Megumi Iruma

Megumi Iruma (入麻（イルマ）恵美（メグミ）, Iruma Megumi) is one of the main characters of Ultraman Tiga. She is the captain of GUTS.

Personality

Iruma has a calm and formidable personality. She has a strong sense of responsibility and always trusts her subordinates. She also provides accurate instructions to her team members with her excellent observational skills and calm judgment in emergencies. As a leader, she had a rather motherly relationship with her team.

She is not passionate about it and does not want her team and organization to be tainted with a military color, so she often instills this idea in her team members. Therefore, she sometimes feels dissatisfied with the overly extreme actions of her superiors. As she trusts her team very much, when forced to deceive her team members by investigating rumors, it also makes her feel guilty. ^{The Mirage Monster}

History

Pre-Ultraman Tiga

In the past, Iruma had served as a technical officer for the Ministry of Science and as a vice-captain for a special defense force unit. She also saved her subordinate Munakata in an event, which led to Munakata having a strong trust in her.

Later, upon the recommendation of Souichiro Sawai, she was appointed as the head of SET. However, due to her full dedication to SET’s research, she missed out on time spent with her family.

When her husband passed away in a lab accident, she was working at an observation center in Brazil and was unable to handle the funeral arrangements in time. This created a rift between her, her son Tomoki, and her mother-in-law Yorie. When Tomoki was taken away by Yorie, she warned Iruma that she would never allow her to see Tomoki again. This became the source of Iruma’s frustration and concern over her relationship with her son. ^{The Devil's Judgement}

After that, she joined GUTS and served as the captain of the team.

Ultraman Tiga

When she first appeared in the series, Iruma, along with the other GUTS members, was at the Dive Hangar investigating a time capsule that had fallen from space. Guided by the appearance of Yuzare within the capsule, the GUTS team eventually located a pyramid in the northeastern region. Iruma, however, stayed at the base and witnessed the appearance of Ultraman Tiga through a live broadcast. ^{Inheritance of Light}

Afterward, Iruma observed Tiga’s actions and came to the conclusion that Tiga was an ally. During an interview with reporters, Iruma stated that although the investigation into Tiga was ongoing, he believed that Tiga was "a friend of humanity." However, as he spoke, one of the reporters began to float. Under some unseen force, the reporter uttered prophetic words: "The Earth will soon be reborn, and the sacred flame will burn away all impurities." Iruma left the television station, only to witness a nearby building suddenly explode. GUTS quickly mobilized and began investigating the scene. However, no traces of explosives were found, and it was ultimately determined that the building had been destroyed in some supernatural manner.

Itahashi warned that if Iruma, representing humanity, did not show respect to the Kyriels, he would destroy humanity.

Later, within the Dive Hangar, Iruma encountered a suspicious man in his room. This man, who claimed to be a prophet of the Kyriels, implied that he was the one responsible for causing the explosion. He demanded that Iruma show respect to them, warning that failure to do so would result in the destruction of another building. When Iruma refused, the Kyriel disappeared, and, as foretold, another building was destroyed. The location of this attack affected many people, leaving Iruma feeling deeply frustrated.

In order to investigate the Kyriel’ background, Iruma used the fingerprints of the man who claimed to be a prophet, Mitsuo Itahashi, to trace his residence. However, the investigation revealed that Itahashi had died three years earlier. The Kyriels had been using the corpse of the deceased to manifest in the present. When Iruma visited the man’s home, the Kyriels appeared. Iruma asked why the Kyriels had chosen to contact him. The Kyriels responded that Iruma’s acknowledgment of Tiga’s existence was something they could not tolerate, and they were displeased with Tiga being recognized by humanity.

Itahashi stated that since Iruma recognized Tiga's status, she was considered a target to be eliminated.

Kyriel attacked Iruma and prophesied that this place would be consumed by the "sacred flame" before vanishing. Daigo then began evacuating and assisting the residents. GUTS’ plan was to direct microwaves to the explosion site in order to prevent the explosion set by the Kyriels. Iruma, injured, was unable to escape the explosion site in time. Fortunately, Daigo transformed into Ultraman Tiga and successfully saved her. Afterward, they reunited with the GUTS members and together witnessed the moment when Ultraman Tiga defeated the Kyrieloid. ^{The Devil's Prophecy}

After some time, a series of incidents occurred in the city, where people began witnessing "angels." Among those involved was Iruma’s mother-in-law, who became a follower of the "angels." After returning to her room, Iruma received a message from an unknown sender, which turned out to be a distress signal from her estranged son, Tomoki. He had deliberately hacked into the TPC computer system to send his mother a message, warning her that his grandmother was acting strangely.

