Nobu Yoshioka

Nobu Yoshioka (Kanji: 吉岡信) was a high-ranking member of the Hand who worked with Wilson Fisk on behalf of Murakami, sharing in the profits of their criminal activities. While Fisk's criminal empire was threatened by Daredevil, Yoshioka had taken it upon himself to kill the vigilante. During his battle with Daredevil, Yoshioka almost had victory against his enemy before he was outwitted and burned alive. Yoshioka was then resurrected a few months later and he attacked New York City with all of his loyal Hand followers. With them, Yoshioka attempted to convince Elektra to join the Hand and embrace her destiny as Black Sky. When that scheme failed, Yoshioka attempted to destroy Daredevil, but Elektra then sacrificed herself for Daredevil and she was killed by Yoshioka. During his final battle, Yoshioka was ultimately defeated by Daredevil and killed by Stick, who decapitated Yoshioka.
==Biography==
===Work in New York===
====Dealing with Wilson Fisk====
Under the orders of Murakami,The Defenders: 1.04: Royal Dragon a man known as Nobu Yoshioka acted as key representative for the Hand to Wilson Fisk's own criminal cartel, while pretending to be a Yakuza member. In exchange for all of the Hand's investments, he requested a block of Hell's Kitchen and Fisk's assistance in transporting his special items and weapons from Japan. However, although his organization took an equal share of the profits, James Wesley was unsure of what Yoshioka and his organization actually contributed. To ensure Fisk's continued work in their interests, Yoshioka would often remind Fisk of the threat that the Hand posed to his criminal empire.Daredevil: 1.01: Into the Ring
====James Wesley's Update====
One night, Yoshioka waited at the top of a building along with Madame Gao, Leland Owlsley, Anatoly and Vladimir Ranskahov awaiting the arrival of Wilson Fisk to discuss recent events. Owlsley commented on the fact that Gao did not speak English; when he asked Yoshioka if he could translate for her, Yoshioka was greatly insulted as he was Japanese and Gao was speaking Chinese. Yoshioka became more annoyed when James Wesley arrived in Fisk's place. The group discussed the recent attacks that had occurred involving a masked vigilante hindering the Ranskahov brothers' sex trafficking.
====War with the Russians====
Yoshioka was summoned for another meeting; this time without the Ranskahov brothers. They met at a car shop where Leland Owlsley commented on the car which was being cleaned of blood and brains. Eventually, Wilson Fisk arrived with James Wesley; he announced that the Ranskahovs were no longer a part of their organization as Fisk had murdered Anatoly Ranskahov.
Yoshioka and the others were shocked and angered at the change of circumstance, claiming they should have been consulted. It was, however, agreed that they would continue their work with the money being split equally between the four of them, with Fisk now taking responsibility of moving Madame Gao's heroin. As the group departed, Yoshioka reminded Fisk of the promises he had made to Yoshioka and the people he represented, referring to the Hand, who Fisk was knew were a great risk to his plans.Daredevil: 1.05: World on Fire
====Transporting Black Sky====
Yoshioka organized the delivery from Japan to New York City of a child referred to as a "Black Sky". He arranged for Wilson Fisk to bribe the NYPD to stay away from the docks. Before the delivery, Yoshioka met with Leland Owlsley to ensure everything was running smoothly, Owlsley revealed that he knew what was happening and they should help each other out considering what had happened with the Russian Mafia. Yoshioka, however, told Owlsley that men have to stand alone.
