Shobu Kirifuda

Shobu Kirifuda (切札 勝舞) is the main protagonist of the Duel Masters Anime and manga.

Anime
Shobu Kirifuda is the son of the legendary duelist, Shori Kirifuda. He loves to duel more than anything, especially with hisfavorite card, the Bolshack Dragon. Shobu's goal is to meet his father again. He wants to become the best duelist in the whole world and in doing so, be the best at what he truly loves.

In the first season of Duel Masters, Shobu uses a Fire Civilization deck, with Bolshack Dragon as his trump card, he later experiments with many different civilizations and Armored Blaster Valdios becomes his second trump card. When he faces off against Hakuoh he uses an evolved version of his Fire Deck.

In Duel Masters Charge, he now uses a Fire and Nature Civilization deck with Bolmeteus Steel Dragon as his trump card, later experimenting with Rainbow Civilization cards, and adding Bombazar, Dragon of Destiny to his deck.

In Duel Masters Cross, Shobu now uses a Armored Dragon Deck with Bolshack Dragon, Bolmeteus Steel Dragon, Bolbalzak "Sword Flash" Dragon, Bolmeteus Samurai Dragon and Bolshack Yamato Dragon. After losing to Yumuma he loses most of his deck, and is given a new deck by his father which is based on Samurai and Armored Dragon's.

In Duel Masters Cross Shock, Shobu's Samurai Dragon deck uses Saint Bolshack, Spiritual Dragon, Bolmeteus "Kensei" Dragon, Valkyrias Musashi, Ultimate Battle Dragon, Genji Double Cross, Blastdragon, Bolshack NEX, Flame Shiva Double Cross, Blastdragon, Spear Lupia and Bolpheus Heaven, Holy Super Dragon.

Shobu keeps a positive attitude throughout the series, insisting on dueling for fun as opposed to simply winning.

His main rivals are Hakuoh and Kokujo.



Deck

 * Bolshack Dragon
 * Bolmeteus Steel Dragon
 * Immortal Baron, Vorg
 * Mini Titan Gett
 * Scarlet Skyterror
 * Rothus, the Traveler
 * Brawler Zyler
 * Armored Blaster Valdios
 * Armored Cannon Balbaro
 * Baby Zoppe
 * Twin-Cannon Skyterror
 * Tornado Flame
 * Rumble Gate
 * Gatling Skyterror
 * Onslaughter Triceps
 * Pyrofighter Magnus
 * Cocco Lupia
 * Nomad Hero Gigio
 * Rikabu's Screwdriver
 * Magmarex
 * Magmadragon Jagalzor
 * Deadly Fighter Braid Claw
 * Armored Walker Urherion

Trivia
His surname's kanji "Kirifuda (切札?)" literally means "The Trump Card", "The Ace Card" or "The Winning Card". His name's kanji "Shoubu (勝舞?)" is a combination of his father's name "Shouri (勝利?)" meaning "Victory" or "Victor" and his mother's name "Mai (舞?)" means "Dance", thus "Shoubu (勝舞?)" means "Victory Dance" or "Dance of Victory". The pronunciation "Shoubu (しょうぶ?)" is also a pun from "shoubu (勝負?)" which literally means "Win (or) Lose" and from there derived the meanings: "Duel".

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Shobu's name is a pun as "Shōbu" means "contest" in Japanese.