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) 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 DFL Medarots like Sakura-Chan and Neo Sakura-Chan as support for his main Medarot.

In the games

In Medarot 2 / Medarot 2 Core

Kouji is a student at Hanazono Academy and a childhood friend of Karin Junmai and Hachiro Awano. As Hachiro grew more spoiled, their friendship became increasingly distant over the years. Just like Karin with the boys, Kouji is very popular with the girls at his school.

During an incident where a mysterious individual flipped the skirts of female students, Karin was one of the victims. Due to his hot-blooded and impulsive personality, Kouji mistakenly believed the culprit was someone from Omikuji Elementary School. He stormed the school, causing a huge commotion. He was challenged by the Screws, a group of bullies, who used their three Medarots simultaneously against him. Despite the odds, Kouji easily defeated them with his single Medarot: Smilodonad in Kabuto version or Warbonnet in Kuwagata version.

After his victory, Kouji ran to the second floor to interrogate more students, causing even more chaos. Ikki Tenryou and Arika Amazake followed him, with Arika urging Ikki to intervene. With no other choice, Ikki tried to talk to Kouji, but they ended up in a Robattle, which Ikki won. The confusion was finally cleared up with the arrival of Karin, who explained the misunderstanding. Kouji was embarrassed by the trouble he caused but was also impressed by Ikki's Medarotter skills, vowing that he would not lose next time.

Later, Ikki and Arika meet Kouji and Karin at Mt. Odoro, where they are all searching for the ghost that has been stealing parts from other Medarots. During their search, Kouji may become uncomfortable if Ikki interacts too much with Karin.

Eventually, Kouji corners the ghost Medarot in a cave where it was hiding. Ikki, knowing the ghost's true identity as a Medarot missing its former owner, tries to stop Kouji. Acting impulsively, Kouji challenges Ikki to another Robattle but starts laughing uncontrollably when he sees Ikki wearing a female kimono, which Ikki desperately tries to explain. After Ikki wins the Robattle, he explains the situation to Kouji.

However, their battle attracts the attention of the real culprit behind the missing parts: Shiokara, one of the leaders of the RoboRobo Gang. Kouji faces the grunts while Ikki confronts Shiokara, and both boys emerge victorious. Phantom Retort appears to take the Ghost Medarot to the person who best understands Medarots. Although Ikki understands what Retort means, Kouji is suspicious and follows the mysterious man, ultimately losing sight of him.

Later, Kouji, Karin, Ikki, and Arika meet again at the entrance to Mt. Odoro and bid farewell. Kouji decides to keep the incident with Ikki's kimono a secret, much to Arika's curiosity.

The next day, Kouji travels to Medarot Island with Karin, despite her father's objections due to her fragile health. Kouji decides to participate in the tournament on the island. During a break, Kouji notices the presence of the RoboRobo Gang and decides to confront one of the grunts. Ikki arrives shortly after, as the same grunt had stolen a girl's medal. The two boys witness Phantom Retort arriving and accidentally scaring the grunt away. While Kouji finds Retort strange, Ikki thinks he's cool. Later, Kouji and Ikki face each other in the tournament final, with Ikki emerging victorious.

Kouji is the default character to interact with Ikki on the ship returning home, demonstrating the growth of their friendship. However, this scene can also occur with Arika or Karin, depending on Ikki's actions during the event on Medarot Island.

In Medaropolis, while Ikki was attempting to visit Karin, he witnessed Kouji being kicked out by Karin's father. Realizing that Ikki was there for the same reason, Kouji invited him to his house. Kouji's mother was happy to see her son bringing a friend home, which made Kouji a bit uncomfortable. Kouji explained to Ikki that Karin's father tried to keep her away from others due to her fragile health, fearing they might put her at risk. He also warned Ikki to stop Arika from investigating Hanazono Academy, as her actions were already bothering everyone there.

Later, when Kouji realizes that his school is being invaded by the RoboRobo Gang, he teams up with Ikki to defeat the villains. Kouji obtains two keys and lets Ikki choose one, leading him to save either Karin or Arika, depending on the choise, with Ikki saving the other girl. After expelling the gang from the school, Kouji discovers Hachiro's involvement with the group and angrily rushes to confront him at his mansion, with Ikki following to prevent a commotion. Kouji is thrown out by the butler, leaving Ikki to talk to Hachiro. Hachiro regrets his actions, and Ikki convinces Kouji to reconcile with him, which Kouji accepts.

After witnessing the Select Corps arresting RoboRobo Grunts, Kouji suggests they visit Karin. Upon seeing that she is fine, if Ikki got enough affection from Karin, Kouji tells Ikki it is now his job to protect Karin, leaving Ikki somewhat confused.

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 Medabots AX

In the tournament, Koji is the final opponent in the Metabee version and the penultimate opponent in the Rokusho version. He uses Sumilidon as his leader Medabot and a second Medabot with mixed parts.

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.

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

Concept arts:

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  Medarot 2 Concept art (Portrait)

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  Medarot 2 Concept art (Full body)

Artworks:

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  Medarot S

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Sprites:

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  Medarot R

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  Medarot 2 Core

Anime:

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