Silver Samurai - Marvel Universe: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios.

Marvel Universe

Silver Samurai

Universe
Marvel Universe

Real Name
Kenuichio Harada

Aliases
Silver Shogun, Ishiro Tagara

Identity
Known to some government officials & law enforcement agencies

Occupation
Crimelord, former Hydra agent, government operative, Clan Yashida leader, mercenary

Citizenship
Japan

Place of Birth
Unrevealed location in Japan

Known Relatives
Shingen Harada (father, deceased), Mariko Yashida (half-sister, deceased), Noburu-Hideki (brother-in-law, deceased), Shiro Yoshida (Sunfire, cousin), Leyu Yoshida (Sunpyre, cousin, deceased), Saburo Yashida (cousin, deceased), Tomo Yashida (cousin, deceased)

Group Affiliation
Formerly Hydra, Clan Yashida, Big Hero 6, former employee of Viper & Mandrill

Education
College graduate

Height
6'6"

Weight
(Without armor) 250 lbs,; (with armor) 310 lbs.

Eyes
Brown

Hair
Black

Powers
The Silver Samurai is a mutant with the ability to generate a tachyon energy field from within his body. He typically focuses this field through his sword, allowing it to cut through almost any substance.

Abilities
The Silver Samurai is a master of Kenjutsu, the art of wielding a katana, and is an expert in the art of bushido, the history and customs of the samurai class. He is also a highly skilled master of the Oriental martial arts, although his abilites do not match those of Iron Fist or Shang-Chi.

Weapons
The Silver Samurai wields a traditional samurai long sword, or katana, and has previously wielded both the Black Blade of Muramasa and the Honor Sword of Clan Yashida. On occasion he uses shuriken and other traditional samurai weaponry.

Paraphernalia
The Silver Samurai wears a suit of lightweight steel alloy plate body armor, designed to resemble ancient samurai garb. He once employed a teleportation ring given to him by the Viper that was activated when twisted.

First Appearance
Daredevil #111 (1974)

Origin
Uncanny X-Men #173 (1983)

Significant Issues
Employed by Mandrill, vs Daredevil (Daredevil #111, 1974); employed by Viper, vs Spider-Man & Black Widow (Marvel Team-Up #57, 1977); vs Spider-Man (Marvel Team-Up #74, 1978); with Viper & Boomerang, vs Spider-Man, Nick Fury, Shang-Chi & Black Widow (Marvel Team-Up #83-85, 1979); with Viper, vs Spider-Woman/Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman #42-43, 1982); with Viper, vs New Mutants (New Mutants #5-6, 1983); with Viper, vs X-Men & Yukio (Uncanny X-Men #173-174, 1983); obtained Black Blade of Muramasa (Wolverine #2-3, 1992); challenged Clan Yashida leadership (Wolverine #56-57, 1992); became oyabun of Clan Yashida (Cable: Blood & Metal #2, 1992); received Honor Sword of Clan Yashida (Wolverine #82, 1994); joined Big Hero 6, vs Everwraith (Sunfire & Big Hero 6 #1-3, 1998); with Wolverine & Sunfire, vs Red Ronin (Wolverine '96 Annual, 1996); with Wolverine & Yukio, opposed Kaishek Dominion (Wolverine #150-153, 2000); seemingly killed by Elektra (Elektra #3-4, 2001)

Keniuchio Harada is the mutant son of the former Japanese crimelord Shingen Harada. As a youth, Harada mastered the attendant disciplines of the medieval samurai and sought employment as a warrior for hire. He first worked for the criminal Mandrill and clashed with the blind hero Daredevil. Harada then served the Viper, an agent of the terrorist organization Hydra, as her bodyguard. In that capacity, Harada battled opponents such as the costumed crimefighter Spider-Man, the martial arts master Shang-Chi, and the team of mutant trainee heroes the New Mutants.

Following his father’s death, Harada sought the leadership of Shingen’s Clan Yashida from his half-sister Mariko Yashida, but was opposed by the ronin Yukio and Mariko’s lover, the mutant adventurer Wolverine. Later, Harada worked with Wolverine to free American private investigator Jessica Drew from the influence of Black Blade of Muramasa, a sword mystically imbued with its creator’s madness. Wolverine himself fell under the sword’s spell, but managed to overcome his possession after which Harada took up the sword, finding himself worthy of its power.

After Mariko’s death, Harada claimed leadership of Clan Yashida and was briefly employed by the Japanese government as leader of their fledgling super-team Big Hero 6. Ultimately, his inability to lead Clan Yashida allowed the Mongolian crimelord Haan Kaishek to take control, and he allied with Wolverine to defeat the Kaishek’s. However, the disgrace of losing leadership was too great for Harada, and he returned to his mercenary ways.

Eventually falling into the service of Hydra once more, Harada was dispatched to battle the female ninja Elektra and was seemingly killed. Revealed to have survived, the Silver Samurai resumed his criminal career following an encounter with the mutant Blindspot. Allied with known terrorist Lady Deathstrike, Harada attempted to establish himself as the "Silver Shogun," leader of the Yakuza. He was also briefly a prisoner in The Raft as part of a super-villain stockpiling conspiracy, but he escaped and returned to Japan. Harada subsequently became a member of the Japanese Prime Minister's security cadre. During the course of his duties, Harada faced Wolverine, who cut off his hand in search of information on the Muramasa Blade.

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contributors: Zeraphyne