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Rei Kon' (金李, Kon Rei(Chinese Pinyin: Jīn Lǐ ), known in the English version as Raymond Kon or more commonly Ray, is a fictional character from the anime and manga series of Bakuten Shoot Beyblade.
Appearance
Rei has long black hair, golden eyes with cat-like pupils, and wear Chinese clothes. In V-Force Rei's appearance seems to have change a bit. His eye colors has turn into brown instead of golden-like.
Personality
He is generally shown as to be calm and open minded. In fact, many comparatives can be made between his personality and Yin and Yang, which he appropriately wears the symbol of, the Taijitu. The forces of Yin and Yang are generally described as opposite but complementary forces, and the same can be said about him. He can be calm and collected, but also a fierce competitor. These two qualities can be referred to as opposites, but they are not absolute in their differences, and the same can be said about Yin and Yang. Furthermore, the forces of Yin and Yang are interdependent, meaning that they cannot exist without their counterpart. This can also be compared to Rei's personality. His whole nature seems to be similar in principal to this metaphysical concept.
Synopsis
Anime
First season (Beyblade 2001)
Rei in Beyblade 2001
In the anime, Rei is first introduced during the Regional BBA Qualifier before his match with Takao. At the time, he is portrayed as a powerful and confident competitor. However, some may say that he is shown as overconfident in some aspects, especially before the battle against Takao had even begun. In the first battle, Rei easily, and almost effortlessly destroys Takao's blade using his holy beast Driger's Tiger Claw attack. The following battle, Rei becomes somewhat cocky about his ability, and ends up losing the 2nd round to Takao. Rei forfeits the final, deciding battle, saying that he had no more to prove. After the final round of the Tournament, between Takao and Kai, Rei approaches Takao, along with Max and Mr. Dickinson, inviting him and Kai to join the new team called the Blade Breakers (BBA team in japanese).
Throughout the first season, Rei is looked to for advice about battles. He is generally revered as a kind hearted, polite individual, who is very welcoming when meeting new people. He is also shown as being very open minded, especially about Beyblading techniques. This is emphasised in the Asian tournament, used as a means to justify his leaving of his home village. In the battle against Mao in the Asian tournament he is torn between loyalty to his new team and his former one. After the battle between Tyson and Lee Ray chooses to fight once again in order to settle the score once and for all, the battle between him and Rai is furious but Rei prevails as the victor and issue's between him and his former team are reasolved. It is also shown in this season that he has an uncle who is the head chef at a restaurant in Paris, which is owned by Olivers' Dad. It is also shown that he works as a waiter in a restaurant in Hong Kong for extra cash. This has led to an opinion of him loving to cook. in the Russian Tournament Rei faces his most brutal confrontation yet being inflicted with many injuries by Boris's blade, getting attacked directly by Boris's bit-beast Falborg. Luckily, Driger manages to save Rei, and defeat Boris. However, after the battle Driger vanished and Rei had to be sent to the hospital because of his injuries.
Rei's beyblades in this season were Driger Slash & Driger Fang
Second season (Beyblade V-Force)
Rei in Beyblade 2002
Generally, Rei is shown in a similar light as to how he is portrayed in season 1, although in 2002, he is much more critical of his performance.
A good example of Rei's kind hearted nature is shown in 2002, in the battle against Salima and Cyber Driger. During this battle, Salima becomes somewhat hypocritical towards her original philosophies towards beyblading. Because of this, Rei spends most of the battle trying to convince her that using Cyber Driger has tainted her beliefs. In the battle against Dunga he loses Driger for the second time causing to worry and lose his self confidence. When the group faces of against the Saint Sheild's for the last time Rei aides Kai in his battle against Dunga after Joseph joined the fray, Despite an audicous battle Rei succesfully reclaims Driger.
Rei uses three beyblades in the second season: Driger Fang, Driger Vulcan, and Driger Vulcan 2.
Third season (Beyblade G-Revolution)
Rei in Beyblade G-Revolution
In this series, Rei is portrayed in a very different way from the other two series. In the previous two, he was shown as being a polite young man, but unconfident in his beyblading ability. In G Revolution however, he is shown as being confident, almost to the point of being cocky. It is this that causes him to lose some of his matches. During this series, he leaves the BBA Team to help form the BaiHuZu team (white tigers in english) version, partnering up with his former teammate's.
Rei uses three beyblades in this season: Driger Vulcan 2, Driger Gatling, and Driger Metal Slash.
Manga
Beyblades/Beast/Abilites
Holy Beast
Driger
White Tiger (Byakko or Driger): is the Holy Beast inside Kon Rei's Beyblade. Driger is a strong Bit-Beast who come's from the white tiger tribe. The blade of Driger was given to Kon Rei who now takes care of him. Driger was passed down to people from generations to generations it ended up in Rei's hands because of his strong beyblading skill. Driger's well known attack is Tiger Claw attack. More known attacks are called Tiger Fang attack,Vulcan Claw,Gatling Claw, and Thunder Slash.
