Kouji Karakuchi

Kouji Karakuchi
Name
Japanese:	カラクチコウジ Karakuchi Kōji
Official English:	Koji Karakuchi
Information
Gender:	Male
Occupation:	Student
Medarots:	Smilodonad (M2) Warbonnet (M2) Searchrat (M2) Sakura-Chan (M2C) Blackmail (M2C) Ambiguous (MR) Atheist (MR) Rokusho (KWG-0) (MR PC) Excise (M3) Unitris (M3) Neo Sakura-Chan (M3) Dorcus (Brave) Neo Sakura-Chan (M3) Shinsaber (M4) Beast Master (Manga)
Nationality:	Japanese
Voiced by:	Reona Yokomaru (Japanese), Joanne Vannicola (English)
Game appearances
Medarot 2, Medarot R, Medarot 3, Medarot 4, Medarot G, Medabots AX, Medarot Brave, Medarot 2 Core, Medarot S
Other appearances
Anime: Medarot

Kouji Karakuchi (カラクチコウジ Karakuchi Kōji) is a major character in the Medarot series, initially introduced as the rival character in Medarot 2 and continuing this role in Medarot 3 and 4.

A student at Hanazono Academy and childhood friend of Karin Junmai and Hachiro Awano, Kouji is Ikki Tenryou's main rival. Although their first meeting was filled with tension and misunderstandings, they eventually became best friends and developed mutual respect. Kouji breaks the stereotype of the egotistical rival by giving Ikki the chance to make choices in their competitions and healthily accepting that Karin Junmai, his romantic interest, might like Ikki.

Kouji's primary Medarots are Smilodonad (Kabuto version) and Warbonnet (Kuwagata version), focusing on attack methods opposite to Ikki's Medarot starter. He upgrades his Medarots to Excise and Unitris, respectively. Additionally, he commonly uses Medarots from the DFL line as support for his main Medarot.

In the games

In Medarot 2 and 2 Core

Kouji in the game debuts in the second story event as a rival to Ikki in both Robottling and gaining the affection of Karin Junmai.

He initially comes to Ikki's school in search of the culprit who went around fliping female student's skirts, which included Karin among the victims. He Robattles the students such as the members of the Screws Gang, defeating them with ease. Kouji would eventually face Ikki in a Robottle in the school, but would end up losing the first encounter. He is calmed down by Karin, and he would look elsewhere.

Kouji would be met once more in the woods, both him and Karin searching for the Ghost in the woods who was stealing parts from other Medarots. He would search an area of the woods with Karin, redirecting Ikki and Arika away from where he is searching. Eventually Kouji and Karin are separated after some time due to Karin becoming fatigued from searching, with Kouji eventually finding Ikki and a suspicious Medarot in a cave. He would try to fight the Medarot, but Ikki would defend the Medarot, and after losing to Ikki once again, Kouji would have the situation explained, and the true culprits, the Roborobo Gang would show themselves, Kouji taking on one of them while Ikki fought the other.

On Medarot Island, Kouji faces Ikki once more in an official Robottle Tournament, him being the final opponent in the tournament after defeating the A Block. He would face Ikki in one more Robottle, but ultimately would lose in that battle.

Kouji's starting Medarot in the game is dependent on the version of the game he is fought in, using a Medarot that is meant to counter the player's starting Medarot, Smilodonad being his partner in the Kabuto/Metabee Version, and Warbonnet being his partner in the Kuwagata/Rokusho Version.

In Medarot R

Kouji has the same role from Medarot 2 as Ikki's rival. While his main Medarot is always Smilodonad here, he also uses two Warbonnet on his team as a rank 3 Medarotter.

He first appears in front of the school to challenge Ikki after discovering that the boy defeated The Screws, but due to his hasty personality, he didn't realize that the boy in front of him was Ikki himself, telling the boy to tell "Ikki" about his challenge. After Ikki defeats RoboRobo Gang for the first time and reveals who he is, Kouji realizes his mistake and becomes embarrassed.

On another day he and Karin accompany Ikki and Arika to Medarot Expo and end up witnessing all the confusion caused by RoboRobo Gang.

