Yoshitora, finally seeing the truth, agreed to his former master's last request.

Garyo the Whirlwind

Garyo
File:Garyo (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Although feared far and wide, this one-eyed warrior is a humorous and charming giant of a man. He has a magnanimous nature, a strong sense of camaraderie, respect for duty, and a soft spot for charity. He leads a band of brigands that travel the whole of Japan and moves quickly like an animal, which is unusual for one of his size. He is called Garyo the Whirlwind in the places he's visited from the wind he stirs up with his movements.

Garyo uses a dagger fashioned from steel which he rarely unsheathes, preferring to use combo attacks that make the most of his speed. When he does draw his sword, he takes hold of the sheath with his mouth and it's all over in a flash. He also blows the bamboo sheath to use as a blow dart.

The schemes of the Three Blades of Domination landed him in confinement when he gave himself up to save the lives of his endangered followers, but now Garyo is back on the warpath, having learned that all of his followers have been killed-all except one, that is Chobisuke, nothing will change his respect for his master.

Hanafusa Jin-emon

Jin-emon
File:Jinemon.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Jin-Emon is a boor who is feared by all. He's a classic samurai, stubborn to the core, and has the austerity of oxidized silver. Because of this hardness, though, he's terrible with women. He is also surprisingly concerned with his lack of height and hates standing next to others.

He is an old-time, top-notch secret agent who has often cheated death using his spear skillfully and has fought alongside Seishiro's father. Receiving secret orders from the shogunate who has obtained information regarding the plans of the Three Blades of Domination to overthrow the government, he accompanies Seishiro to Ritenkyo.

Their favorite complaint is "I want to go home." Since the time the shogunate began to construct its prison colony (Ritenkyo), a legion of samurai was ordered to oversee and run the prison on this remote island. Separated from their beloved families for many years, they work day and night for the shogunate. Keep up the good work, samurai! A brighter future awaits you! ...Or does it?

Haohmaru

Haohmaru
File:Haohmaru.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Haohmaru (覇王丸, Haōmaru) is the main character of the series and is one of the series' most widespread charcters (the other being Nakoruru). At the age of fifteen, he challenged Yagyu Jubei to a duel but lost due to lack of experience. Jubei, amused by the youth's bravado, brought Haohmaru to Caffine Nicotine so that he may gain proper training. Whilst living there, he also met and befriended Genjuro, fellow student and another orphan like himself. One day, Nicotine told them they would battle to determine who would learn the secrets in a magical scroll to increase their fighting ability. Genjuro wins, but almost kills Haohmaru; in response, Nicotine banishes Genjuro which begins the latter's grudge against Haohmaru and Nicotine. Encouraged by this defeat to further improve himself, Haohmaru travels the lands perfecting his sword skills, and searches for worthy challengers. Though he is a ronin, Haohmaru has a "samurai spirit" which is often stressed in the series.

In Samurai Shodown V, Haohmaru meets Yoshitora and challenges him to a duel. Yoshitora, however, is in a hurry and promises to duel him when they meet again. After beating Gaoh, Yoshitora shows up for the duel and formally introduces himself as heir to the Tokugawa clan. He then asks Haohmaru to join him and help him build a new country. Haohmaru replies that if he loses, he'll join Yoshitora. After the match, Haohmaru reflects on his life as a "samurai".

Two years after the events from Samurai Shodown V, Haohmaru hears of Amakusa's return into the world and sets out to defeat him. He does so with the assistance of Nakoruru, Hanzo, Galford, Charlotte and Ukyo. On his many travels, Haohmaru finds a village that had been slaughtered to the last man, save a small child who is Shizumaru. He raises Shizumaru and trains him to be a fighter. Together, they defeat Zankuro. He slays Mizuki with Nakoruru but is severely weakened in the fight. Genjuro threatens to kill him but he is saved by his lover, Oshizu. The following year, he also slays Yuga and frees Shiki from her control.

In Warriors Rage, Haohmaru is a skilled and active swordsman at the age of 47. He learns that his adopted niece, Mikoto, ran away from the temple (her childhood home) and follows her to the cursed island of Riten Kyo. There, he grows aware of the evil entities at work there, and departs on a journey to stop the Razor Trio, as well as duel worthy opponents along the way. In the end, Haohmaru eventually reaches Mikoto at the Riten Kyo and reveals her unspoken past to her.

His trademark moves are Kougestsuzan, a crescent shaped uppercut, and Seppuretsuzan, a whirlwind projectile. He also attacks opponents with his sake jug, which he uses to "bless" his blade with sake before he fights. In Samurai Shodown II, he may swing his jug in battle and somersault himself upon crouching foes for massive damage. When his style splits in Samurai Shodown III, his Slash form retains several strategies used in previous games, being a balanced and easy-to-master mid-ranged combatant. By contrast, his Bust form alters several moves, giving him access to a focus on aggressive close-combat fighting. His appearance in Warriors Rage (Playstation) also combined some elements from Genjuro's fighting style such his stance and crouching strikes.

Haohmaru appears in every game of the series. He also makes outside appearances in the games Capcom vs. SNK 2, SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, and the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Hattori Hanzo

Hanzo
File:Hanzo (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Hanzo Hattori (服部半蔵, Hattori Hanzo) is the mightiest of the Iga ninja, employed under the Tokugawa shogunate. Leading his band of ninja, he specializes in assassination attacks against their enemies. Like several other mythical incarnations, he is an old friend to Yagyu Jubei due to their ties to the Tokugawa clan. He also married a Koga ninja, Kaede, quelling a long feud between the two ninja clans that is often romanticized in the fictional novel, "The Kouga Ninja Scrolls".

In Samurai Shodown V, Hanzo is visited by Jubei, who tells him that there is a rumor that Gaoh, the lord of Hinowa, is plotting to overthrow the government. After giving the mission of investigating all of Gaoh's acquaintances to his clan, Hanzo sets off to Hinowa. Upon reaching Hinowa, he learns the rumor to be true. After Gaoh's defeat, he finds Jubei and tells him what has transpired. Then, one of Hanzo's ninjas appears and informs them that a general of the castle was actually working for Gaoh and killed the shogun in their absence. The ninja said that the shogun's last wish was to keep the next heir, Yoshitora, safe. Jubei departs to retrieve Yoshitora while Hanzo goes to execute the traitor.

Years after these events, he discovers his son, Shinzo, exhibiting mysterious mannerisms due to Amakusa's possession. He fights to save his son but only succeeds recovering Shinzo's body. Due to his son's condition, he takes in a young man named, Kanzou, as his disciple and continues to serve his lord's family. Six months later, Zankuro terrorizes the country. Hanzo suspects him to be one of his "old friends" and goes to slay him. After several missions, he learns that Shinzo's soul is still in the Demon World so he sets out with Kanzo and his wife to retrieve it. In the end, they succeed, but Kaede sacrifices herself to unite her son's soul to his body. Despite the hardship, he continues to serve his lord with his sons by his side.

Shinzo accepts the title "Hanzo" in Warriors Rage. In this game, Hanzo receives secret orders from the shogunate. The officials received intel regarding the plans of the Three Blades of Domination calling for the overturning of the government, he seeks the whereabouts of Jigen Taishi, believed to be the scheme's ringleader, and sets out alone for Riten Kyo.

At first, Hanzo's fighting style is akin to Galford's, nearly mirroring each other in most aspects due to their related fighting styles. As the series progresses, however, Hanzo becomes the slightly slower but more powerful of the two ninja. The change of style also integrates more emphasis on bone-breaking grappling and well-timed teleporting, a trait that follows him in later appearances. His projectile element is fire and he sometimes throws shurikens from the air.

Hanzo appears in all the titles in the series thus far. In Samurai Shodown RPG, he was an occasional guest member controlled by the computer and thus was unplayable. He also appears as a secret character in another SNK-Playmore game, The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact II.

