Members of Slugger Punch


Ai Hisano - The Shibuya Muse

Name: Ai Hisano
Birthday: 16 March
Star Sign: Pisces
Country: Japan
Role: Professional Singer, Chorister, Session Singer, Model

Ai Hisano is already well recognized as artist, she join several projects involved as vocalist, CM singer or chorus: Asahi 16cha, Seiyu, T-ARA, Nana Mizuki, AKB48, Momoiro Clover Z, Ippeichan Yakisoba,and many others. She was in charge for the theme song "Ada Zakura" for the videogame "Otoko-Yukaku" (PS VITA). Singer and performer of Japanese anime songs, vocaloid tracks, J-pop, J-rock and various genres as rock/jazz/pop or EDM.

FICTIONAL INFO

Story: The "previous" Ai was conceived as a girl reincarnated several times in various eras, the only element revealed in her version is that: She belonged to a lineage of Japanese artists, a figure linked in some way to the puppeteers of an ancient group of Bunraku (文楽), and was finally freed by the S / P in Alternative Tokyo (year 2099). Ai has already used her power once, decreeing the defeat of the Corrupted Coven in the previous version of the Concept (Chaos Breaker).

Uncovering Ai's true past, present and future is impossible, a pure force of the nature that transcends the laws of reality and legend.

Description: Ai represents a real Japanese girl from Tokyo, has no fixed clothes or character costumes, Ai Hisano is 100% stylish and real. Or almost: the "Muse" in the S/P universe are purely feminine entities, endowed with divine or semi-divine powers, only a few of them are able to stop time and shaping reality once every seven years, thus changing the fate of events or the predetermined future.

History: Ai is actually a popular talented singer and a mystery at the same time. Only these few things about her are known: She adore video games, Zombie Movies, go out and drink with friends and loves dogs.

Personality: Unknown. At first sight, Ai is a sweet, sophisticated and modern girl. Other information remains confidential and well preserved within the guild.

Fictional Role: Muse

Special Abilities:

  • Soft and powerful voice capable of influencing emotions and reality.
  • Ability to manipulate creativity and inspiration.
  • Mysterious connection with the other Muses to change destiny.

Ushio - The Shadow Spear

Name: Ushio
Birthday: 27 December
Star Sign: Capricorn
Country: Italy
Role: Leader, Rapper, Producer, Songwriter, Samples

Over the years, Ushio, has been recognized as one of the precursors of AsianBeats, especially in his role as producer/comedy rapper specializing in Asian music and electronic genres. Often called the "Yokai Senpai", he has behind him a twenty-year career of concerts, concepts and featuring in the rock, hip hop, metal and crossover genres between Italy and Germany, but his true passion remains electronic music in various forms. Ushio is the main focus of various artistic and musical projects,mentioning some of the names with which has worked/collaborating: Eriko (Erikottero), Mayuko-A child in the cocoon, Edizioni Star Comics, Michele Broglia (Puff Purple), Claudio "Spectra" Maioli, and many others in various countries or agencies/projects.

FICTIONAL INFO

Story: After the confrontation in Tokyo 2099, Ushio retreated to one of the underground bases. The current "Ushio" is the real one and seems to be at least twenty years older than its predecessor. His nature of Yokai/Onryō doesn't seem to have changed, he seems to have the same habits as his previous version but appears more human and with improved assassin skills.

He appears in unusual places, trades strange things with dark elves that appear and disappears in the basement and he likes to see black cats walking through the stripes pedestrian. Beyond that, he appears to have no remorse for killing a double of him, posers and boastful "kings". There are no other known notions of his true nature or actions.

Sometimes a black cat appears and disappears in the most unusual places near him.

Description: Black Muskeeter cap or black baseball cap, bandana-black mask with the tip of a spear and always in a dark/elegant style. Hiragana tattoo of "Ushio" right forearm (うしお).

Personality: The “Yokai Senpai” is gloomy, silent and always with its jaw clenched as if it were to punch, the pragmatic man is always on the side, his intuition is still considered legendary. Easy to get angry but coldly stoic, he seems to have a soft spot for actress Takako Fuji.