When Iruma arrived at Tomoki's cabin, she quickly noticed that her mother-in-law, Yorie, was acting unusual. Yorie spoke of "our guide, who will soon descend upon the world." Meanwhile, the statue in the city’s skyline transformed into the figure of a giant angel. The Kyriels addressed the crowd, declaring, "The time for the final judgment has come. If we do not defeat the true devil, humanity will perish!"

Iruma confided in Rena about her family background, admitting that she didn’t know how to reconnect with her estranged son.

Tomoki witnessed Yorie speaking on the phone with someone, during which she referred to Tiga as the devil and blamed Ultraman Tiga's appearance for the chaos in Japan. As people in the streets also began to worship the angels as divine beings, they started praying to open the "gate" that had appeared in the sky. After leaving her mother-in-law's house, Iruma reunited with Daigo and Rena. Iruma was feeling frustrated, both due to the "Gate of Hell" and the strained relationship with her son caused by her long-term busy schedule. However, upon confirming that the gate suspended in the air was indeed the "Gate of Hell," Iruma immediately instructed the GUTS team members aboard GUTS Wing 1 and 2 to ensure that the gate would not be opened. Meanwhile, Daigo transformed into Ultraman Tiga and flew toward the Gate of Hell, attempting to close it.

Iruma urged the citizens to free themselves from Kyriels' brainwashing, thus enabling Tiga, who was struggling, to regain the "light."

However, the enhanced Kyrieloid II appeared and launched an attack. Despite Tiga’s efforts to counterattack, they were in vain. In fact, Kyrieloid II easily knocked Tiga down and attempted to open the Gate of Hell. Seeing Tiga immobilized, Iruma decided to use the lights from GUTS WING 1, 2, and the special vehicle "Sherlock" to restore Tiga's strength. However, the light alone was not enough. Iruma immediately accessed various television stations through communication lines, urging everyone to awaken:

"Ultraman Tiga has always protected us. Now it’s our turn to repay him!"

―Iruma, The Devil's Judgement

People began shining flashlights and car lights toward Tiga. Meanwhile, at home, Tomoki hacked into the electrical system to increase the voltage around Tiga. Bathed in the light, Tiga was revived. Shortly after, Tiga performed a powerful spinning kick that knocked Kyrieloid II down, then hurled it toward the Gate of Hell and destroyed the entire gate with a Zepellion Ray. The human crisis was thus averted.

Iruma confirmed that it was her son, Tomoki, who had used hacking techniques to help Tiga. When she visited her mother-in-law's house again, Tomoki finally called her "Mom," and their mother-son relationship was restored. ^{The Devil's Judgement}

One day, rumors of a phantom monster appearing in the streets began to spread. In such circumstances, Iruma was summoned by Tatsumura, a staff member of the TPC European branch, who had been seconded to the Intelligence Bureau. There, Iruma was informed of a shocking truth. The rumors circulating among the public about the phantom monster were actually spread by Tatsumura. Tatsumura believed that during monster disasters, uncontrollable civilians would cause trouble, so he intentionally spread rumors to collect their movement data. Iruma opposed this strategy of instilling fear in people but was ordered to deploy GUTS to investigate and strengthen the credibility of the rumors.

Iruma was ordered by Tatsumura to deploy GUTS and assist him in implementing a strategy to instill fear among the people, which made Iruma feel guilty for deceiving her team members.

Under Iruma's direction, GUTS went to investigate the reported locations of the monster's appearance but found no abnormalities. Iruma felt guilty for deceiving the team members into investigating a non-existent monster. However, on the way back from the investigation, Daigo spotted the figure of the monster.

After Daigo reported seeing the monster, Iruma asked Tatsumura if they were using holographic projections or any other means to display the monster's image, only to be told that there was no budget for such endeavors; they were merely spreading rumors. The next day, GUTS received multiple reports of monster sightings, causing division among the team members: some believed in the existence of the monster while others did not, leading to arguments. Unable to bear it any longer, Iruma revealed to all members that the monster sightings were actually just rumors. However, they received another report of the monster's appearance, this time with accompanying footage. It was indeed the monster Daigo had witnessed: Faldon.

Iruma piloted GUTS Wing 1 to assist Tiga in distinguishing the true and false forms of Faldon.

