AllMovie

Masato Tanno's Ichi-1, the prequel to Takashi Miike's ultra-violent Ichi the Killer, stars Nao Omori, who reprises his role as Shiro Ishi. In this film Ishi is a mild-mannered high-school student who suffers abuse at the hands of school bully Dai. Little does Dai suspect that the quiet Ishi is capable of frightening violence. Soon Onizame, a new kid, enrolls at the school and immediately begins to challenge Dai for the title of school bully. Soon Ishi is no longer able to quell his potent anger.