The Arashikage Clan is a ninja clan based in Japan, although it has members all over the world. Its most famous members are Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes. The clan and its members have played a major part in the ongoing battle between G.I. Joe and Cobra.
Notable Members[]
The clan has many current/former members, on the sides of both GI Joe and Cobra, and some are neutral in the conflict.
Top row: Blind Master, Jinx, Professor Onihashi, Faceless Master; Bottom row: Stormshadow, Hard Master, Soft Master, Snake-Eyes
Arashikage Family[]
The Arashikage Clan is centered around the Arashikage Family. The following are the notable members in the ARAH continuity:
- Hard Master, President & Chairman of the Board[1]
- Soft Master, Vice President (Finance)[1]
- Storm Shadow, aka Thomas Arashikage, aka Young Master, Junior Partner[1]
- Jinx, aka Kimi Arashikage
- T'Jbang
- Middle Master[2]
RAH Clan Members[]
- Snake Eyes, aka Silent Master
- Billy
- Blind Master
- Professor Onihashi
- Firefly, aka Faceless Master
- Kamakura
- Nunchuk
- Sensei Boris
- Zartan
- Dojo, aka "the talkative one"
- T'Gin-Zu
- Iron Master
- Tiger Claw
- The Black Dragon
- Dawn Moreno
- Slice (former)
- Pale Peony
Clan Offshoots[]
- Red Ninjas - renegade members of the Arashikage Clan.
- Blue Ninja - students of the Arashikage Clan who left to pursue more technological enhancements.[3]
- Russian Ninjas - a school started in a Russian Prison by the Middle Master.[2]
History[]
| “ | There are three here who wear the hexagram of our ninja clan on their right arms. They are the unbroken lines.
There are three here who do not wear the hexagram. They are the broken lines. We six, together, complete the circle. All forces are in balance and harmony. |
” |
RAH History[]
The Arashikage are an ancient clan of ninja who've adapted to modern times by turning their skills into a business. Operated by the brothers known as Hard Master and Soft Master, they would come into the G.I. Joe a Real American Hero timeline through the training of Storm Shadow and Snake-Eyes. While Storm Shadow was the heir apparent to the clan, Snake-Eyes quickly became Hard Master's favorite pupal. At the height of the conflict between Storm Shadow and Snake-eyes, Hard Master was murdered. Evidence pointed towards Storm Shadow being the culprit, and he was forced to flee. Snake-eyes would similarly go his own way and headed back to the states. Thus, with the death of the Hard Master the clan was disbanded.[1]
Post Disbandment[]
Despite disbandment of the main clan in Japan, the clan continued on:
- Red Ninjas would continue to act as mercenaries and bodyguards for Cobra.
- Firefly would gather and lead a band of Red Ninjas to lead in an attempt to capture the Silent Castle.
- In Denver USA, the Blind Master founded a school where he trained notable students Jinx, Billy, and Nunchuck.
- Around the world schools were founded by a former students of the Middle Master. One such school located in Brooklyn was founded by Sensi Boris, and it's students are otherwise known as the Russian Ninjas.[2]
Sites[]
Trivia[]
- The letters page of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #109 explains the Arashikage I-Ching hexagram. Its meaning: fire over water, which indicates the need for perseverance and caution. Or: "thus, the superior man takes thought of misfortune and arms himself against it in advance."