Ando Masahashi
| Ando Masahashi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Portrayed by | James Kyson Lee |
| First appearance | Genesis |
| In-story stats | |
| Known ability | Super Sonic Energy Dispersion |
| Alias | Huggerz69 |
| Nickname | Ando-kun |
| Gender | |
| Home | Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation | Yamagato Industries employee |
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Ando Masahashi is a co-worker and friend of Hiro Nakamura from Tokyo, Japan. Initially, he is skeptical of Hiro's powers, but later shows much stronger faith in them. He also is a subscriber at Niki Sanders's website lasvegasniki.com under the username "Huggerz69", and jokingly dares Hiro to teleport into a women's restroom. Hiro later convinces him of his powers and to travel in the United States fulfilling their "destiny."
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-boyfirend 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 it's owner dead. The two hide from the man in the room, but when the man hears Ando gulp, Hiro teleports them out of the 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 recieves 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.
The Second Coming
Back at Yamagato Industries, Hiro inserts the DVD that his dad had sent him. On the television screen, Hiro's dad tells him that in addition to his fortune, he's left Hiro with a sacred duty to guard a secret being kept in his safe and that he shouldn't open it. Hiro immediately wants to open the safe and Ando tries to counsel him against this course of action. Hiro says he can't go back to being a nobody and that his destiny lies in the safe. He finds a remote, clicks it and it opens a door in front of the safe. The safe has another DVD with dad saying, "I told you not to open the safe." Hiro's dad says it also contains half of a formula. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could destroy the world. Hiro's dad says Hiro needs to guard it with his life. Hiro opens the envelope in the safe and pulls out a piece of paper with half the formula. The piece of paper is snatched out of Hiro's hand. Hiro quickly stops time, and, following a streak left behind, catches up to a woman called Daphne. She appears to be frozen in time, but when the wave vanishes from behind her, her eyes shift, revealing that she can in fact move, even when time has stopped. Daphne, confused, asks Hiro how he caught up to her, asking if he's also a speedster. He explains that he can stop time, and tells her that she stole something from him. Holding up the paper with half of the formula written on it, she stops him from snatching it from her and questions him about his ability. When he doesn't give an answer, she punches him, unfreezing time before she speeds away. Hiro is telling Ando about meeting the speedster. He's wondering what was so important on the paper. Ando tells him to go back to the past and ask his father. Hiro says he's never going to the past again, after what happened last time. Instead, he's going to the future to see what happens. He closes his eyes and opens them on a chaotic city street. He sees himself holding the formula and arguing with Ando. Hiro pulls out his sword. Ando kills future Hiro. Hiro is confused. He runs down the street and as he does so buildings collapse and cars go flying towards him. He closes his eyes and returns to the present. Ando spots him and asks, "Well?" Hiro says, "We gotta find that formula."
The Butterfly Effect
Hiro teleports himself and Ando to Paris to try to find the missing half of the formula stolen by Daphne. When they can't find the formula, Hiro devises a scheme. He takes an award Daphne won and tells her if she wants it back she has to give him the formula she stole. Daphne tries several times to chase Hiro and take the medal from him, but he's able to teleport too quickly for her. She eventually relents and agrees to return it. Hiro gives Ando the medal to give to Daphne, but Daphne tricks them and tries to steal the formula from Ando. Hiro stops time, but not before Daphne puts a knife to Ando's neck. After cutting Ando slightly, Hiro backs down and lets her get away with the formula and her medal. After unfreezing time Ando complains that Hiro's plan failed; however, Hiro reveals that he hid a tracking device on the medal. Hiro tracks her to Germany and teleports them both away.
Memorable Quotes
"I have discovered powers beyond any mere mortal."
"Right. You and Spock.'
"Yes. Like Spock. Exactly."
"Hey, Spock! Use your 'death grip.' Spock! The 'death grip'!
"I wish destiny would lose our number."
"Your father looks angry."
"My father always looks angry."
"But your sister looks hot."
- - Ando, Hiro (Distractions)
"Hiro. You look bad ass."
- - Ando (to Hiro) (How to Stop an Exploding Man)
"Why is saving the world always your responsibility?"
- - Ando (to Hiro) (Truth and Consequences)
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
- Ando Masahashi (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.