I remember playing one of the last display Saturns before the release of the Dreamcast when the store replaced it that I asked how much it was going for after they unplugged it but it was sold to the shelf stocker said damn and I have not added a Saturn to my collection of Sega stuff even though I have a weird Microsoft Sonic PC game from the 90's
We in the US were robbed of Segata. I know for a fact that if we had those commercials growing up, sega saturn would be the only console I ever wanted.
Great video! In Project X Zone 2 Sanshiro also recreates the commercial for Sakura Wars 2 line for line when he first meets Sakura in the game, which is a fun little reference.
Yes that’s true! I thought I added the right clip shows that. But I was tired anyway I love minute stuff like that. Thanks for watching SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Hiroshi Fujioka had one starring american role that I'm aware of. The Empire Pictures film from the early 80s called Ghost Warrior. It's about a samurai (Fujioka) that had been frozen for hundreds of years and then is brought back to life, now in modern day Los Angeles.
Yea! I could never fit the filmography in fully but also there’s the copyright system that doesn’t care about fair use. So I just left it be. Thanks for the comments! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Around this time, I discovered you close to my birthday... Now today (being just tomorrow for my birthday) I can Easily see the Tough Guy persona Segata Sanhiro/Takeshi Hongo/Hiroshi Fujioka real is in his brave heart. He was a Spokesperson, a Superhero, A martial arts master, and doing things that not even the most manly of single person Swiss Army Knives could do. Words like "Badass", and "Manly" don't even begin to describe this man. He sold more Saturns in a time of Crisis for Sega and if he could, he'd show more of his hidden potential beyond Rider Kicks towards goofy monsters every week for the longest time and taking simple tasks to the next over the top extreme just to get people to buy Sega Saturns!! Sadly, we never got the same Awesomeness for America, and PAL Territories (among many other regions), the Saturn could have stood a better chance outside of Japan and Asia. "YOU MUST BUY SEGASATURN SHIRO!!" PS: Also note the beginning and end cards of a lot of these commercials for everything in Japan. Just proves as I always say, "If it exists, it was better in Japan ;) ".
Thanks for this great comment. It’s long be be assured I read everything everyone writes. The only thing is by 11/97 the Saturn was done for outside Japan. Nothing could save it. But Segata is a great example of how dedicated Sega was to its fans which. Don’t believe the internet, Sega was popular before the Saturn and it still is! I hope you have a good birthday! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!!
Thank you for this! I absolutely adored Segata and would love it if they continued his legacy on even more--either with a Saturn Mini console, or as continued cameos in games.
I've never played a Saturn game, but Segata Sanshiro's commercials makes me want to play all of them! There were some neat looking games for the system, it seems.
@@GTV-Japan I didn't say you were number 3! I said Top 3! 😄 Seriously, I also really enjoy Jeremy Parish and Strafefox for history, and stuff like My Life In Gaming and Modern Vintage Gamer for the technical information. Also enjoy Game Sack, Gaming Historian, and I think Displaced Gamers is a very underrated channel. I don't have to tell you who I DON'T LIKE! You know already! 😂
Haha oh yes that’s true. I just like to amplify the dramatic struggle. Strange fox is pretty good. I wish I had the time and computer to pull that stuff off! I’ll be working on the next video today and tomorrow and then write the next next one which is the year end finale. I found perhaps the weirdest most obscure piece of Japanese game trivia ever. I seriously doubt it can ever be topped so I saved it for the end 😃
I know its not the main subject of this video, but its been years since I saw Sakura Wars (in one of the Segata Sanshiro ads) I forgot about it! I know I have a dvd of the movie somewhere in my house. Must search for it. Still on the GTV marathon!
One more place you can find Segata is in the Sega Ages version of Dynamite Deka (Die Hard Arcade) for the PS2! He's an outfit for the male character when played on certain modes.
This is very interesting and all, but now I just can't stop thinking about why Sega West doesn't use Sylvester Stallone to sell Yakuza games outside of Japan, lol :D Seriously though, fantastic work and great look back at this guy - THE most entertaining video game spokesman ever!
Thanks! Now I did a video about the follow up for the Dreamcast last year. If you haven’t seen it go check it out. It’s pretty interesting and very meta that Yukawa player himself SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Its weird how he was never playable in Sega All Stars Racing Transform. Knowing how he had a cameo in that cart racer. That or how Segata Sanshiro wasn't a Sega rep for Smash bros knowing how he was the mascot for the Sega Saturn
I used to make VCD compilations of Japanese game CMs, and this brings back a lot of good memories, heh. I used to have all of the Segata Sanshiro CMs, the earworm Chu Chu Rocket one, and the Devil May Cry CM where the woman is beating on her boyfriend with a bouquet of flowers, eventually popping him up into the air, like Dante in the game. Good times.
The best real life mascot in gaming. Imagine if Segata Sanshiro, Reggie and Kevin Butler teamed up - that would be the avengers of gaming!!! Segata Sanshiro needs to be added to the next Yakuza game, come on SEGA!!!!
Amazing work as always. It warmed my heart to see Segata and Sonic together. I never doubted the Segata survived that Rocket. I rocked Sega Saturn in 1996. I was sadly in the minority of US gamers as my friends either had PlayStation or n64. Did you know Segata was also in a series of Ramen Noodle commercials for Yakisoba UFO. He is referred to as legend and helps Sauce the son of the Devil King fka Yakisoban. Good stuff.
Yes I knew about that because I saw them live in Japan of course. I had a PS Saturn and Jaguar! I loved them all but it was sad to see what happened in the us but at least unlike Atari the company lived!! Thanks for watching as always. SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
@@GTV-Japan right, I was just puzzled why it wasn't in the video. Yeah Sega's advertising was so terrible in the US. Weird blue head and they left great games in Japan. I almost bought a Jaguar over a PlayStation. I still don't own one lol.
Well I left it out because it had already been talked about and I found things like kani goalkeeper that was much funnier and rare to see. Sega in Japan also had weird Saturn cms before Segata too! Though the first set involved some guy in a suit delivering one in a briefcase
@@GTV-Japan I liked they kids voices and the eye at the start of the other cms. I was kinda ehh about the monkeys lol. Can you send me the link of the one you are talking about?
Your channel continues and continues to be above all the others for me. The amount of research and backstory literally places me there and destroys the cultural divide. It’s exactly what I’m looking for, when I’m looking for the Japanese perspective of the times , when it comes to classic gaming. So cool to learn how nuanced the character was as well! Such good work brother and many many thanks. My Japanese friend nao (she moved here 2 years ago) has been watching them with me (we just watched your yume Kōjō video again) said “I feel like I’m watching tv in Japan! I love the commercial breaks, it reminds me of when I was younger, I remember them(we’re in our mid 30s)!!!
And he's passed on the legendary mantle to his real life son. Gives him plenty of time to continue fighting Chuck Norris now. Maybe time to make a Part 2 video?
