Arashikage
Encyclopedia
Arashikage is a fictional ninja
clan
from the military-themed G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
series of comics, television shows, and action figures. The name is derived from the Japanese
words for storm (嵐 arashi) and shadow (影 kage). It is central to the back-story of several prominent characters, including Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow
.
Later, the Arashikage would continue the deception, financing front businesses to hide their true work as covert operatives, bounty hunters, thieves, and contract killers. Their remote compound was hidden in the mountains of Japan. Only those who truly prove their worth, and commitment to the Arashikage katas and discipline, were allowed full membership into the clan. This was denoted by the tattooing of the clan symbol on the forearm, the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching
.
, where it was revealed that Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow have the same tattoo. Later stories described how Thomas Arashikage, after receiving his initial training in order to become a member of the clan, participates in the Vietnam War. During the war he meets an American nicknamed Snake-Eyes, whom he brings back to Japan after the war for training in the ways of the ninja. Cobra Commander
learns of this and, angry with Snake-Eyes because of a car accident in which Snake-Eyes family and Cobra Commander's brother were killed, sends Firefly to kill Snake-Eyes.
Firefly decides that he is no match for Snake-Eyes, so Cobra Commander sends another mercenary, Zartan
, to finish the job. Zartan accidentally kills the clan leader, the Hard Master, instead of Snake-Eyes. Thomas is blamed for the Hard Master's death, and after taking on then name Storm Shadow he joins Cobra Command in order to find the Hard Master's killer and exact revenge on him.
In later years, a group of ninjas affiliated with the Arashikage clan form the Ninja Force
as a part of the G.I. Joe Team, in order to combat Cobra. Its inaugural members are Nunchuk, T'Jbang, and Dojo, led by Storm Shadow. In the Marvel Comics
G.I. Joe series, Ninja Force goes to Beirut to answer a call for help from Snake-Eyes. They become involved in helping a Joe/Cobra force fight against the Night Creepers, with further assistance comes from the Joe "Sky Commandos". The Ninja Force is seen later in New York, undergoing intensive training. Ninja Force's roster is later expanded to include Snake-Eyes (as their new leader), Jinx
, and Scarlett
.
" take a new asignment to capture Firefly (Ophelia's murderer). Suddenly Storm Shadow go forth and during his fight against Firefly Snake-Eyes' team is left uncommunicative and injured, so Kamakura, Storm Shadow, Duke
and Chuckles
try to capture Firefly and the Nowhere man.
In 2005's Vol. 2, Billy Kessler is told about how Storm Shadow and his pupil / lover Junko Akita came to met and how he is successful after years of fighting against Cobra's brainwashing. After a full scale fight against Night Creepers, Junko is captured and tortured by Slice and Dice. Jinx, Billy and Budo helped Storm Shadow to take her back while T'Jbang finds Sei Tin injured and captured. Junko is found in a Red Ninja's retreat in Tibet brainwashed and convinced that Storm Shadow is a "pain-bringer" to her life. Jinx and Budo are captured, T'Jbang and Billy fought against Slice and Dice while Snake-Eyes and Kamakura fight against the rest of the Red Ninjas' clan. Junko felt from a cliff's edge apparently to her demise while Snake-Eyes retakes full control over the Red Ninjas.
According to the 2005 Arashikage Showdown comic, the Arashikage clan was founded many centuries ago by the Emperor
of Japan to protect the Jewel of Amaterasu. The jewel allows its owner to control their chi
. The "map" to the jewel is a kata
, only members of the Arashikage ninja clan have access to it. Centuries later, the Arashikage clan went to the temple housing the jewel and performed the kata in order to access it. Soga, of the rival Nichira clan stole the jewel before the Arashikage could claim it. The Arashikage attacked Soga at his headquarters, inciting a clan war, killing Soga in the process. Storm Shadow
, of the Arashikage clan, took the jewel to a location on Mt. Fuji and hid it.
Japan's military class, the Bakufu clan, began destroying all ninja clans in Japan. War ensued and the Arashikage clan became farmers. Many years later, Storm Shadow sought to learn the clan's teachings and the clan was reinstated. Besides Storm Shadow, Snake-Eyes, Jinx and Kamakura, were all members of the clan.
