Shin

Shin (シン)

Voiced by: Toshio Furukawa (TV series), Takuya Kirimoto (Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu movie series) Steven Blum (TV series, English dub), Michael McConnohie (1986 movie, English dub)

Style: Nanto Koshūken (南斗孤鷲拳, "South Star Lone Eagle Fist"; unnamed in the original manga and anime)

Star: Jun-sei (殉星, "Star of Sacrifice or Martyrdom").

Notable for being the first major antagonist in the series, Shin was Kenshiro's rival, who loved Yuria from afar. However, Kenshiro's wicked brother Jagi manipulated Shin into taking Yuria for himself, as he claimed Kenshiro was too weak. Following this, Shin engaged Kenshiro and defeated him, engraving the seven Big Dipper-shaped stab wounds onto his chest, and abducting Yuria. Shin adopted the honorific "King" and amassed an empire to win Yuria's favour, culminating in constructing the city Southern Cross. Yuria could not handle the innocents suffering in her name, and attempted suicide from the palace balcony in an effort to end Shin's infatuation. In fact, Yuria's life was miraculously saved by the Nanto Goshasei, who united to protect her from Raoh's imminent arrival. Shin reluctantly entrusted Yuria to their custody, and awaited his destined battle with Kenshiro. During Yuria's absence, he keeps a life-like mannequin of Yuria's likeness in her throne. The vengeful Kenshiro meets Shin and having already fought Shin in the past, sees through his techniques, eventually finishing Shin off with the Hokuto Jūjizan (North Star Cross Kill), inscribing Shin's emblem of the Bloody Cross on his chest. Refusing to die from Kenshiro's technique, Shin leaps to his death, maintaining that Yuria had died. Despite Shin's earlier betrayal, Kenshiro prepares a grave for him recognizing their kindred love for the same woman. The writers of the TV series extended Shin's role in the story by making him the main antagonist for the first season of the series. His subordinates in the TV series includes not only the four lieutenants of the King army from the original manga, but also the Golan commandos and Jackal's gang (which were the immediate villains after Shin's death in the manga), as well as several original villains, notably Joker and Barcom. In the episode prior to the final battle between Shin and Kenshiro, General Barcom leads a mutiny against Shin, leading to the destruction of Southern Cross, as well as the dissolution of the King organization. In the 1986 movie, Shin is challenged by Raoh, who invades Southern Cross to use Yuria as bait for Kenshiro. When Kenshiro finally makes it to Southern Cross, Shin dies from the Hokuto Shinken wounds inflicted by his off-screen defeat to Raoh.