"I've been doing some thinking after everything that went down. When Emiri left, I was sad, sure. But on top of that, I felt... really dumb. Did I really love Emiri, or did I just love the idea of dating a teacher. I thought about it a lot. ...... But I couldn't figure it out. What I did figure out is... you're a true friend."
Kenji Tomochika is a non-player character from Persona 3.
Appearances[]
- Persona 3 / FES / Portable / Reload: Supporting Character; Magician Social Link
- Persona 3 Portable (F): Minor Character
- Persona 3 (Manga): Supporting Character; Magician Arcana
- Persona 3 Portable Dear Girls Comic Anthology: Cameo
- Persona 3 The Movie: Supporting Character
- Persona 3 Drama CD: Daylight
- Persona 3 Character Drama CD Vol.2
- Persona 3 Portable Drama CD Volume 1
Design[]
Kenji has short brown hair and dark brown eyes (grey eyes in Persona 3 The Movie). He wears the standard school uniform of Gekkoukan High, and on the Sundays or when spending his free time with the protagonist, he wears a yellow jacket with a white shirt underneath and a black V-neck shirt over the top, green camouflage pants and white shoes.
Personality[]
Kenji comes off as a seemingly regular male student, but he continues to note throughout the story he is only interested in older women. He has a friendly attitude, eager to talk about himself to whoever listens to him, namely the protagonist and Kazushi. Later in his social link when he mistakenly believes he asked out his teacher Emiri Kanou, he would start to refer to her by her first name like a partner. He would continue to latch onto what she tells him and find ways to romanticize their tutoring lessons. He suddenly starts to talk about taking his future seriously, even going as far as being ready to move away from his home to marry her. He lacks a self-awareness, but later upon self reflection thoughtfully points out "Did I really love Emiri, or did I just love the idea of dating a teacher?"
As reference to the Magician Arcana, at first Kenji speaks like he's figured everything out, but after experiencing heartbreak when he realizes his plans for the future are illegitimate and impossible, he begins to speak incoherently, but Kenji has a better understanding of what is truly important in life and what he truly needs to become an experienced person, valuing his friendship with the protagonist above all.
Profile[]
Persona 3[]
- Main article: Social Link/Kenji Tomochika
The first Social Link the protagonist cultivates. Wanting to have made a friend with the protagonist, he tells him about his interest in older women and his crush on one of his teachers, Emiri Kanou, an idea which apparently came to him from watching an anime. He brings the protagonist with him on his journey of love.
For the better part of conversations with Kenji, he will be lost in his own world, thinking that he has actually established a relationship with his teacher: although the truth itself was not outright revealed, Kenji would become disconnected with reality in general, such as when he'd inappropriately declare he'd marry Ms. Kanou. Even then, Kenji was absolutely serious about his future and took serious consideration for it, even going as far as thinking that his normal school life will be over and he'll never be able to spend time with the protagonist again.
Later, Kenji panics when this relationship is exposed, and starts to worry when Ms. Kanou won't return his calls after rumors spread that she was being forcibly transferred to Kyushu. In reality, Ms. Kanou was making the trip of her own free will, soon to be married to her actual fiancé. In Persona 3 Reload, it is explained Ms. Kanou only accepted to tutor Kenji for her own track record, but realized that Kenji took it the wrong way, and she would transfer because of the rumors.
Realizing that his love was one-sided from the very beginning, Kenji blames himself for being an idiot. Even then, he would get depressed and cry in defeat as if he really did have certainty in his future with Emiry, pulling it together because of the protagonist's support. Apparently he's gotten over it quickly.
Later, he would reflect on the events, and would realize he doesn't actually know why he was sad about Emiri: in the end, he's moved on quickly, and has appreciated the fact he's made friends with the protagonist in the end.
In one particular Special Event (Cultural Day Clean-Up) he and the protagonist put on an impromptu Manzai comedy show for their peers, with him insisting on becoming the Boke (funny guy) and the protagonist playing the Tsukkomi (straight man). If his Social Link had been reversed prior, the scene will still happen as normal and the relationship will automatically be mended afterwards. He appears to be friends with Kazushi Miyamoto, whom he sometimes pokes fun at because of his being a total square and a sports freak. He also seems to get along with Junpei as well, and it's hinted that he may be somewhat attracted to Yukari despite saying he prefers older women in general.
If spoken to in the ending on March 3rd, Kenji will talk to the protagonist about having checked out the teachers, excited that three women will join the school, while complaining that their current teachers are all underwhelming. He'll also reveal he has a little sister 2 years younger than him who will enroll in the academy: he's embarrassed of being seen with her especially if she'd want to tour her around, and wishes he had an older sister.
Portable[]
If the player chooses to play as the female protagonist, the Social Link character for the Magician Arcana will be replaced by Junpei Iori. As Kenji is acquainted with Junpei and Rio Iwasaki, he will still play a minor part in the Chariot and Magician Arcana Social Link events in the female protagonist's route.
Persona 3 (Manga)[]
Kenji makes a brief appearance in Junpei's ghost stories series, Believe it or Don't. He was referred to as "K". Another cameo of Kenji occurs when he appears playing a card game with Yukari, Junpei and Ryoji. They bet that whoever loses the match must strip naked for a magazine article in front of a train station in Kyoto.
Persona 3 The Movie[]
Spring of Birth[]
In the movie, Kenji is first seen in Game Panic getting along and have a little conversation with Makoto. However, this conversation gets cut short and he started playing an arcade game with Junpei instead. During the end of the mid-exams, he and Kazushi comforted Junpei after he failed the mid-exam.
Midsummer Knight's Dream[]
He along with Kazushi appear briefly at school in hallway during the summer.
Winter of Rebirth[]
Kenji is briefly seen with Kazushi, witnessing Nyx's arrival.
Etymology[]
- The name Kenji means "healthy, strong" (健) (ken) and "two" (二) (ji).
- Kenji's surname Tomochika means "friend, companion, pal" (友) (tomo) and "near, early, akin, tantamount" (近) (chika).
Gallery[]
.png "Kenji Tomochika (Summer School Uniform).png (602 KB)")
.png "Kenji Tomochika (Casual Attire).png (631 KB)")
.png "Kenji Tomochika (Employee Uniform).png (639 KB)")
In Other Languages[]
| Language | Title |
|---|---|
 Japanese
|
友近 健二 (Tomochika Kenji) |
 Korean
|
토모치카 켄지 (Tomochika Kenji) |