Ando Masahashi
| Ando Masahashi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Portrayed by | James Kyson Lee |
| First appearance | Genesis |
| In-story stats | |
| Known ability | Ability supercharging (synthetic) |
| Aliases | Huggerz69, Sidekick, Crimson Arc, |
| Nicknames | Ando-kun, Dr. Ando, Batman |
| Gender | |
| Home | Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation | Yamagato Industries computer programmer |
| This article contains international text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of the correct international text characters. |
Ando Masahashi is Hiro Nakamura's best friend and co-worker. Initially leading a bored, monotonous life in Tokyo, Japan, Ando and Hiro finally fulfilled their dreams of adventure when Hiro's ability manifested. While Hiro journeys on his quests to save the world from certain destruction; Ando remains at his side, his stalwart companion and sidekick. Initially without abilities, he synthetically gained the ability of supercharging the abilities of others in order to rescue Hiro who was trapped in the past.
Character History
Season One
For an episode-by-episode summary, see Ando Masahashi: Season One History.
Ando is working when Hiro comes running declaring he has a power. Ando is doesn't believe him and goes back to watching Niki on webcam. After work him and Hiro go to a bar where Ando suggests Hiro should use his ability to get into the woman's restroom. Even when Hiro does it, Ando doesn't believe. When Hiro arrives in the future, it is Ando he calls for help, who explains Hiro has been gone for several weeks.
When Hiro returns he convinces Ando to follow him to to New York City by showing him a copy of 9th Wonders! that accurately portrays the conversation he and Hiro are having. The two fly to Los Angeles and then drive to Las Vegas. In Vegas, Ando convinces Hiro to cheat at gambling. When they anger the wrong people the two are beaten up and dumped off at a diner. Ando blames Hiro for their troubles and leaves him and goes to Niki Sanders's house. When she tells him to leave, he returns to Hiro to continue their journey. They attempt to call Isaac, but get Peter and Ando helps translate Peter's message for Hiro. On their way to leave, they are confronted by the high roller they cheated who enlists them in helping him cheat. During the game, a woman comes and kills the other players as Hiro and Ando escape.
As they leave Las Vegas, they see a car accident. After Hiro saves the woman and the man Ando chats with the man's kid. Continuing on to New York, they stop at a diner in Midland, TX and meet a waitress who is then killed. Hiro goes back in time to save her, leaving Ando to wait for him in the Diner. The next day, Ando meets Peter, who has come to the diner, as he waits for Hiro to return. When Hiro returns a day later, he is disappointed because he failed to save Charlie. The two travel to Union Wells High School and arrive too late to save the cheerleader, but instead meet Isaac.
Two weeks later, Ando and Hiro steal a sword from the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. The next day, when the two go to retrieve their rental car, they are kidnapped by a strange man who offers them plane tickets back to Japan, which Ando is impressed by, but Hiro refuses. They are taken to meet Hiro's father. Afterwards, they return to Las Vegas where they attempt to assist a showgirl named Hope. While Hiro doesn't want to go through with it, Ando disagrees and attempts to help her himself. Ando leaves with Hope, driving her to Primm, NV. Hope's ex-boyfriend shows up and fires a gun at Ando, but Hiro saves him with his power.
Back in Las Vegas, Ando, who went against Hiro's wishes to go back to Japan, saves Hiro, allowing him to steal the sword he has been after. As Corinthian guards arrive to stop them, Hiro teleports the two into the future. While looking at pictures the two are confronted by Hiro from the future. Hiro learns that in this future, Ando has died due to the explosion.
They return to the present day in Isaac's apartment where they find its owner dead. The two hide from the man in the room, but when the man hears Ando gulp, Hiro teleports them out of the apartment. They follow the man to his mother's apartment, contemplating killing him. They try, but fail, breaking the sword. After they get it fixed, Hiro trains with his father, while Ando leaves to kill Sylar himself. However, Sylar catches Ando by surprise and starts to cut his neck. Hiro comes to his rescue, taking Ando back to Japan, leaving him there, telling his friend that he must finish the journey on his own.
Season Two
For an episode-by-episode summary, see Ando Masahashi: Season Two History.
Ando is now an assistant for Kaito Nakamura. He is present when Kaito receives his death threat and later witnesses his murder. He is interviewed by Matt Parkman and explains the symbol's meaning.
