PERSONA 4

Story

Persona 4 opens with the protagonist arriving in Inaba to live with the Dojimas for one year (starting April 11, 2011, about one year after the events of Persona 3: FES), as his parents are working abroad. Just after his arrival, a TV announcer is found dead, her body hanging from an antenna; Saki Konishi, the high school student who'd discovered the body, is later found dead under similar gruesome circumstances. After the protagonist and his friends (accidentally) enter the TV world, they encounter Teddie, who helps them travel freely between the TV and real worlds.They awaken their Persona abilities (the protagonist first, Yosuke second, Chie third, etc.), and, realizing that the murders stem from Shadow attacks in the TV world, are able to rescue several would-be victims. Yosuke Hanamura, Chie Satonaka, Yukiko Amagi, Kanji Tatsumi, Rise Kujikawa and Teddie accept their other selves, which become giant Shadows in the TV world, and join the group as Persona-users. Mitsuo Kubo, a student from another high school who disappears following the death of Kinshiro Morooka (the protagonist's foul-mouthed homeroom teacher), claims credit for the murders; it is eventually learned that Kubo only killed the teacher and played no part in the other murders. Naoto Shirogane, a nationally renowned teenage detective investigating the case, is also rescued and joins the party, who learn that "he" is actually a girl who assumed a male identity to avoid the police's sexism.

Events come to a head when the protagonist is mistakenly accused by Ryotaro Dojima of having some kind of role in the murders. Nanako Dojima is kidnapped while the protagonist is being interrogated, leading Ryotaro to engage in a vehicular pursuit with the culprit. The chase ends as they both crash; the kidnapper escapes with Nanako through a television set in his truck, and the gravely injured Ryotaro entrusts her rescue to the party. The group tracks them down within the TV world; the culprit, Taro Namatame, attacks them as a "human/Shadow" hybrid - Kunino-sagiri - but is defeated and both he and Nanako are taken to the Inaba hospital. When Nanako appears to die, the group furiously confronts Namatame; as the protagonist, the player must help the others realize that Namatame is not the killer by pointing out the lack of a proper motive, and subsequently work to determine that Ryotaro's assistant, Tohru Adachi, is the true killer. Failure to do so ends the game with the party being unable to solve the case; Nanako's death being permanent; and the recurring fog permanently setting in, the latter of which will eventually result in humanity's demise.

Having identified the culprit as Adachi, the party chases and locates him within the TV world. Adachi explains his motives and ideals to the group; his claims are dismissed by the party. After fighting Adachi, he is possessed by Ameno-sagiri, the Japanese God of Fog, who reveals that the fog is lethal to people and will eventually wipe out humanity. Upon his defeat, he agrees to lift the fog, congratulating the party on their resolve. Defeated, the wounded Adachi agrees to assume responsibility for his actions and turns himself in. The game moves forward to the day before the protagonist must travel home; if the player returns to the Dojima residence, the game ends with the party sending the protagonist off as he departs Inaba. Alternatively, should the player be able to identify the unexplained origins of the Midnight Channel and attempt to resolve this plot element, the protagonist meets with the party and together they decide to put the case to a permanent end.

The protagonist confronts the gas station attendant encountered at the start of the game, who reveals herself to be the Japanese goddess Izanami and the "conductor" behind the game's events. The cause of the recurring fog is established as an attempt to eliminate humans by merging the TV world with the human world, all for the sake of humanity.The party tracks Izanami down within the TV world and battle her, but is at first unable to win; the defeated protagonist is given strength by the bonds he has forged with those around him, and with this power awakens a new Persona - Izanagi-no-Okami - which he uses to defeat Izanami. In doing so the fog in each world is lifted, and the TV world is restored to its original form. The game ends with the party sending the protagonist off the following day, and a post-credits scene depicts the group resolving to remain friends forever as the protagonist examines a photo of the party.

