The Four Winds is a global crime syndicate with 20,000 members, an organization that is structured like a corporation with a board.^[1] Its original four leaders were assassinated by Deadpool. It was active in Kobe (Japan), but expanded or relocated operations to New York City, United States.^[2] Higashi inherited the syndicate.

The organization is involved in real estate development in the northeastern U.S., forcibly evicting people.^[3]. The Four Winds made enemies of Taskmaster, Agent X, and Outlaw who defeated the syndicate's men and the half-dozen supervillains they hired.^[4] When Higashi formed an uneasy true with the heroes, in part because of their mutual concern for Sandi Brandenberg, Kita, the disgruntled leader of the Northern Wind faction hired a pair of assassins who try to kill Higashi. The attempt was stopped by Agent X and Taskmaster, who had been hired to temporarily serve as Higashi's bodyguards. When Higashi next saw Kita he remarked that he needed to have a talk with him, hinting to Agent X that this may be a coded message for having Kita killed.