Darkness & Light: 5 Hard Facts About Mikey From Tokyo Revengers to Keep in Your Heart
By: Zenplus, Shop Japan
Tags: Japan, Anime Review, Tokyo Revengers, Anime, Manga

#4: Mikey has been through hell

To say that Mikey’s life has been fraught with hardship would be a grievous understatement. Death, depression, and despair all rear their ugly head at some point in his life, no matter what timeline Takemichi meets him in.

The slaying of his brother Shinichiro

Shinichiro meets his demise at the hands of Mikey’s very own friends, Kazutora and Baji. The two break into the elder Sano’s bike shop (without realizing who owns it), intent on stealing a bike as a birthday gift for Mikey himself — and what follows is a tragic series of events that serves as a turning point for everyone involved.

Not only does Mikey lose his beloved older brother (for whom he had the utmost respect), he also has to deal with the pain of knowing that the ones responsible were two of his closest comrades.

A friendship turns fatal

Mikey’s suffering continues some time later, when Kazutora stabs Baji during a conflict between Toman and rival gang Valhalla. For Kazutora, it may well be a means to an end: the Sano blood on his hands has driven him insane, such that he not only blames Mikey for the death, but also has a long-held desire to “finish the job” and kill Mikey as well.

Mikey resolves to fight Kazutora to the death and end years of bad blood once and for all, but Baji steps in between them and takes his own life to prevent any more carnage between the two former friends.

Mikey, now forced to come to grips with the loss of a true brother in arms, is understandably devastated.

Hints of Mikey’s darkness can even be found in promo art.

Saying goodbye to his sister

Between the accidental slaying of his dear brother and the bold sacrifice of his best friend, Mikey’s life has been anything but roses.

One of the shining lights in the darkness is his sister Emma, who he continues to love and protect at all costs. But, as much as it pains us to say it, even she isn’t safe from the dreaded crossfire of gang warfare.

Series antagonist Kisaki Tetta attacks Emma under the orders of Izana Kurokawa — who, as we explained above, is Mikey and Emma’s own adoptive brother (talk about sibling rivalry!). Mikey springs into action in a desperate bid to save her, but it’s too late — and once again, an innocent Sano becomes a casualty of reckless violence.

Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get any worse for poor Mikey, the story throws you another curveball — and you’re left wondering when on Earth he’s ever going to catch a break.

Tokyo Manji Gang’s final group photo before disbanding. (Source: Twitter)

#5: Mikey looks to be facing a grim future

During the Bonten Arc, Takemichi finally gets (what initially seems to be) the happy ending he’s been yearning for all along: everyone alive and well, with Hinata as his fiancée.

There’s just one problem: Mikey is nowhere to be found.

It wouldn’t be a true happy ending without the president of Tokyo Manji Gang around, so Takemichi sets out in search of him.

A new level of infamy

Unfortunately, the Mikey that Takemichi eventually finds is not at all like the one he knew so well in the past.

Toman is no more, and in its place is a ruthless crime syndicate — which Mikey himself leads. The new position brings with it a whole new level of infamy, too: he’s now seen as one of the nation’s most heinous criminals.

It’s all a far cry from what Takemichi expects; after everything he and Mikey have been through, you can’t help but feel for the both of them.

Takemichi with the past and the current Mikey. (Source: Twitter)

A broken man

Yes, Mikey is infamous by the time the Bonten Arc rolls around, but his life is also in tatters. With so much suffering and tragedy plaguing his young life, he’s now a shell of his former self — and who could blame him for it?

For starters, as mentioned above, the Tokyo Manji Gang no longer exists. Mikey disbands it, perhaps out of guilt or some sense of responsibility, after Takemichi informs him what becomes of it in the future. Toman was Mikey’s rock throughout his adolescent years, so its absence must no doubt take its toll on the poor guy.

Second, he’s all alone. His siblings are gone, and he’s distanced himself from the other Toman members; there’s no Shinichiro to look up to, no Emma to fight for, and no Draken or Takemichi to act as his brothers in arms. He promised Takemichi he’d protect everyone dear to them until they meet again in the future — but unfortunately hasn’t been able to follow through.

Mikey is emotionally vulnerable, and is easily swayed (read: corrupted) in the absence of a guiding light like family members or friends. Now he’s lost, trapped in the darkness that has been looking deep within him for years. He even tries to take his own life during the Bonten Arc, but Takemichi comes to the rescue. And when Mikey emotionally implores him to save him from the darkness, Takemichi finds himself (perhaps inadvertently) on yet another time leap — this time to his high school years in 2008.

Here’s hoping Takemichi will be able to save Mikey — and finally give him the happy ending he so truly deserves.