Most Overwatch 2 fans will know the story of Genji and Hanzo, as it is one of the most interesting bits of lore in the franchise. In hopes of seizing control of the Shimada clan, Hanzo killed his own brother - or so he thought. As shown in the Dragons animated short, Genji survived, going on to be a heroic cyborg ninja that joined Overwatch. Though it remains to be seen if the brothers can repair their fractured relationship, it likely never would have reached that point it their father had stayed alive.
Based on what Overwatch 2 fans know about Sojiro Shimada, he was an honorable man in a dishonorable line of work. An imperfect figure that showed favoritism to one of his sons, Sojiro could have gone about things better than he did, though he clearly imparted some valuable lessons before he was killed. It is unclear if Blizzard will ever provide more lore for him, but the existing info on Sojiro is intriguing as is.
Sojiro’s Impact on Hanzo and Genji
First and foremost, it is important to recognize that there were certain lines Sojiro would not cross. While he was a powerful man with ties to assassination rings, drug running, and arms dealing, he refused to join the Talon organization when they attempted to recruit him. Sojiro believed that every partnership must align with the values of himself and his people, and a terrorist organization was not something he supported. This could help explain why Genji went on to join a group that actively fought against Talon, and why Hanzo never joined up with the faction.
Though Kiriko’s mother Asa trained both Genji and Hanzo to be skillful fighters, Sojiro certainly seemed to favor Genji. Despite Genji focusing purely on entertainment and not taking the business of the Shimada clan seriously, he was given break after break and was consistently spoiled. Hanzo, on the other hand, received little special treatment. This has resulted in Hanzo wondering if his father loved him less and pondering whether Sojiro would be proud of him, something he relays to Ana in an Overwatch 2 conversation.
Part of the tough treatment Hanzo received likely had to do with the fact that he was being groomed to be the next leader of the Shimada empire. By giving Hanzo a harsher, less passionate upbringing, Sojiro was likely expecting it to keep him focused on the clan and make him a more formidable businessman. Sadly, it resulted in a deep jealousy for Genji, something that would lead to Hanzo betraying and nearly murdering his brother.
Unfortunately, Sojiro was assassinated by the Hashimoto clan, a rival group that sought control of Kanezaka. Following his death, they achieved their goal, and the Hashimotos ruled uncontested until Kiriko became Kanezaka’s protector. Had the clan elders not pushed Hanzo to kill Genji, one of them would have been leading the Shimadas and could have potentially fought back against the Hashimoto clan. Unfortunately, this was not meant to be, with Hanzo running off in disgust once he believed his brother was dead. With Sojiro not around to guide his sons and put some cruel clan elders in their place, tragedy struck almost instantly, showing how good of a leader he must have been.
Sojiro left one son conflicted and the other with good thoughts of his father, but for better or worse, he played a key part in shaping the personalities of two beloved Overwatch characters. While it remains to be seen what the future holds for his sons, many fans are hoping that they will resolve things peacefully and fight side by side against Ramattra’s Omnic uprising.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
