(last updated: 07/01/21)Japan's Showa era began with the ascension of Hirohito to the throne in 1926. Hungry to cement his role as a world leader, Hirohito attempted to consolidate power by annexing part of China. His military campaign was largely successful, but ran into problems when encountering the guards of the Puyi, deposed ruler of the Qing Dynasty. Though outnumbered, Puyi's guards nonetheless attained victory against the invading Japanese with their mastery of the then-strange art of Bajiquan (Hakkyokuken).
Emperor Hirohito was determined to harness the skills of Hakkyokuken for his own men. He ordered the creation of an elite assassin force, to plunder the secrets of Hakkyokuken as their own, and to carry out secret missions on the Emperor's behalf. The leaders of this shadowy force, known as the "Judgement Six," would go on to insinuate themselves into corporations all across eastern Asia -- as corporate officials, as military masterminds, as martial arts trainers. And even though Hirohito may have passed, the Judgement Six have fought for the Emperors since, quietly moving chess pieces around the board to eliminate all enemy combatants, and to pave the path for a chastened Japan to emerge from its ashes, as a fiery phoenix to rule all.
See also: VIRTUA FIGHTER CHALLENGES