Kaito Nakamura

Kaito Nakamura
Portrayed by	George Takei, Eijiro Ozaki (in 1977)
First appearance	The Fix
In-story stats
Known ability	None
Formal name	中村楓翔, Nakamura Kaito
Gender
Date of birth	April 20, 1937
Date of death	March 11, 2007
Home	Tokyo, Japan; New York, NY
Residence	Penthouse apartment at the top of the Deveaux building
Occupations	CEO of Yamagato Industries, Company founding member & Official
Significant others	Ishi Nakamura (deceased), formerly Angela Petrelli
Children	Hiro Nakamura, Kimiko Nakamura

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Kaito Nakamura (中村楓翔, Nakamura Kaito) was one of the founding members of The Company who became one of its key officials. Kaito was also a powerful businessman, serving as CEO of Yamagato Industries. He was the father of Hiro and Kimiko and the husband of Ishi.

Character History

Season One

For an episode-by-episode summary, see Kaito Nakamura: Season One History.

After abducting Hiro and Ando, Kaito's assistant opens the door of a sedan and Kaito steps out.

Kaito is adamant that Hiro should return home and work within the family business. He says he will make Hiro executive vice president, and then rips up the painting of Hiro and the dinosaur to show what he thinks of Hiro's own plans. Kaito finally and unwillingly relents after he is convinced that Hiro's sister is much more suited to take over after him.

In 1992, Kaito meets with Thompson, Claude Rains, and Mr. Bennet on the rooftop of the Deveaux Building. Seemingly the superior of the three men in the Company, Kaito, cradling an infant, orders Bennet to raise the child as his own. Despite Bennet's wariness of taking the girl, Kaito insists, saying that when she manifests an ability, they will take her. Kaito then leaves with his son, Hiro, who is too young and too interested in his Game Boy to be aware of the importance of the events that just took place.

When Hiro and Ando visit Mr. Claremont's shop to get the Kensei sword fixed, Kaito appears. He tells Hiro that he did not return to Japan and instead stayed behind to observe Hiro. He reveals knowledge of Hiro's power and quest to save the world, as well as hinting that he too was once part of a group that worked for that same goal. Believing Hiro to be ready, he teaches Hiro swordfighting skills. While instructing Hiro, Kaito recounts to him how he, Kaito, used to tell Hiro the story of Takezo Kensei and the dragon, further strengthening his son's resolve. Later he praises Hiro for learning quickly. When Hiro realizes Ando has left by himself to kill Sylar, Kaito tells him that Ando will die.

As Hiro and Kaito run out of Jittetsu Arms, Kaito urges Hiro to forget his friend and continue his mission. Hiro replies he can't and Kaito tells him that he would have already lost. Hiro tells his father that his whole life he has looked down on him with disappointment, but he proclaims that he will not abandon his friend. Kaito tells Hiro not to forget his legacy and gives him his sword; Hiro bows and teleports away.

Season Two

For an episode-by-episode summary, see Kaito Nakamura: Season Two History.

Kaito's death scene.

Waiting for Hiro to return, Kaito is threatened and pushed off a roof by Adam Monroe as he kills off the Company founders. Hiro returns to the day Kaito was killed and warns him that he will be killed. Kaito refuses to be saved, so Hiro brings him to the day of his wife's funeral. Kaito convinces Hiro to let him be killed and they return, and Kaito is still killed.

In 1977, Kaito has Adam locked up for trying to unleash strain 138 of the virus. He sends to strain to Odessa for safekeeping. Kaito passes Yamagato Industries on to Hiro after his death.

Season Three

For an episode-by-episode summary, see Kaito Nakamura: Season Three History.

Hiro, now in charge of Yamagato Industries, feels that he has no destiny. He watches Kaito's will with Ando. In the will, Kaito tells Hiro that he is leaving him with a sacred duty to protect the formula. He says that if it gets into the wrong hands, then the world will be in danger. He also gives some advice to Hiro, saying that if the formula ever does fall into the wrong hands, he should find "the light". Later, both Angela and Arthur Petrelli say that Kaito hid "the light" in a child.

