Changes

| en_name = Shoichi KusanagiKolter

| nicknames ja_trans_name = Shoichi Kusanagi| other_names = Unnamed<ref name="ep64">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|64|ref}}</ref>| age = 24<ref>According to character sheets, Kolter was 14 at the time of the [[Hanoi Project]]. (https://twitter.com/windblum/status/1087257009487994882)</ref>

| other_names en_voice = {{Voice actors|en|Sam Black}}<ref name="Voicing Kolter & others">[https://twitter.com/SamBlackVoices/status/972538303944773632 Sam Black's Twitter]</ref>

'''Kolter''', known as '''Shoichi Kusanagi''' ({{ruby|草|くさ}}{{ruby|薙|なぎ}} {{ruby|翔|しょう}}{{ruby|一|いち}}, ''Kusanagi Shōichi'') in the Japanese version, is a character appearing in the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS]]'' anime. Operating out of a food truck called [[Café NagiNom]], which doubles as his and Yusaku's base of operations, Shoichi Kolter is an ally of [[Yusaku Fujiki]] in his fight against the [[Knights of Hanoi]], with integral knowledge of the [[LINK VRAINS]].

Shoichi Kolter is a young man with fair skin and grey eyes. His purple hair comes to the base of his neck, and it has multiple small bangs brushed over to hide his forehead, and he also sports a small goatee. Shoichi Kolter dresses simply, wearing a brown trench coat over a purple hoodie with a bronze zipper and light blue shirt, and teal pants tucked into burgundy boots with prominent black soles.

Shoichi Kolter is a rather friendly individual. He's shown to be sympathetic towards Yusaku and hopes he can one day enjoy Dueling again. He also regrets dragging him into the fight against the Knights of Hanoi.

Behind his friendly easy-going nature, Shoichi Kolter harbors an intense anger and hatred towards the [[Hanoi Project]] just like Yusaku, though he doesn't actively show it unless triggered enough, like when he listened to [[Akira Zaizen]] talk about the possibility of Aoi Skye being kidnapped. Shoichi Kolter angrily said that Akira doesn't truly know what the horrible trauma he felt waslike.

Being the owner of a food truck, Shoichi Kolter is a capable cook; he was seen cooking hotdogs.<ref name="ep1" />

Like Yusaku, he's is a talented hacker. He was able to get information about [[SOL Technologies]]' activities and helped Yusaku capture [[Ai]] in the latter's [[Duel Disk]]. He was also able to figure out that [[Aoi Skye Zaizen]] is "Blue Angel". On several occasions, he has hacked surveillance camera's cameras in both LINK VRAINS and the real world alike with little effort. He is noted to routinely erase footage, article, and picture images of Playmaker in the network.<ref name="ep11" /><ref name="ep12">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|12|ref}}</ref>

Ten years ago,<ref name="ep29">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|29|ref}}</ref> ShoichiKolter's [[Jin Kusanagi|younger brother]] was kidnapped for the [[Hanoi Project]] in the past. Even though his brother was rescued, he still suffered intense PTSD that he apparently never recovered from, prompting Shoichi Kolter and Yusaku to fight against the Knights of Hanoi, whom they believed to be responsible for the incident, to get revenge.<ref name="ep1">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1|ref}}</ref>

Shoichi Kolter and [[Yusaku Fujiki|Yusaku]] discussed [[SOL Technologies]] and [[Knights of Hanoi|Hanoi's]] recent movements. Shoichi Kolter told Yusaku about the [[Data Storm]] and suggested that it could help Yusaku enjoy Dueling again. He also mentioned revealed SOL was looking for [[Ai|an AI]] on the run and that they were planning a full scan of [[LINK VRAINS]] to find it. Hearing this, Yusaku came up with a plan decided to capture the AI A.I. and use it as a trump card against Hanoi , and he closed [[Café NagiNom]], despite Shoichi Kolter protesting that he was expecting customers that night. The two hackers managed to capture Ai into the A.I. in Yusaku's [[Duel Disk]] during an attack from the Knights of Hanoi.<ref name="ep1" /> Shoichi Kolter was surprised when a Data Storm occurred when "Playmaker" challenged the [[Number 10 (character)|the Knight]] to a knightDuel. He was watched the Speed Duel, worried when Yusaku Playmaker was sucked into a Data Storm tornado, and but he was relieved when Yusaku Playmaker won the Duel.<ref name="ep2">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|2|ref}}</ref>

