Difference between revisions of "Segata Sanshiro"

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[[File:SegataSanshiro.png|thumb|320px|Sanshiro was most known for his intensive martial arts training, which involved regularly punching the buttons of a giant [[Control Pad (Saturn)|Saturn Control Pad]].]]
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'''Segata Sanshirō''' (せがた三四郎) was a fictional character played by Hiroshi Fujioka. His name is a parody of Sugata Sanshirō, a character from a [[wikipedia: Sanshiro Sugata|1943 Japanese film]]. He appeared in two dozen commercials by [[SEGA]] to advertise the [[Sega Saturn]] in Japan between 1997 and 1998.
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{{stub}}'''Segata Sanshirō''' (せがた三四郎) was a fictional character and Japanese [[Sega Saturn]] spokesperson known for his tough demeanor and insistence that gamers play Sega's 32-bit system. Portrayed by Japanese actor [[Hiroshi Fujioka]], his name is a parody of Sugata Sanshirō, a character from [[wikipedia:Akira Kurosawa|Akira Kurosawa]]'s popular 1943 debut film ''[[wikipedia:Sanshiro Sugata|Sanshirō Sugata]]'', and a both a pun on the color of the domestic Saturn (shiro is the Japanese word for white) and the phrase "Sega Saturn shiro!" (meaning "You must play Sega Saturn!"). Sanshiro appeared in over two dozen [[Sega]] commercials from 1997 and 1998, and is one of [[Sega]]'s most well-remembered advertising campaigns, even gaining popularity outside of Japan.
  
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Sanshiro was a Judo master that tracked down and beat up people who were not playing the [[Sega Saturn]].  His name sounds similar to the phrase "Sega Saturn shiro!" meaning roughly "You must play Sega Saturn!". It is also a pun as shiro also means white in Japanese - the color of the Japanese Saturn.
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In October 1998, Segata Sanshiro starred in his own [[Sega Saturn]] game courtesy of [[Ecole Software]], ''[[Segata Sanshirou Shinken Yuugi]]''.
  
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Sanshiro lived as a hermit high on a mountain, devoting his life to intensive Sega Saturn training.  He trained physically by carrying around a giant Sega Saturn and punching a giant controller, and mentally by breaking piles of bricks with his head.  But he would also frequently visit the city to seek out people who were not playing the Sega Saturn, and harshly teach them a lesson.  In one commercial he barges into a nightclub and beats up everyone inside; in another, he beats up three youths who irresponsibly go outside to play baseball instead of playing video games.  Sanshiro was a serious man with a firm sense of duty, and he believed that playing video games was the most valuable activity in life.
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==History==
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Segata Sanshiro is portrayed as a Judo master who regularly tracked down and delivered comical beatings to those who were not playing the [[Sega Saturn]]. Living as a hermit high on a secluded mountaintop, Sanshiro devoted his life to intensive training, and was usually seen carrying a massive Sega Saturn abroad his back; often, he would appear with an enormous [[Control Pad (Saturn)|Control Pad]]]], strongly punching its various buttons to strengthen his mind and body.
  
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When the Saturn was phased out and the [[Sega Dreamcast]] released, Sanshiro's end came in the form of a commercial involving a missile directed at the Tokyo, Japan headquarters of SEGA.  Sanshiro heroically jumped onto the missile and deflected it into the atmosphere, and was killed in the following explosion. The voiceover said that "Segata Sanshiro will live on in your hearts."
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The majority of Segata Sanshiro's commercials depict him as finding a group of Japanese people (often youths), and upon seeing that they are not playing the [[Sega Saturn]], swiftly beats all of them to the ground and states that they should be instead playing video games.
  
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The character became very well known in Japan, and helped make the Saturn successful in that country. He appeared in his own game, ''[[Segata Sanshirou Shinken Yuugi]]''.
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===Death===
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With the winding down of the [[Sega Saturn]], and the release of the [[Sega Dreamcast]], [[Sega of Japan]] sent the character off with an explosive finale. In his last commercial, a giant missile is launched directly at Sega's [[wikipedia:Tokyo, Japan|Tokyo, Japan]] headquarters, with Sanshiro heroically jumping onto the missile itself, pulling it out of its trajectory with all his might, and redirecting it into the atmosphere. Soon, it safely explodes away from the general populace, and the commercial ends with a voiceover stating "Segata Sanshiro will live on in your hearts."
  
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==Translated theme song lyrics ==
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==''SegaSaturn Shiro!''==
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The character was so popular that a theme song and music video were released.  This is an approximate English translation of the lyrics meant to communicate the spirit of the song.
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Sanshiro's was so popular in Japan than various merchandise related to the character were released, including a 199X image song (equivalent to a theme song in the West.)
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'''Segasaturn Shiro!''' by Segata Sanshiro
 
  
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===Lyrics===
 
The solitary man who devoted his soul to the way of games<br/>
 
The solitary man who devoted his soul to the way of games<br/>
 
Today, he comes again<br/>
 
Today, he comes again<br/>
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''Segata Sanshiro, Segata Sanshiro! Sega Saturn... shiro!''
 
