Based on the original manga, Ichi-1 is the prequel to Takashi Miike’s Ichi the Killer. Nao Omori stars as Shiro Ishi (the future Ichi) and Teah is Dai, the best fighter at the local high school. Whenever Dai gets into a fight, Ichi is voyeuristically watching nearby, enjoying the brutality. Dai confronts him but Ichi cannot tear himself away from the bloodshed. It is as though he feeds on the violence. Everywhere Ichi goes he is considered a weakling and is bullied, taunted and made fun of. Even the younger kids from his karate class show him no respect, but Ichi refuses to fight back.

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However, on a fateful summer’s day, Ichi is pushed too far by a group of his fellow students. The rage inside him is finally unleashed and he flies into a violent fury. The maniacal psyche that dwells beneath the surface is revealed in all its horror and his tormentors pay the ultimate price. Back at school, Dai is confronted by Onizame, the new boy in town. Onizame is a Hapkido master and is out to relieve Dai of his “best fighter” status. In a ferocious display of fighting prowess, Onizame succeeds by severely beating Dai into submission. Word of Ichi’s slaughter of his tormentors soon spreads throughout the school and the stage is set. It’s time for a showdown. The best fighters in school versus Ichi the Killer. Who will survive the mayhem and become number 1?