Date Seiji // Korin no Seiji // Sage of the Halo

Date Seiji is the warrior of Grace/Rei and is known on the battlefield as "Korin no Seiji" (or "Seiji of Nimbus" in the Bandai subtitles). He appears in the first episode of the YST TV series, "Target: Metropolitan Tokyo." In the manga, he appears in volume 1, act 2: "Collection! The Five Armored Warriors!"

Generally speaking, Seiji is one of the most misunderstood characters in the YST/RW series. It was through botched up information and fanfiction posted on the Internet as early as 1995 (through YST's North American version, Ronin Warriors) that revealed Seiji to be either a popular high school flirt or a cold-hearted bastard (the latter is more geared towards the yaoi-based fandom). With the Stateside release of the TV series and OVAs through DVD format in 2001, fans were finally able to witness Seiji's character in his original, unedited Japanese format.

An aspect of Seiji's character is that he is one of the most calm and mature members of the Troopers; but he is like the wind - his emotions can easily shift one way or another. Normally he prefers to plan his actions before pursuing them. However, in episode 1 of the OVA Kikoutei Densetsu, he didn't hesitate to try and rescue Ryo while he was being pulled into Taiyou no Mukara's mysterious vortex. In various doujinshi, Seiji is usually the last person to snap amongst the chaos that may pop about and personally take control of a situation. While Seiji was reared in a very traditional Japanese homestead (and for a time, raised as a girl), like most boys his age, he will goof off with his friends from time to time. He even partakes in the game Nanpa Call (Flirting Call) to where he ends up quite confused and rather disturbed over the eager female he was trying to flirt with. Please note that this cassette episode isn't considered actual canon by Japanese fans because of the boys' behavior, but it is never the less an episode that allows us to peek into the everyday lives of Seiji and his friends.

YST Cassette Book Collection #3 was released in 1990 by Sunrise. This, by the way, is where Nanpa Call and as mentioned, it isn't really considered canon--more like a parody. Beyond this, there has been no evidence of Seiji acting like a flirt in any way possible during the anime. Seiji was only flirting in Nanpa Call because it was part of the game he and the others were playing. When some fans claim to have noticed Seiji acting like a flirt in the series, it is most likely an exaggeration on their part. For instance, just because they see Seiji and Nasutei talking to one another does not make him some type of pimp. Or even seeing Ryo and Nasutei talking to one another does not indicate any hint of romance between them. It is only in English fanfiction where you may read about Seiji (or rather Sage) trying to relentlessly use his good looks to pick up girls wherever he went.

Seiji has grown up in a very traditional household, where women dominate the family. As a child, Seiji's body was extremely weak. So for a time, he was dressed and reared as a little girl, because it was believed that girls had better immune systems. This is brought up in Seiji's CD drama, Korinden, when during a life and death situation, he sees a little girl in his subconscious and eventually realizes that the little girl is actually him. Dr. Tokita mentions how Seiji was just as beautiful as the other little girls, except that his sharp (violet) eyes remained the same as ever.

Seiji's traditional values wavered when he was seen driving Nasutei's car in episode 20 of the TV series. The driving age in Japan is eighteen, and Seiji was only fourteen at the time. Surprisingly, even Nasutei was under aged (being only seventeen at the time of the TV series) but she had an international permit. But the driving experience for Seiji may have allowed him to stem into a F1 racing hobby (possible career...?), as seen in the last episode of Kikoutei Densetsu. An "official" doujinshi drawn by Kaimu Tachibana for the YST book, PROMOTION, features Seiji: he mentions F1 racing to his friends, who quickly laugh at him - probably due to the fact that someone like him is interested in such a thing. Readers then see Seiji's memories of watching F1 racing as a child behind a chain-link fence.

By the time Message rolls around, Seiji has grown into a taller, more mature, and more focused individual. He gains a new suit of mystical armor, courtesy of the troubled but redeemable Suzunagi. His armor is much more bulky and his weapon, Korin Ken, is as tall as he! Unfortunately we do not get to see the extent of his new powers, as it was not the intended focus of Message. However, he and the other Troopers agree to once again become warriors to protect the world they love.

OFFICIAL MANGA INFORMATION (provided by both Sorakun and Dawn Sanada):
"Real name, Seiji Date. He has a heart of courtesy, appreciation, and gratitude. He wears the armor gear of light, armed from the halo. When he concentrates the light, his Kourin sword (no datchi = long sword) performs the darkness shooting skill, Rai Kou Zan / Lightening Shock Wave, which cuts anything in half. He can discover both purity and wickedness."
- Volume 1 of the Yoroiden-Samurai Troopers manga

QUICK FACTS: Seiji's birthday is June 9th and his astrological sign is Gemini. His element is wind.
* Seiji is called "Sage" in Ronin Warriors. His last name is revealed to be "Date" in Gaiden and the pronounciation of it is the same as it is in Japanese.
* In the beginning of the series he stood at 5'5" but by the time Message rolls by, he grew to 5'9".
* Seiji is 14 years old in the TV series, the second oldest of the Troopers. In Message he is 17 years old.
* According to Japanese lore, individuals with violet eyes are supposed to be sensitive to spiritual activities.
* Tachibana Kaimu, also known as Date Kaimu is a doujinshika/mangaka who worked on doujinshi based on Seiji.
* Seiji uses "watashi" to refer to himself.

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