Hiro time travels back to when Claire was given to Noah Bennet. Kaito speaks with Ishi about how she is dying and he tells her that he loves her. Ishi then begins to make arrangements for the catalyst and tells Kaito that she would like to give it to Hiro. Kaito disagrees with her and goes to prepare Claire. However, Ishi dies before he is able to arrange the transfer. Kaito finds young Hiro and future Hiro sneaking around his safe and orders the younger version to go to bed. He then tries to kill the older Hiro, believing him to be a thief. Hiro is saved by Daphne and Ando before Kaito can kill him.

Pass/Fail

In Hiro's imagination, Kaito is the judge in his trial. When Adam Monroe reads the charges, Kaito declares that if Hiro is found guilty, the penalty will be death. Hiro asks for a lawyer and Kaito allows Ando to become his son's defendant. Throughout the trial, Kaito listens to everything and takes in all the evidence that he sees and hears. When Hiro steps forward and claims that he knows he messed up but that he has tried to be a hero and make the world a better place, Kaito says that he is sorry and sentences Hiro to death. However, later, when Hiro accepts his fate and asks to change his plea, Kaito encourages Hiro to fight to survive.

Memorable Quotes

"My father is a very stern man. He is very traditional. He follows the rules and is very conservative. He's also very bull-headed. Once he sets his mind on something, he'll never give up. I guess I got my stubbornness from my father."

- Hiro (Blog entry)

"For close to thirty years, I have seen my son as a disappointment. A dreamer who excelled at nothing. It was not until Hiro began this quest that I saw his strength, courage and wisdom. There is a legacy that I am meant to hand down to him. No, I will wait for Hiro to return. I am a man of patience."

- Kaito (to Ando) (Four Months Later...)

"So you think one of us sent these?"

"Yes. For the pain we caused. The people we have killed. There is no end to our suffering. I sought redemption by helping Hiro fulfill his destiny to save the world. How did you help your son?"

- Angela, Kaito (Four Months Later...)

"We have the power of gods. That does not mean we can play God."

- Kaito (to Hiro) (Cautionary Tales)

Notes

• In a deleted scene from Four Months Later, Kaito reveals his "special ability" to Ando. Kaito says he can "see the variables of any situation and predict the outcome." He claims he is faster than a computer and attributes his success in the stock market to this ability. This ability is similar to accelerated probability. In Season Three, this same description is used by Peter to describe Sylar's intuitive aptitude.
• It is unknown whether or not Hiro's grandfather (who survived the attack on Hiroshima) is Kaito's father or father-in-law. (The Crane)
• There is a bit of discrepancy as to Kaito's age when he died. According to his Pinehearst file, he was born April 20, 1937. According to the timeline, Kaito died on March 11, 2007. That would make him 69 years old when he was killed, and about a month and a half shy of his seventieth birthday. However, the US Press headlined his obituary "Yamagato C.E.O. Dead At Age 70". Though this could still mean they rounded up his age.
• According to his family's Pinehearst file, Kaito weighs 145 lbs.

Trivia

• Kaito's limo's license plate is NCC-1701. This is also the registry number of the USS Enterprise from Star Trek. (George Takei was a cast member in the original Star Trek series, where he played the part of Hikaru Sulu, the ship's helmsman.)
• Pinehearst's file on Kaito lists his date of birth as April 20, 1937. This is the same date George Takei, the actor who portrays Kaito, was born.

Gallery

• 
  In 1977, a 40-year-old Kaito orders for Adam Monroe to be locked up.
• 
  In 1992, Mr. Nakamura meets Mr. Bennet on a rooftop location.
• 
  Mr. Nakamura has Hiro abducted and brought to Port Washington Harbor.
• 
  To prevent Hiro from making silly mistakes, Mr. Nakamura destroys a painting.
• 
  Kaito trains Hiro in the way of the sword.
• 
  Kaito overlooks Ando and Kimiko.
• 
  US Press prints Kaito's obituary.

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Kaito Nakamura for fan-created theories and other speculation.