Ren Senjyu

"Don't give up, Komon. Thanks to you, I fought till the very end! As Ultraman!"

―Ren encouraging Komon during his battle against Dark Zagi.

Ren Senjyu
Data
Ultra	Ultraman Nexus
Transformation Item	Evoltruster
Type	Protagonist Hero
Age	17-18
Gender	Male
Home World	Earth (World of N)
Family	Unknown
Affiliation	Light
First Appearance	Ultraman Nexus episode 26 "Ren - The Third -"
Latest Appearance	Ultraman Nexus episode 37 "Bond - Nexus -"
Portrayed by	Masato Uchiyama

Ren Senjyu is the third Dunamist, having received the Light after the disappearance of Himeya. He serves as one of the protagonists of Ultraman Nexus.

History

Pre-Ultraman Nexus

Outwardly, he was cheerful, optimistic and simple to the point of being ditsy — this, however, concealed his past experiences. Ren was not a normal human, but rather a 'son of Prometheus': a human created through genetic engineering under the flag of "Prometheus Project" (an experiment performed in Dallas, Texas in the USA). He had faster reflexes, physical strength and ESP that was more powerful than a normal human. However, Ren suffered from a genetic unbalance in his DNA which was basically cutting his lifespan to around 17–18 years. His only hope to prolong his life was a drug known only as 'Raphael'.

Running away from the institute in Dallas, Ren came to Japan hoping to live his last days as a 'normal' human and getting a job at a carnival. His hope was that he would die surrounded by people who would not miss him but around so many smiles and laughs. After fighting as Nexus for some time, Ren's condition worsened and his time approached its end, as he rapidly weakened.

Ultraman Nexus

After Himeya Jun disappeared and resigned his duty of being a Dunamist, the light searched for someone else to inherit its power. Ren found himself in the jungle ruins. It seemed as though he already knew where he was and why, perhaps due his ties to TLT. As a new Space Beast, Grantella, appeared, watching their loosing battle, with Ultraman, Ren accepted the being's offer and merged with him appearing and taking on the form of Junis Blue, a modified version of the Himeya's Junis form. ^{Ren - The Third -}

Ren set up the Meta Field. At the end of this battle there appeared an unknown dark power. This power belonged to one hiding in the background controlling and supporting the Space Beasts. This unseen being was dubbed Unknown Hand by TLT and its power was seen in the form of Dark Field G, a type of Dark Field deeper into the minus range than anything Faust or Mephisto produced. This Dark Field also had the added effect of empowering the Space Beasts, both directly and indirectly. Ren met Komon after his first battle, the two becoming friends after he nursed the injury he got from protecting the Night Raiders with his body. During his second battle with Grantella, Unknown Hand deployed his power overpowering the Meta Field and tuning it into a Dark Field. Despite his disadvantage Ren won against the Space Beast using his own personal finisher the Arrow-Ray Schtrom.^Reunion

Nexus/Ren vs Dark Mephisto Zwei.

Soon another challenge came in the form of Dark Mephisto (Zwei). Sensing the dark Ultra's energy signature, Ren transformed and rushed to save Komon, Nagi and his friend from the dark being's clutches. This was Ren's first and only battle against another Ultra being did not go well. At first he could hold his own, dodging everyone of Zwei's attacks, a feat Himeya in his slower Junis form could not hope to accomplish, despite his speed one strike was all it took to knock him down where Zwei pinned him to a cliff face and proceeded to drain him of his energy.

Mizorogi protected Ren from Misawa.

Only the timely arrival of the redeemed Mizorogi saved him. Mizorogi fought his replacement in Ren's place but due to his prior injury he was defeated and ultimately stabbed. Upon seeing Mizorogi stabbed and thus dying at the hands of his doppelganger, Ren was pressed by Mizorogi's words to attack Zwei, even though it could have killed the two of them. Despite his hesitation, Mizorogi's words convinced him and Ren fired the Arrow-Ray Schtrom into Zwei's back. Though Ren won he witnessed Mizorogi dying in the arms of Nagi and heard his words of how he and Hiroyuki, Zwei's host were both puppets to the one TLT called Unknown Hand, who he revealed with hiding in TLT itself.^{Shadow - Unknown Hand -}

Nexus/Ren vs Mega Flash the first time

Ren/Nexus last fight against Mega Flash and also fighting Galberos

Soon after that Ren found himself on a date with a girl while Mizuo followed them, partially out of her duty and jealousy. However their date was cut short by the appearance of Mega Flash in the middle of the city. Ren left the two in custody of the M.P and ran of and transformed to protect the town. Ren quickly found that rainbow in the sky were part of his opponent's abilities. Mega Flash could create his own subspace field which negated his Meta Field ability and lasers. The snail space beast gave him serious trouble in his weakened state and his life span was soon coming to its zenith. After a few bouts with it he was left battered and weaken as his life was drawing to its end. It was in this state that he was also captured by TLT and was experimented on like his predecessor. Fortunately he was saved by the Night Raiders, who revolted against the director's orders.

