Joe Higashi

## Personal Info

Birthdate: March 29, 1972

Age: 21-24

Birthplace: Japan

Height: 5’10 (180)

Weight: 154 (70)-176 (80)

Blood Type: AB

Job: Fighter

Style: Muay Thai

After Joe earned his title as the Muay Thai champion, he
heads to Southtown to prove himself in the King of Fighters tournament. On his
way, he spots Andy and Terry Bogard, who were on the hunt for their father's
killer, Geese Howard. As soon as he informs them that Geese is hosting the
tournament, they became steadfast companions. In the tournament, he met with a
bitter Hwa Jai and was able to defeat him. After this, they eventually became
friends and rivals back in Thailand. In his ending for Legend of the Hungry Wolf 2, he also
avenged Hwa's defeat by Wolfgang Krauser.

Before the events of Legend of the Hungry Wolf 3, he learns about the Jin
brothers and Ryuji Yamazaki, and asks Hwa to come with him to South Town.
Sometime after these events, he humorously takes Lilly Kane away from her
brother since Geese was out of action. As a call back to this, Billy
"rescues" her in his Real Bout ending.

In the Garou: Mark of the Wolves timeline, Joe was busy
protecting his title in the Muay Thai championship. According to Akihiko Ureshino's personal blog, he gained an apprentice in the yet to be released Mark of the Wolves sequel from the old SNK team. Her name, as mentioned by
Terry and Andy in a original story, was "Kuan" (クアン)
and she even had a finished idle sprite. Her age wasn't particularly stated,
though he comments that she was a particularly "cute lady". Although
she has yet to appear in any games, she first meets Joe in his profile story
for The King of Fighters XII. She is a thief who tries to pickpocket Joe.
Impressed with her top class physical strength and her daring, he immediately
dubs her his disciple and inspires the girl to live a new life learning Muay
Thai.

### King of Fighters

Joe is a mainstay of Terry's team throughout most of the
King of Fighters tournaments. He is often the motivating factor in getting
Terry and Andy to join with him as a team. In this series, he developed
somewhat of a rivalry with King. Joe is seen taunting her with his Muay Thai
belt in The King of Fighters '98. In The King of Fighters 2001, he enters the
tournament with hopes to use the prize money to keep a gym from closing down.

He is absent from King of Fighters XI because a Muay Thai tournament is
being held at the same time. Wanting to live their old times together as a
team, the trio agree to meet up once more. Before the tournament, Joe is
annoyed by both of his teammates being late for their meeting. Knowing Hwa
Jai's entry with Kim Kaphwan and upset by Terry's carefree attitude, an
intoxicated Joe vents his frustrations against the team leader in a sparring
match in Paopao Cafe. In his team's ending, he humorously gets his
congratulation kiss from the same infatuated male fan (now even more effeminate
than before, to the point of crossdressing) whose life he saved in his team's
2003 ending.

## Powers

Energy Strike

Explosive Strike

Aerokinesis

Hurricane

## Music

A Somewhat Stylish Brawling Punk (Legend of the Hungry Wolf)

Thai Nanbu no Tsutaetai Atarashii Shi (Legend of the Hungry Wolf 2, Legend of the Hungry Wolf Special)

Wani no Mi (Legend of the Hungry Wolf 3, Real Bout Legend of the Hungry Wolf)

Thai Nanbu ni Tsutawatta Sp no Shi (Real Bout Legend of the Hungry Wolf Special, Real Bout Legend of the Hungry Wolf 2)

Napolitan Blues (King of Fighters 94)

Club M: Flute in the Sky (King of Fighters 95)

Big Shot (King of Fighters 96)

The River (Legend of the Hungry Wolf: Wild Ambition)

Kurikinton (King of Fighters 98, 02)

176th Street (King of Fighters 99)

Terry 115 (King of Fighters 00)

All OK (King of Fighters 01)

Prolongation (King of Fighters 03)

Street Dancer (King of Fighters 13)

Wild Street (King of Fighters 13)

Sunshine Glory (King of Fighters 02: UM)

Muay Thai (Legend of the Hungry Wolf 2: New Battle)

Sharakusee ze (Legend of the Hungry Wolf Movie)