Yoshioka and his team of armed guards were later present for the arrival of Black Sky. However, as the container was opened and Yoshioka's men began unchaining the boy and moving Black Sky away, they were attacked by the man in the mask and Stick who intercepted the delivery. An arrow was fired and seemingly deflected out of the path of Black Sky, leading to a gunfight between the Hand and the attackers, with Yoshioka ordering his men to kill them. In the chaos, Yoshioka was able to drive away with Black Sky, but they were later attacked again by Stick who killed the boy by stabbing him in the heart before escaping, much to Yoshioka's anger.Daredevil: 1.07: Stick
====Confronting Wilson Fisk====
Blaming Wilson Fisk for the failure, Yoshioka called for a meeting. Yoshioka met with Fisk and James Wesley and Yoshioka insulted Fisk as he claimed Fisk had not met with his guarantee for the safety of Black Sky, but Fisk pointed out that he had fulfilled his obligations, which was to ensure that the police did not interfere. When Yoshioka informed Fisk of how difficult it would be to find another Black Sky, Fisk insulted him by saying that it was his fault. Yoshioka asked if he wished to renegotiate the terms of their contract, leading to Fisk apologizing, Yoshioka then left after threatening Fisk.Daredevil: 1.08: Shadows in the Glass
====Hunting the Masked Man====
Yoshioka became impatient when Nelson and Murdock delayed the eviction of all tenants of a particular building in Hell's Kitchen. Yoshioka stormed into a meeting between Wilson Fisk and James Wesley; when one of Fisk's guards named Francis attempted to stop him and make him wait, Yoshioka twisted his wrist causing Francis considerable pain.
Fisk allowed Yoshioka to enter and he demanded that the building is delivered. Fisk offered other buildings, but Yoshioka insisted on the agreed building, noting that the people he represented would not accept such a change in plan. Fisk suggested that Yoshioka provide a warrior to kill the masked man in exchange for Fisk expediting evictions, knowing that Yoshioka's pride would make him fight the masked man himself. This was a ploy by Fisk, who later admitted that he had decided to eliminate Yoshioka too, and that "in a perfect world," the Masked Man and Yoshioka would kill each other.Daredevil: 1.09: Speak of the Devil
====Duel at Pier 81====
Wilson Fisk killed one of the problematic tenants, Elena Cardenas, and then made an impromptu televised statement which subtly taunted the masked man over his inability to protect her. Knowing that the devil would seek out the people responsible, Fisk then allowed the masked man to "discover" his whereabouts. When the vigilante followed this trail, he instead found Yoshioka in a warehouse, dressed in his Hand uniform. Yoshioka was able to slow his heartbeat, ensuring that the attack was a surprise to the vigilante when he arrived.
|Yoshioka attempting to kill the masked man
Yoshioka had then proceeded to attack and nearly killed the vigilante using his Kyoketsu-Shoge, slicing the masked man's skin and stabbing him in the side before dragging him across the floor. However, the man in the mask continued to fight back despite losing so much blood and being in such great pain and at one stage the man was able to rip Yoshioka's mask from his face. Impressed by the vigilante's skill and warrior-like instincts, Yoshioka told him that he was a worthy opponent and it would be an honor to take his life, he then put his mask back on and prepared for the final fatal attack against his enemy.
|Yoshioka's body burns alive after the battle
Before Yoshioka could kill him, the masked man pulled the Kyoketsu-Shoge from his side and knocked Yoshioka into a barrel of fuel, slicing the barrel open and spilling the fuel across the floor under Yoshioka. The man then deflected Yoshioka's Kyoketsu-Shoge into a light causing electrical sparks to ignite the fuel, burning Yoshioka to death. Despite the flames, Yoshioka launched at the vigilante and delivered a kick before falling to the ground and being consumed by the flames. Later, when Wilson Fisk and James Wesley arrived and saw Yoshioka's corpse burning in the fire, Fisk told Wesley to let Yoshioka burn.
===Seeking Black Sky===
====Discovered by Daredevil====
Having recovered from his wounds with the help of his followers despite scarring to his face, Yoshioka continued to direct the Hand's activities in New York City and aimed to find a new Black Sky to lead the Hand in their war against the Chaste. Yoshioka's attempts in finding it included the abduction and brainwashing of victims in order to provide blood for a Resurrection Sarcophagus belonging to the Black Sky. He arrived in time to stop Daredevil and Stan Gibson from saving their prisoners when the vigilante had discovered their hideout, first throwing a pair of the at them to make them aware of his presence.
