Akitaru Obi
From Fire Force
Akitaru Obi is the captain of Fire Force's Company 8, and its only member with no fire powers at all, an ordinary firefighter who leads pyrokinetics through infernos on training, muscle and resolve. He is voiced by Kazuya Nakai in Japanese and Jeremy Inman in English.
About Akitaru Obi
Akitaru Obi is the captain of Company 8, and the only member with no fire powers at all, an ordinary firefighter who leads pyrokinetic soldiers through infernos armed with training, muscle and an unbreakable refusal to leave anyone behind. He founded Company 8 to watch the watchers, investigating corruption inside the other companies. Obi is Fire Force's thesis in human form: heroism is a choice you keep making while everything burns.
Appearance
Obi is a huge, powerfully built man of 189 cm with short dark hair, a strong jaw and the physique of someone who treats the gym as a second job, because he does. He wears Company 8's uniform stretched over serious muscle and carries ordinary firefighting equipment into situations that terrify powered soldiers. His grin is wide, encouraging and completely fearless.
Personality
Obi is Fire Force's thesis in human form: heroism is a choice you keep making while everything burns. He is warm, loud, encouraging and absolutely unbreakable in his refusal to leave anyone behind, soldier, civilian or Infernal. He founded Company 8 to watch the watchers, and he leads it by example, walking in front. His faith in his people is total, and he extends the same respect to the powerless as to Pillars: in Obi's brigade, worth is what you do.
Background & Story
Akitaru Obi was a decorated ordinary firefighter long before he had a brigade, a man who saved lives without powers in a world that increasingly treated the unpowered as bystanders. When the Special Fire Force's companies proved more interested in politics and doctrine than in the truth about combustion, Obi and his comrade Takehisa Hinawa founded Company 8: a brigade tasked with investigating the other companies themselves. As captain, Obi has built a family of misfits, a 'devil', a delusional knight, a spy he cheerfully suspects, and aimed them at the Empire's darkest secrets, armed with nothing but training and the certainty that his people are worth it.
Key Relationships
- Takehisa Hinawa: His lieutenant and oldest friend, the co-founder of Company 8, whose discipline and Obi's heart are the brigade's twin pillars.
- Shinra Kusakabe: His rookie, whose dream of being a hero Obi takes dead seriously, and intends to make come true.
- Maki Oze: One of his founding soldiers, whose strength and warmth make her the brigade's big sister, a role Obi relies on daily.
- Iris: His brigade's Sister, whose unarmed courage Obi honours as much as any soldier's.
Quick Answers
Does Captain Obi have powers?
No. Obi has no pyrokinetic ability at all. He leads Company 8 as an ordinary, if exceptionally strong and experienced, firefighter, relying on training, equipment and courage.
Who voices Akitaru Obi?
Obi is voiced by Kazuya Nakai in Japanese and by Jeremy Inman in the English dub.
Why is Obi respected in Fire Force?
Obi leads pyrokinetic soldiers into infernos with no powers of his own, relying on training, strength and a refusal to abandon anyone. His brigade would follow him anywhere because he always walks in front.
