Part 1: Character Information
As characters show up, get names, and have things happen to them, I'll post them here.Sanzo Genjo
Moves to Inaba for a year while his parents are busy overseas. Immediately starts seeing visions of violent assaults and long-nosed pervs. Then shit really starts to get weird.
Sanzo's arcana is Fool, the card of new beginnings and faith in apparent folly. His trip to Inaba is the start of a major stage in his life. He follows Yosuke into the unknown perils of the TV world, and it turns out to be the right decision. Despite being the ostensible leader of the team, and certainly the vanguard in all their battles, Sanzo never really takes charge in the actual investigation; a Fool lives in the moment and trusts his life's course to the winds of fate.
Igor describes Sanzo's unique Persona ability as "the wild card," and "like the number zero--empty, yet holding infinite potential," all quite Foolish traits. Margaret describes the mission thrust upon him in Inaba as his "journey." The Fool's Journey is a simple story that uses the Major Arcana as a metaphor for the passage through life, or the search for enlightenment. The Fool encounters a series of people, events, and forces represented by the other Major Arcana in numerical order, culminating with XXI. The World and final fulfillment.
When tragedy strikes late in the year and the team starts to fall apart, Sanzo must step up and become a true leader. This change is marked with a new arcana: Judgement, the card of reckonings and redemption. From that point on, the course of the investigation is entirely in Sanzo's hands.
Yosuke Hanamura
Another recent transfer student in Sanzo's class. The Wile E. Coyote of courtship. His grief over Saki Konishi's death moves him to take the first steps into the TV world. Faces his other self in the place where Saki was killed, and obtains the Persona Jiraiya.
Yosuke's arcana is Magician, the masculine principle--a card of action and initiative. Yosuke is impulsive and creative. The investigation team is originally his idea, and for better or for worse, many of Sanzo's experiences in Inaba will start with a plan of Yosuke's. It has to be said that he's also a lot like Pee Wee from Porky's, or Jim from American Pie--a somewhat nontraditional interpretation of masculinity, but there it is.
Chie Satonaka
A girl in Sanzo's class. Obsessed with chop-socky movies. If not for steak, would starve to death. Forces her way onto the investigation when Yukiko is kidnapped. Faces her other self in Yukiko's world, and obtains the Persona Tomoe.
Chie's arcana is Chariot, the card of spirit and victory. Chie is brave and headstrong. She often acts rashly, and responds vehemently to things that frighten or upset her.
Yukiko Amagi
Another classmate of Sanzo's. Best friends with Chie. Her family's inn is apparently the reason Inaba is still on the map. Targeted by the killer on April 16. Faces her other self during her rescue on April 18, and obtains the Persona Konohana Sakuya. Joins the team on April 30.
Yukiko's arcana is Priestess, the feminine principle--a card of contemplation and passivity. Yukiko is gentle and thoughtful, and the most conventionally ladylike of the cast.
Kanji Tatsumi
A violent yob with a heart of gold. Demolishes biker gangs when they disturb his mom's peace, but really prefers quiet nights in with his tailoring & handicrafts. Targeted by the killer on May 17. Faces his other self during his rescue on May 19, and obtains the Persona Take-Mikazuchi. Joins the team on June 6.
Kanji's arcana is Emperor, the card of fathering and command. Kanji is stern and protective, especially with children much younger or smaller than himself. His deceased father remains the central influence in his life. He holds nothing but contempt for institutions of authority, but he fights for similar ends of order and peace.
Teddie
A mysterious bear from the TV. Extorts a promise from Sanzo and Yosuke to investigate the murders, in exchange for allowing them back into their own world. Slowly learning what it means to be human. Unfortunately learning this from teenagers and their overly-sexualized Shadows. Faces his doppelganger after saving the team in Rise's world, and obtains the Persona Kintoki-Douji. Rejoins the team on July 10, with...some new accoutrements.
Teddie's arcana is Star, the card of hope, trust, and goodwill. Teddie is naive and optimistic. His faith in Sanzo and the team is absolute--as is his faith in his ability to do whatever he likes without hurting anyone or getting in trouble.
