Following her fan favorite turn as Yukio in The Wolverine, Rila Fukushima recurred on the third season of Arrow as Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana. However, she only had one appearance on the show after that…until now.
Green Arrow TV is reporting that Fukushima will reprise her role as Katana in the second episode of Arrow season 8. “Welcome to Hong Kong” is the name of the episode, and it will likely reunite Katana with Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. The season 3 flashback sequences established Katana and her husband, Maseo, as Oliver’s unlikely allies and friends. However, Katana and Maseo separated after the tragic death of their son. In the present day, Katana saved Oliver’s life with help from her estranged husband. However, Maseo proved to be too loyal to the League of Assassins. Katana was forced to kill her former lover in combat.
In the fourth season, Katana briefly resurfaced as the guardian of the Lotus elixir. She briefly fought Nyssa al Ghul before surrendering it after learning it was for Oliver’s sister, Thea.
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Presumably one of the reasons Katana hasn’t been featured since is because of the Suicide Squad movie. All of the show’s Suicide Squad characters were downplayed or written out. Karen Fukuhara portrayed Katana in Suicide Squad, but she hasn’t been confirmed to return for The Suicide Squad in 2021.
Fukushima’s post-Arrow gigs have included guest spots on Game of Thrones and Blindspot. She also appeared as the Red Robed Geisha in Ghost in the Shell.
Are you excited to see Rila Fukushima reprise her role as Katana? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Katana Vol. 1: Soultaker