Fictional Role: Guild Leader/Assassin

Special Abilities:

  • Ability to travel between parallel worlds and use roguish tricks.
  • Dexterity in using blades for combat.
  • Determination to bring smiles back to the faces of the oppressed.

Sasori - The Cybernetic Metal-Head

Name: Sasori
Birthday: 16 November
Star Sign: Scorpio
Country: Italian lives in Japan
Role: Guitarist, Bassist, Composer, Producer, Arranger

Sasori is the “metal” figure known as a composer, arranger and guitarist. Session player for various agencies and famous singers in Japan, professional musician and teacher of Jazz/Bossa Nova/Rock. He playing more than 15 years in several bands, from big ensemble to solo experiences. Sasori included in his resume a gigantic career of gigs, studio recording, movies or theatre pieces, music score transcriptions/transposer of instruments, in different clefs, arrangements from EDM to symphonic orchestra, and many other international jobs. Sasori is a well-known artist that have mastered rock, pop, jazz, bossanova, gipsy, flamenco, rumba, blues, fusion, heavy metal, European early music (middle age, renaissance and baroque) and work/collaborating with popular names as Che'Nelle.

FICTIONAL INFO

Story: After the confrontation in Tokyo 2099, Sasori also returned, his arm healed and completely cybernetic and improved. He decided to establish himself in the Japanese Division with Ai and Ryu, leaving the others to take care of the remaining missions in Europe and the alternative realities.

Sasori symbol is a tribute to "Black Scorpion", every now and then he plays dressed in black with a braid that looks like a scorpion's tail. Without a doubt the animal, the super heroine look, the Mortal Kombat character and the kanji are among Sasori's preferences.

No one knows his age at the moment, he resides in Tokyo and is said to be seen appearing in the Konbini at various nighttime hours near Yokohama.

Description: Long hair and sometimes wearing a top hat or a baseball cap, black bandana-mask with scorpion and kanji symbol / hiragana of Sasori. Often in classic elegant or metal style.

Personality: Despite the threatening appearance and the unknown powers with which he moves objects, he manages to materialize teapots (with only green tea) and at the moment he also has additional power thanks to the cybernetic implant in his right arm, giving him strength and superhuman stamina.

The witty Sasori is an entity with a strong Japanese-Roman accent, with a keen sense of sharp humor, like refined and researched cuisine and is a capable expert in international wines.

Fictional Role: JP Division Leader/Weapon Master

Special Abilities:

  • Ability to create powerful musical riffs that influence people's skills.
  • Robotic arm with superhuman strength and various functions.
  • In-depth knowledge of metal music and combat tactics.

Ryu - The Dragon Diplomat

Name: Ryu
Birthday: 10 December 
Star Sign: Sagittarius
Country: American-born Japanese lives in Spain
Role: Guitarist, Producer, Composer, Songwriter, Interpreter

Ryu is an experienced musician, guitarist and producer. He is a musician whose career reads like a truly trans-global journey, born in America and growing in Japan, his works reflects mixed atmospheres as Eastern and Western pop culture. He creates music as Synthwave, Chillwave, and Retrowave genres. As a keyboard/guitar player, Ryu's best in jazz and recreating the sounds from 80's to 2000 era. 

FICTIONAL INFO

Story: After the Tokyo 2099 clash, Ryu appeared to help the Guild, and eventually transported Sasori with Ghcan to a futuristic hospital. Ryu's arrival was fortuitous, he seemed to have known Sasori for some time or perhaps they had met in who knows what era (or concert!), the entire Japanese Division is currently his home, and his market experiences, research and missions to be granted always guarantee high profits and opportunities to be taken before the others.

Ryu is still trying to understand the strange members of the Guild, many of them don't even seem human or completely sane, yet the cause of ousting the Corrupted Coven is one of his goals.

Description: Unknow at the moment, black bandana-mask with a diamond frame/Dragon head

Personality: Unknow at the moment.