Quotes
"Mariah..."
"Hey, thanks a lot, Mariah."
"Tiger claw attack!"
"Not funny! That's the only way down, guys. And you're coming with me."
"We grew up together in a small mountain village. There was no TV or video games, or anything like that, so we devoted a lot of our spare time to Beyblading."
"Would you put a sock in it for a while?"
"That is the weirdest collection of Beybladers I have ever seen."
"No, but it puts me in place to open a big can of Bit Beast."
"This kissy-kissy 'blading is too tame for Steven."
"Good thing Dizzi's camera's off. I wouldn't want to replay this."
"I gave you your first Beyblade lesson. And you were always bugging me to teach you more."
"As if!"
"Face it, kid. This is your doom!"
"We need to meet more powerful Beybladers."
"Oh, would you quit trying to act so touchy?"
"Tyson, how did I do? Did I beat him?"
"Give me 100%"
"Always a pleasure talking with you Kai,"
"What is it?"
"I'm no expert on table manners, but something tells me that's not how you're supposed to eat in a fancy restaurant! Unbelievable!"
"For goodness sake, Tyson, use a fork!"
"One day I read this one book about my ancestors and found out how they belonged to a medieval tribe, called the White Tigers."
"Isn't it strange how the memories are? Even such a long time ago?"
"Me too. But some how it all came back to me,"
"We win!"
"Unfortunately, no matter how much you encourage Dragoon, he'll never grow a second head."
"Did you say "fare badly"? My bit-beast begs to differ!"
"What a freak..."
"No, don't!"
"You guys should really pay more attention to your waiters. I was serving you all night! You'd better leave me a nice tip."
"Which way is the stupid bathroom?"
"Yeah, the old sourpuss actually did it!"
"Hey give him a break! If you want a battle, then try taking on my Driger!"
"Uh...you first, Kai."
(thinking) "What a grouch!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Guys? How are we gonna get out of here?"
"Well, you know what happens every time you get an idea."
"What are you doing?"
"Moving from bonehead to brilliant in one day. Impressive."
"Driger, come on out and destroy him!"
Oh, you'll battle, because if you dont, we're going to stay here and stuff our faces for the entire week!
"I don't have any choice but to finish you off, so stop begging!"
"You're the one fighting Oliver?"
"Wild Horses couldn't keep me from the dish!"
"Did you say house?"
"Yeah. You're starting to freak out, pal."
(looking at his clothers) "A waiter?"
"Yeah, and he also likes playing the lone wolf,"
"Man, you think Kenny's alright sitting with those horror-movie rejects?"
"Whoever built this didn't have a clue what he was doing. Where's the jumbo-screen?"
"It's dark in here."
"Sorry. It's dark."
"So much for dedication."
"He's changed."
"You said a mouthful, Dizzy,"
"Ever meet a cheap shot you didn't like?"
"Wow, it looks like somebody left this behind. A silver dollar. (flips the coin) Heads, I go back and watch the creature feature; tails, I freak out about riding on a ghost train. (lifts hand and sees coin) Tails."
"Tyson, I said I was sorry. I can't see a thing in here."
"Good idea."
"Driger!"
"You stink at this."
"There!"
Trivia
References
Relationships
Kai Hiwatari: Kai and Ray are closest in age of the Bladebreakers and are shown to share a certain respect, concern and admiration. This is particularly evident in Beyblade V force.
Mariah: Ray and Mariah were born and raised in the same mountain village in China, and grew up together alongside Garry, Kevin and Mariah's older brother Lee, becoming life-long friends. It was from Ray that Mariah first learned how to Beyblade, and as time went on, their loyalty to each other led to early stages of friendship. However, this was dashed by Ray's desertion. Mariah however refused to believe Ray was a traitor and her feeling for him were lost forever. After the Chuugoku team reconciles with Lee, he later rejoins in the third series.
Salima: Ray seems to have the same feelings for Salima as he does for Mariah. They both want to have fair fights, since Tyson was also considering breaking the rules to protect their bit-beasts. Though Ray is profoundly affected by Salima's influence, she mostly shows feelings for Kane.
Family
His parents aren't known, but he has an uncle named Stanley that is a chef in a resturant in Paris. In the manga, he marries Mao (Mariah) and they have a daughter named Rin (Ling). Taking this into consideration, Rei would now have a wife, a daughter, a brother-in-law (Rai) and a grandfather-in-law since Mao's family would also be his.
Information
His age in the manga and in the Japanese version is 12 in BB 2001, 13 in BB 2002 and 14 in BB G-Revolution. In the US version he's 14-16.
In the Japanese versions, his given name is often written in katakana as "レイ."(Re-i)
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