Joe Higashi

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 mostly for comic relief. He is currently dating Lilly Kane (the sister of another Fatal Fury and King Of Fighters character Billy Kane, who disapproves greatly of this). 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.

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 Joe got the nickname "Hurricane Upper" Joe Higashi. He seems to have a running gag of sorts where his legend is "just beginning", even though his ending is different throughout the series.

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.

According to Ureshino's personal blog, Joe 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 to Terry's team throughout a lot of King of Fighters tournaments. During the 94 tournament, Andy chose to include Joe as a team member instead of Mai Shiranui, making her feel left out. While Joe never played much of a major role since the defeat of Geese, Joe has proven to be a loyal sidekick to the Bogards, teaming with them in every KOF. He has since become the practical joker amongst the brothers Bogard and their other friends and allies. Joe eventually becomes stronger than his former trainning partner and best friend Andy Bogard. In The King of Fighters series, he developed somewhat of a rivalry with King, a female Muay Thai practicioner that was banned from competing. Joe is seen taunting her with his Muay Thai belt in The King of Fighters '98.

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 battle 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.
 * 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
 * 117th 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
 * Muay Thai - Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle
 * Sharakusee ze - Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture

Voice Actors

 * Katsuhisa Namase - Fatal Fury (2+Special); The King of Fighters '94
 * Nobuyuki Hiyama - Fatal Fury 3~present
 * Masaaki Satake - Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf
 * Jason Gray-Stanford - animated films (English voice)
 * Kazuki Yao - Fatal Fury 2, The King of Fighters '94 Dengeki Bunko drama CD

Live Action Actors

 * Benny Wong - Fatal Fury Special live action commercials

Game Appearances



 * Fatal Fury - playable character
 * Fatal Fury 2 - playable character
 * Fatal Fury Special - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 94 - playable character
 * Fatal Fury 3 - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 95 - playable character
 * Real Bout Fatal Fury - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 96 - playable character
 * Real Bout Fatal Fury Special: Dominated Mind - playable character
 * Real Bout Fatal Fury Special - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 97 - playable character
 * Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 98 - playable character
 * Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition - playable character
 * Fatal Fury: First Contact - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 99 - playable character
 * Capcom vs SNK Pro - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 2000 - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 2001 - playable character
 * The King of Fighters EX - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 2002 - playable character
 * The King of Fighters EX2 - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 2003 - playable character
 * The King of Fighters Neowave - playable character
 * The King of Fighters 98: Ultimate Match - playable character
 * Garou Densetsu The Legend of Wild Wolf - playable character
 * The King of Fighters XII

Anime Appearances

 * Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf
 * Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle
 * Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture