"My older brother, the upright one, couldn't handle the pressure of taking over this thousand-year-old tradition and left the house. Behind this facade of dignity, we were one dysfunctional family."
Shoichiro Nishikado (西門 祥一郎,Nishikado Shōichirō) was the eldest son of the sixteenth generation of the Nishikado family. He left the family in order to become a doctor leaving the tea school for his younger brother, Sojiro, to inherit.
Shoichiro was the first son of his mother and father. The family had practiced the Nishikado style of tea ceremony for several generations and was a "thousand-year-old tradition." He had two younger brothers, including Sojiro. Their parents were in an unhappy relationship, resulting in them arguing often. As the eldest son, Shoichiro was expected to inherit the family's tea school. However, Shoichiro was unable to "handle the pressure" and left the family before Sojiro entered high school.[1] Shoichiro later became a doctor, leaving Sojiro to inherit the family's school instead.[2][3] Sojiro officially took over the school while he was still in college.[4]
Personality and traits[]
Sojiro described his brother as the "upright one," suggesting that Shoichiro likely went along with the duties of the eldest son. However, he ultimately left the family as he could not "handle the pressure." Shoichiro became a doctor, meaning that he was likely intelligent.
In Hana Yori Dango FF, Shoichiro is listed in "Hana-dan Side Characters" instead of under Sojiro's family.
In episode two of Meteor Rain (2001), Xi Men (Sojiro) describes him as "easy going" and that he ran away because of the family's "hypocrisy."
Shoichiro is mentioned in episode seven of Hana Yori Dango Returns (2007). In the drama, Sojiro believes that Sara Hinata was in love with Shoichiro, after seeing her so upset when he left the family. She also refers to him as "Sho-chan". Like in the manga, Sojiro no longer keeps in touch with his brother.