Fictional Role: JP Division Lieutant and Diplomat

Special Abilities:

  • Diplomatic skills to resolve complex situations.
  • Knowledge of Japanese martial arts.
  • Ability to summon dragon-related powers during combat.

Kijako - The Vengeful Producer

Name: Kijako
Birthday: 17 October
Star Sign: Libra
Country: Italy
Role: Producer, Composer, Video Creator, DJ

Kijako, Italian-Albanian, is the same age as G-chan and is known as an electronic music producer. His career included collaborations with popular youtubers as Videomaker, and as Producer/Dj is fond of Complextro, Future Bass, Dubstep and Chiptune. Kijako have also release various ep's, featurings, singles and selected as official video soundtracks for Edizioni Star Comics, and various remixes.

FICTIONAL INFO

Story: After the Tokyo 2099 clash, Kijako seems to have lost all of his arcane powers and the ability to control the “Xaz” droids he was the creator of. He withdrew to reflect on what was happening, and then he discovered the art of "Symbionism" by devoting himself to shaping or merging with other living beings, taking complete control of their abilities.

Returning to the underground base of Italy 1944 with the others, he seems the only one to have discovered a very peculiar thing: the real Ushio eliminate its younger and inexperienced versions in the various eras or reincarnations. A type of power and form of immortality...who must discover how to learn!

Description: Kijako still appears young with particularly black clothes, and his bandana bears the symbol, its meaning unknown. He learned a lot about the Symbionsism and and he also seems to have grown physically and in power over the last few years of his training. This new power seems to be able to speak in his thoughts, perhaps a consequence of events or his efforts, despite this during the missions his powers and mutations prove to be an ace in the hole.

Personality: Calm and polite boy, of his previous life he remembers the passion for video games and the series of "Fate", but this apparent calm seems to hide a destructive side when he is provoked. Kijako is always ready for action and knows how to go all out to help others!

Fictional Role: IT Division Lieutenant/Symbionism Master

Special Abilities:

  • Ability to shape-shift to create mysterious and powerful effects.
  • Vengeful rage when suffering wrongs or injustices.
  • Ability to create sonic traps and implosions.

Aenima - The Outer-Space Cloud

Name: Aenima
Birthday: 5 April
Star Sign: Aries
Country: Italy
Role: Guitarist, Producer, Composer, Sound Engineer, Mastering

Aenima, a native of Rome, is a unique talent in musical engineering, professional guitarist, composer, producer, concept creator and synth. His artistic career included various projects, collaborations, featurings and international jobs in various roles. Aenima switch his experience in edm, pop, ethnic, alternative, k-pop, j-pop and African music.

FICTIONAL INFO

Story: After the Tokyo 2099 clash, Aenima returned to the ancient hidden temple in which he was trapped, not particularly injured but had finally discovered his fate after the liberation of the muse by the S/P.

No one has seen Aenima in his real form since, he never seems to come out of the cloud and at the moment he has settled in the alternative Italy of 1944 with Ushio, Gchan, Kijako and Hatechu but is managing to come back to the Japan Division after completing some tasks.

The real origins of the indigo producer, probably Aenima is not an entity of their world but a "something" coming from deep spaces.

Description: Aenima always appears like a medium cloud, rumors say that inside can be hidden a type of Ufo or spaceship, his real “alien” form is unknown. He still has the stylized “cloud” as symbol in the black bandana-mask.

Personality: Posed and methodical, Aenima is a continuous source of inspiration and incredible and fast production capacities. Between dreamlike dimension and stage grit, he undoubtedly reveals an alien abilities and skills. Continuously studying to improve, it seems that the insulating cloud that covers its shape, is at the same time a recording studio, a home and a convenient means of transport between dimensions.

Fictional Role: JP Division Lieutenant/Sound Master

Special Abilities:

  • Ability to manipulate sound through engineered devices.
  • Shape-shifting which makes him difficult to hit in combat.
  • Advanced knowledge of musical engineering.

G-chan - The Stage Dandy

Name: G-chan
Birthday: 2 February 
Star Sign: Aquarius
Country: Italy
Role: Graphic Designer

G-chan, Sasori's younger brother, has a story that combines ironic and humorous elements but his real role as one of the most juvenile part of Slugger Punch universe is the management of Illustrations, graphic design, event organizer, SNS administration and stage assistant.

