Episode 24: Target: The Karate Champion
(featuring Shadow assassin Landslide)
Dark Tiger tries to get the Wold Karate Champion Gojo, Shinichi (played by Ikeda, Shunsuke)who
defeated 14 other karate experts in matches in Paris, France to join
Shadow by offering to build him a fine Dojo and to pay for the cancer
treatments of his younger brother, Youji. Dark Tiger prepared for the
honest man's refusal by having his brother kidnapped. As proof he plays
a cassette tape of the boy's voice (the audience sees the both in
Shadow's clutches). Since Gojo, Shinichi' is not a very Shadow like
name and the champ's signature move is the "landslide" Dark Tiger names
him Landslide. Dr. Kuri is upset because one of his patients has
disappeared. Kojiro says that maybe he went to the big hospital where
they have many good doctors. When Dr. Kuri mentions his patient's
brother was coming from Paris, he realizing he is talking about the
World Karate Champion and his brother. Although Dragon has never met
the Champion he decides to go to him home to see if the child is there.
On the way he and Kojiro encounters a figure dressed in black and
wearing a white mask. Dragon tells Kojiro to hide. As Dragon and
Landslide walk past each other as if there is no tension but then
Landslide turns and they spar briefly before Landslide jumps away.
Dragon calls for Kojiro but his student has decided to follow the
masked man. Landslide meets with a Shadow henchmen whews' cocky until
Landslide, now unmasked asks if he is lying about his brother being
taken care and then the look on the Karate champions face terrifies
him. Landslide wants Dark Tiger to send Dragon a letter challenging him
to a match. The henchman doesn't like it but he takes the message to
the boss. Kojiro changes targets and follows the henchman. Dragon
returns to the clinic expecting to find Kokiro there instead he finds
the letter of challenge. Gojo, Youji keeps asking his guard when he can
see his brother, they tell him when the phone rings and says his
brother has won. Someone knocks on their door. When they ask who it is
a dark voice says "Tiger. Dark Tiger". believing it to be their boss
they open the door, but its Kojiro. And these have to be the most inept
Shadow agents ever because he's actually able to deck them. The he has
some trouble rescuing Youji who insists he has to wait there for his
brother.
For their final battle, Landslide appears
without his mask. As Dragon and the World Karate Champion slowly walk
toward each other, Kojiro arrives at the clinic with Youji. Dr. Kuri
and Kojiri than leave for the match hoping to stop it. Landslide's
signature move doesn't work on Dragon, probably because he watched the
fights. He and Dragon are in fact evenly matched. When Kokiro arrives
with Youki, the fight ends. Gojo, Shinichi begs Dragon's forgiveness
and hurries towards his brother, but Shadow henchmen appear and attack
him calling him a traitor. He can obviously handle himself but Dragon
joins the fray making quick work of them. Happy to reunite the brothers
no one notices Dark Tiger watching his "Landslide" abandon Shadow and
his henchmen fall.
Note: this the third masked assassin,
after Green Spider and Black Jaguar. Although unlike the others he
choses to reveal himself to Dragon in the end.
‹To Be Continued›
