Theory:Kaito Nakamura

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The following fan theories are about Kaito Nakamura.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Kaito didn't have an ability at the end of his life because Arthur Petrelli stole it.	We have never conclusively seen Kaito demonstrate an ability. Arthur has the ability to absorb powers from others.	+ Having a character who most likely has an ability die without demonstrating it is unusual for Heroes. + This could possibly explain where Arthur got telepathy. + This could be the event that divided the Company and led to Arthur's "death".
Kaito is still alive and has empathic mimicry.	None.	+ The writers confirmed that each character only has one power so for a character to have more than one power they must have an ability that allows for power acquisition. - Kaito has not been confirmed to have more than one ability.
Mr. Nakamura is an evolved human.	None.	+ Kaito tells Hiro that he has waited a long time for a Nakamura to ascend and that he has proven himself worthy of his legacy and his power. When Hiro asks his father about his own power, his father replies, saying that he knows, but for a time, he did not believe Hiro had the strength to wield his gift. Kaito continues, saying that years ago, he had allies, others with power and that they fought to save the world. (Landslide) + Kaito is affiliated with the Company, which is also affiliated with Linderman. He may be one of Linderman's super-powered associates from the past. + Micah's and Claire's abilities have been inherited. If this is consistent, Mr. Nakamura also has powers. + Kaito has been expecting the ascension of a Nakamura, which means he knows that power runs in the Nakamura family. + When Kaito says that he had "allies... others with power" it is not clear if the first person relatively to "others" is Hiro or himself. - Kaito may simply be skilled in normal means, such as his demonstrated swordsmanship, or even in a similar way to Noah Bennet. + Kaito, Linderman, Bob, and Mr. Parkman were all members of the company. Linderman, Bob, and Mr. Parkman are confirmed to have powers. It's not unlikely that Kaito has a power as well. + Kaito tells Hiro that "we have the powers of gods (but that) gives us no right to play God". Why would he use the word 'we' if he did not have a power of some kind? (Cautionary Tales) • That writers have confirmed many times that each person has only one power. • Perhaps the implication is that he has one ability with several applications, such as how induced radioactivity can both create explosions and electromagnetic pulses. • The implication is are versus were, as one would normally say "what were his powers" when referring to a dead man. This suggests he isn't dead, or his powers somehow allow him to transcend death.
Mr. Nakamura has the power of enhanced teaching.	None.	+ Mr. Nakamura taught Hiro advanced sword techniques in the course of one day. (Landslide) - Mr. Nakamura says that has been waiting for a member of his family to ascend, suggesting he has no powers of his own.(Landslide). + He could have just meant he was waiting for one of his children to ascend. - In director/producer Greg Beeman's blog, he states that Kaito "was worried it would seem foolish that Hiro learned so much [about swordsmanship] in just a few hours." This indicates that enhanced teaching is not likely to be his power. + Hiro's swordsmanship was skilled enough to defeat Takezo Kensei, a mercenary warrior with professional sword training. Since Hiro did not carry a sword during his stay in Feudal Japan, he would not have had any additional opportunity to gain proficiency with one, and thus his only training would have been his brief session with his father. • It is possible that Hiro trained with the sword outside of his screen time. Additionally, with the ability to stop time he could train frequently and for long periods of time without anyone noticing.
Kaito Nakamura's power is that of a sword or weapon adept.	None.	+ Hiro's conversation with his father strongly mirrored Nathan's conversation with Linderman. Linderman answered Nathan's question ("What could you possibly know about healing?") by using his power on a plant. Kaito answered Hiro's question ("What can you possibly know... of killing?") by performing some maneuvers with a sword. - In an interview, Pokaski and Coleite were asked, "I have a theory on Kaito Nakamura's power. When Nathan is speaking with Linderman, when Linderman heals the plant he states that he knows 'a few things' about healing. When Hiro asks his father what he knows about killing, he also responds 'a few things.' Am I on to something?" Their response was "Nope." - It does not take a superhuman ability to be skilled with a sword. + Before he trains Hiro, Kaito catches a brief glimpse of his own eyes in his sword. He may be accessing a split personality just as Niki does.
The "legacy" which Kaito wanted to pass on to Hiro was actually originally meant for Hiro specifically, and was given to the Nakamura family by Yaeko.	None.	+ Yaeko implied that she would pass down the story of Takezo Kensei as Hiro wished it to be. - In a video Kaito left to Hiro, Kaito states that Hiro's destiny was to protect the formula.
