Ken Washio, codenamed Ken the Eagle and designated G-1, leads the Science Ninja Team as its tactical expert. His bird-themed costume is primarily white, featuring blue gloves, boots, and a long white cape with a red interior. His helmet incorporates a blue visor shaped like an eagle's beak and displays the team's red "Gatchaman" emblem. Born to test pilot Kentaro Washio and Sayuri, Ken experienced early parental abandonment. His father faked his death in a plane crash to infiltrate Galactor, while his mother died of illness when Ken was eleven, leaving him under the guardianship of Dr. Kozaburo Nambu. Ken trained from age thirteen to become Gatchaman and later worked as a test pilot and airmail courier from his inherited airstrip office. Personally, Ken projects a calm, bookish demeanor but struggles with volatile emotions during crises, often relying on team support. He exhibits fiscal irresponsibility, frequently neglecting his tab at Jun's snack stand, and remains romantically reserved despite Jun's affections. His strong dedication to justice coexists with an increasingly dark intensity, especially after traumatic losses. Ken's combat prowess stems from rigorous Science Ninja training, granting heightened agility, endurance, and sensory perception. He holds black belts in judo and karate, with proficiency in kendo, kobudo, aikido, and boxing. His signature arsenal includes the rocket-propelled Birdrang boomerang (striking twice on forward and return paths), the collapsible Bird Saucer, the electrified Gatcha Fencer sword, and the multipurpose Shock Gun. Science Ninja techniques at his command include the blinding Bird Flash and the holographic duplication Kage no Bunshin. His primary vehicle is the single-engine G-1, transforming into a supersonic jet. In later series, he pilots the Eagle Sharp (destroyed in *Gatchaman Fighter*) and the missile-armed Gatcha One, which forms the head of the combined mecha Gatchaspartan. Ken's character development across media consistently reflects persistent trauma. The original series depicts his reunion with his father (Red Impulse) culminating in Red Impulse's sacrificial death, triggering a vengeful, authoritarian phase that strains team dynamics. Joe Asakura's death and cyborg resurrection further challenge Ken's leadership. The OVA redesigns Ken with short hair and a blue Bird Style suit, adding a narrative where he inherits his father's sword before a critical battle. *Infini-T Force* reimagines Ken at age twenty-four with grey hair and stubble; in this continuity, his entire team dies, and a corrupted Nambu kills him in an alternate dimension. Sequels like *Gatchaman II* and *Fighter* show him confronting Galactor's resurgence while managing physical deterioration from cellular decay, mirroring his mother's illness. Ken's story consistently explores themes of legacy and sacrifice, interweaving his quest for justice with unresolved familial grief across all canonical iterations.