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one thing I really dig about Like A Dragon is all the ways in which Ichiban is straight-up a complete inversion of Kiryu as a protagonist. like, the most obvious thing is probably appearance-wise, but it goes deeper than that
let's explore the color palette. Kiryu's classic look is the white suit with a red undershirt, which very capably communicates the cool, collected exterior hiding intense, boiling passion underneath. that's Kiryu's entire situation and they told it to you with his clothes
so what's that say about Ichiban, whose look is a PRECISE inversion? red outside, white inside. Ichiban comes across like a bumbling goofus who can't keep his mouth shut, but underneath, he's a calculating, tactical thinker who relies on people underestimating him
Kiryu? Intense loner with deep vulnerability and sentiment lurking in the depths below his icy exterior.
Ichiban? Hotblooded loudmouth dingbat who keeps his friends around at all times so he can focus on the thinking.
Ichiban? Hotblooded loudmouth dingbat who keeps his friends around at all times so he can focus on the thinking.
Kiryu? Goes to jail after being framed by his best friend for the murder of his boss.
Ichiban? Voluntarily takes the fall for his best friend after the murder of a complete nobody.
Ichiban? Voluntarily takes the fall for his best friend after the murder of a complete nobody.
Kiryu? Fights everybody fairly and evenly, often one-on-one, with nothing but grit and grim determination.
Ichiban? Has heard of fair fights, but only by vague description, and will use and do absolutely ANYTHING for the win.
Ichiban? Has heard of fair fights, but only by vague description, and will use and do absolutely ANYTHING for the win.
even their HAIR is an inside-out version of one another; Ichiban's wild-looking afro is the result of a botched attempt to get a classic Kiryu-esque punch perm back after his jail stint. He tries to stick himself in the Kiryu mold, but his entire BEING resists it.
but what makes Ichiban fun is he rolls with it. he is not like the old guys; that era's done, and so are most of its legends. he's gotta do what works for HIM, and shockingly, he finds arguably much greater success because he isn't down with stoic acceptance of his lot in life.
