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With over 4500 Issue Summaries now online, chances are you may not have read the following Issue Summary:
Uncanny X-Men #308
So why not go read it now.
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Awkwardness due to their mutual attraction to each other notwithstanding, Jean Grey was the first to really welcome Logan into the X-Men 'family' and became his first friend. [Classic X-Men #1] - Submitted by eLeS^onse
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 | | | | YASHIDA / YOSHIDA FAMILY TREE | | | |
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| | Author : Peter Luzifer | Last Modified : Sep 14, 2006 |
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(click on the image to see a bigger version of it)
First, to clarify, Yashida and Yoshida seem to be different spellings of the same name. While in his first appearance Sunfire was called Shiro Yoshida, in the story arc that introduced his cousin, his name was spelled Yashida, and this version of the name was carried on in the woman’s next appearances. Although probably a typo, it actually doesn’t have to be a mistake; for all we know it could be based on the romanization of the Japanese names.
Shiro Yoshida is the son of Saburo Yoshida, a wealthy man who wanted Japan to get over the hatred towards the United States. His brother Tomo however, was not as liberal, and after learning that Saburo’s son Shiro was a mutant with the power of flame, he passed on his hatred for all things western to the teenager. While he taught him in the use of his power, he also reminded young Shiro that his mother had been near Hiroshima when the nuclear bombs detonated in World War II, and that this was the reason for him being born a mutant, and his mother dying after giving birth. Eventually though, when Tomo shot his brother Saburo, Shiro avenged his father’s death by rejecting his uncle’s influence and killing him. [Uncanny X-Men #64]
Although it was hinted that Sunfire’s mother might have been responsible for his becoming a mutant, it actually seems to be the case that the mutant gene is running through the parental side of his family. Not only is there his younger half-sister, Leyu, who born of a different mother has exactly the same powers as he [Uncanny X-Men #392], but also do some of the children of Lord Shingen, Sunfire’s paternal uncle, manifest mutant powers too, as can be seen in the Silver Samurai, or the alternate reality Mariko Yashido, who was a member of the Exiles.
During one of the X-Men’s adventures, they visited Sunfire in his ancestral home, where they were also introduced to his cousin Mariko. Wolverine immediately fell for the shy beauty, not suspecting that actually she, and not her cousin, was the head of Clan Yashida. [Uncanny X-Men #118-120]
The love of Logan and Mariko grew, but with almost every relationship, they had some obstacles their way. For them, it was the sudden return of Mariko’s believed-dead father Lord Shingen. Him being the rightful ruler of Clan Yashida, Mariko was honor-bound to his will, and could do nothing but helplessly watch when Shingen allied the Clan with several criminal organizations of Japan’s underworld. Even worse, Mariko had to agree to being married to a man whom Shingen owed a favor, Noburu-Hideki, and he regularly beat up his wife. Learning of all this, Logan traveled to Japan in order to rescue his love, and eventually succeeded. While he killed Lord Shingen in a fair duel, Noburu-Hideki was killed by Yukio when he tried to use Mariko as a human shield. [Wolverine (1st series) #1-4]
Shingen’s death shook up things at Clan Yashida, several of his criminal allies trying to wrest control over the Clan from Mariko. One of these forces happened to by Shingen’s illegitimate son, Keniuchio Harada, aka the Silver Samurai, and his partner, the Viper. Happening to be in Japan due to the imminent wedding of Logan and Mariko, the X-Men aided her against the two villains. However, once they were dealt with, Mariko called off the wedding, declaring Wolverine not worthy of her. Although it was later uncovered that she had been influenced by Mastermind, she still refused to marry him, for now she felt unworthy of him and felt she had to prove herself by cleansing Clan Yashida of all criminal activities – a sheer impossible task. [Uncanny X-Men #172-173]
During another of the X-men’s adventures in Japan, which also showed that even Sunfire considered Mariko his rightful superior, Wolverine promised a dying woman that he would take care of her daughter, Amiko. Knowing that the X-men’s hectic and dangerous life was not the most ideal upbringing for the girl, Logan placed her with his love Mariko, hoping that one day they could be an actual family after she had finished her task. The legal status of this “adoption” was never confirmed though. [Uncanny X-Men #181, Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #6]
Many months later, it seemed that Mariko had the chance to get rid of the criminal influence on her Clan. the Hand, represented by Matsu’o Tsurayaba, offered to severe all ties in exchange for one of Mariko’s fingers. However, not inhibited by such a strong sense of morals and honor, the blade he sent Mariko was poisoned. Mariko suspected as much, but didn’t dare accuse her rival of such treachery and went for the chance that would have meant freedom. As the toxin started to show it’s painful effects it was already to late to save her. Mariko’s last request of Wolverine was to not have to suffer for long, and he used his claws on her for a mercy-killing. [Wolverine (2nd series) #56-57] In the wake of Mariko’s death, little Amiko was placed with Logan’s old friend, Yukio.
Death seems a common occurrence for the members of Clan Yashida. Both Sunpyre, aka Leyu Yashida, and the Silver Samurai died way before their time. While the former was killed by Mystique’s allies who had undermined the X-Corps, of which Leyu was a member at the time, the later met his demise when he confronted Elektra. [Uncanny X-Men #405, Elektra (2nd series) #4]
However, the reports on their deaths might have been exaggerating. Recently when the Japanese superhero team Big Hero Six was spotted fighting Alpha Flight, among their ranks was – in her brother’s stead – Sunpyre, mysteriously back from the dead. Another member was a strange Ebon Samurai, whose costume looks identical to that of the Silver Samurai, only black instead of silver. It is still unknown whether it was really Keniuchio Harada under that mask, but he reappeared nonetheless somewhat later, when he allied up with Lady Deathstrike against Rogue and Sunfire. [Rogue (3rd series) #7-12]
Finally there are two cousins that are not that easy to place, namely Sunfire's cousin Yoshi (along with his mother), and Ichiro, a cousin of Mariko. Both of them didn't have their last names revealed, so its hard to tell wether they come from the paternal or maternal side of Mariko or Shiro's families.
The easier one first, it seems to be the case that Ichiro is not a Yashida, but is the offspring of a sibling of Mariko's mother. In his time of need he asks Logan for help, a complete outsider. If he were a Yashida, and as such related to the Silver Samurai and Sunfire, he surely would have asked them first. Also his profession as a driver and him being poor indicates him not being a member of the wealthy Clan Yashida. [Wolverine (3rd series) #20]
With Yoshi it's not as simple. The poor guy was addicted to drugs and made huge debts with some crimelords, debts that his cousin Sunfire had to pay off by doing some dirty work for the man. When first seeing the slums in which Yoshi was living, Sunfire said that he should not be reduced to living like that as they were both part of a wealthy family, hinting towards this cousin possibly being Tomo’s son. Then again, Yoshi's mother living in a small apartment in Tokyo didn't leave the impression of her being that rich. And, would anyone really name a child Yoshi Yoshida? Whatever the case, Yoshi died when Sunfire made him face the truth about his addiction, thus ending the endless circle of debt. [X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #34]
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