Shoichi Kolter and Yusaku spent the next few days trying to figure out Aithe A.I.'s programming, but Shoichi Kolter struggled to understand the complicated algorithms that Ai it was made out composed of. He then suggested to come coming up with a name for the A.I., to which and Yusaku decided to name it "Ai", a pun on "eye". He was also impressed that the [[Decode Talker (anime)|card data]] Yusaku obtained from the Data Storm was becoming a physical card. Trying to scan footage from "Ai's" memories caused the [[RevolverVaris|Knights of Hanoi's leader]] to track them down, however Shoichi but Kolter was able to shut down Café NagiNom's power before they were found.<ref name="ep3">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|3|ref}}</ref> The next day Shoichi Kolter gave Yusaku the "Decode Talker" card that had finished materializing before he went to LINk LINK VRAINS to fight a [[Go OnizukaGeorge Gore|supposed Knight of Hanoi]] that had appeared.<ref name="ep4">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|4|ref}}</ref> When the Knight turned out to be Go OnizukaThe Gore, SOL Technologies activated a program that prevents prevented Playmaker from logging out was activated by SOL Technology. Shoichi Kolter worked on an escape route for Yusaku, but Yusaku refused to use it. After the Duel ended, Shoichi Kolter scolded Yusaku for not using the escape route, but also suggested that they could recruit Go The Gore for their fight against Hanoi. Playmaker refused, not wanting to drag Gore into their fight.<ref name="ep5">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|5|ref}}</ref>

Shoichi Kolter discovered that the real identity of the famous idol "[[Celebrity Duelist]] Blue Angel" is was [[Aoi Skye Zaizen]], a classmate of Yusakuand the sister of SOL Technologies' security chief [[Akira Zaizen]]. He thought about suggested that Yusaku meeting Aoi meet with Skye so they could get closer to [[Akira Zaizen]] in order to get more information about SOL Technologies regarding his brother and Yusaku's memories, however he also but doubted the plan would work because of Yusaku's poor social skills. A few days later, he was shocked when Playmaker and Blue Angel began a Duel before getting interrupted by a customer.<ref name="ep6">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|6|ref}}</ref>

After the Duel concluded and Aoi was put in Skye fell into a coma, Shoichi Kolter hacked into the hospital's records to find out about AoiSkye's condition. Ai protested that hacking into the hospital was a crime, to which Shoichi casually said that hacking already was a crime in the first place. Ai explained that Aoi Skye had been infected by a virus from Hanoi's [[Dark Angel (anime)|card ]], and that the only ones with the anti-virus were would be Hanoi themselves. [[Emma Bessho|"Blue Angel"]] appeared , claiming that she wanted a rematch against Playmaker. Shoichi Kolter knew right away immediately that she was an impostor and instructed told Yusaku to ignore her because it was clearly a trap, but Yusaku went logged into LINK VRAINS anyways regardless because he felt it was his responsibility to save AoiSkye.<ref name="ep7">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|7|ref}}</ref> RevolverVaris's appearance and subsequent manipulation of LINK VRAINS caused ShoichiKolter's cameras to go offline, though he was briefly able to use SOL's cameras and later [[Emma Bessho|Ghost GirlGal]]'s. He was displeased when Ghost GirlGal's camera stopped recording, making preventing him unable to watch anything inside LINK VRAINSfrom seeing how Yusaku was doing.<ref name="ep10">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|10|ref}}</ref> To watch the Duel, Shoichi Kolter used the bugs in the Knights of Hanoi's program that created the Data Storm to open a path for Ghost Girl Gal to enter the Data Storm; she had her cameras record the Duel between Playmaker and RevolverVaris, allowing Shoichi Kolter to watch it. Kolter learned of the Ignis, A.I. with free will that Varis claimed wanted to overthrow the network, but didn't believe that Ai would do such a thing.<ref name="ep11">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|11|ref}}</ref>