FICTIONAL INFO

Story: After the Tokyo 2099 clash, Gchan seemed to have grown up in a short time after the events, Gchan seemed more sarcastic, infamous and prone to acts of angry rebellion (as well as running a very popular blog of his fans ready to unleash riots at his orders!).

Hatechu explained to Sasori what could have happened: Gchan had not simply grown up in a dangerous context, but the influence and destruction of the old Ushio, could have cursed his younger brother. In fact, he was starting to look almost like the grim dandy, but Sasori was certain that in reality that dual personality of Gchan had always been there ...

Description: G-chan looks like a young man around 20, halfway between a typical Japanese student and an aspiring boy band idol but he changes after the Tokyo clash. G-chan wear cool modern black suite or a strange dark dandy/uniform. He still wear the black bandana-mask with the hiragana symbol "JI".

Personality: G-chan, was an expert on comics and nightlife,formerly a skilled warrior and heartbreaker, the handsome young become more like an alternative version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Growing up and becoming an essential support for the Guild, not even Sasori's or Ushio's dark plots have ever managed to break him, so much so that Gchan is now an empowered reflection of the senpais. What happened in Tokyo seems to have given him strange abilities, but still no one knows what he is capable of, but without a doubt, he seems to hold a grudge without limits.

Fictional Role: IT Division Kohai/Influencer Preacher

Special Abilities:

  • Negotiation and diplomacy skills to resolve conflicts.
  • Knowledge of arts and literature for inspiration and creativity.
  • Agility and dexterity in fencing.

TheHATE - The Sigma-Wolf

Name: TheHATE
Birthday: 16 November
Star Sign: Scorpio
Country: Italy
Role: Producer, Composer, Guitarist, Pianist, Arranger, Adviser

TheHATE (or HATEchu) is the "AsianBeats" Co-founder and precursor. Guitarist, pianist, singer, composer, producer and artist with more than twenty-year career of concerts, live, famous collaborations and featuring in rock, alternative, pop, EDM  and other genres. Currently one of the founding members and main producer has retired from the live/musical activities, but remains an unfailing support, mentor and official mascotte of the guild!

FICTIONAL INFO

Story: After the Tokyo 2099 clash, TheHate (or HATEchu) gave Ushio a hand while the others freed Ai, cornered by the hordes of the Coven, it was only at the last moment that the remodeling of reality changed the tide of the battle. The little black monster, however, was hit by something, finding himself catapulted into a dimensional gap, only to reappear shortly after unconscious at the feet of Kijako.

The destruction of the curse that had struck him in the Shanghai Arcade had left him with all the shadow power and evil of Ushio. Now, theHATE is holed up in the underground base, but for dangerous missions or those where fearsome creatures have to be hunted, it's the only member you can rely!

Description: TheHATE looks like a huge dark werewolf, immune to silver, fire, electricity and weapons. Still smart and wise, he remains the Guild Advisor... and also the "Tank" for risky business! Hatechu seems to become more sensitive and polite than before, his rebellious mood seems to have faded but he still hates the Corrupted Coven and fights injustice with burning anger and indomitable force. He still wear the black cap (with USB symbol) and wrap in his wrist his personal black-bandana with gold Anonymous symbol.

Personality: Previously the good side of the team was absorbed by HATE, but now, freed from the curse, they have just been affected by the evil energies shared with the old Ushio, causing a terrible transformation into a lethal creature. Always kind and good with members, he had lost his unhealthy vandal-terrorist instinct against the system for moments as carefree as a prankster. Once a week, he feels like he can go back to the dark and cute little monster form and start appearing in every live set again, both as a mascot and as a (cursed?) Good luck charm!

Fictional Role: IT Division Guild Co-Founder/Obscure Beast

Special Abilities:

  • Ability to manipulate sound for offensive or defensive purposes.
  • Extremely developed sense of hearing.
  • Transformation into a powerful arcane and hybrid werewolf.