Taizo Hori

Taizo as he appears in Namco x Capcom

*This article is about the character Taizo Hori, commonly referred to as Dig Dug. For the game, see Dig Dug.*

**Taizo Hori** (ホリタイゾウ *Hori Taizō*) is the protagonist of the Dig Dug series of games. He also acts as a major character in the Mr. Driller games and related titles.

Taizo is responsible for saving an uninhabited planet overrun with monsters that would later be known as the "Dig Dug incident." He would later go on to become the father of Susumu Hori, the latter who would go on to be famous for his own deeds after solving the "Block Overflow Incident of 2399," among similar events.

Taizo is also responsible for founding the UGSF Astro-Rescue Team, a faction of the United Galaxy Space Force that rescue stranded "Space Undergrounders," also known as uchujins, from planets in the star system.

## Appearance

Taizo is a middle-age, Japanese man with brown hair, dark brown eyes, and thick eyebrows. His suit, worn regardless of whether or not he is working, is white with a red "V" shape on the front and a blue belt. The suit has a white helmet with matching red and blue parts to it, as well as hair spiking under it. Taizo also wears blue gloves and red boots, and, when digging, carries around a red tool that acts both as a digging mechanism to burrow around, but also as a pump that can explode enemies within the earth.

## History

### Dig Dug and Dig Dug II

In 2382 A.D. (282 A.G.), among the star systems under the United Galaxy’s rule, a planet is invaded by monsters appearing from underground. To help defend the planet, Taizo Hori comes to the rescue. Taizo at some point takes care of the monsters, but is sent back a year later to tackle the monsters on the planet once more, this time inhabiting a series of islands.

### Family life

After these events, Taizo would settle down and start a family with Masuyo Toby, creating three sons in the process: Ataru Hori, Susumu Hori, and Taiyo Toby. Not much is known about this period in between games, other than the fact that Masuyo would divorce him for unknown reasons, taking Taiyo with her.
Taizo would also get into a confrontation with Ataru, resulting in him moving away to an unknown area.

### Dig Dug: Digging Strike

Because this game, along with every other game that Taizo has been in, are not listed on the official site (save for Star Trigon), it is unclear when these games exactly take place. However, there are many clues that hint as to when each game falls between the others.

After the events of the first two Mr. Driller games, Susumu has become widely famous for becoming the world's highest ranked driller, getting much publicity and fame as a result. Taizo, seeing this, becomes jealous of his son, stating that no-one seems to remember his previous deeds, and that he is "the first, and best driller." After receiving a call from the Horinensian government, asking for Susumu's help. Taizo, enraged, goes off to handle the problem himself.

When he arrives in Horinensia, he receives details about monsters being awoken and aggravated from excavation attempts on the islands. The monsters have begun populating and disturbing the islands, thus they ask for Taizo's help to defeat them.

Taizo eventually takes care of the monsters, being heralded as a hero for the first time in a decade.

### Star Trigon

Taizo then founds the UGSF Astro-Rescue Team after Undergrounders, creatures that appear in the Mr. Driller series, are launched into space and become stranded.
Later, Taizo is seen running test simulations of the monster battles, specifying that he has to "master that Digging Strike" (referencing the previous game), when he is encountered by Puchi. He learns of Susumu joining the Rescue team, questioning why he wasn't called in, joining up with Susumu and his friends.
Later, he is contacted by Space Undergrounders asking for his help. Taizo, flaunting his past achievements, goes to help, but forgets to pack enough fuel to get back, stranding himself in the process. He is rescued by Chuta Bigbang.

### Mr. Driller G

Taizo appears as a playable character and overall major role throughout the story. In Chapter 3 of Story Mode, Susumu is asked to head to Egypt to investigate earthquakes with unknown origins. Taizo boldly interrupts the conversation to take the job instead, excited about camels.
Arriving at Egypt, he comes across one of the antagonists of the game, Kowars, who turns out to be a big fan of him, as well as Ataru, who is significantly less pleased with him being here. Regardless, the two work together to obtain a key in order to stop the Undergrounders' blocks from overflowing. Ataru handles the key and the rest of the blocks as Taizo rides some camels.
Taizo then works with Susumu and Anna to defeat the main antagonist, Dr. Manhole, and stop the overflowing blocks yet again. Afterwards, Taizo formally gives Susumu the title of "Mr. Driller."

### Mr. Driller A

After a long break, Taizo is called in once again to stop blocks from overflowing beneath the earth, this time as part of a Grand Prix.

### Mr. Driller: Drill Land

Taizo oversees a joint venture between the Drillers' Association and the Underground Kingdom to create Drill Land, a gigantic underground park celebrating the Drillers. Taizo, alongside the Undergrounder King, announce the grand opening of the amusement park, as he and the rest of the drillers visit the park and play the various attractions. He particularly acts as the playable character for the "Drindy Adventure" game mode, boasting about his previous adventures along the way.

## Appearances in other Games

### Namco x Capcom

Taizo makes an appearances as a playable character in the non-canon game **Namco x Capcom**. In this game, he is a retired soldier who works as a Digger of Mega Man Legends fame, and appears alongside Mega Man Volnutt and Roll Caskett in the 21st chapter of the story. The three then join up in the fight for the rest of the game.
Taizo makes nods to both his relationship with Masuyo within the game and the Mr. Driller series.

## References

1. ↑ https://momogirl12345.livejournal.com/443823.html