''Segata Sanshiro, Segata Sanshiro! Sega Saturn... shiro!''
  
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==Commercials that he appeared (incomplete)==
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==Promotional material==
 
{{gallery
 
{{gallery
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|{{gitem|PYTmT Saturn JP CM.mp4|Pro Yakyuu Team mo Tsukurou!}}
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|{{gitem|PYTmT Saturn JP CM.mp4|[[Pro Yakyuu Team mo Tsukurou!]] commercial.}}
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|{{gitem||[[Segata Sanshirou Shinken Yuugi]] commercial.}}
 
|{{gitem||}}
 
|{{gitem||}}
 
|{{gitem||}}
 
|{{gitem||}}
 
|{{gitem||}}
 
|{{gitem||}}
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|{{gitem||Segata Sanshirou Shinken Yuugi}}
 
 
}}
 
}}
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==External links==
 
==External links==
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* http://sardius.fefea.org/reviews/jturbo/segata/ - Contains videos of advertisements starring Segata Sanshiro
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*[http://sardius.fefea.org/reviews/jturbo/segata/ Segata Sanshiro commercial archive] website
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* http://evilboris.sonic-cult.net/346/ - Segata Sanshiro fansite
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*[http://evilboris.sonic-cult.net/346/ Segata Sanshiro fansite] website
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==References==
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<references/>
  
 
[[Category:Sega]]
 
[[Category:Sega]]
 
[[Category:Endorsers]]
 
[[Category:Endorsers]]

Revision as of 20:33, 28 September 2021

Sanshiro was most known for his intensive martial arts training, which involved regularly punching the buttons of a giant Saturn Control Pad.

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Segata Sanshirō (せがた三四郎) was a fictional character and Japanese Sega Saturn spokesperson known for his tough demeanor and insistence that gamers play Sega's 32-bit system. Portrayed by Japanese actor Hiroshi Fujioka, his name is a parody of Sugata Sanshirō, a character from Akira Kurosawa's popular 1943 debut film Sanshirō Sugata, and a both a pun on the color of the domestic Saturn (shiro is the Japanese word for white) and the phrase "Sega Saturn shiro!" (meaning "You must play Sega Saturn!"). Sanshiro appeared in over two dozen Sega commercials from 1997 and 1998, and is one of Sega's most well-remembered advertising campaigns, even gaining popularity outside of Japan.

In October 1998, Segata Sanshiro starred in his own Sega Saturn game courtesy of Ecole Software, Segata Sanshirou Shinken Yuugi.

History

Segata Sanshiro is portrayed as a Judo master who regularly tracked down and delivered comical beatings to those who were not playing the Sega Saturn. Living as a hermit high on a secluded mountaintop, Sanshiro devoted his life to intensive training, and was usually seen carrying a massive Sega Saturn abroad his back; often, he would appear with an enormous Control Pad]], strongly punching its various buttons to strengthen his mind and body.

The majority of Segata Sanshiro's commercials depict him as finding a group of Japanese people (often youths), and upon seeing that they are not playing the Sega Saturn, swiftly beats all of them to the ground and states that they should be instead playing video games.

Death

With the winding down of the Sega Saturn, and the release of the Sega Dreamcast, Sega of Japan sent the character off with an explosive finale. In his last commercial, a giant missile is launched directly at Sega's Tokyo, Japan headquarters, with Sanshiro heroically jumping onto the missile itself, pulling it out of its trajectory with all his might, and redirecting it into the atmosphere. Soon, it safely explodes away from the general populace, and the commercial ends with a voiceover stating "Segata Sanshiro will live on in your hearts."

SegaSaturn Shiro!

Sanshiro's was so popular in Japan than various merchandise related to the character were released, including a 199X image song (equivalent to a theme song in the West.)

Lyrics

The solitary man who devoted his soul to the way of games
Today, he comes again
He will punish those who do not play seriously
Their battered bodies will never forget!

[chorus] Segata Sanshiro, Segata Sanshiro! Sega Saturn... shiro!

They play tennis, sing karaoke, flirt around in clubs...
Are there not more serious tasks to be done?
Those who do not play maturely
He questions them deep inside their hearts

Segata Sanshiro, Segata Sanshiro! Sega Saturn... shiro!

(voice of Segata) Youngsters... is there something in your life you are completely devoted to? Something you sink into so deep you put your life on the line? You must play Sega Saturn! Play... until your fingers break! Until your fingers break!

Even if they chase after sex, that petty pleasure
Their soul will remain hollow
Those who do not immerse themselves to the extreme in gaming
Will find their bodies beaten harshly!

Segata Sanshiro, Segata Sanshiro! Sega Saturn... shiro!

The white clouds floating on the great blue sky
And the boiling red blood shed in fierce gaming
Those who give up halfway through
Their battered bodies will never forget!

Segata Sanshiro, Segata Sanshiro! Sega Saturn... shiro!
Segata Sanshiro, Segata Sanshiro! Sega Saturn... shiro!

Promotional material

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External links

References

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