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| “ | It's fate. I'm not a clairvoyant or priest, but I can see it. The dead who arrived here, and the dead who will follow.
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” |
Mikado Shinsen (新仙 帝) is a character featured in Danganronpa Kirigiri. Mikado is a man with a mysterious air about him, who has claimed his ability to sense impending death has brought him to Norman's Hotel, where the second Duel Noir would then take place - getting him involved in it without ever having received an invitation. He presents himself as a business employee.
History[]
Prior Life[]
Mikado was born in some pocket of Japan in winter as the third son to his family. At ten years old, he became a detective, though it was noted that his skills weren't really anything special, but his sheer desire to pursue justice in the world kept him going. When he was working with a group of similar young detectives, he ended up meeting Fuhito Kirigiri and became partners with him. As they grew older, eventually both would create the Detective Library, a neutral organization meant to get the public towards the detective of their choosing without having any bias behind it. When it came to the Detective Library's DSC system, Fuhito would disapprove of such a system, and refuse to register himself in the Library. During this time, Mikado has worked his way into becoming one of the Library's Triple Zeroes, however later on would scrub his name and existence from the history of the Library. When it came to his affiliation with Fuhito, while Fuhito had originally considered him to be the heir to the Kirigiri name since there was no heir at the time. Unfortunately, once Kyoko was born, the title of heir was passed to her. Mikado, displeased at such a thing, broke off his partnership with Fuhito and disappeared.
During this period, he created the Victims Catharsis Committee, an organization that revolved around giving those victimized by crime a chance to take back their lives in a Duel Noir, which involves killing the person responsible for their suffering and trying to outwit the detective that will be assigned to stop them. He recruited other Triple Zero detectives, Gekka Ryūzōji (who shared his philosophy) and Johnny Arp (who joined for excitement), for their intelligence in creating tricks and for assassination purposes respectively. Beyond those two, his influence gathered him numerous of backers that help fund such events in exchange for being allowed to view them, as well workers in various parts of organizations (such as the police) allowing them to go about their business unopposed or able to scout potential people to take up Duel Noirs. Apart from providing catharsis, he had another goal in mind: to create the worlds best detective, and also to find out about the impending doom that he could sense in the near future.
The year Kyoko Kirigiri was to return to Japan to attend junior high school, Mikado killed her maternal grandfather, Tōhachirō Uzuchi, and posed as him, filling her grandfather's house with his personnel to act as maids as well. He buried her grandfather on the property without Kyoko being unaware of the switch.
Norman's Hotel Murder Case[]
Prior to the Norman's Hotel Duel Noir, he continued his disguise of being Kyoko's maternal grandfather well into Christmas, with him attacking Yui Samidare by knocking her to the ground and even groping her to ensure she was female and not a male. When Yui apologized and explained the situation regarding Kyoko being late, he brushed it off and allowed Kyoko to go to the Duel Noir on the basis that she was a detective of the Kirigiri clan, and that her work was more important then even the deaths of family members. Once that was cleared up, he offered to call a taxi for Yui, but she denied, thus leaving Mikado to head back inside the house.
When the time came, Mikado traveled over to the Norman's Hotel dressed as a businessman where he introduces himself as someone who visited the hotel, not due to an invitation, but rather because he sensed that people will soon to be murdered there. Once his introduction was finished, he addressed Sae Yozuru and got her to introduce herself. Until the auction could start at 6PM, Mikado spent the time reading a book. During the proceedings when the cast met Norman, he was skeptical of receiving so much money upfront and was one the few that could remain calm despite learning their life would be in danger and after the death of Taehime Uozumi.
For the first auction, Mikado was pressured into opting not to bed after witnessing Suisei Nanamura's display of his empty bag. With the Detective's Right belonging to Suisei for the day, Mikado followed him alongside the others to their hotel rooms. After the rooms were distributed, he stayed in his room until being left by Suisei after the murder of Akio. Once free and learning of the events that lead to the body's discovery, he accused Meruko Mifune of being the culprit since she was left alone in the hallway. However, with Yūzen and Sae speaking on Meruko's defense, Mikado relents and apologizes. For the second auction, Mikado opts to bid, having not been swayed by Seiunsai Toyano'ō's plead of them boycotting the auction (which was a ruse to try and snag the right for himself).
