Colonel Shikishima is a central supporting character in the anime film Akira, serving as the stern and pragmatic military leader of Neo-Tokyo. He is a large, imposing man of considerable height, easily recognized by his distinctive crew cut hairstyle and a thin mustache. His typical attire consists of military uniform or a dark suit, and he is almost always referred to by his rank rather than his given name. His nickname, used derisively by some characters like the biker Kaneda, is "The Skinhead," a direct reference to his close-cropped hair.

Shikishima is defined by a serious, stoic, and deeply pragmatic personality. He rarely displays overt emotion, presenting a face of calm authority and grim determination even in the face of chaos. Despite his intimidating and sometimes tyrannical demeanor, he is not a villain but a soldier genuinely committed to protecting what remains of Neo-Tokyo. He holds the city and its hedonistic populace in profound contempt, once deriding it as "a garbage heap made up of hedonistic fools," yet he feels it is his duty to safeguard it nonetheless. This contradiction between his personal disdain and professional obligation fuels his relentless action. He has little patience for politicians, whom he sees as corrupt and shortsighted, and he is openly contemptuous of theoretical science, dismissing scientists like Dr. Onishi as detached "romantics" more interested in theoretical evolution than in practical human cost.

The Colonel's motivations are rooted in a deep-seated fear of repeating a past catastrophe. He is the head of a secret government project studying psychic abilities, a program born from the destruction of old Tokyo by a powerful Esper child named Akira. Having witnessed the potential for apocalyptic ruin, Shikishima is obsessed with preventing a second disaster. When a young street biker named Tetsuo Shima begins to manifest similarly devastating psychic powers, the Colonel's primary goal becomes the neutralization of this new threat, even if it means killing the boy. His actions are always filtered through the lens of the greater good, adhering to a pragmatic philosophy that the ends justify the means.

In the story of the film, the Colonel acts as the primary authority figure trying to maintain order. He manages the Espers, the three child psychics whose powers are tied to Akira, and oversees the underground chamber where Akira's dismembered remains are kept in cryogenic stasis. His role pits him directly against Tetsuo, whose rampage through Neo-Tokyo threatens to unleash a power even greater than the Colonel can control. His most significant act of defiance against the corrupt civilian government is an attempted coup d'état, staged to give him the free hand he believes is necessary to stop Tetsuo without political interference. While his plan ultimately fails to prevent the final cataclysm, his dedication to his duty remains unshaken.

The Colonel's most revealing relationship is with the three Espers: Masaru, Takashi, and Kiyoko. Unlike other authority figures who treat them as mere research subjects, Shikishima cares for them in a gentle, paternal manner, and he is unique in always heeding their premonitions and warnings. In turn, the Espers respect and are fond of him, ultimately using their powers to teleport him to safety during the final destruction of Neo-Tokyo, saving his life. His relationship with Dr. Onishi, the project's scientist, is a tense collaboration defined by clashing worldviews; the Colonel represents grounded, militaristic pragmatism, while Onishi represents the amoral pursuit of scientific discovery. When the Colonel sees Onishi becoming fascinated by Tetsuo's destructive power, he reacts with physical violence, disgusted by the scientist's lack of regard for human life. The character of Kaneda, the protagonist, initially views the Colonel as an enemy, but they eventually form an uneasy alliance against the mutual threat of Tetsuo.

Throughout the film, Shikishima shows little traditional character development, as he is already a fully formed and resolute figure. His commitment to his core principles only strengthens as the crisis escalates. His most notable abilities are his strategic military mind, his authoritative command, and his physical resilience and experience as a soldier. He wields no special powers, relying instead on conventional weaponry, military tactics, and his unyielding will to confront a threat that is reality-bending and virtually omnipotent.