Asami Sato

"fire"

- It's alright, people usually assume that I'm daddy's helpless little girl, but I can handle myself.

Asami Sato is a non-bender and the daughter of the wealthy industrialist, Hiroshi Sato. When she discovered that her father was working with the Equalists and he invited her to join him, she decided to stick to her beliefs and turned against him, later becoming part of the new Team Avatar.

History
At a young age, Asami lost her mother during the Agni Kai Triad's break-in and robbery of their mansion. She lived a life of luxury, but despite her fancy clothes and polite manners, she developed a tough side as well. Her father put her in self-defense training at a young age to make sure she would always be able to protect herself. She became an expert driver and a big fan of pro-bending, attending every match.

While riding her moped through Republic City, Asami accidentally ran into Mako when he suddenly appeared from behind a car and crossed the road without looking trying to catch the trolley. In the middle of their ensuing conversation, Asami recognized him as a member of the Fire Ferrets and was very apologetic. To make up for the accident, she invited him to dinner at an upper-class restaurant, even going so far as to make sure he was provided with the proper attire for it.

During their date the following night, she informed Mako that she was a big pro-bending fan and that she had caught all of the Fire Ferrets' matches that season. As she expressed her excitement to see Mako play in the tournament, she learned that the Fire Ferrets had not acquired the amount of money needed to compete. When the waiter arrived carrying their main course, he addressed her as "Miss Sato". It was only then that Mako realized Asami was the daughter of the renowned industrialist, Hiroshi Sato, and she invited him to meet her father.



Asami headed home and told her father passionately about the Fire Ferrets hard earned success in the Pro-bending Arena as well their poor financial state. When she introduced Mako to Hiroshi at Future Industries the next day, she politely cut her father short when he got carried away telling the story of his empire growing from an idea and from one selfless loan, since she wanted him to tell Mako some good news instead; Future Industries was going to sponsor the Fire Ferrets in the championship tournament.

Mako later accompanied Asami to a gala Councilman Tarrlok threw in Avatar Korra's honor, where she was introduced to Korra. She amiably greeted the Avatar, commenting that she had heard so much about her from Mako. However, her polite introduction sparked a rather jealous reaction with Korra.



Her relationship with Mako continued to grow during the ensuing weeks, and during a heart-felt carriage ride through Republic City Park, she rested against Mako, stating that she felt "so safe" with him.

On the morning of the Pro-bending Tournament, Asami entered the gym where the Fire Ferrets had been training and presented the team with their new uniforms. After she affectionately greeted Mako with "sweetie", the two rubbed noses, and they left together to go on a lunch date. Asami was present at every tournament match, keeping an eye on Pabu, and afterwards always came to the locker room to congratulate the team, especially Mako, for their victories.

As the Fire Ferrets entered the ring for the Pro-bending Championship finals, Asami blew Mako a kiss from afar, which he returned with a smile.



After the Equalist attack on the Pro-bending Arena, Asami offered Mako and Bolin a place to stay at her family's estate. However, she had not cleared it with her father first, remarking that it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. When Korra came to visit the next day, Asami took her and the brother to the racetrack where Future Industries test-drove the new Satomobiles. Noticing Korra's interest, she invited the Avatar to take a drive with her. Since Korra did not know how to drive one, she sat behind Asami and together they raced one of the test drivers. After driving in second place nearly the entire course, Asami managed to pass the other driver and won the race. When Asami told Korra that people should not be afraid to mix it up sometimes, Korra apologized for having had a wrong image of her. Asami did not mind, as the majority of people thought of her as a helpless, little, rich girl, whereas she was actually capable of taking good care of herself, being a competitive driver and an expert on self defense moves.

The next day, however, Korra accused Hiroshi of having ties with the Equalists, and, despite their newfound respect for each other, Asami refused to believe her. She rushed to her father's side to show her support and trust for him, claiming that it was not because she and her father were not benders that they immediately had something to do with the Equalists. As Tenzin, Lin, and the Metalbending Police Force continued their investigation of Future Industries, Asami showed complete disapproval and disgust toward them, accusing them of lying just to persecute her father. She aided them nonetheless to show that her father had nothing to hide.



