Top Badasses that You Should Know in Banana Fish

It’s quite difficult to survive on the streets. Whether you’re homeless or so impoverished that your only options are prostitution or joining a gang, you’ll need to toughen yourself and prove that you can hold your own in a fight if you want to survive for long.

This is why every single character we encounter in Banana Fish, from the little Skipper to the adult Dino Golzine, is a fantastic warrior. They all have unique abilities, and the majority of them are intimidating in their own right.

With such a wide roster, there are some characters who are larger badasses than the rest: the ones who are not only good fighters but also never know when or how to quit, the ones who will pursue down their adversaries until they avenge their slain companions. And today, we’re counting down the series’ ten most fearsome and outstanding badasses.

Eiji Okumura

It’s easy to dismiss Eiji Okumura as a badass. After all, the polite Japanese student is the one who has had the most fortunate upbringing, having grown up in a loving family in a calm country. Despite the fact that he was an Olympic-level high jumper, he is extremely fit, even after an injury ended his athletic career and Ibe moved him to America as his assistant photographer to help him recover from his sadness. Because of his inexperience and the fact that he has never handled a gun before, Ash and his group make fun of him, and most of them initially mistakes him for a load.

They swiftly change their minds as the gang fight begins and gunshots start flying. Because Eiji never considers quitting or abandoning Ash, even though he lacks their experience or hardened attitude. Even when he is offered the opportunity to travel to Japan, he declines and instead does his hardest to assist. He is always willing to help, and even when he attempts to get Ash to join him in Japan, it is always with the aim of waiting until they figure out exactly what Banana Fish is and Ash can exact retribution on those who used Banana Fish to ruin his life. As a result, Eiji is ranked eleventh on our list.

Shunichi Ibe

Shunichi Ibe, the only other Japanese character in the novel, blames himself for what happens to Eiji. After all, it was his idea to bring the teen to America, his article about gangs and violence led Eiji to meet Ash, and while the gang war would have happened with or without him, he still believes that much of his study and friendship with Max contributed to the worsening of the situation. This is why it’s noteworthy that he never kidnapped Eiji against his will and then returned to Japan to clean up the mess.

Despite the fact that Eiji and Ash are not biological relatives, Ibe considers them to be his children, whom he must protect. Sure, Ash doesn’t need his protection and can probably guard Ibe better than Ibe can, but Ibe doesn’t seem to mind. He merely sees a teen who has been forced to grow up far too quickly, and he knows how much Eiji loves Ash, so he will do whatever he can to keep them both safe. And, despite not being able to do much to keep Ibe safe while they keep running away from him, the reporter’s perseverance is what earns him a ninth place on our list.

Max Lobo

Max Lobo is a reporter and a close friend of Shunichi and Ash’s older brother, Griffin. Max was in the same unit as Griffin during the war and witnessed Griffin’s breakdown when he killed practically everyone in the unit while only repeating “Banana Fish.” As a result, Max has committed his life to figure out what that meant and why Griffin went wild for no apparent reason.

Max, like Ibe, gets most of his badassery from his refusal to give up. Max will always rush to the young man’s aid, even when Ash urges him to get out and mind his own business. Max feels responsible not only because he was Griffin’s buddy and what happened forced Ash to become Griffin’s caretaker, but also because he has a strong sense of honor. This, combined with his army experience, is why Max is ranked eighth on our list.

Lao Yuen-Tai

It’s not easy being the Chinatown gang’s third in charge. It’s considerably more difficult when your boss is your younger brother, so it’s no wonder that Lao Yuen-Tai has a short fuse when the gang is threatened. He’s absolutely loyal to Shorter Wong, the leader of their turf, when we first meet him, and will do anything to obey his orders, even if he’s not clear what’s going on. Lao wonders why Shorter would abandon the gang in order to assist Ash, who is the boss of a rival territory.

That pact is destroyed when Shorter dies and Sing becomes the new leader of the Chinatown turf, and Lao swears vengeance. And, because he’s more of a doer than his younger brother, he never wonders how Shorter died: all he thinks about is that Ash did the deed, and as a result, Ash must die. Regrettably, he must follow Sing’s instructions and, more significantly, the Lee clan’s interests. One of the key reasons he receives the seventh spot on our list is that he doesn’t always tremble when the clan—the real power behind his gang—gives him commands.

Yau Si/Yut-Lung

Have you ever heard the expression “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, it certainly applies to Yau Si. He’s first introduced to the characters as Professor Dawson’s son, mostly because he wanted to see how much they knew about Banana Fish, and then as Yut Lung, a Chinese Mafia lieutenant. However, the fact is that he is a half-brother of the current clan leaders, and he has been using Banana Fish to win control of the clan for his own gain. This makes him incredibly hazardous, and he’s just sixteen years old, making him one of the youngest people on the list.

Despite not being particularly strong or competent in combat, his understanding of acupuncture and poison makes him one of the show’s most dangerous characters. That, combined with his delicate appearance and traditional clothes, which can make him appear as a girl and thus cause those around him to underestimate him, makes him such a formidable opponent. That, combined with the fact that he is the only character in the program that achieves all he desires due to his perseverance, makes him the ideal candidate for sixth position on our list.

Jessica Randy

Jessica plays a minor role in the plot. She wants to stay away from the craziness that often comes with Max Lobo’s investigations as his ex wife. Despite this, she doesn’t hesitate when he asks for her assistance in hiding Ash and Eiji. She points a gun at him and reminds him why they divorced, but she still decides to help; and when Dino’s men come looking for Max and company, she doesn’t back down, even if she’s hopelessly outmanned.

Jessica lacks the same training and control over gangs as her ex-husband. Even when she’s being battered, she never gives up the information she possesses. They never succeed in breaking her, and she proves to be a valuable asset to the inquiry and Ash’s final battle against Dino Golzine. Because of this, and the fact that she accomplishes it with nothing more than her tenacity and a shotgun, she earns the fifth spot on our list.

Frederick Arthur

Frederick used to be the boss of his own territory until Dino Golzine chose to make Ash the boss of the gangs under his protection. He was now Ash’s second-in-command, but he despised the role and resented Ash, even though he knew the other young man had no option. From that point forward, Arthur did all in his power to make Ash’s life unpleasant, leading to Ash’s betrayal of Golzine.

When Ash is on the run, Frederick takes over as Golzine’s second in command, but he quickly realizes that this is not the greatest position for him, as he will never have the same level of influence as Ash with the gang. Despite this, he never stops fighting, and he becomes one of Ash’s most formidable opponents, both in the investigation and in his pursuit for vengeance. Arthur despises Ash and would never hesitate to express it, even if it means losing the respect of his troops. As a result, he is currently ranked fourth on our ranking.