Protagonist

The male protagonist (主人公 shujinkō) has no spoken dialogue or name, following the tradition of the Megami Tensei games, his only speech occurring during battle when occasionally calling out the name of his Persona. His character design stayed relatively similar from initial conception, with his tone and expressions changing the most.In order to emphasize his origins from a city, he was given a distinct stylish hair to contrast the Inaba's citizens. At the beginning of the game, he moves to the countryside of Inaba to live with his uncle Ryotaro Dojima and cousin Nanako Dojima for a year as a result of his parents working abroad, and attends Yasogami High School where he meets most of the game's cast. His entire personality is decided and portrayed by the player's in-game actions and decisions.He exclusively wields two-handed sword-type weapons.

When learning of the Midnight Channel's connection with the murders in Inaba, the protagonist has access to the TV world, where he investigates the case alongside his friends and is appointed as their leader as a result of his experience. There he awakens his initial Persona, Izanagi (イザナギ), a swordsman wearing a black coat, but is the only character that does not require to face his other self to obtain it. The protagonist also has the unique "Wild Card" (ワイルド Wairudo) ability, which allows him to swap Personas for use in battle. This comes into play in the Social Links (Community (コミュニティ Komyuniti) in Japan) concept; for each bond the protagonist makes with other characters, he gains access to a greater quantity and much stronger Personas the more he builds on that friendship. Each Social Link is themed after one of the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. The Social Link of the Fool Arcana (愚者 Gusha), which symbolizes the beginning and infinite possibilities of the journey ahead of the protagonist,is represented by the bonds he makes in working to solve the mystery of the murders with the Investigation Team. Izanagi is a Persona of the Fool Arcana, and is the sole representative of the Arcana in Yu's employ in Persona 4: The Animation. This Social Link evolves into the Judgement Arcana (審判 Shinpan),which symbolizes the end of his journey and looking back at what has happened,when the Investigation Team realizes that Taro Namatame is not responsible for his actions and they begin to seek out the real culprit behind the events, mirroring their transformation from the "Investigation Team" into the "Seekers of Truth". This bond is represented by the Persona Lucifer (ルシファー Rushifā) in the anime.After closing the case regarding the murders, it is revealed that the protagonist unknowingly gained his powers from the goddess Izanami for him to use while she aimed to transform people into Shadows. The protagonist eventually defeats Izanami by transforming Izanagi into Izanagi-no-Okami (イザナギノオオカミ Izanagi-no-Ōkami), thanks to the power he has gained from his many friends through Social Links;this represents the World Arcana (世界 Sekai),symbolizing the full awareness of the protagonist's place in the world. He then returns to his hometown, saying farewell to his friends.

In the Persona 4 manga, he is named Sōji Seta (瀬多 総司 Seta Sōji). In this portrayal, he is depicted as being a distant, but otherwise friendly, loner with a pessimistic outlook on life, due to having to move frequently as a result of his parents' changing careers. In the animated series, the game's remake Persona 4: The Golden, and the sequel Persona 4 Arena, he is named Yu Narukami (鳴上 悠 Narukami Yū). While the anime features him as a generally laid back, straightforward teenager who is determined to solve the murder case, he has tendencies of deadpan sarcasm, being awkwardly blunt, and shows a comical interest in girls rivaling Yosuke's. He appears in Persona 4 Arena using Izanagi,and the nickname he is given in the game is "The Steely Sister-Complex Banchō" (鋼のシスコン番長 Hagane no Shisukon Banchō). The voice acting is done by Daisuke Namikawa in Japanese and Johnny Yong Bosch in English. In the live stage production, he will be portrayed by Toru Baba and his name will be chosen by the audience.

 Yosuke Hanamura

Yosuke Hanamura (花村 陽介 Hanamura Yōsuke) is a teenager who moved to Inaba a year before the protagonist and whose father is the owner of Inaba's Junes Department Store. In order to emphasize his origins from the city Shigenori Soejima gave him accessories such as headphones and a bicycle as well as a stylish hair. Little changes were made to his design in the making of the game. Befriending the protagonist shortly afterwards the game's beginning, Yosuke is shocked to find that his friend Saki Konishi becomes the second victim from Inaba's murders. Noticing clues between the victims and the Midnight Channel, Yosuke and the protagonist go to the TV world to investigate her death.He ends up confronting his Shadow who represents his resentment of living in a small country town with little to do, as well as his inner wish for something exciting to happen. With help from the protagonist, Yosuke accepts his other self and forms the Investigation Team alongside him to know who killed Saki.

