Shigeki Baba (馬場 茂樹, Baba Shigeki) is a secondary antagonist in Yakuza 5. He is a hitman working with Tsubasa Kurosawa and an inmate in Abashiri Penitentiary.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Baba is a man of average height and a considerably muscular build. He has a buzz-cut as seen on many other inmates around him.
Attire[]
In Abashiri Penitentiary, Baba wears a light blue jumpsuit. After being rescued by Saejima in the snowy mountains, he wears a dark brown jacket, with jeans and black boots. During his attempt at assassinating Taizo Kitakata, he wears a visor hat, and a bubble-jacket. He takes both of them off during his fight with Saejima, revealing a black turtleneck sweater. He wears a similar outfit during his time in the Japan dome, with a visor cap. But instead of a bubble jacket, he wears a dark green military vest.
Personality[]
— Baba to SaejimaBut once I get squared with my dream in a way I can live with... I'll come back to you again. And when I do, please let me vow the exchange of brotherhood with you.
Baba is a complex young man dealing with the conflict between his duty as a hitman and what he personally desires. He first presented to Saejima as a meek and emotional prisoner who can't defend himself, in order fulfill his mission as a hitman. This is later revealed to be an act, as he is an assassin who is not above manipulation and deceit to complete his tasks. However, spending time with Saejima shatters his original beliefs. Him accepting Baba as his brother despite his devious actions causes Baba to reevaluate what he really wants.
Background[]
Baba's personal details remain largely unknown as the past he presented was fabricated. In regards to his real background, Baba claims to have formed a short-term partnership with Yu Morinaga in exchange for cash.
In 2011, Baba was transferred into Taiga Saejima's prison and cell through a calculated setup. Around June 2012, Baba hired Hiroshi Kugihara in order to delay Saejima's release. Their plan was to keep Saejima from attaining parole until the correct time came, at which point, they would use a large group of inmate transfers to fight off guards and allow him to escape easily.
Baba's fabricated past: At the age of 20, Baba was a low-ranking member of the Kitakata Family. With the family at war against another family, Baba murdered someone in order for his aniki to become an officer, with the promise that he would pull strings in order to shorten Baba's release. Imprisoned, Baba waited a long time and assumed his aniki was busy in Kansai. After ten years of waiting for him, Baba realized he had been simply used and tossed away.
Involvement[]
Yakuza 5: 2012[]
Baba is first seen as an inmate in Abashiri Penitentiary, sharing a cell with Saejima. Supposedly he has been incarcerated for the murder of a member of the Kitakata Family for the last 10 years and has been moved to Hokkaido recently to finish his sentence, anticipating his parole, while he struggles with the prospect of being released. Saejima befriends him during their shared time in prison, as they are able to bond over their similar past as yakuza, while having been expelled from their families.
As Saejima refuses to bow to the harassment of Hiroshi Kugihara, another inmate, and his gang, they take to put pressure on Baba and eventually frame him for stabbing another inmate during a struggle. Baba's application for parole is compromised by this, though Saejima, and his other cellmates, take the investigation into their own hands and are able to clear Baba's name.
Shortly after, following the supposed death of Goro Majima, Baba is enlisted by Abashiri's deputy warden, Seiji Kosaka, to accompany Saejima in his prison break following the mysterious rejection of his parole. After fending off a horde of inmates, including Kugihara, they manage to escape. Outside the prison, they mount a snowmobile with Saejima operating it. After a while, Baba loses his grip on Saejima's shoulder, and falls off. Lost in the woods, Baba passes out and catches frostbite. The next day, he is rescued by Saejima and Okudera. After Baba recovers, they head off to Tsukimino in order to find out the truth about Majima's presumed death. They plan to kidnap the patriarch of Kitakata Family, Taizo Kitakata, in order to gain information.
During the winter festival, they capture Kitakata and he agrees to tell everything about Majima. While Saejima talks to Kitakata, Baba leaves the premise and heads to a nearby building to assassinate Kitakata. After shooting him, Baba runs, but is caught by Saejima. Afterwards, Baba tells the truth about his background. He also tells the revelation of how he hired Kugihara to give Saejima more time in prison. As Baba is about to shoot Saejima, he hesitates to do it due to Saejima showing undying loyalty and wisdom to Baba, even after he knows who he really is, not to mention saving him at the snow mountain. Baba then attempts to shoot himself but is stopped and defeated by Saejima after the two fight. Baba then tells Saejima that one day he wishes he could officially be his sworn brother, and leaves in order to avoid Tsubasa Kurosawa and his men.
In Kamurocho, Baba tails Kazuma Kiryu and fights him, but loses. Kiryu and Baba go to New Serena and talk for a while about the current situations. Kiryu also asks Baba to tell Haruka Sawamura to never give up. In which he does when he goes to Haruka and talks to her about Kiryu and tries to convince her to see him, but she chooses not to.
At Haruka's concert at the Tokyo Dome, Baba is sent by Kurosawa to assassinate her. However, having a change of heart, Baba refuses to kill her and, and while leaving, he is confronted by Tatsuo Shinada. Determined to stop Baba from running away from the consequences of his actions, Shinada takes him down. Ashamed of himself, Baba aims his rifle at his head and tells Shinada to tell his apologies to Saejima. However, as he pulls the trigger, his gun is shot out of his hands by Himura, with Oshima and Kosaka standing beside him. He watches the rest of the concert with his friends and Shinada before returning to Abashiri.
Fighting Style[]
Baba has three boss fight throughout Yakuza 5: one against Saejima, another against Kiryu, and lastly against Shinada. He also accompanies Saejima as an AI partner during the Abashiri Penitentiary long battle. He is a very nimble hand-to-hand combatant, although somewhat lacking in terms of physical strength. His moveset consists of the following:
- a Rush Combo, comprised of a left jab and a right cross, followed by:
- a spinning right backfist and a low left Thai roundhouse kick finisher,
- a low left roundhouse kick and a right high side kick finisher, or
- a right front snap kick and a right lunge punch finisher;
- a right front snap kick,
- a right lunge punch,
- a spinning right side kick,
- a spinning left spear-hand (unused),
- quickstep attacks, including:
- a right foot sweep kick-right side kick after forward-stepping,
- a right/left low backfist after spinning left/right respectively, and
- a lunging right backfist after backstepping, which can stun his opponent;
- a stumbling command grab where he executes a victory roll,
- a right-foot stomp as a downed attack, and
- a taunt where he claps his right fist twice.
He emits a yellow aura with orange accents in Heat Mode.
Baba's moveset is reused by Hiroshi Hayashi in Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2.
Gallery[]
Yakuza 5[]
.png "Shigeki Baba (Prison Uniform).png (491 KB)")
Ryu Ga Gotoku Online[]
.png "RGGO - Card - SSR Shigeki Baba (Fighting Spirit).png (359 KB)")
Notes[]
- ↑ As the details regarding Baba's prison sentence were fabricated, his stated age at the time of his "incarceration" may also have been a lie.
References[]
- ↑ Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, “Part 2 Chapter 1: Ends of the Earth”, Yakuza 5 Remastered (2012; Tokyo: SEGAWP, 2020), PlayStation 4/Xbox One/Windows.— Oshima sharing his (false) intel of Baba, Yakuza 5 Remastered
He's been in prison for ten years. Did the kill when he was twenty.