Members of the Arashikage clan wore a tattoo
on their right forearm, which is the ba gua symbol for 'water' and 'fire', representing the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching
. Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow were first depicted to have the tattoo in their first battle at the Silent Castle.
shot him in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #47.
' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series, certain elements are noticeable, as the mention of Blind Master by his pupil Jinx in G.I. Joe: The Movie
. There was also the inclusion of Ninja Force in the last season of DIC Entertainment
's G.I. Joe series
(Vol. 2).
It's not until the 2000s, that the clan came to be noticed as part of any cartoon continuity. The Arashikage Clan was featured most prominently in G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
and G.I. Joe: Ninja Battles
, with the inclusion of exclusive characters as Iron Master, Tiger Claw, Slash and Shadow Strike, and the re-imagining of the Snake-Eyes/Storm Shadow rivalry's history.
. In flashbacks, we learn that Storm Shadow; jealous of Hard Master's plan of passing the clan's leadership and most secretive and deadly technique (called "The 7 steps to the sun") to Snake-Eyes, agrees with Cobra to assassinate his uncle. Zartan is again the man charged to do so (this time as a sniper
). At the last second, Snake-Eyes notices the sniper lens' gleam, and tries to warn Hard Master. Zartan shoots at Snake-Eyes' mouth first, and takes the second shot at Hard Master's head.
episode "Return of the Arashikage", we learn in a flashback that Snake-Eyes saved Storm Shadow and Jinx's lives from a treacherous attack perpetrated by Koga assassins. The Arashikage clan's leader Hard Master (here depicted more akin to a Yakuza
clan), named his daughter and nephew's savior "Hebi-no-me" (Snake-Eyes), because he possessed the "steely gaze of a serpent", and he was accepted as a member of the "family". Hard Master favored Snake-Eyes over his own nephew for his strong sense of honor and justice, claiming that being his student, he had become HIS master. Therefore, he tried to convince Snake-Eyes to become the new clan's leader, and saved his life, after noticing that the tea they were drinking was poisoned by an as-yet-unknown person. Snake-Eyes tried to perform a tracheotomy
to save his master's life, but Storm Shadow, believing that Snake-Eyes was killing his uncle, injured Snake-Eyes' throat with a shuriken
. After a brief fight, Storm Shadow left and Jinx arrived, and Snake-Eyes evacuated her to North America.
In "Cutting Edge", it is revealed that Storm Shadow was the one who poisoned the tea that was meant for Snake-Eyes, but the cups were switched, and Hard Master was accidentally killed instead. Although Storm Shadow departs after revealing this to Jinx and Snake Eyes, Jinx departs back to Japan to lead the Arashikage down the path that the Hard Master wanted to take.
who is the master of both Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow.
In the sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation
, RZA
will be portraying Blind Master and will be the master of Jinx (Elodie Yung
).
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
from the military-themed G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
series of comics, television shows, and action figures. The name is derived from the Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
words for storm (嵐 arashi) and shadow (影 kage). It is central to the back-story of several prominent characters, including Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow
Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe)
Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and television shows. The character is best known for his history with fellow ninja Snake Eyes...
.
Fictional history
Centuries ago, the emperor of Japan asked his general to protect the Jewel of Amaterasu, a gem said to allow the wielder to control their ki. The gem was so well concealed, that its location was lost with the ascendancy of emperors, and the general's family was eventually reduced to simple farmers, who would later become the Arashikage. For generations, the Arashikage worked as shadowy assassins, using deception to earn their keep as ninjas, as well as developing a reputation for being able to perform impossible tasks.Later, the Arashikage would continue the deception, financing front businesses to hide their true work as covert operatives, bounty hunters, thieves, and contract killers. Their remote compound was hidden in the mountains of Japan. Only those who truly prove their worth, and commitment to the Arashikage katas and discipline, were allowed full membership into the clan. This was denoted by the tattooing of the clan symbol on the forearm, the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
.
Marvel Comics
The Arashikage Clan first appeared in issue #21 of G.I. Joe: A Real American HeroG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (Marvel Comics)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a comic book that was published by Marvel Comics from 1982 to 1994. Based on Hasbro, Inc.'s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys, the series has been credited for making G.I. Joe into a pop-culture phenomenon. G.I...