Hisame Shizumaru

Shizumaru
File:Shizumaru.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown III

Shizumaru Hisame (緋雨閑丸, Hisame Shizumaru) is a little boy who does not remember anything of his past. He believes his parents and his entire family were murdered by a vile demon. Due to the trauma of the incident, he labels anything malicious, be it person or mannerisms, as a "demon".

At an early point in his life, he was taken in as a servant by a noble young couple. The husband leaves to fight in the war in Hinowa, leaving his wife, Hakana, under Shizumaru's protection. Pregnant, Hakana wants to return to her father (who she doesn't know that turned into Youkai Kusaregedo) for shelter. Shizumaru, assured she is safe, feels obligated to help in the war. When the battles are over, he is rewarded a hefty sum of gold for his efforts. He leaves for home but is stopped by a man who calls him Yaiba. Despite Shizumaru's denial, the man insists that he is Yaiba and that "his family" misses him. Shizumaru chooses to stay with his master and flees. Unfortunately, his master dies in the war and Hakana is eaten by her father.

Because he was deemed a demon's child since childhood, he lives and survives alone. He respects Haohmaru, who inspires him and teaches him the philosophy of the sword at an early age. Shizumaru seeks to defeat Zankuro and supposingly avenge his family's death. He and Haohmaru slay Zankuro, but Zankuro is resurrected by Amakusa. He heads to Shimbara to defeat him a second time, but Zankuro is instead defeated by Sogetsu Kazama. After Shimabara's destruction, he confuses the remaining blood lust within him as a "rampaging demon". However, he comes to accept his "demon" as a natural part of himself and makes peace with his past.

His fighting style is an unique combination between his umbrella and his sword. When he first premiered, he relies on his umbrella more, using his sword occasionally in special moves. His latter appearances, however, have him using more sword techniques, minimizing his umbrella attacks. His move set incorporates an uppercut move similar to Haohmaru's Kougetstuzan.

In Samurai Shodown IV, Samurai Shodown V, and Samurai Shodown VI, Shizumaru appears as a playable character. In the NeoGeo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG, he stars in the bonus portion of the game with his own story.

Iroha

Iroha
File:Iroha.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown VI

Iroha (いろは) is one of the main protagonists and new characters from the recent Samurai Spirits: Tenkaichi Kenkakuden. She is a crane which is transformed into a Japanese maid, who serves her master, and appears to think of him as the most important aspect of her life. Her master is unknown (rumored to be Andrew), but is likely actually the player him/herself as she often bows to the player before and after her fights. Iroha is a very popular character in Japan, and is scheduled to have her own game.

She fights with twin daggers.

Iroha makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Izanagi Yaci

Yaci
File:Yachi.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Yaci Izanagi (十六薙夜血, Izanagi Yachi) is one of the most formidable warriors dwelling in the streets of the prison island of Riten Kyo. Being a free-lancer bodyguard, Yaci and his friend in crime, Haito Kanakura, always roam the villages of Riten Kyo in search of work, whether from merchants or requests for assassinations. However, after he meets his boyfriend, Namino, Yaci promises to cease his life of crime, and escape with Namino, far away from the cursed island of Riten Kyo. To this end, he has decided to move up in the Riten Kyo scale, and become as powerful as the Razor Trio, or the Bafuku government. Despite being a bloodthirsty psycho, Yaci has strong feelings for Namino, but is constantly annoyed by the fact that he likes to apologize very frequently.

After the Razor Trio is overthrown, Yaci is more than intent on fulfilling his promise to Namino, and escape Riten Kyo. However, tragedy strikes when a common thug walks up to the couple and attempts to kill Yaci with a gun. Namino acts like a human shield to protect his beloved, being fatally wounded in the process. The thug blames Yaci for sinking Riten Kyo into chaos upon the fall of the Razor Trio. In an outburst of rage, Yaci manhandles the criminal, and takes Namino to a boat on the coastline of the island, still resolved to take him out of Riten Kyo despite his critical state. Yaci and the agonizing Namino depart on the boat, but Namino is far from salvation, and dies on the boat. But Yaci barely has time to grief his death, as the boat appears to have been sabotaged and begins to leak. It is unknown if Yaci managed to survive from being drowned.

Kanakura Haito

Haito
File:Haito.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Although Haito is a cool customer, he appears invariably agitated and exudes an unapproachable aura from his very being. Memories of unfortunate childhood experiences in his past have led him to hate foreigners and those with remarkable abilities. He's a drug addict who becomes crazed when using and resides in Ritenkyo, working as a bodyguard and assassin in the brothel district.

He keeps his sword drawn as he patrols town and is skilled at maintaining his undefeated record in duels of his own initiation in which he displays his unyielding might while under the influence.

Karakuri Ocha-Maro

Ocha-Maro
File:Ochamaro.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown VI

Kazama Kazuki

Kazuki
File:Kazuki Kazama.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown IV

Enja
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warrior's Rage

Kazuki Kazama (風間火月, Kazama Kazuki) is a member of the Kazama ninja clan who specializes in pyrokinetic ninjutsu. In Samurai Shodown V, he is ordered to execute a powerful fire-demon named Enja. He searches for the demon and eventually encounters him. Enja, however, is too powerful an opponent for Kazuki but, his younger sister, Hazuki saves his and Sogetsu's life by sealing the demons in each brother's respective weapons.

In Samurai Shodown IV, after he learns that Hazuki was kidnapped by Amakusa, Kazuki decides to desert the clan to rescue her, essentially becoming a nukenin. His clan does not tolerate traitors and they send his brother Sogetsu Kazama to assassinate him. The two rendezvous at Amakusa's castle. There, Kazuki defeats Amakusa and saves his sister. Sougetsu, on the other hand, stays behind to fight Zankuro. After faking his death to his clan, Kazuki and Hazuki continue to run away together and live a carefree life.

Years later, he catches word of a "mysterious puppeteer". He sets out to find the person, and along the way, once again meets with his brother. Together, they defeat the Gandara monstrosity.

Enja (炎邪) is a powerful demon who ravaged the lands. With the power of fire, he flew from village to village setting them aflame and slaughtering innocent bystanders by the thousands. Upon hearing of this atrocious demon, the Kazama ninja clan took action. They ambush Enja in a small, rural village and without fear, quickly set to the laborious task of attempting to seal the beast. However, Enja's might proved too powerful, and within moments, Enja had burned them all to cinders. Enja flew away to reunite with his old friend, Suija, and steal the spell of Jinma-Itai from Kuraki-sumeragi. However, he was sealed by Hazuki into Kazuki's weapon. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, he possesses Kazuki's body and becomes his new bust form.

Kazuki is a sharp contrast to his brother in that most of his attacks are short-ranged and risky if preformed improperly. His only long ranged attack is a fireball projectile. In his first appearance, his Slash mode can form up to three mini fireballs which may boost his special moves. His Bust mode relies on an aggressive, close combat, combo-special move that deals massive damage. It later carries over to be Enja's fighting style.

Kazuki is also playable as a character in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, Samurai Shodown! 2 , and Samurai Shodown VI. He makes an appearance in the Neo Geo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG. Enja is an individual character from Kazuki in Samurai Shodown V and Samurai Shodown VI.

Kazama Sogetsu

Sougetsu
File:Sougetsu.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown IV

Suija
File:Suija.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage

Sogetsu Kazama (風間蒼月, Kazama Sogetsu) is a member of the Kazama ninja clan who has the ability to manipulate water and is the older brother to Kazuki Kazama. In Samurai Shodown V, Sogetsu is ordered by his clan to defeat a powerful water-demon named Suija. After much searching, he encounters the demon and engages him. Like his younger brother's encounter with Enja, Suija meets him with the intentions of possessing his body. To save them, their younger sister, Hazuki uses a ninjutsu spell to seal both Suija and Enja away in her brothers' weapons (Sogetsu and Kazuki respectfully).

