Ichirō Inuyashiki

**Ichirō Inuyashiki** (犬屋敷 壱郎 *Inuyashiki Ichirō*) is the main protagonist. He is the husband of Marie Inuyashiki and the father of Mari Inuyashiki and Takeshi Inuyashiki.

## Appearance

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Ichirō is an elderly-looking man with brown eyes, short hair and thick eyebrows. He has short grey hair and despite being in his late 50s, he has wrinkles all over his body and receding hair. He wears glasses, but stops wearing them when he discovers he can see fine without them.

## Personality and relations

At first glance, Ichirō is a timid man who rarely likes to speak out, which is evident in the way that his family treats him. He retreats into cowardice and melancholy when behaviours such as hatred, selfishness, rudeness or bullying come into his way. His introversion, however, is in conflict with his need to help and support innocent people. After he receives his powers, he becomes a bit braver and over the course of the story would progressively show more heroic traits that would cumulate with his sacrifice at the end of the manga/anime to save not just his family and Ando, but the entire Earth.

When he discovers he's been turned into an android, he begins to doubt if he is in fact the real Ichiro or if he's just an artificial AI pretending to be him. Once he regains his ability to cry after saving a homeless man, he realises he is in fact still himself. Later in the story, after saving Mari and more people afterwards, he concludes that he had been given a robotic body for a reason: to help as many people as he can. This sense of accomplishment and purpose to a second life brings him to the point of tears. However, when he returns home and shows his family the truth of his transformation, he doubts his own identity again. This is enough to almost make him leave his family to spare them anymore pain. However, before leaving, his wife asked where they went on their honeymoon and what happened during it, which he remembers clearly. This confirms to both his family and to himself, once and for all, that he is the real Ichiro, and his relationship with his family begins to improve as they openly show him more affection.

## Plot

Ichiro is a middle-aged man who has been diagnosed with stomach cancer the day after moving to his new house. After finding out that he's not going to live for a long time, he runs away to a park to cry. That night, an UFO hits the Earth on that park, destroying him and a boy (Hiro) in the process. The aliens did not intend to kill any intelligent life and decided to rebuild his body. The Aliens only had weapons and offensive materials, and in a hurry they moved Ichiro's consciousness into a new body, which is a weapon-unit robot.

He uses his newfound powers to help others secretively and eventually fights Hiro who turned evil. In the end of anime/manga, Hiro sacrifices himself and explodes, but it wasn't enough to destroy the asteroid dooming Earth. During his last phone call with Ando, running simulations, Ichiro realises that unleashing all his weapons on the asteroid still wouldn't destroy it, but, if he self-destructed as well, the second explosion would be enough to completely destroy the asteroid and save Earth. Ichiro then lies to Ando, saying he'd be returning soon, apologises to his family that he wouldn't be coming home, and, just like with Hiro, Ichiro pushes both of his eyes in and activates the self-destruct sequence. As he kneels down and looks at the Earth, he remembers all of the simple things in life that many would take for granted, and his last thoughts being his family, Marie, Mari, Takeshi and Hanako. He thinks of them as he makes an embracing position with a smile on his face before he explodes, destroying the asteroid and spreading his destroyed robotic body into space. This second explosion is seen by Ando, who immediately realises what Ichiro has done and begins to cry in agony at the loss of his friend. Ichiro's family also see the explosion and and realise what has happened. All three members are devastated and heart-broken at the loss of Ichiro to and cry uncontrollably for him. This is the answer to Ichiro's question after he got his cancer results in the beginning of the story, on if anyone would actually cry for him if he died.

After his death the family moves on, remembering him for the hero he had been the whole time, with Takeshi even gaining the courage to fight back against his bullies and Mari winning first place in the manga competition that Ichiro had supported her entering.

* In the Live Action Movie, after the fight against Hiro, he goes back to a life of a secret hero. He did not tell the truth to his family and amongst them only Mari knows about his powers.

## Powers and abilities

**Robotic body:** Somehow, the alien technology transferred his consciousness to a completely robotic body, without any organic parts. This makes him completely immune to any biological disease, biological weapon or organic degeneration. The full robotic body, however, does not hinder him from some physiological actions. He is capable of drinking, eating, breathing, etcetera, though strictly speaking he no longer needs to. He is unable to digest food and his sense of taste is different because of his robotic nature. Any solid food eaten is expelled by his weapon systems in a cleaning routine, as only water is needed for him to function properly.

* In the live-action movie, his robotic body is denser, has more internal gadgets and machinery. His maintenance routines are similar. He is shown to avoid eat food in order to prevent clogging or overheating his systems.