, where it was revealed that Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow have the same tattoo. Later stories described how Thomas Arashikage, after receiving his initial training in order to become a member of the clan, participates in the Vietnam War. During the war he meets an American nicknamed Snake-Eyes, whom he brings back to Japan after the war for training in the ways of the ninja. Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise. He appears in the toyline, animated series , comic books, video games, and movie as the usual principal antagonist. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and archnemesis of the Joes...
learns of this and, angry with Snake-Eyes because of a car accident in which Snake-Eyes family and Cobra Commander's brother were killed, sends Firefly to kill Snake-Eyes.
Firefly decides that he is no match for Snake-Eyes, so Cobra Commander sends another mercenary, Zartan
Zartan
Zartan is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, by Hasbro. He is a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra Commander, and is one of the main villains in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic and animated series. His character was voiced by Zack Hoffman in the 1985 TV...
, to finish the job. Zartan accidentally kills the clan leader, the Hard Master, instead of Snake-Eyes. Thomas is blamed for the Hard Master's death, and after taking on then name Storm Shadow he joins Cobra Command in order to find the Hard Master's killer and exact revenge on him.
In later years, a group of ninjas affiliated with the Arashikage clan form the Ninja Force
Ninja Force
Ninja Force is a fictional sub-team from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series.-Fictional history:Led by Storm Shadow, a group of ninjas affiliated with the Arashikage clan form the Ninja Force as a part of the G.I. Joe Team, in order to combat Cobra. Its...
as a part of the G.I. Joe Team, in order to combat Cobra. Its inaugural members are Nunchuk, T'Jbang, and Dojo, led by Storm Shadow. In the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
G.I. Joe series, Ninja Force goes to Beirut to answer a call for help from Snake-Eyes. They become involved in helping a Joe/Cobra force fight against the Night Creepers, with further assistance comes from the Joe "Sky Commandos". The Ninja Force is seen later in New York, undergoing intensive training. Ninja Force's roster is later expanded to include Snake-Eyes (as their new leader), Jinx
Jinx (G.I. Joe)
Jinx is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. She debuted in 1987, and her code name has also been the identity of several other incarnations of the same female ninja character: one of Snake-Eyes' apprentices in Sigma 6, Chuckles'...
, and Scarlett
Scarlett (G.I. Joe)
Scarlett is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character is one of the original members of the fictional team and toy line. She is a major character of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and the...
.
Image/Devil's Due Publications
During the events depicted in Devil's Due 2004's saga Master & Apprentice (Vol. 1), Ophelia is under Snake-Eyes' wing, who is also about to get married with Scarlett, Ophelia dies during her last training mission. At the same time Sean Collins, member of the same mission's team joins Snake-Eyes, who takes him as his new student. Jinx, Budo, Snake-Eyes and Collins, who now is known as "KamakuraKamakura (G.I. Joe)
Kamakura is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. He is the first character created by Devil's Due Publishing to be made into a G.I. Joe figure and later brought into the new animated series.-Fictional Character...
" take a new asignment to capture Firefly (Ophelia's murderer). Suddenly Storm Shadow go forth and during his fight against Firefly Snake-Eyes' team is left uncommunicative and injured, so Kamakura, Storm Shadow, Duke
Duke (G.I. Joe)
Duke is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 lines of military-themed toys. The character is featured in both the animated series and comic books. Duke is portrayed by actor Channing Tatum in the 2009 live-action film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of...
and Chuckles
Chuckles (G.I. Joe)
Chuckles is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's undercover specialist and debuted in 1987.-Profile:...
try to capture Firefly and the Nowhere man.
In 2005's Vol. 2, Billy Kessler is told about how Storm Shadow and his pupil / lover Junko Akita came to met and how he is successful after years of fighting against Cobra's brainwashing. After a full scale fight against Night Creepers, Junko is captured and tortured by Slice and Dice. Jinx, Billy and Budo helped Storm Shadow to take her back while T'Jbang finds Sei Tin injured and captured. Junko is found in a Red Ninja's retreat in Tibet brainwashed and convinced that Storm Shadow is a "pain-bringer" to her life. Jinx and Budo are captured, T'Jbang and Billy fought against Slice and Dice while Snake-Eyes and Kamakura fight against the rest of the Red Ninjas' clan. Junko felt from a cliff's edge apparently to her demise while Snake-Eyes retakes full control over the Red Ninjas.
