Sato Uchida

Prince Satō Uchida (Japanese: 佐藤内田) is the leader of the Asian Prosperity Sphere. The Combine has revived the old Shinto religion complete with ancestor worship and the rule of the royal family. Prince Uchida, therefore, functions as sole head of a vast empire, advised by representatives from the various countries which make up the Combine.

Personal Life
Sato is a native of Nagasaki. He graduated from Peking University and did graduate work with the monks in Kathmandu. Uchida's father was Chief Executive of the Kakureta Kao Corporation, which has been linked to the Yakuza. People who insult the Prince or oppose him too vigorously tend to disappear.

The Prince is a sincere and honourable man but he appears to be trapped in the shadow of the influence of the father who put him in power. (Some say that his father bought the election).

Sato has a daughter, Kimoya, who married Simeon Favreau in December 2144.

Relationship with other world leaders
Observers note that Prince Uchida resents the white world – both the NAU and the EC – and he and General Antonio Rodriguez were rumoured to have a secret pact.

Sato has on several occasions challenged President Madeleine Clarke to share ownership of Habitat Mars. On 31 December 2142 he warned, "The road to Mars is paved with good intentions – and good neighbours." He went further on 4 January 2143, threatening trade sanctions if the NAU did not open Mars to international commercial development.

Relations with President Clarke deteriorated markedly throughout February 2143 following an attack on the colony at the end of January. On 1 February, Sato offered to contribute to the cost of Habitat Mars after CenBank threatened to withdraw its support, but Clarke refused to negotiate. By 15 February, Clark accused the APS of supporting the rebels and both Combines put their armed forces on alert. Although "R" refuted these claims on 17 February, it was only Dr. Kristeen Ballard's revelation on 26 February that the clone suspects had originally belonged to CenBank that averted the outbreak of war.

Prince Uchida continued to press the issue throughout 2143, offering to pay the NAU's debt to CenBank in exchange for full partnership in Habitat Mars on 24 March, and travelling to Chicago in person on 25 November to visit Clarke in hospital following the Floaterball World Series terrorist attack. On the latter occasion he was apparently anxious to press the NAU president for a resumption of the talks on internationalising the Martian colony. On 10 December, Clarke closed the door on any global partnership in the colonisation of Mars. Sato responded angrily, expressing great disappointment.