Rise Kujikawa
A famous idol, now back in her hometown on stress leave. Fed up with the way that stupid diet drink ad has completely overshadowed the rest of her career. Targeted by the killer on June 23. Faces her other self during her rescue on June 25, and obtains the Persona Himiko. Joins the team on July 10. Now working hard to match her previous best of 38.8 Senpais-per-minute in normal conversation.
Rise's arcana is Lovers, the card of companionship and dilemmas. Rise is bubbly and affectionate. She also struggles with whether her career is worth continuing, and what it really means to her.
Naoto Shirogane
A pint-sized private eye, consulting with the Inaba Police Department on the recent murders. Holds deep-seated extremist beliefs that nettle every officer on the force except Dojima; namely, "Cases should be actually solved and not just pinned on whoever's convenient." Has some other, more important causes for grievance with the police, but prefers to keep them close to the vest. Targeted by the killer on September 15. Obtains the Persona Sukuna-Hikona while being rescued on September 17. Joins the team on October 6.
Naoto's arcana is Fortune, the card of vision, advancement, and destiny. Naoto is brilliant and dedicated--and also somewhat fatalistic. Naoto has taken up detective work as part of the Shirogane legacy, but worries about disgracing the family name due to certain accidents of birth.
Ryotaro Dojima
Sanzo's uncle and guardian, and a detective with the Inaba P.D. Single-handedly makes the force 50% more competent, and 90% harder-boiled. Something of a workaholic. Starting to heal at last from the death of his wife years ago.
Dojima's arcana is Hierophant, the card of conservatism and the establishment. Dojima is set in his ways, and has adjusted poorly to the difficult changes in his life. As father of the house and a law enforcement officer, Dojima qualifies as The Man, but I think this is still kind of a poor fit for him--an issue that seems to stem from major re-writes to his character over the course of Persona 4's development.
Nanako Dojima
Sanzo's
Nanako's arcana is Justice, the card of ethics and responsibility. Life has forced Nanako to take on many adult tasks, but she remains pure-hearted and innocent. She also inspires or illuminates ethics and responsibility in others.
Tohru Adachi
Dojima's partner on the force. Current duties: filing paperwork, answering phones, fetching coffee (probationary).
Adachi's arcana is Jester, the Fool reversed. Like Sanzo, he is a recent arrival in Inaba from a much larger city, but his journey cannot continue--most likely because he sees the move as a significant defeat and fails to recognize the opportunities before him.
Kou Ichijo
and Daisuke Nagase
Two old knuckleheads in the sports clubs at school.
Kou and Daisuke's arcana is Strength, the card of patience and compassion. The athletes are kind and considerate, especially to Sanzo and each other, but also to others in need, as we will see.
Ai Ebihara
The equipment manager for Sanzo's basketball team at school. Employs a unique laissez-faire management style wherein she skips out to go shopping. Aggressively normal, at least compared to the rest of the kooks Sanzo associates with.
Ai's arcana is Moon, the card of uncertainty and deception. She has tried to adopt an idealized image that she hates, out of the belief that no one would accept the real her.
Ayane Matsunaga
A trombonist in the symphonic band at school. Seems to serve in the same capacity that Adachi serves in the police department.
Ayane's arcana is Sun, the card of joy and vitality. Ayane is meek and nervous, but slowly gains confidence as the year progresses and she grows
Naoki Konishi
Younger brother to one of the murder victims. Currently weighing how many insincere condolences and prying questions you have to hear before it's okay to start smacking people.
Naoki's arcana is Hanged Man, the card of suspension and letting go. His world has turned upside down, and he's living in a holding pattern until either everyone else stops treating him like a ticking bomb, or he stops bottling up his grief.
Hanako Ohtani
Inaba's it girl. Men hurl themselves off bridges when she spurns their advances. Granted, they're foot-bridges over the Samegawa, a total drop of two and a half feet, but still.
