Oh snap a challenger appears! Here we go!
I love Kanji to pieces! I really like that they tried something different with the whole “thug with a heart of gold” trope that happens. That and I think he’s an honest representation of a high school kid who likes things that the stereotype says that boys don’t like. There’s expectations for men that people never really talk about too much. I mean I’m all for women’s rights and things, but something women’s studies showed me is the expectations men have and how a lot of them don’t actually fit that image. Kanji sure as hell doesn’t. And you can see that he tries really hard to with his tough guy act (especially in the manga which shows his childhood). He likes things that people would call queer. I’ve seen this happen growing up. I’ve seen my friend’s neice fall and cry and she’s babied, versus her nephew who would fall and cry and it’s, “Suck it up you’re a man.” Also I feel like when a girl breaks away from her stereotype by “doing boy things” she may get crap for it, sure, but there’s an entire group like, “you go girl!” A boy, however, it’s like, “You’re gay,” end of story.
I also like the take on Kanji that people have that, well, maybe he is gay. He’s in high school discovering himself, so who knows. He does show interest in Naoto back when they think she’s a boy, so why not? I really liked this because there’s this assumption that high school kids “don’t know” and “are too young” and things like that, but high school is honestly like… a pretty vital part of your life. You’re trying to fit in, you’re going through puberty, you’re questioning things, and people just lump it as “you just don’t know” instead of letting you go through this stage in your life. Sexuality is a huge thing in high school and the answer isn’t, “he/she is too young,” or, “it’s just a phase.” You shouldn’t make the kid feel confused or ashamed, and I really like that take on Kanji’s shadow. Is he gay? Who knows. Just let him be. Just love him for who he is.
Just like Naoto, there’s nothing I don’t like, it’s the fandom sometimes. The arguments about his sexuality, I just… there’s no need to argue about it. Then again that’s my stance on any fandom, really. People have different opinions, respect them, don’t bash them for it.
However, there is something I don’t like. While I think the anime is fine, I really hate that they seemed to skim through his dungeon. I mean it was fine, but it didn’t feel as meaningful as it did in the game/manga. Also, the fact that they never mention his hatred for hospitals. He hates them because his dad died in one, which is a big deal in his social link. And I feel like the anime didn’t do much to show his closeness to his mom, which was kinda a bummer too.
- Favorite episode (scene if movie)
There is one thing I really liked with the anime, and it’s actually during Naoto’s shadow arc. Besides the fact that I’m a huge kannao fan, they really portrayed him sort of “getting the message” about the shadows really well with the whole, “let the kid get it out, otherwise he’ll keep hurting.” Which he says in the game too, but still. I also like that the anime touched on his crush more, but it also made it seem like it was more than just a silly crush. I mean yeah there’s the beauty pageant and stuff, but when it came down to it he was right there. He actually fought her shadow, and talked to her like, “I such at making friends too, who gives a shit,” and you know, even if she never returns his feelings, in that moment she at least knew that she had someone.
There’s what, one or two seasons in the anime if we go by new openings or… I dunno, I just love him in all of it. Especially in the manga (please license it please). The manga goes into his past more, and he even summons his persona to take on his shadow. I think it does a good job in showing how strong willed he really is.
I swear all of Kanji’s lines are gold. One minute he’ll say something super deep, like, “Man is just an animal trying to get out of his cage,” then just stutter out to Naoto, “Make me a man, damnit!” Just… love him so much.
The one with the leather jacket. Just. Yes. Please. More of that.
Him and Naoto ALWAYS!
Him and Yosuke, honestly, because after the “oh god you’re going to make me gay” that doesn’t even last too long they’re totally friends. Like, really good friends, especially after Souji leaves. Despite the fandom that hates Yosuke because “ugh he’s so homophobic,” I love him to death and think he sees Kanji as a good friend. Btw I HATE the fandom that thinks Yosuke is a homophobic dick. He’s a high school kid, and he grows up, a lot. You can see how his dialogue changes around Kanji as he gets to know him and no one seems to realize that. They focus on the two early scenes with him and Kanji and never focus on the rest. Honestly, if he were homophobic, he wouldn’t want to be around Kanji at all! In fact, my brotp headcanon for them is that Yosuke actually apologizes, Kanji is like, “what for,” because by now he’s forgotten about that whole thing because they’re such good friends.
Him and Naoto actually do hook up after a while. His sewing thing takes off so he gets to be stay at home husband and sew things, like cute plushies and even clothes, while Naoto gets to be detective wife. I think it takes them a while to get together, maybe not immediately after the game, but sometime after Arena. I think by P4 Golden’s epilogue the romance starts to build up, because they’re both comfortable with who they are.
P4 Golden epilogue Kanji is not this hideous monster. I swear the fandom like flipped their shit when he was revealed, and you can tell that even with the nice clothes and dark hair he’s still Kanji (he yells easily, ect.) Also, my personal headcanon (I’m not sure how popular it is) is that, after the beauty pageant, he got really interested in dresses and heels. Naoto is 100% o.k. with this, because Kanji has gorgeous legs and looks good in heels.
That the fandom arguments stop, but I know it’ll never happen. I also hope that if they do make some sort of cameo in P5, that him and Naoto are together ^^
- An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen
He stops sewing. He can never stop. Never.
- 5 words to best describe them
Cute. Sweet. Dependable. Strong. Trustworthy.
“Madame” for when he plays with his heels ^^
