Why does Ken wear Ryu's headband in "The Later Years"?

[Stein]

I'm guessing that Ryu didn't want or need it anymore and gave it back to him or something...?

[Zangief]

I'm guessing he kept it as a gift from his best friend. I recall, in the TV series, "Street Fighter II V", Ryu had hurt Ken and caused his head to bleed. Ryu removed his headband and put it on Ken to staunch the bleeding. Or was that the second feature film? Any SF historians want to weigh in on this (big hint to SF Master, LOL)?

Great question, Stein!

[TETSUOrocks]

In the anime SFII movie it was Ryu the got his head cut from an attack and it was ken that ripped off part of his Red GI to patch up Ryu. The movie might not be that accurate to the actual story tho.

I just assumed since Ryu, being evil and all now, probably tossed it back to Ken as a symbol of a terminated friendship since he probably didn't want ken to have any part of the money from teaching people to ha-do-ken.

I guess Ken still wears it to possibly remind of himself of his former glory while working as a lowly employee for Capcom.

Something along those lines... I'm sure we'll find out alot of interesting things when Ken and Ryu interact in the show.

[Zangief]

Thanks, TR, for clarifying the origin of the headband. As you can see, I had it all topsy-turvy. And it was, in fact, the second feature film, not the TV series. I'll get it right one of these days, LOL!

I also think that yours is the best explanation of and insight into the seeming coolness of Ken's relationship with Ryu today. If it's true that Ryu has been so corrupted by greed that he'd cut his very best friend loose in an act of absolute acquisition of power and money, one may wonder if it has anything to do with his relationship to Akuma in the past. If so, it certainly wouldn't be Ryu's first encounter with and possession by the dark hadou.