However, he fails and the Detective's Right is won by Yūzen Minase, who makes no qualms that he will only save himself. That night, Mikado remained in his room with Seiunsai becoming the next victim of the culprit. During the third day, Suisei questioned everyone if they had done any serious crimes with Mikado denying such a thing with such conviction that the detectives present do no suspect him of any wrongdoing. During that time, however, Sae reveals she had done marriage scams, with her latest having the death of her fourth husband, thus making her a potential target. For the third auction, Mikado opts not to bid and the Detective's Right is won by Yui after she and Kyoko managed to outwit Yūzen for it. With Yui caring about her fellow participants, she immediately goes to free the others before the culprit could do anything, meaning no deaths for the third day.
On the fourth day, Mikado aligns himself with Sae, claiming that since she was a criminal she'd likely be targeted and he would rather try to save someone's life. In doing so, he relinquishes his funds to her. The fourth auction is between Sae's faction of herself, Suisei and Mikado versus Yui, Kyoko, Meruko and Yūzen. In the end, the opposing faction gained the Detective's Right for Meruko, but at the cost of all their funds, whilst Sae still had all of hers. Sae claimed that she couldn't part with her money, but in reality, due to her being the culprit, it would conflict with her getting the Detective's Right, thus forcing her to being unable to get it for herself.
On the fifth and last day, Mikado stood next to Sae, who bid nothing, but felt reassured that the other side had nothing left to bid. Unfortunately for her, Kyoko had used one million yen she had gotten Taehime's corpse before it could be destroyed. Thus, Kyoko gained the Detective's Right, which would effectively block Sae from killing Meruko and ruin her chances of winning the Duel Noir. After her defeat, Mikado joined the others (sans Sae) in staying the night in Kyoko's room, where he slept in the corner in order to wait for the Duel Noir's time limit to run out given that the culprit has not admitted defeat. The next day, Mikado had left the hotel prior to the others due to his standing as the Chairman of the Victim's Catharsis Committee. The correct decision given that Suisei had begun to murder the remaining survivors, with only Kyoko and Yui being left alive.
Outside, he met with Johnny Arp and Gekka Ryuzoji and all three stood outside to wait for the Duel Noir to officially be closed and the door's to open. Both Yui and Kyoko ran past them as they were trying to escape from Suisei. When Suisei came out, the detective was stunned to find all three Triple Zeroes to await him. Mikado then received a gun from Johnny Arp, walked up to Suisei, and calmly placed it into his hand. Suisei understood the implications of what Mikado desired and so shot himself. Mikado then set his sights towards the pair of student detectives. He notices that Yui's ear was grazed by Suisei's bullet and kindly wipes away the blood with a white handkerchief. When she fearfully asks why Mikado had participated in the Duel Noir, he covers her face with the handkerchief and remarks that it was his way of celebrating the New Year's. When Yui was able to see again, the Norman's Hotel and its surroundings began to gradually disappear due to the modifications made to get it out of sight once the Duel Noir was over. Once all that was left was a barren wasteland surrounded by an iron fence, Mikado and the others head off. As he walked off, Mikado took off his mask and complimented Kyoko for her intelligence and expected nothing else from a girl of the Kirigiri clan. His final words to them is that when he will meet them again, he'll be wearing a different face.
Founders Challenge[]
After Fuhito arrives back in Japan after staying in Los Angeles since before the Sirius Astronomical Observatory Murder Case, Mikado, disguised as a taxi driver, picks him up from the airport and challenges him to a game. The fastest to solve a certain murder case, before the other detectives there, wins. Not even Mikado was aware of any of the details himself. Fuhito agrees, and they begin their game. The details are not shown.
