Hanzo Hattori

**Hanzo Hattori** (服部 半蔵, *Hattori Hanzō*) is one of the few characters introduced in *Samurai Shodown* that appears in every title of the series. He is based on the historical figure of the same name, who was a Tokugawa ninja and head of a clan in Iga in various fictional mediums.

Like several other mythical incarnations, he is an old friend to Jubei Yagyudue to their ties to the Tokugawa clan. He married a Koga ninja, Kaede, quelling a long feud between the two ninja clans that is often romanticized in the historical novel, *The Kouga Ninja Scrolls*. He appears as a secret character in *KOF: Maximum Impact 2*.

He was the development team's third favorite character in *Samurai Shodown II*. In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Hanzo ranked 46 of the staff's favorite characters. He shared the spot with seven other characters, including *Art of Fighting* character, Robert Garcia and *Darkstalkers* character, Demitri Maximoff. He has one known action figure, based on his appearance in *Samurai Shodown 64*.

## Personality

Hanzo is a serious and condescending man. He is often seen laughing at his enemies in a superior manner. He wants to fight worthy opponents and knows that his fate is to die in battle.

## Powers

Aside from these powers, he has all the skills perceived to be had by ninja (stealth, swimming, climbing, ect.)

* **Use of Shurikens** - Hanzo is only character in series to use shuriken projectiles.
* **Pyrotechnical Attacks** - Hanzo uses a variety of fire-based ninja attacks, such as ground fire waves, various applications of normal and flash bombs.
* **Koppojutsu** - Hanzo can use specific hand-to-hand fighting skills, grabs and acrobatic moves to break the bones of his opponents.
* **Invisibility** - Hanzo can become invisible at will, in some cases it requires use of flash bomb.
* **Teleportation** - Hanzo can teleport to short distances.

## Fighting Style

Comparable to other ninja in fiction, Hanzo's ninjutsu focuses on the mystical properties of the style rather than its physical fighting techniques. He possesses the ability to teleport and trick his attackers with a dummy when hit. He can also create multiple illusions of himself in hopes of misleading his opponents for an open strike. He later integrates a heavy emphasis on bone-breaking grappling, a trait that follows him in his newer appearances. When first introduced, he and Galford nearly mirrored each other in most aspects. As the series progresses, however, Hanzo becomes the slightly slower but more powerful of the two ninja. His projectile element is fire, whereas his counterpart, Galford, is lightning. He can throw shuriken and use a variety of bombs to stun or damage his enemies.

In addition to above, in *Sen* his fighting style emphasizes kicks, featuring different kinds such as somersault kicks or aerial spin kicks.

## Music

* **Shadow** (影, *Kage*) - Samurai Shodown
* **True Shadow** (真影, *Shinkage*) - Samurai Shodown II
* **Prison** (獄, *Hitoya*) - Samurai Shodown III
* **Darkness** (闇, *Yami*) - Samurai Shodown 64

## TMNT X Pokemon

Hattori appears in Season 3 when the Turtles are sent back in time.

## Trivia

* Both the "Tenma Fukumetsu!" quote and *Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage* Rasetsu/Bust Hanzo costume design are identical to the ones portrayed in *Shadow Warriors*, a jidaigeki TV show that is known for one of the most popular portrayals of Hanzo (played by Sonny Chiba). The show's version of the costume can be seen in this video.