Colonel Shikishima

Lore & Background

Shikishima directs the secret project monitoring Takashi, Kiyoko, and Masaru, the trio of Espers whose existence is tied to the entity known as "Akira." When Tetsuo Shima's powers awaken following a bike crash near old Tokyo ruins, Shikishima attempts to integrate him into the program to stabilize his condition. As Tetsuo's mind fractures, Shikishima authorizes the use of powerful drugs to suppress his headaches and later tries to talk him out of releasing Akira from a cryogenic chamber beneath the Olympic Stadium. His command extends to ordering the SOL laser satellite to fire on Tetsuo, an act that only severs the boy's arm. Following a second psychic explosion triggered by Takashi's death, Shikishima survives the destruction of Neo-Tokyo, standing amidst the ruins alongside Kei and other survivors.

In Their Own Story

The Colonel's involvement deepens when Tetsuo kills Yamagata and survives being shot by Kaneda, prompting Shikishima to offer drugs to extend an olive branch. When Tetsuo escapes custody with Doctor Onishi to find Akira, Shikishima arrives at the military base beneath the Olympic Stadium, attempting a final negotiation before Tetsuo breaks open the cryogenic chamber. The sight of the ordinary-looking boy triggers a state of emergency and massive panic in Neo-Tokyo. In Volume 3, fed up with the government's tepid response to the crisis, Shikishima mounts a coup d'état, placing the city under martial law. His forces join Lady Miyako's acolytes and Nezu's private army in chasing Kaneda and his group through the streets. The pursuit ends at a canal where Nezu attempts to shoot Akira; Nezu is killed by Shikishima's men while his bullet accidentally kills Takashi, causing Akira to trigger the second explosion that destroys the city.

Reader's Guide

Shikishima represents the rigid structure of state authority crumbling under supernatural pressure. His role evolves from a project director managing Espers to a military dictator enforcing martial law during the crisis. He is responsible for containing Tetsuo and preventing the release of Akira, utilizing heavy weaponry, elite JSDF troops, and orbital laser support (SOL). However, his strategies prove futile against Tetsuo's evolving powers. A critical turning point occurs when he orders the SOL strike that fails to kill Tetsuo but only amputates an arm. Later, his decision to lead a coup reflects his desperation as political leaders fail to act. Ultimately, he survives the apocalypse, standing as one of the few witnesses to the end of Neo-Tokyo and the birth of the new world order.

Did You Know?

• Colonel Shikishima mounts a coup d'état in Volume 3 due to frustration with the government's tepid response to the crisis.
• He orders the use of SOL, a laser satellite, which succeeds only in severing Tetsuo's arm rather than killing him.
• Shikishima survives the second psychic explosion that destroys Neo-Tokyo, unlike many other characters who perish in the blast.
• His forces join Lady Miyako's acolytes and Nezu's private army to chase Kaneda's group through the city before the final destruction.