Years later, in Samurai Shodown IV, Sougetsu reluctantly stays with the clan when Hazuki is kidnapped by Amakusa. Kazuki, however, acts on his impulses and leaves to save her. In retaliation, the elders of the clan order him to execute his brother. Sogetsu eventually finds Kazuki at Amakusa's castle. There, he allows Kazuki to rescue Hazuki, while he stays behind to fight Zankuro Minazuki. He slays Zankuro and returns to his clan, telling his superiors that Kazuki has been taken care of; in truth, he allows Kazuki to fake his death so he and Hazuki can run away. Sogetsu keeps a watchful eye on them in secret so they may continue to lead a carefree life. Eventually, the sealed demon results in his "bust form".

He soon catches word of a "mysterious puppeteer". He sets out to find the person, and along the way, once again meets with his brother. Together, they defeat the Gandara monstrosity.

Suija (水邪) is a powerful demon who was freed in Samurai Shodown V. He possesses a shinobi from the Kazama clan, who was investigating evil energies close to the lake where he was sealed. Suija is determined to take the spell of Jinma-Itai from Kuraki-sumeragi. He wants to reunite with his friend, Enja, to steal that spell. Parallel to Enja's fate with Kazuki, however, Suija is sealed in Sogetsu's weapon by Hazuki. Over time, his spirit gradually seeps back out through the seal and takes possession of Sogetsu's mind and body.

Sougetsu, unlike Kazuki, has several long ranged attacks, most notable of which is his strongest slash attack. His power over water allows him to keep opponents at distance from both the air and ground level as he can raise geysers and throw bubbles to thwart their advances. In his Bust form, later adopted as Suija's fighting style, he becomes an effective close to mid-ranged fighter, able to shield himself from attacks during jumps and splash powerful geysers at close range.

Sougetsu is also playable as a character in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, Samurai Shodown! 2 , and Samurai Shodown VI. He makes an appearance in the Neo Geo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG. Suija premiered as Sougetsu's Bust form in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage and appears as his own character in Samurai Shodown V and Samurai Shodown VI.

Kibagami Genjuro

Genjuro
File:Genjuro.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown II

Genjuro Kibagami (牙神 幻十郎, Kibagami Genjūrō), with Genjūrō meaning Mystic Tenth Son in Japanese) claims to have killed his family and at least a thousand other people. His mother was a prostitute and, due to her profession, he knew nothing about his father. When he was fifteen, Genjuro killed one of her clients -due to his mother's pleas for protection from her client's drunken rage. As he went to leave, she attacked him, leaving the scar on his back, and he killed her.

Orphaned, Nicotine Caffeine spotted him and took him under his tutelage along with Haohmaru in his dojo. He hates Haohmaru especially, because he resembles the man his mother was with when he killed them (he also was attracted to Shiki at one point, as she resembled his mother).

His profession during his travels is a hitokiri or killer-for-hire, often accepting the more "dirty" jobs such as wiping out pirate brigades and bandit hideouts.. One of his former clients is Yorozu Sankuro, with whom he has a grudge against for demanding another job without pay and also humiliating him by shooting him with his back turned. Unlike most characters, Genjuro willingly floats in the gritty underworld of the big cities, engaging in brothels, gambling, and possibly drug trading. He also is the only character in the series to openly admit a sexual preference for both genders.

In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, Genjuro surprisingly gained the upper hand in his last duel with Haohmaru. Before he could deal the final blow, a boy stabbed him in vengeance for his unnamed father. As he lay on the ground from the wound, Haohmaru promises to buy his friend a drink, and the two seem to reconcile their differences. It's heavily implied that Genjuro dies from his wound and, as promised, an older Haohmaru toasts to his friend's honor.

Though they both trained underneath Nicotine, his fighting style greatly differs from Haohmaru in execution. All of his special moves are direct references to the Japanese card game, hanafuda. Depending on whether a move hits or misses, the move will temporarily project the images of a "winning" combo of cards and/or a "miss" based on the featured hanafuda set. His "pet" of sorts is an orange frog named Kaeru, a reference to the card, Yanagi ni Ono No Toufuu. His win poses from his first appearance made several heavy references to the deck; his later win poses tone done the references.

Since his introduction, Genjuro is playable in all of the games in the series with the exception of Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation). He also makes playable appearances in SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum and the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Kubikiri Basara

Basara
File:Basara.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown III

Basara Kubikiri (首切り破沙羅, Kubikiri Basara) is a type of yokai "reborn" due to an extreme hatred he harbored before his death. In his previous life, Basara lived in peace with his wife, Kagaribi, in the village of Tanba until the monstrous demonic swordsman Zankuro Minazuki came through and slaughtered everyone. He blames "the demon" for his wife's demise but, in Samurai Shodown V, it is revealed that Basara himself killed her.

Eventually, he remembers how he died and thus aimlessly seeks to take revenge on Zankuro. However, Zankuro is already slain by the time he found him. Having no reason to remain, Basara searches for ways to finally rest in peace. In Samurai Shodown IV, he discovers that his "rebirth" is caused by Amakusa Shiro Tokisada, so he heads for Shimabara to kill him. He appears too late to claim his prey as Kazuki and Sougetsu beats him to it. Eventually, a vision of Kagaribi lures his soul to be captured and sealed away by Mizuki.

Some of his powers are based in the use of his shuriken, as well as demonic powers like moving and disappearing into the shadows or release balls of energy. His normal attacks are adaptable to execute, easily ranging from close to mid-screen and often hitting for several hits upon impact. His distinguishing feature is a shrill laugh and claiming life to be "a beautiful nightmare".

Basara also appears playable in Samurai Shodown VI. In Samurai Shodown RPG he is an occasional guest member and doubles as an optional boss in the second chapter of the game.

Kuki Seishiro

Seishiro
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Seishiro Kuki (九葵蒼志狼, Kuki Seishirō) is a young man who has become a secret agent of the shogunate, following in his father's footsteps. Upon receiving secret orders from the shogunate, who has obtained information on the Three Blades' of Domination "plan to overthrow the government," he sets out to seek the one known only as "Ritenkyo". Seishiro is son of famed swordsman; Kuki. Kuki is a samurai of legend who was famous for his two opposing swords, The Full Moon Blade (蒼煌) and The Blade of The Rising Sun (紅煌（コウオウ）). Kuki also adopted a second son, Tohma Kuki. Seishiro and Tohma learnt the way of the sword together from their father, but Seishiro always excelled. Tohma envied Seishiro and always believed Kuki loved his blood son more and nothing Tohma could do would change it. This envy grew into anger and manifested itself when Seishiro, not Tohma, was named Leader of the Inner Guard.

One stormy night Seishiro found his father dead. Tohma and the blade of the flaming sun were missing. Months later he hears of Tohma's appearance at Riten Kyo and so joins his father's friend, Jin-Emon Hanafusa, in bringing the Razor Trio to justice. After much investigating, and fighting, Seishiro finds Tohma. They engage in one last fight which ends in Seishiro defeating his brother in a manner which almost seems effortless. Seishiro then takes both his father's swords home and continues the Kuki dynasty.

Kuki Tohma

Tohma
File:Tohma (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Tohma Kuki (九鬼刀馬, Kuki Tōma) is an albino orphan who had come aboard a ship from the west (Europe). He was the adopted son of the great samurai legend, the fantastic Kuki, and in order to live up to his heritage, Tohma trained everyday since he was very young in order to become a true samurai one day. However, his true intentions were far from being closely similar to that of a real samurai. Hungry for power and strength, Tohma always sought more and more, despite being an already incredible swordsman. In his eternal quest for more power, Tohma became irrational and totally maniacal.

One night, Tohma killed his father and stole the sword from him, that was said to grant incredible strength to its owner. Later, he joined Mikoto and Oboro, and they created the Riten Kyo. Now called the mightiest Sword Warrior, he now sets his sights on Seishiro's sword. After the rampage of killings he had by the Riten Kyo, Tohma fights against Seishiro, being defeated and wounded by him, losing the conscience. He awakes after 3 days and 3 nights in the Riten Kyo castle, with Mikoto nurses him. She said Seishiro forgived his life, and in the end, Tohma amended his ways in search of a third blade that is more powerful than the two Seishiro has , Mikoto is the keeper of that blade.