According to the 2005 Arashikage Showdown comic, the Arashikage clan was founded many centuries ago by the Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of Japan to protect the Jewel of Amaterasu. The jewel allows its owner to control their chi
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
. The "map" to the jewel is a kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
, only members of the Arashikage ninja clan have access to it. Centuries later, the Arashikage clan went to the temple housing the jewel and performed the kata in order to access it. Soga, of the rival Nichira clan stole the jewel before the Arashikage could claim it. The Arashikage attacked Soga at his headquarters, inciting a clan war, killing Soga in the process. Storm Shadow
Storm Shadow (G.I. Joe)
Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and television shows. The character is best known for his history with fellow ninja Snake Eyes...
, of the Arashikage clan, took the jewel to a location on Mt. Fuji and hid it.
Japan's military class, the Bakufu clan, began destroying all ninja clans in Japan. War ensued and the Arashikage clan became farmers. Many years later, Storm Shadow sought to learn the clan's teachings and the clan was reinstated. Besides Storm Shadow, Snake-Eyes, Jinx and Kamakura, were all members of the clan.
Members
- Hard Master - The leader of the Arashikage clan, Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow's master, assassinated by ZartanZartanZartan is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, by Hasbro. He is a mercenary who often worked directly for Cobra Commander, and is one of the main villains in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic and animated series. His character was voiced by Zack Hoffman in the 1985 TV...
when the latter was trying to kill Snake-Eyes. He is voiced by Eric BauzaEric BauzaEric Adrian Bauza is a Canadian-American voice actor and artist. His notable roles include Stimpy of Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon and Slip & Slide D'Peel of Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island. He also voices Rodolfo/White Pantera for El Tigre on Nickelodeon, Storm Shadow, Destro, and Tunnel...
in G.I. Joe: ResoluteG.I. Joe: ResoluteG.I. Joe: Resolute is an animated television series based on the G.I. Joe franchise. It was written by Warren Ellis, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, and produced by Sam Register. The series debuted on the web at Adult Swim Video April 18, 2009, with a Content Rating of TV-14-V, and premiered in its...
and by Keone YoungKeone YoungKeone J. Young is an American character actor. His father is Chinese and his mother is Japanese.He has been prolific in his character work and has made numerous guest appearances on such varied television series as Diff'rent Strokes, The Golden Girls, Murphy Brown, Mad About You, Family Matters,...
in G.I. Joe: RenegadesG.I. Joe: RenegadesG.I. Joe: Renegades is an American animated television series based on the G.I. Joe toy franchise. The series premiered on November 26, 2010 on The Hub. The series aired on Teletoon in Canada....
. - Soft Master - Hard Master's youngest brother, Dojo's master. Murdered by Scrap-IronScrap-IronScrap-Iron is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is Cobra's anti-armor specialist and debuted in 1984.-Profile:Scrap-Iron's primary military specialty is tank destroyer...
while traveling with Billy Kessler. - Young Master (Storm ShadowStorm Shadow (G.I. Joe)Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and television shows. The character is best known for his history with fellow ninja Snake Eyes...
) - Hard Master and Soft Master's nephew, he was blamed for his uncle's murder and the clan's ultimate demise. - Silent Master (Snake-Eyes) - An American war veteran who joined the clan after Storm Shadow saved his life during the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, Hard Master's most talented student and appointed heir of the clan leadership. - Blind Master - Sensei Moore, a honorary member of the clan, taken in and trained by the Hard Master; later opened a dojo in Denver, Colorado. Jinx, Billy Kessler, Nunchuk and an orphan called Tyrone were his proteges. Murdered by Zartan.
