Mitsuhiko Ishibori

Mitsuhiko Ishibori
Data
Ultra	Dark Zagi
Transformation Item	None (Lethe only restores his true body)
Type	Ally (disguised) Antagonist Villain
Age	29 years old (disguise)
Gender	Male
Home World	Earth Nebula M80
Affiliation	Darkside (Space Beasts and Dark Giants) Hajime Yamaoka (body's true owner) NR
First Appearance	Ultraman Nexus episode 1 "Night Assault - Night Raid -"
Latest Appearance	Ultraman Nexus episode 37 "Bond - Nexus -"
Portrayed by	Kosei Kato

Mitsuhiko Ishibori is the technical expert of NR. In reality, he is the alias assumed by Dark Zagi after possessing a TLT scientist named Hajime Yamaoka in 1991, 18 years before the events depicted in the series.

History

Pre-Ultraman Nexus

Main article: Dark Zagi

In 1991, with the help of newly arrived Visitors, a research group was established in Colorado, USA, which included a researcher from Japan named Hajime Yamaoka, who was an assistant to Dr. Nishijo.

Ishibori appeared before the young Nagi.

One day, while on his way to the laboratory, Yamaoka was possessed by a being named Dark Zagi, who arrived on Earth in the form of light particles. Zagi erased Yamagata's original consciousness and took over his body as its host. After being possessed, Yamagata quickly began to slaughter the entire research team of scientists, sparing only a girl named Nagi Saijyo, whom Yamagata had prepared for a larger plan. He also erased the memories of everyone, including Nagi, about his appearance.

To ensure the effectiveness of his disguise, Yamaoka erased his own existence from TLT records and appropriated the identity of a person named Mitsuhiko Ishibori, including the individual's employment history at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's forensic laboratory in 2003. Subsequently, to further conceal his true identity, he constructed a fictional "Ishibori" persona. Through this method, Yamaoka successfully altered people's memories of him, leading them to believe that he was Ishibori.

In 2005, TLT formed a specialized task force known as "NR", and Ishibori was selected as a member. Being the inaugural member of NR, during this period, he orchestrated events covertly to infiltrate TLT while waiting for Ultraman Noa's power to strengthen, seizing the chance for his resurrection. Concurrently, he engineered the creation of Dark Faust and Dark Mephisto, while ensnaring NR's vice-captain, Shinya Mizorogi, into darkness. The leadership of the Space Beasts was delegated to the Giants of Darkness he had crafted.

Ultraman Nexus

Ishibori participated in the NR combat mission.

When Captain Eisuke Wakura initially introduced Ishibori to Kazuki Komon, the newly joined team member, he referred to him as the analysis specialist for NR, tasked with investigating the abilities and weaknesses of Space Beasts and Ultraman. He not only possessed a proficient understanding of areas such as bacteria and biochemical weapons but also served as the team's expert in technology and weapon development. During operations, he typically mobilized alongside Shiori Hiraki, piloting the Chrome Chester γ. Additionally, as an NR member, he demonstrated superior physical capabilities, marksmanship, as well as proficiency in driving and operating machinery.^{Strange Creature - Space Beast -}

Throughout the series, Ishibori typically engaged in missions to confront Space Beasts with the members of NR. During these missions, he quietly carried out his duties, not impeding others and rarely speaking out during conflicts. However, in private, he often chatted with Shiori. While he seemed to show a kind side to Komon, most of the time, he remained quite understated, preferring to work alone at his desk, conducting analysis and compiling investigation reports.

After Ultraman appeared in the world, he conducted an analysis of the Meta Field and discovered it to be a boundary of discontinuous spacetime generated through phase folding. ^{Chosen One - Dunamist -} He also investigated the waveforms of Ultraman and the Space Beasts, revealing their oscillations to be inversely correlated, indicating a dualistic relationship between the two entities.^{M.P. - Memory Police -}

As the series progressed, Ishibori came under attack during a mission against Nosferu, but was rescued by Nagi just in time.^Nightmare Subsequently, while stationed at the base with Shiori, he revealed the existence of other NR teams within TLT during their conversation.^Apocalypse

After Dark Mephisto was defeated by the second Dunamist Jun Himeya transformed into Ultraman, and with no Giants of Darkness to control the Space Beasts, Ishibori began to intervene personally from behind the scenes under the guise of an "unknown hand," continuously activating the "Dark Field G" for the Space Beasts. However, outwardly, he continued to fulfill his duties as an NR member, maintaining his position and trust within the team.^{Omen - Prophecy -}

Upon learning about the existence of the fog and identifying its ability to reflect the vibrational waves of the Space Beasts, he mentioned to Shiori that the reported Space Beast, Banpira, might be mimicking the tactics of the Memory Police, attempting to erase human memories and conceal itself. He believed the Space Beasts might be evolving gradually after prolonged battles with NR. After analyzing the vibrational waves of Banpira, he speculated that these waves were likely sounds emitted by humans captured by the Space Beasts. He surmised that the Space Beasts might be using vibrational waves to transmit combat information.^{Ghostly Voice - Calling -}

Ishibori began deliberately providing information to sow distrust among the members of NR towards TLT.

