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Book: First Impressions
Within the novel Kiriyama is introduced to us by Nanahara when he is looking around the bus the students had boarded to go on their 'study trip'. Much like the movie Kazuo is sitting at the back of the scene, alone and secluded, staring out into space as if he is bored. Though his nearby gang members are joking around he is unmoved by the situation.Immediately we are presented with a character who is intriguing. Why is he so different to everyone else on this bus and so much so that Nanahara focuses on him for so long? The reader is drawn in and eager to learn more. Our curiosity is further fueled when Nanahara expresses his surprise for Kazuo coming on anything as childish as a study trip. For the average 15 year old it would hardly be counted an issue. But once again Kazuo is different.
The scene continues and we happen to learn more about this mysterious boy in the corner (something we are not given within the movie) and one can not help but be impressed by the list of Kiriyama's talents. Number one in school without studying (the meer idea that he would study is absurd!), number one in sports with little contest. Leader of a gang with a prefectural wide reputaion in which he is 'legendary'. Incredibly good looks with a shining intelligence in his face. To quote the book 'so in every respect Kazuo Kiriyama was perfect'.
So for now what we see is a talented boy that perhaps is just a little introverted and prefers not to interact with others in the normal way other teens do. But almost straight away it is thrown in our face that there is something hiding below the surface, lurking under the serene surface and calm stare of the boy.
Nanahara states that Kazuo is simply different. It was hard to understand how someone so perect and talented ended up as a leader of thugs. Shuya assumes it is because Kiriyama is 'remote' and distant. But while saying this we also discover that the boy never does anything bad in school. Any immediate reaction we may have had to Kazuo being a troublemaker is washed away. He is quiet, secluded, slightly odd but not violent unless the situation calls for it.
Before the sleeping gas kicks in we also learn one more fact about Kazuo. When Shogo first came to their school everyone was concerned that there would be major conflict between the two since Kiriyama may need to assert his authority. However the confrontation never occurs. He seemed completely indifferent to the newcomer even though Kawada supposedly threatened a member of his gang. This bit of information helps the reader further understand that Kazuo isn't particularly violent or nasty. Just uncaring.
Though it isn't a 'first impression' as such since it is in the next scene it is important to note Kazuo's conduct in the classroom scene is very similar to the first time we meet him in the film. Combine that with his secluded and uncaring nature on the bus (as well as the glances exchanged by Shogo and himself) and we can see where they got the idea for the 'newer' movie version of Kiriyama.
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