In the world of Cyberpunk 2077, Arasaka corporation is one of the most prolific megacorporations. A world-wide megacorporation with headquarters in Tokyo dealing in corporate security, banking and manufacturing, they had 1 million employees in 2020, and their value at that time was 475 billion Eurodollars.

In comparison, the other prominent Night City megacorp Militech, is valued at 432 billion Eurodollars. Arasaka is most likely a reference to Arisaka, a style of rifle produced in 1907 by colonel Arisaka Nariakira.

Arasaka wields more financial power than any other single corporation and use ruthless means to retain their power including blackmail, extortion, and bribery. They also mask their illicit and dark activities with top-tier cyber-assassins and netrunners, the best lawyers and connections with powerful crime syndicates like the Yakuza.

Arasaka itself specializes in protective services and the distribution of their Japanese made products throughout North America.

Arasaka’s History

Founded in the late 1800s, early 1900s by Sasai Arasaka in Tokyo Japan, Arasaka got it’s big break leveraging the World War to increase their global reach after forecasting that Japan would lose, forcing them to inevitably spread out across the world.

This was spearheaded by Sasai who was smart enough to diversify his holdings around the world. Had he have doubled down in Japan, Arasaka surely would have perished or taken a significant market hit.

Sasai died in 1960 and his son Saburo, a former Leuitenant in the Japanese Navy, took control of the company. He is referenced to as a Corporate God for his role in creating arguably the most powerful divison of Arasaka, the Arasaka security division.

By the mid 1990s this security division had skyrocketed to one of the best in the world and had personnel involved in some of the most powerful corporations. 1994 brought a world market collapse, and Saburo’s tact and decision making led Arasaka to create a private paramilitary organization in the meantime.

Kei Arasaka, Son of Saburo became the CEO of Arasaka sometime before 2020 although he was just a proxy for Saburo’s decisions. It’s not known why Kei was introduced. Maybe it was to take some heat of Saburo, or as a means to hand off the company to Kei.

Arasaka in 2077

After the subsequent fallout from the 4th Corporate Ware and Arasaka was banished back to Japan, the corporation split into 3 warring factions: Kiji, which was led by Hanako Arasaka; Hato, led by Michiko Arasaka (Kei’s daughter) and Taka which is the rebel faction led by Yorinobu Arasaka. These 3 factions were split for years up until the events of the Unification War.

*Konpeki Plaza, an Arasaka HQ in Night City in Cyberpunk 2077*

Arasaka in 2077 is currently a mystery. They have returned to prominence in Night City due to the events of the Unification War, but Yorinobu’s role and Saburo’s location are still unknown. It is currently assumed Saburo Arasaka has downloaded his consciousness into the Net, and that Yorinobu is a mole working within Arasaka corp to tear it apart from the inside. Arasaka currently has a vice-like grip on Night City, ousting other corporations from districts like Watson.

Arasaka’s Divisions & Services

Security Division

Many individuals and groups in the Cyberpunk age require higher level security due to the increasingly dangers of mdoern cybernetics, autonomous weapons, AI and corporate warfare, and espionage. Arasaka’s countermeasure was developing and training their security division at the Arasaka school in Hokkaido, Northern Japan, and can contract out anywhere from 1 to 1000 professional guards depending on clients needs. The Hokkaido Training camp sees potential recruits go through 4 months of intensive training in elements of combat survival and espionage. Graduates are shipped out for assignments or if they fail, sent back home.

*Typical high tier Arasaka Security with their all-black uniform*

The cost of Arasaka securirty services can vary based on how much equipment and weapons you need. Clients purchasing security from Arasaka can hand select their personnel based on gender, language and a variety of other factors. All personnel do however need a basic level of proficiency in English.

Different levels of security area available with the upper tier of soldiers donning threatening black uniformed guards with the Arasaka logo on it.

Private Hire, Leases & Contracts

Private bodyguards and home security are popular for celebrities and media personnel who see this as not only protection but also a status symbol and fashion accessory. This is an extremely expensive option, many times only being used by the top 1%.

Another option is for individuals who need a specific job done, but won’t need security at their beck and call at all times. For this a single operational contract may be needed where highly trained and prepared teams carry out certain jobs and high risk tasks whilst masking the identity of the client.

Arasaka also leases out weapons and equipment like cameras, alarms, weapons, and deterrant systems. It will also sell most of these things outright to clients, other than their computer security and ICE system.

This can only be leased out as it is a proprietary technology. Arasaka can also consult and inspect a company’s own security systems to see if they are up to snuff from preventing online or in person attacks.

Arasaka Police

Arasaka’s police force is also a pivotal service. Nations and governments who can no longer support their own police force can many times hire out Arasaka’s own police service.

*Arasaka troops in riot gear siege a NCART subway cart as Male V looks on*

Their training and efficiency is much like their security division but with more of an emphasis on public rules and interpersonal skills. In that sense, an encounter with Arasaka police is much less terrifying and lethal than their corporate security counter parts.

In 2020 Arasaka owns high profile police stations around the world and in many cases chooses to not charge a fee for their services and instead leverage their political power.

This is used to establish Arasaka as a dominant worldwide corporation.