Kuroko

Kuroko
File:Kuroko.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Kuroko (黒子) was used as an official who officiated the match in early Samurai Shodown games. Kuroko is an alias; his real name is shown in the ending of Samurai Shodown II; but it is, for unknown reasons, blurred. His real name is revealed to English fans nearly a decade later as Dueling Judge: "Slick" Sukihiro.

He is dressed entirely in black with a cowl covering his face and dons a red flag and a white flag (used in martial arts competitions to denote when a player hits an opponent) as his weapon. As a playable character, Kuroko used moves borrowed from other SNK characters, mainly from those in Fatal Fury or Art of Fighting, and unlike every other character in the game, it was his outfit that became red as his rage bar filled up. He also can't be thrown normally, like Earthquake in the same game, and apparently his flags, which he uses as weapons, can't be destroyed or lost. He becomes a copy of the player's character in Samurai Shodown III, and appears in official art with a younger Nicotine Caffeine.

Kurokouchi Yumeji

Yumeji
File:Yumeiji.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Yumeji Kurokouchi (黒河内夢路) is the sub boss in Samurai Shodown V. She is the sole daughter of Sakon Kurokouchi, a sensei of iaido and the previous mentor of Ukyo Tachibana. However, for some unknown reason, she was expelled from her father's dojo and living facility. She follows Gaoh Kyougoku Hinowanokami and swears to serve him as his "right arm". In the end, she is defeated by Ukyo, and, to save her family name from disgrace, begs him to take her life. Ukyo, however, only cuts off her ponytail and orders her to go home. Instead, she becomes a nun. One year after Gaoh's defeat, she tricks and beheads Rasetsumaru.

As she shares the same fighting style as Ukyo, Yumeji borrows several poses and animations from him. The main deviation between them, however, is her ability to morph into aspirations of other characters to preform their signature moves (Haohmaru, Hanzo, Genjuro, Nakoruru and Rimururu).

She makes a playable appearance in Samurai Shodown VI.

Liu Yunfei

Yunfei
File:Yunfei.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Liu Yunfei, also known just as Yunfei (Chinese: 雲飛), lived in the 800s, A.D. with his wife. But he made a deal with "The Dark Emperor" to apparently become immortal. However, in a time he lost the control of himself and left destruction where he goes until he was sealed in a rock for ages by his students, Enja and Suija. But after a millennium, he was freed again. Now, he wants to be freed of his sins, and decided stop Gaoh Kyougoku Hinowanokami's evil plans. Once he confronted and fought with Gaoh, he found the demon residing within him, and urged him to fight against it with all his spirit. In order to help him, Yunfei took possession of the monster's body to weaken it, urging Gaoh to end it while he could. Within moments, it was all over; Yunfei awakened to find himself in a field of flowers, where he was reunited with his wife.

Majikina Mina

Mina
File:Mina (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Mina Majikina (真鏡名ミナ) is a female warrior born in somewhere in Okinawa. She was blessed since birth with powerful spiritual energy. Ever since her village knew of this, they diligently trained her in the fighting arts to enable her to battle demons. Due to her training however, she was separated from her family, and raised akin to an Kaminchu (goddess). Mina rapidly increased in spiritual power and became an efficient warrior, but at a cost: she had become so powerful, that the inhabitants of her village began to fear her. Outcast, introverted, and consumed with sadness, Mina slowly became detached to her peer's discordant behavior, and became unable to even express feelings.

One day, she departed her village to destroy an Ayakasi (a certain kind of Youkai/demon) that landed near her village. Upon her victory, she sensed a powerful and evil force in her village. She immediately returned, but she was too late. Her village was in ruins and all the inhabitants deceased. Among all of the destruction however, she heard the calling of her name, and leading to its source, found her animal friend Chample. Clasping him in her arms, she vowed to avenge her village despite their discriminatory actions towards her. Determined to now defeat demons of her own will, she set out to destroy as many as she could. However, during her travels, she eventually came to the conclusion that her dear friend Chample was the demon that destroyed her village. In the end, she killed Chample to avenge the death of her village; it's then implied that she committed suicide afterwards so she could be with him.

Mina is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI and makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Mao Tashon

Tashon
File:Tashon.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

This warrior hails from China, traveling to perfect his skill as a warrior. His peculiar facial features, like the narrow eyes on his chubby visage that seem like slits, surprise all who look on him. He has entered Ritenkyo illegally, mistaking it for Japan.

One day, he fell in love at first sight with a fairy sprite (Nakoruru) he discovered by chance within the forest of Ritenkyo. Since then he has neglected his training to searched for her. Possessed of an abnormal tenacity and arbitrarily assuming that being his own duty to protect Nakoruru, he views all who enter this forest as enemies should they find his beloved Nakoruru before he does.

The special martial arts he commands utilize the talons that freely extend and retract from one hand, from which he came to be called the "flesh-rending panda" and be feared by all.

"Someone is surely bound to steal you, my little sprite. You are mine and mine alone...mine..all mine...yes! She wants my protection...It must be so...It must be...surely it's so." The sprite will surely be pleased, he thinks. Tashon Mao chuckles as he imagines Nakoruru's face and vanishes into the forest.

Mikoto

Mikoto
File:Mikoto (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Mikoto (命) is a young woman born of an unnatural union between the human Shiki and Asura. Before she died, Shiki leaves the baby Mikoto with Nicotine Caffeine and his student, Haohmaru. As she grew over the years, Mikoto demonstrated inhuman abilities and skills. She uses her heavenly powers to conduct religious services and rituals in which she was revered as a religious symbol (shrine maiden). She also learns a powerful fighting style that corresponds with her dual personas, commonly dubbed as "Angel" and "Devil" respectively.

Mikoto, ashamed of her red unique eyes, flees from her home, Kokain Shrine. She subsequently arrives in Riten Kyo and, through Oboro's enticements and her infatuation with Tohma Kuki, joins as a member of the "Three Blades of Domination". Eventually, Haohmaru sets out on a quest to find her. When he reaches Riten Kyo, he kills Oboro. When the two reunite, he tells Mikoto of her heritage.

Mikoto makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Minazuki Zankuro

Zankuro
File:Zankuro.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown III

Zankuro Minazuki (壬無月 斬紅郎, Minazuki Zankurō) is the final boss from Samurai Shodown 3 who wields a gigantic Mugen Katana. He is a fearsome warrior; due to his terrifying skill and battle prowess, he earned the title of "the demon". To this end, he traveled from village to village, slaughtering people as he encountered them. However, one day, something changed. After killing one village's populace, he encountered a young girl who he could not bring himself to murder. Realizing the mistake of his actions, he desisted attacking villagers and the weak, and only killed worthy opponents in duels. Eventually, he was challenged by Shizumaru and Haohmaru, and was subsequently buried and sealed by Gaira Caffeine. However, he was quickly revived by Amakusa who wanted to use his power for his plans, but he was eventually killed again this time by Sougetsu. In a case of deus ex machina, however, it seems he somehow came back to life yet again since he appears in Genjuro's ending in ST1.

Minto

Minto
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

She's Ran Po's younger sister and like him has no concept of her parents or right and wrong. Because she acts according to the experiences she's had up until now and her instinct, her absence of understanding regarding what's right and wrong is similar to Ran Po's.

Her personality, however, is different than Ran Po and she has a nae and cheerful nature. She has twice the curiosity of normal people and her habit of collecting things is a manifestation of this-she carries anything that catches her fancy along with her. (She's especially fascinated with headgear and long things resembling tails). One day she met a child named Mario in town. Minto and he hit it off and became good friends. Mario's fingers are his weapons, and he has made everything on his person. Minto grew fond of his Mario's prize possession, the handmade "Cat Hammer of Autumnal Tints" and receives it from him.

Then suddenly Mario announced he would return to his master and disappeared from Minto's presence. Minto, hoping to meet Mario again, began to look for him, relying on his final words to her: "I'm a member of Oboro's group, and I serve Mikoto of the Three Blades of Domination." Minto's grand adventure is now about to begin.

