Cobra Kai Season 6 Theory : Link to Sato?
After the end of Season 5 of Cobra Kai, fans are left wanting more. Silver is finally arrested but Kreese is out and so is Kim Da Eun who went missing. There a lot of theories as to what Season 6 might be but for me I think it might link back to Sato Toguchi and Kim Sun-Yung.
When re-watching The Karate Kid Part II, I realised something I did not before when Miyagi asked his best friend, Sato, what happened that he had changed so much since the last time they met, becoming very different than the person he knew since childhood, training with Miyagi's father.
For a moment, Sato wanted to say something but is at loss for words, it's like he could not find the words to say or something is holding him back. It seems to me that his anger towards Miyagi is more than just about Yukie. Something else must have happened that is worth exploring.
Saving Tomi Village
After World War II, Okinawa suffered the devastating battle which left thousands of Americans, Japanese and Okinawans dead, and the island had to rebuild itself while overcoming the traumatic experiences.
In a bid to revive the economy to save the village, Sato bought in big commercial fishing boat thinking it would help the villagers. But because the efficiency of the boat, the fishes were gone more rapidly than expected.
This caused the fishermen to lose their job so they moved to Naha City for employment while those who remained resorted to vegetable business. Sato owned the farms and rent them to the villagers.
He probably think it's the only way he could prevent the lands from being claimed by other foreign commercial companies that might exploit the lands into developing something else that do not benefit the villagers.
Which means to say that Sato had to make several hard decisions which seemed 'cruel' to the villagers at the time, becoming the 'villain' but from the bigger point of view, it was the only thing he could do to save them.
Meeting Master Kim Sun-Yung
Bolo Yeung, known for his role in the martial arts film, Bloodsport. This is for illustrative purpose only as I imagine this is what
Kim Sun-Yung would have looked like.
During the Korean War, Sato met Kim Sun-Yung who taught American soldiers Tang Soo Do. While Sato did not speak about Kim, according to thekaratekid.fandom.com, Sato held a lot of anger towards Kim.
Kim Sun-Yung earned notoriety in the world of martial arts for having taught a brutal and ruthless fighting style that were based on deception to catch one's opponent off guard, showing neither mercy nor honour.
From the historical point of view, the South Korean president at the time urged martial arts to be introduced to the army under a single system of Korean martial art, Tang So doo, was the term used.
At that time, South Korea wanted to create a strong and formidable military so that it will never fall victim to foreign invasion ever again, which explains the ruthless nature of their martial arts.
He probably think it's the only way he could prevent the lands from being claimed by other foreign commercial companies that might exploit the lands into developing something else that do not benefit the villagers.
What if Kim Sun-Yung or his son, had traveled to Okinawa to teach the American soldiers stationed there? What if he had open his dojang (dojo) in Okinawa gathering students including Okinawans themselves?
What if Sato had open his dojo teaching the 'true' Miyagi-Do used by the ancestors of Ryukyu Kingdom, which Chozen mentioned in Season 3, to counter the influence of Tang Soo Do in Okinawa?
To defeat the ruthless Tang Soo Do, Sato had to be ruthless himself. Which is why he was hard on Chozen because he wanted to pass the legacy to ensure the survival of Okinawan Karate which is part of their culture and identity.
Maybe Sato defeated Tang Soo Do, causing them to withdraw from Okinawa and from then on, the American soldiers study at his dojo instead, which is why we see Chozen training the American military police in Karate Kid II.
Source of Sato's Anger
What if this is what made Sato furious at Miyagi? Sato had to fight on two fronts, to save the village and the karate, from foreign influence. He had to defend Okinawa which Miyagi had abandoned, thus, calling him 'coward'.
He was frustrated that Miyagi was not there to help him and that Miyagi do not know what he had went through alone since Miyagi left Okinawa. One thing for sure, both Miyagi and Sato went through a lot since 1943.
Sato began to soften when he remembered why he learned karate after Miyagi saved him from the storm. He realised he had become someone else that Miyagi once knew as he was too caught up in his sorrow and anger.
I think it would be interesting to see his backstory the same way we see John Kreese and Terry Silver. Would be cool to see how or when Sato met Kim, and most importantly, what really happened between the two.
One thing I learn from Cobra Kai is that every villain has a story as to why he is that way. Sato may have wanted to preserve Miyagi Do the same way Kim Da Eun wants to preserve Tang So Doo now at present.
Which makes sense as to why Kim Da Eun wanted to help Silver crush Miyagi-Do and she made it clear to Silver when she first arrived that she did not come all the way from Korea for monetary rewards.
This could be why Kim Da Eun viewed Chozen with contempt saying, "You must be Chozen Toguchi. Aren't you far from your pathetic little island?" Probably of what happened between her grandfather or father and Sato.
The Plot Thickens
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