- "Train the mind and the body will follow."
- —Sawada (Street Fighter: The Movie)
Kenzo Sawada (澤田 拳三(ケンゾ・サワダ) Sawada Kenzo?) is a character from the Street Fighter series who was originally featured in the 1994 live-action Street Fighter film before appearing as playable fighter in the arcade game Street Fighter: The Movie. He is a captain of the Allied Nations, serving with Guile to thwart Shadaloo's attempt at world domination.
Biography
Street Fighter (film)
Originally, actor Kenya Sawada auditioned to portray Ryu in the film. Since the movie's staff had already chosen Byron Mann, and Sawada only spoke little English at the time, he did not receive the role. However, Capcom at the time pushed heavily to promote Kenya Sawada by any means possible, giving the staff behind the film and game the impression that he was to be the "face" of Capcom, their own action hero to star in later material. Due to this, a new character was created so that Sawada could participate in the film.[5]
He served as Fei Long's replacement in the aforementioned movie and game. Additionally, Sawada's voice is the only one dubbed in the film.[6]
Sawada's actual role in the film is very minor. He's shown only a few times actually speaking and fighting in the film, and has command of a small amount of ground troops in the assault on Bison's base. Yet at the end, he's shown amongst the main characters as they take a pose at the very end of the film.
Street Fighter: The Movie (video game)
His design varies somewhat from that in the film. The game developers had him go shirtless, based on the fact he was "buff" and inspired a bit from Mortal Kombat II characters of the time.[6] Had this presented a problem, the staff would have opted to have a shirt painted over his sprites. The design resembled in many ways that of Fei Long, and led to the actor being involved in digitizing sessions for both Sawada and Fei Long. For Fei Long, the design itself took little need to alter outside of a change of pants, shoes, and hair. However Fei Long's frames were never cleaned due to time constraints, leaving only Sawada.
Despite speculation to the contrary, Sawada is unarmed in the arcade game. The "katana" shown was intended at the time to be a "motion blur"; given a conflict between the two Capcom branches, however, flicker transparency was not applied and it was instead left solid. His slashing attacks were intended to have an ethereal appearance to them, akin to the Hadoken. The designers argued for the flicker effect, but were denied, and consequently opted for a look based on Mortal Kombat's effects at the time.[7] Later appearances from the console version of the game changed this aspect of him giving him an actual katana.
Street Fighter series
Though Sawada has not yet appeared in any of the mainline Street Fighter games, a character relations chart for Street Fighter V linked him to Guile and Charlie, and listed him as a member of the United States Air Force.[8] His Shadaloo C.R.I. profile states that he is currently traveling the world on duty, participating in operations to take down Shadaloo.
In 2020, Sawada was included in the Street Fighter World Warrior Encyclopedia - Arcade Edition, which confirms that he is part of the United States Air Force and its missions around the world, in 2024, the profile is republished in the Street Fighter World Warrior Encyclopedia - World Tour Edition.
Street Fighter 6
Sawada as a choice in a Street Fighter 6 Battle Hub poll
Sawada was included as a choice within the "Who's Your Top Tier" character poll within Street Fighter 6's Battle Hub in June 2024 which featured the entire roster of fighters from the mainline Street Fighter series.[9] On his X account, Takayuki Nakayama posted 3 illustrations for Captain Sawada that served as concept art for the character profile image when selecting him as an option in the poll.[10]
Sawada's special move Gokusatsu Jibakujin was added as an unlockable emote for the player's Avatar during the "Akuma Arrives! Fighting Pass".[11]
Other appearances
Street Fighter (USA cartoon)
In the US Street Fighter cartoon, Sawada remains with the A.N. after Guile was discharged from the military and began working for the Street Fighters (a group consisting of Ryu, Ken, Blanka and others). While in the movie he wore a blue T-shirt, blue camouflage pants and army boots, this version wears a tan uniform, similar to Rolento's, and even his voice is completely changed, possibly due to the inclusion of Fei Long in the cartoon. Additionally, unlike his game counterpart, he's shown with a Sonic Boom attack and a move akin to Alex's Flash Chop. Later in the series, he also uses a katana to fire blade-shaped projectiles, with said projectiles appearing very much like those for Guile's Flash Kick. He appeared in only two episodes: "Keeping the Peace" and "The Hammer Strikes", and was voiced by Michael Dobson.
