Kaori

Kaori
Data
Type	Ally Villain (unwillingly)
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Kemur (unwillingly)
First Appearance	Ultraman Z episode 18 "Rechallenge from the Year 2020"
Portrayed by	Kaori Udagawa Suzie Yeung (English dub)

Kaori is a guest character who appeared in Ultraman Z. She was a kidnapped victim by Kemur in 1966.

Personality

Kaori possesses a rather mysterious and composed personality. In reality, due to being under Kemur's control for an extended period, nearly half a century of her life was stripped away. This ordeal led her consciousness to relinquish any hope of a meaningful existence, and she even harbored thoughts of wanting to die, burdened by the guilt and fear of her actions while possessed by Kemur.

However, as she began to perceive the slightest glimmer of change in the situation, no matter how dire her circumstances were, even when her own life was at stake, she displayed an almost fearless spirit. She guided Haruki in his efforts to rescue other victims affected by the events, showing remarkable courage and determination.

History

Pre-Ultraman Z

54 years ago, Kemur appeared on Earth and abducted several humans, fusing with them to extend its own lifespan. One of the abducted victims was Kaori.

However, during the fusion process, an accident occurred that resulted in Kemur's and Kaori's bodies merging, creating a new appearance. Nevertheless, at that time, due to the combined efforts of the general public and the police force, Kemur was repelled and had no choice but to leave Earth.

Ultraman Z

In 2020, Kemur once again returned to Earth to abduct humans. Possessing Kaori's body, Kemur subsequently applied for and obtained the authority to execute its plan. Using Kaori's appearance as a disguise, Kemur began covertly utilizing the energy erasure technique. This led to the successful disappearance of several individuals. However, Kemur had not anticipated that due to Kaori's deep attachment to her homeland, she could briefly regain control.

During an investigation into the sudden disappearances at a theme park, Kaori appeared before Haruki. While discussing the amusement park, they talked about an old Ferris wheel, to which Kaori revealed that she had ridden it many times in her childhood. When she learned that Haruki was a member of STORAGE, a defense organization against aliens, she begged him to kill her, fearing irreversible consequences. Yet, as Haruki shifted his gaze while responding to Yoko's message, Kaori vanished.

Subsequent investigations revealed that Kaori's presence was linked to all recent disappearances. In search of the truth, Haruki and Yoko visited the scenes of the incidents to find her. When Haruki finally located Kaori, her consciousness was again dominated by Kemur, who explained his plan in detail. It was then revealed that Haruki was actually the true identity of Ultraman Z.

In order to thwart Kemur's scheme, Kaori's consciousness appeared several times, explicitly informing Haruki of Kemur's plan. She aimed to save the abducted humans and hoped that Haruki would eliminate both her and Kemur together, even if it might lead to Kaori's death. However, upon transforming into Ultraman Z, Haruki promptly rejected this proposal. With the assistance of Beliarok, Ultraman Z ultimately managed to separate the two entities and disposed of the bomb prepared by Kemur by tossing it into a spatial rift.

After successfully breaking free from Kemur's influence, Kaori was taken to a research center for treatment. During Haruki's visit, Kaori expressed that she couldn't remember the events of the previous night. Nevertheless, she held strong confidence in Haruki and the existence of Ultraman Z, determined to fully embrace a brand new life with positivity.

Gallery

Ultraman Z

Kaori's first appearance

Kaori's body is dominated by Kemur

Miscellaneous

Trivia

• Regarding the creation of Kaori, Takanori Tsujimoto said:
  • Since episode 18 was positioned as a sequel to Ultra Q Episode 19 "Challenge from the Year 2020," Tsujimoto felt that the story would be more interesting if it included interactions with guest characters. He also considered the possibility of someone being abducted by Kemur and unable to return to Earth. This led to the creation of Kaori.
  • The decision to cast Kaori Utagawa was based on her ability to portray a dark and sinister atmosphere, as well as her balanced dynamic with Haruki. Tsujimoto had seen her acting in footage and felt she was the right fit for the role. Additionally, the name "Kaori" was actually a coincidence. Tsujimoto later realized that in "Challenge from the Year 2020," the police officer who disappeared was named "Utagawa," which surprised him due to the coincidence.
  • For Kaori’s costume, Tsujimoto chose a 1960s-style fashion. The red umbrella was prepared to match the weather conditions on the day of filming, as the intention was to create a rainy atmosphere in the scene. Since Hiroto Taketomi, the staff member in charge of props, spontaneously prepared a copy of "Challenge from the Year 2020," Tsujimoto felt intuitively that this should be incorporated into the story. As a result, he directed a scene where Kaori holds the umbrella, flipping through the book and contemplating her fate.
• In the original script, Kaori was meant to die. The story also depicted Kaori, after living through 54 years of loss, facing the changes in the contemporary world and questioning whether it was worth saving the "contemporary world." Although she would have a change of heart, she was ultimately intended to choose self-sacrifice and disappear. This script was later revised by writer Jun Tsugita, resulting in the more optimistic ending that was ultimately presented.
• According to the consensus between Tsujimoto and Tsugita, Kaori retains all of her memories, including the knowledge of Haruki’s true identity as Ultraman Z. However, she pretends to have lost her memory and, in the end, expresses her gratitude with a warm lie.