Imagine Silvester Stalone in Xbox commercials, talking about " Being willing to take the hits, show the wordl what you can do and never giving up" " Cowards do that and that ain't you"
I remember crying when my Special Ed Uncle was conned out of his Sega Saturn by some a holes at a EB games they took his Knights into Dreams with the analog controller that came with it and his Panzer dragoon 1 , 2 and Panzer saga and sonic r , and virtua fighter games ....and took his resident evil and tomb raider all for a playstaion and 1 game...man....it hurt so bad...Sega Saturn was like the PS3 of that age... Spec wise on paper was way stronger but like the 360 playstation was always preferred by developers...
@@GTV-Japan yea no worries ....I mean it was back in the late 90s and well I was just a kid back then but even I knew the Saturn was a special thing to have.... Sad it didn't get the respect it deserved back then...What I do wish however is for Sega to release the Panzer Dragoon Saga because I found out years later how Rare that specific game was because of the limited copy print they made in North America and copies of that specific game go for Hundreds of dollars and for good reason...
I know. That’s why I gave up buying games entirely and just emulate everything now. Everyone has equal access and no bragging rights about a “collection “
Amazing video. I actually learned a lot. Sad to see you didn’t mention this, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him in Japanese commercials recently in a Kamen Rider parody character for UFO Ramen. He transforms into a motorcycle for the rider to ride lol. So good.
Well I honestly I have no immediate plans to follow up though I will revisit this topic when his son has done some work in his character to make a longer video about it that’s for sure
Love how Japanese CM could go from normal to insane silly. As expected more in depth than the others i've watched. Awesome stuff, more power to you good sir!
I had more but I had some serious copyright issues. No sense in trying to force it in if they just take the channel down. The concert he did in 2013 was really cool. Unfortunately it’s behind a paywall which isn’t so much money but boyyyyy do they not want anyone sharing that!! Anyway thanks as always friend. It’s my sword duty to go above and beyond the other channels SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
@@GTV-Japan yep, better to be on the safe side. For a future topic, maybe dig into the Kunio kun series and the bancho culture? Whatever youd have in line, i'm sure id be watching. Cheers!
I have a list of 50 ideas I'm going to write scripts over the winter for all of them and use the very best ones. I want to make a set of videos almost like an album. not that they tell one story but that kind of reflect a general feeling or time. I want to do something very anti-youtube. I dont know how it will turn out yet. kunio kun has some manga books so if i ever go ther ill do that
@@GTV-Japan 50 that's a lot! Anti-youtube, gonna def look forward to that. Your manga series are pretty unique, great stuff. Anyhoo, good luck and take it easy good sir.
@@bakem0n0 well what i mean is, i dont want to do the week to week where one is finished and then like oh what to do next? i want to just make a bunch of stuff all at once and not care about what the algorithm thinks and just make a set of stuff that i find satisfying, and that is probably going to be writing a bunch of things that never make the cut and maybe even making a few videos that never get seen. like how an album is made and stuff goes thru that process
X-Men vs Street Fighter, not only my favorite Saturn memories, but one of my favorite gaming memories in general. It was tough being a Sega kid 95-98, but my faith was rewarded when Capcom and Sega started releasing hit after hit. Luckily I had an import store in my city and was able to pick up some real gems. Later I got some great Snk stuff as well. Sitting on my couch with a buddy playing an arcade perfect port in my mom's living room in 98' great times. 4mbram swap-trick ftw only us older US Saturn fans know what I'm talking about lol 😉
Oh yes I remember that trick! Yes it was dark days but imports were easier to get and I had a job so I could afford them. It’s sad thinking about how Sega just collapsed almost overnight. I don’t by all the 32x was a fail and etc stories it was simple. Sony wanted the market and was gonna take it. And they really did deliver a lot of great stuff. Just sad Sega got caught in that instead of Nintendo thanks for watching SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!!
@@GTV-Japan I remember being in grade 8 proclaiming that the company that makes TVs won't be able to make a good games console. I still think I'm right as I've never really loved any Sony console, although that could be me being salty, lol.
Sega _Kid that’s a good point no one remembers! There was zero faith in Sony before PlayStation came out. No experience. Sony image soft games weren’t great and every CD only machine was getting sucked into the FMV trap. In 94 I read all the news and rumors and I expected another 3do. But I was wrong
The first time i saw this character, was a little photo time ago at mexican videogame magazine. And this time nobody understand this kind of personaje, for a Lot people don't have internet.great video, saludos camarada
Thanks Napoleon! The other thing is even with internet video was hard to get and these cms were basically for a week or 2 then gone forever. Living in japan opened my eyes to so much many didn’t know or were getting wrong and so it’s my duty to do this! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
That’s awesome! I missed it unfortunately. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. At the time it seemed the story of Segata was over but now his son carries the torch! Thanks for watching SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!! 🪐
What a wonderful video. The timing ended up being a mess, though, as in March 2020 for Sega's 60th, there was a campaign featuring his son, Maito, as "Sega Shiro" which went all the way up to a Sega knowledge course on RUclips (with English subs!) with a fairly long Sega knowledge test at the end! The legacy continues.
Well that was fantastic, its actually kinda funny how certain things seem to appear in waves online, I've seen it a few times before, but in this case Netflix just got new episodes of the show, "The Toys That Made Us" and one of them is the history of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. As they describe the prehistory to what that whole thing would eventually become, they totally go into Kamen Rider and how it essentially started the whole genre of live action superhero shows in Japan. Super glad to see Segata still makes appearances. Also fantastic archive of commercials, very cool and hilarious! I LOVE my Saturn, I was very lucky to acquire one around 1998. Its one of my favourite consoles and still works like charm to this day. It's tough to say, a lot of great memories involved with it over the years but I guess my two favourite memories (other than the day I actually bought mine) was the first time I saw the commercial for the first Panzer Dragoon game and being quite impressed with what I was seeing. The other was just a bunch of my highschool pals and I going over my buddy's place who had one and playing the living hell out of Street Fighter II, Vampire Hunter, Daytona C.C.E. and endless Death Tank matches, hahaha those were amazing days.
Wow that’s cool. I didn’t know about that show but it was pretty groundbreaking and very popular. Nearly every show like it has copied it. SEGA SATURN SHIRO!! 🪐
And to think, around the same time in the US, we got that dumb Yoshi's Island commercial where they rip off a Monty Python's Meaning of Life skit. Sega Japan comes up with this brilliant, delightful campaign with a character mythos. Talk about Sega doing what Nintendon't.
I must have missed that! I was divorced from Nintendo at that point. Who cares what they did!!! It was daring but also very smart and they really stuck to it. Thanks for watching SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Welp. Time for some GTV marathon for me. Coronavirus delayed my University classes so im glad you put a lot of things last year that i could not watch before.
Segata was also very much inspired by Sonny Chiba, especially his portrayal of real life Kyokushin Karate founder Mas Oyama in the 70s films "Karate Bullfighter," "Karate Bearfighter," and "Karate for Life." The look and attitude of Segata is based on Chiba's Oyama and the forest training montage is a parody of the training of Oyama.
I vaguely remember him appearing on Saturn CMs as a kid. I was however on the PS camp and Segata failed to sway me to his side. The sad truth is although Saturn did enjoy greater success in Japan compared to in other regions, it firmly remained a losing console throughout its life cycle. That said, Segata's an amazing character that truly represents the turn-of-the-century zaniness of the 90s. I'm glad his legacy is still around. After watching his exploits from the beginning to end I noticed he does follow a classic hero's path pretty neatly, as he started as a troublemaker unable to control his superhuman strength (aka Early Installment Weirdness), who gradually learned to train himself, slay monsters and save the day, to eventually become a literal saviour by sacrificing himself.
