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Shu Ishido (石堂 シュウ, Ishidō Shū) is a special investigator assigned by the Space Science Division of the GDF.

History

Pre-Ultraman Arc

During his childhood, Shu Ishido spent time in the United States and lived abroad for an extended period after starting school[4]. As an adult, Shu is an investigator from the GDF Space Science Division, specializing in the study of alien and space kaiju. As a GDF member, he is authorized to use the anti-kaiju weapon, the "Elemagun," allowing him to engage in combat during kaiju disasters.

As an 'elite,' Shu possesses an outstanding background and a highly meticulous mindset, steadfast in his commitment to justice. Every action of his embodies his principles. According to his diary, he previously lived with his grandfather, who was a renowned physicist known as a genius. Their residence frequently welcomed experts, colleagues from research institutes, former students, and readers of his books.

Watching his grandfather engage in serious discussions, offering warm advice and encouragement, left a profound impression on him. The atmosphere created by conversations that transcended age and status motivated him, even though he could not fully understand the discussions. To honor his grandfather’s reputation, Shu diligently performs his duties as a GDF member.[5]

Ultraman Arc

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Shu's first appearance.

In the past year, kaiju disasters in Hoshimoto City have sharply increased. Three months ago, following the Digelos attack and the appearance of a mysterious giant, Special Investigation Squad member Shu received orders from unit chief Nibuya to assist the local SKIP unit in investigating the "Monohorn," analyzing its biological responses, and exploring its connection to space kaiju. In fact, the most important primary objective was to thoroughly locate the Onyx, a "mysterious substance with black hole-like properties," believed to be linked to the event that awakened Earth's kaiju 16 years ago.

Upon arriving at Hoshimoto City Branch, he coincidentally encountered Yuma Hize, who was just about to go on duty. Subsequently, he proceeded to Mt. Shishio where Monohorn was located, and during the investigation, he happened to rescue Yuma from an attack by Shagong. Afterwards, SKIP members expressed their gratitude to Shu for assisting Yuma. Shu shared information about Oo-ze and together with the members, analyzed that Oo-Ze parasitizing Shagong would force it to ingest calcium carbonate, leading to its mutation. Upon receiving news that Shagong was heading towards Hayama Chemical Industries, Shu's sense of justice was deeply ingrained. Despite confusion over SKIP's lack of weapons, he decided to join them in the rescue mission.

In the factory, Yuma was attacked by Oo-Ze, putting him in danger. Shu disregarded the danger and rescued him, but was knocked unconscious and buried under debris. In that critical moment, a "mysterious giant" appeared and transported Shu to safety. Upon waking up, Shu used his phone to record the entire battle between the mysterious giant and Shagong.

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Shu named the mysterious giant "Ultraman Arc".

Afterwards, Shu proposed to the upper echelons of GDF that the mysterious giant be named "Ultraman Arc." Subsequently, the name of the giant was officially confirmed. At the request of the higher-ups, the next day, he was assigned to SKIP as a "Special Investigator," officially becoming a new member of the team. Arc to the Future

Subsequently, Shu, as an investigator, began assisting with SKIP's missions, including inspecting the kaiju sighting locations and searching for evidence. During this period, he also maintained a good relationship with Yuma and others. At the same time, while interacting with the residents of Hoshimoto City, he gradually changed his previously more serious perspective on things and learned from the experience.

A few weeks later, it was reported that the area around "Suehiro Mountain," where UFO sightings had been rumored in the past, had experienced frequent earthquakes and mysterious electromagnetic waves. Shu, Yuma, and Rin Natsume went to the scene to investigate. They arrived at an old inn named "Akebono Inn," located at the foot of the mountain, to gather information.

Inside the inn, besides the proprietress Ayaka, there was also a manager named Numata and a waitress named Yamanami working. SKIP immediately began questioning these three individuals, but they seemed to be intentionally concealing certain information. In response, Shu, with a serious expression, interrogated the three and, upon noticing something unusual, used a multipurpose sensor to investigate the source of the electromagnetic waves. He discovered that the signal source came from a hidden old shed behind the inn.

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Shu caught Alien Croco/Numata.

After SKIP followed the suspicious Numata, they discovered a mysterious object wrapped in a cloth inside the old shed. Numata hurriedly tried to hide it but accidentally dropped a device from his waist. Then, Numata's figure transformed into an alien. It turned out that Numata's true identity was an Alien Croco, and he had been using a holographic projection device to disguise himself as a human. He had built a small spaceship in the shed, preparing to return to their home planet. The electromagnetic waves seemed to be leaking from this spaceship.

Upon learning about the Alien Croco's background, it became clear that aliens infiltrating human society was not permitted. As a special investigator, Shu interrogated the Alien Croco. Even with Yuma trying to defuse the situation, Shu angrily warned him that many investigators had lost their lives due to aliens disguising themselves, and he would treat Numata with strictness. At that moment, an unprecedented and intense tremor occurred.

