Yoichiro Matsunaga Ultraman Nexus. He is the director of TLT. He wishes to know more about the secrets of the light.
is one of the characters inPersonality[]
In ordinary times, Matsunaga has a gentle and kind character and uses honorifics when speaking to his subordinates. However, in order to eradicate the Space Beasts, he sometimes shows a ruthless personality and is willing to use extreme measures to achieve his goals and fulfill his duties.
For example, he uses an entire city as bait to lure the Space Beasts or conducts human experiments on Dunamists who are unable to move due to battle injuries in order to study the secret abilities of Ultraman.
History[]
Pre-Ultraman Nexus[]
In the past, Matsunaga was the assistant to the Deputy Director of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office. Five years ago, his wife died in the disaster caused by Beast the One in Shinjuku. Since then, he has been living with his daughter, Hazuki.
He deeply regrets not being able to protect his wife and is determined to protect humanity from the threat of Space Beasts. When he was appointed as the administrator of TLT-J and established NR, he firmly sought ways to eliminate Space Beasts.Oblivion - A.D. 2004 -
Ultraman Nexus[]
At the beginning of the series, he recruited Kazuki Komon as a new member of NR and attended his physical test. Later, he personally congratulated him on passing the physical standards and provided him with the necessary equipment to join TLT.Night Assault - Night Raid -
When Ultraman appeared on Earth, he took a cautious attitude towards the creature, seeing it as a potentially threatening organism and launching several attacks with Yu Kirasawa. Throughout the series, he mainly discussed progress with Captain Wakura and events related to Space Beasts, Ultraman, and Giants of Darkness with Kirasawa.
As TLT's response to Space Beasts escalated, he began to yearn for knowledge of the secret of the Ultraman Light and the source of conflict between Ultraman, humans, and Space Beasts. He uncovered information about the Shinjuku incident and a giant called "Next," and used various extreme measures to respond to Space Beasts' invasions.
In the middle of the series, he ordered TLT subordinates to capture Jun Himeya and conduct human experiments to decipher "the light of Ultraman's power". However, the experiment ended in failure as Himeya's body was severely damaged. The scientific team tried to scan his memories but could not succeed due to his trauma. In order to forcibly provoke a reaction, Matsunaga used a Beast Signal Emitter, despite warnings from the scientific team that it would be deadly for an ordinary person.Suffering - Sacrifice -
When Himeya's heart stopped, Matsunaga panicked and attempted to revive him, using a suggestion provided by an Kirasawa to use the energy wave Himeya used during transformation to save him. This action allowed Himeya to be rescued in time, but Nexus took him away, causing Himeya to disappear in a bright light. However, this incident allowed Matsunaga to obtain information about Ultraman's destructive beam.Repose - Cure -
Later, after the "Land of the Dead" incident, Matsunaga participated in the inquiry of Komon, Wakura, and Saijyo along with other high-ranking TLT members, and discussed the existence of "Ultraman". Matsunaga obtained important information about Ultraman from Komon. However, shortly thereafter, Kirasawa notified him that all the information they obtained from the experiment on Himeya was destroyed by the "Unknown hand".Omen - Prophecy -
Afterward, he began monitoring the actions of the third Dunamist, Ren Senjyu, and dispatched Mizuo , who was the same age as Ren, to indirectly control the situation. Despite living with his daughter Hazuki, he often couldn't go home due to work, neglecting his responsibility to take care of her. In an incident, Hazuki witnessed the battle between Ultraman and Mega Flash. To fulfill his duty, he had to make a cruel decision and erase her memory of the incident.Blockade - A.D. 2009 -
Later, he conducted human experiments on Ren with his subordinates. Despite NR's opposition, he insisted on doing so, believing that Dunamists were "nothing more than containers of light" and hoping to use the power of Ultraman's light as a weapon for TLT. His words and actions caused discontent among NR members, eventually leading to their rebellion and rescue of Ren from Fortress Freedom. Although he once tried to stop the NR members, he eventually gave up the pursuit of them with Kirasawa's intervention.Revolt
In the final battle, when Dark Zagi appeared in Shinjuku, he who stayed at the base was afraid of Dark Zagi's ability to destroy the world. However, encouraged by Kirasawa, he regained faith that Ultraman would bring victory, and together they watched Ultraman Noa's fight.Bond - Nexus -
Counterparts[]
Ultraman Max[]
A character named Yojiro Matsunaga
appears in the series as the chief researcher at RSRI.Due to a series of incidents in Kitagawa Town where individuals suddenly lost control, Matsunaga collaborated with the police to conduct a CT scan on a man who had gone berserk and was arrested. The scan revealed that the man's prefrontal cortex had atrophied, which was the cause of his loss of rationality and inability to empathize with others. However, just as the DASH members, were preparing to leave the research institute, Matsunaga, who had been conversing normally with them, suddenly attacked Detective Shinohara.
It turned out that Matsunaga had answered a phone call earlier, after which he became irritable and ultimately lost consciousness. Kaito Touma and the others discovered that all individuals who exhibited violent behavior during the incidents were on calls at the time, and that their mobile phone antennas were all of the same type. Kaito speculated that aliens might have distributed antennas containing special components, which led to the public's violent outbursts.The Untargeted Town
Trivia[]
- In the making-of video, Horiuchi jokingly remarked that this character is the brother of Yoichiro Matsunaga.
Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers[]
A character with the same surname as Matsunaga makes a brief appearance as the mayor of Kobe City. During his appearance, he and his secretary, Midorikawa, are the main guests at the trial run of the Port Island Line.
While the train is in motion, the Imit-Ultraman Mebius appears on the tracks, attempting to destroy the Port Island Line. However, after the real Ultraman Mebius appears, they are able to survive the threat.Ultraman Mebius & the Ultra Brothers
Trivia[]
- It is worth noting that his mobile phone ringtone was set to "Night Raider - Scramble."
- In the film, there is a humorous scene depicting Matsunaga receiving a call while riding the Port Island Line, during which he is asked to buy "bamboo shoots, green peppers, and ground meat."
- In 2022, Horiuchi revisited this scenario while appearing in Ultraman Decker episode 4 "The Destructive Monster Awakens."
Gallery[]
Ultraman Nexus[]
Miscellaneous[]
Trivia[]
- In episode 37, in addition to his role as Matsunaga, Horiuchi also made a cameo appearance as a member of the crowd watching Ultraman Noa and Dark Zagi on the streets of Shinjuku.[3]
References[]