In "Keeping the Peace", Sawada is portrayed here as a rival of sorts instead of Guile's ally, unlike the games. Both times they meet in the series they come to disagreements and subsequently heavy blows with the second bout supposedly a training session that results in a large amount of destruction to surrounding equipment (including one entire hangar), though the two men are able to work together towards the same goal as shown later.
Partly fueling this is the fact that after the events of the film, Guile was discharged from the military, with Sawada testifying that Guile put his own troops in danger and disobeyed a direct order. Now overlooking events happening in a boom town from a farmer finding a fortune in emeralds, the now Colonel Sawada proceeds to arrest Guile when he becomes involved, though the men work together later on. Adding insult to injury, from the series' second season on, Sawada takes over as head of the A.N. Special Forces, a position that formerly belonged to Guile.
Much like many events in the cartoon this contradicts the events in the film, as Sawada was not shown to have any antagonism towards Guile's assault on Shadaloo, and even assisted. Neither endings in the games make mention of this either, and even showed the exact opposite, with Guile praising Sawada. The exact reason for the change, as is the case with other conflicts between the film and the cartoon, is never explained.
In the episode, T. Hawk also appears as a member of the A.N. and still holds the rank of sergeant, as in the film, despite wearing traditional attire. He had previously appeared as an ally of the Street Fighters in a previous episode: "Desert Thunder".
In "The Hammer Strikes", the tension between Guile and Sawada still seems to be at its peak. The two face off in a violent training session that quickly turns into a real battle - Sawada draws his katana with precise movements, while Guile responds with his powerful Sonic Booms. The fight is so intense that it destroys military equipment and reduces an entire hangar to rubble, with T.Hawk having to intervene to remind them that this was supposedly just a drill. Despite their rivalry in the previous episode, Sawada is now considered an ally of the Street Fighters.
Before they can continue, Blanka's scream interrupts their conversation.
A burst of electricity courses through Blanka's body, and everyone turns in alarm. He writhes, overcome by visions. A clear image of Dhalsim appears in his mind, and he wonders why his former mentor tortures him in this way. More disturbing still, he also sees Satin Hammer. The visions are so vivid that Blanka is certain: something connects them.
The mission takes the Street Fighters to the temple of Dhalsim, where they discover a stolen nuclear warhead hidden away. Sawada claims that the warhead is the property of a A.N. signatory nation and was scheduled for testing that month. Guile realizes that he knew about the bomb's existence and that its deployment on the mission was no coincidence. Sawada, however, refuses to comment, claiming that the information is classified.
Dhalsim reveals that the test would take place on sacred ground near the temple, putting his people at risk, which prompts him to take action on his own.
T. Hawk also volunteers for the mission, though Guile has his doubts. The last time Hawk got involved with Satin Hammer, he was nearly accused of treason. Still, Hawk claims he has to go—he and Hammer have unfinished business.
Meanwhile, T. Hawk's arc continues from "Desert Thunder," where he infiltrated Satin Hammer's organization to recover a stolen high-tech secret weapon. However, his mission is compromised—not only by the losses of his past that still haunt him, but also by an unexpected attraction to Hammer. Torn between his duty and his feelings, T. Hawk hesitates. But when Hammer attempts to destroy the Pentagon, he chooses the Street Fighters' side. During the final confrontation, he tries to save her from a fatal fall, but is stopped by Hammer herself, who disappears shortly thereafter.
During the journey to the Himalayas, Sawada works in sync with the group he once despised. When they discover the stolen nuclear warhead and the imminent threat of Satin Hammer, it is Sawada who takes the initiative and uses his katana to open the bomb's compartment at the critical moment, allowing Dhalsim to deactivate it with only two seconds remaining.
Brazilian Comics
Sawada appears as a Captain of the United Nations Armed Forces in Brazilian Comics. He first appears in issue 14, written by Alexandre Nagado, the first part of the 3 part arc "A Ilha da Morte" (The Island of Death). With Guile presumed dead, Sawada recruits Guile's friends (Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Cammy) to take on Shadow Law, a new criminal organization created by M. Bison's minions (Sagat, Vega and Balrog), who had been presumed dead in issue 8. In this version, Ryu and Ken had not met Sawada before.
