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| - He is an extremely hot-blooded young man and the pilot of the third Getter robot and the Getter machine "Bear". Musashi is short and quite fat, but also very physically strong. He leads his prefecture's Judo team and has yet to be defeated in a match. Although he doesn't seem like a likely candidate to pilot a Getter machine, Professor Saotome (the creator of the Getter) saw potential in Musashi and requested he pilot the third Getter. Reluctantly, he agrees and although he at first butts heads with his fellow pilots Ryoma Nagare and Hayato Jin (most especially the latter) he forms a very strong friendship with the two and often settles disputes (albeit often violently). Despite his rather tough sounding personality and behavior however, Musashi is at his core a goofball. He often stumbles when on foot (a common seen trademark of overweight characters in anime at the time), has the most hilarious reactions to things he doesn't understand, and often gives the series its lighter moments with his hijinks, such as sending his mother a picture of Saotome's daughter Michiru and himself telling her they're dating despite this being a fib. Musashi is in fact, quite infatuated with Michiru as is constantly hinted throughout the series. He seems to constantly struggle to ask her out but is often stopped by his awkwardness and shyness around women. Whether these feelings are returned or not is never depicted, although there are subtle hints that perhaps it may have. This is even teased in a recent OVA where it is implied that Musashi and Michiru were a couple. Musashi's very combat uniform is quite humorous. As opposed to a space suit like the other two pilots, Musashi wears old Samurai or possible judo body armor that fits snugly over his bulky frame, and a construction helmet with goggles on it and a rather amateurish yellow cape (that is once again too small for him) worn over his "costume". Sadly however, this is in most cases never meant to be. Throughout the series, despite his contributions and his likable personality, Musashi constantly feels like the odd one out in comparison to the skilled and determined Ryoma, and cool as ice Hayato. This deeply hidden insecurity comes to haunt Musashi in the final episodes of the first series when the Getter Robo proves ineffective. In a last desperate attempt to destroy the Dinosaur empire's most hideous creation, the three Getter Machines plan to drop specially designed super bombs in unison to destroy the monster. However because of circumstances beyond his control Musashi botches up the mission and the plan fails...resulting in the Getter being damaged severely beyond repair. Despite initial anger, his comrades take it rather well but Musashi however is devastated. The Professor puts into motion one last, desperate plan using his daughter's fighter and a modified version of the previous bomb for one last desperate attempt to destroy the beast. The mission however, is extremely dangerous and borderlines on suicide. Michiru accepts her duty, however before she can take off she finds that Musashi has stolen the fighter and despite her desperate pleas...executes the mission on his own to make up for his past failure. Because he had to dodge many attacks, the bomb fails to hit its target once again and in one last desperate action...Musashi suicide bombs the fighter to the inside of the monster's mouth destroying both in the process. Musashi's death is devastating to the Getter crew and although newcomer replacement Benkei Kurama fills his position with flying colors, Musashi is often referenced to in the sequel series. In the manga, Musashi's death plays out much differently; Emperor Gore launches all of his incomplete Mechasauruses at once in a massive, all out attack on Saotome Labs. Dr. Saotome realizes that the original Getter Robo has no chances of holding off the onslaught without being overwhelmed, and rushes to complete construction on Getter Robo G, the successor machine to the original that may have enough power to defeat the oncoming horde of monsters. In the final hours, Dr. Saotome despairs as he realizes that even though the G is nearly complete, he will not have enough time to get it ready for battle. Musashi approaches him and asks if there is anything they can do, being told that even if they had a few more hours, Saotome might be able to complete the G. Musashi makes a plan with Dr. Saotome, and without telling Ryoma or Hayato, launches the Getter Robo himself, knowing that he will not survive the battle. Flying directly into the center of the enemy forces, Musashi deliberately provokes them all into attacking him in close quarters combat. While he puts up a significant effort, the Mechasauri eventually overwhelm him and start breaking the Getter Robo apart. Suddenly, the Getter begins to overheat, melting the closest Mechasauri and beginning to kill Musashi. At this point, his true plan is revealed; ripping open the abdominal plating on the Getter Robo, Musashi removes the Getter Ray core and crushes it, killing himself and disintegrating the majority of the Mechasaurus army. This act of sacrifice proves to buy enough time for the Getter G to be finished, and Ryoma and Hayato fly out to drive the remaining Dinosaur Empire forces back underground.
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