Yoshioka battled Daredevil and continued to best his enemy in the fight, knocking him back with a single powerful hit. While Gibson attempted to get his son and the other victims to safety, Yoshioka took out his Kyoketsu-Shoge and commented on the scars he knew he had left on Daredevil's body from their previous fight; however, he soon discovered that Daredevil's newly designed battle suit protected him from harm against the Kyoketsu-Shoge, so Yoshioka was forced to rely on his highly skilled fight combat to best his enemy during the skirmish, as he soon used his kicks to subdue the Daredevil.
With Daredevil having been quickly overpowered and defeated in single combat, Yoshioka cut the blood supply to the sarcophagus and moved it into an elevator, revealing his burned and scarred face to Daredevil. Confused and horrified, Daredevil commented on how Yoshioka should be dead in the wake of being burned alive during the Duel at Pier 81, but Yoshioka told him there was no such thing as death as he escaped with the sarcophagus, leaving Daredevil in a complete state of shock due to seeing his enemy had seemingly risen from the grave to challenge him once again.Daredevil: 2.09: Seven Minutes in Heaven
Although Daredevil was able to escape with the prisoners, who he took to Metro-General Hospital for treatment, Yoshioka ordered his Hand soldiers to go to the hospital and recapture them all. In the proceeding battle, Stan Gibson was killed by his own son and the prisoners were all recaptured and returned to the Hand. Yoshioka watched as Hirochi drained the prisoners of their blood while was spilled into the sarcophagus. Once the prisoners had been drained completely, Yoshioka informed Hirochi that the sarcophagus was now finally ready to be used for their plans.Daredevil: 2.11: .380
====Kidnapping of Stick====
Yoshioka had Stick kidnapped to be interrogated about whatever he knew about the Chaste. When Daredevil arrived to rescue Stick, with Hirochi being killed in the fight, Elektra followed, hoping to kill Stick for revenge for an assassination attempt on her life. Yoshioka and a team of Hand ninjas confronted the three while Yoshioka revealed that Elektra was the Black Sky, the one who was destined to lead the Hand to victory, although the horrified Elektra refused to believe this was true.
As Elektra took Yoshioka's sword and listened to his words, Yoshioka told her that the Hand lived to serve her. As Daredevil desperately tried to convince her to change her mind, he offered her the chance to kill him to test her loyalty to the Hand. However, Daredevil changed tactics by twisting her around and ordering her to help him rescue Stick from the assassins. As the ninjas surrounded the whole group, Yoshioka watched until Stick killed one ninja and Elektra helped him escape while Daredevil kept the Hand ninjas at bay.
Daredevil battled legions of Hand ninjas singlehandedly and, using his new ability to hear their breaths, managed to defeat them all with relative ease. As he ascended the stairs, eventually Yoshioka challenged Daredevil to a fight one on one, telling him that the Hand would be victorious and there was nothing he nor the Chaste could do to stop them. Daredevil told him to just watch him as he charged into Yoshioka and furiously began fighting him; despite all of Yoshioka's skill, he was unable to best his enemy in this fight.
The fight concluded when Daredevil was able to beat Yoshioka into submission before kicking him off a ledge where he was briefly killed upon impact. Once again, death could not stop Yoshioka as he rose to his feet while his surviving Hand ninjas surrounded him to get their new orders. Knowing that Daredevil was now the greatest threat to them getting the Black Sky on their side as he was the only person Elektra truly loved and was loyal to, Yoshioka told his men that for them to succeed, Daredevil must be killed.Daredevil: 2.12: The Dark at the End of the Tunnel
====Creating a Trap====
While Yoshioka overlooked their Resurrection Sarcophagus, he was visited by Tyler who then informed him that they had successfully obtained a list from Brett Mahoney of names of twenty people who had been rescued by Daredevil. Yoshioka commented on how the fate of the Black Sky was now in their hands and Daredevil was the only thing standing in their way, he then ordered Tyler to target and abduct all of them to lure Daredevil into a trap where they would finally kill him.
As Tyler took the prisoners, including Karen Page and Turk Barrett, into an abandoned warehouse to await Daredevil's arrival, Yoshioka took time to meditate as he prepared for the final battle, wearing traditional robes. He listened as the New York City Police Department arrived, having been warned of the attack and kidnapping, although Yoshioka remained confident that this would not greatly affect their plans as the Hand soldiers began firing arrows at the arriving officers, killing them as they tried to call for backup.
