Colonel Shikishima

The JSDF commander who gambled everything on suppressing Akira, only to witness his own authority dissolve into psychic chaos.

Tasked with managing a secret government project involving psychic children known as Espers, he operates under immense pressure as the city descends into gang violence and political turmoil. Shikishima is defined by his pragmatic yet desperate attempts to control Tetsuo Shima's unstable telekinetic abilities before they destroy the metropolis again. His leadership style shifts from containment to open conflict as the situation spirals out of human control, marking him as a key architect of the city's final fate.

Quick Facts

Role: Neo-Tokyo military leader
Status: Survivor of the second psychic explosion

Lore & Background

Shikishima directs the secret project monitoring Takashi, Kiyoko, and Masaru, the trio of Espers whose existence is tied to the entity known as "Akira." When Tetsuo Shima's powers awaken following a bike crash near old Tokyo ruins, Shikishima attempts to integrate him into the program to stabilize his condition. As Tetsuo's mind fractures, Shikishima authorizes the use of powerful drugs to suppress his headaches and later tries to talk him out of releasing Akira from a cryogenic chamber beneath the Olympic Stadium. His command extends to ordering the SOL laser satellite to fire on Tetsuo, an act that only severs the boy's arm. Following a second psychic explosion triggered by Takashi's death, Shikishima survives the destruction of Neo-Tokyo, standing amidst the ruins alongside Kei and other survivors.

Reader's Guide

Shikishima represents the rigid structure of state authority crumbling under supernatural pressure. His role evolves from a project director managing Espers to a military dictator enforcing martial law during the crisis. He is responsible for containing Tetsuo and preventing the release of Akira, utilizing heavy weaponry, elite JSDF troops, and orbital laser support (SOL). However, his strategies prove futile against Tetsuo's evolving powers. A critical turning point occurs when he orders the SOL strike that fails to kill Tetsuo but only amputates an arm. Later, his decision to lead a coup reflects his desperation as political leaders fail to act. Ultimately, he survives the apocalypse, standing as one of the few witnesses to the end of Neo-Tokyo and the birth of the new world order.

Did You Know?

Colonel Shikishima mounts a coup d'état in Volume 3 due to frustration with the government's tepid response to the crisis.
His forces join Lady Miyako's acolytes and Nezu's private army to chase Kaneda's group through the city before the final destruction.