Kaito has the ability to fill people with fear or manipulate fear.	None.	+ The bikers were scared away by Kaito. (Heroism is Found in the Heart, Part 2) - They might have been scared simply because he is an influential business man who could get them arrested. • If he wanted to get them arrested, he wouldn't be carrying a sword. - They didn't seem to even notice Kaito's presence, they're looking directly at Ando. This would seem to support the fact that there was something else (Kaito's power) influencing them. - The reflection in the biker's helmet shows a blue glint of light just above Ando, which is later revealed to be Kaito's sword. It's probably Kaito that the bikers are reacting to, and Ando only thinks it is him. - Hiro did not appear to be afraid of his father when Mr. Nakamura was trying to get him to return to Japan. • Why would Kaito use his ability on his son.
Kaito has some sort of shapeshifting or illusion power.	None.	+ The Kaito Nakamura seen in 1977 looked nothing like the present version. This was so far a difference than it just being casting limitations, as it shouldn't be hard to find somebody who resembles a young George Takei. - The difference between the two actors was minor. It probably was not deliberate.
Kaito has a passive ability that allows him to intuitively know the strong and weak points of any human, evolved or not.	None.	+ In Landslide, he answered Hiro's question of "What can you possibly know of killing?" with "A few things." This could imply that he has an ability which involves knowing exactly where and when to strike that doesn't need activating. - This could simply mean that he has killed before. And since he worked for the company, this is almost certain. - In an interview, Pokaski and Coleite were asked, "I have a theory on Kaito Nakamura's power. When Nathan is speaking with Linderman, when Linderman heals the plant he states that he knows 'a few things' about healing. When Hiro asks his father what he knows about killing, he also responds 'a few things.' Am I on to something?" Their response was "Nope."
Kaito's ability is adoptive muscle memory.	None.	+ Like Monica, Kaito shows amazing martial arts skills. - Or he could have practiced. He is around 70 and was implied to have been part of a superhero group, and an operative for the Company. Mr. Bennet has amazing physical skills too, which he learned through normal training.
Kaito's ability is replication.	None.	• Kaito could have used his powers to quickly create a clone just as he was pushed off the roof, with Adam killing the clone and the real Kaito landing on a windowsill or ledge on the Deveaux Building. - If Mr. Nakamura is alive, why hasn't he contacted Ando? + Since he knew that Adam was behind the death threats and murders, he might have avoided contacting his friends or family in case Adam was watching them. - Kaito did not re-appear in person to his son after Adam had been contained.
Kaito's ability is clairvoyance.	None.	+ Kaito found Hiro in an unlikely place in an enormous city. (The Fix) + Kaito found Hiro again in Landslide. + Kaito found Kimiko in an even bigger city. (Graphic Novel:Heroism is Found in the Heart, Part 2) + Kaito discovered Adam trying to steal Strain 138. (Truth & Consequences) - He did not foresee Adam's attack on Charles Deveaux's rooftop. (Four Months Later...) + A requirement to use the ability is to know what to search for. Kaito seemed genuinely surprised when he found out Adam was the assailant, meaning he had no way of detecting the assassin.
Kaito's ability is rapid cell regeneration.	None.	+ This could allow him to survive being pushed off the roof by Adam. - If he could regenerate, he probably would have gotten up after the fall and let Ando know he was all right. Adam would also have known that to kill Kaito, he needed to put something into his brain, not just throw him off the roof. - People who have regeneration powers stop aging after they reach their prime, as explained by Angela. Kaito is well past his prime; had he regenerative powers, he would have stayed a young man. - A funeral service is held for Kaito; obviously, someone would have noticed if his body had gone missing.
Kaito's ability is to see the variables of any situation and predict the outcome.	In a Volume 2 DVD deleted scene, Kaito shows his ability by looking at the newspaper. Plus, he tells Ando that his ability is the reason for Yamagato Industries success.	+ The ability was shown in a deleted scene. - Since it was only explained in a deleted scene, the writers can change the ability Kaito had.
Kaito used his ability of probability computations to help the Company plan the destruction of New York City.	In the deleted scene from Four Months Later, Kaito's ability is shown to be probability computation.	+ The Company may have needed someone with that ability in order to succeed with their plan. - He later trains Hiro to combat Sylar, the result of which being that Sylar could no longer push Peter any further, allowing Peter to hold off his explosive powers until Nathan arrived. Without Kaito, Hiro could not have saved New York. - Kaito's ability was only shown and referred in a deleted scene, and that doesn't count for the official storyline. The writers could decide to change it.