Takasugi Shinsaku

, Class Name , is an Archer-class Servant summoned by Ritsuka Fujimaru in the Grand Orders of Fate/Grand Order. He is summoned by the Mouri Clan in the altered history of Golden Demon Realm ZIPANG in GUDAGUDA Taikou Legend ZIPANG.
==Profile==
===Identity===
A maverick and Meiji Restoration patriot who gallantly entered the scene in Chōshū at the end of the Edo period.
He was a disciple of , an academy presided over by Yoshida Shouin. Together with , Yoshida Toshimaro and , he was known as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Shōka Sonjuku, showing great promise for his future.
He was born into the Takasugi clan, a prestigious family that had served the Mōri clan for generations since the Sengoku era. At first he attended Meirinkan, a feudal domain school, but he found their practices of allowing only samurai to attend, stiff formal lessons, among numerous other niceties, so utterly archaic that he enrolled into Shōka Sonjuku, an academy presided over by Yoshida Shōin, a previous top student at Meirinkan.
Unlike Meirinkan, Takasugi found Shōka Sonjuku, or rather Shōin's classes, stupidly interesting, and he quickly rose to prominence as Shōin's disciple. He also went to Edo to study abroad, but his teacher, Yoshida Shōin, was captured and executed due to the Ansei Purge. This is when Takasugi began to openly speak of overthrowing the Shogunate.
Following these events, Takasugi joined a delegation under the Shogunate and studied in Shanghai. Witnessing the threat posed by the Western powers, he grew even more concerned about the future of Japan and overthrowing the Shogunate. After returning to Japan, he joined the Sonnō Jōi movement and mingled with samurai from various clans in Edo and Kyoto. But even amongst these samurai, Takasugi was an exceptionally unconventional man who committed a numerous amount of radical acts such as setting the British legation on fire.
The Chōshū domain tried to keep Takasugi obedient by offering him a position, but he immediately turned it down. He continued to act nonsensically, ranting that he would fool around for a decade and shave his head. He also stated he would go somewhere far away, but he ended up playing his shamisen and composing songs in his hometown.
Chōshū bombarded the Americans, French and Dutch in Shimonoseki, and promptly got pummeled by them. Frightened by the outcome, Chōshū entrusted Takasugi with defending Shimonoseki. As a result, Takasugi established the "Kiheitai", a modernized militia not bound by social status. However, following some disputes, he was soon dismissed as the leader of the Kiheitai. "Damn clansmen, always complaining over the littlest things."
Anyhow, this and that happened, and Chōshū became the enemy of the imperial government after the Hamaguri Rebellion, continuing to be bombarded by the combined naval forces of four nations in Shimonoseki. "It's over now!" they thought, but for some unfathomable reason the Chōshū clan once again asked Takasugi, who was in prison at the time, to negotiate a peace agreement. However, Takasugi was only too eager to sabotage this peace conference, and so he developed an Ultra C plan to force the Shogunate to pay the reparations instead. At the meeting, Takasugi put on a show by suddenly reciting the and even pretending not to hear about the concession of Hikoshima.
While all of this was going on, the First Chōshū expedition was approaching, and a faction of the Chōshū clan loyal to the Shogunate emerged to try to accept the Shogunate's demands. Takasugi was so enraged by this that he commanded a unit with a miniscule number of men at Kōzanji. As reckless as his decision was to command a unit, Takasugi and his men in a state of heightened frenzy, marched into Hagi and wiped out the faction loyal to the Shogunate. Hence the Chōshū were now unified in its policy to overthrow the Shogunate. The Second Chōshū expedition by the Shogunate was commenced in response to this act. Everyone believed that Chōshū was now done for, but Chōshū, perhaps having had a taste of success, decided to appoint Takasugi as their naval commander. Takasugi then took command of the navy and won a great victory against the Shogunate fleet. This battle's victory undermined the authority of the Shogunate, which in turn contributed to the Meiji Restoration.
However, Takasugi, who had been afflicted by illness, died of pulmonary tuberculosis without ever seeing imperial rule fully restored.
===Appearance ===
===Personality===
At first glance, he appears to be a calm, intellectual gentle-looking man, but in actuality, he has a wild temperament and is a troublemaker who is willing to do anything as long as he finds it amusing. At any rate, he is a free-spirited one-man-show of a president who acts independently of other people.