Mitsuribayashi Sugoroku

Sugoroku
File:Sugoroku.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown VI

Morosumi Taizan

Taizan
File:Taizan.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown 64: Warrior's Rage

Taizan Morosumi (八角泰山, Morosumi Taizan) makes his only appearance in the Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors's Rage iterarion. Taizan is a man who possess the powers to seal evil, an ability passed down through generations of his family. However, he grows tired of battling demons and settles down in the mountains with his wife and child. Taizan returns home one day to find his family murdered by Yuga the Destroyer. Enraged, he once again wields his legendary Mizuguki, and sets out for vengeance. However, as he battles, he realizes that he was turning into what he detests. He stops his quest and retires to the mountains to live in peace with his deceased family.

His Slash form wields a large calligraphy brush and his Bust form attacks with a lance

Mugenji

Mugenji
File:Mugenji.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

This man is said to reside in a beautiful field of flowers located in the forest of Ritenkyo. He wanders the town nightly to butcher and plunge the townspeople into the depths of despair.

From childhood he has had an abnormal complex toward beauty. One special example of this is butterflies, and the tattoo of a butterfly on his back makes his obsession all the more unfathomable.

He goes berserk with rage in battle and becomes all the more tougher after taking extensive punishment.

Nakoruru

Nakoruru
File:Nakoruru.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Rera
File:Rera.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Nakoruru (ナコルル) is one of the most recognized characters from the series and "mascot" (along side Haohmaru). Nakoruru's role in the game is of a defender of Mother Nature; in some material Nakoruru has been referred to as a priestess of the Ainu religion. The idea of her as a priestess came from the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaidō, Japan, who are analogous in Japan to the Native Americans in the United States. The Japanese perceive the Ainu as living closer to Nature thus the emphasis as her the role as its defender. She lives in Kamui Kotan alongside her grandparent Sanoku, her grandmother Monashiri, and her little sister Rimururu.

When she was fifteen, she and Rimururu were playing in the forest when Mamahaha flew in, holding her father's sword. Sensing her father was in danger, she apologizes to Rimururu and goes to confront Gaoh. After Gaoh's defeat, Kamui, the Spirit of Nature, appears to her, asking Nakoruru to be her successor, as her father was killed. Not wanting Rimururu to be chosen and face danger, Nakoruru accepts and becomes the new Kamui warrior of Kamui Kotan.

During the winter of 1789, Nakoruru became worried because she could not hear the voice of Mother Nature. She discovers the spirits of Nature were captured by the Makai (demon world) so she sets out to bring Nature to balance. She later fights alongside Haohmaru and defeats Mizuki but, even after her defeat, Nature's balance was still not achieved. She sacrifices herself to restore the balance in Nature. She then becomes a Spirit of Nature and the new Kamui of Kamui Kotan. During 1790, Nakoruru, as the new Kamui, was resting peacefully. She was awakened when she felt a new evil in the world and had to take human form to fight the demons sent by Yuga. Then, alongside with Rimururu and Haohmaru, they destroyed Yuga's physical body; however, she could not save Kamui Kotan. She returns to her long slumber in order to restore her home.

In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, she becomes the holy spirit who transcends time. She travels across space and time to prevent the disasters of the world from occurring. However, she is stopped in her quest by a magical spell cast by Jigen Taishi in Ritenkyo. Unable to assume her original form, she can only battle evil through the strength of her fellow forest sprits. Now weakened, she knows she cannot fight without the, Maiden of Light, Rimururu, who has been sealed by Oboro. She sets out on a quest to free her sister and together combine their powers to defeat evil.

Nakoruru also has a darker alter ego named Rera (レラ) in Samurai Shodown V. Rera is based on the alternate palette swap of Nakoruru (noted for her evil grin during her victory images since Samurai Shodown). It is said that Nakoruru suppressed this side of herself as Rera saw killing as a necessity to protect nature. She merges with her host after she realizes that fighting doesn't solve everything and peaceful solutions can be made. She can physically take over Nakoruru, but has only done so when Nakoruru is reticent to kill her enemies.

She fights with a kodachi, and, depending on the form, a hawk named Mamahaha (in Slash) or a wolf named Shikuru (in Bust form and later Rera).

Nakoruru is playable in all of the games in the series (excluding Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage) and stars in her own game, Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono. She makes outside series appearances in the Game Boy port of The King of Fighters '95, King of Fighters 2000 (as a special Striker), Capcom vs SNK, Capcom vs. SNK 2, SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, Gal Fighters, and the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition. Rera premiered in the PC and Dreamcast video game Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono, and is adapted to the fighting games as a separate character in Samurai Shodown V and Samurai Shodown VI.

Neinhalt Sieger

Sieger
File:Sieger.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown II

Neinhalt Sieger (ナインハルト・ズィーガー, Nainharuto Zīgā) was introduced in Samurai Shodown II. He is a Prussian warrior and the leader of the Red Lion Knights. He went to Japan to deal with the threat of Mizuki. In his ending, he saves his country from demons and is married to Elizabeth, the daughter of the Prussian King.

In the spin-off, Samurai Spirits RPG, he married a noble woman named Victoria and lives in France, protecting the city against any demon attacks. He assists the party battling Mizuki whilst they are in Paris and Green Hell. However, Mizuki traps him within one of the Dark Bells, a medium which increases Ambrosia's powers and syphons evils spirits. Knowing the dangers of the Bell, he allows the party to destroy it, killing himself in the process.

His fighting style consists of unique grappling and punching techniques, better amplified by the power of his weapon. His gauntlet, which is easily capable of shaping his entire body, also possesses the ability to shot ammunition when he expands his fist. For some time, he was one of the few characters in the series who is capable of chaining different special commands together to create a specific combo.

Sieger is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI.

Oboro

Oboro
File:Oboro (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

An old man who serves as the main antagonist to Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation) and leader of Ritenkyo.

On the outside this genial old man strikes an innocent and favorable impression. But few people know his true identity. Devoted to the will of the earthly Bhudda "Jigen Taishi," he has spent 20 years plotting the government's overthrow and the creation of a state for the militaristic deity.

Oboro uses the cursed armaments of the bewitching blade and magic sword controlled by various spirits created through the ever-changing "Magical Arts of Kakkyo." Because Oboro is at one with the demons, this sorcerer may be injured whenever one of his demons is wounded, even if he is not in the general vicinity.

He was once a ninja deemed the equal of Hanzo Hattori, but he was ostracized from the clan after Hanzo defeated him in a duel. He subsequently quit the ninja but later returned to the world of shadows having obtained the magic he acquired from his vengeful soul and the "cursed weapons" he gathered during his worldly travels.

His objective is to assume the will of his benefactor the Jigen Taishi who became an earthly Bhudda to protect Ritenkyo and overthrow the state to establish a new nation for the martial deity. In the process he hopes for a chance at revenge and pay in kind the disgrace visited on him by Hanzo.

Ran Po

Ran Po
File:Ran-po.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

A boy who knows nothing of the concepts of parents or morality: that's Ran Po. Since he has existed according to his experience so far and his instinct, he has no inkling of what is good or evil.

Effortlessly swinging his war hammer that seems far too big for his small body, he is skilled at unleashing new attacks released using his tricky moves and aerial tactics.

Finding it strange that his ever-present older sister Minto (who is not related by blood) has not returned after leaving to play some 10 days ago, Ran Po heads to the center of Ritenkyo, acting on information he has obtained from various acquaintaces.

Rasetsumaru

Rasetsumaru
File:Rasetsumaru.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Rasetsumaru (羅刹丸) is a bloodthirsty demon from the dark world of Makai, which was opened up by Amakusa Shiro Tokisada many years ago. Rasetsumaru can never assuage his thirst for killing. Because he doesn't clean his blade, it has turned the color of blood from the hundreds of people he has killed. He learns the existence of Haohmaru, an incredibly strong samurai who looks like him, and tries to find him in Hinowato to kill him. He finds Haohmaru at a temple a year later, but it is really a nun (implied to be Yumeji) disguised as him. Claiming him to be her final opponent, she decapitates him.

