Emi Aobe

https://m-78.jp/videoworks/ultraman-blazar/https://tsuburaya-prod.com/news/6083 is the intelligence specialist of the SKaRD.
==Personality==
In everyday life, Emi displays an extremely friendly, easygoing, and cheerful personality, and she is adept at engaging in conversations with people. However, when it comes to conducting investigations and participating in tasks, she adopts a more serious and focused demeanor. She maintains an unwavering expression while concentrating on completing tasks, revealing a distinct dual personality.
As a top-notch intelligence operative, Emi is an expert in espionage information gathering. She possesses exceptional physical fitness, excels in marksmanship and combat skills, and is capable of independently executing various undercover investigations and intelligence collection missions. Due to her hobby of Cosplay, Emi often chooses appropriate costumes based on different scenarios during missions to ensure smooth information gathering. With a mastery of covert infiltration techniques, she can successfully infiltrate various organizations and groups. According to her, her outstanding STEM background is attributed to her upbringing in a family of scientists.
Despite her friendly demeanor when interacting with members of SkaRD, Emi harbors a certain level of mistrust towards humanity and governments due to her early exposure to the world's secrets.
==History==
===Pre-Ultraman Blazar===
Emi Aobe was born on October 11, 1999, in Toyama Prefecture. Her father Tatsuki Aobe, a scientist, exposed her to elite education and various skills from a young age. However, her father seemed rather indifferent to her, which caused her to grow up in an environment lacking in parental love. Nevertheless, she managed to graduate from the Electrical Engineering Department at MIT at the age of 17.
After graduation, she led a purposeless life until she was caught after hacking into the GGF system out of curiosity. After hacking the GGF system, Emi was recruited by the organization in October 2017. She became a member of the intelligence department and participated in numerous secret missions around the world, including missions related to kaiju disasters.
On September 9, 2020, Emi’s father disappeared in the explosion at Test Facility 66.
===Ultraman Blazar===
The unidentified Ultraman's appearance and subsequent fight with Bazanga during the Bazanga Elimination Operation forced the GGF to cease fire and observe the situation. Around the same time, the Contingency Command Post dispatched special forces intelligence officer Emi Aobe to a nearby building. The special operative, armed with a rocket launcher, looked for the right timing and fired a special round into the kaiju's nose. After confirming a successful hit, she followed the CCP's orders and left the scene. The special round was able to disable parts of Bazanga's internal functions and prevent it from using its Organic Blasters.
The next day, under orders from GGFJ Chief of Staff Retsu Haruno, Emi made herself known to SKaRD Captain Gento Hiruma at a cafe and guided him to the other would-be SKaRD members Teruaki and Anri. After going through a series of trips and transfer procedures, she and the rest of the SKaRD sans Yasunobu were introduced to the base and equipment.
When the SKaRD received their first report on an aquatic kaiju attacking a civilian freighter, Emi was already searching for relevant intel on the internet. From a news report Emi found, the members learned that the kaiju was named Gedos. Emi was then dispatched to the port to gather intelligence from the witnesses.
Emi, disguised and blending in with the local fishermen, observed the skirmish between Gedos and GGF's naval forces. When Gedos made its landing, Emi noticed that the kaiju was in reality being lured to the port. Rendezvoused with Gento and Anri, Emi joined in the battle against the kaiju. When Ultraman Blazar appeared and was struggling with Gedos' electric attack, Emi and Anri provided fire support for the giant. The mission concluded with the destruction of the kaiju.
When Emi and the other SKaRD members reported to a hangar underneath their base, they were introduced to member Yasunobu Bando. There, the members received their first official order from Chief of Staff Retsu Haruno.
Several days after the Battle of Gedos, Emi was ordered to gather intel on a possible kaiju that was associated with the destruction of teaterium storage tanks. Sent to the Energy Fusion Institute in Kutsuba City, Ibaraki under the guise of a new employee, she inquired her superior Okawa about the reasons and methods for the kaiju to consume liquid teaterium. When Taganular arrived at a nearby teaterium storage tank, Emi reported her situation to her members. She and Okawa later maintained at a distance and observed the battle.
In recent months, a creature known as "Leviera" has been appearing frequently in Japan. Only a new type of disinfectant called FK1, produced by the large chemical company "Novaio," can counter it. However, FK1 can only repel Leviera, not eradicate it completely. SkaRD becomes suspicious of the connection between Novaio and Leviera, so they dispatch Emi as an undercover agent, assuming the identity of Novaio's new secretary, Marino, to monitor CEO Sonezaki's actions.