Once Daredevil and Elektra arrived at the warehouse, they quickly overpowered and defeated the Hand ninjas and managed to free the hostages, who ran outside to be rescued by the police officers standing by. Ready for the upcoming battle, Tyler went to Yoshioka and handed him a back containing his Kyoketsu-Shoge which he intended to use to finally kill Daredevil. As Yoshioka held the weapon which had nearly killed Daredevil in their first battle, Yoshioka vowed that Elektra would be theirs by the end of the night.Daredevil: 2.13: A Cold Day in Hell's Kitchen
====Final Battle====
Yoshioka and his army of Hand ninjas were waiting for Daredevil and Elektra as they arrived on the rooftop. As a standoff ensued, Yoshioka told Elektra that she belonged to the Hand while Daredevil belonged in a grave. He then proceeded to attack the pair using his Kyoketsu-Shoge. While Yoshioka fought Daredevil single-handedly, his soldiers battled Elektra in an attempt to subdue and capture her so they could have the power of the Black Sky.
Daredevil eventually disarmed Yoshioka during the battle and Elektra rushed in to assist in the fight as the pair slowly beat the warrior in combat. As Daredevil told him that his army would lose this war and ordered him to leave New York City alone, Yoshioka rushed to his feet and attacked the pair once again, managing to subdue them both and punch Daredevil's mask off. Yoshioka then took Elektra's Twin Sai and prepared to stab Daredevil, only for Elektra to run in front of the blade and be stabbed through the heart by Yoshioka, accidentally robbing the Hand of their greatest weapon.
With Elektra now dead, Yoshioka dropped the sai and ordered his soldiers to kill Daredevil: however, while Daredevil was still able to fight, he received assistance from the Punisher who began shooting at the Hand soldiers with his sniper rifle, allowing the furious Daredevil to rush towards Yoshioka. Fueled by rage, Daredevil beat Yoshioka back with ease before using his Billy Club to tie a wire around Yoshioka's head and launch him off the rooftop as he fell several floors to the hard ground and died upon impact.
====Beheaded by Stick====
Despite having been launched several floors from the roof of a tall building, once again, however, Yoshioka was able to survive death and soon awoke on the hard ground where Daredevil had thrown him in the aftermath of their final battle, where he reopened his eyes before he rose to his feet and prepared to return to the Hand to continue the war against the Chaste.
However, just as Yoshioka turned to walk away from the area, he was stabbed through the chest by the now vengeful Stick, who told him that this time he wanted him to stay dead. As Yoshioka looked on in surprise and incredible pain from being impaled, Stick proceeded to pull his sword from Yoshioka's chest before slicing through his neck, as Yoshioka fell to the floor his head dropped from his shoulders, killing him for good. With his enemy now dead on the ground, Stick calmly walked away from the scene, hiding his bloody sword within his jacket and leaving Yoshioka's body behind him.
==Personality==
Nobu Yoshioka is a highly calm and confident man, knowing his own reputation is one of fear and respect due to his association with the Hand, he rarely speaks unless he has a reason to say something. When Leland Owlsley would make inappropriate comments about him, Yoshioka did not retaliate as such an action was below him, instead, he just gave a stern look to Owlsley as a warning not to mock him again. However, despite his calm and collected nature, Yoshioka is still capable of rage, when the Black Sky was murdered by Stick, Yoshioka expressed his anger by openly threatening Wilson Fisk and almost breaking Francis' hand. During his final showdown with Daredevil, Yoshioka's anger pushed him so far that he indirectly killed Elektra by stabbing her through the heart with her own Twin Sai by mistake, leaving him furious.
==Powers and Abilities==
===Powers===
*Mystically Enhanced Physiology: Due to the usage of the Resurrection Elixir synthesized from the bones of the Dragon, Yoshioka's physical attributes are enhanced and enable him to live for more than four hundred years.