After the existence of the Unknown Hand was confirmed by TLT's Yu Kirasawa, Ishibori suddenly reported a series of information to Captain Wakura: "Ultimate Vanisher has been rendered unusable due to data deletion by someone", "Opinions at TLT North American headquarters are divided into two factions", and "There is a spy within TLT-J". His speculations showed his concern about the mysteries hidden within the organization and expressed confusion about the possibility of the team being kept in the dark about the truth. By raising these questions, he took the initiative to present these concerns to Wakura first, making Wakura and other members see him as someone seeking the truth.^Bird

Ishibori comforts the heartbroken Shiori.

During this time, when Shiori went through a breakup, Ishibori noticed her efforts to conceal her inner pain and tried to comfort her, stating that such suppression could be harmful to her mental and emotional well-being. This incident gradually brought Ishibori and Shiori closer, and Shiori began to refer to him affectionately as "Ishi".^{Shiori - Lost Memories -}

After Mizorogi escaped from the TLT-J base, Ishibori seemed to have tracked down Hiroyuki Misawa within the TLT facilities and turned him into Dark Mephisto (Zwei).^{Shadow - Unknown Hand -}

Meanwhile, as Ishibori continued his covert investigation of TLT's internal affairs, he revealed to the members his discovery of the Prometheus Project related to Kirasawa. He suspected that TLT might have subjected them to memory manipulation. At this time, the Unknown Hand took advantage of the situation to infiltrate the base, attempting to breach Section 0, but ultimately failed.

In order to investigate the connection between the investigator who returned to Japan to probe TLT-J regarding the Unknown Hand incident, namely the former BCST head, Sara Mizuhara, the Prometheus Project, and the discontinued drug "Raphael", Ishibori utilized hacking techniques to breach the servers of TLT's North American headquarters in search of relevant information. Eventually, he uncovered decisive evidence that the truth of the Shinjuku disaster from five years ago had been concealed. However, in reality, Ishibori intentionally provided this information, leading members of NR to begin distrusting TLT.^{Oblivion - A.D. 2004 -}

Afterwards, he joined NR members in the mission to rescue Ren Senjyu. Ishibori stayed in the command room to sabotage the base's computer systems, executing the operation flawlessly to cover the escape of the other team members from the pursuit of numerous ordinary soldiers, fleeing the Freedom Fortress. When he himself escaped and reunited with the others, he was later seen alone by the computer, wearing a fearless smile. This behavior puzzled Shiori. Subsequently, Izmael attacked a city in broad daylight, generating fear to bolster his own power needs.^Revolt

Ishibori forcibly enters Section 0, where Lethe is stored.

After Ren defeated Izmael and completed Ultraman's mission, Nagi Saijyo became the new Dunamist. Ishibori believed the time had come, finally realizing his betrayal plan that had been in the making for eighteen years. He first shot Shiori with a gun, causing her serious injury, and then attacked Captain Wakura, who was protecting Komon. When he attempted to shoot the unarmed Komon, Nagi arrived on the scene, and she used the Evoltruster to prevent Ishihori from continuing to shoot up the command room. Ishihori then escaped and headed to the lowest level of the Freedom Fortress, known as Section 0, where Lethe was located. Due to his continuously increasing power, even the barriers constructed by the visitors couldn't stop Ishihori from approaching Lethe.

When faced with Kirasawa's inquiry, Ishihori revealed his true name to be "Dark Zagi". Upon Komon, Wakura, and Nagi's arrival, Ishihori recounted his entire plan to them. He stated that he had flawlessly concealed his true identity for a long time and had delegated command of the Space Beasts to Dark Faust and Dark Mephisto. During this revelation, Ishihori also disclosed that he was the perpetrator of the murder of Nagi's parents years ago. He explained that the motive behind killing Nagi's parents was his foresight that Nagi would inherit Ultraman's light, and the hatred within Nagi would become an indispensable power for his own resurrection.