Shoichi Kolter was glad that relived when Playmaker won against Revolver was able to defeat Varis, and he carried him out of his pod after he logged out since the former took a lot of strain during his Duel. Since Yusaku was interested what became of Aoiexpressed interest in Skye's condition, Shoichi went to show so Kolter showed him that she was recoveringhad recovered. Yusaku fell asleep , and Ai commented on how lazy he was, but Shoichi Kolter claimed heroes needed to rest. Ai started bragging, so Shoichi went Kolter began to analyze what kind of the program that he ate had stolen from Revolver. Realizing Shoichi would look into his "private parts"Varis, prompting Ai called him a pervert and refused to say anythingclam up. Once Yusaku woke up, Shoichi sensed murmuring about the Ignis, and Kolter noted that he was thinking what Revolver Varis had told them about Ai. Since they did not know how to prove if Ai was actually alive, Ai claimed it, was indeedalive, was alive. Ai and he used the program that he had obtained from Revolver Varis to recover his body back. However, Ai's size didn't impress Yusaku and ShoichiKolter, who instead tried to analyze if Ai had regained some of his memories, even if Ai wanted them to be excited that he regained his body.<ref name="ep12">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|12|ref}}</ref>

A few days later , Emma Bessho ran into came to Café NagiNom, but neither she nor Shoichi Kolter recognized the each other as "Ghost GirlGal" or "Playmaker's assistant". Emma ordered a coffee and two chilli chili dogs and mentioned that she was interested in Dueling Playmaker, causing Shoichi Kolter to wonder what kind of Duelist she iswas. Yusaku noted that Shoichi Kolter looked exhausted, to which Shoichi said explained that he was tired from spening 'd spent all night deleting "Playmaker" files and videos that people constantly post posted on the network. Yusaku offered to help him with the clean up, and in doing so he inadvertently deleted a big scoop they spent the night deleting files, while Kolter noted that wouldYusaku was dwelling on Varis've revealed everything Playmaker and Shoichi know involving Ai and the Knights of Hanois words.<ref name="ep13">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|13|ref}}</ref>

During the night, Shoichi Kolter called Yusaku to come to his food truck Café Nom and showed him an encrypted message on an internet forum, sent to him from Ghost Girl. Shoichi Gal; Kolter explained that he had created a program to navigate her to enter the Data Storm during the Duel with RevolverVaris. The two read how she demanded Ghost Gal had challenged Playmaker to a Duel from Playmaker, with Ai as wager. Yusaku acceptedthe stakes, stating that she offered offering a backdoor to program into SOL Technologiesas her barter. Kolter confirmed the program' data banks legitimacy, and Shoichi confirmed that fact, showing she did send a bit as Ghost Gal had sent some of the data as proof. Yusaku asked of Shoichi Kolter to reply confirm that Playmaker would accept her challenge. Ghost Girl Gal soon entered LINK VRAINS, and Yusaku went to do the sameso himself. Shoichi Kolter wondered if Yusaku would really go and Duel her, since she could've set wary of another trap. Yusaku claimed replied that he had to uncover the truth behind the incidentIncident, hoped in hoping that the data bank there was contained some information about the Knights of Hanoi, and sensed some determination in Ghost Girl, despite her weaknesses. Shoichi Kolter watched as Ghost Girl Gal and Playmaker confronted each other, and wished of the latter warned Yusaku to acquire the backdoor. Seeing how well Ghost Girl made her moves, Shoichi wished that Playmaker would be careful of her.<ref name="ep14">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|14|ref}}</ref> While watching the Duel, Shoichi Kolter was baffled by how complex the Duel was, being unable to predict the outcome. After Playmaker won and obtained the program, Shoichi went Kolter began to analyze it. He believed , believing that he could crack the code, and noticed Yusaku was sleeping once more.<ref name="ep15">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|15|ref}}</ref>