====Relationships====
;Sakamoto Ryouma / Sakamoto Ryouma (Lancer)
:"Hahahahahahaha! Still shady as ever, I see, Sakamoto-kun. Even so, it's a strange coincidence, meeting you here again. Oh, Master-kun, you better watch yourself around him. You never know what this guy's thinking. Although, I have to admit the world would be a boring place without men like him around."Fate/Grand Order — Takasugi Shinsaku's Lines translated by shinyklefkey on Reddit
;Izumo-no-Okuni
:"Hey, Okuni-kun. Long time no see. Huh? "We parted ways on good terms but it's ruined now?" I suppose you could say that. Anyway, if you're free, how about sleeping into the morning with me this time? What? "I shall have to decline?" Hahahahahahaha! That's a shame!"
;Okada Izou
:"Okada-kun, is that you over there? Hey, come on, there's no need to run away. We used to have fun back when we were in Edo, right? ─── With my money, that is. How about it? It's been a long time, let's get drunk and party tonight. Don't worry if you don't have any money, our Master will provide the funds. Right?"
;Okita Souji / Hijikata Toshizou / Saitou Hajime / Yamanami Keisuke / Nagakura Shinpachi
:"The Shinsengumi, huh... I don't really get along with them after the Ikedaya and Hamaguri Gomon Incidents...but I suppose this is another example of enemies joining forces. Wait a minute. I think it might be fun to incorporate them into the Kiheitai as the "Shinsentai." Just what I need, and if I reinforce them... Yup, this could be quite the fun."
;Minamoto-no-Tametomo
:"Is he some kind of secret weapon developed by Chaldea or something? Huh? He's the armored warrior of Genji? By Genji, you mean THE Genji? I can't believe it. The legendary Hachirō Chinzei was a robot, that's fascinating. I wonder if I can become a cyborg too or something. Can you do it, Chaldea?"
;Charles Babbage
:"Who is this gentleman? Steam-powered armor? That's amazing, so he's literally a gentleman of steel? I'd love to take a closer look at that armor."
;Erice Utsumi
:"Long ago, our nation of Japan was created from Takamagahara, where the two gods and Izanami stood at Ama no Ukihashi and used the Ame-no-Nuboko ─── What? You have the Ame-no-Nuboko? That girl possesses it, although it’s just a replica? Hahahahahaha! Excellent! I'll have to take a look. I'd like to swing it around a bit if that's okay. Hm? What was up with that story I told in the beginning? Oh, nothing, really. That's just what I do when I want to obfuscate the topic."
==Role==
===Fate/Grand Order===
====Event: Shōwa Kishin Project GUDAGUDA====
Fate/Grand Order - GUDAGUDA Ryouma's Narrow Escape, Chapter Three: KihejtaiFate/Grand Order - GUDAGUDA Ryouma's Narrow Escape, Chapter Five: The Two RyoumasFate/Grand Order - GUDAGUDA Ryouma's Narrow Escape, Chapter Seven: Let My Voice Carry to the StarsFate/Grand Order - GUDAGUDA Ryouma's Narrow Escape, Chapter Eight: The Day You DiedFate/Grand Order - GUDAGUDA Ryouma's Narrow Escape, Chapter Nine: By My Friends' SideFate/Grand Order - GUDAGUDA Ryouma's Narrow Escape, Chapter Ten: Kishin AwakenedFate/Grand Order - GUDAGUDA Ryouma's Narrow Escape, Final Chapter: Dear Dragon, Race across the Waves of Wadatsumi
====Event: CBC2023 Tales of Chaldean Heavy Industries ～B to B for Me and You～====
Fate/Grand Order - CBC2023 Tales of Chaldean Heavy Industries - B to B for Me and You, Chapter 2: A Cozy Workplace
==Abilities==
Shinsaku is a talented strategist, using his skills to orchestrate a complex scheme. Despite his lithe frame, he has fully mastered . However, mastering that alone seemed too run-of-the-mill for the likes of him, so he developed a mysterious and strange sword technique that combines a specially made Molotov cocktail and Shinkage-ryuu.
===Combat===
During normal combat, he wields his homemade Molotov cocktails and shamisen blades, and on top of that he even summons and manipulates a miniature prototype model called Prototype Arahabaki, demonstrating his reckless fighting style. While his style is more of evocative of a Rider than an Archer, he claims he's not the kind of person to fit a stereotype.
This combat style was derived from events in the Showa Restoration Singularity, but due to the nature of his peculiar Noble Phantasm and dramatic fate, it became engraved into Takasugi's Spirit Origin. In addition, one of his eyes also possesses an unnamed ability akin to that of a Mystic Eye that allows him to accurately analyze objects that he directs his gaze onto upon uttering the word "analyze". Ritsuka Fujimaru offers to name this ability the "Takasugi Eye" but Takasugi himself declines.
