Kiryu is the stoic dreamer of the dark yakuza world, living by a strict code of honor and a very strong sense of justice. He does not judge others and is generally accepting of anyone who is friendly towards him. He is a good listener, giving advice in response to his environment rather than seeking out conversations. He is wise (but certainly not all-knowing) and generally means well for those around him, which makes him surprisingly pragmatic and well-liked. He still considers himself a yakuza at heart, and although he views violence as necessary, Kiryu is disgusted by violent yakuza who are corrupted by revenge and power, like Nishikiyama and young Daigo, and urges them to snap out of it. Kiryu loves working with kids, and is a good caretaker to the children at Morning Glory Orphanage. Genuine and understanding, he bonds with the children through their shared experiences. He treats them all as fairly as possible, going out of his way to keep them all safe and happy, whether it means staging a wrestling match to cheer them up, or refusing to sell the land even in the face of a large sum of money. He also shows fondness for arcade games, believing that nobody is too old for them. Kiryu sees the world in a more idealistic sense than a realistic one. Though, his views become more sober, especially once he was forced to leave the orphanage. He believes that it is a man's duty to take control over their own destiny, and viewed fate as a negative force that needs to be combated, so that he, in hopes to return to a time where Nikishiyama, Haruka, and everyone he has called a friend, could hang out together, peacefully.