Parallel to Rera's fighting style with Nakoruru, Rasetsumaru is the former Bust form of Haohmaru. Unlike Rera, he is a separate entity from Haohmaru and shouldn't be confused as a part of Haohmaru's subconsciouses. He mirrors several of his counterpart's normal attacks but has a different move set.

Rashojin Mizuki

Mizuki
File:Mizuki.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown II

Mizuki Rashojin (羅将神ミヅキ), known as "The Marauding Deity", is the first female boss in the series and also the first and only boss to have assistance from a pet. Mizuki was a rural Japanese child abandoned by her family due to severe poverty. Bitter with hatred and consumed with revenge, she made a pact with the evil god Ambrosia roughly a thousand years before the series begins, turning herself into a demon. Since this acquisition of demonic power, she proceeds to cause worldwide disasters and calamities around the globe.

However, roughly 800 years after her pact, she was challenged by a priestess named Bizuki. Despite her best efforts, Bizuki was possessed by Mizuki and sent into hibernation. She was awakened by Amakusa's powers and invokes Ambrosia's mortal resurrection. Haohmaru and Nakoruru stop her before she could succeed. Upon her defeat, both Mizuki and Ambrosia were sealed in the Makai (demon world) while Bizuki was free to live in the mortal realm as Kyoshiro's assistant.

Mizuki has a wide arsenal of attacks to choose from. In some ways, she is similar to Nicotine in that they can both shoot upper and lower angled projectiles and also reverse their foes movements. Like her predecessor, Amakusa, she also possesses the ability of teleportaion and a multi-hitting slap attack. She can also command a demon pet to charge and maul her opponent. Her pet also has the ability to transform foes into animals, disabling their attacks for a time. Her desperation attack is a unique projectile that will boomerang back to her if her opponent jumps over it. She is also quick on her feet, easily able to close distances between her foe in quick dashes with little trouble.

She appears as the second main antagonist in Samurai Shodown RPG and is a playable character in Samurai Shodown V Special and Samurai Shodown VI.

Rimururu

Rimururu
File:Rimururu.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown III

Rimururu (リムルル), sometimes called "Rimnerel" by some translations, is the younger adopted sister of Nakoruru, and lives in an Ainu village on Hokkaidō, Japan. She fights with a kodachi named "Hahakuru," and she can call upon the ice spirit "Konril" to assist her in battle. She greatly admires her older sister, and like her, strives to protect nature. Like her older sister, Rimururu has been referred to as a priestess of the Ainu religion. Although she is still training and not as adequate as her sister in fighting, she repels evil from the forest during her elder sister's absence. When her sister departs, she follows her to Shimabara to offer Nakoruru assistance.

During Samurai Showdown V, Rimururu and Nakoruru are playing in the forest when Konru runs off and she chases after it. Her grandma then calls out to her to have some soup with Nakoruru. Going back, Rimururu realizes Nakoruru ran off somewhere. She then resolves to go out and find her sister. Upon reaching Hinowa, Rimururu tells Gaoh she just wants to find her sister and that anything else he has to say is not important. Gaoh then tells her he has to kill her. After defeating Gaoh, Rimururu calls out to Nakoruru but starts to cry when she doesn't come. Rimururu then remembers the time Nakoruru found her in the forest, crying. Nakoruru asks her what is wrong and Rimururu replies that her sister is gone. Nakoruru then adopts Rimururu as her sister and tells her not to cry anymore. Rimururu then stops crying when Nakoruru appears and tell her she has become an Ainu fighter. Rimururu then tells her she wants to become one as well, like her sister. Nakoruru forbids it and says they should go home.

Rimururu is the warrior who became a holy maiden and battled in concert with Konru, the ice spirit, to protect nature. Although quite young, she guarded over nature in place of her elder sister Nakoruru. She possesses power as a Maiden of Light who can avert the destructive crisis that will visit this age. Because of this gift, a certain individual who loathed her powers summoned her to Ritenkyo one fateful day 20 years ago and enslaved her along with Konru. She was subsequently protected by Konru but remains a prisoner to this day.

Sakaki Jushiro

Jushiro
File:Jushiro.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Jushiro Sakaki (羅刹丸, Sakaki Jushirō) is a daydreamer that was once part of the samurai squad of the Bafuku government. Thus, being an outstanding warrior, he was assigned to train with the great samurai master, Kuki. Kuki took Jushiro in like if he were his own son, and Jushiro soon became acquainted with his fellow trainees: Seishiro and Tohma, both sons of Kuki. However, both of them liked to keep to themselves, and ignore everything else. So, Jushiro made friends with the veteran samurai, Jin-Emon, and both became best comrades. It was one woman, although, that changed Jushiro's world. Her name was Karen, one of the few female samurais working for the Bafuku. Jushiro loved her lively spirit and charming manners, but Karen was a loyal follower of the Way of the Samurai, and decided to put her duties before personal feelings.

One day, word came out that the princess was threatened by death by some fellow only known as Oboro. Baring a striking resemblance to the princess, Karen was chosen as the decoy to lure Oboro in. Jushiro opposed, but Karen kept up anyway. An entire unit was assigned to protect the fake "princess". As previewed, Oboro attacked. However, it wasn't previewed that Oboro would be so powerful, and in no time, he eliminated all the samurai, and mortally wounded the princess. Having heard this, Jushiro ran to Karen's side, but it was too late: she was far beyond hope. Disgusted and torn apart, Jushiro quits the samurai legion. Having been encountered alone in the butchering site, Jushiro was aimed as the main suspect, and sent to Riten Kyo. There, he joins with female warriors Saya and Rinka to form the Atom Rebels, an anti-Bafuku group. This enraged his former superiors even more, and becomes the main target of extermination. However, for some odd reason, Jushiro tends to worry more about his female friends, than the fact that he has been targeted.

Saya

Saya
File:Saya (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Saya (サヤ) is a female assassin from a foreign land. Her stepmother instructed her in the use of these weapons and assassin's techniques to survive in Riten kyo, and she now heads for the center of Riten Kyo to kill "Oboro" of the Three Blades of Domination who has taken her mother's life. To that end, she joins the "Atom Rebels", a faction which seeks independence from both the Bafuku government and the iron reign of the Razor Trio. While in the Atom Rebels, she befriends both Jushiro Sakaki and Rinka Yoshino.

After the fall of the Razor Trio, Saya is confronted by a female ninja who claims to be a member of the Razor Trio called Benten. Benten seems intent on killing Saya in order to complete the job that began with the assassination of Saya's family. The two femme fatales attack each other, but Saya gets the upper hand. Benten is then revealed to be Saya's stepmother, who happened to take part in the entourage that killed Saya's family as one of Oboro's underlings. However, she lost her husband during the mission, and started to question the motives behind the Razor Trio's ambitions. Benten urges Saya to kill her in order to gain revenge. Saya spares Benten, and instead decides to set the path straight for the rest of the orphans who inhabitate Riten Kyo, leaving a proud Benten behind.

Saya makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Senryo Kyoshiro

Kyoshiro
File:Kyoshiro (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Kyoshiro Senryo (千両狂死郎, Senryō Kyōshirō) is a master of the ancient art of Kabuki, utilizing its artful interpretations and majestic actions to construct a beautiful fighting art. In Samurai Shodown V, convinced people are sad because of the current state in Japan, Kyoshiro decides to cheer people up with his Kabuki. After practicing for a bit, Kyoshiro decides to go on the road, in the hopes of perhaps finding a new Kabuki style and using his adventure as the story for his Kabuki act. He achieves this and fights someone who resembles Sho Hayate to determine who has the more aesthetic and effective fighting style.

Determined to prove to the world the "magic" of the art, Kyoshiro travels and duels any opponents he meets. While traveling the country of Japan in search of his dream, Kyoshiro is accompanied by his faithful attendant. However, unexpectedly, his companion becomes possessed by a demon. Determined to prove his strength, he slays him/her and sets out on a vendetta against others. As Haohmaru and Nakoruru seal Mizuki in the Makai, he speaks to the now-free priestess Bizuki and restores her faith.

