I Wish Kingdom Hearts’ Sora Was More Like Yakuza’s Ichiban Kasuga

My coworkers and I have many heated discussions about video games while working for a website. We had a discussion about the top Kingdom Hearts characters and many of us decided that Sora was not among the most important. However, a defender propped up Sora’s one defining good trait, his overwhelming positivity. I replied by saying that if Sora’s only strength is optimism, then Ichiban Kasuga should replace him with a star of Yakuza. Like a Dragon. While we shared a laugh, I kept the idea in my head. 

I’ll preface my next statement with this disclosure: I like Kingdom Hearts. Sora seems lame now that the blowback immunity has been activated. He’s a good kid with a great heart, and he’s fun to use in Super Smash Bros. However, Kingdom Hearts III made me finally accept that I haven’t really been into Sora as a personality since (maybe) Kingdom Hearts II. Much of that probably has to do with his dialogue; it’s unbearably cringe-worthy at times. Not to mention he’s also got a bad case of Ash Ketchum syndrome; the dude is umpteen games deep, and he still isn’t an officially recognized keyblade master? But, more than any other, Sora is bland to me. 

Let’s paint a hypothetical picture where Square Enix decided to retire Sora alongside his goofy clown shoes and decided to get wild. I can’t think of a better replacement than Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s Ichiban Kasuga. Why? In short, he’s pretty much Sora but cooler and vastly more endearing. He values friendships and loyalty, is an inspiration, has great moral compass, is very dorky, and is loyal like Sora. Plus, I’d love to see Ichiban interact with all of the Disney weirdos. But obviously, that can’t happen, so the next best thing is for Square Enix to look at Ichi to build a better Sora. 

Ichiban’s flaws are obvious. While he is an absolute sweetheart, Ichiban willingly associates with organized criminal syndicates. I was drawn to him by his inner turmoil. You could see that underneath the smiley, poofy hair, there were some issues that the man needed assistance with. Yakuza, Like a Dragon gives a good overview of his childhood as an orphan and provides context for his optimistic outlook. As a result, Ichiban’s optimism feels earned and inspiring rather than obligatory. It spends just as much time as the plot developing its main character, making Ichiban someone that I would love to support. 

Sora’s story has been more compelling than any other. He grew up on the Nick Jr. version of the Lord of the Flies island, so he’s had it pretty good compared to Ichiban. That’s not to say that Sora needs tragedy to be interesting, but I want more from him. Square Enix has spent more time making Kingdom Hearts’ fiction as convoluted as possible but hasn’t given Sora’s characterization the same TLC. He’s had some growth, of course, but I still see the kid we met in 2002 – only taller and with repressed puberty in his voice. And in a series all about friendship, heartbreak, and loyalty, that’s become more glaring as I’ve gotten older. You can do “plucky happy dude” and still make him engaging rather than mildly grating. 

I don’t want Sora to become some kind of edgelord either. Rikku already fills that quota as the “emotionally damaged good-then-bad-now-good again hero.” I just want Kingdom Hearts IV to explore who Sora is, what makes him tick, and develop him into a more complete person. Ichiban would make a wonderful template because of the similarities between these two crazy-haired heroes. If that’s out of the question for Square, then take my suggestion earlier and actually put Ichiban in the game instead. I’d love to see him get a drink with Donald and Goofy.