Shuichi Saihara
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Kanji:最原終一 Katakana: サイハ シュウイチ Hiragana: さいはらしゅういち Romaji: Saihara Shūichi Latin Alphabet: Shuichi Saihara Korean: 사이하라 슈이치 Simplified Chinese: 最原终一 Russian: Шуичи Сайхара |
| Occupation: | High School Student |
| Relationships: | Kokichi Ouma (rival; deceased) Kaede Akamatsu (partner; deceased) Maki Harukawa and Kaito Momota (friends; only Momota is deceased) |
| Fandom: | Dangan Ronpa |
| Other: | Talent: 超高校級の「探偵」lit. Super High School Level Detective Official English Translation: The Ultimate Detective JPN Voice Actor: Megumi Hayashibara |
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This article or section needs expansion. |
Shuichi Saihara is a prominent and popular character in the Dangan Ronpa series. He debuted in Dangan Ronpa V3: Killing Harmony as as the series' third protagonist after Makoto Naegi and Hajime Hinata. He replaced Kaede Akamatsu as V3's protagonist after her execution by Monokuma at the end of chapter 1.
Canon Background
Shuichi Saihara has two different canonical backstories, as The Mastermind of the Killing Game in V3 is said to have fabricated one for him before the start of the game.
Whether Saihara's personality was actually fabricated or not is never stated as fact, however, fitting with the game's truth vs. fiction theme. There's been plenty of meta on the subject.
Fabricated 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.
Pre-Game Personality
Shuichi Saihara was an average teenage boy as well as a massive fan of the Dangan Ronpa series, an in-universe reality TV show. He auditioned for the show's 53rd season (stylized as V3) and made the cut to participate in a killing game. In fanworks, this is considered to be his pre-game personality. Like with every other V3 student, all of this info is filtered by Tsumugi Shirogane, and fans may not believe this part of his character is canonical.
Works featuring his pre-game personality are labelled as 陰キャ原 (Inkyahara), meaning Shadow/Yin Saihara, in the Japanese side of the fandom and Kagehara[Notes 1] in the English side of the fandom. "陰キャ" is slang for a gloomy, socially awkward otaku, which fits his characterization well.[1] Other names for him include オーディション原, meaning Audition Saihara, and プロローグ原, meaning Prologue Saihara. The same CP name for Shuichi Saihara/Pre-Game Shuichi Saihara, 陰原 (Insai), also meaning Shadow/Yin Saihara, is often used as a synonym since the pairing is so rare.
The majority of fanworks for pre-game Saihara are primarily focused on Kokichi Ouma/Shuichi Saihara, pairing him with the pre-game version of Kokichi Ouma, who's often called 吉 (Bonkichi), meaning Boring/Average Kokichi, both in Japanese and English.
Popular Tropes & Fanon
- Mastermind Saihara Shuichi: where Saihara is the mastermind instead of Tsumugi Shirogane. This version of him usually takes on the personality of pre-game Saihara. In Japanese, works with this trope may be labelled with 最原黒幕説, meaning Saihara is the Mastermind Theory.