He fights with a spear and fans. True to his profession, he speaks in a theatrical dialect as though he were in a play, letting his audience and opponent know how or what he is doing. For instance, when he is defeated, he cries "I feel regretful!" or when he jumps, he cries, "And here (I am)!".

Kyoshiro is also playable in Samurai Shodown III, Samurai Shodown IV, Samurai Shodown RPG, and Samurai Shodown VI.

Shiki

Shiki
File:Shiki (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown 64

Shiki (色) is one of the new characters introduced into the series in Samurai Shodown 64. She is one of the babies that Yuga experimented on. Her identity and memory are fractured, but she grew into adulthood and was brainwashed and trained in the usage of twin sword fighting. She was told to find a man fit to become the perfect body for the Dark Lord's resurrection. Finding Haohmaru to be that man, she follows him for a chance to take him away to her master. Her soul was finally freed after Haohmaru defeated Yuga. However, a year later, Yuga returned from the afterlife. During this timeframe, she encounters Shadow Asura who was sent to capture her but the two fall in love. After the two Asuras defeat Yuga, she gives birth to Mikoto. She leaves her child with Nicotine and Haohmaru. It is unknown what occurred after this point, but it is strongly implied she died somewhere.

Shiki makes outside series appearances in the games SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, Gal Fighters, and the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Shiranui Genan

Genan
File:Genan.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Genan Shiranui (不知火幻庵, Shiranui Genan) is a member of the enigmatic Shiranui Clan, one that follows the "way of the darkness". He seeks to enligten his progress in the "way of evil". To this end, he travels Japan, killing anyone he can. However, in his travels, he encounters an unknown female ninja (who greatly resembles Mai Shiranui) and is slain. In Samurai Shodown II, his soul having been thrown into the depths of hell, is revived by a being calling himself "leader of the Demon World" and given a proposition: "Become my servant, and be reborn." Gen-an takes him up on this offer, but he plots to one day slay his benefactor then rule the Demon World himself. His status is unknown after this point.

He fights with a claw, which can also be extended with a hidden chain. He can also spew poison gas to his opponents.

Genan also appears in Samurai Shodown RPG as a minor villain and as a playable character in Samurai Shodown VI.

Tachibana Ukyo

Ukyo
File:Ukyo.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Ukyo Tachibana (橘右京, Tachibana Ukyō) is an expert iaido swordsman with a body stricken with tuberculosis. Despite having several women chasing for his affections, he treasures only his lone confidante, Kei Odagiri. He avoids enveloping further feelings for her (due to his limited lifespan and her noble status) but continues to fight for her before he succumbs to his illness.

In Samurai Shodown V, Ukyo, driven by her mother's concern, goes to find the missing Yumeji. He finds Yumeji, shamed and an outlaw after Gaoh's defeat. She explains that soon after Ukyo left she had met Gaoh and became his right-hand swordswoman. Yumeji then asks Ukyo to kill her -an example of the archaic duty of servants joining their master; instead, Ukyo cuts off Yumeji's pony tail and orders her to find her mother.

Years later, in Samurai Shodown, he hears news that the ultimate flower resides in Makai and decides to present it to her in gratitude. He finds it but discovers the flower is a fake. In compensation, he carves an ice statue in her image, causing snow to fall in her honor. By the time Samurai Shodown 64 takes place, Kei had married another man. His final act for her was defeating the demon.

Ukyo is relatively defensive, relying on his quick draw sword strikes to punish his opponents. He is the embodiment of a Japanese gentleman back in the 1700s. As an archaic show of romanticism, he often composes haiku to best describe his thoughts as to avoid sounding coarse. His poetry, however, is often omitted in most of the English translations, save for his ending in Samurai Shodown IV.

Ukyo is playable in all the tiles of the series excluding Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation). He also makes an appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Tam Tam

Tam Tam
File:Tamtam.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Tam Tam (タムタム) is the greatest warrior and hero of his village, Green Hell. Hearing from the village elders their sacred artifact is missing, he takes the responsibility to retrieve it. He now scours the world to recover his village's stolen treasure, the mysterious jewel called the "Palenke Stone." Having retrieved the teasure, and safely returned it to the village, Tam Tam returned to his normal village life. However, he is now notified of the grave calamities befalling his country due to an "evil god". Assuming his role as village hero once again, Tam Tam sets for Japan. However, he fails and as divine punishment is transformed into a monkey, Paku Paku. As a monkey, he helped Cham Cham recover the two stones for his village.

The Tam Tam in Samurai Shodown V is a different warrior, using his legendary mask in his stead. After the original failed, the second Tam Tam sets out to save the original. In his ending, the second Tam Tam places the magical mask on the deceased first. Once the mask is back on, the original Tam Tam comes back to life.

Tokugawa Yoshitora

Yoshitora
File:Yoshitora.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Yoshitora Tokugawa (徳川 慶寅, Tokugawa Yoshitora) is a soldier that was previously the student of Gaoh Kyougoku Hinowanokami. Yoshitora, after some convincing, agrees to meet up with Gaoh at Hinowa, traveling under the assumption that rumors are true and Gaoh is a traitor. Years before, when Gaoh used to be Yoshitora's master, they had an argument about Yoshitora becoming shogun, to which Yoshitora refused. Gaoh believes that Japan would prosper only if Yoshitora takes the throne. Gaoh then tells Yoshitora if he refuses, they may become enemies and would have to kill him.

Upon reaching Hinowa, Yoshitora faces Gaoh, who reveals that his resolve is to build a new country and that he was getting it ready for Yoshitora to rule. When Yoshitora refuses, Gaoh states that he will have to kill Yoshitora and become the next Tokugawa. Now defeated, Gaoh admits Yoshitora's superiority and begs to have his head cut off. Yoshitora asks why he rebelled and Gaoh reveals that if he had not, the famine that had been sweeping Japan would have killed everyone since the current Tokugawa didn't care. As he died, Gaoh begged for Yoshitora to become Japan's shogun. Yoshitora, finally seeing the truth, agreed to his former master's last request.

Wan-Fu

Wan-fu
File:Wanfu.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Wan-Fu (王虎 Chinese Pinyin: Wánghǔ) hails from a powerful and notable family that resides in China and acts as the general of the Qing Dynasty. With his cunning battle strategies and powerful army, Wan-Fu seeks to unify all of China. To this end, he searches for worthy recruits to his army, and hearing of particularly "powerful warriors", sets out to find them. After he was unable to find "powerful warriors," a prophet appears before the furious Wan-Fu and informs him of the existence of the "Seed of Destruction," which, in exchange for one's soul, can allow one to rule the world. Determined to find it all costs, as his hope of uniting China would no longer be a mere dream, so he leaves his homeland to obtain it. Wan-Fu's status after Samurai Shodown II is unknown.

He is one of the few characters in the series to have a "joke" ending that breaks the fourth wall. Comically, he admits to the player that "there is no ending to [his] story".

Wan-Fu appears playable again in Samurai Shodown VI and in the new upcoming game Samurai Shodown Flash. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG is a minor guest member and his actions are controlled by the computer.

Yagyu Hanma

Hanma
File:Hanma.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown 64

Hanma Yagyu (柳生磐馬) is an expert inventor of the Yagyu clan. One day, he was ordered by his surperiors to observe a rival clan. To do this, he slipped into the clan under the guise of a body guard for the princess. The princess instantly found Hanma to be an enjoyable character because of his smiling face and appointed him as her personal bodyguard. However, one day, the father of the princess told Hanma to go investigate the mysterious puppeteer.

Shortly before he left, he created a robot version of himself, called Karakuri Hanma to ensure the safety of the princess. However, in his overzealousness, he had made a mistake in the programming, causing it to attack her. Realizing what occurred, he was forced to destroy his creation and come to her rescue.

