The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Only in a limited sense. Blizzard’s canon says Kiriko trained alongside Genji and Hanzo under the instruction of her mother, Asa. Genji was not identified as Kiriko’s martial-arts teacher. He did, however, teach her about Shimada Castle and introduce her to the local arcade.
What is the canon answer?
The most accurate answer is: Genji did not teach Kiriko ninjutsu, but he did teach her some things during their childhood. Those are separate claims in Blizzard’s biographies.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Kiriko’s official biography attributes her ninjutsu instruction to Asa Yamagami, the swordmaster who also instructed Hanzo and Genji Shimada. The same biography says Kiriko trained “alongside Hanzo and Genji Shimada, whom her mother instructed.” The wording establishes shared training and identifies Asa as the instructor; it does not say that Genji taught Kiriko.
The biography does give Genji a teaching role in other areas. It says he showed Kiriko the ins and outs of Shimada Castle and introduced her to the local arcade. In that narrower, everyday sense, Genji taught her and guided her. Calling him her martial-arts instructor goes beyond what the official text supports.
Who taught Kiriko ninjutsu?
Asa was Kiriko’s instructor
Blizzard’s Kiriko biography identifies Asa as the person who instructed her daughter. Asa is described as a swordmaster, and her instruction covered the martial training shared by the children. Kiriko therefore learned ninjutsu from her mother, not from Genji.
This distinction matters because “trained with” and “was taught by” are not interchangeable. A child can practice in the same class, dojo or yard as another student without that student being the teacher. The biography uses the former relationship for Kiriko and the Shimada brothers.
Asa also trained Hanzo and Genji
Asa’s role was not limited to Kiriko. She instructed both Hanzo and Genji, placing the three characters in the same training environment. Genji’s official biography likewise says he trained under Asa and formed a friendship with her young daughter, Kiriko.
That shared teacher explains why Kiriko’s abilities and background are often discussed alongside the Shimada brothers. It does not change who the biographies credit with providing the instruction.
What did Genji teach Kiriko?
He showed her Shimada Castle
Kiriko’s biography specifically credits Genji with teaching her the ins and outs of Shimada Castle. This is practical, local knowledge rather than a statement about swordsmanship or ninjutsu. The wording supports the idea that Genji acted as an older companion who knew the castle and helped Kiriko understand it.
Because this is an explicit detail in the biography, it is fair to say that Genji taught Kiriko about the castle. It is not fair to expand that sentence into a claim that he trained her combat technique.
Rank #2
- Collect them all!
- Officially Licensed
- Randomly assorted. Opening them is half the fun!
- Colors and Styles may Vary
He introduced her to the local arcade
The same biography says Genji introduced Kiriko to the local arcade. This detail gives their relationship a distinctly personal and recreational side. Their connection was not confined to formal lessons with Asa; Genji also shared parts of everyday life with Kiriko.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The arcade detail is another reason a simple “no” can be misleading. Genji clearly taught and showed Kiriko things, just not in the specific instructor-student role implied by the question when “teach” refers to ninjutsu.
What the official biographies actually establish
| Question | What the canon says | Safest wording |
|---|---|---|
| Who taught Kiriko ninjutsu? | Asa instructed Kiriko. | Kiriko learned ninjutsu from her mother, Asa. |
| Did Kiriko train with Genji? | Yes. She trained alongside Genji and Hanzo. | Kiriko shared training with the Shimada brothers under Asa. |
| Was Genji Kiriko’s martial-arts teacher? | The biographies do not identify him that way. | Genji is not established as Kiriko’s ninjutsu instructor. |
| Did Genji teach Kiriko anything? | Yes. He showed her Shimada Castle and introduced her to an arcade. | Genji taught her about the castle and shared the arcade with her. |
| How did Genji describe their relationship? | His biography calls it a friendship formed while he trained under Asa. | They were friends who grew up in the same training circle. |
Why “Genji trained Kiriko” is an inaccurate shortcut
The shortcut usually comes from compressing several true details into one sentence. Kiriko trained near Genji, Genji trained under Asa, and the two were friends. Put together without the grammatical distinction in the biography, those facts can sound as though Genji personally instructed Kiriko.
Blizzard’s sentence avoids that implication: “As such, little Kiriko trained alongside Hanzo and Genji Shimada, whom her mother instructed.” The phrase “whom her mother instructed” points back to Asa as the teacher. “Alongside” describes the children’s shared activity, not a lesson Genji delivered.
