Amakusa (Jupiter Gundam)
Prototype mobile suit developed by the Jupiter Empire using stolen technology.
The Amakusa was a prototype mobile suit developed by the Jupiter Empire using stolen technology and combat data from the legendary RX-78-2 Gundam. The model number was unknown, but the unit was also known as the “Jupiter Gundam” in reference to its development origin and design inspiration.
History
Also known as the Jupiter Gundam, the Amakusa was created when the Jupiter Empire got their hands on the XM-X2 Crossbone Gundam X-2 and attempted to recreate it. Based on the frame of the destroyed XM-X2ex Crossbone Gundam X-2 Kai, the Amakusa was developed as a high-performance unmanned, AI-controlled mobile suit.
During the UC 0130’s the Jupiter Empire began development of the Amakusa mobile suit for its plans to invade the Earth Sphere. Research, development, construction, and testing would be carried out in a secret asteroid facility that also possessed the equipment to grow and test the bio-brains that would pilot the Amakusa.
In order to give the machine the best pilot possible, Jovian scientists recovered the FF-X7 Core Fighter from the original RX-78-2 Gundam and used its data to create a bio-brain clone of the legendary Newtype ace Amuro Ray. The Jupiter Empire remnants managed to retrieve data from the RX-78-2 Gundam’s core fighter to create a brain clone of the famed EFF pilot to operate this machine.
In the year UC 0136, Jupiter Fleet Captain Grey Stoke discovered the existence and the location of the Amakusa and convinces the Crossbone Vanguard pirate group, hiding under the disguise of the Blackrow Shipping firm, to help him destroy the Amakusa and the related facility.
When the Crossbone Vanguard breached the facility, the scientist in charge sent out the Amakusa to stop them. With the combat experience and Newtype powers of Amuro Ray the Amakusa proved to be exceptionally powerful, quickly destroying the three XM-10 Flint mobile suits (but not the core fighters) and leaving only the XM-X1 Crossbone Gundam X-1 Kai Kai “Skull Heart” and Gump mobile suits to battle the Amakusa.
The bio-brain Amuro demonstrated incredible reflexes, effortlessly dodging their attacks, including a random attack from the Skull Heart’s Peacock Smasher, which was considered an impossible feat for anything but a powerful Newtype. The Amakusa then switched to melee combat, using its hammer to smash the Gump’s leg and using its beam sabers to deprive the Skull Heart of its weapons until it only had two heat daggers, two beam shield/brand markers, a screw whip, and a scissor anchor.
At that point Jovian reinforcements appeared but the Amakusa’s current simulation combat data had EMS-06 Batalla mobile suits identified as enemies, causing friendly fire incidents that highlighted the limitations of the bio-brain system. Despite its impressive combat performance, the prototype was ultimately destroyed during this raid, preventing the Jupiter Empire from completing their planned mass production programme.
Despite the test type’s destruction at the hands of the Crossbone Vanguard, the Amakusa performed admirably, and was thus chosen to become the new Jupiter Empire’s mainstay mobile suit. In UC 0136, the revived Jupiter Empire fielded a mass production version of the Amakusa as their main mobile suit.
Design
Unique among the other Jovian mobile suits, the Amakusa stood at an impressive 18 meters tall and concentrated its two main thrusters on its back rather than its thighs, giving it overall specs superior to the Crossbone Gundams. Standing at a height of 18 meters, it was considered to be a large-sized MS for its time.
The Amakusa also shares many parts with the EMS-06 Batalla, particularly the thruster laden legs as the designers wanted to keep the original number of torso thrusters the same as the original Gundam but still wanted to improve the unit’s speed and mobility. This configuration provided enhanced performance compared to the Crossbone Gundams that served as its foundation.
This machine shared its name with Shiro Amakusa, a Christian martyr from ancient Japanese history, but whether this was intentional or merely a coincidence remained unknown. The bio-brain technology successfully recreated the combat instincts and Newtype abilities of one of the Universal Century’s greatest pilots, demonstrating the Jupiter Empire’s sophisticated understanding of consciousness transfer and artificial intelligence.
Armaments
The Amakusa’s standard weapons were a beam rifle for ranged attacks, and a multifunctional shield for defence and close combat.
Beam rifle
The Amakusa’s primary ranged weapon was a beam rifle that incorporated storage for a beam saber. This design provided the mobile suit with both long-range firepower and close-combat capability in a single weapon system.
Shield system
The shield mounted on the left arm featured multiple functions beyond simple defence, including both defensive and offensive capabilities through its integrated weapon systems.
Shield claw
The shield incorporated a claw mechanism that could be deployed for grappling and close-quarters combat, allowing the Amakusa to ensnare enemy mobile suits.
Shield hammer
These components are two halves to a hammer, developed from the same concept as the original Gundam Hammer, and fold together when released from the shield. This large and heavy hammer is connected to the Amakusa by a chain and is used to bash enemy mobile suits during mid-range melee combat. To increase damage the hammer can spin and add centrifugal force to its attacks.
Known pilots
- Amuro Ray (bio-brain copy)
Variants
- Amakusa Mass Production Type - Simplified production version with standard cockpit and conventional shield
Behind the scenes
The Amakusa first appeared in Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam: Skull Heart and was designed by Hasegawa Yuichi. The mobile suit served as both a tribute to the original RX-78-2 Gundam and a demonstration of how dangerous that legendary machine’s capabilities could be in the wrong hands.
The bio-brain Amuro Ray concept explored themes of identity and legacy, questioning whether a copy of a great pilot’s mind could truly replicate their heroic nature or would simply become another weapon. Amakusa is most likely named after Amakusa Shirō, a Japanese Catholic who led a rebellion against the shogunate in 1637.
The mobile suit’s role in the story served to highlight both the Jupiter Empire’s technological capabilities and their willingness to desecrate the memory of heroes in pursuit of their goals.
Appearances
Manga
- Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam: Skull Heart (2003-2004)
- Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam: The Steel Seven (2006-2007)
Video games
- Super Robot Wars V
- Super Robot Wars X
- G Generation series
See also
- Amakusa Mass Production Type
- XM-X2 Crossbone Gundam X2
- RX-78-2 Gundam
- Amuro Ray
- Bio-brain
- Jupiter Empire