Final Duel Noir[]
With the intention of scoping out the park to keep an eye out for Tōkichirō Endō, Yui had went into a nearby apartment building to get a vantage point. However, as she climbs, she runs into a man. At first, she just dismisses him as just a resident of the building, but then he speaks. The man turns out to be Mikado Shinsen. He had Yui sat down on the park bench and begins to reminisce about Norman's Hotel, but Yui demands to know why he's after Kyoko, and if it involves taking the Kirigiri name. Mikado explains that he isn't obsessed with her, and doesn't care about the Kirigiri family name. Yui wants to know what is his main goal, but Mikado goes into how both Yui and himself are the same. Its just that Yui hasn't fully committed to going down the same path. Mikado then explains that he wants Yui to become the killer for the next Duel Noir. Yui refuses to do so and is adamant that she won't. However, Mikado points out that, ultimately, Yui hasn't grown from his point of view. That the person she cares about, Mayu, was ultimately replaced by Kyoko.
When Mikado begins to insinuate what Yui might do if something were to happen to Kyoko, Yui begins to feel utter shame as her expression tells Mikado all that he needs to know. Yui asks if he's going to kidnap her, but Mikado moves the subject along to what he told her back at the hotel. That he sees death, and eventually something catastrophic will attack the world. In order to save the world from such a fate, Mikado required the Apex Detective. He laments that while he doesn't have the skills for it, he does know Kyoko does, and finds it ironic that its his old master's granddaughter who can do it. That's what the Victims Catharsis Committee true goal was, at least for Mikado. While he admits he killed too many people, he believes that his actions will have been for the good of all later down the line.
Mikado says that Kyoko is on the verge of becoming the world's saviour, but notes she can't always stick to logic. Yui reminds Mikado that she's only thirteen, but he notes that as a detective she must put aside all emotions. He says that in order for Kyoko to be the complete Apex Detective, Yui must be accused of being a killer. Mikado begs for her to go along with it, that everything has already been arranged, but Yui isn't buying it. Thus, Mikado claims if she doesn't do it, he'll kill Kyoko and start again, though notes time is running out on trying to find the saviour of the world. Even with this threat, Yui is left undecided on what to do, until she decides for a third option. She considers just killing Mikado outright, but Mikado notes her expression and tells her again everything has already been arranged. Mikado admits that because of Yui's actions, their organization has taken a hit. All that's left are pawns who can arrange and carry out the games. However, he also notes that even if he were to die, that just means even if he dies the game will continue. There's no point in killing him.
Still, Yui notes at least Kyoko would be safe, all in a calm and tranquil matter. Mikado spreads his arms out to give her chance, and smiles as he sees that she's looking ready to go through with it. From there, he goes into his pocket and takes out a handkerchief that contains a long, thin, knife. He puts the knife to his temple and says that, ultimately, he was just the supporting character. That he is not the one that will become Kyoko's enemy. That would be Yui. After that, he pushes the knife into his temple, killing him, all to Yui's horror.
Following his death, Fuhito comes rushing to the scene, saddened about the lost of his former partner. Fuhito said that he had been keeping an eye on Mikado, up until now, when he returned from Japan. Yui notes that Mikado is no longer breathing, when a bystander sees Mikado's body and runs off. Fuhito notes the police would be here in the hour and urges Yui to run away. Fuhito said that Mikado had sent him a coded message that morning to come to the park, which Fuhito assumes was so he can come here and confirm to Yui Mikado's identity. Fuhito notes that the face Yui sees is of the real Mikado and the knife he killed himself with was the one that Fuhito gave him. Since it has Fuhito's fingerprints, he'll be questioned by the police, but isn't worried since he has evidence to prove it wasn't him. However, he notes having Yui there will complicate things. He urges her to go, but notes he isn't worried about Kyoko since she has Yui (which causes Yui to become aware of her apparent status as the antagonist). In tears, she leaves and heads to the train station.
Following his demise, the news of his death travels quickly throughout the detective world, with others being drawn to seek out his alleged 'legacy' to use how they see fit. Just like he promised Yui, despite his death, the Committee would still be fully operational to continue without him, as evidenced by the Final Duel Noir that would take place.
