- Segata Sanshiro! -

      Sega's history is pretty amusing. It went from a company with nothing to dominating the US sector with the Genesis, and then totally flipflopping with the Japanese sector claiming a large chunk of the marketshare amidst the US sector bombing completely with the Saturn. I think a portion of its success belongs to their marketing scheme with Segata Sanshiro, a character based off of a Japanese pun featuring a simple gimmick: buy Sega Saturn or get beat up. It worked really well, and below is a collection of some of those commercials that aired in Japan that I extracted from Segata Sanshiro Shinkenyugi, one of the last titles released on the console in Japan. Any character that tells you to play videogames until your fingers break automatically qualifies as awesome. You might also be interested in his theme song as featured in several of the commercials.

Sonic R (0:30, 2.6M)
Synopsis: Three Japanese kids are off to go play some baseball. Segata Sanshiro does not approve in their decision to waste time when they could be sitting at home playing Sega Saturn instead. They proceed to get beaten to a pulp. You then get to hear some horribly cheesy British pop music.

Shining Force III (0:30, 2.6M)
Synopsis: Same gimmick, different game. Some Japanese teenagers are at a club and dancing to some horrible music, and Segata Sanshiro shows up. Dancing and meeting people is a complete waste of time, and he proceeds to show them the error of their ways. Afterwards, you get to see some footage from one of my favorite games of all time.

Saturn Bomberman (0:15, 1.5M)
Synopsis: It's a karate match, or whatever. Opponent charges Segata Sanshiro and proceeds to get launched about thirty feet or so, landing head-first into the ground and exploding in a totally exaggerated fashion. Annoying Japanese dude voices Bomberman, and you see some game footage.

Azel: Panzer Dragoon RPG (0:15, 1.4M)
Synopsis: Segata Sanshiro is wearing a mask and makes random weird gestures while his theme song plays in the background. He walks forward ceremoniously, then pulls off the mask. Some gameplay footage is shown, and then the commercial ends with Sanshiro doing a very, very odd pose.

Greatest Nine '98 (0:15, 1.5M)
Synopsis: Segata Sanshiro's at the local batting cage and charges up for a homerun hit. As the ball is pitched, Sanshiro karate kicks it at the last second and launches it directly into a homerun sign, dead center. Gameplay footage as per normal, then he finishes things off by taking several baseballs to the chest.

Dragon Force II (0:15, 1.4M)
Synopsis: Starts off with just Segata Sanshiro by his lonesome in a defiant pose, then zooms out to show three of him, then once more to show an army of him. Gameplay footage again, then the army is shown rushing to battle to close things off.

Winter Heat (0:15, 1.3M)
Synopsis: Cue Segata Sanshiro theme song. Segata Sanshiro is competing against another opponent in an ice skating race, and wins by a longshot by running over the ice barefoot. Gameplay footage is revealed, and then the commercial closes off with Sanshiro breathing heavily onto his feet, trying to warm back up.

Solo Crisis (0:15, 1.6M)
Synopsis: Theme song plays as usual. Segata Sanshiro is standing in front of a stack of bricks, preparing himself to break them in an extravagent fashion. Instead of using his hands, he breaks them with his forehead and says in Japanese: "use your head!" Solo Crisis is apparently a strategy game, though I've never played it.

The House of the Dead (0:30, 2.6M)
Synopsis: Theme song kicks in, and Segata Sanshiro is using the standard Judo throws like he did in earlier commercials. This time however, his opponents are the undead and they get right back up. An overtly Japanese guy says the name of the title in a completely unmenacing fashion, and things end with Sanshiro in trouble!

Burning Rangers (0:15, 1.5M)
Synopsis: Theme song again, featuring a lady and a lifeless girl lying on the ground in the middle of a burning house. Sanshiro comes to the scene and is a little too eager to deliver CPR instead of just carrying her and the still conscious lady to safety. I unfortunately still have never played this game, sadly.

Sakura Taisen II (0:30, 2.6M)
Synopsis: Two different vocal themes from the game are featured through the commercial. It starts off with Sanshiro calling for Sakura, both of them apparently playing hide-and-seek in a pink flowery forest. Definitely... different.

Miscellaneous Games (0:30, 2.6M)
Synopsis: This one features more of Sanshiro's theme song, and shows his training regiment. It seems to consist of running with an oversized Sega Saturn on his back, yanking on the controller, and repeatedly pummeling the buttons. A few random bits of gameplay is showcased, and things finish off with Sanshiro doing a flying kick in the air.

Christmas (0:30, 2.6M)
Synopsis: Three kids are waiting for Santa, whom just happens to show up! Or so they think, as Sanshiro removes his mask. He lets out an intimidating "HYAAH!" like he traditionally does when he beats people up, and the kids proceed to cry. He isn't heartless though, and leaves the kids with a brand new Sega Saturn.


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- This page was last updated on August 6, 2006
- Jason "Parn" Walton (jason@synbios.net)
- Sega Saturn shiro! [You must play Sega Saturn!]