History Main / Hihiirokane

* ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'': Koraidon, the mascot of ''Scarlet'', has the signature ability ''Hihi'iro no Kodou'' ("Scarlet Pulse", localised as "{{Orichalcum}} Pulse" in the English version). It both generates harsh sunlight that powers up Fire moves, and has a secondary effect shared by all "ancient" Paradox Pokemon which grants a StatusBuff while in sunlight. Paradox Pokemon in general are implied to be [[spoiler:''not'' actually creatures from another time period, but ones [[LivingDream dreamed into existence]] based on pseudoscience and conspiracy theories]].

* ''Manga/{{Spriggan}}'' has rogue KGB agent Koichi Moroha uses a Hihiirokane-made sword in the Fire Orb arc, which was made to take out Yu Ominae's [[{{Orichalcum}} Orihalcon]] combat suit. It, however, cannot break anything made out of [=OOPArt=]-type metals.

Hihi'irokane (sometimes [[SpellMyNameWithAnS spelled with a g instead of a k]]) is a legendary Japanese metal said to shine brightly in a way that resembles flames. Its name translates roughly as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "Flame-Colored Metal" or "Brilliant Scarlet Metal"]].[[note]]Many metals in Japanese can be referred to by color-based names, including Red Metal (copper), White Metal (silver or platinum) and Black Metal (iron).[[/note]] English translations often render the name as "scarlet steel" or "scarletite", as was famously used in ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''.

* ''VideoGame/GensouShoujoTaisen'', being a ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' fanwork, gives Marisa the hihi'irokane version of her [[AmuletOfConcentratedAwesome Mini-Hakkero]] (see the Literature section above) as a MidSeasonUpgrade in the third game. However, in this version of the story, the addition of hihi'irokane causes it to become an EmpathicWeapon which Marisa cannot master without further CharacterDevelopment. Hihi'irokane also appears as an equippable item which boosts HP, armor, accuracy and critical rate.

%% * ''TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky'': 3rd Chapter has Hihiirokane Sword %%

* ''Literature/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': Hihi'irokane ([[AlternateCharacterReading written with the kanji for "Ultimate Metal"]], and localised by Yen Press as "Crimson Steel") is the mythical highest grade of Magisteel; objects crafted from it can channel limitless amounts of their owner's {{Mana}}, while negating magic from any other source. Rimuru's [[BlackSwordsAreBetter black]] [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]] evolves into hihi'irokane as a result of its exquisite craftsmanship (being [[UltimateBlacksmith Kurobee]]'s finest creation) and constant exposure to Rimuru's intense magical power. The metal co-exists with {{Orichalcum}} ("Numinous Goldsteel"), which is a more common Gold-Magisteel alloy.

* ''Literature/{{Overlord}}'': According to Narberal ''adamantite'' is a soft metal compared to hihi'irokane. A pair of GemEncrusted hihi'irokane gauntlets are among the items in Nazerick's treasure vault.

* ''LightNovel/AriaTheScarletAmmo'' features Hihi'irokane as one of a number of types of Irokane ("Colored Metal") with supernatural powers.

* ''LightNovel/{{Overlord}}'': According to Narberal ''adamantite'' is a soft metal compared to hihi'irokane. A pair of GemEncrusted hihi'irokane gauntlets are among the items in Nazerick's treasure vault.

* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': Hihi'irokane ([[AlternateCharacterReading written with the kanji for "Ultimate Metal"]], and localised by Yen Press as "Crimson Steel") is the mythical highest grade of Magisteel; objects crafted from it can channel limitless amounts of their owner's {{Mana}}, while negating magic from any other source. Rimuru's [[BlackSwordsAreBetter black]] [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]] evolves into hihi'irokane as a result of its exquisite craftsmanship (being [[UltimateBlacksmith Kurobee]]'s finest creation) and constant exposure to Rimuru's intense magical power. The metal co-exists with {{Orichalcum}} ("Numinous Goldsteel"), which is a more common Gold-Magisteel alloy.