During Emi's arrangement of Sonezaki's schedule at the headquarters, they encountered a sudden attack from Leviera. However, Sonezaki showed no concern and demonstrated how Novaio's drones used FK1 to defeat Leviera. Considering the danger of this mission, Emi and Gento met at the aquarium to exchange information and proposed the issue of Novaio's subsidiary, the artificial Clionidae, which shares partial genetic compatibility with Leviera. In response, Emi and SkaRD launched a tactical operation.
At night, Emi infiltrated the president's office on her own, using the tablet's facial recognition function to find Sonezaki's secret room and discover the classified files on the biological incident from the meteorite impact in 2001, which was handled by GGF. However, she was ambushed by Sonezaki and taken to the basement. There, Emi learned the truth about Leviera – how Novaio combined sample cells with artificial Clionidae to create it.
When Emi was held hostage, Gento rushed to the scene to provide assistance. Emi quickly utilized her martial arts skills to subdue Sonezaki and another bodyguard, but accidentally triggered an explosion that activated Leviera. As Leviera and Blazar clashed in the city, Emi noticed nearby liquid nitrogen storage tanks and informed the arriving Earth Garon. They successfully froze Leviera with liquid nitrogen and, with Blazar's assistance, managed to defeat Leviera.
Afterwards, Emi and Gento returned to the aquarium. She presented Gento with a bouquet of African daisies, conveying greetings to his family.
Subsequently, she frequently served as an investigator actively participating in various missions. During the Dorgo incident, despite being stationed alone at the CP, she successfully conducted an investigation using scroll images transmitted to her by Anri and found another scroll document detailing Dorgo in the database of the Science Museum. 
During the Nijikagachi attack on the Japanese archipelago, she was the first to notice the phenomenon of the "Upside-down rainbows" appearing in the skies over the Japanese islands. Since this unprecedented phenomenon persisted for 7 days, she speculated that it might herald the appearance of a monster. Later at midnight, she independently visited Kazunori Yokomine's research laboratory at Heijou University and discovered crucial data and documents used by Yokomine for summoning rituals. In her regular missions, Emi often played a frontline role, participating in various operations alongside other SKaRD members.
At some point after the conclusion of the Gebalga incident, Emi commissioned Yasunobu to investigate information related to "space kaijus." She learned from Yasunobu about the widely circulated conspiracy theory on social media known as the "Bazanga & Gebalga Hometown Theory," as well as the coincidence between a meteorite shot down by GGF in 1999 and the simultaneous appearance of Bazanga and Gebalga. This reminded Emi of the codename "V99" that she had previously come across in GGF's private data during her undercover investigation in Novaio. Later, in a conversation with Anri, she mentioned a part of her own background.
Recently, a Kaiju with the codename "Deltandal" has been conducting supersonic movements worldwide, generating shockwaves that have caused damage to the infrastructure of some cities and resulted in the downing of GGF reconnaissance aircraft. Upon receiving a mobilization order, Emi went to the GGFJ headquarters in search of relevant information. She infiltrated the server and discovered that GGF had categorized Deltandal as the "third wave" monster, possibly originating from the same source as the previous two space kaiju. All related data was classified under the V99 file, and the investigative report mentioned the Space Systems Research Center's Test Facility 66, as well as the name of the facility's manager, former GGFJ Director Yu Dobashi.
After returning to CP, Haruno expressed her dissatisfaction with SKaRD's inability to deal with Deltandal and reprimanded the team before leaving. Emi caught up with her and questioned why Dobashi, a former commander, was managing a research facility now classified at the highest level of secrecy. Haruno warned Emi not to pursue the matter further, but Emi, with a determined attitude, stated that she would continue to seek the truth.
Subsequently, Emi continued her investigation into V99-related information and found Gento's name in a 2020 Test Facility 66 explosion incident report while he was performing escort duties. She also discovered her father's name in a missing persons report. Just then, Dobashi's subordinate came to Emi's room and requested her presence at the gym where Dobashi was located.
Upon meeting Dobashi in person, Emi got straight to the point and voiced her deductions. She stated that the two space kaijus were essentially products sent to Earth by a hostile force. However, Dobashi responded with a smile but did not offer a direct response. He admitted that he himself was not entirely sure about the situation and believed that Emi, whom he described as "excellent but rebellious, just like her father," had the capability to find the real answers on her own. Finally, he left after asking her to convey his regards to Gento.