- Onihashi - The Arashikage's mystic swordsmith who trained T'Jbang and Zartan, he committed a ritual suicideSeppukuis a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai bushido honor code, seppuku was either used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies , or as a form of capital punishment...
right after find out his latter pupil's true intentions. - Iron Master - Another mystic swordsmith, he appeared only in the one-shot DVD G.I. Joe: Ninja BattlesG.I. Joe: Ninja BattlesG.I. Joe: Ninja Battles is a DVD that was released in late 2004, as part of the Ninja Battles set of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero figures. In it, the history of the Arashikage Clan, as well as the history of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow's rivalry, are examined through a series of trials. Scenes...
as narrator. Tiger Claw was originally his protege. - Anibal Alcazar - Former student of the Hard Master, Alcazar later hired Storm Shadow to kill him, when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Storm Shadow refused, and Alcazar retreated to Japan for meditation before he died.
- JinxJinx (G.I. Joe)Jinx is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. She debuted in 1987, and her code name has also been the identity of several other incarnations of the same female ninja character: one of Snake-Eyes' apprentices in Sigma 6, Chuckles'...
- Storm Shadow's cousin. Trained originally by the Blind Master and later on by Snake-Eyes. - Billy KesslerBilly KesslerBilly Kessler is a fictional character in the comic book series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. He is the son of the main villain of the series, Cobra Commander, but fights against his father and the forces of Cobra Command, learning martial arts under the tutelage of Storm Shadow, who helps him...
- The son of Cobra CommanderCobra CommanderCobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise. He appears in the toyline, animated series , comic books, video games, and movie as the usual principal antagonist. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and archnemesis of the Joes...
, trained as a ninja by Storm Shadow. - T'Jbang - Storm Shadow's second cousin, Onihashi's pupil.
- Dojo - "The talkative one" as he refers to himself. Sickle and chain fighter, Soft Master's pupil.
- Nunchuk - Expert in blunt weapons, Blind Master's pupil.
- T'Gin-Zu - Student of Storm Shadow, who considers him his most talented pupil.
- KamakuraKamakura (G.I. Joe)Kamakura is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. He is the first character created by Devil's Due Publishing to be made into a G.I. Joe figure and later brought into the new animated series.-Fictional Character...
- Sean Collins, a G.I. Joe recruit and the son of Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow's Vietnam mate Wade Collins. Snake Eyes' most prominent apprentice. - Tiger Claw - A young recruit obsessed with martial arts flicks. Trained originally by Iron Master and later on by Snake-Eyes.
- Obake-Obaason - The wife of the Hard Master.
- Junko Akita - Storm Shadow's apprentice and lover, who was tortured by Sei Tin, Slice & Dice, eventually resulting in her death.
- Ophelia - Snake-Eyes' pupil. She died during the events of "Master and Apprentice" saga.
Enemies
- The Red Ninjas - Renegade members of the Arashikage clan at one point led by Master Sato, then by Sei Tin, and later by T'Jbang.
- Faceless Master (FireflyFirefly (G.I. Joe)Firefly is a fictional character in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero universe. He is a mercenary who works for the Cobra Organization as a saboteur.-Profile:...
) - Originally a member of the Koga clan, infiltrated the Arashikage clan in order to kill Snake-Eyes but later refused to do so. - Night CreepersNight CreepersThe Night Creepers are a syndicate of hi-tech ninjas/corporate mercenaries hired by Cobra as spies and assassins.-Profile:The Night Creepers are Swiss bankers who have been highly trained in martial arts, and equipped with cutting-edge technology. These "corporate ninja" mercenaries handles Cobra's...
- A syndicate of hi-tech ninjas/corporate mercenaries hired by Cobra as spies and assassins. - Black Dragon Ninjas - Originally a cabal of spies operating before the Cold WarCold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and destroyed by the original G.I. Joe over 30 years ago. The "Black Dragon Leader" survived to rebuild the organization, which now serves as Cobra Commander's personal guard, providing him with advanced weapons and tactical data. Each Black Dragon ninja is known to carry non-traditional bladed or custom-designed weaponry. - Cobra Ninja Vipers - Often called "Cobra Ninja Troopers", recruited from the highest Cobra Viper corps' ranks for their cunning and ruthlessness. Extremely obedient and always carry out their orders to the letter. At one point hand-picked and trained by Storm Shadow.
- Sei Tin (Satan) - Red Ninjas' Leader, Clan's ultimate Grand Master with special mental abilities. Disabled by Snake-Eyes.