When everyone emerged from the shed where the Alien Croco's spaceship was hidden, the mountain was torn apart, and a kaiju roared into view, causing the earthquake. The kaiju was Shagong. Shagong, known for calling its companions upon finding prey, summoned another Shagong. Shu and Rin helped Ayaka and Yamanami take refuge inside the shed while Ultraman Arc faced off against the two Shagongs. Although he managed to defeat one, a third Shagong appeared, putting Arc in a precarious position. During the battle, Arc remained at a disadvantage. Just as Shagong attempted to attack the innkeepers, Numata launched the small spaceship he had built, making a desperate charge at the Shagongs. The spaceship ultimately exploded.

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After seeing Alien Croco willing to sacrifice itself to protect someone important, Shu reflected on himself and changed his attitude.

Arc ultimately defeated Shagong. The remaining Shagong escaped underground. Although Alien Croco seemed to be a victim of the explosion, he survived successfully. Afterwards, the fleeing Shagong will be under closer surveillance by SKIP, while the Alien Croco will be sent to the GDF for investigation. The timeline for his return to the Akebono Inn will be determined based on Shu's testimony regarding the incident. Afterward, Shu reassessed his approach. When he asked Yuma why he believed Numata was not a bad person, Yuma explained that the gestures of the Alien Croco and the innkeepers conveyed "warmth" and "enthusiasm." Shu realized that Yuma possessed the imagination to "empathize with others and imagine their perspectives," and he acknowledged that he also needed to be more aware of this. After getting in the car, when Shu learned from Numata that the gesture meant "thank you," he smiled with understanding. Welcome to the Akebono Inn

After a while, Hoshimoto City began to embrace the contactless digital currency "HoshiPay", The HoshiPay app also includes SNS features that allow users to earn money through live video streaming. Viewers can send any amount of HoshiPay to online streamers, providing additional income opportunities for the residents of Hoshimoto City.

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In response to the HoshiPay trend, Shu forcibly recruited Yuma to become a VTuber known as "Alpha and Omega".

With the rapid rise in the prices of various goods, SKIP has been making efforts to conserve water and electricity, and Shu has reduced his coffee consumption to just three cups a day. However, Shu believes that saving money doesn’t mean making sacrifices. Thus, he decided to use the power of HoshiPay to become a popular streamer and earn tips. He forcibly recruited Yuma to start a VTuber channel named "Alpha and Omega," thinking it would be a perfect solution. This led to a surge in popularity, but in reality, very few people watched their videos, leading Shu to consider using SKIP’s official channel to boost their audience.

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After witnessing the "collaboration" between Kanegon and Arc, Shu became completely immersed in the frenzy of online streaming.

During the countermeasure mission against Internet Kanegon, Shu gained valuable experience on becoming a popular streamer. After watching the battle between Ultraman Arc and Kanegon in the information space, Shu became obsessed with Kanegon, calling him the "true top-tier streamer." Following a successful job, Shu and Yuma conducted a HoshiPay livestream together, where they received a tip from Kanegon… which somehow turned Shu into a Kanegon as well?! Internet Kanegon

After the incident with Givas, Shu prepared to submit a report on Givas to the GDF. Following the instructions of unit chief Nibutani, Shu needed to analyze and investigate the "Giving Moon" that Givas was searching for. As he recalled previous kaiju disasters, members of SKIP also joined the discussion, and the topic of Ultraman Arc became a point of focus.

According to Shu, some within the GDF believe that Ultraman Arc has repeatedly let kaijus go without defeating them. Whether there is a special reason behind this behavior, they argue that Arc should not be easily considered a friend to humanity. That night, Shu completed the 13th report titled "Onyx Report". Shu's Report

Soon after, Nibuya personally visited Hoshimoto City and informed Shu that their investigation into the green light emitted by Kivas revealed it was reacting to the high energy levels of Onyx, which was present in the city. Analysis indicated that Onyx was located in the Kitsune Forest in the eastern part of the city. Later, after receiving news of anomalies concerning the "Monohorn," Nibuya and Yuma headed to Suehiro Mountain, only to be attacked by a mysterious floating polyhedron known as "Tesseracton," leaving them in a dire situation. At that moment, a translucent wall suddenly appeared, enveloping and protecting them—it was Ultraman Arc who had saved them.