**Enhanced Strength: The substance granted him increased strength for he was shown to harm Daredevil in many encounters struck multiple attacks which stuns and sends him several meters back. After his resurrection, he punches through his suit and flips him with ease, and on the rooftop during the final battle, he managed to flip over the vigilante with an uppercut while at the same time knocking off his helmet.
**Enhanced Durability: The elixir also gave Yoshioka a much tougher body as he could withstand Daredevil's attacks and survive a fall off of a building. However, Stick's Katana sliced right through him.
**Enhanced Speed: Yoshioka became much quicker with the Elixir, being able to double team Daredevil and Elektra and defeat Daredevil on their second encounter.
**Enhanced Stamina: Yoshioka fought Daredevil twice for long periods of time as his stamina was enhanced by the Resurrection Elixir.
**Enhanced Reflexes: Yoshioka's reflexes were dramatically enhanced, allowing him to quickly get the upper hand on Daredevil despite being unarmed by him.
**Longevity: Yoshioka had lived for at least three lifetimes, according to some of the rumors that Elektra claimed to have heard about him.
**Resurrection: Yoshioka was able to come back to life after he died, he has shown this power when he resurrected after he burned to death in the Duel at Pier 81. Twice, he was sent falling several stories by Daredevil, and both times, he got back up without any trouble. However, when Stick kills him again by decapitating Yoshioka, he claims that the latter will stay dead this time, implying that this method will kill him permanently.
*Meditation Empowerment: Yoshioka often used meditation to cleanse his mind, allowing him to be clear headed for an upcoming battle against Daredevil.
===Abilities===
*Master Martial Artist: Nobu Yoshioka was an extremely skilled and formidable hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist. He was able to overpower and almost kill the masked man during their first intense duel, with a combination of his superior combat skills, as well as using his formidable Kyoketsu-Shoge. As Francis tried to stop him from talking to Wilson Fisk, while Nobu casually twisted the man's arm and held him in a submissive hold, all with just one hand. A year later, a resurrected Yoshioka was still able to evenly fight against both Daredevil and Elektra simultaneously, and initially win against their combined efforts, beating Elektra to the ground, and knocking off Daredevil's helmet. However, albeit only with considerable effort, Daredevil did ultimately manage to defeat Yoshioka by the fight's end. His attacks could easily knock opponents off the ground, as he was able to punch Daredevil hard enough to knock him a few feet, and then, during their second battle, he repeatedly sent him flying a few feet with his kicks. His fighting style is based on Ninjutsu having incorporate trickiness and stealth which is unique to Traditional Ninja martial arts.
*Rope Dart Knife Mastery: Yoshioka was extremely skilled at using Kyoketsu-Shoge in combat. During their first encounter, Yoshioka managed to use the weapon to stab Daredevil in his side, back, and stomach, dragging him across the ground and causing near fatal injuries to him that left deep scars in his body. Yoshioka continued to use this weapon in his future battles against Daredevil, including the Rescue in the Farm and the Attack on the Hand.
*Master Marksman: Yoshioka had ninja-like abilities as he ofted used his , throwing it with incredible accuracy at the masked man. He also used it to attack Stan Gibson.
*Master Acrobat: Yoshioka was an extremely skilled acrobat, gymnast, and aerialist, incorporating Ninjutsu based freerunning and acrobatics into his fighting style. He was able to outmaneuver the extremely agile Daredevil, easily dodging and countering most of the latter's blows, and swiftly gaining the upper hand in their first duel as a result. He could even utilize his acrobatics to dodge most of the blows while fighting both Daredevil and Elektra simultaneously.
*Master Spy: Yoshioka was a master of stealth. He was able to slow his heartbeat, even bypassing Daredevil who has highly enhanced senses, ensuring that the attack was a surprise to the masked man when he arrived. he also used many aliases throughout his life with Stick noting that Yoshioka was just now using the alias he was known for among the people of Hell's Kitchen. He also was a representative for the Hand while posing as a Yakuza member.
