Ukano

"fire"

- We'll return the Fire Nation to greatness by returning Fire Lord Ozai to his throne.

Ukano was the first and only Fire Nation governor of New Ozai, originally Omashu, appointed by Fire Lord Ozai himself. The father of Mai and Tom-Tom, he cared greatly for his family but was a weak ruler whose faulty assumptions often led to poor decisions. Career-minded and deeply loyal to Ozai, Ukano accepted neither his forceful deposition as governor in 100 AG, nor the new Fire Nation government under Fire Lord Zuko. Therefore, he founded the subversive New Ozai Society, an act that would lead to the breakup of his beloved family.

Governor of New Ozai
Ukano masterminded the Surrender of Omashu, and as a reward for his role, he was appointed governor of the newly subjected city, later renamed New Ozai by Princess Azula in honor of her father. He moved there with his wife Michi, his daughter Mai, and his infant son Tom-Tom.



In order to escape Ukano's rule, Sokka helped the citizens of New Ozai devise a plan that would allow them to willingly leave the city. Using the suckers of the purple pentapus, they covered their bodies with the pentapus' distinctive red marks. Feigning illness, the citizens converged on the city guards. The governor ordered the citizens to be driven out of the city, thinking there was a plague. The following night, Mai's family discovered that Tom-Tom had disappeared. Believing that the resistance had kidnapped his son, Ukano, full of anger and despair about his son's fate, lamented that the resistance was "so clever, so tricky". Eventually, he sent a messenger hawk to the resistance members, offering to trade King Bumi, the former ruler of Omashu, for his son.

The next day, however, Princess Azula unexpectedly arrived in the city. She met with Ukano and berated him for acting foolishly due to the chain of events that occurred during the previous day. The governor humbly and desperately asked for forgiveness, also addressing the planned trade for his son. Despite all his excuses, Azula forced Ukano to stay in the palace, so he did not had "a chance to mess [the trade] up". Nevertheless, the hostage trade failed, causing Ukano and Michi to sink into despair, deeply fearing for their infant son's life. However, to their utmost joy, an unknown went to the governor's house and secretly returned Tom-Tom later on in the night.

Founding the New Ozai Society
When the Day of Black Sun arrived, King Bumi liberated Omashu, effectively ending Ukano's control of the city and forcing him to flee Omashu. He returned to the Fire Nation Capital.



Following Zuko's ascension to the throne, Ukano was offered a position in the new government, though he declined, dismissing the desk job to be beneath him as well as a way for Zuko to control him. Believing Zuko to be an usurper, the former governor concluded that the only way to restore what he saw as the Fire Nation's "greatness" was to return Ozai to the throne. To that end, he founded the New Ozai Society and brought his son, Tom-Tom, along with him to meetings in order to teach him the "duties of Fire Nation citizenship". Hoping that Mai would also join his cause after her break up with Zuko in 101 AG, believing that her knowledge about Zuko would give the society the edge it needed to take him down, he tasked a member of the society, Kei Lo, to bring her to a meeting. He tried to convince his daughter of the righteousness of his goal, though after she reunited with her brother and took a look around at the violence displayed against effigies of Zuko, she refused to join them, announcing that she and Tom-Tom would be leaving. Ukano ordered the society members to capture his children without harm, though he was left alone after Mai easily overpowered them. As she walked out with Tom-Tom, he urged her to stay, though to no avail. Following the incident, Ukano was left by his wife, as she blamed him for caring more about politics than the safety of their children.

One night in 102 AG, Ukano awoke in his house upon hearing his name being called. To his disbelief, he discovered the intruders to be the Kemurikage, who labeled him a "failure" and a "disgrace", though nonetheless offered him the chance to redeem himself by deposing Zuko lest he would suffer. Terrified, Ukano dismissed the Kemurikage as fables, though they countered that they were the truth.

Following the Kemurikage's warning, Ukano addressed the members of the New Ozai Society, lamenting about how strong and safe the Fire Nation had once been. Emphasizing how they had all been patiently waiting for the day they could dethrone the "impostor" Zuko, he announced that their moment was near and explained how the Fire Lord would be vulnerable the following day during his journey from Harbor City to the royal palace due to only being accompanied by a small group of his friends. After inspiring the members to kill Zuko and "restore the Fire Nation to glory", Ukano retreated to his quarters, where he was confronted by Kei Lo, who expressed his doubts about his leader's plan, reiterating Ukano's previous statements that they would need at least six months to properly prepare for the endeavor. As Kei Lo pointed out that there would likely be more security on the day of the Fire Lord's return to the city, Ukano admitted that he had had a "premonition" that prevented them from waiting any longer, as he believed their nation to be in "grave danger", and it was the responsibility of the New Ozai Society to provide safety, which could "only be born out of strength".

Trivia

 * Avatar Extras for "Return to Omashu" revealed that Ukano is not a firebender. However, in Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth, he was a boss battle and depicted as being a powerful firebender.
 * Ukano ambition is similar to Hirishi Sato. Both of them asked their daughters to join their goals. As Hirishi wanted Asami to join the Equalises and Ukano wanted Mai to join the New Ozai Society.