When Lin used her seismic sense to discover a hidden tunnel underneath Hiroshi's workshop, Asami was completely taken off guard. Eager to discover the truth about her father, she wanted to investigate the tunnel, but was halted by Lin who ordered her to stay behind with Mako and Bolin under supervision of Officer Song. After a suspicious sound arose from the tunnel, Mako and Bolin overpowered their guard and headed down to investigate. Again, Asami was asked to stay behind, this time by Mako who wanted to keep her safe. However, Asami did not listen and ventured down anyway, discovering a hidden factory where her father and the Lieutenant were about to assault Mako and her other friends. Hurt and confused, she inquired to know why her dad had chosen to support the Equalists. He told her the benders were responsible for letting her grow up without a mother, and offered her one of his electrified gloves and a place in the Equalist movement. Hesitantly, a conflicted Asami accepted it. However, after telling her dad that she loved him, she used the glove to electroshock him instead of joining him. As the Lieutenant quickly came to Hiroshi's defense, Asami had no trouble knocking one of his kali sticks out of his hand and shock him with the other, successfully incapacitating him, which allowed her to escaped with Korra, Tenzin, Lin, Bolin, and Mako. Heartbroken, she stared at her home from the police airship as they moved away from it, and buried her face against Mako as he came to console her.

Forming Team Avatar


After escaping the factory, Asami, along with Mako and Bolin, moved into Air Temple Island. Korra and Ikki showed Asami her room on the island, where Asami was told by the airbender that Korra also liked Mako. Asami reacted with mild confusion, stating that she was not really aware of that, but decided not to act on it. Later, when the new Team Avatar decided to go on patrolling the city, she offered her Satomobile as a method of transport for the team. Arming herself with the electrified glove her father had given her, she drove the car through the streets. They soon found, chased, and captured several Equalists, much to Tarrlok's dismay. As they continued patrolling the next night, Asami observed Mako and Korra's interaction in the backseat of her Satomobile with suspicion. When Asami and the team arrived to Dragon Flats district and saw a group of non-benders being arrested, Tarrlok ordered to also arrest Asami as she was a non-bender and the daughter of an Equalist. At Mako's attempt to stop the police, she was taken to prison along with her boyfriend and Bolin.

Search for Korra
Asami was freed by Lin Beifong from her prison cell, along with Mako and Bolin. Mako and Asami kissed passionately when they were reunited. Asami then joined Mako, Bolin, Tenzin and Lin, in the search for Korra who they presumed to have been taken by the Equalists. While exploring the underground tunnel system used by the Equalists, Mako was really short with her, prompting her to ask Bolin whether or not Mako's fiery determination to protect Korra stemmed from feelings that exceed the friendship level. Seeing right through the earthbender's evasive answers, she pressed him until he revealed that they had shared a kiss during the Pro-Bending Tournament. He attempted to comfort her by telling her that it probably meant nothing, but Asami was unconvinced.

After discovering that not the Equalists, but Tarrlok was behind Korra's disappearance, she returned with the other to City Hall to expose him. However, Tarrlok escaped, as he incapacitated her and everyone else with his bloodbending. The group was able to locate Korra later that evening when Naga howled at them. Glad to have found the Avatar, Asami was hurt and disturbed to see Mako lovingly care for Korra.

Abilities


Asami is an expert driver, learning through testing her father's Satomobiles, and is fully capable of rivaling Equalist motocyclists. She also learned self-defense when she was little, as her father wanted Asami to be able to protect herself. Her prowess in self-defense was shown to be great enough to easily disarm the Equalists' Lieutenant and knock him out with his own weapon. Using the electrified glove given to her by her father in addition to her self-defense skills, Asami is a formidable opponent when fighting Equalists.

Relatives

 * Hiroshi Sato (father)
 * Mrs. Sato (mother; deceased)

Trivia

 * Asami is a feminine Japanese name; its meaning can change depending on the Kanji used, including "morning sea" (朝海), "morning beauty" (朝美) and "beautiful linen" (麻美). Sato is the most common Japanese surname.
 * Asami's voice actress, Seychelle Gabriel, previously portrayed in .
 * The lineage of the Sato family can be traced back to the first Fire Nation colonists.
 * Despite being part of a family with Fire Nation lineage, Asami has green eyes instead of the standard amber for those of the nation's descent.
 * Although having designed her before watching the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist, Bryan Konietzko stated he was fine with saying that Asami's design was influenced by Lust and is flattered by the fact that people would think so, as "Lust is such a killer design".
 * Asami, like Katara and many others in the series, has lost a parent to a firebender.
 * Asami's femininity serves as a foil to Korra's tomboyish, aggressive tendencies.
 * Regardless, the two seem to convey a balance of traits: just as Asami is seen being bold and adept at combat, Korra is likewise shown to have a softer, more feminine side with a curiosity toward make-up and romance.
 * Asami is the third character, after Zuko and Toph Beifong, to have a father who is antagonistic toward them and their allies.
 * Asami is the first non-bender to join the new Team Avatar, as well as the first non-bender shown opposing the Equalists.
 * Asami is the only member of the new Team Avatar with a confirmed last name.