Movie
Description
Hiroki Saito is a foundational figure in the history of the Sidonia, already deceased before the main events of the story begin. He is the genetic predecessor and surrogate grandfather of the protagonist, Nagate Tanikaze.
Saito's background is that of a legendary ace pilot, known originally by the call sign Morito. He served as Sidonia's primary defender for an extraordinary span of six centuries. During this time, he was part of the original exploration team that discovered the Kabizashi, a rare and powerful weapon effective against the alien Gauna. This achievement, alongside his combat prowess, earned him a place among the founding members of the Immortal Ship Committee, a group granted biological immortality to ensure the ship's long-term survival.
One of his most significant military accomplishments occurred one hundred years before the present day, during the Fourth Gauna War. After a disastrous incident orchestrated by the scientist Ochiai, two Gauna breached the Sidonia's interior and killed ninety-nine percent of the remaining population. In this crisis, Saito single-handedly piloted his Guardian, the Tsugumori, to destroy both intruders, saving the ship from complete annihilation.
Despite his heroic status and immense responsibility, Hiroki Saito's personality was defined by a deep-seated exhaustion. Unlike many other immortals who maintained their vigor across centuries, Saito grew weary of the endless fighting and the burden he carried. He eventually stopped taking the anti-aging drugs, choosing to age and die naturally rather than continue his immortal service. When discovered after eighty years in hiding, his body had deteriorated significantly.
His primary motivation in his final years was a profound act of defiance and paternal love. The ship's captain, Kobayashi, had secretly created a clone from Saito's cells, intending to use it as a new, fertile body to transplant his consciousness into. Upon discovering this, Saito rejected this plan. He broke into the laboratory, stole the infant clone, and declared the child his own son. He valued the clone's life as an individual, not as a spare part for himself.
This decision defined his role in the larger story. Hiroki Saito raised Nagate Tanikaze in hiding deep within the abandoned lower levels of the Sidonia. Despite his own advanced age and frailty, he served as a strict but caring instructor. He taught Nagate everything he knew about piloting a Garde, using a simulator to drill him relentlessly in combat tactics. He also imparted basic survival skills and, though living in social isolation, raised Nagate to be a gentle and morally upright person.
Key relationships shaped his long life. He was exceptionally close to Lala Hiyama, one of the few people who could address her informally, and she ultimately helped him escape with the infant Nagate. His relationship with Captain Kobayashi was complex; while once a comrade, it soured due to her authoritarian methods and her decision to create his clone without his consent. He also worked alongside the treacherous Ochiai before the latter's betrayal.
In terms of development, Hiroki Saito's arc is one of a hero who transitions from a pillar of his society to a fugitive, and finally to a secluded father figure. His story represents a rejection of the ship's dehumanizing use of cloning and immortality in favor of a natural, finite life. He dies from old age three years before Nagate emerges onto the surface of the Sidonia, leaving behind a legacy not just of military genius, but of a singular act of free will that gave the ship its greatest new hope.
Regarding his abilities, Saito was renowned as an unparalleled Guardian pilot, capable of defeating multiple Gauna in ship-to-ship combat and in close-quarters interior battles. His physical combat skills were also formidable; even as an elderly man, he was able to single-handedly and easily disarm and defeat several armed security officers while carrying the infant Nagate. His expertise in piloting was so comprehensive that the rigorous training he provided Nagate from childhood allowed the younger man to immediately outperform his more experienced peers.
Saito's background is that of a legendary ace pilot, known originally by the call sign Morito. He served as Sidonia's primary defender for an extraordinary span of six centuries. During this time, he was part of the original exploration team that discovered the Kabizashi, a rare and powerful weapon effective against the alien Gauna. This achievement, alongside his combat prowess, earned him a place among the founding members of the Immortal Ship Committee, a group granted biological immortality to ensure the ship's long-term survival.
One of his most significant military accomplishments occurred one hundred years before the present day, during the Fourth Gauna War. After a disastrous incident orchestrated by the scientist Ochiai, two Gauna breached the Sidonia's interior and killed ninety-nine percent of the remaining population. In this crisis, Saito single-handedly piloted his Guardian, the Tsugumori, to destroy both intruders, saving the ship from complete annihilation.
Despite his heroic status and immense responsibility, Hiroki Saito's personality was defined by a deep-seated exhaustion. Unlike many other immortals who maintained their vigor across centuries, Saito grew weary of the endless fighting and the burden he carried. He eventually stopped taking the anti-aging drugs, choosing to age and die naturally rather than continue his immortal service. When discovered after eighty years in hiding, his body had deteriorated significantly.
His primary motivation in his final years was a profound act of defiance and paternal love. The ship's captain, Kobayashi, had secretly created a clone from Saito's cells, intending to use it as a new, fertile body to transplant his consciousness into. Upon discovering this, Saito rejected this plan. He broke into the laboratory, stole the infant clone, and declared the child his own son. He valued the clone's life as an individual, not as a spare part for himself.
This decision defined his role in the larger story. Hiroki Saito raised Nagate Tanikaze in hiding deep within the abandoned lower levels of the Sidonia. Despite his own advanced age and frailty, he served as a strict but caring instructor. He taught Nagate everything he knew about piloting a Garde, using a simulator to drill him relentlessly in combat tactics. He also imparted basic survival skills and, though living in social isolation, raised Nagate to be a gentle and morally upright person.
Key relationships shaped his long life. He was exceptionally close to Lala Hiyama, one of the few people who could address her informally, and she ultimately helped him escape with the infant Nagate. His relationship with Captain Kobayashi was complex; while once a comrade, it soured due to her authoritarian methods and her decision to create his clone without his consent. He also worked alongside the treacherous Ochiai before the latter's betrayal.
In terms of development, Hiroki Saito's arc is one of a hero who transitions from a pillar of his society to a fugitive, and finally to a secluded father figure. His story represents a rejection of the ship's dehumanizing use of cloning and immortality in favor of a natural, finite life. He dies from old age three years before Nagate emerges onto the surface of the Sidonia, leaving behind a legacy not just of military genius, but of a singular act of free will that gave the ship its greatest new hope.
Regarding his abilities, Saito was renowned as an unparalleled Guardian pilot, capable of defeating multiple Gauna in ship-to-ship combat and in close-quarters interior battles. His physical combat skills were also formidable; even as an elderly man, he was able to single-handedly and easily disarm and defeat several armed security officers while carrying the infant Nagate. His expertise in piloting was so comprehensive that the rigorous training he provided Nagate from childhood allowed the younger man to immediately outperform his more experienced peers.