Noriko Kashiwagi
Sanzo's new homeroom teacher. The Yasogami faculty considered a large number of highly qualified professionals to replace Mr. Morooka, and ultimately decided to spare the students from frightening new experiences.
Eri Minami
The new stepmother of Yuuta, a boy who Sanzo helps babysit part-time. Still desperately hunting for the owner's manual.
Eri's arcana is Temperance, the card of balance and unification. She and her new stepson struggle to meet halfway and accept each other.
Sayoko Uehara
A charge nurse in the hospital ward where Sanzo cleans part-time. Outgoing and welcoming, but not very professional.
Sayoko's arcana is Devil, the card of temptation and despair. Sayoko is lustful and aggressive, but her advances are a mask for deep feelings of loneliness and questions about her purpose in life.
Hisano Kuroda
An elderly woman who introduces herself to Sanzo while he's working at the hospital one night. Calls herself "Death," but seems to be a perfectly normal sweet little old lady. Refreshingly unlikely to hit on him, although she is a lonely widow, so there's still a chance.
Hisano's arcana is Death, the card of grief and inexorable change. She's a widow. Any questions?
Shu Nakajima
A boy who Sanzo tutors part-time. Formerly a pompous little bastard, but Sanzo has managed to wash some of the starch out of him.
Shu's arcana is Tower, the card of humbling and release. This arcana is mostly about events, rather than character traits--painful ones, but still ultimately positive. Shu's suspension from school devastates him emotionally, but also frees him from the insane pressure he felt to be the best and allows him room to grow.
Igor
Master of the Velvet Room, where the power of Persona-users is developed. Thinks Sanzo has some kind of destiny. Loves his job, because it's mostly about fucking with people.
Margaret
Igor's assistant. Hobbies: watching paint dry, reading technical manuals, listening to EMFs.
Margaret's arcana is Empress, the card of nurturing and abundance. She holds the Persona Compendium, the heart of Sanzo's power, and her challenges help grow that power by providing Sanzo with strong Personas and getting him used to the Velvet Room's services.
Marie
Igor's other assistant. Not a native like him and Margaret, but apparently not human either. Has amnesia. Writes poems. Not actually capable of writing poems. Able to instantly charm people with her unthinking rudeness. Runaway favorite for the Velvet Room's Miss Congeniality 2011 award.
Marie's arcana is Aeon, the card of times of change, new perspective, and destructive liberation. Marie is alien and inquisitive. As someone with no memory, and something other than human, the question "Who am I?" is a particularly pressing one for her. She is also apparently bound up in Sanzo's strange destiny.
Some Fox
Self-appointed caretaker of Tatsuhime Shrine. At least as intelligent as the average person on the street. Now assisting the investigation with the services of his magic leaf racket.
The fox's arcana is Hermit, the card of guidance and solitude. He works to improve the lot of Inaba's citizens from a distance, with the shrine and Sanzo as his proxies.
Old Man Daidara
Runs a metalworks in the shopping district, where he crafts artwork with a rather martial bent. Quite gracious about all the gore and ink stains on everything Sanzo sells him.
Old Lady Shiroku
Runs a pharmacy by day, and a bar by night. When does she sleep? NEVER.
Taro Namatame
A former council secretary. Between all the fallout from ONGOING SCANDAL REPORT 2011: MAYUMIGATE and the death of his lover, this poor sap's life and times have definitely taken a turn for the shit.
Mayumi Yamano
A local TV announcer, and the focus of ONGOING SCANDAL REPORT 2011: MAYUMIGATE. Found dead from unknown causes on the afternoon of April 12.
Saki Konishi
The object of Yosuke's clumsy affection. Discoverer of Mayumi Yamano's body. Found dead from unknown causes on the morning of April 15, the same way as Mayumi.
Kinshiro Morooka
Sanzo's former homeroom teacher. Last known size of his shit list: eighty gigabytes. Found dead from occipital blunt trauma on July 10. His candle burned out long before his legend ever did.
Mitsuo Kubo
A staunch advocate of Men's Rights. Claims responsibility for the murders. Appears on the Midnight Channel, taunting viewers to try and catch him.