Born in a small outlying Crab village near the borders of the Shadowlands during a goblin night raid, Zai’s newborn cries rang across the village and woke up the residents, allowing them to organize arms and repel the impending threat.

Zai has spent his entire childhood growing up along the Carpenter Wall, watching family and friends battle against the Shadowlands. Trained in the art of stealth, more as a matter of survival in the Crab provinces, Zai works as a scout for the Crab clan army, traveling to and fro the Shadowlands in order to bring news about oni or goblin sightings. He is considered one of the more promising young students of the lost techniques of the Hiruma.

Zai is on the shorter side of the average Rokugani height, but compensates for that with better speed and agility than most samurai of his age. He has shown good talent with sword and bow, and has an uncanny aptitude with ranger skills. The blood of the Crab is also strong within him, and he is able to continue functioning despite pain from wounds.

Like most of his Hiruma comrades, Zai yearns for the day the fallen castle of the Hiruma is reclaimed from the Horde. This terrible loss is engrained upon him, and he trains diligently everyday to be ready when the opportunity comes to strike back. He is very pragmatic, all of his extra worldly acquisitions he donates to the cause of the Crab. He figures he only needs his sword and bow in order to serve his Clan, all his other resources would be much better utilized when pooled to his Clan.