As GUTS mobilized and headed to the reported locations, they encountered another Faldon. Despite launching attacks, GUTS's beams passed through the monster's body. It turned out to be an illusion created by Faldon. GUTS engaged in combat against the rampaging Faldon in the city. Ultraman Tiga also joined the battle, but Faldon created illusions, causing Tiga to struggle. At this critical moment, Iruma piloted GUTS Wing 1, risking a physical collision with Faldon to assist Tiga in distinguishing reality from illusion.

The real Faldon unleashed a beam attack on GUTS Wing 1, while Tiga swiftly defeated the genuine Faldon, saving the plummeting GUTS Wing 1 from being hit.

Was it just a coincidence that rumors of monster sightings and the appearance of the illusionary Faldon occurred simultaneously? Iruma began to ponder whether it was due to the fragile human psyche that monsters emerged. Meanwhile, Tatsumura was found conducting intelligence manipulation experiments and was sent back to their original department by the staff headquarters. Iruma deeply regretted losing the trust of her team members, but their warm welcome upon her return filled her with warmth. ^{The Mirage Monster}

Before Gatanothor's resurrection and the destruction of the world, She learned of the signs that the darkness is about to revive through the appearance of Yuzare.

Before the final struggle with the dark forces, Iruma expresses her views on Ultraman to Daigo.

When dark forces begin to sabotage the Dive Hangar, she expresses to Daigo that she understands the meaning of "Ultraman is both light and human" and wishes for him to win against the darkness as a human. However, she, along with the senior staff of GUTS and TPC, witnesses Tiga's defeat. So, they put all their efforts into a rescue plan, trying to revive Tiga, who turned into a statue.^{Master of Darkness}

In the final episode of the series, she witnesses all the children of the world turn into light and witness the birth of Glitter Tiga and the process of Tiga defeating Gatanothor. In the end, she posed for a photo with the members of GUTS on the Artdessei.^{To the Shining Ones}

Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey

Two years later, she and an exploration team went to R'lyeh to investigate local ancient civilization ruins. However, due to the unsealing of the Giants of Darkness, she fell into a coma when the giants destroyed the facility, but she survived thanks to the protection of Yuzare's spirit and became trapped in a boundary and the only survivor of the exploration team. It is stated by Camearra that Iruma is the descendant of Yuzare and her reincarnation, as shown when the spirit of her ancestor emerged from her unconscious body to seal the Giants of Darkness on R'lyeh.

When she was rescued by Munakata, she returned to GUTS to support the frontline operations, and in the end, she and everyone witnessed the return of Glitter Tiga and the submergence of R'lyeh.

A year later, she and the other members bid farewell to Daigo and Rena, who were heading to Mars. ^{Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey}

Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light

Iruma as a staff officer of the TPC Intelligence Bureau

Six years after the threat of the Giants of Darkness, after GUTS disbanded, Iruma became a staff officer of the TPC Intelligence Bureau and Saeko Shiina's subordinate. Shin Asuka went to visit her to learn more about Tiga. Asuka admires that GUTS was a good team and asks her if she still sees them, but she doesn't. Asuka wanted to know if he could meet Tiga, but Iruma said he couldn’t because he left after the battle with Gatanothor.

She told Asuka that Tiga has a light that can lighten everyone, including Asuka, and Tiga can always win against darkness with his existing light. After Asuka as Dyna got killed by Queen Monera, a young boy with an Ultraman Tiga figure was able to get everyone to believe in the light, and everyone lends their 'light' to bring back Ultraman Tiga with Iruma happy to see him once again.

After the battle, Iruma meets a little girl who is revealed to be the daughter of Rena and Daigo. She even reunites with Rena, Shinjoh, Munakata, and Horii. Munakata gave her flowers. ^{Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light}

Ultraman Dyna

After the Queen Monera incident, she continues to carry out her work as an intelligence bureau advisor and completely hides files related to Ultraman so that TPC, which supports the use of force, will not find out. She had previously told TPC's senior officials that monster disasters are also a problem that humanity needs to face and overcome and that relying too much on powerful forces may lead to the extinction of contemporary humanity like the ancient civilization. ^{The Smile of Destruction: Part 2}

She also assisted Super GUTS when Asuka and Ryo got captured by the Black Buster Corps for the creation of a new weapon. ^{Final Chapter I: A New Shadow}

On the eve of Gran-Sphere's battle with Dyna, she appears with Sawai to encourage the TPC members not to give up hope.^{Final Chapter III: Toward Tomorrow...}