After the battle with Deltandal, Emi returned to CP. Gento noticed that she appeared troubled, so he encouraged her to open up and share her concerns. Emi decided to disclose what she had discovered and asked Gento about the details of a previous explosion incident. Gento explained that at the time, he was Dobashi's security personnel, and the explosion occurred while he was escorting Dobashi. A teammate mentioned that there were people still inside the facility who hadn't been evacuated, which is why he volunteered to go in and rescue them. However, he had no knowledge of the research being conducted at the facility at that time.
Hearing that Gento's immediate intention during the incident was to rescue other trapped individuals provided Emi with a sense of redemption. She hoped that Gento would allow her to continue to investigate the situation as an intelligence officer. The next day, Emi returned to Test Facility 66 for further investigation. However, at this point, Haruno arrived at the scene and stopped her. Emi felt frustrated by Haruno's interference and ultimately left, as it seemed that Haruno was unwilling to disclose the truth to her. In order to prevent Emi's actions from impacting the existence of SKaRD, he had earlier requested Gento to closely monitor Emi.
On September 28, 2023, an incident occurred in Fujigaki City where a group of workers, during their excavation work at a construction site, witnessed unidentified creatures in an underground cave. The SKaRD team was urgently dispatched to investigate. At the same time, Emi remained at the CP to continue monitoring and gather information.
While collecting data, Emi noticed a series of livestock disappearances on the farms surrounding Fujigaki City over the past two months, leading to initial suspicions of a connection with Mogusion. However, when she relayed this information to Gento, they received an urgent report of Mogusion's intrusion into the urban area. Unfortunately, due to the influence of Mogusion's illusions, Anri and Yasunobu, the pilots of Earth Garon, were unable to mobilize. The only person left capable of piloting Earth Garon was Emi, who remained at the CP.
Subsequently, Emi entered the cockpit of Earth Garon and initiated a formal conversation with the newly installed AI system, EGOISS. EGOISS politely informed Emi that she could address him as "Earthy." During their dialogue, Emi gradually let go of her anxious emotions and began her first mission piloting Earth Garon. When Emi witnessed Mogusion about to attack the civilians trapped in a building, she used Earth Garon to charge forward and repel Mogusion. However, Emi was then subjected to Mogusion's energy beam attack, ultimately confronting her greatest fear - "herself."
When Ultraman Blazar arrived to provide support, Emi saw another giant version of herself brutally attacking Blazar, causing her extreme fear. However, EGOISS promptly contacted other SKaRD members and, with their encouragement, helped Emi overcome the illusion. Earth Garon then launched a series of missiles, while Blazar focused on closing his eyes to sense the enemy's movements. Together, they successfully counterattacked Mogusion. Ultimately, Mogusion was defeated by the powerful slash of the Tilsonite Sword.
In October, due to the Irugo gas affecting Nijino Ward in Tokyo for the past week, SKaRD initiated an investigation. Considering the potential for a third wave of attacks, Emi independently conducted an investigation into Test Facility 66. She discovered a physicist named Tsutomu Nishizaki, who was a survivor of the initial explosion at Facility 66 and also a former university classmate of her father. Emi considered him a reliable witness and attempted to contact him after locating his whereabouts. However, when she approached Nishizaki, he pretended to be unaware of the incident until after Irugo was defeated by Ultraman Blazar, at which point he willingly met with her.
Nishizaki revealed the truth about the explosion three years ago to Emi and handed her the pendant left by her father. Emi decided to pursue the truth and, on her 24th birthday, returned to Test Facility 66 for further investigation. However, when she learned that Brood Gebalga had appeared in the city and was attacking Blazar, a massive dragon-like Kaiju named "Firdran" suddenly emerged from the experimental facility's wormhole. Firdran's formidable power resulted in Emi being thrown away on the spot.
At a crucial moment, Emi's father, Tatsuki, suddenly appeared before her. Through her father's actions, Emi learned that Firdran's true purpose was to assist Blazar. Together with her father, she opened the facility's cover to allow Firdran to fly out and helped Ultraman Blazar defeat Brood Gebalga.