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Sweed used Memory Reading to attack Shu.[6]

When Shu awoke, he found himself alone in an old movie theater. However, a "black clothes woman" stood before him, releasing a powerful energy wave that directly struck him. After reading all the information Shu knew about Onyx, the woman silently left. Shu then sensed a battle occurring outside and witnessed Ultraman Arc fighting Zadime, only to vanish from exhaustion. He also found Yuma unconscious on the battlefield. At the same time, Onyx finally revealed itself. GDF headquarters convened an emergency meeting to implement strict information control and plan to transport Onyx to a research facility. Flash of the Past

As other SKIP members grew confused over the mass deletion of information, Shu decided to confess to them the primary reason for his assignment to the Hoshimoto City SKIP branch: the existence of "Onyx" and the truth behind K-DAY. After learning that Onyx's energy was on the verge of exploding, he and the team immediately rushed to Onyx's location, where they witnessed Ultraman Arc battling Zadime, who was attempting to break the seal. During the confrontation, Youpi spotted the woman in black who had attacked Shu appearing in the sky. Shu quickly used his Elemagun in an attempt to strike her, successfully preventing her from weakening Arc’s strength with her mental waves.

As the situation escalated, Ultraman Arc charged into the impending explosion of Onyx, transforming the explosive energy into new armor, which enabled him to defeat Zadime. With the disappearance of Onyx, Earth was saved from the brink of destruction. However, Shu was left in disbelief when he realized that all readings related to Onyx had completely vanished. The Wandering Future

The conclusion of the Onyx incident marked the end of Shu’s mission in Hoshimoto City, as he was scheduled to return to the GDF and leave SKIP. However, just then, a bizarre incident unfolded at the Sorajima campsite in the city outskirts. Campers there had witnessed a mysterious "entity," triggering widespread panic. To investigate, SKIP received an urgent report from YouPi, who had arrived at the scene first. Initial assessments confirmed no presence of toxic gases or pathogens in the air. Hiro suspected a kaiju might be involved and dispatched Yuma to assist.

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Shu fell into Mogusion's fantasy fear.[7]

Observing the situation, Shu insisted on completing his duty "to the very last day with SKIP" and decided to accompany Yuma to the scene. In the forest, their detectors showed no unusual readings. Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the trees, revealing a kaiju known as Mogusion. As Mogusion raised its arms, releasing a blinding light, Shu sensed the danger and instinctively pushed Yuma out of harm’s way. Yet, Mogusion’s radiant glow struck Shu directly in the eyes, causing him to see a massive version of Yuma. Mogusion then shifted its form to resemble Rin, Hiro, and YouPi in turn, each bidding Shu farewell. It dawned on Shu that his deepest fear was parting from his longtime SKIP colleagues, and he felt a wave of terror consume him.

Just as Mogusion was about to attack, Yuma acted swiftly, pushing Shu aside and saving him, noting that Mogusion’s tongue couldn’t make contact with solid objects. Shu tried to retaliate with his Elemagun, but the shots had no effect on Mogusion.

Upon returning to SKIP, Shu theorized that the light emitted from Mogusion’s palms allowed witnesses to see an illusion of their deepest fears, plunging them into uncontrollable turmoil. Before the meeting concluded, however, Mogusion reappeared in the city center, launching attacks on civilians and buildings. It became clear that Mogusion possessed the ability to shift between a spectral and physical form, rendering it impervious to effective attacks from both the GDF and Ultraman Arc.

As Arc’s timer began to glow red, a mysterious alien arrived to assist Arc, ultimately helping to defeat Mogusion. After this incident, GDF headquarters agreed to let Shu remain in Hoshimoto City to continue the investigation, allowing him to carry on his work with his team. When he reunited with Yuma, Shu asked him to call him by his first name, "Shu," instead of "Mr. Ishido." The Light of Fear

Gallery

Ultraman Arc

Miscellaneous

Trivia

  • During the audition process, Sho Kaneta initially applied for the role of the protagonist, Yuma. However, on the staff's recommendation, he was ultimately given the opportunity to play the role of Shu Ishido. Although Shu is depicted as a coffee enthusiast, Kaneta himself is not particularly fond of coffee.[11]
  • Shu is depicted as someone who really loves coffee. Without it, he can't bear it and becomes flustered and restless, seeming like a different person altogether.
  • The partnership between Shu and Yuma is one of the core elements of the series. After establishing the GDF as the backdrop, Ishido was set up as a bridge connecting SKIP and the GDF. Although he is stationed at SKIP, he also bears the responsibilities of a GDF special investigator. This setup came from series composition Jun Tsugita’s idea, considering that if SKIP does not have someone knowledgeable about the kaiju’s movements, the story would be difficult to advance. Even if the GDF is not heavily depicted, having a representative character involved in the story can serve the purpose.[12]
  • Takanori Tsujimoto noted that Shu is a compelling character, which led them to decide to create a “buddy relationship” story. As he finalized the character with Tsugita, Shu’s role became richer and even showed potential to rival the protagonist. Tsujimoto emphasized that this time they wanted to present a “man-to-man buddy relationship,” a point that has been endorsed by the production team.[12]
  • To cope with his investigative duties, Shu began keeping a diary after joining SKIP. It serves not only as a memo for kaiju cases but also documents how SKIP operates and details about life in Hoshimoto City, where he will be living in the future.

References

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