Kabuto, Kouji

Seiyuu / Dub

Akabane, Kenji· Japanese

Gama, Lucas· Japanese

Ho, Danny· Japanese

Ishimaru, Hiroya· Japanese

Kim, Yeong Seon· Japanese

Morikubo, Shoutarou· Japanese

Shimono, Hiro· Japanese

Yamaguchi, Kappei· Japanese

do Vale, Marcelo· Japanese

Barrero, Jesús· Spanish

Beckles, A.J.· English

Borg, Patrick· French

Summary

Kouji Kabuto serves as the central protagonist, portrayed as a skilled motorcycle rider and student. In the original narrative, he resided with his brother Shiro and grandfather Juuzo following a lab accident that seemingly claimed his parents' lives. His life changes when Juuzo summons him to a mountain cabin, which promptly explodes. Surviving the blast, Kouji discovers a hidden entrance and finds his dying grandfather, who urges him to pilot Mazinger Z to defeat Dr. Hell. Kouji then locates the massive humanoid robot and its control device, the hover pilder, joining Photon Power Labs to combat Dr. Hell’s forces. In the Grendizer series, Kouji acts as a supporting character and backup for protagonist Duke Fleed. He joins the war against the Vegan Empire, initially operating the TFO, a limited-capacity recon unit. He later fights alongside Duke using the Double Spazer, a jet-like machine that attaches to Grendizer to provide flight capabilities similar to the Scrander. His personality mirrors his portrayal in the original Mazinger Z anime: stubborn, hot-blooded, direct, and confrontational. Although he has matured somewhat, showing greater openness to reason, he remains eager to charge into battle first. As the protagonist of Shin Mazinger, Kouji lives with Shiro and Juuzo in their Atami manor. Despite the accident caused by his grandfather, Kouji holds no ill will toward Juuzo and fiercely defends his honor. During the Ashura Corps' attack on Atami, Juuzo sends the hover pilder to Kouji, who arrives just as the manor is destroyed. Juuzo unleashes Mazinger Z from his underground lab, explaining that the robot grants Kouji godlike power. Viewing this as penance for the accidental loss of his parents, Juuzo transforms his grandson into a superhuman. Empowered, Kouji resolves to fight Dr. Hell and his army of mechanical beasts.