Asami Sato

"URN"

- It's all right. People usually assume that I'm daddy's helpless little girl, but I can handle myself.

Asami Sato is the only child of the former wealthy industrialist, Hiroshi Sato. Although a non-bender, when she discovered that her father was working with the Equalists and he invited her to join him, she stuck to her beliefs and turned against him, later becoming part of the new Team Avatar. She has now become the new leader of Future Industries, planning to bring the company back to the peak of economic dominance and restore its reputation.

Background
When Asami was six, her mother was killed during a break-in and robbery of their mansion by the Agni Kai Triad. However, the fact that her father forever held a grudge against all benders for her death was unknown to young Asami. After her mother's murder, Hiroshi had Asami trained by the best self-defense teachers money could buy to ensure she would always be able to protect herself. As she grew, she lived a life of luxury, but despite her fancy clothes and polite manners, Asami also developed a tough side and is unafraid to stand up for what she believes in. Along with her hand-to-hand combat skills, she also became an expert driver due to her testing Satomobiles for her father's company. She was also a big fan of pro-bending, attending every match she could.

Meeting Mako
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 team 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 passionately told her father 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 at City Hall, 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 from 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.

Supporting the Fire Ferrets
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, to Korra's slight annoyance.

Gaining Korra's approval


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 brothers to the racetrack where Future Industries test-drives its 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 win the race. When Asami told Korra that people should not be afraid to mix it up sometimes, Korra apologized for having judged her so quickly. Asami did not mind, as the majority of people thought of her as a helpless rich girl when she was actually quite capable of taking good care of herself, being a competitive driver and an expert in self-defense techniques.

A startling discovery
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 defense, claiming that they not being benders did not imply they supported the Equalist movement, even calling Amon and his supporters "monsters". 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 Hiroshi was innocent of any wrongdoing.



When Lin used her seismic sense to discover a hidden tunnel underneath Hiroshi's workshop, Asami was completely taken aback. Desperate to know the truth, she wanted to investigate the tunnel herself, but was halted by Lin who ordered her to stay behind with Mako and Bolin under supervision of Officer Song for safety. After a suspicious sound came 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 the hidden factory where her father and the Lieutenant were about to attack Mako and her other friends. Completely heartbroken upon discovering her father's true allegiances, she sadly asked him why he had chosen to support Amon. Hiroshi told her that benders stole the love of his life and were responsible for her growing up without a mother. Believing that benders had completely ruined the world and that Amon would change things for the better, he took off one of his electrified gloves and offered it to her, hoping that she would join him as part of the Equalists. Hesitating, a deeply conflicted Asami accepted it. However, after telling her dad that she loved him, she used the glove to electroshock him, completely surprising Mako, Korra and the others as her father tumbled to the ground. As the Lieutenant quickly came to Hiroshi's defense, Asami had no trouble knocking one of his kali sticks out of his hand and shocking him with the other, successfully incapacitating him, which allowed her to escape with Korra, Tenzin, Lin, Bolin, and Mako. Heartbroken, she stared at her home from the police airship as they made their way back to the city. Mako came to console her and she buried her face into the firebender's body.

Forming Team Avatar


After escaping the factory, Asami, along with Mako and Bolin, moved to 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 Team Avatar decided to patrol the city, she offered her Satomobile as a method of transport for the team when Naga refused to carry the group. Arming herself with the electrified glove her father had given her, she drove the car through the streets. Using a police monitor that her father installed, 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 at the Dragon Flats borough and saw a group of non-benders being arrested, Tarrlok ordered to arrest Asami too 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.

Searching for Avatar Korra


Asami was also freed from her prison cell by Lin Beifong, along with Mako and Bolin. Mako and Asami kissed passionately when they were reunited. Soon after, she joined Mako, Bolin, Tenzin, and Lin in the search of Korra, who Tarrlok claimed had been taken by the Equalists. While exploring the underground tunnel system used by the Equalists, Mako was very short with Asami, prompting her to ask his brother Bolin whether or not Mako's determination to protect Korra stemmed from strong feelings for her. Seeing right through the earthbender's evasive answers, she pressed him until he admitted that Mako and Korra shared a kiss during the Pro-bending Tournament. Asami was taken aback at the revelation. Bolin tried to downplay the kiss but Asami expressed doubt that it meant nothing.

After discovering that the Equalists did not take Korra and that Tarrlok was behind Korra's disappearance, she returned with the others to City Hall to expose him. However, Tarrlok escaped after he incapacitated Asami and everyone else with his bloodbending. The group was able to locate the Avatar later that evening when they found Naga howling while roaming the streets, carrying a weakened Korra. Although Asami was glad to have found Korra without major injuries, she was crestfallen seeing how concerned and caring Mako was with Korra, when Mako pushed the group overcrowding Korra out of the way and carried the Avatar in his arms. Asami looked on with sadness and pain-filled eyes as Mako set Korra down on Oogi and gently brushed her hair from her face.