**Robotic brain:** His new robotic brain acts and works as a supercomputer. He is able to use in-built programs, such as alien simulators and alien battle/hacking systems, or use human tech, such as a smartphone's OS, browse internet, watch television, radio etc.

* In the live-action movie, his robotic brain seems to be more complicated. It has more moving parts, and sometimes appears to be completely floating/levitating inside his head.

**Superhuman strength:** He has a mild degree of super strength, being able to easily defeat people in hand-to-hand combat. He, however, is inexperienced in fighting and nonviolent by nature, so his brawling and punches are not at full strength. The maximum strength is not determined, but it can be assumed to be very high due the battle against Hiro. His robotic body could only be truly damaged by each other robotic unit sheer force. As their shells are almost indestructible, it can be assumed that he has a very high degree of strength.

* In the live-action movie, the robotic bodies show immense physical strength. Hiro is capable to easily lift a construction beam and use it to repeatedly hit his foe. It is also shown that their bodies seem to be less durable, as such continuous hits appear do damage Inuyashiki's body's outer layer.

**Superhuman durability:** His robotic body is impervious to any kind of external damage done by piercing, slashing or explosions, even by his own alien weapons. He also shows to not be susceptible to radiation, as when Ichiro had an X-ray shot, the result was a blank image. He is capable of surviving unfazed after falling from any heights, sustain a barrage of heavy gunfire unscratched, be smashed and buried after caught a falling airplane at high speed without any injuries. It is assumed that his body is absolutely indestructible by any earthling weapons or technology. The only way shown to damage these robotic bodies was fighting other unit (Shishigami Hiro) using sheer physical strength.

* In the live-action movie, following his toned up superhuman strength, his durability is toned down. However, in the movie he has a clear ability to auto-repair. After continuous fighting and having his body mildly damaged, he is clearly shown to fast repair himself after great psychological stress.

**Mimetic surface:** the surface of his robotic body perfectly emulates a human disguise, being indistinguishable from a human; it even has some human body fluids, (e.g. he is capable of crying). However, he is not able to bleed. There is a scene in manga where Hiro cut his finger with a papercut, but it was later shown that was merely a dream in which Hiro dreamed he was a human being again.

**Enhanced senses:** Especially his sight and hearing are at superhuman level. He is capable to see effortlessly at a distance of 10Km and hear cries for help at vast distances (see telepathy below).

**Robotic interface:** besides human senses, he also possesses robotic senses. He is able to interface wirelessly with any technology, communicate at any distance. He can hack any computer or electronic device/gadget.

**Mild telepathy (unconfirmed):** it is shown that he can *hear* his family from outer space (manga) as well hear the cries for help throughout the whole world in every language (anime). If this was true telepathy or an artistic choice of the author for the composition of the history's script is unknown. An argument favourable to sustain he has is that he can hear cries for help at distances too far to be physically possible their detection.

* In the live-action movie, it is confirmed. He can hear cries for help directly into his mind, without need to use electronic interfaces or his own hearing.

**Mild telekinesis:** it is assumed that he has mild telekinesis, although it is only shown indirectly by telekinetic shots and cutting (by Hiro).

**Healing abilities:** one explanation for his healing ablities is that it is based in some sort of telekinetic nature. He is able to cure any damage, no matter how hard damaged is the body of any living creature as long it is alive. Cancer, broken bones, paralysis, burning, intoxication, poisoning, brain damage are just few examples. It must be stated that even with such power he is not able to resurrect the dead. It is was not shown how this power would affect amputees.

* In the live-action movie, he is still incapable to resurrect the dead. This seems to be a common trait along all three versions of the character (manga, anime and movie).

**Full technokinesis:** one explanation for his technokinesis properties is that it is based in some sort of telekinetic nature. He is able to wirelessly fully control any electronic device, no matter the distance. He is also able to use them as an extension of himself (such as Hiro) being able to locate and interact with targets at any distance, including outer space, without any need to an external medium. He is also able to fully control any machine (from smartphones to cars and airplanes), theoretically being able to shoot and modify the trajectory of missiles all around the world. However, in one scene it is dubious to distinguish telekinesis from technokinesis. When avoiding the fall of many airplanes at the same time, it is not clear nor in the manga neither the animation if he have avoid the impact of crashing by levitating them with sheer telekinesis or by finely controlling each airplanes' flight systems in such harsh situation. In case the first speculation was true, he has potential to High Telekinesis (never shown). Another hint in favor to High Telekinesis was his capability to bring down a satellite which has no propulsion of its own.

**Technological adaptability:** he is able to modify his own body accordingly to his needs. He can produce new cameras along his surface (such as Hiro) or create USB ports just by scanning them. It is assumed that his body is not an immutable weapon, but can evolve along the time.