Subjects of Fannish Interest & Meta
This article or section needs expansion. |
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.[2]
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) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kokichi Ouma | Kokichi Ouma & Shuichi Saihara | Combi | (n/a) | 怪盗と探偵 (Thief and Detective) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kaede Akamatsu | Kaede Akamatsu/Shuichi Saihara | NL | Saimatsu | 最赤 (Saiaka) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kaede Akamatsu | Kaede Akamatsu & Shuichi Saihara | Combi | (n/a) | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kaede Akamatsu; Kokichi Ouma | Akamatsu/Ouma/Saihara | Poly | Saioumatsu | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kaito Momota | Kaito Momota/Shuichi Saihara | BL | Saimota | 百最 (Momosai), 最百 (Saimomo) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kaito Momota | Kaito Momota & Shuichi Saihara | Combi | (n/a) | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kaito Momota, Kokichi Ouma | Momota/Ouma/Saihara | Poly | Saioumota | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa, Kaito Momota | Harukawa & Momota & Saihara | Combi | Training Trio | トレーニングトリオ (Training Trio) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Rantaro Amami | Rantaro Amami/Shuichi Saihara | BL | Amasai | 最天 (Saiama) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Rantaro Amami | Rantaro Amami & Shuichi Saihara | Combi | (n/a) | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Rantaro Amami; Kokichi Ouma | Amami/Ouma/Saihara | Poly | Oumamasai | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Tenko Chabashira | Tenko Chabashira/Shuichi Saihara | NL | Chabahara | 最転 (Saiten) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa | Maki Harukawa/Shuichi Saihara | NL | Saimaki | 最春 (Saiharu) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa | Maki Harukawa & Shuichi Saihara | Combi | (n/a) | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa, Kaito Momota | Harukawa/Momota/Saihara | Poly | Saimomoharu | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Tsumugi Shirogane | Shuichi Saihara/Tsumugi Shirogane | NL | Saimugi | 最つむ (Saitsumu) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kiibo | Kiibo/Shuichi Saihara | BL | Saiibo | キボ最 (Kibsai), 最キボ (Saikibo) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kiibo; Kokichi Ouma | Kiibo/Ouma/Saihara | Poly | Saiibouma | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Angie Yonaga | Shuichi Saihara/Angie Yonaga | NL | Sainaga | 最アン (Saian) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Ryoma Hoshi | Ryoma Hoshi/Shuichi Saihara | BL | Saihoshi | 最星 (Saihoshi) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Himiko Yumeno | Shuichi Saihara/Himiko Yumeno | NL | Saimeno | 最夢 (Saiyume) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa; Himiko Yumeno | Harukawa & Saihara & Yumeno | Combi | Survivor Trio | V3生存組 (V3 Survivors) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa; Himiko Yumeno | Harukawa/Saihara/Yumeno | Poly | Saimenoharu | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Korekiyo Shinguji | Shuichi Saihara/Korekiyo Shinguji | BL | Shinsai | 真最 (Shinsai), 最真 (Saishin) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kirumi Tojo | Shuichi Saihara/Kirumi Tojo | NL | Sairumi | 最斬 (Saikiru) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Miu Iruma | Miu Iruma/Shuichi Saihara | NL | Sainaga | 最入 (Saiiru) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Gonta Gokuhara | Gonta Gokuhara/Shuichi Saihara | BL | Saigoku | ゴン最 (Gonsai), 最獄 (Saigoku) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Pre-Game Shuichi Saihara | Shuichi Saihara/Pre-Game Shuichi Saihara | BL; selfcest | Kagesai | 陰最 (Insai), JPN for "shadow" | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kyoko Kirigiri | Kyoko Kirigiri & Shuichi Saihara | Combi | (n/a) | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kyoko Kirigiri | Kyoko Kirigiri/Shuichi Saihara | NL | Saigiri | (n/a) | Both are considered to be ultimate detectives. |
Saihara is also popular for self-shipping works. See List of Dangan Ronpa Relationship Names for more.
Example/Notable Fanac
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fan Communities/Fan Events
Wikis
- Shuichi Saihara on Danganronpa Wiki
- 最原終一 on PixivEncyclopedia
- Shuichi Saihara on Shipping Wiki
- 사이하라 슈이치 on Namuwiki
Fan Fic
Fan Art
General Fanworks
Meta
- Shuichi has a functional character arc by apeironstella, Archived version (2020)
- shuichi and being a side character by apeironstella, Archived version (2020)
- Saihara's reaction to Ouma's fake death in chapter 3 by 96percentdone, Archived version (2018)
- Saihara doesn’t like being fucked with by 96percentdone, Archived version (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
Notes
- ^ stemming from an alternate reading of the kanji "陰", with the PixivEncyclopedia article specifying that 陰キャ原 is literally said as いんきゃはら (Inkyahara). Still used by fans since it's been this way since 2017, so most works are labeled as "Kagehara" instead of "Inkyahara" or "Inhara."
References
- ^ post by 22fuka22, Archived version + "陰キャ" is a slang word for a gloomy, socially awkward otaku, and it suits him perfectly. by 22fuka22, Archived version (13 April 2024)
- ^ Dengeki have released the results of their Danganronpa 10th Anniversary character popularity poll. After 5,000 votes..., Archived version. Twitter thread by @danganropnawiki posted 20 November 2021. Accessed 23 September 2022.