After seemingly being downgraded to his old job, Ando discovers a message from Hiro on the bottom of the sword. He opens the sword and reads the scrolls that Hiro sent him about his adventures with Takezo Kensei. Ando asks for help reading some of the damaged scrolls. On one scroll, the story abruptly stops, much to the dismay of Ando. Later, Hiro appears in Ando's office where Ando must spoil the joyful reunion with the news of Kaito's death. Days later, Ando speaks with Hiro at Kaito Nakamura's funeral.
At Yamagato Industries, Ando helps Hiro find information about Kensei. Hiro teleports after finding some information about Adam Monroe, leaving Ando alone again. When Hiro suddenly returns, he takes his sword from Ando and teleports away again, leaving Ando to wonder why Hiro feels saving the world is always his responsibility. Days later, Ando asks about Adam and Hiro replies that Adam will no longer harm anybody.
Season Three
For an episode-by-episode summary, see Ando Masahashi: Season Three History.
Evolved Human Abilities
Ando obtained the ability to supercharge others' abilities, which manifests in the form of red energy resembling electricity. He used it to greatly amplify Matt's telepathy, allowing him to hear the thoughts of all New Yorkers, and Daphne's super speed, allowing her to run faster than light and travel backward in time.
In the episode Cold Snap, it is shown that Ando can charge the red energy in the palm of his hand and expel it as a concussive blast outwards. The energy is shown to be strong enough to knock a man, fully geared, backwards several feet. It cannot be discharged quickly, however, as it seems Ando requires at least a small amount of time to build up power.
Equipment
- Ando's sword: A sword taken from Jittetsu Arms. Ando takes it to Isaac's loft to try and kill Sylar. Later, Hiro uses it to stab Sylar at Kirby Plaza.
- Corinthian security gun: Ando uses this gun while disguising himself as a security guard at Corinthian Casino.
- Tracking device: Hiro injects Ando with a GPS device that allows a computer system at the lair to know where he is.
- The Ando-cycle: A motorcycle Hiro buys for Ando, who uses it to impress women.
Memorable Quotes
""Future me" was afraid of causing a rift in the space-time continuum."
"You're talking out of your ass. You don't know how any of this works."
- - Hiro, Ando (Better Halves)
"I wish destiny would lose our number."
"Your father looks angry."
"My father always looks angry."
"But your sister looks hot."
- - Ando, Hiro (Distractions)
"Why is saving the world always your responsibility?"
- - Ando (to Hiro) (Truth and Consequences)
"You're Super Hiro!"
- - Ando (to Hiro) (One Giant Leap)
"I have an ability! Yes; yatta!!"
- - Ando (Dual)
Notes
- Ando speaks fluent English.
- Ando has no moral dilemma with using Hiro's powers for personal gain by gambling.
- Ando's screen name on Niki's website is Huggerz69.
- When Hiro travels back in time six months to save Charlie (possibly changing the timeline), Ando seems to be the only person who remembers the original timeline when Charlie did not know Hiro.
- Ando has a crush on Hiro's sister.
- Ando is a common family name in Japan. Traditionally, Japanese names are written with the family name first and the given name second. If Ando's name were written in this traditional manner, the character's first name would be Masahashi. However, since other characters refer to him as Ando, his given name is probably Ando.
- In Kindred, Ando's name appears in kanji as 安藤.
- One interesting thing to note is the fact that when Japanese people say the word "and" they generally say "ando" because of the kana sound system. This potentially leads to the joke (in Japanese pronunciation) "Hiro ando Ando."
- Ando became a series regular starting with Four Months Later..., the first episode of Season Two.
Trivia
- During Season One, Ando had the most appearances in episodes by a supporting character.
- Ando wore a Members Only jacket in every episode of the first season.
- Week 24 of NBC.com's weekly trivia contest incorrectly identified Ando's last name as "Matsahashi".
See Also
- For Ando Masahashi's history in the "explosion future", see Ando Masahashi (explosion future).
- For Ando Masahashi's history in the "exposed future", see Ando Masahashi (exposed future).
- For images of Ando, see Images of Ando Masahashi.
- For articles related to Ando, see Related Articles:Ando.
Fan Theories
Please refer to Theory:Ando Masahashi for fan-created theories and other speculation.
