TV-Series
Description
Masamune Kido is the commander-in-chief of Border, the defense organization that protects Mikado City from Neighbors. He is a founding member of the original Border, which was formed with the goal of fostering understanding between Earth and the Neighborhood. In the early days, Kido was cheerful and believed in the possibility of peaceful coexistence, but his outlook changed drastically after a devastating battle five years prior to the main story. Border dispatched nineteen members to aid an allied nation against a hostile Neighbor country; ten of those members were killed, and some of them became Black Triggers. The loss of so many colleagues, including his close friend Soichi Mogami, caused Kido to become grim and hardened. He now holds a deeply antagonistic stance toward Neighbors and is the head of the Kido Faction, the largest faction within Border, which prioritizes hostility toward Neighbors and focuses on away missions rather than pure defense.
Kido is serious, strict, and intolerant of those who break Border's rules, as seen in his initial reaction to Osamu Mikumo's unauthorized actions. He is pragmatic and sometimes makes cold-hearted decisions, such as using Osamu as a scapegoat during a press conference. However, he also shows a more complex side: he later defends Osamu against a reporter and allows Yuma Kuga, Hyuse, and the Neighbor Michael Cronin to join Border, indicating that his hatred is not absolute and that he can prioritize Border's strategic interests over personal prejudice. He is described as having a tsundere personality by those who know his past. Kido's primary motivation is to protect Earth and prevent the tragedy that befell his comrades from recurring, which drives his uncompromising attitude and his commitment to strengthening Border.
In the story, Kido serves as the highest authority in Border, making final decisions on defense plans, rules, and the treatment of Neighbors. He is the main antagonist of the Black Trigger Capture Arc, during which he orders the confiscation of Yuma's Black Trigger and sends agents to retrieve it. This conflict is resolved when Jin Yuichi offers his own Black Trigger, Fuujin, as a bargaining chip, and Kido agrees to let Yuma join Border. Later, during the Large-Scale Invasion, Kido allows Yuma to use his Black Trigger within the Danger Zone and cooperates with him by gathering information about potential invaders. He also authorizes Osamu to be used as a scapegoat but ultimately shows a degree of trust in Tamakoma Second.
Kido's key relationships include his fellow founding members: he was a colleague of Yugo Koga, the father of Yuma, and a senior to Masafumi Shinoda and Takumi Rindo. He is also the superior of Motokichi Kinuta, Eizo Netsuki, and Katsumi Karasawa, all of whom he scouted. His relationship with Shinoda and Rindo is marked by differing philosophies: Shinoda prioritizes defense of the city, while Kido emphasizes away missions. He maintains a tense but functional working relationship with Tamakoma Branch, which holds a more diplomatic stance toward Neighbors.
Development is seen in the contrast between his past and present self. After the traumatic battle, he adopted a grim and distrustful worldview, but over time he becomes willing to accept Neighbor allies when it serves Border's goals, such as allowing Hyuse to join for expedition purposes. He also shows unexpected empathy in administrative matters, responding calmly to requests for incentives during away mission tests and promising generous stipends.
Regarding abilities, Kido is primarily a commander and strategist rather than a frontline fighter. He does not participate in combat in the series, and it is noted that he is likely weaker than Masafumi Shinoda, who is considered the strongest normal trigger user in Border. Nonetheless, Kido holds supreme command authority over Border's operations, including the ability to set organizational rules, approve defense plans, and direct base construction. He is also the leader of the Kido Faction, which includes many top-ranked agents such as Kei Tachikawa and Masataka Ninomiya, who follow him because of his focus on away missions.
Kido is serious, strict, and intolerant of those who break Border's rules, as seen in his initial reaction to Osamu Mikumo's unauthorized actions. He is pragmatic and sometimes makes cold-hearted decisions, such as using Osamu as a scapegoat during a press conference. However, he also shows a more complex side: he later defends Osamu against a reporter and allows Yuma Kuga, Hyuse, and the Neighbor Michael Cronin to join Border, indicating that his hatred is not absolute and that he can prioritize Border's strategic interests over personal prejudice. He is described as having a tsundere personality by those who know his past. Kido's primary motivation is to protect Earth and prevent the tragedy that befell his comrades from recurring, which drives his uncompromising attitude and his commitment to strengthening Border.
In the story, Kido serves as the highest authority in Border, making final decisions on defense plans, rules, and the treatment of Neighbors. He is the main antagonist of the Black Trigger Capture Arc, during which he orders the confiscation of Yuma's Black Trigger and sends agents to retrieve it. This conflict is resolved when Jin Yuichi offers his own Black Trigger, Fuujin, as a bargaining chip, and Kido agrees to let Yuma join Border. Later, during the Large-Scale Invasion, Kido allows Yuma to use his Black Trigger within the Danger Zone and cooperates with him by gathering information about potential invaders. He also authorizes Osamu to be used as a scapegoat but ultimately shows a degree of trust in Tamakoma Second.
Kido's key relationships include his fellow founding members: he was a colleague of Yugo Koga, the father of Yuma, and a senior to Masafumi Shinoda and Takumi Rindo. He is also the superior of Motokichi Kinuta, Eizo Netsuki, and Katsumi Karasawa, all of whom he scouted. His relationship with Shinoda and Rindo is marked by differing philosophies: Shinoda prioritizes defense of the city, while Kido emphasizes away missions. He maintains a tense but functional working relationship with Tamakoma Branch, which holds a more diplomatic stance toward Neighbors.
Development is seen in the contrast between his past and present self. After the traumatic battle, he adopted a grim and distrustful worldview, but over time he becomes willing to accept Neighbor allies when it serves Border's goals, such as allowing Hyuse to join for expedition purposes. He also shows unexpected empathy in administrative matters, responding calmly to requests for incentives during away mission tests and promising generous stipends.
Regarding abilities, Kido is primarily a commander and strategist rather than a frontline fighter. He does not participate in combat in the series, and it is noted that he is likely weaker than Masafumi Shinoda, who is considered the strongest normal trigger user in Border. Nonetheless, Kido holds supreme command authority over Border's operations, including the ability to set organizational rules, approve defense plans, and direct base construction. He is also the leader of the Kido Faction, which includes many top-ranked agents such as Kei Tachikawa and Masataka Ninomiya, who follow him because of his focus on away missions.