Yea that’s interesting to think about if they planned it that way or it just kind of happened. Competition with Sony was eventually impossible. They had great games and way way more of them that’s what drives sales
@@GTV-Japan Perhaps already suggested a million times before but are you by any chance planning to do a full timeline on ads featuring Yukawa Senmu? I wonder if he had similarly interesting developments throughout his desperate attempts to revive Sega. Obviously I can just go watch the entire series if I feel like it but it'd be 100% more enjoyable with your narration.
@@GTV-Japan How could I have missed that one but oh boy did I do exactly that. Sorry bout that. Anyways I was under the impression Yukawa's a lot more of a big deal than he apparently was, like on par with Segata, probably because I owned the Dreamcast myself unlike SS.
This video is how I first discovered your channel. I've said it before but you have an incredible on air personality. Your work really feels like you put effort into it. 5 stars.
Thanks I appreciate that to the end! I remember where I was making this and this was part of a 5 video run where I was going make each one about a half hour and super epic to end the year. It really wore me out but was worth it.
wow great to learn about the backstory of this character! I'd seen some of the ads and a little bit about the saturn game though.... I thought I remembered hearing he came back briefly for some ramen advertisement or something?
Sega should have used him in our Saturn advertisements here. The humor would have played incredibly well here...far better than a bafoon dancing around a TV, cone heads, ballerina bikers, and silver heads telling us we're not ready for their products.
I had the song on cd during the Dreamcast era. My friend had found the chuchu rocket and a few other sega songs online and I had asked him to make a cd of sega music for me. I had no idea what he looked like but I thought the song was incredible. In 2010 I had finally seen his commercials and it was incredible
I've been meaning to come and binge watch your videos for a few weeks now, but finally I'm here, and wow man, you've got some really great content here - very informative and well made. Can't wait to watch more!
@@GTV-Japan It could work...his main weapon is a giant Saturn controller with different Nintendo/Sega controllers for the alt colors. He either swings it at you or mashes the buttons to deal "hitscan" attacks at the first fighter in his LOS.
Joe S Someone could make a custom Mii Brawler at the least. I’ve already done the same with Kazuma Kiryu. But actually though, have him as a secret boss in the newest Yakuza game. Something like that is already on brand for the series.
Haha yea I heard it was in white, don’t remember where from! Thanks for your comment. Yes the subs are low but I was making the same videoed with much lessthan this before, and zero for a while. I have faith more will find this channel someday and I will just keep my head down making the videos I like and think others will like and focus on that. SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!!
There's something that I'm trying to piece together. After reading US gaming magazines from the 90s, I was able to live in Japan in the year 2000. The 90s magazines I read reported that Virtua Fighter and Sega 3D arcades were a phenomenon in Japan. My experience is of course anecdotal, but from my observations, Virtua Fighter and Sega 3D arcades were an absolute phenomenon in Japan. Those magazines also said that Saturn made Sega popular in Japan. From what I saw in game stores, TV ads, and everywhere else, the party was completely over by 2000... almost as if it never happened. At most, I went to several 2nd hand stores and saw a lot of used Saturn games selling for cheap (kicking myself for never buying them), along with Radiant Silvergun selling used for 9000 yen. The utility guy in his 20s who connected the gas in our house saw me playing my Dreamcast from America, he asked me if it was a PS2, I told him it was a DC, he said he didn't know what it was. Many 5th-generation games received successful and unsuccessful revivals, from the RE:make series to failed attempts to bring back Battle Arena Toshinden, but there is a very small list of Saturn-exclusive games (without an arcade version), I'm excited to learn that Assault Suits Leynos 2 is getting officially translated. If Saturn was so popular, wouldn't there be more demand to revisit the exclusive games on Sega's 6th console from the sun? Before I watched this great video, I didn't realize that Segata Sanshiro was an advertising campaign from almost 1998. Did the campaign's impression really fizzle out in a couple of years? Is it possible that Saturn's popularity was a bit exaggerated by foreign media and Sega fanatics? Would you have any firsthand accounts from the 1990s that could explain what I saw at the turn of the century?
I would say that Sega has always been seen as an arcade company and a toy maker and is not seen the same was as people think of Nintendo, solely making home video games. Secondly Final Fantasy VII changed everything and basically wiped out everything except the PlayStation. That’s how I see it.
That makes sense, especially the 5th gen bombshell that was FF7. The sales figures speak for themselves, Saturn did sell millions, but Sega was regarded in the same category as SNK and its NeoGeo (which, from my observation, also had a strong cult following in early 2000s Japan), separate from Nintendo/NEC-Hudson/Sony. Thanks for the reply and the awesome retrospective!
@gc3k it’s also that every developer moved to Sony too. Rather than a 3 way split. It was just a huge snowball effect. Certainly I knew what train I was on after that announcement
When you see Sony's waning marketshare and Nintendo's dominance in Japan today, it makes you wonder if Sony was the right horse for 3rd parties to support back then, instead of the 3 way split as you said By the way, did you see the tweet from Sega about a Saturn White Mini, teased on White Day?
@gc3k I did not see that! As for Sony. It feels like there are two Sonys. The good classic ps 123 era and the new ps45 era. PS3 and 4 don’t even feel like they were made by the same company. I hate the decisions they made in recent years with the brand. We want bright colorful quirky stuff and we want BC! We want hardware innovation! As for Nintendo, the switch lite was a genius move and they will always have a kids audience anyway.
Now his son advertises Sega! 😁 I can't help but think that the Saturn's popularity in Japan was because Segata Sanshiro basically bullied everyone into buying a Saturn. Now THAT is aggressive marketing.🤣🤣
Small edit: my yt app started acting funky and it's late where I live, I'll try to update translations tomorrow 3:07 Commecial translations (taken from compilation by Saturn Memories) NOTE: No, it's not "Sega Saturn, White". Baseball guys - Let's go play baseball! - Okay! - Come on! - I just hope you get a hit! - I sure will! (In terror) Se... SEGATA SANSHIRO! (Text on screen says "Segata Sanshiro") - Segata Sanshiro... Segata Sanshiro (and text on screen): YOU MUST PLAY SEGA SATURN! "The most fast-spinning, Sonic racing action... Sonic R!" Club - Let's dance till dawn! - Yeah! - Se...! Segata Sanshiro! (Same deal as before) "A three-part RPG... Shining Force III" Bomberman _Segata Sanshiro! Segata Sanshiro! You must play Sega Saturn!_ (On screen text reads "Sega Satān Shirō", meaning "You must play Sega Saturn") - BOMBERMAN! "Play with a burning passion in this 3D game! Saturn Bomberman Fight!" Santa Claus - Do you think Santa-san will come tonight? - Well do you? - Ah! Santa-san! - Santa-san, I want an RC Plane! - I want a stuffed animal! - Gimme gimme! (Segata Sanshiro) (Crying) Segata... Sanshiro... - YOU MUST PLAY SEGA SATURN! (A present from Segata Sanshiro himself... "Sanshiro Disk") Song ver. 1 _The solitary man who devoted his soul to gaming_ _Today he returns once more_ _He will punish those who do not play seriously_ _Their battered bodies will never forget_ _Segata Sanshiro! Segata Sanshiro! You must play Sega Saturn!_
Ha, had no idea about those characters, I always though his name was a play on the product he was selling, the se-ga sa-ta-n shi-ro white Sega Saturn (with the "ta" flipped). Maybe it's that too?
