MASATAKE "POPS" KURAMOTO
Real Name: Masatake Kuramoto
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Motorcycle designer and engineer,
racer
Group Membership: The Kawahama Corporation,
Team Kawahama
Affiliations: Team America (Honcho/James McDonald, Marauder, R.U. Reddy/Winthrop Roan, Jr., Wolf)
Enemies: Hydra (William
Darvin, others)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Unrevealed
First Appearance: Team America#1 (June, 1982)
Powers/Abilities: Pops is a talented designer
and manufacturer of motorcycles and also a skilled rider of them.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'8")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs.)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Black
History:
(Team America#1 (fb) - BTS) - "Pops"
Kuramoto is a renowned designer of race motorcycles for the Kawahama
Corporation. When working on a new experimental design, an accidental
fusing of wires resulted in a unique guidance system that could
automatically sense any approaching object and instantly select
whichever means of avoiding it was best, being sensitive enough to even
allow its rider to dodge bullets.
(Team America#1) - "Pops" revealed the new motorcycle design that incorporated the guidance system to the world at an Unlimited Class Racing event in Daytona, Florida. The terrorist organization Hydra intended to capture him and the bike when they crossed the winner's circle, a plan that was complicated when the Team America member Wolf managed to pass Kuramoto at the last moment. During the following assault by Hydra on the race, Kuramoto was almost captured but he escaped thanks to Team America's actions. Unfortunately, Kuramoto's bike was destroyed during the conflict, along with its unique guidance system, which "Pops" did not believe he would be able to recreate.
Comments: Created by Jim Shooter, Mike Vosburg and Vince Colleta In spite of the nickname "Pops"
and Wolf calling him an "old man," Kuramoto seemed to be no more than
middle aged.
None of Team Kawahama's other members, drivers or
pit crew, are
identified in any way, though this event was a relay so there would
have been other drivers there.
This profile was completed on 11/25/2025, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary's celebratory event to represent
Profile by Patrick D Ryall.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Masatake "Pops" Kuramoto has no known connections to:
Images: (without ads)
Team America#1, p18, pan2 (riding)
Team America#1, p6, pan3
(on screen)
Appearances:
Team America#1 (June, 1982) - Jim Shooter (writer, editor), Mike
Vosburg (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker)
First Posted: 09/18/2026
Last Updated: 11/25/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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