After the battle, Tatsuki said his final words to Emi: "Emi, happy birthday." As Emi prepared to embrace him, Tatsuki suddenly disappeared. This left Emi feeling both sad and grateful for the opportunity to see her father again. She discovered a key falling out from the back of her father's pendant photo and realized that the "incorrect birthday date" engraved on the pendant was actually a puzzle left by her father.
That night, she and Gento went to the bank to retrieve the safe deposit box, only to discover her father's diary inside. However, Dobashi suddenly appeared and took Tatsuki's diary. Despite Emi's angry protests, she could only helplessly watch as Dobashi left, hindered by Dobashi's subordinates.
As Emi continued her secret investigation into the existence of V99, with the assistance of the amateur astronomer Michihiro Oikawa, she discovered distortions near Earth. Confirming the presence of objects resembling the "Third Wave" approaching Earth along the trajectories of the previous two space kaiju. While dealing with the attacks of Taganular, she learned through Oikawa's information that Taganular's actual purpose was to protect Earth from the Third Wave. Emi hacked into the United States' broadcasting system, urging Blazar not to defeat Taganular, ultimately succeeding in preventing the Third Wave from reaching Earth.
However, Varallon, landing on the moon, began producing bombs, detonating them one by one, attempting to influence the moon's orbit to make it fall into Earth. GGFJ ordered SKaRD to use Earth Garon Mod.4 to eliminate Varallon.
Emi sought out Earthy to attempt to organize the current information, and she inferred that the object shot down by GGFJ in 1999 was, in reality, a spaceship belonging to extraterrestrials. She expressed confusion about whether the existence of space kaiju was for retaliation or invasion. Although Earthy couldn't provide answers due to the confidential nature of the information it held, as part of SKaRD and to genuinely consider her a companion, Earthy offered Emi a breakthrough.
While others embarked on the mission, Emi stayed on Earth searching for a way to escape the dilemma. After successfully hacking into the files, she accessed the V99 file and learned the truth from that year. However, before further reading, she was abruptly taken away by Dobashi's subordinate.
Emi was subsequently imprisoned in a sealed room; however, with Haruno's intervention, she was successfully rescued. Haruno also returned the notebook, which had not been destroyed, to Emi. She pointed out that the notebook left by Emi's father contained crucial information about V99.
Later, Emi and Haruno arrived at GGFJ CP and, with the permission of Commander Minoru Genkawa, revealed the truth related to V99. Emi pointed out that the V99 fleet en route to Earth was actually comprised of fellow beings from the scout vessels shot down in 1999. Additionally, humans secretly developed wormhole devices and Earth Garon using the technology from the wreckage of the scout vessels. It was Dobashi who had given the order to shoot down the scout vessels. Dobashi questioned Emi, believing that if they could shoot down the V99 fleet again, Earth could avoid disaster. However, Earthy, through sending a message, inquired about V99's intentions regarding the invasion of Earth and received the response, "Blue Planet... Danger... Fear..."
Emi began pondering the reasons behind V99's attack on Earth, questioning whether their actions were driven by a fear of humanity. She proposed a solution, suggesting a global initiative within the GGF to cease the hostile posture against the V99 fleet. Emi further emphasized that initiating an attack now would make it challenging to halt the escalating conflict, and she urged Earthy to convey to V99, "We do not wish to fight".
As the V99 fleet approached, Emi asked Earthy to transmit a message to V99: "Future." Upon receiving this response, the V99 fleet utilized a wormhole to retreat. When Dobashi inquired about the choice of "Future" as the message, Emi explained that the V99, constantly searching for a new homeland, might grasp the meaning of the word, and as humans, "we also desire a future."
In the end, Emi reunited with the members of SKaRD, continuing to shoulder the responsibility of protecting Earth.
==Merchandise==
*Ultraman Blazar Deformed Acrylic Stand (2023)
**Release Date(s): October 2023 (Premium Bandai)
**Price: 770 yen for each piece
**Materials: Acrylic
:Released as part of the Blazar-themed Deformed Acrylic Stand series, Emi (illustrated in an anime style) is one of the character display stands for this product.
:Emi (and the rest of the characters) is available as a made-for-order item (where the customers can choose one during purchase) for Premium Bandai in October 2023.