He participates in the Medarot Tournament facing Ikki in the finals but ends up losing. His Smilodonad is temporarily controlled by Silver Bat, which damages his Medarot's medal which makes him accompany Ikki and the others to visit Dr. Medarot to repair his medal.

After witnessing Teacher Jick's presence before the RoboRobo Gang's attack on the Medal Ruins, he and Arika begin to believe that Jick is part of the villains. He watches the Hyper Tournament final between Ikki and Jick, and after Ikki emerges victorious, Kouji and Arika accuse Jick of being part of the RoboRobo Gang. Although much to their shame, this quickly proves false with Jick's brother revealing himself to be the villain here.

In Medarot 3

Kouji's starting Medarot in Medarot 3 is dependent on the version of the game once more, with Excise replacing Smilodonad in the Kabuto Version, and Unitris replacing Warbonnet in the Kuwagata Version.

Kouji first appears in Chapter 2. Ikki and Arika meet him at Hanazono Private School while preparing for the next round of the Medalympics and learn that he has been targeted by the new strict substitute headmaster. Eventually, the headmaster kidnaps Ikki and seemingly makes a deal with him to fix the fight against Kouji in Ikki's favour. Ikki pretends to accept, only to plan with Arika to prevent the interference. Eventually, the two come to face in the final round of Hanazono's tourney but before the fight begin, Brass and Ikki's Starter Medarot take out the headmaster's spy Medarot to ensure a fair fight. Ikki defeats him in the ensuing fight but Kikuhime cedes her spot on the Medalympics team and suggest to have Kouji and Karin fill her place, a modification that Yuuki is happy to accept.

In Chapter 3, Kouji goes with the rest of the team to the underground city of Earth Mall. He eventually gets wind of the RoboRobo activity in town and locks himself in a building surounded by the Select Corp, having taken a RoboRobo agent hostage. Arika goes to find him while searching for Ikki and confronts Kouji over it. Kouji, displeased, challenges her to a Robattle which he loses. The two then make up and Arika gives him Ikki's Medarotch.

Kouji goes around town looking for Ikki. Eventually, he goes to the Geofront Scientific Laboratory where he finds that the RoboRobo executive Shiokara has taken hostages with Medals as his ransom. Kouji challenges him to a Robattle and wins, making Shiokara flee. He manages to grab on a RoboRobo grunt, who explains to him that the RoboRobos plan to take over Earth Mall by capturing a lot of medals. He lets the grunt go and meets Arika, who tells him she figured out Ikk is inside the laboratory he just left. Surprised, Kouji hands her back Ikki's Medarotch and goes to brief Karin on the situation.

Medabots AX

Kouji is the final opponent in the Tournament, using Warbonnet as his leader and a 2nd Medarot with mixed parts.

Medarot Brave

Kouji appears early in Brave, greeting Ikki with Dorcus after he clears one of the Forest biome attractions. He explain he was asked by Karin's parents to watch over her.

In the Anime

Kouji in the anime plays a similar role to his game counterpart. When Ikki, Metabee and Arika go to try and find the Legendary Medarotter, Ikki and Metabee initially mistake him for such, and the two would Robottle, the battle being cut short due to Karin being temporarily kidnapped in that episode. He would continue to appear throughout the anime, acting as a rival to Ikki in Robottling and trying to gain Karin's affections. Kouji in the anime would have a notable fear of insects, him being paralyzed or going berserk when seeing insects and Medarots with designs similar to insects, though Metabee and Rokusho would be the exceptions to this ruling.

He would initially defeat Ikki and Metabee in their first official tournament battle, though he refused to count it as a victory, but ultimately would lose in their subsequent rematches. In the World Robottle Tournament Rankings, he would place Number 2 through Japan. He would be the only Medarotter in the initial anime that would manage to unlock the power of the Medaforce without his Medarot having a Rare Medal.

Image gallery

Games:

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  Medarot 2 Concept art (Portrait)

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  Medarot 2 Concept art (Full body)

Sprites:

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  Medarot R

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  Medarot 2 Core

Anime:

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