🏯 Arasaka Corporation

“The most powerful corporation in the world. And the most dangerous.”

Arasaka is a Japanese megacorporation specializing in corporate security, banking, and manufacturing. After being expelled from the United States following the Fourth Corporate War, they have returned to Night City in force.


📋 Overview

AspectDetails
Founded1915 (as Arasaka Manufacturing)
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
CEOSaburo Arasaka
IndustriesSecurity, Banking, Manufacturing
Status (2045)Active, expanding

👤 Leadership

Saburo Arasaka

The 158-year-old founder and CEO, kept alive by the most advanced life-extension technology available. A Japanese nationalist who views Arasaka as Japan’s instrument of global dominance.

Kei Arasaka

Saburo’s chosen heir and son. Manages North American operations. Ruthless and capable.

Hanako Arasaka

Saburo’s daughter. Less publicly visible but wields significant influence within the corporation.

Yorinobu Arasaka

The rebellious son. Once ran with Edgerunners. Now returned to the fold—or has he?

Placeholder: Arasaka family portrait (pg. 270)


📜 History

Early History (1915-1990)

  • Founded as a manufacturing company
  • Grew through Japan’s post-war recovery
  • Expanded into security during corporate era

Rise to Power (1990-2020)

  • Became global security provider
  • Developed Soulkiller technology
  • Fought proxy wars against Militech
  • Peak power achieved by 2020

The Fourth Corporate War (2020)

  • Open war with Militech
  • Arasaka Tower in Night City destroyed
  • Accused of bringing nuclear device
  • Expelled from United States

Exile and Return (2020-2045)

  • Rebuilt Japanese operations
  • Developed new technologies
  • Slowly returned to Night City
  • Now operating from new Night City tower

🏢 Operations

Security Division

  • Corporate security contracts worldwide
  • Private military operations
  • Bodyguard services for VIPs
  • Security technology development

Banking Division

  • World Bank operations
  • Corporate financing
  • Private banking for elites
  • Currency manipulation

Manufacturing Division

  • Cyberware production
  • Weapons manufacturing
  • Vehicle production
  • Consumer electronics

💀 Soulkiller

Arasaka’s most terrifying technology—a program that can copy a human consciousness and store it digitally.

Known Capabilities

  • Creates digital engram of target
  • Original person dies in process
  • Engram can be interrogated infinitely
  • Rumored to allow digital resurrection

Victims (Confirmed)

  • Alt Cunningham (creator, first victim)
  • Johnny Silverhand (engram status unknown)
  • Thousands of others stored in the Mikoshi database

🏰 Night City Presence

Arasaka Tower (New)

The rebuilt Night City headquarters in the Corporate Center. Smaller than the original but heavily fortified.

Operations

  • Corporate security contracts
  • Local banking services
  • Manufacturing facilities in Industrial Zone
  • Watchtower over Combat Zone

Forces

  • Corporate security teams
  • Adam Smasher (cyborg enforcer, if he survived)
  • Corporate Netrunners
  • Intelligence operatives

⚔️ Enemies

Militech

The American megacorp and eternal rival. The Fourth Corporate War was their direct conflict.

NUSA Government

Never forgave Arasaka for the Night City incident. Officially banned from US territory (ignored in practice).

Johnny Silverhand’s Legacy

The rockerboy’s anti-Arasaka message still resonates. His followers consider Arasaka the ultimate enemy.


🎲 GM Resources

Arasaka as Antagonists

  • Hire characters then betray them
  • Hunt characters who stole from them
  • Use characters as pawns against Militech
  • Seek revenge for past slights (they never forget)

Arasaka NPCs

“We have the best people money can buy. And we own them completely.”

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Adventure Hooks

  • Steal data from Arasaka Tower
  • Extract employee who wants out
  • Recover Soulkiller victim’s engram
  • Sabotage Arasaka operation for Militech
  • Protect target from Arasaka assassination


(Source: Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook, pgs. 268-271)