Kōji Sagara
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Kōji Sagara (相良 浩治 Sagara Kōji?) is a character in the manga and anime series Tenjho Tenge. He is a member of the Enforcement Group, and the founder of the Pro Wresting Club.
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[edit] Character outline
Koji is a very large, muscular man; he claims to be the most brutal enforcer of all. Koji is better known by his alter ego: Saga Mask. Despite his claims of being brutal he is in fact a very loyal, dedicated and honorable person. He is not a member of the Enforcement Group by choice; he made his club a subsidiary of the Enforcement Group to protect the other members of his group. He grows to respect Souichiro Nagi as a warrior and seeks to surpass him at some point.
Koji is a pretty smart guy, capable of learning how to stop Souichiro from using the Forged Iron Needle Attack after seeing it only once. He immerses himself in wrestling to the point that he follows wrestling rules outside of the wrestling ring. For example, when Souichiro gets put in a submission hold, he tricks Koji into letting him go by claiming that he grabbed the rope.
Whenever he puts on his mask he insists on being called Saga Mask as opposed to his real name. When playing the part of Saga Mask, he will not take off his mask even if it will prevent trouble with others, because it is part of his beliefs[1].
[edit] Techniques & Abilities
Koji fights using wrestling moves as opposed to true martial arts. He relies mainly on his knowledge of bones/joints to inflict damage on others; however, his muscles act as both armor and as a weapon when used in conjunction with his "Muscle Bomb".
[edit] Techniques
- Saga Special[2]
- A four part move consisting of: a rolling turn, into a German Suplex, into a jumping powerbomb, and concludes with the Scorpion Deathlock.
- Muscle Bomb[3]
- The Muscle Bomb uses collective muscle mass to reflect the force of any attack back at the attacker. Thus hitting Koji hurts you instead of him, the move is proved to be so useful that Mitsuomi uses it.
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Anime
[edit] Story Setup Arc
Koji founded the Pro Wrestling Club, and finding members was very difficult. He found some members who really looked up to him; but since the club wasn't taken seriously they had to train in the freshman restroom. The Enforcement Group severely beats all of his Pro Wrestling Club's members so Mitsuomi Takayanagi can gain leverage with Koji. Mitsuomi wants Koji's talent and gives him a choice: if Koji pledges loyalty to him, he will grant him a club area, and a budget; if he refuses the beatings will continue for the remaining time Koji is in Todou Academy. Mitsuomi reminds Koji, that while he is strong the members of his club are not; because of that Koji swore that if Mitsuomi kept his promise he would serve him well, for the order of the school and the protection of his club members. He even promises that even if the system fails, he will not.
Koji appears after Tsutomu Ryuuzaki punishes Souichiro and Bob Makihara; and subsequently was beaten by Maya Natsume. In Koji's eyes the enforcers are the law, and to beat one of them is to beat the law; Ryuuzaki's defeat is unacceptable. On orders to punish Ryuuzaki, Koji (as Saga Mask) and his Pro Wrestling Club attack Ryuuzaki. The other members of his club can do nothing against Ryuuzaki, but Saga Mask quickly lays out Ryuuzaki. He tells Ryuuzaki he can leave the 2 first years to him and go count the cracks in the hospital ceiling[4].
As Koji prepares to attack the Juuken Club at a bowling alley, he is greatly displeased to find Shirō Tagami there as well. Koji wanted to handle it himself, but the joint attack was planned by the President (Mitsuomi) and Vice-President (Emi Isuzu) of the Enforcement Group. Emi attacks Maya Natsume, Shiro attacks Aya Natsume, a squad of 80 other low-level enforcers attacks Bob, Souichiro, and Masataka Takayanagi. Koji is not used for a direct attack, instead he is used to prevent anyone from escaping, he isn't happy with his role, but he goes along with the plan anyway.
