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 |
| 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 |
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This article or section needs expansion. |
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
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.[1]
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 | Hiragana or Katakana | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokichi Ouma | Ouma x Saihara | BL | Saiouma | 王最 (Ousai), 最王 (Saiou) | おうさい (Ousai), さいおう (Saiou) | n/a |
| Kaede Akamatsu | Akamatsu x Saihara | NL | Saimatsu | 最赤 (Saiaka) | さいあか (Saiaka) | n/a |
| Kaito Momota | Momota x Saihara | BL | Saimota | 百最 (Momosai), 最百 (Saimomo) | ももさい (Momosai), さいもも (Saimomo) | n/a |
| Momota, Ouma | Momota x Ouma x Saihara | Poly | Saioumota | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Harukawa, Momota | Harukawa & Momota & Saihara | Combi | Training Trio | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rantaro Amami | Amami x Saihara | BL | Amasai | 天最 (Amasai), 最天 (Saiama) | あまさい (Amasai), さいあま (Saiama) | n/a |
| Tenko Chabashira | Chabashira x Saihara | NL | Chabahara | 最転 (Saiten) | さいてん (Saiten) | n/a |
| Maki Harukawa | Harukawa x Saihara | NL | Saimaki | 最春 (Saiharu) | さいはる (Saiharu) | n/a |
| Tsumugi Shirogane | Saihara x Shirogane | NL | Saimugi | 最つむ (Saitsumu) | さいつむ (Saitsumu) | n/a |
| Kiibo | Kiibo x Saihara | BL | Saiibo | キボ最 (Kibsai), 最キボ (Saikibo) | きぼさい (Kibsai), さいきぼ (Saikibo) | n/a |
| Angie Yonaga | Saihara x Yonaga | NL | Sainaga | 最アン (Saian) | さいあん (Saian) | n/a |
| Ryoma Hoshi | Hoshi x Saihara | BL | Saihoshi | 最星 (Saihoshi) | さいほし (Saihoshi) | n/a |
| Himiko Yumeno | Saihara x Yumeno | NL | Saimeno | 最夢 (Saiyume) | さいゆめ (Saiyume) | n/a |
| Korekiyo Shinguji | Shinguji x Saihara | BL | Shinsai | 真最 (Shinsai), 最真 (Saishin) | しんさい (Shinsai), さいしん (Saishin) | n/a |
| Kirumi Tojo | Saihara x Tojo | NL | Sairumi | 最斬 (Saikiru) | さいきる (Saikiru) | n/a |
| Miu Iruma | Iruma x Saihara | NL | Sainaga | 最入 (Saiiru) | さいいる (Saiiru) | n/a |
| Gonta Gokuhara | Gokuhara x Saihara | BL | Saigoku | ゴン最 (Gonsai), 最獄 (Saigoku) | ごんさい (Gonsai), さいごく (Saigoku) | n/a |
| "Introvert Saiara" | Saiharacest? | BL; selfcest | Saiharacest?, Insai | 陰最 (Insai), JPN for "shadow" | いんさい (Insai), JPN for "shadow" | n/a |
Example/Notable Fanac
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
[fanworks of all kinds, ask blogs, online communities, archives]
TBA
References/Further Reading
- ^ 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.