His Shadow becomes the Persona Jiraiya (ジライヤ), a red-scarved humanoid whose head vaguely resembles that of a cartoon frog decked with shuriken for eyes and on his hands, as well as bell-bottoms. Yosuke dual wields blades ranging from blunt wrenches to knives to daggers in battle. Throughout the player's interaction with Yosuke, he overcomes Saki's death and confronts his feelings about Inaba accepting it as an enjoyable town despite his initial feelings. After this, Jiraiya evolves into Susano-o (スサノオ), a humanoid wearing a blue jumpsuit surrounded by a large sawblade with a flame rising from his head. In the upcoming re-release Persona 4: The Golden, Yosuke's Persona can evolve once more into Takehaya Susano-o (タケハヤスサノオ), gaining a fireman's outfit, a large afro-like fireball spouting from his head, and sawblades beneath his feet.In the game's ending, he stays working in Junes, identifying the protagonist as his best friend.

Yosuke serves as the player's Social Link to the Magician Arcana (魔術師 Majutsushi),representing action, initiative, and immaturity; in the animated series, Yu's friendship with Yosuke is signified by Yu's use of Pyro Jack (ジャックランタン Jakkurantan).He appears in Persona 4 Arena using Jiraiya, and his nickname in the game is "Captain Resentiment" (キャプテン・ルサンチマン Kyaputen Rusanchiman). He is voiced by Showtaro Morikubo in Japanese and Yuri Lowenthal in English.Lowenthal enjoyed playing Yosuke owing to the large number of events the character goes through despite being initially a comic relief. Takahisa Maeyama will portray him in the musical.

Kanji Tatsumi

Kanji Tatsumi (巽 完二 Tatsumi Kanji) is delinquent who has a reputation as being a bully, and is the center of numerous rumors regarding a confrontation with a local biker gang.As a result, he was initially given the "classic gang-style pompadour" in the making of his design. The fourth victim to be sent to the TV world, Kanji is revealed to have a complex with his Shadow revealing he hates girls as a result of criticizing his sewing and is more interested in boys.After the protagonist's group comes to save Kanji, he accepts that this other self is an important part of his identity. Learning of the Investigation Team's actions, Kanji joins them to find the culprit. His sexual orientation remains ambiguous across the series, with Kanji being first interested in Naoto Shirogane when first meeting her, believing her to be a boy, but is still attracted to her when it is revealed that she is a girl.Atlus prefers to leave the issue of Kanji's sexuality as open to the viewer.

His Persona is Take-Mikazuchi (タケミカヅチ), an imposing, black robotic-like humanoid which has a skeleton-like design, like Kanji's shirt, and is armed with a large lightning bolt. Throughout the protagonist's interactions with Kanji, he reveals to be skilled at tailoring inspired by his family who runs a textile shop but stopped making dolls when accused by fellow students. Kanji eventually learns to take pride in his skills, rather than hide them, and forms a friendship with the protagonist. Shortly afterwards, Take-Mikazuchi evolves into Rokuten Maoh (ロクテンマオウ Rokuten Maō), who has a fiery motif instead of Take-Mikazuchi's skeleton and lightning.Both of Kanji's Personas are based on his own visual appearance. In Persona 4: The Golden, Kanji's new Persona is Take-Jizaiten (タケジザイテン), which resembles Rokuten Maoh but has elaborate white armor with red flame details.

The friendship made with Kanji serves as the Social Link to the Emperor Arcana (皇帝 Kōtei),representing leadership and decision-making; this is signified in Persona 4: The Animation by Yu's Persona King Frost (キングフロスト Kingu Furosuto). He appears as a playable character in Persona 4 Arena with Take-Mikazuchi, with his nickname being "The Terrifying Gachi Muchi Emperor" (戦慄のガチムチ皇帝 Senritsu no Gachimuchi Kōtei?). He is voiced by Tomokazu Seki in Japanese and Troy Baker in English. Seki's portrayal was highly praised by the game's staff due to the delivery of his lines. Youichiro Omi was cast as Kanji Tatsumi for the Persona 4 musical.