Talents & Abilities[]
Master of Disguise[]
As the Variationist, Mikado is capable of disguising himself with the use of various masks and is excellent enough in his deception that no one would be any wiser to his status as a member of the Victims Catharsis Committee or even be aware that he had replaced a loved one, such is the case with his replacing of Kyoko's maternal grandfather.
Triple Zero Detective[]
Mikado was one of the Detective Library's Triple Zero detectives, meaning that he is qualified to handle a case of just about any category, and is notably only one of four to ever achieve this during the fifteen year period the Library was established, proving his immense talent as a detective.
Reapers Footseps[]
Similar to Kyoko Kirigiri, Mikado has the ability to sense death. However, while Kyoko can 'hear' it, Mikado notes he can 'see' it and that it was akin to a shadow. He also notes that his ability isn't exclusive to just death, but notes when it is the case the scene is rather grizzly. When Mikado met with Yui to have their talk in the park, he goes to deeper explanation about his ability. Namely, it wasn't supernatural prowess, but by his own ability to predict and deduce. Such abilities had him constantly deducing correctly a person's fate just by looking at someone, even back when he was a kid. He compares it to weather forecasting and how it grows better as it gains more data from the past and technology improves.
This ability had allowed him to sense that there would be an upcoming Tragedy in the future that unfold throughout the world, and thus seek out the world's greatest detective that will deliver catharsis that will save humanity. The end result is him finding such potential in Kyoko Kirigiri.
Appearance[]
As Mikado is a master of disguise, his true appearance is unknown. However, in his main disguise, Mikado appears to be around the age of thirty. He is tall and lean, has short dark brown hair, neatly slicked upwards into a single pointed tip, as well as sideburns. He has a pale complexion, brown eyes, a small, thin nose and wrinkle marks on his forehead.
His outfit consists of a black suit worn over a white dress shirt with a grey necktie, alongside his mask. When he reveals his true self to Yui during the final conversation together, Yui notes that Mikado looks utterly unremarkable and looks like an average joe one would find just about anywhere.
Personality[]
Upon first meeting him, Yui Samidare comments about Mikado seeming to be the most sane of all people who have gathered at the hotel. He has a calm demeanor, as well as a polite speech tone which shows both naivety and intelligence. From the wrinkle marks on his forehead Yui deduces that he could be hiding several secrets - an assumption which is later on revealed to be true.
Throughout the Duel Noir, he remains skeptical and levelheaded, as well as being willing to point the finger to accuse someone else of being the culprit, such as accusing Meruko on the basis she was left to her on devices. He also has no qualms with offering assistance to the Victim of the Duel Noir if he needed, but has no attachment to them and follows the Committee's philosophy of cutting ties with those who lose given how leaves the hotel prior to the end of the Duel Noir without care for Sae (the culprit of the Norman's Hotel case) safety.
Mikado is a highly intelligent man and more than capable detective, something proven with him being of one of the four top ranked detectives in the Detective Library. His ability in orchestrating for years killing games without anyone of the general public being aware of them or who was organizing them, leads credence to him having exceptional leadership skills and competence in running a shadowy organization. His ability to garner so many allies proves that he quite the high deal of charisma and persuasion as well. He has a strong sense of justice, and became a detective as a result of it, even if initially it seemed as if his skills was merely lackluster.
He despises unfairness, something best shown with how the Duel Noir is meant to give both Victim and Detective an equal chance to win as possible. Given that he is hosting a killing game, it can be said that he is not above having people be harmed, framed or even murdered in the event, be it the target or an innocent. Outside of such circumstances, he is content to be affable and is even willing to show kindness to opposition, such as wiping away blood from the wound of Yui's ear. He also appears to carry a rather eccentric attitude given that his reason for joining the Norman's Hotel Duel Noir was his way of welcoming the New Year.
Mikado has the ability to sense impending death, as well as deaths that have previously occurred, similar to Kyoko Kirigiri. However, unlike Kyoko who describes this form of intuition as something similar to hearing, Mikado claims to sense death through sight. As a result of this ability, Mikado has taken to showing up to various sites of tragedy to witness such events. Befitting a master of disguise, Mikado is skilled in deception and capable of fooling even those with high skills in observation, such as Kyoko Kirigiri when he posed as her maternal grandfather, Tōhachirō Uzuchi, and acting as him for a long period of time without her notice until only after meeting Mikado at the Duel Noir.