Manufacturing Division

The manufacturing division was the what Arasaka was first created for and was founded by Sasai Arasaka. During the World War, Arasaka manufactured ships and planes for the Imperial Japanese Navy. After Japan’s defeat Saburo stepped in and moved away from heavy industry to light arms, computers, armor and small vehicles.

*Cyberpunk 2077’s Mantis Blades are manufatured by Arasaka & installed by a ripperdoc*

Some examples of Arasaka weapons from the manufacturing divison are the Bullpup assault weapon, the Autopistol, The Half bow and the computer aimed weapon. Arasaka also makes assault vehicles as well as light personnel vehicles

Banking Division

The banking division is another by product of Saburo Arasakas involvement. If was founded shortly after his takeover in the 1960s and used a big chunk of the family wealth as the capital base to start making loans and investments with other businesses and corporations.

Saburo made a lucrative investement into Cybernetic and Net related industries and helped the Banking Division get off the ground. The banking divison is almost exclusively for corporate accounts and the super wealthy.

Arasaka HQ

Arasakas headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan, in two parallel skyscrapers. They dominate the Tokyo skyline and security is very tight knit. Prominent Arasaka members stay near the top and the landing pad at the top is stacked with Helicopters and AVs for quick entry and exit.

In Cyberpunk 2077 Arasaka’s Night City HQ now stands where it formerly did before it was leveled by a pocket nuke in 2023 as a result of the Unification War.

The Arasaka Family

Saburo Arasaka - The Corporate God

Saburo Arasaka has never truly given up control of Arasaka Corp and as a result, Saburo is largely confined to his compound in Tokyo. When corporate conferences or meetings are on the table, Saburo joins the discussion from this compound using a holographic projection or in a braindance universe where he is a feudal Japanese Lord.

*Saburo Arasaka from the Cyberpunk 2077 music video for Grimes - 4AEM*

Saburo is obsessed with power, structure and order and sees it as his duty to elevate Japan to former glory coining himself the most adept and capable man on earth for the task. He works tirelessly, which some believe has kept him alive. In-fact Saburo concentrated on his empire so steadfastly that he did not have kids until he was in his sixties. In the years prior to Cyberpunk 2077 he intended to have his personality downloaded to an AI the moment he died and had all the preparations necessary at his disposal 24/7.

Kei Arasaka - Heir of the Arasaka Empire

Kei has been rigorously trained in running the business and is fully aware of his fathers’ methods and the power of Arasaka Corp. Whilst not as driven as Saburo he is cold, calculating and efficient and only demonstrates emotions around family and friends.

Kei travelled the world and near orbit arranging meetings, writing contracts and consolidating business. He was forced to commit digital seppuku after the bombing of Arasaka Towers by Spider Murphy.

Hanako Arasaka - The Sheltered Child

Hanako is Saburo’s youngest child who was conceived when Saburo was 80. Hanako was born to Saburo’s third and last wife Michiko, who died shortly after giving birth.

*Hanako Arasaka from the Cyberpunk 2020 sourcebook*

Saburo heavily sheltered Hanako by protecting her from the evils of the world and had trusted tutors’ school her within the family compound. She only leaves the compound once a month, even as a grown woman. Naturally Hanako’s curiosity has driven her to learn how to traverse the Net where she is beginning to suspect the dark side of Arasaka Corp.

Hanako isn’t like the other Arasaka family members, she’s a compassionate and sweet woman whose never voiced her complaints for wanting autonomy to her father. She doesn’t want to hurt her father and has sworn to live an independent life after Saburo’s death.

Kei and Hanako have a fairly strained relationship.

Yorinobu Arasaka - The Steel Dragon

The day Yorinobu Arasaka graduated at 21, Saburo led him into the private chambers at the compound to reveal the many truths about Arasaka.

Yorinobu was appalled and at his celebratory dinner escaped to Tokyo. He emerged 4 years later leading a group of Tokyo Nomads called the Steel Dragons who swore to destroy Arasaka.

*A render of Yorinobu Arasaka’s model in Cyberpunk 2077*

They wander the city looking to harass Arasaka security and operatives looking to unearth any information they can on them. His hatred for them is so strong that he travels around the world looking for allies in the fight.

Saburos greatest failure was his son’s disloyalty and acknowledges that he must be destroyed. Kei had sworn to kill him, but Hanoko loves her brother Yorinobu. They were both born from the same birth mother Michiko and have always had a bond. Freeing Hanako from the compound is also one of Yorinobus self-delegated tasks in 2020.

In Cyberpunk 2077 Yorinobu Arasaka has weaseled his way back into the Arasaka ranks in Night City as a prominent member. The reason for this is still unknown.

Shintaro Takayama - The Director of Security

Next, we have Shintaro Takayama, an alleged descendant of ninja-blood lines and director of security at the family compound as well as the personal martial arts trainer to the Arasaka Family. He also developed the personal combat section of the Arasaka troop training regimen. Shintaro is incredibly loyal, and pre-2077 went with Saburo and Katsuo Iwashima (the Weapons Specialist and Second in Command of Security) to escort Hanako around.

Shintaro treats Hanako like a daughter and Hanako considers him a very trusted friend. Shintaro is a traditionalist, but unlike Saburo he abstains from cybernetics.

Arasaka, Night City’s Zaibatsu