Taizo Hori

Taizo Hori, Susumu and Ataru's father.

Dig Dug (real name Taizo Hori) is the playable character in the arcade game of the same name released by Namco in 1982 and its sequels. He is a digger who must eliminate monsters living underground by inflating them with his air pump and causing them to blow up. He also appears in the spin-off series Mr. Driller, where he is now the president of the Driller Council and has fathered three sons with his ex-wife Toby Masuyo; Taiyo, the youngest, Susumu, the middle child, and Ataru, the oldest, who hates him for an unknown reason. He also appears in the turn-based RPG crossover video game Namco X Capcom.

In the Mr. Driller series and Namco X Capcom, he was voiced by Toshio Furukawa.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

• Quick Drilling: In Mr. Driller, Taizo can drill quicker than other characters at the cost of significantly higher air consumption.

Abilities

• Hyper Electromagnetic Drill: A high-tech drill developed by Dr. Z using applied hyper electromagnetic theory. It spins for ages on little energy.
• Dri-Suit: A high-tech driller outfit with exceptional resistance to pressure and heat. The "Drillmet" supplies oxygen and acts as an automatic translator.

Appearance

Dig Dug is a short adult man who wears a white, red and light blue uniform with a red symbol on the chest area that appears to be either a downwards-pointing arrow or the letter "V", light blue gloves, red boots, and a white helmet with a blue light on top. He carries an orange air pump on his back, and he also has a black goatee.

Gallery

Taizo's original design from Dig Dug

Taizo in Mr. Driller 2

Taizo in Mr. Driller G

Taizo in Digging Strike

Trivia

• Taizo's name in Japanese (Hori Taizo) is a play on a Japanese phrase (掘りたいぞ horitai zo), meaning "I want to dig".
• Taizo appears in his Mr. Driller appearance in the web animation Bravoman: Super-Unequaled Hero of Excellence. In "Couch of Doom", the third episode, a statue of Taizo appeared in Bravo's front yard.
• He appears in his In-Game appearance from Dig Dug in the 2013 Browser dating sim, Namco High. He's the principal of the school and a faculty member alongside King and Pac-Man. He's also a very overprotective parent.
• He made a cameo in the Disney movie Wreck It Ralph. He is seen walking through Game Central Station, but when he spots Ralph, he quickly digs down into the ground. Additionally, his design is more accurate to his in-game sprite from the first Dig Dug.