Hiro Nakamura#Alternate futures
{{Short description|Fictional character on Heroes}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Hiro Nakamura
| series = Heroes
| image =
| caption =
| portrayer = Masi Oka
Garrett Masuda (child, season 1)
Sekai Murashige (child, seasons 2–3)
Mikey Kawata (teenager)
| first = "Genesis"
| last = "June 13th-Part Two" (Heroes Reborn)
| lbl21 = Ability
| data21 = Space-time manipulation, resulting in:
- Chronokinesis
- Time travel
- Teleportation
| alias =
| spouse =
| occupation = Office worker (formerly)
Hired hero
Company CEO
| family = Kaito Nakamura (father)
Kimiko Nakamura (sister)
}}
{{Nihongo|Hiro Nakamura|中村広|Nakamura Hiro|ヒロ・ナカムラ Hiro Nakamura}} is a fictional superhero on the NBC superhero drama Heroes who possesses the ability of space-time manipulation, allowing him to alter the flow of time, teleport and time travel. In the show, he is portrayed by Japanese actor Masi Oka.{{cite web|last=McHenry |first=Jackson |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/06/17/heroes-reborn-claire-sylar-hiro/ |title='Heroes Reborn': Here's who we want back | EW.com |publisher=Popwatch.ew.com |date=2014-06-16 |access-date=2015-04-01}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-sep-12-en-cover12-story.html |title=Our Hiro - latimes |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2007-09-12 |access-date=2015-04-01}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-29-ca-performance29-story.html |title=It's awesome fun, saving the world - latimes |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2006-10-29 |access-date=2015-04-01}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-29-et-heroestracker29-story.html |title=A superhuman love story - latimes |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2007-12-29 |access-date=2015-04-01}}
According to the online comic on NBC.com, Hiro is named after Hiroshima, so his family will always remember the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Tim Kring has been quoted as saying, "It's no coincidence we named him Hiro... he truly is on a hero's quest."{{cite journal|date=October 2006 |title=Everybody's Heroes|journal=TV Guide|volume=October 9–14|pages=30–31}} To this end, his name is often used as a pun. His co-worker and best friend Ando once called him "Super-Hiro" in jest.
Character development
Hiro was one of the last main characters to be created by Tim Kring; he was added to the pilot episode after Kring's wife noticed none of the existing main characters were happy about their powers.{{cite web|last = Popkin | first = Helen A.S. | title = Super Hiro: Japanese nerd is hit of 'Heroes' | publisher = Today.com | date = 2007-02-05| url = https://www.today.com/popculture/super-hiro-japanese-nerd-hit-heroes-wbna16756741 | access-date = 2007-03-03}} During a panel session, Kring explained that he developed Hiro as a comic book geek "trapped in a life that was kind of not of his making". Thus, viewers were introduced to Hiro as an office worker in a sea of cubicles.{{cite web|author=Standler |title=Heroes Execs discuss show's future, LOST, more |publisher=OgMog |date=2007-02-07 |url=http://www.ogmog.com/2007/02/07/heroes-execs-discuss-shows-future-lost-more/ |access-date=2007-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223233531/http://www.ogmog.com/2007/02/07/heroes-execs-discuss-shows-future-lost-more/ |archive-date=2007-02-23 |url-status=dead }} In an interview, Tim Kring noted, "I didn't start off by saying I want a guy who can teleport. I started off by saying I wanted a guy who felt trapped in a life that was not his dream and what could be a power that would be most wish-fulfilling for that character? And that was the ability to teleport out of that life."{{cite web|last=Price |first=Matthew |url=http://newsok.com/article/3109530/1187919929 |title='Heroes' worship Creator of hit TV series says stories driven by characters' lives, not their superpowers |publisher=NewsOK.com |date=2007-08-24 |access-date=2014-02-26}}
Character synopsis
Hiro Nakamura is an office worker living in Tokyo, Japan, working as a level-3 programmer at Yamagato Industries when one day he discovers he has the power to bend time and space. An otaku, Hiro is an avid fan of superheroes and science fiction.{{cite news|last=Yano |first=Greg |title=A Hiro's Welcome: Masi Oka on Asian Stereotypes, Ad-libbing and His Role on NBC's Hit Show 'Heroes' |url=http://www.nichibeitimes.com/articles/stories.php?subaction=showfull&id=1167654960&archive=&start_from=&ucat=3& |newspaper=Nichi Bei Times |date=2007-01-01 |access-date=2008-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624023055/http://www.nichibeitimes.com/articles/stories.php?subaction=showfull&id=1167654960&archive=&start_from=&ucat=3& |archive-date=2008-06-24 |url-status=dead }} Naïve and over-eager, Hiro is the one character that aspires to the pure heroism of comic book crime fighters, shouldering the responsibility to use his powers for good. His best friend is the skeptical Ando Masahashi. At the start, Hiro is only able to speak Japanese and a little English, relying on Ando as his translator; but as the series progresses, his English slowly develops.
Hiro's Blog, maintained by NBC and written from Hiro's point of view,{{cite web |url=http://heroeswiki.com/Hiro%27s_blog |title=Hiro's blog |publisher=Heroeswiki.com |access-date=2015-04-01 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115342/http://heroeswiki.com/Hiro%27s_blog |url-status=dead }} was updated after each new episode aired, usually about the events of the episode.
Reception
UGO Networks listed Hiro as one of their best heroes of all time.{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/tv/badass-tv-makeovers-hiro-nakamura |title=Leveling Up: TV's Most Badass Makeovers |author=UGO Team |date=January 21, 2010 |work=UGO Networks |access-date=April 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219143954/http://www.ugo.com/tv/badass-tv-makeovers-hiro-nakamura |archive-date=February 19, 2011 }} The character has had a mixed reception.{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/id/16756741/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/super-hiro-japanese-nerd-hit-heroes/ |title=Super Hiro: Japanese nerd is hit of 'Heroes' |publisher=TODAY.com |date=2007-04-16 |access-date=2014-02-26}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jZJVaqkPbjwC&q=hiro+nakamura+stereotype&pg=PA151 |title=Investigating Heroes: Essays on Truth, Justice and Quality TV |via=Google Books |date=2011-11-28 |isbn=9780786488681 |access-date=2014-02-26|last1=Simmons |first1=David |publisher=McFarland }}{{cite web|last=Keveney |first=Bill |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-11-19-hiro-main_x.htm |title='Heroes' star Masi Oka living the dream |work=USA Today |date=2006-11-19 |access-date=2014-02-26}}
Malian-French pop singer Aya Nakamura adapted her stage name from the character.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/23/aya-nakamura-interview-french-afropop-reluctant-face-of-empowerment|title=Aya Nakamura: Afropop's reluctant face of empowerment|work=The Guardian|first=Iman|last=Amrani|date=23 January 2019|access-date=23 January 2019}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Heroes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakamura, Hiro}}
Category:Fictional business executives
Category:Fictional characters from Tokyo
Category:Fictional characters who can manipulate time
Category:Fictional characters who can teleport
Category:Fictional Japanese people in television
Category:Fictional swordfighters in television
Category:Heroes (American TV series) characters
Category:Male characters in television
Category:Orphan characters in television
Category:Television characters introduced in 2006