Mainichi Issho
Captain Sawada makes an appearance in the PlayStation 3 game Mainichi Issho, released only in Japan.[12]
Neco Drop 2
Sawada appears as a cat named Sawanya, with a gray camo pattern on his fur and a red pattern on his stomach referencing the Gokusatsu Jibakujin blood spray. His paws are constantly raised as an homage to Kamikaze Banzai, and he is featured in a story section called Lost Memories of Live-Action, where Sawanya attempts to make Major remember him to no avail.
Gameplay
Fighting style
Sawada's fighting style is based on a hybrid of Guile's and Fei Long's, based on his status as an Allied Nations soldier and him replacing the latter. As a result, he retains moves akin to Guile's Flash Kick, while keeping martial arts aspects.
Moveset
His special moves rely primarily on his legs for axe kicks and similar attacks, and his energy slash has the ability to reflect projectiles back at the opponent.
The console version of Street Fighter: The Movie, however, presented a much different version. While this version was modified to be identical to Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Sawada was left in with a modified movelist, one that turned him into a bit of a parody fighter, as well as making this the point he is actually armed with a katana. In one of his special moves, Gokusatsu Jibakujin, Sawada uses his katana blade by stabbing himself making a crescent shaped blood (or flaming blood in the Super Special version) barrier, sitting in a pose akin to one committing hara-kiri. His Super Combo, Kamikaze Banzai, involves Sawada, standing straight up, putting his hands in the air and sliding into his opponent. During the move, he is invulnerable to projectiles.
Subpages
Quotes
Main article: Sawada/Quotes
Gallery
Main article: Sawada/Gallery
Sprites
Main article: Sawada/Sprites
Trivia
- Sawada was most likely included to fill in for Fei Long, not so much because of time and budgetary constraints, or even character development purposes, but because in the movie, Ryu already resembled Fei Long somewhat, a resemblance that is especially apparent during his final battle with Vega.
- Sawada's theme in the arcade version of Street Fighter: The Movie is a remix of Fei Long's theme.
- His full name Kenzo Sawada is revealed on the trading cards.[1]
- At the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, the then SNK character artist, Falcoon, stated that Sawada was the first character he asked to create for SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS. Along with problems regarding copyright issues, the request itself was seen as a joke.[13]
- Sawada's face in his Shadaloo C.R.I. artwork visually resembles famous Hong Kong actor and martial artist Jackie Chan.
- Interestingly, Kenya Sawada (the actor) and Jackie Chan are close friends in real life.[14]
- Unlike Brazilian comics, Shadaloo and Shadow Law refer to the same organization.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sawada's SFTM trading card
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Street Fighter V Character Encyclopedia: Captain Sawada
- ↑ Kenya Sawada's official profile
- ↑ SFTM Instruction Manual
- ↑ http://www.polygon.com/features/2014/3/10/5451014/street-fighter-the-movie-what-went-wrong
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Noon, Alan (January 29, 2007) Street Fighter the Movie Broke My Heart
- ↑ http://www.scribd.com/doc/6733031/SFTMTG
- ↑ Street Fighter V: A Visionary Book
- ↑ https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2024/jun/05/sf6-most-wanted-characters-dlc/
- ↑ https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2024/jun/30/street-fighter-movie-character-art/
- ↑ Every premium and free reward in the Akuma Arrives Fighting Pass for Street Fighter 6 with unlock requirements
- ↑ http://www.4gamer.net/games/072/G007208/20090312077/
- ↑ http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060924/snk.htm
- ↑ http://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-kenya-sawada/
External links
- Wikipedia Article (in Portuguese)
- Comic Vine
- Giant Bomb
- Sawada at the Strategy Wiki
- Guia dos Quadrinhos (in Portuguese)
| Street Fighter: The Movie Characters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Roster | Akuma · Balrog · Cammy · Chun-Li · E. Honda · Guile · Ken M. Bison · Ryu · Sagat · Sawada · Vega · Zangief | |||
| Arcade Only | Arkane · Blade · F7 · Khyber | |||
| Console Only | Blanka · Dee Jay | |||
| CPU Only | Super Bison | |||