The final moment before Ishibori transforms into Dark Zagi.

Ignoring everyone's attempts to stop her, the enraged Nagi transformed into Ultraman with the intention of attacking Ishihori. However, her light was immediately converted into negative energy by Lethe. When Ishihori absorbed this energy, his original body was restored, and he ultimately vanished.^{Bond - Nexus -}

Transformation

Ishibori's transformation was done purely by will with the assistance of Lethe. When transforming his body radiated dark energy and the red lines on Zagi's body could be seen on his face while his eyes glowed red.

Zagi absorbing the darkness taken from Nexus by Lethe

Zagi moments before the transformation.

Transformed into Zagi

Powers and Weapons

• Night Raider Training: Ishibori is a trained Night Raider being proficient in the use of their arms and machines.
• Hacking: Ishibori was a skilled hacker.
• Dark Ultra Powers: Ishibori also displayed other powers related to his nature as a dark Ultra, mainly flying, barriers and energy shockwaves, abilities that surpasses every Deunamist, good or evil.
  • Reflexes: Ishibori was fast enough to turn around and catch a bullet in his hand.
  • Protective Aura: When he performed that above maneuver his hand was covered in a dark blue energy that most likely protected him from harm. This same power appeared in shield form when he was being shot at.
    • Bullet Reflector: Ishibori is able to reflect and blast back the bullets shot by the Night Raiders, he does this be generating an energy field.
      • Energy Pulse: Using the same energy Zagi/Ishibori can generate a pulse of energy.
  • Dark Field G Deployment: A subspace Field deeper into the minus range than anything previously encountered, he can use in human form.
  • Remote Viewing: Ishibori most likely posses this ability or he could not have deployed his Dark Field G while he was with the Night Raiders or the times he was away from the action. He was also able to find and communicate with Mizorogi while he was another part of the base
  • Travel Sphere/Astral Projections: It is unknown if Zagi simply flash traveled or temporarily separated from his host body, given what his flash travel looked like when he was revived it was most likely he separated from Ishibori, or the wisp like form he took on was his 'Ultra Form' before his restored his body.
  • Mind Powers: Ishibori/Zagi has the same mental abilities as the visitors, mainly erasing memories.
  • Shielding: Ishibori/Zagi is capable of stopping the Visitors attack with his bare hands.
  • Halted Aging: Ishibori was actually old enough to be the parent of many of the Night Raiders but his body had not aged since Dark Zagi took it.

Protective Aura

Dark Field G Deployment

Travel Sphere

Mind Powers

Shielding

Bullet Reflector

Gallery

Ultraman Nexus

Zagi approaches his goal

Miscellaneous

Ishibori's profile

Dunamists Archives by Ishibori

Dunamists Archives by Ishibori

Dunamists Archives by Ishibori

Trivia

• In the initial opening credits, Ishihori's full name was mistakenly written as Ishibori .
• Ishibori is unique among Ultra Hosts, not just because his Ultra was the villain of his series but because Zagi had possessed a human body killing the host mind, making him less of a human host and more of a human form.
  • This is also why he doesn't qualify for the Evil Ultra Host category because he is the Ultra in question but in a different spin on the Human Form trope.
• In the opening scene of the second version where each actor is introduced, there is a scene that subtly reveals his true identity. In it, Ishihori is shown smiling as he operates the Divait Launcher, which is believed to hint at the attack on Shiori and Wakura in episode 37.
• Ishihori seemed to have secretly compiled and clandestinely organized a list of all Dunamists and potential Dunamists.
• When Ishibori used some of his powers his eyes glowed red in a similar manner to Shunichi Maki, however when he transformed his face also sported the markings of Zagi on his body.
• It is unknown if he was still biologically alive but given TLT's entry physical examination he either used his powers to mask his nature or he used his powers to pass as a normal human. It should be noted that Ishibori was once injured by a Space Beast like a normal human being, requiring medical attention.
• Ishibori's actor, Kosei Kato was also a finalist to play Jun Himeya. His actor was also aware from the start that his character would be the final villain of the series.

The Ishibori with horns growing out of his back appears in Nagi's memory.

• In the original plan of the project, the intention was for the fallen Nagi to transform into Dark Zagi, while Ishihori was designated as the human host for Dark Lucifer. In a flashback within Nagi's memories, the scene where a beast-like protrusion extends from Ishihori's back is a remnant of this scenario. Due to series simplification, by the later stages of the series, the horns on Ishihori's back had disappeared.