Sorry k been on a weekend binge here and i must tell u i saw a movie K2 the ultimate high about mountain climing and this mane was a climber in it. Just awesome performance by him good stuff
Sega US marketing seems kind of stupid, as to boost sales for the Saturn in the US, we have our own version of Sega Ta Santirio with Chuck Noris or say Chuck Noris the Segaman that way Chuck Noris will appear in every Sega Saturn commercial in the US, so that way Chuck Noris will be the American version of Sega Ta Santirio, that way the Sega Saturn will boost sales in the USA thanks to Chuck Noris.
The mix was on yt a while ago. I was asked about this before and unfortunately I didn’t save those files. If I ever find a new source I’ll let ya know. Looks like you’d have to track down the cd for now. Sorry. 😞
Happy 25th birthday Sega Saturn! Released on November 22, 1994! Leave your best Saturn memory below! SEGA SATURN! SHIRO!!
A little virtual time machine
The wabac machine lives!
Gaijillionaire nice
I remember playing one of the last display Saturns before the release of the Dreamcast when the store replaced it that I asked how much it was going for after they unplugged it but it was sold to the shelf stocker said damn and I have not added a Saturn to my collection of Sega stuff even though I have a weird Microsoft Sonic PC game from the 90's
Aw man. I’m sorry to hear that !
I love this character, he goes around scaring and beating up children to get them to play the awesome Saturn.
He actually assaults women and children!!! I think people complained. It is pretty shocking! Thanks for watching SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Segata has chosen a heir. He is named Segashiro (Fujioka's firstborn son).
Yes! The legend lives on!!
@@benisrood yes he’s in Sega commercials in japan
We in the US were robbed of Segata. I know for a fact that if we had those commercials growing up, sega saturn would be the only console I ever wanted.
Totally! But we got what we got sadly. 🪐
Great video! In Project X Zone 2 Sanshiro also recreates the commercial for Sakura Wars 2 line for line when he first meets Sakura in the game, which is a fun little reference.
Yes that’s true! I thought I added the right clip shows that. But I was tired anyway I love minute stuff like that. Thanks for watching SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Hiroshi Fujioka had one starring american role that I'm aware of. The Empire Pictures film from the early 80s called Ghost Warrior. It's about a samurai (Fujioka) that had been frozen for hundreds of years and then is brought back to life, now in modern day Los Angeles.
Yea! I could never fit the filmography in fully but also there’s the copyright system that doesn’t care about fair use. So I just left it be. Thanks for the comments! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Around this time, I discovered you close to my birthday... Now today (being just tomorrow for my birthday) I can Easily see the Tough Guy persona Segata Sanhiro/Takeshi Hongo/Hiroshi Fujioka real is in his brave heart. He was a Spokesperson, a Superhero, A martial arts master, and doing things that not even the most manly of single person Swiss Army Knives could do. Words like "Badass", and "Manly" don't even begin to describe this man. He sold more Saturns in a time of Crisis for Sega and if he could, he'd show more of his hidden potential beyond Rider Kicks towards goofy monsters every week for the longest time and taking simple tasks to the next over the top extreme just to get people to buy Sega Saturns!!
Sadly, we never got the same Awesomeness for America, and PAL Territories (among many other regions), the Saturn could have stood a better chance outside of Japan and Asia.
"YOU MUST BUY SEGASATURN SHIRO!!"
PS: Also note the beginning and end cards of a lot of these commercials for everything in Japan. Just proves as I always say, "If it exists, it was better in Japan ;) ".
Thanks for this great comment. It’s long be be assured I read everything everyone writes. The only thing is by 11/97 the Saturn was done for outside Japan. Nothing could save it. But Segata is a great example of how dedicated Sega was to its fans which. Don’t believe the internet, Sega was popular before the Saturn and it still is! I hope you have a good birthday! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!!
He's immortal. when the missile blew u can see him reentering the earth
I’ll have to look closer at that
He is capable of cloning himself.
Segata Sanshiro went out like a gansta. He won't be forgotten
He will live on forever in all of our hearts SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
I think they should port that Segata Sanshiro Game to the Nintendo Switch as part of the SEGA AGES Line of Digital Games
I’d like to see it
@@GTV-Japan Me too. As long as the In Game Text is translated into English
That will never happen
Thank you for this! I absolutely adored Segata and would love it if they continued his legacy on even more--either with a Saturn Mini console, or as continued cameos in games.
He’s getting up in years so they better hurry up and do it! If a mini PlayStation happened so could a Saturn so let’s hope. SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
I will never forget him
He will forever live on in all of our hearts SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
I've never played a Saturn game, but Segata Sanshiro's commercials makes me want to play all of them! There were some neat looking games for the system, it seems.
They are just as good as any N64 game, no! Better!! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Segata Sanshiro!
Segata Sanshiro!
Sega Satāāaaaaan SHIRO!
SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
From The first Kamen Rider to Sega's Judo Master Mascot to hero of Sega
An amazing path. Thanks for watching 🪐
Not gonna lie, I always tear up at the end of the CM after he sacrifices himself to save Sega.
He was selfless in his final act. May he live on forever in all our hearts! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Did you know Segata appeared in one of the Archie published Sonic comics?
I’ve heard but I’ve never actually read them
Content like this is why you've fast become one of my Top 3 favorite channels. Always impressed by the work you put in. You rock, my man! 👍🏻
Hey Scott! Thanks but who are numbers 2 and 1? What could I do to best them? Will the Hero battle on? Tune in next time. SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!! 🪐
@@GTV-Japan I didn't say you were number 3! I said Top 3! 😄 Seriously, I also really enjoy Jeremy Parish and Strafefox for history, and stuff like My Life In Gaming and Modern Vintage Gamer for the technical information. Also enjoy Game Sack, Gaming Historian, and I think Displaced Gamers is a very underrated channel. I don't have to tell you who I DON'T LIKE! You know already! 😂
Haha oh yes that’s true. I just like to amplify the dramatic struggle. Strange fox is pretty good. I wish I had the time and computer to pull that stuff off! I’ll be working on the next video today and tomorrow and then write the next next one which is the year end finale. I found perhaps the weirdest most obscure piece of Japanese game trivia ever. I seriously doubt it can ever be topped so I saved it for the end 😃
@@GTV-Japan And this is why I love your channel. You dig for the obscure! ✌🏻
I really want to spill it now but if you thought Satoshi Tajiri playing super Mario on the radio was out there, this beats even that
I know its not the main subject of this video, but its been years since I saw Sakura Wars (in one of the Segata Sanshiro ads) I forgot about it! I know I have a dvd of the movie somewhere in my house. Must search for it. Still on the GTV marathon!
Awesome! Still got a lot to go till you catch up I’m sure. The next one is almost ready!
