Hamato Yoshi
| Hamato Yoshi | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Mirage Studios |
| First appearance |
Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (May 1984) |
| Created by |
Kevin Eastman Peter Laird |
| In-story information | |
| Notable aliases | Splinter (1987/2012 series only) |
| Abilities | Skilled master of Ninjutsu Excellent physical abilities Experienced in hand-to-hand combat and numerous martial arts and karate Leadership skills |
Hamato Yoshi is a central character from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and all related media. In all continuities, he was once a great and honorable ninja whose story is always closely intertwined with that of Splinter: he was the owner of a pet rat who becomes Splinter in the original comics, original films, The Next Mutation, 2003 cartoon series and the reboot films, while Splinter was Hamato Yoshi in the 1987 cartoon series, the Adventures comics, the IDW comic series, and the 2012 cartoon series.
Hamato Yoshi was the greatest shadow warrior of the Foot Clan in Japan. He owned a rat named Splinter, who copied his movements as he practiced ninjutsu. He was romantically involved with a woman named Tang Shen. However, their relationship attracted the jealousy of Oroku Nagi, who also loved Shen. When Nagi was rejected by her, he became enraged and violently beat her. Shortly after, Yoshi arrived and, coming to Shen's defense, slayed Nagi. He was dishonored for having killed another member of the Clan and forced to choose between suicide or exile to another country. He chose the latter, and left with Shen and Splinter to the United States. Years later, Nagi's brother Oroku Saki climbed the ranks of the Foot to become the leader of its New York branch. He followed the two lovers to New York City and killed them both in vengeance of Nagi. However, the rat Splinter escaped to the sewer for safety. Some time later, Splinter witnessed a truck carrying toxic waste swerved to avoid colliding with a blind man as he crossed the road. A canister containing neon green glowing liquid fell into the sewers, while a boy coming out of a pet store dropped his four baby turtles into the sewers. Splinter and the four turtles came into contact with the radioactive substance and mutated into intelligent, humanoid beings.
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Wikipedia