He encounters Souichiro on his way to assist Maya and Aya, and refuses to let him pass. Koji starts talk about his disappointment in being forced to deal with "small frys", but Souichiro attacks him and knocks him down. Souichiro starts to walk past, but Koji sits up. He sees a dragon encircling Souichiro and wonders if he is just seeing things[5]. None the less he gets up and hits Souichiro hard in return for his earlier attack. He tell Souichiro to get up and give him his best. So Souichiro trys to hit Koji with the Forged Iron Needle Attack. Souichiro, having just learned the move, doesn't know its range and is too far away for it to do any damage. Koji is none the less impressed by the moves destructive power, even if it didn't hit him. Koji, having seen the attack once, reveals he already knows how to stop Souichiro from using it again. He warns Sochiro that if he were to try again, he would smash his arm to bits[6]. Yet Koji still encourages Souichiro to stand and fight; to give it his all. Souichiro plans to do just that.
Koji quickly uses his "Saga Special" on Souichiro, leaving Souichiro shocked at how fast Koji could do it[7]. The first 3 moves are so damaging they blur Souichiro's vision temporarily[7]. As Koji applies the final part of his "Saga Special", the Scorpion Deathlock, Souichiro claims he grabbed the rope (in pro wrestling, submission holds must be released if the opponent can reach the ropes around the ring). Koji, forgetting rules don't apply outside the ring, actually lets Souichiro go which gets him a kick in the face as a result.
Souichiro attempts the Forged Iron Needle Attack once again; Koji sees it coming and lives up to his boast earlier. He uses the "Muscle Bomb" to reflect all of the force back at Souichiro, greatly damaging Souichiro's hand (Koji thinks he actually broke it). Souichiro insists its not over yet and tries to attack again, landing him in another submission hold. Koji plans to break Souchiro's other arm too, suggesting he count the cracks on the hospital ceiling with Ryuzaki. Much to his surprise, Souichiro uses the Forged Iron Needle Attack with his damaged hand. The impact breaks Koji's leg. He then uses the Forged Iron Needle Attack in a new way, he uses it to over power Koji and lift him off the ground; this allows Souichiro to escape the submission hold.
Souichiro hits Koji with another massive punch in the abdomen, it actually causes Koji to vomit. Despite all his injuries Koji refuses to fall, and remains standing. He believes his defeat is not his alone, but the defeat of the law and his whole club will suffer.
Souichiro calms him down, saying he'd rather fight Koji when he has no obligations and can just "go at it". Souichiro says he looks forward to the rematch; Koji can't decide if he wishes he had a guy like Souichiro in his club, or if he is just jealous of him. He finally decides to accept his defeat and falls backwards.
He later tells Bunshichi Tawara to dispose of his mask, as he no longer needs it[8].
[edit] Manga
[edit] Tournament Arc
As the Tournament finally approaches, Souichiro is surrounded by a group of men in ski masks; to his surprise they don't attack him. The men blast music, and a large man in a cape runs forward. It is Koji, once again wearing his mask (although it is a slightly different version). He reveals he has spent the last 3 months in the Japanese Alps training, which included fighting bears. Koji believes he is now prepared for his rematch with Souichiro, but Souichiro warns him he will die if they fight. Koji claims he planned to use the tournament as his last test before heading to the pro ring; suddenly Koji's entrails explode out of his back a result of a punch from Souichiro. It turns out it was an illusion created by Souchiro's power and murderous intent. Koji is so surprised by the change in Souichiro he starts to ask him who he is, but worries more about if Souichiro is even human anymore [9].
Koji is set as the "advance guard" for the Enforcement Group in the tournament[10], the same position that was originally set up for Souichiro in the Juuken Club.
[edit] References
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 2 tankōbon (Chapter 9, Page 86).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 3 tankōbon (Chapter 14, Page 44).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 3 tankōbon (Chapter 14, Page 48-49).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 2 tankōbon (Chapter 8, Page 49).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 2 tankōbon (Chapter 11, Page 139).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 3 tankōbon (Chapter 13, Page 32).
- ^ a b "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 3 tankōbon (Chapter 14, Page 42).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 3 tankōbon (Chapter 19, Page 198).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 16 tankōbon (Chapter 99, Page 172).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 16 tankōbon (Chapter 99, Page 150).