*Master Tactician: Yoshioka lead one of the factions of the Hand, being a representative for them for deals with Wilson Fisk in exchange for plots of land for the organization. When he was resurrected, Yoshioka lead the Farm where they drained blood from victims as well as turned them into mindless servants. He also led an offensive to capture Elektra as the Black Sky. However, he failed as a resentful Elektra, Daredevil and Stick got in his way, eventually leading to him accidentally killing Elektra. Although this allowed Elektra to be resurrected and mind controlled for the Hand.
*Bilingualism: Yoshioka was fluent in his native Japanese, as well as English.
==Equipment==
===Weapons===
*: As Yoshioka attacked Daredevil during their first fight, he threw the Bo Shuriken at him; however, Daredevil was able to deflect the weapons with his batons. He used the weapons again while throwing them at Stan Gibson to keep him from freeing the Hand's suffering hostages.
*Kyoketsu-Shoge: Yoshioka's weapon of choice. During their first encounter, Yoshioka managed to use the weapon to stab Daredevil in his side, back, and stomach, dragging him across the ground and causing near fatal injuries to him that left deep scars in his body. Yoshioka continued to use this weapon in his future battles against Daredevil, including the Rescue in the Farm and the Attack on the Hand. However, Daredevil's new armor protected him from such deadly harm.
*: Yoshioka never used this sword in a combat situation. However, he carried it with him and offered the blade to Elektra in a show of respect once he revealed that she was the Black Sky whom the Hand were sworn to obey. She took the sword but soon lost it when Daredevil and Stick attacked.
*Elektra's Twin Sai: During the Attack on the Hand, Yoshioka disarmed Elektra and took her Twin Sai, attempting to use them to stab and kill Daredevil; however, he accidentally plunged the blade into Elektra's heart, killing her and taking away his hopes of reclaiming the Black Sky. Upon seeing what he had done, Yoshioka dropped the Sai and ordered the Hand to execute Daredevil.
===Other Equipment===
*Resurrection Sarcophagus: To be added
==Facilities==
*Pier 81 Warehouse: Wilson Fisk led the masked man to Pier 81 in hopes that the Masked Man and Yoshioka would kill themselves. The putcome was that Yoshioka got killed after a long fight.
*Farm: To be added
==Relationships==
===Allies===
*Hand
**Murakami - Master
**Madame Gao
**Aito † - Subordinate
**Hirochi † - Subordinate
**Specialist - Subordinate
**Tyler - Subordinate
**Daniel Gibson †
*James Wesley †
*Leland Owlsley † - Former Associate
*Russian Mafia - Former Associates
**Anatoly Ranskahov †
**Vladimir Ranskahov †
*Francis
*Black Sky †
===Enemies===
*Chaste
**Stick † - Second and Final Killer
*Daredevil - Attempted Victim and First Killer
*Wilson Fisk - Former Associate
*Stan Gibson †
*Elektra - Victim
*Karen Page - Hostage
*Turk Barrett - Hostage
*New York City Police Department
**Brett Mahoney
*Frank Castle/Punisher
==Appearances==
Appearances for Nobu Yoshioka
==Trivia==
*In the comics, Kagenobu Yoshioka is the founder of the Hand, living in feudal Japan and establishing the Hand due to his love for a foreign woman.
*Yoshioka's surname contains kanji for "fortune" (吉) and "hill" (岡).
==Behind the Scenes==
*It was originally reported by that the name of Peter Shinkoda's character would be "Hachiro."
*On the character's motivations, Shinkoda said, "I think that he's driven almost religiously, like Matt, except that the stakes may be higher for Nobu than Matt. The way I played it, I assumed he may be a member of the Hand, he's part of some program that's been going for hundreds of years. I think he has global plans. They're huge. They're not only affecting him."LBCC: Cast, Writers Reflect on the Psychology of "Daredevil"
*Philip J. Silvera, Jim Ng, and Micah Karns were stunt doubles for Peter Shinkoda in the role of Nobu Yoshioka.
==References==
==External Links==
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Category:Characters
Category:Daredevil (TV series) Characters
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Category:Villains
Category:Hand Members
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Category:Enhanced Individuals
Category:Resurrection Elixir Users
Category:Deceased Characters
Category:Resurrected Characters
Category:Characters Killed by Daredevil
Category:Characters Killed by Stick