Is kanji gay
Short answer: It doesn't matter. His character is in no way affected by it. What we do know is that he is either straight or bi. He is however % not gay, as he shows interest in more than one girl. Kanji is a gay japanese stereotype. Overly masculine, shadows enjoy bathouse (implying down-low casual sex). Be aware that in Japan gay dudes were still expected to have a wife and kids.
Kanji's sexual orientation has been a point of controversy for as long as Persona 4 has been around. The game strongly indicates that he may be gay (or bisexual), and Kanji's Shadow -- designed as an incredibly campy gay stereotype -- outright says he prefers men. Kanji Tatsumi is a bisexual character from Persona 4. Kanji is a known young delinquent in his hometown, Inaba. He's known because of he's toughness while fighting biker gangs, an generally his intimidating appearance.
Kanji Tatsumi is a bisexual character from Persona 4. Neither. He says it himself. Pay attention to the dialogue. Originally posted by Disappointment: It was confirmed by Kanji's voice actor later in a panel that he is, in fact, gay. Listen to the dialogue after his boss fight. Kanji clearly explains it himself.
Originally posted by mdesaleah. JRPGs tend to be games where the player controls a character or set of characters through a linear storyline. Persona 4: Golden is an updated version of Persona 4, which was originally released in for the PlayStation 2.
Kanji does things that mean, for
P4:G was released in for the PlayStation Vita, a handheld device, where the PlayStation 2 is a console, which is connected to a stationary television. There are strange murders happening in Inaba—in the foggy mornings after a succession of rainy nights bodies are being found in strange, contorted positions around the town. On a foggy morning following a rainy night their body will be discovered in the real world.
Additionally, when a person spends too much time in the TV world their own Shadow is born—a tangible formation of their most hidden secret, a part of themselves they hide deep down. Overcoming your own hangups and fears is a major theme of Persona 4: Golden. The game is dramatic, hilarious, and deep, with highly developed characters who interact with each other in meaningful ways.
For me, it is the characters that make it—each one is so unique and special and it does not hurt that no game has made me laugh as hard, though Ni No Kuni is currently giving it a run for its money. As the player progresses through the game there are a number of kidnappings and attempted murders that must be stopped, and in many cases the victims become party members, or part of your group in-game that can be controlled.
Two such party members are Kanji Tatsumi and Naoto Shirogane, who are a possibly-gay character and a possibly-trans character, though as I will explain I feel that their representation is sorely lacking. Kanji Tatsumi, biker of my heart. Kanji Kahn-jee Tatsumi is a rough-and-tumble youth who gets into fights with biker gangs and is hyper masculine. He often yells instead of talks, is quick to anger, and is highly insecure about some of his hobbies, including sewing.
You can watch his video HERE. Included is the actual fight between against Shadow Kanji, but in the beginning and end are the cutscenes and conversations, which are rich. Shadow Kanji is a collection of various stereotyped images surrounding gay men. After completing the dungeon the party crosses the real Kanji, who is having a showdown with his Shadow, and yelling.
What a queer! This is all problematic for a few reasons. The endless piling-on of gay stereotypes seems to speak for itself. The battle with Shadow Kanji. Frustratingly enough, Kanji does not embrace his homosexuality after defeating his Shadow—he rationalizes it, and concludes that he is straight. Kanji is not gay. Kanji is a straight man who is so afraid of rejection that he convinced himself that he prefers men to women.
The makers of Persona 4: Golden gave players a small nibble, the idea that there might be a deep, relatable, gay male character—and at the last moment remove it and you can read more about this phenomenon here.
But why does this matter? There can be hints, and there can be jokes, and it can get so close , but in the end, the character is straight. Still, Kanji is a most beloved JRPG character, and many fans choose to headcanon, or have their own version of truth, that Kanji is gay. I will talk more about the implications of this trend in my next post , about Naoto.
Until then! Shadow Kanji. Like Loading