Shuichi Saihara

Shuichi Saihara is a student from Dangan Ronpa. He is a prominent character within the series and popular with fans. Saihara debuted in the third game of the main-line series, Dangan Ronpa V3: Killing Harmony, and survived the killing game. He replaced Kaede Akamatsu as Killing Harmony's protagonist after her execution by Monokuma during Chapter 1.
==Canon Overview==
=== Pre-Game Personality ===
Saihara was an average teenage boy and a fan of Dangan Ronpa, the in-game fictional reality TV show. He auditioned for the show's 53rd season, (stylized as V3,) and got on it. In fanworks, this is considered to be his Pre-Game Personality. Like with every other Killing Harmony student, all of this info is filtered by Tsumugi Shirogane, and fans may not believe this part of his character is true.
=== Dangan Ronpa Personality ===
Saihara is first introduced as Akamatsu's partner. After becoming protagonist, his character arc focuses on the process of him getting stronger and coming to terms with what he must do as a detective, as well as his continued grief for Akamatsu and the other classmates he is forced to condemn. Ultimately, he is successful in defying The Mastermind and ending the killing game, escaping the academy as one of Killing Harmony's three survivors.
== Popular Tropes & Fanon==
* Bisexual!Saihara Shuichi
TBA
==Subjects of Fannish Interest & Meta==
===Fan Opinion===
Fan opinions on Saihara as the game's protagonist, and specifically his replacement of Akamatsu in this role, are mixed. Some fans feel that Saihara is a complex, relatable character whose growth is a breath of fresh air compared to more common tropes of optimistic, happy go lucky main characters. Others preferred Akamatsu and were looking forward to a female protagonist or simply enjoyed her personality more. Further, the fact that the protagonist swap is intended as a surprise twist left some feeling resentful, and hate toward Shuichi as a result can occur. Despite this, he's popular among most fans overall, ranking 2nd within V3 and 7th in the series overall in one 2021 Japanese poll.. Twitter thread by @danganropnawiki posted 20 November 2021. Accessed 23 September 2022.
=== Pre-Game Personality Headcanons ===
His possible personality before the game is often explored in fanworks, with one common interpretation being of pre-game Shuichi as an obsessed fan of Dangan Ronpa, (and especially Kyoko Kirigiri,) who may have yandere tendencies. This fanon interpretation is itself controversial, with some enjoying the idea of him with such a different personality from canon, and others criticizing it as toxic.
==Relationships==
This is purposefully an incomplete list, as Saihara is shipped with much of Dangan Ronpa's cast. Please add any notable relationships in fanworks if they are missing.
In Kanji, Saihara is usually represented in a pairing names with 最 (sai). In Hiragana, さい (sai) is common.
The order seen should be what's most popular unless marked with "possibly." ENG portmanteaus are also subject to change. Relationships listed fall into GL, NL, BL, Poly, Combi or Cargo.
With... 	Full Label 	Type 	Portmanteau / Phrase	Kanji or Katakana 	Information
Kokichi Ouma 	Kokichi Ouma/Shuichi Saihara 	BL 	Saiouma 	王最 (Ousai), 最王 (Saiou) 	n/a
Kaede Akamatsu 	Kaede Akamatsu/Shuichi Saihara 	NL 	Saimatsu 	最赤 (Saiaka) 	n/a
Kaito Momota 	Kaito Momota/Shuichi Saihara 	BL 	Saimota 	百最 (Momosai), 最百 (Saimomo) 	n/a
Kaito Momota, Kokichi Ouma 	Momota/Ouma/Saihara 	Poly 	Saioumota 	(n/a) 	Very popular for a poly ship.
Maki Harukawa, Kaito Momota	Harukawa & Momota & Saihara 	Combi 	Training Trio 	n/a 	n/a
Rantaro Amami 	Rantaro Amami/Shuichi Saihara 	BL 	Amasai 	最天 (Saiama) 	Most popular pairing overall for Amami.
Tenko Chabashira 	Tenko Chabashira/Shuichi Saihara 	NL 	Chabahara 	最転 (Saiten) 	n/a
Maki Harukawa 	Maki Harukawa/Shuichi Saihara 	NL 	Saimaki 	最春 (Saiharu) 	n/a
Tsumugi Shirogane 	Shuichi Saihara/Tsumugi Shirogane	NL 	Saimugi 	最つむ (Saitsumu) 	n/a
Kiibo 	Kiibo/Shuichi Saihara 	BL 	Saiibo 	キボ最 (Kibsai), 最キボ (Saikibo) 	n/a
Angie Yonaga 	Shuichi Saihara/Angie Yonaga 	NL 	Sainaga 	最アン (Saian) 	n/a
Ryoma Hoshi 	Ryoma Hoshi/Shuichi Saihara 	BL 	Saihoshi 	最星 (Saihoshi) 	n/a
Himiko Yumeno 	Shuichi Saihara/Himiko Yumeno 	NL 	Saimeno 	最夢 (Saiyume) 	n/a
Korekiyo Shinguji 	Shuichi Saihara/Korekiyo Shinguji	BL 	Shinsai 	真最 (Shinsai), 最真 (Saishin) 	n/a
Kirumi Tojo 	Shuichi Saihara/Kirumi Tojo 	NL 	Sairumi 	最斬 (Saikiru) 	n/a
Miu Iruma 	Miu Iruma/Shuichi Saihara 	NL 	Sainaga 	最入 (Saiiru) 	n/a
Gonta Gokuhara 	Gonta Gokuhara/Shuichi Saihara 	BL 	Saigoku 	ゴン最 (Gonsai), 最獄 (Saigoku) 	n/a
"Introvert Saiara" 	Saiharacest 	BL; selfcest	Saiharacest?, Insai 	陰最 (Insai), JPN for "shadow" 	n/a
==Example/Notable Fanac==
===Fan Communities/Fan Events===
===Wikis===
* on Danganronpa Wiki
* on PixivEncyclopedia
* on Shipping Wiki
===Fan Fic===
===Fan Art===
===General Fanworks===
===Meta===
* (2020)
* (2020)
* (2018)
* (2018)
==Links and Resources ==
*Shuichi Saihara on the Danganronpa Fandom.com wiki
*Danganronpa — Shuichi Saihara at TVTropes
*Saihara Shuichi works on AO3
*#Shuichi Saihara on tumblr
*#Shuuichi Saihara on Pixiv
==References==
Category:Dangan Ronpa Characters