- Slice - A British Cobra Command agent described as "brutally efficient" who based his skills on the scorpions' attack patterns. Never officially confirmed, but he is suspected to be a former Arashikage member, Storm Shadow's pupil.
- Dice - A sadistic ninja forsaken by the Night Creepers for his brutality. Slice's partner.
- Slash - Renegade ninja recruited for Cobra and trained by Storm Shadow. A graceful fighter who based his technique on the moves of the praying mantises.
- Shadow Strike - Another Storm Shadow's pupil, A Cobra infiltrated agent with the mission to "corrupt" the clan from within. Exclusive character from the "Ninja Battles" saga.
- Master Sato - Once one of the most respected ninja masters amongst the Arashikage's ranks. He got embittered of Hard Master's attentions towards Snake-Eyes. He planned the first attempt to assassinate Hard Master and later Storm Shadow, blaming the latter for the clan's corruption and ultimate disbanding.
- Dark Master - Rogue ninja master exiled to cave beneath Arashikage Mountain for betraying the ninja clans. (Introduced in the last wave of Sigma 6 figures as "Dark Ninja Master"; before the series and corresponding toy line was canceled.)
- Rivals of the clan also include the Koga, Omikana, Nichira and Bakufu clans.
Uniform and symbol
Members of the Arashikage clan wore a tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
on their right forearm, which is the ba gua symbol for 'water' and 'fire', representing the 63rd hexagram of the I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
. Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow were first depicted to have the tattoo in their first battle at the Silent Castle.
Arashikage Mind-Set
The Mind-Set is a form of hypnotism that requires extreme concentration and focus. It is perhaps the most powerful and dangerous of the Arashikage secrets, granting a warrior unshakable resolve and tenacity. The Mind-Set will cause a warrior to ignore pain and fear, and has proven capable of casting off the effects of brainwashing.The Cloak of the Chameleon
Using extreme physical control, the Cloak of the Chameleon alters breathing and circulatory patterns, in order to perfectly mimic the sounds of another person. As depicted in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #26, the Hard Master employed this technique when he was killed, because he was imitating Snake-Eyes, the assassin's real target.The Ear That Sees
An exercise that concentrates hearing, to compensate for loss of sight. The Ear That Sees allows a warrior to identify a foe through sound alone, with cues such as heartbeat, the sound of cloth against cloth, and the patterns of breathing and other movement.The Sleeping Phoenix
This technique mimics death, by exerting extreme physical control over involuntary bodily processes. It has proven valuable in fooling enemies, and in extending survival, such as when Storm Shadow used the technique to preserve his life, after the BaronessBaroness (G.I. Joe)
The Baroness is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline by Hasbro, originally appearing in the first issue of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic series by Marvel Comics in June, 1982. The Baroness is a villain, usually associated with G.I. Joe's enemy, Cobra.Baroness...
shot him in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #47.
The Blind Sword
A lesser sword fighting technique that allows the practitioner to defend itself on no visibility conditions, consisting in just extending the sword using it's scabbard for touch and compensate loss of sight. Hard Master tought this technique to Snake-Eyes just before to teach him the "Cloak of the Chameleon".Animated appearances
Although the Arashikage clan is never mentioned during the events of Sunbow ProductionsSunbow Productions
Sunbow Entertainment was an animation studio, founded in 1980 and owned up until 1998 by Griffin-Bacal Advertising in New York. The first animation efforts by Griffin-Bacal were producing the animated commercials for Hasbro's G.I...
' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series, certain elements are noticeable, as the mention of Blind Master by his pupil Jinx in G.I. Joe: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie is a 1987 animated film spun off from the animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, based on the original Hasbro toyline. It was produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions and was animated in Japan by Toei Animation.Created at the height of the G.I. Joe craze in...
. There was also the inclusion of Ninja Force in the last season of DIC Entertainment
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
's G.I. Joe series
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1989 TV series)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American animated television series based on the successful toyline from Hasbro and the comic book series from Marvel Comics. The series was produced by DIC Entertainment and ran from 1989 to 1991....
(Vol. 2).
