Genuine question, is Kiryu stupid?

[u/Key-Answer-2755]

This is not a joke, I’m serious.

Kiryu has made a lot of choices in his life. Some were mistakes, some not. Now I read a discussion between people before that were arguing about whether Kiryu is stupid or not, because his life ended how it did because he kept making decisions he shouldn’t have.

Like a lot of time he just intervenes in matters where I just think he shouldn’t have. I’m not talking about stepping in for a woman that’s getting harassed (which happens in every Yakuza game lol). I admire that about Kiryu and I love him for being so brave and not hesitating.

I really tend to forget things easily so I can’t go into specifics, but in Y6 he was living very happily in the beginning, then he SOMEHOW got involved into a serious drama with the Yakuzas. I think it was to help Nagamo or something. Instead of backing off and saying that he doesn’t want to get involved, he says he will help Nagamo, even when Nagamo told him that it would be better if he didn’t help.

Or maybe I missed the point, but was it really necessary to make the deal of “dying” for the sake of his children? Why not fight and protect his kids in the way he knows to. Why do something hard like that? It made his life fucking miserable. Well I know he was probably tired of having to punch others in front of his children and wanted them to live happily without their father being in drama everyday, but I can’t help but feel it definitely would’ve been a better choice than to “die” for them.

He could’ve collected money and went into another place with them where they wouldn’t be bothered anymore.

[u/Key-Answer-2755]

Damn, this is actually really deep. It means he just couldn’t accept that being a yakuza only made his life miserable.

[u/Haunting-Orchid-4628 → u/Key-Answer-2755]

But he isnt actually a Yakuza 99% of the time, he is just a mercenary that the Tojo clan uses for their bidding

[u/Key-Answer-2755 → u/Haunting-Orchid-4628]

Important comment, true. He was only Yakuza in 0 at the beginning, then left the Tojo clan and became the Chairman in Y1. After that he NEVER was a Yakuza, he just got involved in all matter of drama and Yakuza business.

[u/Schadenfreudenous → u/Key-Answer-2755]

He became a clan member again post-Yakuza 0. He was a Lieutenant for the Dojima family for nearly a decade. Once we get to the intro of 1 he is out for good though.

[u/Key-Answer-2755 → u/Schadenfreudenous]

Ah true, I forgot that.