Ryu Nakanishi, designated G-5 and codenamed Ryu the Horned Owl, serves as the primary pilot for the Science Ninja Team's God Phoenix, New God Phoenix, and Gatchaspartan vehicles. His origins trace to a fishing village where, at age 13, he assisted Dr. Nambu during a boating accident, pulling him from a whirlpool. This act prompted Nambu to bring Ryu to Utoland City, where his maritime expertise secured his place on the team. Ryu operates a yacht harbor as his civilian cover, concealing the God Phoenix underwater. He possesses living family: father Matsuzo, younger brother Seiji, and a briefly mentioned mother. Physically, Ryu has a heavily-built, somewhat overweight frame composed largely of muscle resembling a sumo wrestler's physique. He stands 170cm tall with shoulder-length messy brown hair and black eyes. His typical civilian attire is a green-and-yellow shirt featuring a prominent "5", later simplified to a green crew-neck shirt with the number, worn with khaki pants. His Bird Style uniform is brown with a green feathered cape showcasing deep red interior trim, deep gray gloves and boots, and an owl-themed helmet with a lavender visor. The 1994 OVA reimagines Ryu as a 25-year-old biracial individual (half-Japanese, half-Aboriginal Australian) with deeply tanned skin. His hair styles into a purple-sided, blonde-top mohawk ponytail, complemented by surfer-style clothing and a "5" necklace. His OVA Bird Style shifts to deep green with gold accents. Concept art for the canceled Imagi film project depicted varied interpretations, ranging from heavily muscular to more slender builds. His Bird Style evolved from bulky green armor to sleeker OVA-inspired designs, eventually settling on a green-and-gold scheme with 3D bird emblems. Civilian outfits consistently featured pale green shirts with darker accents and orange details. Ryu exhibits a laid-back personality compared to teammates, often expressing mission reluctance and initially complaining about limited combat opportunities while piloting the God Phoenix. Despite this, he remains committed. He displays physical strength, optimism, and empathy, though provocation can trigger arrogance or violence. His maritime expertise grants versatility in marine sports. A tendency to nap during downtime occasionally causes operational lapses, like missing alerts during attacks. As primary pilot, Ryu demonstrates advanced skill maneuvering team vehicles through complex aerial, underwater, and space environments. His fighting style emphasizes brute strength, enabling feats like lifting enemy ships or body-slamming opponents. Weapons include a Harpoon Gun for ranged combat, supplemented in sequels by the elastic Gripper rope (*Gatchaman II*) and the Owl Sickle kusarigama (*Gatchaman Fighter*). Ryu operates personal vehicles: the unarmed G-5 transport aircraft (concealed God Phoenix launch platform), the amphibious missile-armed Horned Tank in *Gatchaman II* (destroyed during *Gatchaman Fighter*), and later the yellow-and-white bulldozer-style Gatcha Five mecha. Equipped with claws, lasers, and missile launchers, Gatcha Five forms the rear section of the combined Gatchaspartan. Character development across media shows Ryu evolving from reluctance to dedication, particularly after learning his teammates value him despite perceived flaws. His role expands in sequels with new vehicles and weapons, reflecting increased combat involvement. The OVA and Imagi adaptations reimagine his origins and visual design while retaining core traits like loyalty and maritime proficiency.