Hikaru Ichijyo
Hikaru Ichijyo (一条 輝 Ichijō Hikaru) is one of the main fictional characters of the Macross Japanese anime series.[1] His voice actor was Arihiro Hase in the Original Japanese version and Vic Mignogna in the English dub by ADV Films in January 2006.[2][3][4][5] After the death of Arihiro Hase in 1996, he was played by Kenji Nojima in the PlayStation 2 Macross video game from 2003.[6]
The original animation and the distributors Bandai Visual and Victor Entertainment romanizes his name as Hikaru Ichijyo, while AnimEigo and ADV Films also use Hikaru Ichijo and Hikaro Ichijo.[2][7]
Background
According to the fictional continuity of Macross, Hikaru Ichijyo is Japanese. Hikaru grew up with his father as a talented aerobatic flier, having won seven amateur flying contests by the age of 16 in 2009.[7] When his "senpai" Roy Focker invited him to the launch ceremony of the SDF-1 Macross he found himself pulled into a galactic war against an alien race called the Zentradi. He later joins the UN Spacy after a talk with Focker and Lynn Minmay. Shortly after joining, he gains a reputation as a skilled pilot and leader, and he is promoted to second lieutenant and later first lieutenant. He pilots the VF-1S Valkyrie "Skull One" after the death of Focker, and is eventually promoted to captain at the end of the series.[8][7]
Hikaru is an iconic but atypical anime sci-fi hero. Despite some early personality clashes with his female superior officer Misa Hayase, Hikaru is a rather humble and jovial type of person, in contrast to the usual hot-headed type of heroes of other mecha series. He displays leadership abilities early on and has a deep sense of responsibility and duty. However, unlike most lead characters, he concedes that his subordinate, Maximilian Jenius, is the best in battle, which makes him a prized wingman in Hikaru's squadron. His personal feelings tend toward two women: his friend-turned-idol Japanese-Chinese girl Lynn Minmay, and Misa. Being a shy person, he seems incapable of defining what he really feels for each of them, creating a tense love triangle that became as interesting and essential to the Macross story as the mecha battles and action sequences amid the alien-human apocalyptic war.
Captain Ichijyo became test pilot for one of the first prototypes of the VF-4 Lightning III variable fighter set to replace the VF-1 Valkyrie.[9]
After the war Hikaru eventually wed Misa Hayase and together with Lynn Minmay boarded the SDF-2 Megaroad-01 in 2012 to leave on a stellar exploration and colonization mission. Hikaru and Misa had a daughter in 2013 which they named Miku Ichijyo. Hikaru Ichijyo was also in command of the new VF-4 Lightning III Skull Squadron assigned as defense of the Megaroad-01 fleet,[10] which disappeared 4 years later in 2016 near the center of the galaxy with him, Misa, Miku and Minmay on board.[11]
Legacy
Hikaru Ichijyo's legacy within the ongoing future history of the Macross series has been a palpable presence. The new Macross Frontier anime TV series contains numerous references to Ichijyo's career on the SDF-1.
- In Macross 7 as well, the Macross 7 fleet make a play entitled "Do you remember love?", which retells the events of Macross: Do you remember love?, and Basara Nekki, the main character of Macross 7 plays the role of Hikaru Ichijyo in the film. [citation needed]
- The Mihoshi Academy on board the Macross Frontier has a VF-1S fighter atop the roof. It is not just any VF-S1, however - it is Ichijyo's first mount as leader of the Vermilion Squad of Skull Squadron.
- Alto Saotome, as most junior pilot of Skull Squadron (a position shared with Ichijyo), has his VF-25 Messiah fighter decorated in the same colors as Hikaru's VF-1A (and later S) from Macross: Do You Remember Love.
References
- ↑ Character of Macross: Hikaru Ichijyo. Pages 102-105. Macross Perfect Memory. Reference Book. 260 A4 pages. Minori Library, Japan. Y2800. 1983, October 10.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
- ↑ The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Cast. Page 254. Macross Perfect Memory. Reference Book. 260 A4 pages. Minori Library, Japan. Y2800. 1983, October 10.
- ↑ ADV Films Official Macross English Dub Page.English/Japanese Cast Information. 04-09-09
- ↑
- ↑ Sony PlayStation 2 Compatible DVD-ROM Video Game. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross. SLPM-65405. Sega-AM2/Bandai. Japan. Y6800. 2003, October 23.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 ADV Films Official Macross English Dub Page.Artwork Section: Hikaro. 04-09-09
- ↑
- ↑ Macross Outside Story: VF-X-4. Page 68. Macross Perfect Memory. Reference Book. 260 A4 pages. Minori Library, Japan. Y2800. 1983, October 10.
- ↑ Macross Chronicle Issue 14. Mechanic Sheet: FB: U.N. Spacy 01A: SDF-2 Megaroad. Fighter Complement. We've Inc. 2009.01.22
- ↑ Official Date of the Megaroad-01's Disappearance