==Gallery==
===Ultraman Blazar===
SKaRD OP 2.png
Emi Aobe Tv 2.png
Emi Aobe Tv 3.png
Emi Aobe Tv 4.png
Emi Aobe Tv 5.png
Emi Aobe Tv 6.png
Emi Aobe Tv 7.png
Emi Aobe Tv 8.png
Emi Aobe E4 2.png
Emi Aobe E4 3.png
Emi Aobe E4 4.png
Emi Aobe 05 01.png
Emi Aobe 08 01.png
Emi Aobe 08 02.png
Emi Aobe 10 01.png
Emi Aobe 13 01.png
Emi Aobe 13 02.png
Emi Aobe 014 001.png
Emi Aobe 014 003.png
Emi Aobe 014 014.png
Emi Aobe 014 006.png
Emi Aobe 014 008.png
Emi Aobe 16 0001.png
Emi Aobe 16 0002.png
Emi Aobe 16 005.png|The giant Emi that appears through Mogusion's illusion
Emi Aobe 16 007.png
Emi Aobe 16 006.png
Emi Aobe 16 008.png
Emi Aobe 16 009.png
Emi Aobe 018 001.png
Emi Aobe 018 002.png
Emi Aobe 018 003.png
Emi Aobe 019 004.png
Emi Aobe 019 0010.png
Emi Aobe 019 006.png
Emi Aobe 019 005.png
Emi Aobe 24 01.png
Emi Aobe 24 04.png
Emi Aobe 24 03.png
Emi Aobe 25 01.png
Emi Aobe 25 02.png
Emi Aobe 25 03.png
Emi Aobe 25 05.png
Emi Aobe 25 06.png
===Ultraman Blazar The Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown===
Ultraman Blazar The Movie Stills 2.jpeg
Ultraman Blazar The Movie Stills 7.jpeg
===Miscellaneous===
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 1-.jpeg
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 2.jpeg
Emi Aobe magazine photo 001.jpeg
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 3.jpeg
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 4.jpeg
Emi Aobe magazine photo 002.jpeg
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 5.jpeg
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 6.jpeg
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 7.jpeg
Gento Hiruma 005.jpeg
Emi Aobe 040404.png
SKaRD 008 008.png
Emi Aobe E2 Miscellaneous 1.jpeg
Emi Aobe E3 Miscellaneous 1.jpeg
Emi Aobe E4 Miscellaneous 1.jpeg
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 009.png
Emi Aobe Miscellaneous 010.png
Emi Aobe 2024.png|https://tarzanweb.jp/post-305618
Emi Aobe 2024 2.png
SKaRD Dossier File - EMI.png|Fan recreation of Emi's file
==Trivia==
*Himena Tsukimiya, who plays the role of Emi, initially auditioned for both Emi and Anri. At the time, she found Anri's lines easier to deliver. However, since Emi is a calm character, she initially struggled to grasp the nuances of the role. After discussing with director Kiyotaka Taguchi, he advised her to approach the role with a certain image in mind, which helped Tsukimiya gradually understand Emi's personality during her performance.https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1688702711&p=3https://animageplus.jp/articles/detail/53241 Additionally, prior to the audition, Koichi Sakamoto recommended Tsukimiya to Taguchi."Spaceship" vol.183 pg 77-80
*When Tsukimiya first read the script, she was confused about the interactions during the mission and with the base squad members. However, after receiving direction from the director to "initially portray a sense of innocence that borders on a little clumsiness," she mentioned in an interview that she later connected her relationship with her mother to Emi's own past. When asked why he chose Tsukimiya, director Taguchi stated, "She has both a calm and steady side and an energetic and cheerful side, exhibiting duality."https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20230707-2722152/
*Tsukimiya previously received martial arts training from action performer Tak Sakaguchi and demonstrated her action skills in episodes 4 and 16.
*In episode 16, due to Mogusion's illusion ability to project people's deepest fears, Emi saw a gigantic version of herself. According to the personal perspective of Himena Tsukimiya, the actress who portrays this character, she believes that what Emi is afraid of may be related to the emotion of "loneliness" she experienced when she was younger. When she learned about her father's disappearance, she would sit alone in the center of their spacious house, filled with anxiety, waiting for her father to return. Seeing the adults evading the topic of her father, Emi gradually realized that she could only rely on herself to face the harsh reality, which led to the development of these repressed emotions.https://twitter.com/himenachaaaaan/status/1718118860644397539
==References==
Category:Ultraman Blazar
Category:Ultraman Blazar Characters
Category:Human Characters
Category:Female Characters
Category:Allies
Category:SKaRD Members
Category:SKaRD
Category:Heroines