One more place you can find Segata is in the Sega Ages version of Dynamite Deka (Die Hard Arcade) for the PS2! He's an outfit for the male character when played on certain modes.
Oh dang you’re right! Oh well DVD extras! Thanks for the tip SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!!
This is very interesting and all, but now I just can't stop thinking about why Sega West doesn't use Sylvester Stallone to sell Yakuza games outside of Japan, lol :D
Seriously though, fantastic work and great look back at this guy - THE most entertaining video game spokesman ever!
Thanks! Now I did a video about the follow up for the Dreamcast last year. If you haven’t seen it go check it out. It’s pretty interesting and very meta that Yukawa player himself SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Its weird how he was never playable in Sega All Stars Racing Transform. Knowing how he had a cameo in that cart racer. That or how Segata Sanshiro wasn't a Sega rep for Smash bros knowing how he was the mascot for the Sega Saturn
It is weird. I guess he’s not allowed to complete because he can never lose. SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!!
I used to make VCD compilations of Japanese game CMs, and this brings back a lot of good memories, heh. I used to have all of the Segata Sanshiro CMs, the earworm Chu Chu Rocket one, and the Devil May Cry CM where the woman is beating on her boyfriend with a bouquet of flowers, eventually popping him up into the air, like Dante in the game. Good times.
The best real life mascot in gaming. Imagine if Segata Sanshiro, Reggie and Kevin Butler teamed up - that would be the avengers of gaming!!!
Segata Sanshiro needs to be added to the next Yakuza game, come on SEGA!!!!
Amazing work as always. It warmed my heart to see Segata and Sonic together. I never doubted the Segata survived that Rocket. I rocked Sega Saturn in 1996. I was sadly in the minority of US gamers as my friends either had PlayStation or n64. Did you know Segata was also in a series of Ramen Noodle commercials for Yakisoba UFO. He is referred to as legend and helps Sauce the son of the Devil King fka Yakisoban. Good stuff.
Yes I knew about that because I saw them live in Japan of course. I had a PS Saturn and Jaguar! I loved them all but it was sad to see what happened in the us but at least unlike Atari the company lived!! Thanks for watching as always. SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
@@GTV-Japan right, I was just puzzled why it wasn't in the video. Yeah Sega's advertising was so terrible in the US. Weird blue head and they left great games in Japan. I almost bought a Jaguar over a PlayStation. I still don't own one lol.
Well I left it out because it had already been talked about and I found things like kani goalkeeper that was much funnier and rare to see. Sega in Japan also had weird Saturn cms before Segata too! Though the first set involved some guy in a suit delivering one in a briefcase
@@GTV-Japan I liked they kids voices and the eye at the start of the other cms. I was kinda ehh about the monkeys lol. Can you send me the link of the one you are talking about?
You forgot when Segata Sanshiro appeared in the Archie Sonic comic #269
I can’t forget what I don’t know! Thanks for the info 🪐
Your channel continues and continues to be above all the others for me. The amount of research and backstory literally places me there and destroys the cultural divide. It’s exactly what I’m looking for, when I’m looking for the Japanese perspective of the times , when it comes to classic gaming. So cool to learn how nuanced the character was as well! Such good work brother and many many thanks. My Japanese friend nao (she moved here 2 years ago) has been watching them with me (we just watched your yume Kōjō video again) said “I feel like I’m watching tv in Japan! I love the commercial breaks, it reminds me of when I was younger, I remember them(we’re in our mid 30s)!!!
Hey Mark! Well I’m glad you like it. Very high praise! I’ll keep comments like this in mind as I make new episodes. Thanks
I knew Segata Sanshiro, I knew Sugata Sanshiro, but I didnt know the half of everything you covered. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Now his son is part of the story so I’ll have to update it someday. Thanks for watching 🪐
I've seen the last commercial but it almost made me teary
Yea it’s sad! However he was brave in his sacrifice and now his son carries on the legacy!
And he's passed on the legendary mantle to his real life son. Gives him plenty of time to continue fighting Chuck Norris now. Maybe time to make a Part 2 video?
Ha ha yes let’s hope his boy keeps it up
Bless you for this.
Thanks, I tried finding the song but fo some reason it was not in my files. it exists online somewhere
@@GTV-Japan damn ok thanks
I remember seeing Sugata Sanshiro on Turner Classic Movies after I had seen the Segata commercials. Great stuff.
oh yea? It is a good film!
@@GTV-Japan yup. I remember he was in a match and he was all exhausted seeing his opponent. I was like, Soo this is the movie Segata is from.
Cool!!!!
Here ya go ruclips.net/video/_todkFOVRPk/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/IrUWIomujXU/видео.html
"Binge Watch #1 2020!" 🎮🎸📺
I won’t lie, that final Segata Sanshiro commercial still gets me chocked up…
Imagine Silvester Stalone in Xbox commercials, talking about " Being willing to take the hits, show the wordl what you can do and never giving up" " Cowards do that and that ain't you"
Are you saying Sly is aware?
I remember crying when my Special Ed Uncle was conned out of his Sega Saturn by some a holes at a EB games they took his Knights into Dreams with the analog controller that came with it and his Panzer dragoon 1 , 2 and Panzer saga and sonic r , and virtua fighter games ....and took his resident evil and tomb raider all for a playstaion and 1 game...man....it hurt so bad...Sega Saturn was like the PS3 of that age...
Spec wise on paper was way stronger but like the 360 playstation was always preferred by developers...
I’m sorry to hear that 😞
@@GTV-Japan yea no worries ....I mean it was back in the late 90s and well I was just a kid back then but even I knew the Saturn was a special thing to have.... Sad it didn't get the respect it deserved back then...What I do wish however is for Sega to release the Panzer Dragoon Saga because I found out years later how Rare that specific game was because of the limited copy print they made in North America and copies of that specific game go for Hundreds of dollars and for good reason...
I know. That’s why I gave up buying games entirely and just emulate everything now. Everyone has equal access and no bragging rights about a “collection “
Amazing video. I actually learned a lot. Sad to see you didn’t mention this, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him in Japanese commercials recently in a Kamen Rider parody character for UFO Ramen. He transforms into a motorcycle for the rider to ride lol. So good.
Yes I know of that but I chose not to mention it because everyone else already did! Thanks for watching SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!
No mention of his training of Yakisoba son, Sauceboy in the U.F.O. commercials?
I guess that means a part 2!
I guess it does!
@@GTV-Japan I shall stay subscribed for that!
Well I honestly I have no immediate plans to follow up though I will revisit this topic when his son has done some work in his character to make a longer video about it that’s for sure
Love how Japanese CM could go from normal to insane silly. As expected more in depth than the others i've watched. Awesome stuff, more power to you good sir!
I had more but I had some serious copyright issues. No sense in trying to force it in if they just take the channel down. The concert he did in 2013 was really cool. Unfortunately it’s behind a paywall which isn’t so much money but boyyyyy do they not want anyone sharing that!! Anyway thanks as always friend. It’s my sword duty to go above and beyond the other channels SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
@@GTV-Japan yep, better to be on the safe side. For a future topic, maybe dig into the Kunio kun series and the bancho culture? Whatever youd have in line, i'm sure id be watching. Cheers!
