Robert Kendo

Robert Kendo was the Japanese-American owner of the Kendo Gun Shop in Raccoon City. He was a close friend of Special Tactics And Rescue Service member Barry Burton, and helped to create custom guns for Barry and the other S.T.A.R.S. members.

Biography
Robert had a brother, Joseph Kendo, whom he frequently worked and developed gun customizations with. Together they developed the Beretta 92F S.T.A.R.S. Special (aka "Samurai Edge") for "the boys of S.T.A.R.S" (ironically, it would be Jill Valentine who received his fax about it).

Robert's plan prior to his death was to escape to Stone Ville. He left Barry a note (to which he never received) welcoming him to join him out there to go fishing.

The last gun he customized for Barry was the Raging Bull, which he had specifically ordered. Kendo was forced to hand it out to one of the town's survivors, but apologized to Barry for this in a note. Because of the lack of weaponry in his gun shop, he had little power to defend himself against the undead.

Death
On September 29, 1998, Claire Redfield or Leon Scott Kennedy (depending on who you started of with) entered the store on her/his way to the Police department. Both Claire/Leon and Kendo were surprised to see each because they would probably expect everybody to be dead. Robert closed and locked the door, and then explained to Claire/Leon about what had happened.

When Claire/Leon was ready to take the rear exit, four Zombies broke through the front window and pulled Kendo down, devouring him and killing him instantly.

Further notes

 * In Resident Evil 1.5 (the original prototype version of Resident Evil 2) Robert Kendo was meant to have a larger role becoming a support character to Elza Walker, the original lead female in place of Claire. In this incarnation, he was referred to as "John".
 * In the Wildstorm/DC Comics prequel to Resident Evil 2, entitled Raccoon City R.I.P., Kendo sells a weapon to Ben Bertolucci, as well as another man, Jorge. The letter refers to him as "George".
 * His nationality was confirmed in Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, through the archive files.
 * Leon and Claire bear witness to his final seconds in The Darkside Chronicles as he struggles in vain to break free of the zombies devouring his flesh, unlike the original scenario in which he was actually alive to meet Leon and Claire in Resident Evil 2.
 * In the Resident Evil 2 preview disc, there are some unused backgrounds of Chief Brian Irons' office. While mostly incomplete, they feature Robert Kendo sitting at Irons' desk with a dead female zombie in front of him on the desk.
 * While in the gun shop, if the player runs towards Robert and presses the action button, they will find a weapon. If the player chooses Claire, they will get a Bow Gun, however if the player chooses Leon, they will get a Remington 870.