Relationships[]
Fuhito Kirigiri[]
Being former partners, it can be said that Mikado once was close friends with Fuhito and respected him. This is supported given that Fuhito was heavily considering making Mikado become the new heir to the Kirigiri name after Jin defected and there was no one else to replace him, greatly implying that Fuhito did see him as having the qualifications to carry on their lineage. However, ultimately, Fuhito decision to make Kyoko the new heir once she was born caused them to break apart, with a displeased Mikado soon enough disappearing from public eye.
Gekka Ryūzōji[]
Gekka is one of the executives in Mikado's Victims Catharsis Committee and fellow Triple Zero detective. Gekka aligned himself with Mikado because he believed in his philosophy of granting 'catharsis' to people who have been hurt by crime and even told Yui he wouldn't have joined Mikado if he had felt he was just some terrorist. Gekka worked on developing new tricks for the Duel Noir and noted himself to be quite vital in setting things up for the Duel Noir.
Johnny Arp[]
Johnny is one of the executives in Mikado's Victims Catharsis Committee and fellow Triple Zero detective. His role in the organization was to take act as an assassin and dispose those who broke the rules of the Duel Noir. However, unlike Gekka, he finds the Committee's philosophy similar to that of a cult and joined just because of wanting to find some excitement in it. Despite being a high ranked member of the organization, Mikado has no issue with allowing for a Duel Noir to try and kill Johnny due to his antics creating issues during his own challenge against Yui and Kyoko.
Tōkichirō Endō[]
Tokichiro is a member of the Victims Catharsis Committee and one that scouts out potential challengers for the Duel Noir. Tokichiro greatly believes in the Committee's philosophy regarding 'Catharsis' and is loyal to Mikado's cause.
Norman's Hotel Participants:
Kyoko Kirigiri & Yui Samidare[]
With their goal being to stop the Victims Catharsis Committee from continuing the Duel Noir, both Mikado and the girls are opposed to each other. However, on Mikado's end, he shows no animosity towards either once they figure out his true identity as Chairman, even protecting them from a murderous Suisei by having the Double Zero detective kill himself and wiping away blood from Yui's ear. He also compliments Kyoko's intellect and skill as a member of the Kirigiri family. Mikado, however, is not above murdering Kyoko's loved ones and even work against them by assisting Sae in her attempts to complete her Duel Noir.
Sae Yozuru[]
During his time in Norman's Hotel, Mikado treated Sae amicably, being the one to wake her up when it came time to introductions and was even willing to work with her in order for her attempt to become victorious in the Duel Noir, though hid it under the guise of believing Sae would get targeted by the killer instead. Being the Chairman of the Victims Catharsis Committee he would have known her true role of the culprit of the case, meaning he has no qualms with assisting a challenger like her if need be. That said, their relationship seemed to be merely formal, given once she lost, he secretly left the hotel without any regards for her safety afterword.
Trivia[]
- "Shinsen" (新仙) means "new hermit" or "new wizard" - referring to how he is a master detective like Fuhito Kirigiri and the other founders of the Detective's Library, yet does not look as old as all of them are implied to be.
- The name "Mikado" (帝) means "emperor". It is used specifically to refer to the Japanese emperor and is also used in a similar manner to the phrase "The Lord". Both of these meanings could be meant to hint at how Mikado Shinsen is actually the mastermind behind the Duel Noirs, which are the central events in the volumes of Danganronpa Kirigiri, and also personally observes his creation in the second volume.
- The Triple Zero detectives in the Detective Library each represent a certain type of monster in fiction. For Mikado, he represents two. The first is the Grim Reaper, referenced from his ability to 'see' the Reaper's footsteps and Akio referring him as such after photographing Mikado's habit of being near scenes of mass death. The second monster he represents is the doppleganger, which is related to his ability to disguise as anyone.