Yagyu Jubei

Jubei
File:Jubei (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown

Jubei Yagyu (柳生十兵衛, Yagyū Jūbei), like other mythical incarnations, is the one-eyed master of the Modified Shadow Style of Yagyu, and is the only true samurai in the series until Warriors Rage. In Samurai Shodown V, he teaches swordsmanship to the Tokugawa clan, with Yoshitora as his last disciple. He goes to retrieve the delinquent heir after Yoshitora's father passes away.

He decides to become a ronin, after abandoning the strict and regulated life of the dojo and Japanese nobility, to pursue personal enlightenment. In the midst of his journey, Jubei is hired by the shogunate to kill the demons that wander Japan. Apparently failing in his quest to exterminate the demon infestation, Jubei is nevertheless summoned before the shogunate again. This time, the shogunate caught wind that the cause of the calamities occurring around the globe is the "Dark Castle" and orders Jubei Yagyu to investigate and subdue its lord. In Samurai Shodown II, he was hired again to dispatch the demon Mizuki and Ambrosia.

His role in Samurai Spirits RPG doubles as a sensei to his own dojo and an agent to the bakufu. He asks the party to further his investigation for him since he has to teach the lord's sons swordsmanship. In the second chapter, he suffers a mortal blow from one of Mizuki's minions, Agon, and his spirit gets sucked into one of the Evil Bells.

He fights with twin katana with slow yet powerful strikes.

Jubei is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI

Youkai Kusaregedo

Kusaregedo
File:Kusaregedo.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Youkai Kusaregedo (妖怪腐れ外道, Youkai Kusaregedou), also sometimes called "Gedo Kusaregedo", appears for first time in Samurai Shodown V. Kusaregedo was once a very kind man, but is transformed after his death into a gaki because of his habit of cannibalism. In his present demonic form, he is cursed with an insatiable appetite. One day, he smells a young girl (Rimururu) not too far away and he quickly gives chase. He fails to capture and devour Rimururu, and instead finds a girl named, Hakana, his daughter. She pleads for him to stop and to come back home. Sadly, he devours her.

Yorozu Sankuro

Sankuro
File:Sankuro.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown V

Sankuro Yorozu (萬 三九六) is an ambitious leader to a trio of minions named Gosichi, Fuyo, and Ippachi. Wanting to become the lord of Hinowa without much effort, he hires Genjuro to dispatch Gaoh. Upon Gaoh's defeat, he offers Genjuro another job which is promptly refused. After Sankuro bribes with him information about his parents and membership to his gang, Genjuro attempts to kill his employer. Sankuro is saved by his gang and, apparently disinterested with killing women, Genjuro demands that he leave. Sankuro, however, chooses to shoot Genjuro's back and brags about his new title. Genjuro slashes him while he is distracted, leading to a hasty retreat.

Like Yumeji and Rasetsumaru, Sankuro borrows several poses and animations from another character. In this case, the lower half of his body is nearly identical to Genjuro's sprite. He fights swinging a huge mallet and has the ability to call members of his gang to help him.

He makes a playable appearance in Samurai Shodown VI.

Yoshino Rinka

Rinka
File:Rinka.jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation)

Rinka Yoshino (吉野凛花, Yoshino Rinka) was originally the daughter of a samurai family was sent to train in seclusion away from her family. While she was out in training, her family fell into ruin and was eventually wiped out, presumably through a subtle intervention by the Shogunate. Understandably, Rinka develops a profound resentment against the shogunate and all of their representatives (which includes samurai). She resided alone in the encampment of an anti-shogunate organization within Riten Kyo. Following the wishes of her dead father and determined to reestablish the honor of her family, Rinka joins Jushiro Sakaki and Saya in an anti-shogunate force called the "Atom Rebels" to take on the Three Blades of Domination and re-establish the Way of Muso Seki-un. Her constant companion and last member of her family is a gray hamster named Testsunosuke.

Rinka makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories ~ Edo Lovers Edition.

Yuga the Destroyer

Yuga
File:Yuga (Samurai Shodown).jpg
First game	Samurai Shodown 64

Yuga (壊帝, ユガ) is the main antagonist of the Samurai Shodown 64 iteration of the series. Her existence is veiled in mystery. She is a powerful sorceress who originates from the demon world known as Makai. She wishes to become a goddess of destruction and rule the world. Knowing she would require many followers, she concocts an elaborate plan. Twenty years before Amakusa's revival, she enters the human realm and steal various babies from mother's wombs. Using her powers, she bestows fantastical powers upon them and waits for them to mature with superhuman strength and paranormal abilities. When they reach adulthood, she appears before all of them, brainwashing them by performing a magical puppet show which effectively creates a powerful and obedient army of warriors. Along with these braindead individuals, Yuga obtains Shiki.

Yuga, seeking Shiki's male counterpart, chooses Haohmaru to fulfill the requirements for a perfect resurrection. As a back-up plan, she creates the puppets Deku (木偶♂, Deku Osu) and Dekuina (木偶♀, Deku Mesu) ("Deku" being Japanese for "wooden doll" or "puppet") as experimental samples for the same ritual. Modeled on Haohmaru and Shiki, Yuga gives them strength from the Netherworld to make them exceptionally strong. Yuga also creates Gandara (巖陀羅), a monstrous and sturdy puppet-servant composed of the bodies of thousands remainants from corpses, as her personal guardian. However, as she attempts to place her plans into motion, she is engaged by Haohmaru and Shiki, who destroy Yuga in the body chastely created by Deku and Dekuina. Despite Gandara's overwhelming strength, it is also destroyed by the Kazama brothers, Sogetsu and Kazuki as they sought out Yuga.

However, Yuga apparently anticipated her defeat. She subsequently resurrects herself and Gandara, and continues her plans, making a clone of Asura in the process. She sends this doppelganger to retrieve the freed Shiki, but he develops feelings for her instead. Taking this into account, the two Asuras both engage Yuga, destroying her body for good along with Gandara.

In a desperate attempt to remain in the mortal realm, she possesses Shiki and Asra's child, Mikoto. She lives as the "devil" side of Mikoto's power as a "dark presence". She almost succeeds in gaining complete control of Mikoto's body but Yuda, the product of the two Asras, destroys her spirit before the deed is done.

Yuga is the last boss of Samurai Shodown 64, Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, and Samurai Shodown! 2 (also as a secret character in this game). Gandara is never playable but appears in Samurai Shodown 64, Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, and Samurai Shodown! 2 as the game's sub boss. Deku and Dekina are never playable and are sub bosses only in Samurai Shodown 64.

Animals

Several of the charactes on the SNK series of Samurai Shodown fighting games are aided by animals or friends during gameplay. These animals can be used for attacking purposes, or sometimes other uses, such as improving character's jumps and defense.

Chample

Chample, sometimes called "Ceaser", is the lone friend and companion of Mina Majikina in Samurai Shodown V. When Mina's village is destroyed, Mina senses a problem emanating from the land of Helios, or Hinowa. She believes that Gaoh Kyogoku Hinowanokami is responsible, so she sets off with Chample to defeat him. It turns out, however, that Chample is the demon that destroyed her village. He goes on a rampage and Mina is forced to kill him. It's implied that after killing him, she commits suicide.

Unlike other animal companions, Chample is used less for attacking purposes and mostly remains as a mascot character, participating in battle through background animations and noises. Several moves do include him though, like 'Good night Chample' in which Mina puts him to sleep, stopping his movement and sounds.

Chample is a playable character in Samurai Shodown VI, although he is unlockable, along with many of the other Samurai Shodown animals.

Haon

Mizuki's demon pet.

Mamahaha

Nakoruru's hawk.

Paku Paku

Cham Cham's chimpanzee companion. She mistakes Tam Tam's form as him when she leaves her home.

Poppy

Galford's husky companion. During the course of the series she gives birth to at least three other puppies: Pahpa, Pippy, and Pippa. In Samurai Shodown V, she sacrifices herself to save Galford. In honor of her memory, Galford renames one of her puppies in her name.

Shikuru

Nakoruru's wolf. He later becomes Rera's companion.