Shoichi Kolter showed Yusaku his analysis of Ghost GirlGal's program to Yusaku: the backdoor entrance to the SOL Technologies' mother computer, whose schematics looked like a maze. Shoichi Kolter and Yusaku were nevertheless impressed by Ghost Girl, who managed to hack and find thisGal's skills in finding it. Shoichi Kolter promised to be ready when the school was over, and Yusaku would be able to infiltrate the network the following night. On that That night, Shoichi Kolter showed Yusaku the location of the data bank, warning that the path to it was filled with traps. However, though he did make had prepared countermeasures against them, and Yusaku praised him for such his speed. After Yusaku went logged into the LINK VRAINS, Shoichi Kolter programmed an artificial device for Playmaker to hold onto to avoid traps, with and a rope to prevent him from being detected, and gave directions to Playmaker where to go to. As security traps were set to stop Playmaker, Shoichi Kolter programmed a three "[[Sphere Kuriboh (anime)|Sphere Kuriboh]]" as a decoydecoys. After Playmaker passed Area A, Shoichi saw Kolter realized that there was a Data Storm. He wanted to give upin Area B, due to all the dangerand he suggested turning back, but thought then admitted that the Data Storm wouldn't be as harmful if Playmaker continued on.<ref name="ep16">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|16|ref}}</ref>

After Playmaker defeated [[Prototype AiGreen-A]], Shoichi Kolter navigated him to the data bank.<ref name="ep17">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|17|ref}}</ref> Shoichi Kolter watched as Playmaker confronted AkiraZaizen, and wished the former would obtain the data. As Akira as Zaizen claimed he would set things straight with the data, Shoichi Kolter and Playmaker became furious, saying Akira Zaizen understood nothing about them.<ref name="ep18">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|18|ref}}</ref> Shoichi Kolter watched the Duel, and was furious to be reminded that his brother was a part of the [[Hanoi Project]]. He was also shocked to hear learn that SOL Technologies' data bank contained the name of the mastermind behind the projectProject.<ref name="ep19">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|19|ref}}</ref> Shoichi was frustrated to see Playmaker could not attack, and Akira would win the next turn. Later, Playmaker defeated Akira Zaizen and logged out, Shoichi and Kolter praised him for acquiring the data. The two hacked into Ai, and found out the Hanoi Project's leader was [[Kiyoshi Kogami|Dr. [[Kiyoshi Kogami]], an employee from SOL Technologies, who alone worked on the project Project alone in secrecy. The two concluded that SOL Technologies covered up the incident, else to prevent the company's reputation would've been from being ruined. Ai doubted the man that Dr. Kogami could have done this on his own, and thought Akira suggested that Zaizen was involved, but Shoichi Kolter reminded him Akira, back then, was that Zaizen had only been 16 at the time and was not employed at by SOL Technologies. Shoichi Kolter and Yusaku failed to find the project's goalin the data, but most shockingly, to their shock they discovered that Dr. Kogami had died seven years ago.<ref name="ep20">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|20|ref}}</ref>

With the food truck positioned at the coast, Yusaku was doing research. Shoichi Kolter invited him for a break, and gazed upon the ocean. Yusaku pointed out Shoichi Kolter won't get many customers at that place, but Shoichi Kolter assured him the famous coast was named [[Stardust Road]], known for the luminous plankton that rarely gather at night, and thought the person living near the coast may have seen that. Shoichi Kolter failed to gather new info from SOL Technologies' data, and Yusaku saw that data from ten years ago was actually deleted. Still, they knew the company was involved, even if Akira knew nothing about the incident before. Shoichi Kolter felt a bit relieved that Dr. Kogami passed away, thinking their revenge was over. Yusaku reminded him they still didn't know about the goal of the incident, and Shoichi Kolter still wanted to rescue his brother from darkness, even if they had no clue where to continue. Yusaku still remembered Revolver Varis knew some things. Shoichi Kolter stated Revolver Varis was not seen recently, but Yusaku believed he was not the type that would simply disappear.<ref name="ep21">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|21|ref}}</ref>