The Equalist attack


After finding Korra, Asami and the rest of Team Avatar returned to Air Temple Island to rest. After a meal, Asami offered to help Pema clean the table, which the latter accepted gladly. When Mako entered the kitchen, asking for hot water to make tea for Korra, an irritated Asami suggested he should heat it himself because he was a firebender. Sensing tension between the couple, Pema left the room, allowing them to talk. She expressed her concern for the way Mako had been treating Korra and told him that she knew he had kissed the Avatar, and implored Mako to be honest about any feelings he had for Korra. When the firebender asked her if they could deal with their relationship problems later, Asami left the kitchen, stating coldly that "there might not be any relationship to worry about later". Asami subsequently lost trust in Mako.

Later, when the Equalists began attacking Republic City, Asami assumed her position as the driver of Team Avatar's Satomobile. She made the automobile crash into several mecha tanks, disabling them, and knocked out several Equalists with little trouble and saving Tenzin. Asami then went into hiding with the rest of Team Avatar until the United Forces arrived.

Confronting her father


After Korra and Mako returned from a reconnaissance mission, Asami told them that they had taken a long time with a tone of annoyance. After being reminded by Mako that it was indeed reconnaissance, Asami replied with an irritated "whatever". Gommu then served Asami and the team some street gruel, which according to Gommu was made from the scraps of the finest dumpsters the city had to offer. As he said this, Asami was taking her first bite. She became visibly sickened by this, and proceeded to spit it out. She then sneakily put her bowl on the ground for Pabu to eat. She was present when General Iroh had Gommu send a telegram to fellow Commander Bumi to halt his advance to the capital. After agreeing to take out the Equalist airfield, Korra decided to boldly attack Amon in an ambush by herself. When Mako insisted on accompanying Korra, Asami realized that Mako cannot help his feelings for Korra. Before Mako and Korra head out to face Amon, Mako pulled her aside to apologize for their messed-up relationship and to let her know how much he still cared for her. Asami told him that she cared about him too and kissed him on the cheek, ending their romantic relationship on a good note. She then ran to accompany Bolin and Iroh on the mission to wipe out the airfield.



The trio arrived at the field on Naga. As they approached the field, Asami wondered why there were only fence posts visible. It turned out to be an electric fence, causing the three to be electrically stunned, and when they came to, they were enclosed in a cell. Hiroshi arrived to apologize for hurting Asami, and he also expressed his hope that she would "come to her senses," so they could be a family once again.

However, Asami coldly rebuffed Hiroshi, asking him how they could be a family again after what he had done and telling him that her mother would hate him for what he had become. Hiroshi immediately lost his temper with Asami, shouting at her that he was avenging his wife's death. He gloated to Iroh that he had intercepted his message to Bumi and that his airplanes would destroy the fleet before they ever came near the city. After he left, Naga charged in and broke the trio out of prison. As Iroh hijacked an Equalist biplane to pursue the other airplanes, Bolin started destroying the runways with his earthbending while Asami ran into the hanger and hopped in a mecha tank, happily noting that the controls were similar to a Future Industries forklift. She then proceeded to destroy the remaining aircraft inside the hanger. As she was doing this, her father arrived in another mecha tank, ordering her to stop "aiding the people who took her mother away". Again, Asami stated that he was not doing what he was doing out of love for her mother anymore, but out of hatred for all benders. Her words and further rejection of him then send Hiroshi into a blind rage and he proceeded to violently attack her. Asami tried to defend herself, but Hiroshi quickly managed to knock her into one of the planes. After breaking the glass of her mecha tank's cockpit, he prepared to kill her, bellowing that he now saw she was beyond saving.



However, before it could come to pass, Bolin rode in on Naga, launching earth projectiles at Hiroshi's mecha and calling Hiroshi a horrible father. This attack, combined with a powerful punch from Asami's mecha, effectively put Hiroshi's mecha out of commission. Hiroshi then vainly attempted to escape on foot. Agreeing with Bolin had said, Asami fired an electric bola at her father, capturing him and ending the fight.

At the South Pole
Asami was present as Katara attempted to restore Korra's bending at the Southern Water Tribe compound and watched her emerge from the room with a sad appearance. She was also present when Korra restored Lin Beifong's bending abilities. She smiled when Tenzin addressed Korra as "Avatar Korra".

Post-revolution
Following the arrest of her father, Asami assumed leadership of Future Industries and is working to reclaim its position as the top business conglomerate in Republic City. She was seen landing a modified biplane. Upon getting out, she declared the planes ready for public availability. The employee Asami is with tells her that it is great, however, due to Hiroshi's involvement with the Equalists, other companies have proven reluctant to invest in them or do any kind of business with them at all, prompting Asami to travel to the South Pole in order to acquire leverage and avoid bankruptcy.

