Kyoshiro

Background

Born during the silver years of Kabuki, Kyoshiro Senryo became an actor and a Kabuki star by the age of 12. His father owned a theater in Tokyo (which was Edo at this time period, and possibly became the theater now known as Kabuki-Za).

Fighting style and abilities

As expected with his theatrical behavior, Kyoshiro has a lot of charisma, energy and charm. He has many dramatic phrases in regards to his passion for performing as well as battling his opponents. His unique abilities along with the skills of the naginata include fire-breathing, thrusting mystical water out of his hair, and the ability to spin either vertically or horizontally, and occasionally from the air to the ground. In the later games, his fan-throwing move is turned to the water projectile, the Tsunami Crunch. Another additional move is summoning a giant frog to temporarily engulf his opponent; spitting them out in flames.

Character development

Kyoshiro's original design was described as "flamboyant", and in his makeover in Samurai Shodown 3, he becomes a "grim-faced, muscular man". Possibly due to the game's darkened story as opposed to not just magical sorcerers but now a true demonic murderer wandering the lands, perhaps this was necessary for Kyoshiro to fit the role on his part of a quest, or in his words, "to set the stage". Though his pitch is higher and more melodic, his mood in his tone is rather mellow in comparison to his previous appearances.

In the fourth game, the atmosphere and tale is the darkest of the series. Not only has Amakusa returned, but with a hidden terrifying addition that Zankuro is held prisoner in stone in his castle.

However, Kyoshiro's voice had remained in its theatrical tone despite his change in design. In fact it is more melodic in 4 than it had been in the past three games, and his voice becomes even brighter, much like a cheerful performer in 6.

His personality also evolves from each Samurai Shodown game.

In Samurai Shodown 1, he is the typical hard-working actor who is sensitive to criticism and he is highly confident in his performances and dedicated to his career.

In Samurai Shodown 2, his behavior remains the same, but he is much more focused on business and not paying mind to critics. This is also part of development in show business that criticism is to be expected and actors eventually become immune to unwanted opinions. His main goal is to continue spreading his own career around the world.

In Samurai Shodown 3, his personality is even more focused on stage- where as in his quote is "What a great death scene". Even when encountering the demon Zankuro, his enthusism remains.

In Samurai Shodown 4, his personality becomes most theatrical. However, he has a gripe with Ukyo whereas the ill rival of Haohmaru encounters the Kabuki actor with a "morbid poem" to mock his theatrical acts. Kyoshiro calls Ukyo a critic, stating that he cannot appreciate the true beauty of acting and that he should die.

In Samurai Shodown 5, for lack of story, it is hard to tell if he had much of change.

However, in Samurai Shodown 6, his personality becomes the most cheerful and vibrant with an optimistic view on each time he defeats his opponents. In the semi-finals of his story, he meets up with the living puppet doll Ocha-Maro and she states that she can dance. This gets Kyoshiro's attention and after they duel, he tells her that he is "definitely the better dancer". In his ending, Ocha-Maro offers Kyoshiro that she join his Kabuki dancing company and it helps popularize his Kabuki profession throughout the nation.