Naoyuki Ito (伊藤 直之 Itō Naoyuki) is a friend and classmate of Ryo Hazuki and Ichiro Sakurada. He has two siblings which are Yasuo Ito and Kayoko Ito who he often looks after. He also has a motorcycle which is his pride and joy.
Biography[]
Naoyuki first moved to Sakuragaoka when he was in the second grade of elementary school and was bullied for being new to the school. But after Ryo defended him, they became friends and have been ever since.
Naoyuki is very studious and his grades are among the top of the school, particularly in math and science. His physics grade in particular is the best in the entire school.
Shenmue[]
Naoyuki can first be found in free quest working on his motorcycle outside of his home when Ryo enters Sakuragaoka for the first time in the game. If Ryo asks him about the men in black suits, he suggests he asks the women gossiping near the payphone. Once Ryo is able to enter Dobuita, Naoyuki can usually be found spending time with Ichiro there.
Naoyuki and Ichiro also appear in a determinant cutscene that can trigger during the time Ryo first enters the New Yokosuka Harbor District (The beginning of Disc 2 for the Dreamcast version.). During the time before Ryo learns of the Old Warehouse #8, the player must trigger the cutscene where Nozomi Harasaki calls Ryo at home at night, and he meets her at Sakuragaoka Park, where she confesses her feelings for him. The following night, Ryo must enter Bar Yokosuka where the hostess Akemi Sato says that Fuku-san called them saying that his friends are waiting for him at his house. Ryo will be automatically transported home then and the cutscene will trigger. Naoyuki and Ichiro ask Ryo if he's okay since Fuku-san was worried about him. Ryo claims that he's okay, and Ichiro admits that he seemed better than he thought. Naoyuki tells him to not be afraid to tell them if he needs anything since they're old friends. They then leave the house.
During the main story, when Nozomi is kidnapped by the Mad Angels near the end of the game; Ryo asks Naoyuki if he can borrow his motorcycle and he allows it.
Shenmue the Animation[]
Although Naoyuki does not actually appear in Shenmue the Animation, a photo of him, Ichiro, Nozomi and Ryo can be seen on Nozomi's desk at her home in Episode 2. This is the Photo of Friends from the games
Etymology[]
- The name Naoyuki means "straight, direct" (直) (nao) and "this" (之) (yuki).
- Naoyuki's surname Ito means "that one" (伊) (i) and "wisteria" (藤) (to).
Trivia[]
- Naoyuki's zodiac sign is Taurus and he has a O blood type.
- His phone number is 0468-37-7492 (In Shenmue I & II, the last digit is removed), although Kayoko will always answer.
- Naoyuki, or at least someone who has his design appears in the What's Shenmue? demo, but his face looks completely different than how it looks in the actual game. He doesn't seem to recognize Ryo, so it is unclear if this is actually Naoyuki, or just a random NPC whose design they decided to use for Naoyuki in the actual game.