| The final party member of Persona 4 has finally been revealed, and about a month before the game’s release in Japan.
Name: Naoto Shirogané It is interesting to note that unlike the other party members, Naoto is only a freshman at Yasogami high school, making him the youngest member. He happens to meet the main characters several times when investigating the crime scenes of the murders occurring in Inabashi by himself. Eventually, after several chance encounters, he asks to join the team for the opportunity to further investigate the cause of all the murders. It turns out Naoto is descended from a family of detectives, meaning he will probably be helpful in finding clues about the bizarre murders. On a side-note, all of the Japanese blogs and forum entries I have read about Naoto seem to believe he is actually a girl disguised as a guy. While it may sound unusual to westerners, it’s a common twist in Japan.
(Sukunahikona, Naoto’s Persona) |
 |
Related Entries:
All other Kotowari entries on Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 can be found here.
5 comments (See more)
PS3
WII
DS
PSP
My name is Roy and this is my blog about games that I enjoy. My favorite games are RPGs, but there are a few wild cards from time to time. I use my elementary knowledge of Japanese language and culture to translate info on upcoming games in Japan. When time (and publishers!) permit I also preview games and write reviews.
Latest Tweets @kotowari
White Knight Chronicles
by Level Five
Hours Played: 35-40
Recent Accomplishment:
Georama Level: 7
Clan Level: 7
Trying to make some of the higher level job parts, they take a lot of rare elements which has be questing my ass off. Should be able to reincarnate my character soon!
Based on appearance and the bit about being “descended from a family of detectives”, I reeeeeally want to say that Naoto is related to Kuzunoha Raidou. If only his/her last name didn’t disprove my theory D:
That would be an awesome nod to Devil Summoner. His character design does look a bit more like Kazuma Kaneko’s work as well…
If Naoto is pretending to be a girl, he/she may have made up his/her name… so all hope isn’t lost right?
I thought that Naoto being a girl was pretty farfetched until several people told me it was a common twist. (Is it really, though? Maybe I should watch more Japanese TV…?) His silhouette in the opening does have a pretty curvy body, albeit with a flat chest. That could be attributed to the way his jacket is tailored, though.
I’m rambling. XD Thanks for posting this! Btw, have you noticed a blond boy in several of the scans and videos? I keep thinking he might be Naoto incognito (though I doubt it.)
Wow, looks like the forums I go to aren’t the only places who think Naoto might be a girl in disguise.
BTW, Roy you wouldn’t happen to have the scan in its entirety, do you? I’ve been picking up the scans for this game as I find them.
And on that note, here’s the one showing the group visiting Gekkoukan High.
http://i30.tinypic.com/70cl05.jpg
Ee, I hadn’t noticed the blond boy… He could be also be an S-Link character, those are beginning to trickle out now. Which video did you notice him in? I wouldn’t mind taking another look.
The girl in drag or the other way around happens a lot… also Japanese bloggers seem to think his name is a little flowery, but I guess only time will tell.
Metal Sphere, the scans I found here:
http://www.rpgamer.com/games/persona/persona4/propaganda/persona4propaganda062408-1.html
Although the quality is kind of low…
here is another version:
http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t16/jm_bluestar/?action=view¤t=persona4_famitsuscan_2.jpg
Thanks for the new scan, I hadn’t seen it yet and I am taking a close look at it now. As always thanks for the tip. You wouldn’t happen to be a detective too would you?
Haha, I wish. I’m just someone whose keeping an eye out for P4 stuff, that’s all. It surprised me to see so much get revealed in such s short span of time considering the other scans.
Oh and IIRC, the blonde boy shows up in the video on the official site. They’re at some summer festival and the girls are in kimonos on one side and the guys in casual wear on the other.
Thanks for the Naoto scans!
Looks great as usual. I hope it gets good reviews.
In case you haven’t heard or i missed a post about it here :
Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga is getting a reprint over att Play-Asia which is great for us non Americans. Just in case you didn’t know.
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-43-49-en-70-2ts5.html
Naota really is a girl. This is an image rip from the Japanese release (2 days ago).
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2650/1215643573610dp9.jpg
See bottom left picture.
Wow all of those images are pretty damn frightening… Cannot wait for this game…
aahhh is naoto a girl??? i’m (not)so surprised!!!
er…his body is very short though….
Yea, after hearing the voice actor for Naoto I am pretty much sold on this theory. You can check that out here>>>>>>
http://p4.atlusnet.jp/chara/chara08-2.html
I kinda feel bad ruining this for myself, but I guess that’s the price I pay for researching a game so much.
It is pretty obvious that Naoto is a girl. You find out right before you fight her. Your explanation of her should be better clarified and her gender certainly is not “questionable”. She is undoubtedly a female. Anyone who has played the game up to her boss should know that.
Yes, well anyone who pays attention to the dates things are written would know this post is nearly a year old