I have a list of 50 ideas I'm going to write scripts over the winter for all of them and use the very best ones. I want to make a set of videos almost like an album. not that they tell one story but that kind of reflect a general feeling or time. I want to do something very anti-youtube. I dont know how it will turn out yet. kunio kun has some manga books so if i ever go ther ill do that
@@GTV-Japan 50 that's a lot! Anti-youtube, gonna def look forward to that. Your manga series are pretty unique, great stuff. Anyhoo, good luck and take it easy good sir.
@@bakem0n0 well what i mean is, i dont want to do the week to week where one is finished and then like oh what to do next? i want to just make a bunch of stuff all at once and not care about what the algorithm thinks and just make a set of stuff that i find satisfying, and that is probably going to be writing a bunch of things that never make the cut and maybe even making a few videos that never get seen. like how an album is made and stuff goes thru that process
love your videos from southamerica
Thank you! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!!
X-Men vs Street Fighter, not only my favorite Saturn memories, but one of my favorite gaming memories in general. It was tough being a Sega kid 95-98, but my faith was rewarded when Capcom and Sega started releasing hit after hit. Luckily I had an import store in my city and was able to pick up some real gems. Later I got some great Snk stuff as well. Sitting on my couch with a buddy playing an arcade perfect port in my mom's living room in 98' great times. 4mbram swap-trick ftw only us older US Saturn fans know what I'm talking about lol 😉
Oh yes I remember that trick! Yes it was dark days but imports were easier to get and I had a job so I could afford them. It’s sad thinking about how Sega just collapsed almost overnight. I don’t by all the 32x was a fail and etc stories it was simple. Sony wanted the market and was gonna take it. And they really did deliver a lot of great stuff. Just sad Sega got caught in that instead of Nintendo thanks for watching SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!!
@@GTV-Japan I remember being in grade 8 proclaiming that the company that makes TVs won't be able to make a good games console. I still think I'm right as I've never really loved any Sony console, although that could be me being salty, lol.
Sega _Kid that’s a good point no one remembers! There was zero faith in Sony before PlayStation came out. No experience. Sony image soft games weren’t great and every CD only machine was getting sucked into the FMV trap. In 94 I read all the news and rumors and I expected another 3do. But I was wrong
The first time i saw this character, was a little photo time ago at mexican videogame magazine. And this time nobody understand this kind of personaje, for a Lot people don't have internet.great video, saludos camarada
Thanks Napoleon! The other thing is even with internet video was hard to get and these cms were basically for a week or 2 then gone forever. Living in japan opened my eyes to so much many didn’t know or were getting wrong and so it’s my duty to do this! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Loved every second of this thanks!
Saw him at SegaFes 2019 in Japan 👍
That’s awesome! I missed it unfortunately. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. At the time it seemed the story of Segata was over but now his son carries the torch! Thanks for watching SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!! 🪐
Segata is the harada of Sega
Hell yeah!
Legends never die!!
Yeah Segata is still around. Nothing but good memories there
Fantastic video - thank you for putting it together!
No problem! It’s my duty! SEGA SATURN SHIRO!! 🪐
That song, i cant stop singing it!!
Segata Sanshiro!!! 🪐
@@GTV-Japan im sure my coworkers are tired of hearing that lol
@@vampiricpig1392 you need better co workers
What a wonderful video. The timing ended up being a mess, though, as in March 2020 for Sega's 60th, there was a campaign featuring his son, Maito, as "Sega Shiro" which went all the way up to a Sega knowledge course on RUclips (with English subs!) with a fairly long Sega knowledge test at the end! The legacy continues.
Always room for a sequel!!
SEEEEGAATAAA... SANSHIROOOOO!!!
sega saturn shiro!!!!!!
Well that was fantastic, its actually kinda funny how certain things seem to appear in waves online, I've seen it a few times before, but in this case Netflix just got new episodes of the show, "The Toys That Made Us" and one of them is the history of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. As they describe the prehistory to what that whole thing would eventually become, they totally go into Kamen Rider and how it essentially started the whole genre of live action superhero shows in Japan.
Super glad to see Segata still makes appearances. Also fantastic archive of commercials, very cool and hilarious!
I LOVE my Saturn, I was very lucky to acquire one around 1998. Its one of my favourite consoles and still works like charm to this day. It's tough to say, a lot of great memories involved with it over the years but I guess my two favourite memories (other than the day I actually bought mine) was the first time I saw the commercial for the first Panzer Dragoon game and being quite impressed with what I was seeing. The other was just a bunch of my highschool pals and I going over my buddy's place who had one and playing the living hell out of Street Fighter II, Vampire Hunter, Daytona C.C.E. and endless Death Tank matches, hahaha those were amazing days.
Wow that’s cool. I didn’t know about that show but it was pretty groundbreaking and very popular. Nearly every show like it has copied it. SEGA SATURN SHIRO!! 🪐
I love your video, but this one holds a special place in my heart!! I always come back to this one❤❤
Rest in Peace Sanshiro-sama, we'll never forget you
He will forever live on in all of our hearts! SEGA SATURN SHIRO!! 🪐
Another great video! I'm so glad I found this channel.
Thanks James! I finished the next one already but it’s not time to release it yet! Anyway keep commenting I always read them
Segata Sanshiro died for our sins 😥
that is what a savior does
And to think, around the same time in the US, we got that dumb Yoshi's Island commercial where they rip off a Monty Python's Meaning of Life skit. Sega Japan comes up with this brilliant, delightful campaign with a character mythos. Talk about Sega doing what Nintendon't.
I must have missed that! I was divorced from Nintendo at that point. Who cares what they did!!! It was daring but also very smart and they really stuck to it. Thanks for watching SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
Don’t forget that Segata Sanshiro made a brief appearance in the Sonic Archie comics fighting against Sonic in a tournament.
Well I guess you can’t forget what you don’t know. Thanks for telling me!
Gaijillionaire No problem!
3:10 this was the moment when Uncle Yusuke realized that he must play SEGA Saturn.
His life was changed forever on that day.
Welp. Time for some GTV marathon for me. Coronavirus delayed my University classes so im glad you put a lot of things last year that i could not watch before.
Awesome! Kind of... I hope you’re fine my friend
@@GTV-Japan Thanks, we are taking precautions here. Hope you are ok too.
sebbaa93 oh sure. It’s like nothing’s even wrong
Segata was also very much inspired by Sonny Chiba, especially his portrayal of real life Kyokushin Karate founder Mas Oyama in the 70s films "Karate Bullfighter," "Karate Bearfighter," and "Karate for Life." The look and attitude of Segata is based on Chiba's Oyama and the forest training montage is a parody of the training of Oyama.
Oh yeah that’s true!
Yes the ultamate traditional "Karate man".
22 November 1994
+
22 November 2004
=
My Birthday!!!
Sega Saturn 15th Anniversary a.k.a My Birth
Oh great. Happy birthday belated!
I vaguely remember him appearing on Saturn CMs as a kid. I was however on the PS camp and Segata failed to sway me to his side. The sad truth is although Saturn did enjoy greater success in Japan compared to in other regions, it firmly remained a losing console throughout its life cycle. That said, Segata's an amazing character that truly represents the turn-of-the-century zaniness of the 90s. I'm glad his legacy is still around.
