Joe Higashi

From SNK Wiki

Joe Higashi
Joe Higashi in The King of Fighters XII.
Profile
Full name	Joe Higashi
Birthdate	March 29, 1972; 21 years old (Fatal Fury 2), 24 years old (Real Bout Special), 23 years old (KOF)
Birthplace	Japan
Height	180 cm (5'10")
Weight	71 kg (157 lbs)
Blood type	AB
Family/Relatives	Lilly Kane (girlfriend), Father (who was a former Muay Thai champ)
Job/Occupation	Fighter
Likes	His headband
Dislikes	Dressing up
Hobbies	Kenka (quarreling/drunken brawling)
Favorite food	Fried crocodile
Forte in sports	All types of combat
Special skill	Taunting at enemy
Most unpleasant	Dressing up
Fighting style	Muay Thai

Joe Higashi (ジョー・ヒガシ or 丈東, Jō Higashi) is a character in both the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series, used mainly for comic relief. He is currently dating Lilly Kane, a relationship which her brother greatly disapproves.

In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Joe was voted as the staff's thirty-ninth favorite character. He shared the spot with four other characters, including Fatal Fury character, Jin Chonrei, and Street Fighter character, Zangief. In the character popularity poll on Neo Geo Freak's website, he was voted as the second favorite character with a total of 3,654 votes.

Story

Fatal Fury

Although Joe's place of origin is Japan, he spent the majority of his time at Thailand, where he trained Muay Thai. It was through his victories that he earned the nickname "Hurricane Upper" Joe Higashi. He seems to have a running gag of sorts where his legend is "just beginning" in his endings throughout the series.

Joe Higashi as seen in the Fatal Fury OVA

After Joe earned his title as the Muay Thai champion, he heads to South Town to prove himself in the King of Fighters tournament. On his way, he spots Andy and Terry Bogard, who were on the hunt for their father's killer, Geese Howard. As soon as he informs them that Geese is hosting the tournament, they became steadfast companions. In the tournament, he met with a bitter Hwa Jai and was able to defeat him. After this, they eventually became friends and rivals back in Thailand. In his ending for Fatal Fury 2, he also avenged Hwa's defeat by Wolfgang Krauser.

Before the events of Fatal Fury 3, he learns about the Jin brothers and Yamazaki and asks Hwa to come with him to South Town. Sometime after these events, he humorously takes Lilly Kane away from her brother since Geese was out of action. As a call back to this, Billy "rescues" her in his Real Bout ending.

Joe in the Mark of Wolves timeline was busy protecting his title in the Muay Thai championship. According to Ureshino's personal blog, he gained an apprentice in the yet to be released Mark of Wolves sequel from the old SNK team. Her name, as mentioned by Terry and Andy, was "Kwan" and she even had a finished idle sprite. Her age wasn't particularly stated though he comments that she was a particularly "cute lady".

The King of Fighters

Joe is a mainstay of Terry's team throughout most of the King of Fighters tournaments. He is often the motivating factor in getting Terry and Andy to join with him as a team. In this series, he developed somewhat of a rivalry with King. Joe is seen taunting her with his Muay Thai belt in The King of Fighters '98. In 2001, he enters the tournament with hopes to use the prize money to keep a gym from closing down.

He is absent from KOF XI because a Muay Thai tournament is being held at the same time.

Personality

At first, Joe was a stoic character who lived for fighting and training. As time passed, he became a pretty goofy man who self-proclaims himself to be a genius with mostly everything. He doesn't take battles as serious as the Bogards, but he loves to fight. If Joe could, he would fight every fighter he sees. He loves the spotlight and the glory of victory.

Powers

Hurricane Attack: He can create a small hurricane that moves forward with an uppercut. He named this attack Hurricane Upper. The stronger version is Screw Upper.
Multiple Attacks: He can deliver several punches at almost the same time.
Energy Attack: He can use energy to increase damage of his kicking and kneel attacks.
Explosive Punch: Joe can deliver a punch of tremendous strength that explodes upon contact.

Skills

Survival: Joe learned his way to survive in Thailand's jungles.

Fighting Style

Joe uses traditional Muay Thai moves.

Music

Chotto Koikki na Kenka Yarou (A Somewhat Stylish Brawling Punk) - Player VS. Player BGM from Fatal Fury, shared with Andy and Terry.
Thai nanbu no tsutaetai atarashii shi - Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special
Wani no Mi - Fatal Fury 3, Real Bout Fatal Fury
Thai nanbu ni tsutawatta sp no shi - Real Bout Fatal Fury Special and Real Bout Fatal Fury 2
Napolitan Blues - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters '94
Club M ~Flute in the Sky~ - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters '95
Big Shot - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters '96
The River - Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition
Kurikinton ~Gomame Guitar Ver.~ - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters '98
176th Street - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters '99
Terry 115 - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters 2000
All OK! - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters 2001
Kurikinton (Chestnuts and Mashed Sweet Potatoes) - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters 2002
Prolongation - Fatal Fury Team theme in The King of Fighters 2003
Sun Shine Glory - The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
Muay Thai - Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle
Sharakusee ze - Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture