• Full Name: Eiji Okumura • As Addressed by Ibe: "Ei-chan" • Background: Eiji was a talented athlete and pole vaulter in Japan, until a injury left him unable to compete. Completely discouraged, faced with losing his sports scholarship, and ridiculed by his former competitors and coaches, Eiji fell into a depressed slump. Then Ibe took him in as his assistant, and the two traveled to New York City, to do a report on youth in street gangs. In New York, Eiji met Ash Lynx. • Best 80's Fashion Statement: Hawaiin shirt over a tank top, tied in the front, falling off one shoulder. • Inspiration: In an interview, Akimi Yoshida said that the character design for Eiji was inspired by Japanese actor Nomura Hironobu. May contain spoilers: Eiji Okumura, cute and innocent to a fault, is completely out of place in Ash's violent world of guns and drugs. A failed athlete from Japan, now traveling as Ibe's assistant in America, Eiji unwittingly becomes deeply entangled in the mystery surrounding Banana Fish.
Eiji is nineteen years old, but everybody mistakes him for a much younger teenager. This is partially because of his youthful, childish looks, but mostly because of his naivete and innocence. Eiji has never seen a gun before, and embarrasses himself by asking Ash about his weapon. "That gun is real, isn't it? In Japan, only toy guns are legal. Say, may I see it for a moment?"
After a moment of silence, Ash shocks the watching gang by letting Eiji hold his gun.
"Wow, it's so heavy! Incredible! Thank you," Eiji gushes as he hands the gun back to Ash.
Moments later, Skip comments to Eiji, "That's the first time Ash ever let *anyone* touch his piece! One time a drunk tried to touch it as a joke, and he lost his finger on the spot."
It's the beginning of an unusual relationship between the two protagonists. Ash instantly recognizes Eiji's kindness and gentleness, and is drawn toward it. He trusts Eiji completely, even with the most secret information about his brother, and about Banana Fish. But then again, the more Ash is drawn toward Eiji, the more he realizes that he has to push Eiji away. Getting Eiji involved in the war against Papa Dino is the last thing that Ash wants. Yet, at the same time, he doesn't want Eiji to leave...
Eiji is an utter failure when it comes to gang violence. He can't shoot a gun at all, and even when aiming at point-blank range, he can't bring himself to pull the trigger and kill another human being. When confronted with blood and gore, he either becomes mildly sick, or faints away altogether. But none of these reactions are because Eiji is afraid, or harbors any fearful feelings whatsoever. As Eiji demonstrates over and over again, he isn't afraid of violence. He's just unused to seeing such a casual disregard for human life.
Eiji's bravery is demonstrated in the finale of the first volume of the manga. Marvin's thugs have cornered Eiji, Ash, and Skip in a deserted dead-end alley behind an old warehouse. Eiji pulls a rusty pipe off the wall, and prepares to vault himself over the dead end. "You're crazy!" Ash yells. "If that rusty old pipe snaps, you'll break your neck!"
"Yes," Eiji retorts, "and even if I make it over the wall, I'm pretty sure there's no mat on the other side. So should we just wait to be killed?! If we're going to die anyway, I will try anything!"
Eiji's dramatic pole vault succeeds, even though he crashes into some old crates and seriously wounds himself. Dripping blood, and losing strength with every step, Eiji manages to make his way to a public phone booth, where he calls the police, and then finally collapses.
Thanks to Eiji, Ash is saved from Marvin. From that point onward, Ash and Eiji form a deep bond of mutual trust and respect. Even though Ash still thinks that Eiji is a child, and that his street skills are pretty worthless. Which is true. ;)~ But at least Ash admires Eiji's athletic talent. "Man... I wish I could jump like that," he sighs.
Despite his demur and quiet manner, Eiji occasionally surprises everyone by doing something daring or brash. The first time is the pole vaulting incident. The second is when he jumps into a car with Ash and drives away from Charlie, thus aiding Ash in jumping bail. After a dramatic getaway, Ash makes Eiji pull over and stop the car.
"Get out," Ash commands him.
"No," is Eiji's simple reply. "I know what you want to say, but this is my problem, too. Your brother was killed in front of my eyes, because I was stupid, and they (Arthur's gang members) followed me to him."
"All right," Ash finally conceeds. "Have it your way. Just don't expect me to watch out for you."
Ash displays a pretty harsh attitude toward Eiji at this point in the story. But he softens increasingly as the plot progresses. Yut-Lung is the first to notice that even though Ash normally jumps up and whirls around whenever he hears footsteps approaching him, he remains docile and quiet when Eiji nears him. And Ibe becomes increasingly worried that when it comes time to return to Japan, Eiji will not want to go, because of his attachment to Ash. Finally, Ibe orders Ash to tell Eiji to go back to Japan, because Eiji simply will not listen to anyone else.
"You're a handicap to us," Ash tells Eiji bluntly. "Go back to Japan."
Eiji grows very quiet. "If that's what you really think... There's nothing I can really say to that, is there? I can't even protect myself. I will just mess things up. I know that I am useless..."
Ash relents, somewhat. "That's not true. You saved me and Skip, didn't you? You know, that was the first time in my life that anyone ever helped me out without looking for a payback... I first picked up a gun and learned how to use it, because that was the only way not to die. If you can live without a gun in your pocket, you're a lucky guy. The two of us live in different worlds... You can do something I can't, so we're even."
Eiji will eventually overcome his naivete, and unfortunately, become more used to the presence of violence in his life. But his innate kindness, empathy, and gentleness will never leave. And despite the many circumstances that conspire to separate him from Ash, Eiji always manages to return to Ash's side, where he is most comfortable.
He can't shoot a gun at all, and even when aiming at point-blank range, he can't bring himself to pull the trigger and kill another human being. When confronted with blood and gore, he either becomes mildly sick, or faints away altogether. But none of these reactions are because Eiji is afraid, or harbors any fearful feelings whatsoever. As Eiji demonstrates over and over again, he isn't afraid of violence. He's just unused to seeing such a casual disregard for human life.
Vova
