I've always known that Ichizou was a dumbass who was both brute and rash but has the courage and initiative to do what he truly believe that's right. Matsumoto did a nice job making his positive traits subtle despite spending most of his screentime being a sword swinging moron.
Also to those who are confused
read what the 'prostitute' just said and think back to what happened in this chapter.
@Rosen_Ritter I think they're just confused that a cat suddenly appears to be talking. I don't think that's meant to be literal, though, it's more a reference to the personality of the speaker who is still the same person.
Well that was quite a drastic change old man Yokichi had.
It even healed his swollen face, made him taller, younger, sexier, and it all happened before he got to dry from his swim in the river, it is practically magic.