Shoto Character Analysis in Ready Player One

Shoto is a Japanese gunter and Daito’s “brother.” After Daito’s death, he reveals to Wade that his real name is Akihide and that he and Daito were not actually brothers—in fact, they had never met in real life. He and Daito met in the OASIS in a virtual support group for hikikomori, young people who withdraw from life and spend all their time online. After Daito is killed, Shoto swears to get revenge on IOI. At the end of the novel he forms an alliance with Wade, Aech, and Art3mis.

Shoto Quotes in Ready Player One

The Ready Player One quotes below are all either spoken by Shoto or refer to Shoto. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Sorrento had tried to kill me. And in the process, he'd murdered my aunt, along with several of my neighbors, including sweet old Mrs. Gilmore, who had never hurt a soul. He'd also had Daito killed, and even though I'd never met him, Daito had been my friend.

And now Sorrento had just killed Shoto’s avatar, robbing him of his chance to enter the Third Gate. Sorrento didn't deserve his power or his position. What he deserved, I decided in that moment, was public humiliation and defeat. He deserved to have his ass kicked while the whole world watched.

Related Characters: (speaker), , , , ,

Page Number and Citation: 339

Explanation and Analysis:

Shoto Character Timeline in Ready Player One

The timeline below shows where the character Shoto appears in Ready Player One. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Wade and Aech are students on Ludus. Before long, two other avatars named Daito and Shoto clear the First Gate within minutes of one another. Wade realizes that the Jade Key... (full context)

...on the move and won’t be found. He suggests that they invite Art3mis, Daito, and Shoto to the Basement that evening, and Wade agrees. (full context)

...seen.” Wade feels jealous of how well Aech and Art3mis are getting along. Daito and Shoto arrive; they are both Japanese avatars wearing traditional samurai armor. Art3mis tells the others that... (full context)

...own alliance. He points out that there can only be one winner, and he and Shoto log out of the chatroom. Left by themselves, Wade, Aech, and Art3mis agree that they... (full context)

On the other hand, Wade did find a chance to reach out to Daito and Shoto when he discovered a Japanese-language quest on the planet Tokusatsu. He asked for Daito and... (full context)

...also sees that Sorrento’s score has increased, meaning he has also found the Jade Key. Shoto’s score also rises on the Scoreboard, but there is no change to Daito’s. Suddenly, Daito’s... (full context)

Wade’s thoughts are interrupted by a vidmail message from Shoto saying that Daito left Wade something in his will. Wade wonders why Daito left a... (full context)

Shoto arrives on Falco dressed in black mourning robes. He and Wade sit together, and Shoto... (full context)

Daito and Shoto met in an OASIS support group for hikikomori, young people who shut themselves in a... (full context)

Shoto gives Wade the Beta Capsule, telling him that Daito wanted him to have it. Wade... (full context)

...more difficult level, requiring a new approach. He devises a plan, emailing Art3mis, Aech, and Shoto and telling them how to obtain the Crystal Key. He knows that he is likely... (full context)

...flash drive, he finds a folder called “Threat Assessments” featuring information about himself, Art3mis, Aech, Shoto, and Daito. He sees that after he fled to Columbus they lost track of him... (full context)

Both Shoto and Daito don’t look anything like their avatars. There is no photo and little information... (full context)

Art3mis, Aech, and Shoto have all written to ask Wade where he is. Wade replies to Art3mis first, warning... (full context)

...attempted to kill Wade. He also attaches the memo ordering the abduction of Art3mis and Shoto, and a text transcription of his conversation with Sorrento, although he blacks out his own... (full context)

Wade checks that Shoto and Art3mis have left their homes for safe locations, and they both confirm that they... (full context)

...Sorrento tries reciting them in different languages, to no avail. Suddenly, Wade, Art3mis, Aech, and Shoto exclaim in unison that the words are taken from “Three Is a Magic Number,” the... (full context)

...points out that, in reality, she is currently in Vancouver airport with nowhere to go. Shoto chimes in, saying that he’s at a public café in Osaka where he likely won’t... (full context)

Wade, Art3mis, Aech, and Shoto stare at Morrow in shock. Aech asks how he got there, and Morrow admits that... (full context)

...in Oregon as a “sanctuary” where they will be safe from the Sixers. He tells Shoto that he has already arranged for a private jet to fly him from Osaka, and... (full context)

...household help, he has been alone since Kira’s death. He tells them that Art3mis and Shoto have already arrived, but that Art3mis said it would be too distracting for them all... (full context)

...swarms of avatars standing there. At the entrance of the castle stand Aech, Art3mis, and Shoto, each inside their respective robots. (full context)

As Wade swoops in, the crowds chant his avatar’s name. Shoto points out that if the shield doesn’t come down it will be “pretty embarrassing,” but... (full context)

...death.” Sorrento receives the vast majority of gunter fire, but his robot remains undamaged. Aech, Shoto, Art3mis, and Wade all direct their blasts at Sorrento, and Art3mis’ beam weapon disables one... (full context)

Aech and Art3mis abandon their robots and head for the castle. Shoto attacks Mechagodzilla, slicing off its right arm, but the robot retaliates by destroying Shoto’s robot... (full context)

...has happened in OASIS history. Suddenly, Wade hears Aech’s voice, along with that of Morrow, Shoto, and Art3mis. They explain that the Sixers killed every avatar at the battle, including their... (full context)

Aech, Shoto, and Art3mis all wish Wade well. Artifacts cannot be destroyed by a Cataclyst blast, so... (full context)

...is nervous, Wade’s inner competitiveness gives him a powerful edge. On Level 81, he hears Shoto shout: “You did it, man!” Wade exits the game and sees a message appear that... (full context)

Wade then resurrects the avatars of Aech, Art3mis, and Shoto. Aech and Shoto eagerly log back into the OASIS, but Aech notes that Art3mis wanted... (full context)

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Shoto Character Analysis

Shoto Quotes in Ready Player One

Shoto Character Timeline in Ready Player One

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