Though Cobra Kai's Season 3 trailer teased a number of franchise callbacks to The Karate Kid Part II, fans had yet to learn why Daniel was revisiting Mr. Miyagi's birthplace of Okinawa in the first place beyond fan service. Now, Ralph Macchio has provided something of an answer.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Macchio revealed that the narrative rationale behind Daniel's Japan visit is to help salvage his car dealership financially. "On top of everything else that we start the season with, he's about to lose the business — or get to a place where if he doesn't sell it, he would be in trouble," he explained. "And so as happens in the Karate Kid universe, some Miyagi element from his past triggers an idea, and it's beautifully done. And he takes a shot to get to Japan and talk to some of the import companies."
Being overseas ultimately gives Daniel the idea to stop by Okinawa since he's nearby, reuniting with some old friends and adversaries in the process. "It's not the otherworldly that brings him there, but he's at that midlife crisis moment where everything's unraveling, and this is where the magic happened in his childhood," Macchio continued. "And maybe there'd be an answer. And that's when the Tamlyn Tomita character, Kumiko, becomes such a big part of that, and Chozen. It takes us on a two-episode journey and informs the character and gives a big fat nostalgic embrace to all you folks."
LaRusso Auto Group's financial troubles were a subtle plot point sprinkled across Cobra Kai's second season, a byproduct of Daniel devoting so much time to training Miyagi-Do students at the expense of shirking work duties to his wife Amanda's ire. This reached a breaking point after the Season 2 finale's Miyagi-Do/Cobra Kai high school brawl resulted in several students getting brutally injured – including their daughter Samantha – with Amanda demanding Daniel shut down the dojo for good after letting things get completely out of hand. The Japan scenes from Season 3's trailer seem to delve further into Daniel's crisis of consciousness, admitting that "Mr. Miyagi taught me everything he knew" as he reunites with Kumiko and has a sparring match with Chozen, the latter of whom Daniel last saw during their literal fight to the death in Karate Kid Part II.
Cobra Kai stars William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni Decenzo, Peyton List and Martin Kove. Season 3 arrives on Netflix Jan. 8, 2021.
Source: Entertainment Weekly