===AnotherTower of Hanoi===Inside the van, Shoichi Kolter showed to [[Ai]] and [[Yusaku Fujiki|Yusaku]] the footage of a camera, when a person turned into an [[AnotherDeleted]], which happened six minutes before midnight. Ai noted there were no white hands taking the person into [[LINK VRAINS]]. Shoichi Kolter told them the person had not recovered yet, and showed pictures of more Another Deleted patients in the hospitals. Ai and Yusaku knew this was the same accident with [[Aoi Skye Zaizen|Blue Angel]], who was infected by a virus. Shoichi Kolter believed someone wanted people to be turned into mindless people, but has not find out what happened to their LINK VRAINS' avatars. Shoichi Kolter showed more data, and Yusaku analyzed all of the Anothers Deleted were great Duelists with old-type Duel Disks, and all of them were hackers, too. The trio realized Playmaker, or Ai, were the targets. Yusaku reminded the importance of uncovering the truth behind Lost Incident, and as noted by Ai, they had to stop people from becoming AnothersDeleted. Shoichi Kolter showed a list of possible targets, from which the first was [[Makoto KimishimaMcKendrick Kellenbocker]]. Later, Shoichi Kolter and Yusaku watched the [[Knights of Hanoi]] Dueling people, and turning them into Anothersthe Deleted. Yusaku decided to go into LINK VRAINS, even if Shoichi Kolter believed he would be at a disadvantage, and Ai wished to feel secure. Surprisingly, they saw [[Go OnizukaGeorge Gore|"Playmaker"]] battling the Knights of Hanoi, by stopping their programs and tossing them away from their [[D-Duel Board]]s. [[Dr. Genome]] confronted "Playmaker", who revealed himself to be Go OnizukaThe Gore. The latter stated he came to save MakotoMcKendrick, and knew Playmaker's identity, which displeased Yusaku and ShoichiKolter.<ref name="ep22">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|22|ref}}</ref>

Shoichi Kolter watched as Playmaker came to Go OnizukaGore. Later, Shoichi Kolter and Yusaku went to find who was the Another Deleted virus' creator.<ref name="ep24">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|24|ref}}</ref> At the van, Yusaku shushed Ai, who was amused to read all the criticism against [[Kitamura]] and [[SOL Technologies]]. Shoichi Kolter analyzed that if the Knights of Hanoi took over LINK VRAINS, they'd soon find Playmaker. Yusaku believed they could prevent that by looking into the origins of Anothers the Deleted virus. The next day, at the van, Shoichi Kolter woke Yusaku up, reminding he had to go to school, and promised he'd continue working. After Yusaku returned, Shoichi Kolter found nothing new. Ai believed Shoichi Kolter gave up, who replied he was just getting started. Yusaku let Shoichi Kolter rest, who went to cook some fries and cheese dogs. Yusaku and Shoichi Kolter ate the food, and watched Blue Angel confronting [[Kyoko Taki|Baira]]. Shoichi Kolter and Yusaku analyzed the videos, and the latter saw Baira behind one of the Anothers victimsDeleted.<ref name="ep25">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|25|ref}}</ref>

Shoichi Kolter drove his van to the warehouse district. He took a break when Yusaku went to rescue Naoki.<ref name="ep28">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|28|ref}}</ref> One night, fearing he and Yusaku could soon be in danger, Shoichi Kolter wrote a report, mentioning the Knights of Hanoi were real people. He named the report as "File No. 1007: Kusanagi Report". He noted the prowess of Playmaker and his allies, but feared the countdown to the day their destinies would change had already started. He also wrote that he still thought of his brother, [[Jin Kusanagi|Jin]], and wished that the reader of this report would tell that to his brother when they meet him. He was visited by Yusaku and Ai, who felt something big was about to happen.<ref name="ep29"/>