The Night Raiders scurried him away to a forest where he would be safe. When Illustrator called and told them that Mega Flash was back, Ren was adamant to go, but Nagi told him that the way he fought in the past guarantied his defeat She noticed that he never attempted to protect his own life as he did not value it due to his short lifespan. Hearing those words Ren went into battle with a new perspective and resolve and with the help of his Night Raider allies, Ren defeated Mega Flash and a revived Galberos.^Revolt

Nexus/Ren last battle

Shortly after that battle, Ren heard news that Raphael, was ready and waiting for him nearby. It was at this moment Unknown Hand unleashed another Space Beast on the city. Ren was faced with a choice between saving himself or saving the world from the Space Beast Izmael - the strongest Space Beast ever. Choosing to live up to the responsibilities of a Dunamist, Ren transformed one last time. However between his weakened state and the monster's strength he was defeated with the Night Raiders downed shortly thereafter. Lying beaten, Ren was telepathically contacted by his old friend Illustrator, whose words of encouragement finally enlightened him to the Light's purpose in his life. He stood up and called forth a new technique, Over Arrow-Ray Schtrom, a combination of the Arrow-Ray Schtrom and Schtrom Sword. Using it he emerged victorious against Izmael but at a seemingly heavy cost. With Ren's final battle over, the light searched for a new host.^{Decisive Battle - Farewell -}

Ren, however, survived due to the cure's intervention. ^{Bond - Nexus -}

Transformation

To transform into Ultraman Nexus, Ren removes the cover of the Evoltruster and raises it above or in front of him.

Ren using the Evoltruster

Nexus rises

Powers and Weapons

• Intelligence: Ren was raised at a private institution that functioned as a school along with the rest of the Prometheus Children. Despite his normal behavior it is implied that he has a genius level IQ like the other children.
• Physical Abilities: Being an engineered human being, Ren has greater reflexes and physical strength than normal humans his size, age and build. This translates into his Junis Blue form. When he gained the light his durability and strength also increased.
• ESP: Even before he merged with the light Ren had mental abilities like the other Prometheus children, mainly telepathy.
• Dunamist Powers: As a Dunamist, Ren inherited all the abilities of his predecessor Jun Himeya.
• Evoltruster: Using the Evoltruster, Ren can transform into Ultraman Nexus.
  • Space Beast Detection: Ren can detect space beasts with the Evolthruster.
• Charged Shot: Ren can fire a energy blast that can vaporize small space beasts.
• Meta Field: Ren can create a Meta Field in human form.

Charged Shot

Meta Field

Merchandise

• Ultraman Nexus Deformed Pattern Acrylic Charm (2020)
  • Release Date(s): October 29, 2020 (Bandai Fashion Webstore), August 2021 (Premium Bandai)
  • Price: 550 yen for each piece
  • Materials: Acrylic, metal (chain)

Released as part of the Nexus-themed Deformed Pattern Acrylic Charm , Ren (which is drawn in an Anime-fied style) is one of the items to be produced as hanging acrylic keychain.

Ren (and the rest of the characters) is available as a made-for-order item (where the customers can choose one during purchase) for Bandai Fashion's website in 2020, and later the Premium Bandai site in August 2021.

Gallery

Ultraman Nexus

Ren in Ruins

Ren, meeting the Light for the first time.

Ren first transformation after accepting The Light to take him as a Dunamist.

Ren's passport

Miscellaneous

Trivia

• Ren is the youngest Dunamist and ties with Hikaru Raido (the host of Ultraman Ginga) and Tsubasa Madoka (a host of Ultraman Tiga) as the second youngest Ultra Host.
• The purpose of the Prometheus Project was to create someone to communicate with the Visitors, the suppliers of TLT's scientific knowledge and creators of Dark Zagi. As the star pupil of this project Ren was most likely being groomed for the role, his friend Yu took up as Illustrator.
• In a 2005 interview with Ai Ota, the reasons behind Ren's dream of becoming a marine biologist were discussed:
  • Ota drew inspiration from Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, when developing the character of Rei. This novel is also referenced by Rei in episode 28.
  • Ota explained that Ren's dream stemmed from his belief that life originates from the sea. The term "son of Prometheus" evokes the image of a child who has fallen from the chain of life, retaining only genetic inheritance, and feeling disconnected from the flow of life. This disconnection is what fuels Ren's deep longing for life and his continual search for his origins.
  • For Ren, besides becoming a marine biologist, another dream is to meet and marry the person he loves. Although he has no parents, he hopes to have a family as a wife, possibly becoming a father through this means and integrating into the chain of life. This represents Ren's motivation for survival and his quest for meaning. Thus, upon realizing that he cannot achieve his dreams and that his time is running out, he arrives in Japan with a sense of "dreams shattered."
  • It is theorized by some from a comment made by Illustrator that the real purpose of the project may be connected to the Light, most likely to create a Dunamist or even simply to communicate with Ultraman. As of now there is no evidence to support this theory.
• According to Masato Uchiyama, the panda costume worn by Ren during filming was borrowed from the Tobu Zoo, where the scenes were shot. Since the costume couldn't be removed midway through filming, Uchiyama humorously mentioned that he felt like he was actually working at an amusement park that day. Even during breaks, he had to interact with children who came up to play with him.
  • In the series, all of the work Ren performs at the amusement park were actually carried out by Uchiyama himself. This included activities such as making bear-shaped cakes. Uchiyama even purchased a set of animal-shaped balloons to practice crafting them for the role. While the animal balloons displayed in Ren’s room were made by the prop department, the balloons that Ren handed out to the children were entirely made by Uchiyama.
• On the day of filming Ren's second to last transformation, it was overcast the entire day. However upon seeing the sunset the scene was re-shot. This meant the FX department had to change the entire background of the fight afterwards.
• Due to the cancellation of the series, Ren's story arc was actually cut short. It was intended that he would get further character development.