Rila Fukushima To Replace Devon Aoki As Katana In Arrow
By Steve Lam
Deadline reports that Rila Fukushima has replaced Devon Aoki as Tatsu Yamashiro, aka Katana, in Season Three of The CW’s Arrow. A little over two months ago it was reported that Devon Aoki would play the katana-wielding mentor to Oliver Queen. But it seems that due to scheduling conflicts, Aoki will not be able to commit to the recurring guest role.
Have no fear, the role is in good hands because Fukushima, like Aoki, has had some previous superhero-related experience. She played the role of Yukio in 2013’s The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman. Before her work in film and television, Fukushima was a fashion and print model for various brands and advertising campaigns.
This will be the first live-action incarnation of Katana. Past incarnations outside of the comics have all been animated. These appearances included the television showsBatman: The Brave and the Bold and Beware the Batman. And animated moviesSuperman/Batman: Public Enemies and Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, the latter with her appearing as an alternate evil version known as Sai.
The character history of Katana has more supernatural implications than what has been shown in Arrow. In her origin story, Tatsu Yamashiro, an expert in the martial arts, is wooed by two brothers — Maseo and Takeo. When she chooses to marry Maseo, Takeo is driven into a jealous rage and joins the Yakuza. Rising in rank within the criminal organization, Takeo procures two swords where one of them is imbued with magical properties. Still bent on revenge for Tatu’s rejection, Takeo forces Maseo to partake in a duel to the death where the prize for winning will be Tatsu. During the fight, a fire starts. Maseo, distracted by the cries of his children, is killed by Takeo. Tatsu witnesses the slaying and disarms Takeo. As Tatsu tries to save her children, Maseo’s voice, coming from the sword, tells her that they have already died. Tatsu goes on to train as a samurai under a master named Tadashi. After completing her training, Tatsu leaves for America and uses her skills to fight for justice under the name Katana — her sword and the object that contained her husband’s soul. The sword also contains the souls of people she later kills which is why the blade is given the name “Soultaker.”
It is well-known that Arrow has been a much more realistic take on the superhero genre akin to The Dark Knight Trilogy. Since Katana’s reality deals with magic and the supernatural, Arrow fans may be asking, “How will Arrow‘s universe handle a magical talking sword?” One of my guesses would be “Deathstroking” it. What does that mean? Perhaps Katana is slightly schizophrenic and “hears” her husband through the object that was used to kill him. Maybe she’s a little psychotic from seeing the death of her whole family and losing everything. But then again, The Flash also exists in Arrow‘s universe now, so supernatural events may not be that big of a stretch. What we do know is that Katana will appear as one of Oliver’s mentors in his regular flashbacks.
Season 3 of Arrow will premiere on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at 8:00PM EST on The CW.