At SKIP Fujiyama City Branch

At SKIP Fujiyama City Branch
Ultraman Arc, episode SP1
Information
Airdate	August 17, 2024
Directed by	Toshiki Hata
Written by	Junichiro Ashiki
Continuity
Previous	Welcome to the Akebono Inn
Next	The Full Moon's Answer

At SKIP Fujiyama City Branch is the first special episode of Ultraman Arc.

Synopsis

SKIP has branches all over Japan. But what are the other branches like? Let's check out the Fujiyama city branch!

Don't miss the lively relationship between the SKIP member Mr. Nakamura, and the AI Robot ChapPi!

Shu Ishido's Diary

Expand to read Shu Ishido's diary entry.

Today I will write about Ultraman Arc, as I did not do so yesterday. I’ve always wanted to see him wearing the Solis Armor with my own eyes, instead of seeing it through a screen, but once again I could barely catch a glimpse of him. However, I was able to witness something even more fascinating.

As the fierce battle between him and the three Shagongs unfolded, I was focused on protecting everyone at Akebono Inn. Then, I suddenly heard a death rattle, followed by a strong blast. I turned towards the window, wondering what was happening outside. It was then that I saw it.

Arc had worn the Solis Armor, but just for a moment. He removed the armor right after, making it disappear alongside the Arc Eye Sword, returning to his original form and turning to face the last Shagong.

When Arc stared at it, the Shagong let out a single roar and to my surprise turned around and left the scene. It dug into the mountain and returned to its nest. After seeing it go back, Arc once again took to the skies as usual and disappeared towards who knows where.

There’s a few theories as to why the Shagong left the battlefield.

• It instinctively recognized his opponent (Arc) was stronger than itself.
• It got scared after seeing its companions get defeated.
• It had already received enough physical damage from Mr. Numata’s spaceship’s attack.

etc. I believe that the possibilities may expand even more if the kaiju biology expert, Yuma, was consulted. Being from the Space Science Division, my interest is pointed towards why Arc did not defeat the last Shagong.

According to the Arc FAM’s deductions, Arc had already faced two fierce combats against the Shagongs and was exhausted. They think Arc had concluded that the last of the Shagongs had no will to fight and took advantage of the situation to conserve his energy. I disagree, however. At that time, regardless if he could still fight or not, Arc put away his weapons and showed that he had no desire to continue to fight. The Shagong understood this and retreated. It even left the feast he had in front of him untouched, aka us.

They reached a mutual understanding and this was evident to anyone present, like I was. Also, there is one more thing that interests me. If this incident had taken place somewhere where it could cause even more casualties, such as cities or other densely populated places, would Arc have flown away, leaving the kaiju (undefeated) there? Is this way of thinking too human-centered to be applied to an unknown being?

I may have become biased towards Arc, after being saved by him before. Letting personal feelings interfere with your judgment is unacceptable as a GDF employee, and yet― At times like this, I wish I could ask for Mr. Kiuchi’s opinion.

Today, on my way home from SKIP, I stopped at an old bookstore and bought a few books. I got the first three editions of “Detective Bon Hebon”, the books that allowed me to connect with Mr. Kiuchi, when I was first assigned to the Space Science Division. I found them on the bookshelf and inadvertently brought them to the register, but thinking about it now, since the incident with Alien Croco, no, Mr. Numata, I have been thinking more about Mr. Kiuchi. I might have been unconsciously influenced by it.

Besides Detective Bon Hebon, he recommended a lot of other mystery books. He used to say that detective novels are not only entertaining, but they are also useful for developing logical reasoning in everyday life. Unfortunately, the only thing I seemed to take away from reading them is this posh style of writing presented in my diary.

When I was flipping through the pages of one of the books I bought, I found myself completely engrossed. It would be nice to revisit these books, with a coffee in hand. It’s already late, but I think I can slip in just one chapter.

Speaking of which, I wonder what kind of books Yuma likes. I’ll ask him next time.

---

Ask TsuPi

This week's "Ask TsuPi" is about YouPi!

Yuma's Ultraman Arc Navi

Yuma's Ultraman Arc Navi #7

Today, Yuma talks about the SKIP Fujiyama City branch, and introduces the Kaiju of the following episode, Homger.

Cast

• Ichiro Nakamura : Yujiro Imamura

Voice Actors

• ChapPi : Taku Matsuo
• Narration : Mitsutaka Itakura

Suit Actors

• ChapPi : Daiki Yazaki

Appearances

Kaiju

• Peter (photo only)
• Oka-Gubila (Flashback)
• Barebadon (Flashback)

Trivia

• In the diagram illustrating the locations of SKIP branches across Japan, images of kaiju that once appeared throughout the country are featured, including:
  • Raibasser, which appeared in Hokkaido
  • Basser, which appeared in the Chubu region
  • Demaaga, which appeared in the Tohoku region
  • Gudon, which appeared in the Tohoku region
  • Houlinga, which appeared in the Chugoku region
  • Antlar, which appeared in the Kyushu region
• The episode was mistakenly aired early in Indonesia on YouTube RTV, a week before its official premiere (the episode was uploaded as episode 6). A few hours later, the episode was fixed.
• Like the first Ultraman Blazar recap episode, an English audio commentary of the episode by E.J. Couloucoundis and Mike "Mach" Dent was released in place of an English dub.