After watching his exploits from the beginning to end I noticed he does follow a classic hero's path pretty neatly, as he started as a troublemaker unable to control his superhuman strength (aka Early Installment Weirdness), who gradually learned to train himself, slay monsters and save the day, to eventually become a literal saviour by sacrificing himself.
Yea that’s interesting to think about if they planned it that way or it just kind of happened. Competition with Sony was eventually impossible. They had great games and way way more of them that’s what drives sales
@@GTV-Japan Perhaps already suggested a million times before but are you by any chance planning to do a full timeline on ads featuring Yukawa Senmu? I wonder if he had similarly interesting developments throughout his desperate attempts to revive Sega. Obviously I can just go watch the entire series if I feel like it but it'd be 100% more enjoyable with your narration.
Hidekazu Yukawa? I did that one!
@@GTV-Japan How could I have missed that one but oh boy did I do exactly that. Sorry bout that. Anyways I was under the impression Yukawa's a lot more of a big deal than he apparently was, like on par with Segata, probably because I owned the Dreamcast myself unlike SS.
I think he’s a bigger deal. He was truly a Sega man!
This video is how I first discovered your channel. I've said it before but you have an incredible on air personality. Your work really feels like you put effort into it. 5 stars.
Thanks I appreciate that to the end! I remember where I was making this and this was part of a 5 video run where I was going make each one about a half hour and super epic to end the year. It really wore me out but was worth it.
Stoked that you covered Segata Sanshiro!
He’s the man!!!
I love him
He’s a god among men! 🪐
Poor guy ended up slumming at Nissin
And that was after coaching a 8 foot crab on how to play soccer!! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
What if Segata Sanshrio were to be a Future DLC Fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ????
I don’t know. I don’t play that game. But it would too one sided as Segata Sanshiro can never be defeated! SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!! 🪐
wow great to learn about the backstory of this character! I'd seen some of the ads and a little bit about the saturn game though.... I thought I remembered hearing he came back briefly for some ramen advertisement or something?
Yes he was in a UFO Ramaen cm but I don’t recognize it as canon! Thanks for watching as always! SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!
@@GTV-Japan ah that's what it was!
Yea I’m not sure why other than to make money. But he’s kind of the guy where the actor transcends his characters. Very common in japan
Sega should have used him in our Saturn advertisements here. The humor would have played incredibly well here...far better than a bafoon dancing around a TV, cone heads, ballerina bikers, and silver heads telling us we're not ready for their products.
It couldn’t hurt!
@@GTV-Japan
I don't know...if he saw you with a Playstation controller in your hands it was going to hurt. ;)
Exactly
I had the song on cd during the Dreamcast era. My friend had found the chuchu rocket and a few other sega songs online and I had asked him to make a cd of sega music for me. I had no idea what he looked like but I thought the song was incredible. In 2010 I had finally seen his commercials and it was incredible
I've been meaning to come and binge watch your videos for a few weeks now, but finally I'm here, and wow man, you've got some really great content here - very informative and well made. Can't wait to watch more!
Hey Mick! Thanks for coming by! Hope you like what you see
@@GTV-Japan Appreciate the warm welcome!
Sure! I want to be the first guy to reach 100k subscribers that have replied to every comment. At least coherent ones
@@GTV-Japan As a viewer, it's nice to know that my comments are at least being acknowledged, so that's very respectable!
Ha! Well it’s actually very easy to do. Honestly I started my channel because I hated everything on RUclips and wanted to change that
Wait...Segata was in a 3ds game? Nintendo... you know what you must do.
*SEGATA SANSHIRO ENTERS THE FIGHT!*
He can win every fight!! SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!
@@GTV-Japan It could work...his main weapon is a giant Saturn controller with different Nintendo/Sega controllers for the alt colors.
He either swings it at you or mashes the buttons to deal "hitscan" attacks at the first fighter in his LOS.
Ok! I don’t really understand that all but I’d be happy seeing Segata comeback properly for sure!
Joe S Someone could make a custom Mii Brawler at the least. I’ve already done the same with Kazuma Kiryu.
But actually though, have him as a secret boss in the newest Yakuza game. Something like that is already on brand for the series.
If Segata's Final smash doesn't make people explode twice, I start a small riot
That fuking song though!!! Pumps me up!!!!!
Imagine it as a WWE entrance
@@GTV-Japan When I visit Japan is there s Sagata Sanshiro shrine i can go to? LOL
Ha! I’m not sure but maybe at Sega joypolis in Odaiba
@@GTV-Japan Holy shit. Kobe Bryant just died in a helicopter crash.
Man every video from this channel is CLASS. Still can't believe you have so few subs
Also, did you know the Saturn was available in white?
Haha yea I heard it was in white, don’t remember where from! Thanks for your comment. Yes the subs are low but I was making the same videoed with much lessthan this before, and zero for a while. I have faith more will find this channel someday and I will just keep my head down making the videos I like and think others will like and focus on that. SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!!
I wish Segata Sanshiro was my dad.
Don’t we all! SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!
I really loved that we could recruit him in Project X Zone 2. XD
We? That was you?! Thanks for that !!
I love the ads, especially the 2 soccer ones, & the Sakura Wars (they are cute those two).
All of Segata is great! Number 1! SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!!!!!
Should do a similar video on takahashi meijin, awesome video game legend. Also im new to your channel and love it.
I’m planning it! Wanted to this year but ran out of time. Thanks for watching 🪐
I seriously wish they made a Sega Saturn mini
That would be boss!
Seeing the clip of Deadpool on the PC reminds me of Radical Rick 😁
That’s where I got the idea from! Stay radical! 🎤
There's something that I'm trying to piece together. After reading US gaming magazines from the 90s, I was able to live in Japan in the year 2000. The 90s magazines I read reported that Virtua Fighter and Sega 3D arcades were a phenomenon in Japan. My experience is of course anecdotal, but from my observations, Virtua Fighter and Sega 3D arcades were an absolute phenomenon in Japan. Those magazines also said that Saturn made Sega popular in Japan. From what I saw in game stores, TV ads, and everywhere else, the party was completely over by 2000... almost as if it never happened. At most, I went to several 2nd hand stores and saw a lot of used Saturn games selling for cheap (kicking myself for never buying them), along with Radiant Silvergun selling used for 9000 yen. The utility guy in his 20s who connected the gas in our house saw me playing my Dreamcast from America, he asked me if it was a PS2, I told him it was a DC, he said he didn't know what it was. Many 5th-generation games received successful and unsuccessful revivals, from the RE:make series to failed attempts to bring back Battle Arena Toshinden, but there is a very small list of Saturn-exclusive games (without an arcade version), I'm excited to learn that Assault Suits Leynos 2 is getting officially translated. If Saturn was so popular, wouldn't there be more demand to revisit the exclusive games on Sega's 6th console from the sun? Before I watched this great video, I didn't realize that Segata Sanshiro was an advertising campaign from almost 1998. Did the campaign's impression really fizzle out in a couple of years? Is it possible that Saturn's popularity was a bit exaggerated by foreign media and Sega fanatics? Would you have any firsthand accounts from the 1990s that could explain what I saw at the turn of the century?
