Wind Breaker’s second season has just hit the screen, and it is already promising to be even more action-packed than the first season. Fans have already fallen in love with the Bofurin gang and sneered at the Shishitoren. But Season 2 has gifted audiences with a whole other malevolent gang in KEEL.
Unlike Bofurin or Shishitoren, KEEL members are expected to fight dirty. They are encouraged to be as cutthroat as possible as long as it helps them win. This has led to some of the most ruthless characters in Wind Breaker so far, and the season has only just started. Bofurin may have won their first fight against KEEL, but it’s only a matter of time before Shingo Natori and his gang seek retribution. There are certain to be more characters to come, but KEEL has already made a splash in the Wind Breaker universe.
Shiyu Kirishima Prefers a No-Nonsense Approach to Combat
Shiyu Kirishima Is Thrown Off By Taiga Tsugeura's Flamboyance
Shiyu Kirishima is the antithesis of his Bofurin opponent, Taiga Tsugeura. Where Tsugeura is boisterous and a showman, Kirishima is much more reserved. He prefers to get down to business rather than making a spectacle of the fight. But Tsugeura has other ideas. Their fight becomes one of the central conflicts and is made even more theatrical by the way Tsugeura finally knocks Kirishima out. As it turns out, even one of the toughest members of KEEL was no match for Bofurin in the end.
Kirishima is one of several KEEL VIP members and is one of the strongest members. His weapon of choice appears to be a plank much like the others. However, he is known to favor his fists in battle as well. Unfortunately for him, his straightforward nature does not make him as memorable as the other VIPs. But that does not matter as long as he keeps winning battles for KEEL. Kirishima is not so lucky against Tsugeura, though, who easily takes him out once his vigor is restored. Kirishima’s distaste for frivolity is usually a boon for him in any fight. It is just unfortunate for him he had to face Tsugeura, who thrives under the spotlight.
Takeru Kongo Isn't as Tough As He Seems
Takeru Kongo Is the Most Cowardly VIP in KEEL
Takeru Kongo is another playful VIP member of KEEL. His erratic behavior is in stark contrast to Haruka Sakura’s (typically) more focused approach. However, Kongo gets an advantage over Sakura since Sakura’s attention is divided toward the KEEL leader. Thankfully, Kaji knocks some sense into Sakura, and his focus comes back. Suddenly, Kongo’s former cockiness is not as effective against his Bofurin opponent.
Kongo is more cowardly than he appears on the surface. He saunters around with the braggadocio of someone with a lot more gumption. Yet, when it comes down to it, Kongo is all bark and no bite. He even sends his minions after Sakura when Sakura regains focus once again. Kongo’s VIP status speaks to the heart of what is wrong with KEEL. Not only do they prioritize members who are “stronger”, but they celebrate individuals who simply appear stronger. If the rest of KEEL knew Kongo’s true personality, there is no doubt he would be with the rest of the underlings.
Hansuke Tone Fights Viciously With 2 Weapons
Hansuke Tone's Weapons Are No Match for Suo
Hansuke Tone is one of the top members of KEEL. Like his comrades, Tone is vicious to the core. He is ready and willing to fight any battle — especially if he has the chance to use unchecked brute force. This is doubly worrying, considering Tone’s fighting style is to dual-wield weapons, as shown in his confrontation against Hayato Suo. Though Suo was only armed with his graceful martial arts style, Tone wielded both a plank and a bat. Tone’s weapon proficiency is even more impressive considering Tone keeps his right eye closed and only lets his left eye open a little.
Not much is known about Hansuke in totality, but fans can already tell why he is one of the VIP members of KEEL. He is ruthless to the end, which is a quality that the KEEL leader, Shingo Natori, seems to celebrate. Tone is the perfect KEEL member due to his penchant for over-the-top violence. However, he is also known to let his emotions get the better of him, which fans also see in his fight with Suo. Tone promises to be a formidable opponent for Bofurin moving forward into this second season. Sakura, Suo, and the rest of the benevolent gang are going to have to be on their guard with a guy like him on the opposing team.
Renji Kaga Prioritizes Manliness
Renji Kaga Is Afraid of Looking Weak
Renji Kaga is a large member of KEEL who seems to have some sort of inferiority complex. This is evidenced by all the insults he hurls at Mitsuki Kiryu as they face off in the first two episodes of Season 2. Kiryu does not seem to mind Kaga’s barbs, but any reciprocation sends Kaga into an overly violent rage. Kaga utterly hates being seen as weak, and reviles any inference regarding his shortcomings. He also seems to have trouble in the romance department, which is a topic that sends Kaga into a furious frenzy when Kiryu mentions it during their battle.
Kaga hates feminine characteristics in men so much that having to fight (and subsequently lose to) Kiryu is a severe blow to his ego. He is also thrown off when Kiryu mentions Kaga must be one of the weak ones if he is not the leader of KEEL. Kaga tries to play it off as being an assistant, but fans can tell his lower status bothers him. Though it is only speculation, Kaga must have had past troubles with being seen as weak or lesser-than, judging by how much he hyper-fixates on being strong and manly. Kaga seems to be just as ruthless as the other members of KEEL, but he seems to be easier to deal with if one uses his fear of appearing weak to rile him up and force him into avoidable mistakes.
Taishi Mogami Is Small But Fast
Taishi Mogami Uses His Stature Against His Opponents
Taishi Mogami is one of the smaller members of KEEL, but that does not mean he is weak by any means. Rather, Mogami is one of the more cutthroat members of his gang. In the end, he manages to hold his own against Kyotaro Sugishita. Sugishita is known for his untold strength, yet Mogami easily maneuvers around Sugishita’s hulking punches. Mogami revels in evading his opponents by using his expert agility. Because he is so small, he can more easily dodge attacks and strikes quickly when the time is right. He is the perfect enemy for someone like Sugishita, since Sugishita’s weakness is agility. Sugishita even comments about how he hates people who are small and fast and reminisces about his initial fight with Sakura in Season 1.
Mogami is a more playful member of KEEL compared to the other members. He relishes taunting Sugishita about being weak and treats the whole ordeal like a game. Yet, he still carries a barbed plank as his weapon of choice. It is only when Sugishita manages to catch him in midair that he is finally able to take Mogami down. Audiences will undoubtedly see more of Mogami in the future. The only question now is whether his playfulness will stay intact now that he has been defeated by a member of Bofurin.
Shingo Natori Is the Leader of KEEL
Shingo Natori Believes in Leading With Fear
Shingo Natori is the cruel leader of the KEEL gang. Natori rules with fear as his weapon and encourages his followers to win at all costs. There is no code of honor in Natori’s mind. There is only the thought of who will end up as the victor. As shown in his fight with Ren Kaji in the first two episodes of Season 2, Natori is even willing to resort to petty tricks like throwing dirt and pebbles into his opponents’ eyes just to get ahead.
Natori revels in violence and despises heroism. He believes anyone who does anything nice for someone else is just kidding themselves into thinking they are good when they are not. To Natori, the only true sense of self is found in mean and selfish actions. He may be a teenager, but Natori has already displayed many worrying tendencies which suggest there is more going on in his mind than just a mean spirit. Thankfully, Kaji defeats him at the end of Episode 15, “CONCLUSION”, but nothing Kaji says or does seems to truly phase Natori. Choji Tojiyama of the Shishitoren seemed like a vicious, unfeeling leader, but that title truly goes toward Natori.