** Jubei's brother Tomonori owned a [[SoulCuttingBlade soul-cutting katana]] actually named Hihiirokane, which can [[MorphWeapon take different forms depending on the wielder]]. It first appears in ''LightNovel/BlazBluePhaseShift 1'', before [[ChekhovsGun becoming]] an important PlotDevice in ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCentralFiction''.

* ''Literature/InfiniteDendrogram'':

* ''LightNovel/InfiniteDendrogram'':

* ''LightNovel/AriaTheScarletAmmo'' has a number of types of Irokane ("Colored Metal") with supernatural powers. Hihi'irokane exists in the form of [[spoiler:the eponymous Scarlet Bullet (''Hidan'') embedded in Aria's body, which is responsible for her red-pink hair and eyes.]]
** The miko Shirayuki has a katana forged from Hihiirokane which apparently acts as a conduit for her [[PlayingWithFire flame-based powers.]]

* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': Rimuru's [[BlackSwordsAreBetter black]] [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]] evolves into being composed of hihi'irokane (translated by Yen Press as "Crimson Steel") due to being made from highly purified and saturated magisteel, crafted by [[UltimateBlacksmith Kurobee]] as his finest creation, and being constantly exposed to and absorbing Rimuru's own potent magical energy after the forging. It's stated to now be among the ranks of UnbreakableWeapons capable of channeling his considerable magical power without any limit and is classified as a Mythical/God-class weapon, the absolute highest tier.

It's not quite clear whether hihi'irokane was an ore or an alloy, except that it was apparently a common metal in ancient times, with many important objects (including the [[TheImperialRegalia Imperial Regalia of Japan]]) said to be made from it. In fiction, hihi'irokane is generally depicted as a form of {{Unobtanium}} which is harder than diamond, resistant or immune to rust, an excellent conductor of heat (or even a ''generator'' of heat), and an even better conductor of [[SoulPower souls]], [[EmotionalPowers emotions]] or spiritual energy. Due to its similarities to {{Orichalcum}}, in FantasyKitchenSink settings they are often compared to each other or even considered to be the same thing. Sometimes it is instead depicted as [[{{Demythification}} a mythologized version of stainless steel]], particularly that with chromium sourced from red-yellow minerals such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocoite crocoite]].

Not to be confused with the videogame ''VideoGame/RedSteel''. Or the [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]] setting ''[[TabletopGame/{{Mystara}} Red Steel]]'' for that matter.

The first recorded appearance of the metal was in the Takenouchi Documents, a set of pseudo-historical manuscripts which [[NewerThanTheyThink appeared in 1935]] (not surprisingly, around the time when [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statism_in_Showa_Japan Shōwa Statism]] was really starting to gain traction in Japan) claiming to be the last surviving records of a globe-spanning {{Utopia}} ruled by the Emperor of Japan [[AdvancedAncientHumans billions of years ago]]. While largely regarded as a hoax, a number of the Documents' ideas became absorbed into popular culture, hihi'irokane included.

The first recorded appearance of the metal was in the Takenouchi Documents, a set of pseudo-historical manuscripts which [[NewerThanTheyThink appeared in 1935]] (not surprisingly, around the time when [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statism_in_Sh%C5%8Dwa_Japan Showa Statism]] was really starting to gain traction in Japan) claiming to be the last surviving records of a globe-spanning {{Utopia}} ruled by the Emperor of Japan [[AdvancedAncientHumans billions of years ago]]. While largely regarded as a hoax, a number of the Documents' ideas became absorbed into popular culture, hihi'irokane included.

The first recorded appearance of the metal was in the Takenouchi Documents, a set of pseudohistorical manuscripts which [[NewerThanTheyThink appeared in 1935]], claiming to be the last surviving records of a globe-spanning {{Utopia}} ruled by the Emperor of Japan [[AdvancedAncientHumans billions of years ago]]. While largely regarded as a hoax, a number of the Documents' ideas became absorbed into popular culture, hihi'irokane included.