This is a useful way to read character biographies generally. A phrase such as “trained alongside” establishes proximity and a common practice, while “trained under” identifies the teacher or school. In the available canon, Kiriko is associated with Asa through instruction and with Genji through friendship, shared practice and childhood guidance.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
How Genji and Kiriko’s backgrounds overlap
They had the same training environment
Kiriko’s upbringing placed her in the same martial setting as Hanzo and Genji. The official design interview about Kiriko also describes her as having the same training background as the Shimada brothers. That shared background helps explain why her movement abilities can be discussed in relation to theirs, including the connection between her Wall Climb and the training she received in that environment.
Rank #3
- SUPER COLLECTIBLE SIZE - At approximately 6 inches (15.24 cm) tall, this vinyl mini figurine complements other collectable merchandise and fits perfectly in your display case or on your desk.
- PREMIUM VINYL MATERIAL - Made from high-quality, durable vinyl, this collectible is built to last and withstand daily wear, ensuring long-lasting enjoyment for fans and collectors alike.
- PERFECT GIFT FOR OVERWATCH FANS - Ideal for holidays, birthdays, or special occasions and as a present this exclusive figurine is a must-have addition to any Overwatch merchandise collection
- EXPAND YOUR COLLECTION - Add this unique Winston vinyl display piece to your growing assortment of Funko Pop! figures, and seek out other rare and exclusive collectible items for a complete set
- LEADING POP CULTURE BRAND - Trust in the expertise of Funko, the premier creator of pop culture merchandise that includes vinyl figures, action figures, plush, apparel, board games, and more.
The interview still does not credit Genji with personally teaching her. Its point is that the characters share a foundation, not that one of the students became the other’s instructor.
They had a friendship outside formal lessons
Genji’s biography characterizes his relationship with Kiriko as a friendship formed while he trained under Asa. That description places their bond alongside, rather than inside, the formal teacher-student relationship.
Friendship can include advice, demonstrations and informal learning. The castle and arcade details show that kind of interaction. But informal help does not automatically replace the named instructor in the biography. Asa remains the person canon identifies as teaching Kiriko’s ninjutsu.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDoes Kiriko’s skill set prove Genji taught her?
No. Similar abilities or a shared visual style are not proof of a specific teacher. The official material explains the overlap through their common training background under Asa. It does not require a theory that Genji instructed Kiriko directly.
Kiriko’s skills can therefore be understood in two layers:
- Formal martial instruction: Asa taught Kiriko, Hanzo and Genji within the same training tradition.
- Shared experience and informal guidance: Genji trained in the same setting, befriended Kiriko, showed her Shimada Castle and introduced her to the arcade.
Keeping those layers separate accounts for both sides of the canon without assigning Genji a role the biographies do not give him.
Rank #4
- Selected at random, contents vary
- Each figure comes with a stand
- Made of clear ABS/PVC
- One randomly supplied figure
What each Blizzard source contributes
Kiriko’s official biography
The Kiriko biography is the clearest source for the question. It covers her ninjutsu instruction, says she trained alongside Hanzo and Genji, and names Genji’s castle and arcade introductions. Its wording supports the limited answer directly.
Genji’s official biography
Genji’s biography confirms that he trained under Asa and describes his friendship with Asa’s young daughter, Kiriko. It supports the shared-background and friendship parts of the story, but it does not recast Genji as Kiriko’s instructor.
The official Kiriko design interview
Blizzard’s interview “Let the Kitsune guide you: A first look at Kiriko’s concept and playstyle” connects Kiriko’s Wall Climb and her training background to Hanzo and Genji. It reinforces the idea that the characters come from the same training tradition. It does not state that Genji personally taught Kiriko.
A precise way to explain the relationship
If you need a one-sentence explanation, use this: Kiriko trained alongside Genji under her mother Asa, while Genji taught her about Shimada Castle and introduced her to the local arcade.
That sentence preserves every distinction the biographies make:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Asa is the named instructor.
- Kiriko and Genji trained alongside one another.
- Genji had an informal teaching and guiding role.
- The available text does not call Genji Kiriko’s martial-arts teacher.
By contrast, “Genji taught Kiriko ninjutsu” is too strong, and “Genji had nothing to teach Kiriko” is too broad. The first changes shared training into personal instruction; the second ignores the castle and arcade details that Blizzard explicitly provides.
Bottom line for the lore question
Genji taught Kiriko in a limited, everyday sense, not as her ninjutsu instructor. Asa taught Kiriko and also instructed Hanzo and Genji. Kiriko trained alongside the brothers, and Genji’s documented contributions were showing her around Shimada Castle and introducing her to the local arcade. That is the distinction supported by Blizzard’s current biographies and design interview, accessed October 13, 2026.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