Shoichi Kolter served [[RevolverVaris|a customer]], who told him it would be the last time he would visit the stand, and Shoichi Kolter suspected the customer would move away. The customer looked briefly at Yusaku, and walked away, with Shoichi Kolter telling he was also located at the plaza. As the customer walked away, Ai claimed Shoichi Kolter needed a mascot like him. Shoichi Kolter replied Ai would make a lame customer, and was interested what was Yusaku doing. Yusaku pointed out the Knights of Hanoi have been purged from LINK VRAINS. Shoichi Kolter noted Anothers' that the Deleted incident has been resolved, but also reminded Revolver Varis was still out there. Ai thought Revolver Varis had retreated, but Yusaku doubted that. Suddenly, Yusaku and Ai felt a pulse within LINK VRAINS, and asked Shoichi Kolter to scan through the network. Shoichi Kolter worked on scanning, and just as Yusaku and Ai sensed another pulse, Shoichi Kolter saw the LINK VRAINS infrastructure changed. Shoichi Kolter tracked Playmaker's activity, and as the pulse was emitted from the network, Shoichi Kolter was shocked at the readings.<ref name="ep30">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|30|ref}}</ref> Shoichi Kolter monitored LINK VRAINS, and found a new reading of energy within the network. Yusaku and Ai joined ShoichiKolter, and watched hundreds of tentacles wrapped a beam that was shot in the sky and destroyed LINK VRAINS' cyberspace.<ref name="ep31">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|31|ref}}</ref> Yusaku, Kolter and Ai watched as the tower appeared in LINK VRAINS, causing the cyberspace to be absorbed. Since Yusaku obtained Ghost Gal's data, Kolter promised to look into it. Ai noticed the avatars were being absorbed, and not just buildings or roads - Yusaku knew this was Varis's doing. Kolter analyzed Ghost Gal's data, showing the Tower of Hanoi. Yusaku remembered Varis's words, and deduced if the Hanoi's game was over, the world would be destroyed. Kolter continued analyzing the data, seeing the link between the top, where the LINK VRAINS network was, with the underground erasing system, with the center being the core of the latter system. Ai was shocked, seeing how much data has been absorbed, as Kolter noted that speed has not decreased. Kolter counted six rings would be crafted from this system, one per each passing hour. He realized that once every ring is crafted, a pulse would be sent with high-density data, affecting every machine or program - every piece of technology existing in the world would cease function, as if the world has no computers at all. Ai thought it was safe as long as they did not enter the network, but Yusaku was certain Varis thought of that, and made something that would still erase Ai. Kolter continued his analysis, seeing even devices not connected to the network would also be affected, as an electromagnetic pulse would be sent out, even to erase Ai. While Ai was frustrated, Kolter was overwhelmed, knowing Varis made all of this just to erase an Ignis. The trio watched Kitamura - Akira's successor in SOL Technologies - battling a Knight of Hanoi, named [[Spectre]]. They saw how Spectre erased Kitamura, and the former threatened to do this to anyone that dared entering LINK VRAINS. Yusaku swore to stop the Knights of Hanoi, by shutting down the core. Kolter warned him there were no Data Storms in LINK VRAINS, except near that tower.<ref name="ep32">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|32|ref}}</ref> Kolter watched as Playmaker continued on to the Tower of Hanoi, and noticed Blue Angel Dueling Spectre, who defeated Kitamura earlier. He measured five hours and thirty minutes before the Tower of Hanoi was complete.<ref name="ep33">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|33|ref}}</ref> ==Trivia==* Sam Black's announcement that he was voicing Kolter in the English dub referred to the character as "Koulter". Black later corrected the spelling.