Takasugi claims he doesn't stand a chance against Tanaka Shinbei's Chest. When caught in a sword duel with Okita Souji, he's shown to be able to match her as an equal.GUDAGUDA Taikou Legend ZIPANG — Chapter 12
===Skills===
====Class Skills====
* Magic Resistance (D Rank) 
* Independent Action (B Rank) 
====Personal Skills====
* Hero of the Restoration (Eccentric) (B Rank)
* Unprecedented Child Prodigy (A Rank): An unfinished masterpiece. A phrase coined by a specific someone regarding Takasugi, who raced across the end of the Edo period like a glittering star.
* Armament Restoration (B Rank): Innovate. Modifying the armaments of one's own army into the latest equipment of that era. A skill derived from the Kiheitai, who overwhelmed the Shogunate forces with the latest equipment and daring tactics.
* My Japanese Spirit Will Live Forever (A Rank): A line from his teacher Yoshida Shouin's death poem. It makes it possible for Takasugi to rise up against adverse circumstances to escape death in the nick of time. This is an unprecedented skill composition, possessing Guts despite his Weak Constitution.
* Weak Constitution (－ Rank): Weak Constitution was originally a demerit skill, but it has transformed into the My Japanese Spirit Will Live Forever skill after accepting the words and spirit of his teacher. What's up with this "Weak Constitution" skill bullying its user, save this kind of crap for the Shinsengumi's Manslayer-or-whatever-the-name-was.
=== Noble Phantasm ===
His Noble Phantasm is Super Restoration - Kiheitai. This is an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm that strengthens its allies by endowing them with the necessary skills and equipment according to the war’s situation. Incidentally, the equipment and weapons to be enhanced will become the latest armaments available in that era. Furthermore, as long as they have the will to fight, he can endow anyone with the power of a thousand ordinary soldiers. However, once unleashed, it is a self-destructive Noble Phantasm that rapidly wears down Takasugi’s Spirit Origin and places a tremendous burden on him, so its operational time is short and it becomes difficult to activate again. Mysterious Ranmaru X could block the bullets of Takasugi's Kiheitai soldiers. Lancer Sakamoto Ryouma also states that his Kiheitai cannot stop Oryou.
Extra features:
*: The Kiheitai can fire a flash-bang capable of blinding Oryou or Lancer Sakamoto Ryouma. It can be used as a distraction to escape from the battlefield.
===Kishin Project===
The was a plan devised by Takasugi Shinsaku during the Showa Restoration Singularity. Its objective was to build Ama-no-Sakagami a new body to replace the one he lost during the Age of Gods. In order to replicate the power of an ancient god, Takasugi transformed the entire city into a giant reactor designed to collect Magical Energy, similar to Mori Nagayoshi's Heroic Spirit Restraint Armor Type A. This was accomplished by dividing the city into six blocks, each with its own Magical Reactor. All the energy they collected would then be fed to YAMATO, the Restoration Reactor in the central town. This drained the life force and magical energy of everyone inside the Singularity. While fatal to most Human citizens, Servants like Izumo-no-Okuni could survive it. It would normally take at least half a day to collect all the mana around the city, however, this was temporarily prevented thanks to Chaldea's servants seizing the six reactors. Nevertheless, Takasugi ultimately managed to gather all the magical energy he needed by increasing the amount he drained from the citizens.
Although the Kishin Project had initially been devised to support Ama-no-Sakagami, Takasugi ended up double crossing him as soon as the former revealed he was willing to betray him. Having already anticipated this scenario, Takasugi redirected all the Magical Energy to Arahabaki, his contingency plan.
==Development==
===Creation and Conception===
Takasugi Shinsaku was designed by TAKOLEGS in Fate/Grand Order.TAKOLEGS Twitter 7:30 PM JST · Nov 20, 2021TAKOLEGS Twitter 7:49 PM JST · Nov 20, 2021
Takasugi was introduced as a non-player character in the 2021 GUDAGUDA event, "Shōwa Kishin Project: Ryouma's Close Call". Despite only be an NPC he proved extremely popular, with many fans on social media lamenting that he wasn't playable. He was made playable two years later, with Chaldea Boys Collection 2023.
==References==
Category:Characters in Fate/Grand Order (Part 2) 
Category:Introduced in 2021
Category:Servants
Category:Archer-class Servants
Category:Human Attribute Servants
Category:Chaotic Good Servants
Category:D rank Strength Servants
Category:D rank Endurance Servants
Category:B rank Agility Servants
Category:C rank Mana Servants
Category:B- rank Luck Servants
Category:B+ rank Noble Phantasm Servants
Category:Samurai
Category:Humans
Category:Heroic Spirits
Category:Japanese Servants