Personality


Asami is a sweet and caring young woman, yet she is also independent and capable of fending for herself in tough situations. Even though she is quite used to luxury due to her wealthy background, she does not think of herself as "Daddy's little girl", despite what some may think,  and maintains a humble and modest demeanor, using her wealth and fortunate ability to help others.

Although the murder of her mother at the hands of a bender could instigate a hatred toward them, Asami's high morality and judgment prevented her from developing any prejudice against benders in general. She was able to choose the moral high ground above the only family ties she still had left, her father, showcasing her strong character.

Despite having a friendly personality, Asami has shown a capacity for jealousy that surfaced when she saw indications of romance between Mako and Korra. However, her remarkable character resurfaced once again in the face of hardships -in this case of the romantic type- and, although hurt and offended, Asami showed no spite toward Korra even when she was threatening to steal her boyfriend. Her caring nature is still prevalent, shown even after her break up with Mako, she wishes him well before he embarks on a dangerous mission.

Combat


To compensate for her lack of bending abilities, Asami is revealed to be highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat; since she was little, her father put her in self-defense classes so she could learn to protect herself. Her prowess 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, easily being able to take out five of them with little effort just by using an electrified glove to stun them.

Driving
Asami is an expert driver, learning through testing her father's Satomobiles, and is fully capable of rivaling Equalist motorcyclists. Furthermore, Asami seems to be well-versed in controlling any other vehicle engineered by Future Industries, such as forklifts and mecha tanks.

Appearances
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Book One: Air (气)
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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 (佐藤) is the most common Japanese surname.
 * Asami's voice actress, Seychelle Gabriel, previously portrayed Princess 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.
 * Bryan Konietzko conceived her as a Hollywood Golden Age actress in the Avatar World, with her hair inspired by Rita Hayworth. 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". He did, however, say that he used Lust's lipstick color for Asami.
 * Asami, like Katara, has lost her mother to a firebender at a young age.
 * 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. Unlike Korra, Asami is shown to be more stoic, and prefers to think before acting.
 * Asami is the third character, after Zuko and Toph Beifong, to have joined the Avatar and to have a father who is antagonistic toward them and their allies.
 * Asami's relationship with her father and history parallels Zuko's such that both their fathers were a part of the series' antagonist. To begin with, they both had to live in the absence of a caring mother. Once Asami, like Zuko, realizes the cruelty of which her father is a part of, she had to choose between helping her father or joining the Avatar; Asami chooses to join the Avatar in ending that cruelty. The actions of their respective fathers led to a loss of their high social status for a period of time. Both Asami and Zuko become sickened by their respective fathers' goals. Both of their fathers wanted to kill their own children for refusing to help their respective causes: Ozai was willing to kill Zuko after the latter makes the Fire Nation's cruelty known, while Hiroshi wanted to kill his daughter for refusing to take part in his revenge. Asami and Zuko renounced their desires for their fathers' love: Asami because her father was consumed by hatred and Zuko because of his father's lust for power. A key difference, however, is that Asami almost immediately rejected her father, while Zuko strived for a long time to regain his father's love, impossible as it was. Also, Asami and Zuko both view their fathers as the worst fathers. Both children duel their own fathers as their fathers prepare to kill them for acts of defiance. Also, like Zuko, Asami assumes her father's mantle after his defeat and during his imprisonment. Moreover, Asami tries to restore the honor of Future Industries similar to how Zuko tried to restore the honor of his country.
 * Asami's relationship with her father is also similar to Teo's in the respect that they discover that their fathers were secretly building weapons for a cause that their children opposed.
 * 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 to have a confirmed last name, and the fourth character overall in The Legend of Korra with a confirmed last name.
 * Meelo seems to have a crush on her, as shown when he called her a "beautiful woman" and when he asked for a piece of her hair.
 * Her break-up with Mako in "Skeletons in the Closet" is similar to the break-up scene at the ending of the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, where Knives Chau tells Scott Pilgrim to pursue Ramona Flowers, and then ends their romantic relationship on a good note with a kiss on the cheek. Interestingly, Ramona was featured on Bryan Konietzko's tumblr during the season finale weekend. The movie also featured Mae Whitman (who voiced Katara in the first Avatar series) as antagonist Roxie Richter.
 * The concept art for Book Two: Spirits at San Diego Comic-Con 2012 showed Asami wearing a pilot's outfit. This notable achievement as the only known woman to pilot an aircraft in the Avatar universe could be compared to Amelia Earhart, the first woman to pilot an aircraft solo.
 * In the Greek dub of The Legend of Korra, Asami is voiced by the same voice actor that provides the voice of Pema.