I would say that Sega has always been seen as an arcade company and a toy maker and is not seen the same was as people think of Nintendo, solely making home video games. Secondly Final Fantasy VII changed everything and basically wiped out everything except the PlayStation. That’s how I see it.
That makes sense, especially the 5th gen bombshell that was FF7. The sales figures speak for themselves, Saturn did sell millions, but Sega was regarded in the same category as SNK and its NeoGeo (which, from my observation, also had a strong cult following in early 2000s Japan), separate from Nintendo/NEC-Hudson/Sony.
Thanks for the reply and the awesome retrospective!
@gc3k it’s also that every developer moved to Sony too. Rather than a 3 way split. It was just a huge snowball effect. Certainly I knew what train I was on after that announcement
When you see Sony's waning marketshare and Nintendo's dominance in Japan today, it makes you wonder if Sony was the right horse for 3rd parties to support back then, instead of the 3 way split as you said
By the way, did you see the tweet from Sega about a Saturn White Mini, teased on White Day?
@gc3k I did not see that! As for Sony. It feels like there are two Sonys. The good classic ps 123 era and the new ps45 era. PS3 and 4 don’t even feel like they were made by the same company. I hate the decisions they made in recent years with the brand. We want bright colorful quirky stuff and we want BC! We want hardware innovation! As for Nintendo, the switch lite was a genius move and they will always have a kids audience anyway.
sanshiro is my hero
May he forever live on in all of our hearts!! SEGA SATURN SHIRO!! 🪐
Nice video dude, you should have more views.
Thanks! 🪐
@@GTV-Japan It was well researched. Good work.
Thanks! It’s the companion video to Hidekazu Yukawa who was kind of the same idea but for Dreamcast. If you have time check that out too. Cheers
@@GTV-Japan I will definitelly check that one out, thanks friend.
No problem
Also I have that song stuck in my head now.
Segata Sanshiro ♬
I've heard about Segata Sanshiro before, but not this much in depth. Didn't know he had his own videogame.
You have much to learn! Let’s train! SEGA SATURN SHIRO!!
Now his son advertises Sega! 😁
I can't help but think that the Saturn's popularity in Japan was because Segata Sanshiro basically bullied everyone into buying a Saturn. Now THAT is aggressive marketing.🤣🤣
It was also the games
@@GTV-Japan Oh yeah definitely. I have a lot of respect for the Saturn. I like it more than the Dreamcast.
He did play the original kamen rider
Yeah! He’s the man!
@@GTV-Japan Raider! HENSHIN. He's become my favorite actor.
His most recent gig is in a series of billboards at train stations saying if you assault someone you have to mess with me next
Wow that was a great episode! He reminds me of Takuma Sakazaki 😆 Sega Saturn was a great system.
Thanks I’m glad you liked it. Now his son is in the spotlight so maybe a sequel is in order someday
I love how he goes from a child abuser to mass murderer in just two CMs....there will never be anyone like Segata Sanshiro. 😂
It would be cool if SEGA were to make A SEGA Saturn Mini and they would have CMs for it featuring Segata Sanshrio and they would have his game on it
It could happen!
Hold on a minute...what was the name of that Tactics mech game?! I really want to play it.
Cyber Troopers? If memory serves me right.
You mean Sakura Wars?
8:00 Wait, does this explain why we fight a giant enemy crab in that game about Japanese history mentioned in the 2006 Sony E3 conference?
It’s the same crab on the prodigy cd I’ve heard!
Small edit: my yt app started acting funky and it's late where I live, I'll try to update translations tomorrow
3:07 Commecial translations (taken from compilation by Saturn Memories)
NOTE: No, it's not "Sega Saturn, White".
Baseball guys
- Let's go play baseball!
- Okay!
- Come on!
- I just hope you get a hit!
- I sure will!
(In terror) Se... SEGATA SANSHIRO!
(Text on screen says "Segata Sanshiro")
- Segata Sanshiro...
Segata Sanshiro (and text on screen): YOU MUST PLAY SEGA SATURN!
"The most fast-spinning, Sonic racing action... Sonic R!"
Club
- Let's dance till dawn!
- Yeah!
- Se...! Segata Sanshiro!
(Same deal as before)
"A three-part RPG... Shining Force III"
Bomberman
_Segata Sanshiro! Segata Sanshiro! You must play Sega Saturn!_
(On screen text reads "Sega Satān Shirō", meaning "You must play Sega Saturn")
- BOMBERMAN!
"Play with a burning passion in this 3D game! Saturn Bomberman Fight!"
Santa Claus
- Do you think Santa-san will come tonight?
- Well do you?
- Ah! Santa-san!
- Santa-san, I want an RC Plane!
- I want a stuffed animal!
- Gimme gimme!
(Segata Sanshiro)
(Crying) Segata... Sanshiro...
- YOU MUST PLAY SEGA SATURN!
(A present from Segata Sanshiro himself... "Sanshiro Disk")
Song ver. 1
_The solitary man who devoted his soul to gaming_
_Today he returns once more_
_He will punish those who do not play seriously_
_Their battered bodies will never forget_
_Segata Sanshiro! Segata Sanshiro! You must play Sega Saturn!_
Very succinct. Thanks 🪐
@@GTV-Japan it's still not done, my yt app started acting funky and it's kinda late as I write this reply, I'll try my best to edit this tomorrow.
Oh ok!
Ha, had no idea about those characters, I always though his name was a play on the product he was selling, the se-ga sa-ta-n shi-ro white Sega Saturn (with the "ta" flipped). Maybe it's that too?
It is. It’s all part of the wordplay! 🪐
Sorry k been on a weekend binge here and i must tell u i saw a movie K2 the ultimate high about mountain climing and this mane was a climber in it. Just awesome performance by him good stuff
Sonic R jamz 3:37
Good ear!
#LegendaryNeverdie
Sega US marketing seems kind of stupid, as to boost sales for the Saturn in the US, we have our own version of Sega Ta Santirio with Chuck Noris or say Chuck Noris the Segaman that way Chuck Noris will appear in every Sega Saturn commercial in the US, so that way Chuck Noris will be the American version of Sega Ta Santirio, that way the Sega Saturn will boost sales in the USA thanks to Chuck Noris.
He’s very kick-ass that’s for sure!
Segata! : )
Late to the party, but is there anyway I can find the "DJ Segata" remix of the theme song? Can't seem to find it anywhere on RUclips.
The mix was on yt a while ago. I was asked about this before and unfortunately I didn’t save those files. If I ever find a new source I’ll let ya know. Looks like you’d have to track down the cd for now. Sorry. 😞
I found a collection of radio clips of Segata San shiro on youtube a few months ago. I think that remix was in it.
Cool!
Gtv do a video on toei spiderman and the Kanji is translated to temporary
If I ever get around to an all tokusatsu video sure! This one had a lot of copyright issues so I’m always worried about that. SEGA SATURN, SHIRO!!
You need to find the special Christmas Sanshiro disk and update the video! They talk about the cd in the Xmas commercial with the three kids.
Oh that’s not the same as the one where they show behind the scenes of the filming? I better step up