It's not until the 2000s, that the clan came to be noticed as part of any cartoon continuity. The Arashikage Clan was featured most prominently in G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom
G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom is a direct-to-video CGI animated movie and sequel to G.I. Joe: Spy Troops. It was released in 2004 by Reel FX Creative Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Like Spy Troops, the film was written around the theme of the toys released that year. In this case, it...
and G.I. Joe: Ninja Battles
G.I. Joe: Ninja Battles
G.I. Joe: Ninja Battles is a DVD that was released in late 2004, as part of the Ninja Battles set of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero figures. In it, the history of the Arashikage Clan, as well as the history of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow's rivalry, are examined through a series of trials. Scenes...
, with the inclusion of exclusive characters as Iron Master, Tiger Claw, Slash and Shadow Strike, and the re-imagining of the Snake-Eyes/Storm Shadow rivalry's history.
Resolute
The most radical re-telling of the clan's history and demise, is contained in the mini-series G.I. Joe: ResoluteG.I. Joe: Resolute
G.I. Joe: Resolute is an animated television series based on the G.I. Joe franchise. It was written by Warren Ellis, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, and produced by Sam Register. The series debuted on the web at Adult Swim Video April 18, 2009, with a Content Rating of TV-14-V, and premiered in its...
. In flashbacks, we learn that Storm Shadow; jealous of Hard Master's plan of passing the clan's leadership and most secretive and deadly technique (called "The 7 steps to the sun") to Snake-Eyes, agrees with Cobra to assassinate his uncle. Zartan is again the man charged to do so (this time as a sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
). At the last second, Snake-Eyes notices the sniper lens' gleam, and tries to warn Hard Master. Zartan shoots at Snake-Eyes' mouth first, and takes the second shot at Hard Master's head.
Renegades
In the two-part G.I. Joe: RenegadesG.I. Joe: Renegades
G.I. Joe: Renegades is an American animated television series based on the G.I. Joe toy franchise. The series premiered on November 26, 2010 on The Hub. The series aired on Teletoon in Canada....
episode "Return of the Arashikage", we learn in a flashback that Snake-Eyes saved Storm Shadow and Jinx's lives from a treacherous attack perpetrated by Koga assassins. The Arashikage clan's leader Hard Master (here depicted more akin to a Yakuza
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
clan), named his daughter and nephew's savior "Hebi-no-me" (Snake-Eyes), because he possessed the "steely gaze of a serpent", and he was accepted as a member of the "family". Hard Master favored Snake-Eyes over his own nephew for his strong sense of honor and justice, claiming that being his student, he had become HIS master. Therefore, he tried to convince Snake-Eyes to become the new clan's leader, and saved his life, after noticing that the tea they were drinking was poisoned by an as-yet-unknown person. Snake-Eyes tried to perform a tracheotomy
Tracheotomy
Among the oldest described surgical procedures, tracheotomy consists of making an incision on the anterior aspect of the neck and opening a direct airway through an incision in the trachea...
to save his master's life, but Storm Shadow, believing that Snake-Eyes was killing his uncle, injured Snake-Eyes' throat with a shuriken
Shuriken
A shuriken is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing...
. After a brief fight, Storm Shadow left and Jinx arrived, and Snake-Eyes evacuated her to North America.
In "Cutting Edge", it is revealed that Storm Shadow was the one who poisoned the tea that was meant for Snake-Eyes, but the cups were switched, and Hard Master was accidentally killed instead. Although Storm Shadow departs after revealing this to Jinx and Snake Eyes, Jinx departs back to Japan to lead the Arashikage down the path that the Hard Master wanted to take.
Movie appearances
In G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Hard Master is portrayed by Gerald OkamuraGerald Okamura
Gerald Okamura is an American theatrical martial artist.Gerald started martial arts with judo in 1953. He has practiced kendo, aikido, taekwondo, and he is currently a 5th degree black belt in Kung Fu San Soo...
who is the master of both Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow.
In the sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
G.I. Joe: Retaliation is an upcoming science fiction action film directed by Jon Chu. It is a sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.-Plot:...
, RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
will be portraying Blind Master and will be the master of Jinx (Elodie Yung
Elodie Yung
Elodie Yung is a French actress. Her mother is French and her father of Cambodian origin. She graduated from the Acting International School in 2002 and has practiced Karate for over ten years....
).
External links
- Arashikage Clan at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page
- Arashikage Family Dojo