Saki Nikaido
Saki Nikaido |
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| Kanji | 二階堂 サキ |
| Rōmaji | Nikaidō Saki |
| Age: | 18 (As of 1997 onwards) |
| Birthday: | May 15, 1979 |
| Height: | 153 cm (5’0″) |
| Voice Actor | |
| Japanese | Asami Tano |
| English | Caitlin Glass |
Saki Nikaido (二階堂サキ, Nikaidō Saki), is a former delinquent biker gang leader who now serves as the bold and passionate leader of Franchouchou in Zombie Land Saga. In life, she was the fearless chief of the Dorami Biker Gang, known for conquering all of Kyushu alongside her best friend, Reiko Amabuki. After her untimely death in a reckless stunt, she was revived by Kotaro Tatsumi to become an idol zombie. She is known as “The Legendary Chief Biker” (伝説の特攻隊長, Densetsu no Tokkō Taichō) due to her past reputation.
Background
Appearance in anime
During her lifetime, Saki was a fearless and rebellious biker, commanding the infamous Dorami Biker Gang with unmatched charisma. She and her gang dominated the entire island of Kyushu, making her a legendary figure in the delinquent world.
Her reckless and daring nature ultimately led to her demise. She met her end after challenging Reiko Amabuki to a game of chicken, in which she rode her motorcycle off a cliff in an attempt to prove her courage. After her tragic yet fitting death, she was resurrected years later as Zombie #2 by Kotaro Tatsumi, destined to become an idol instead of a biker.
Appearance
Saki has short, spiky blonde hair with pink highlights, giving her a distinctive and wild look. Her golden-yellow eyes reflect her bold and confident personality. As a zombie, her skin is noticeably paler, though she is usually made up to look normal during performances.
Her typical outfit consists of a school uniform-inspired ensemble, which includes a red blazer, plaid skirt, and knee-high socks. Her idol costumes tend to reflect her aggressive and energetic nature, often featuring fiery colors and punk-inspired designs.
Personality
Saki is loud, brash, and full of energy, embodying the delinquent spirit even in death. She is a natural-born leader, always taking charge and pushing her teammates to do their best. She rarely shows fear, tackling challenges head-on with reckless confidence.
Despite her rough and tough exterior, Saki has a caring and loyal side, especially toward her friends and teammates. She often acts like a protective older sister, helping those around her gain confidence and encouraging them when they are down. She has a strong moral compass, refusing to back down from a fight if it means protecting those she cares about.
Role in the Story
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Becoming a Zombie Idol
Saki is one of the first zombies to regain consciousness, though she immediately embraces her new undead life with excitement rather than fear. She quickly establishes herself as the leader of Franchouchou, bringing passion, motivation, and a rebellious edge to the group. -
Motivating Her Team
Throughout the series, Saki acts as the driving force behind Franchouchou’s success, motivating the group to push forward despite obstacles. She challenges Ai Mizuno’s leadership experience, pushing her to think outside the box and embrace the unconventional nature of their idol group. -
Reuniting with Reiko Amabuki
One of Saki’s most emotional moments is her reunion with Reiko Amabuki, who had taken over leadership of the Dorami Biker Gang after Saki’s death. Seeing Reiko struggle with the pressures of leading the next generation, Saki intervenes and saves her friend from making the same reckless mistake that led to her own demise. This proves Saki’s growth as she chooses wisdom over recklessness, showing that she has matured beyond her delinquent past. -
Franchouchou’s Rising Success
Saki plays a major role in Franchouchou’s growth, bringing a rebellious and wild energy to their performances that sets them apart from other idol groups. She embraces the absurdity of being a zombie idol and encourages the others to enjoy themselves, making their performances more fun and engaging.
Relationships
Kotaro Tatsumi
Kotaro and Saki share a loud and chaotic dynamic, with Kotaro often matching her energy in their arguments. While she teases him constantly, she also respects his passion for their group and recognizes that he genuinely wants them to succeed.
Sakura Minamoto
Saki and Sakura have a strong bond, with Saki acting as a supportive older sister figure. She pushes Sakura to overcome her self-doubt, often giving her tough love when needed.
Ai Mizuno
At first, Saki challenges Ai’s leadership, as both have strong personalities and different approaches to leading Franchouchou. Over time, they develop mutual respect, with Saki admiring Ai’s experience and Ai learning from Saki’s wild yet effective leadership style.
Junko Konno
Saki’s outgoing and aggressive nature contrasts with Junko’s shy and reserved demeanor. She often teases Junko, but also encourages her to embrace modern idol culture and be more confident in herself.
Lily Hoshikawa
Saki treats Lily like a younger sister, often playing along with her energetic and playful personality. They frequently engage in funny antics together.
Yugiri
Saki sees Yugiri as a wise and cool “big sister” figure, often listening to her advice and perspective on life.
Reiko Amabuki
Reiko is Saki’s best friend and the one person she trusts the most. Their friendship transcends life and death, as Saki’s biggest emotional moment in the series comes from saving Reiko from repeating her own reckless mistake.