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Budo was first released in 1988, and was made available again by mail-order in 1993 as part of the International Action Force set. The set also included Big Bear, Big Ben, and Spirit.
Courtesy of YoJoe.com.
From his original filecard:
File Name: Jesso, Kyle A.
SN: 083-48-1009
Grade: E-5
Birthplace: Sacramento, California
Primary Specialty: Infantry
Secondary Specialty: Hand-to-hand combat instructor
Budo’s father was an orthodontist on Oakland, his grandfather was a farmer in Fresno, his great-grandfather was a track-worker on the Rocky Mountain Line, and his great-great-grandfather was a fencing master in one of the last great samurai warrior families of Japan. On his eighteenth birthday he was given the family swords and a haiku written by his ancestor;
The great sword sheathed
Glitters brightly in the dark
Unseen and at rest
“The man has a fifth-degree black belt in Iaido, (the art of the live blade) and similar rank in three other martial arts. He could have even higher rankings if he didn’t spend so much time working on his chopped, pan-head Harley and listening to heavy metal.”
Courtesy of YoJoe.com.
From the Retaliation “filecard”:
Budo Samurai Warrior is a martial arts master and a gifted sword fighter. He wears armor used by his samurai ancestors. When Cobra ninjas attack, Budo Samurai Warrior is ready to strike with speed and skill.