* In the live-action movie, he is shown to be able to repair his own body through psychological effort AND make it stronger, effectively improving it. However it is not clear if he is able to create matter for repairing his body or reload his weapons.

**Weapon system 1 - Telekinetic shot:** He can fire telekinetic shots from himself or any electronic device. Theses shots require no ammunition, being infinite, and can reach any distance with absolute precision. The only requirement is that he must see or know where the target is. Electronic devices are used as hubs in order to determine the target's location, no camera beind *needed*. Another option (shown by Hiro) is use such power as a knife or cutting weapon at short distance.

**Weapon system 2 - Arm cannon:** his second most powerful weapon is his arm cannon. Each arm has a cannon capable of incredible damage. In his first test, he was able to completely destroy a huge pile of pressed metal, making a dusty crater in the ground.

* In the live-action movie, his arm cannon assumes a more prominent usage. Instead of lasers, his body now produces mini-rockets. While the mini-cannons along his body produce white coloured mini-missiles, his arm produces bigger blue coloured missiles with way more power and flammable characteristics.

**Weapon system 3 - Multi-target laser:** his most used weapon. He has many mini laser guns around his body, some at his shoulders and arms. These lasers shot white beams with variable intensity, quantity and speed but with pinpoint precision. They are so powerful that they can completely devastate a huge area, as well being so precise that they can cut through the human nervous system in the spine without major external injuries, rendering the targets paralytic without affecting other body functions.

* In the live-action movie, this system has been replaced with multi-cannons. These 60 mini-cannons along his body produce white trailed mind controlled mini-rockets, all with devastating explosive and flammable features. They take some time to reload. It is not known if the robotic bodies can produce matter in order to reload such missiles or if they are limited.

**Weapon system 4 - Self-destruction:** his most powerful weapon. He can self detonate in a huge explosion visible from space to Earth surface.

* In the live-action movie, both robotic units survive the clash and there is not shown if they can conduct such action in that version.

**Weapon system - automode:** whenever he is unconscious in battle, or in intense need, his weapon system starts automode. In this state, he has access to all features and alien protocols, strategies and combat manoeuvres. It must be noted that even unconscious this automode does not act randomly. It follows the moral code of the individual. In Inuyashiki's case, the automode protects life, even the lives of his foes. In Hiro's case, however, it ruthlessly kills all targets around.

* In the live-action movie, it is not shown the automode. The automode's symbol is present almost all the time, appearing as it would be his base system.

**Flight:** He has a pair of jetpacks in his back, which allows him to fly at speeds faster than a bullet train (he can accelerate to escape velocity in a matter of seconds). These jetpacks do not work with combustion, as he can fly unaided in the space and also they do not burn his clothes. They seem to negate gravity and expel a blue beam which causes a shockwave behind when accelerates. He can hover and move in any position, so it is assumed that they do not function as jets as humans know, only having their appearance.

## Weaknesses

**Regular human tolerance to pain:** although super strong and durable, his surface works just like human skin. His sensitivity to pain is not impaired and he feels pain just like any human being. He can even be put unconscious due to excess of pain, such as being hit in the head, or after receiving a huge amount of damage. He seems to become more resilient over time, as a consequence from his body's ability to evolve.

**Water:** his only true need. After using his powers for a long time or to a huge extent, he dehydrates. This renders him immovable and unable to use any of his powers. He needs little water to regain consciousness and get full power again. The water does not need to be clean. Rain, alcoholic drinks or juice are enough. He can expand his belly as a water reservoir and hold more water for long-term use.

**Sleep:** as any human being, he gets tired and needs to sleep. He is able to dream normally, which proves his consciousness has been transferred (machines cannot dream).

**Clogging/Malfunction:** In the live-action movie, it is shown that accordingly to what a robotic unit feeds himself or drinks, its system can be clogged or malfunction, effectively causing internal harm.

## Etymology

* The name **Ichirō** means "one" (壱) (**ichi**) and "son" (郎) (**rou**), a name traditionally given to the first son.
	+ **Ichirō** is an alternate transcription of **Ichirou**.
* Ichiro's surname **Inuyashiki** means "dog" (犬) (**inu**) and "mansion" (屋敷) (**yashiki**).

## Trivia

* Because of Ichirō's receding hair he looks much older than he actually is.
* Oku stated that Ichiro character creation was based in Astroboy: an original human dies and a robotic copy is created for his replacement.
* Ichiro sings Astroboy's theme song in his first flight.
* The alien symbol for automode is the only symbol created which means nothing, although it does somewhat resemble a robot head. All other symbols are western alphabetical chars stylized to appear alien. All alien words are written in English.
* The only scene where the aliens appear is a single panel in the manga. They are shown to be very small compared to humans, with 4 fingers in big hands.