Shinra Kusakabe

Overview

Shinra Kusakabe is the primary protagonist of Fire Force. Serving as a Second-Class Fire Soldier in Special Fire Force Company 8, he is a Third Generation pyrokinetic who joined the organization to protect people from spontaneous human combustion and to become a hero.

Appearance

Shinra features short black hair, red sanpakugan eyes, and sharp, jagged teeth inherited from his mother. Due to his pyrokinetic ability that expels fire from his feet, he fights barefoot. His outfit consists of the standard black protective jacket, pants, and gloves worn by members of the Special Fire Force.

Personality

Though his fierce countenance and occasional quick temper make him look like a delinquent, Shinra is actually a polite, earnest young man. Due to childhood trauma and being maligned by those around him, he suffers from a involuntary nervous tic where his face twists into an unnatural smile whenever he feels tense, afraid, or angry. Having spent his academy years in a predominantly male environment, he tends to act flustered around women.

Abilities

As a Third Generation pyrokinetic, Shinra emits flames from the soles of his feet, granting him extreme mobility, flight capabilities, and powerful kicking techniques. His jet-like movement leaves behind scorch marks known as the Devil's Footprints. By utilizing specific hand signs such as Corna or Tora Hishigi, he concentrates his flames for devastating high-speed attacks. As a bearer of the Adolla Burst, connecting with the Evangelist enables him to temporarily particleize his body for speed-of-light movement.

Background

Twelve years prior to the story, a tragic fire caused by spontaneous human combustion cost Shinra his mother and younger brother. Blamed for the incident due to his power and labeled a Devil because of his uncontrollable smile, he grew up isolated. Driven by a childhood promise to his mother to become a hero and determined to find the true perpetrator he witnessed during the tragedy, he enlisted in the Special Fire Force.

Relationships

Shinra shares a constant rivalry with his Company 8 classmate Arthur Boyle, though the two perform remarkably well together in battle. He is close with Sister Iris, a young member of the same company. Ogun Montgomery from Company 4 is his long-time friend and understanding peer from their academy days. He also seeks to recover his younger brother, Sho Kusakabe, who acts as a high-ranking member of the enemy White-Clad.

Trivia

The name Shinra Kusakabe is derived from the Japanese idiom Shinra Bansho, which means all creation or nature.