Welcome to the fifth #ArcanaInPersona article~
#4: The Emperor
The game series Persona is overflowing with symbolism. Even the term Persona is derived from Jungian psychology which strives on symbolism. The most interesting parallel I found in Persona is its usage of Tarot cards & the Major Arcana.
In this article series I'm writing about each Arcana and its corresponding Social Links/Confidants in Persona games. Today's article is about The Emperor, which is usually (but not only,) represented by one of the male playable characters in each game.
The Emperor in Tarot Cards
The Emperor is the fourth Trump Card in a tarot deck. It's usually depicted as a bearded Emperor sitting on his throne which signals his rule over the world.
In Tarot divination, The Emperor represents power, stability, protection. It's also associated with getting aid or help. While reversed it's associated with benevolence and compassion, but also immaturity.
The Emperor in Persona
Starting Persona 3, every game has a party member using a Persona of The Empress Arcana. All of Persona party members/Social Links/Confidants are male character with charisma and excel in playing leading roles.
Guys representing The Emperor Arcana are usually masculine guys, who are strict and work hard for their personal goals. Sometimes they're out of touch with reality but they're always determined to see their goals fulfilled.
Personas of The Emperor Arcana usually excel in the lightning magic. They are usually kings or emperor figures or at least important rulers or deities. Many of the ruling figures of a mythology are Personas of The Emperor Arcana.
Persona 3's Akihiko Sanada
Akihiko is one of the party members in Persona 3 and is one of the early members of SEES before the protagonist joins in. He's a cool and determined guy who loves challenge. He's also the type of a guy who'll get out of his way to help someone in danger.
He has an aggressive side to him especially when fighting Shadows. Akihiko fights with his fists and as a believer of physical strength, he spends his spare times training to become stronger. He's motivated by his regret after an incident in the past where he couldn't save someone dear to him.
He's a handsome guy and a chick magnet. Many girls in-universe (and in real life) find him attractive. Despite talking to them occasionally, he doesn't feel the same way about them and doesn't even memorize their names.
Akihiko is a friend of Shinjiro. Both became SEES members after they were approached by Mitsuru in the middle school, though one incident resulted in Shinjiro leaving the team and their friendship suffered. His Persona Polydeuces has a deep mythological relation to Shinjiro's Castor.
Akihiko isn't a Social Link character in Persona 3 and P3Fes and he plays the role of The Star Social Link in Persona 3 Portable because The Emperor Social Link is already taken by Hidetoshi mentioned above.
In his Social Link (in P3 Portable's female route) revolves around him treating the female protagonist like a little sister and trying to protect her. He's a potential romance partner in this route.
Persona 3's Hidetoshi Odagiri
Hidetoshi is the head of the Discipline Committee in the protagonist's school in Persona 3. He is first introduced when Mitsuru invites the protagonist to the Student Council meeting. He's a strict and serious guy and he's initially cold and harsh, but he learns the value of the friendship and trust with the help of the protagonist.
Hidetoshi's story in Persona 3 revolves around his attempt to find and catch the guy who left a cigarette in one of the school's male bathrooms. He made a deal with a teacher that if he managed to catch the culprit he'd be given a recommendation to become the next year's Student Council president.
His initial attempts in catching the culprit were very aggressive, for example he accused random students with no evident. But he soon learns from his mistakes with the help of the protagonist and becomes nicer.
Persona 4's Kanji Tatsumi
Kanji Tatusmi is one of the party member. He was first introduced as a delinquent who beat up a whole biker gang by himself. He soon becomes forth victim of the midnight channel kidnapping and after being saved, he awakens his Persona and join the party.
Despite his looks, isn't actually violent person and he only resorts to violence when provoked or for defending someone else. (The biker gang he beat up? They were so loud his mother couldn't sleep.) Despite being the tallest guy in the party, Kanji is a year younger than the protagonist and most of his friends.
Kanji has a lot of insecurities. His speeches about "being a man" hides his embarrassment that he has feminine hobbies like knitting (being raised in a textile family store.) He also has attraction to men, something he's insecure about and causes some interesting interactions between him, Naoto, and the rest of the party.
Kanji's Social Link revolves around his his relationship with his mother, his past (his father's final words to him,) and his hobby of making dolls. He eventually starts selling the dolls he make in the textile shop.
Persona 5's Youske Kitagawa
Persona 5 Yosuke (who is different than Persona 4 character who has the same first name,) is a man obsessed with art. He is the apprentice of the famous artist Madarame who was plagiarizing he pupils works using them. Yosuke joins the phantom thieves in their attempt to steal his mentor's heart and make him pay for his sins. He sticks with the phantom thieves after Madarame changes heart and helps the thieves by being the artist of the team.
Yosuke is a composed and calm person, only losing his cool when injustice is happens in front of him or when art is ridiculed. He's also intellegent but he lacks a lot of common sense. He also seems to be poor (money-wise) as he's only able to stay at his school dorms because of his art and will get kicked out if he fails to produce results.
The guy has nothing in his mind other than the Japanese art. He was first introduced when he asked Ann to be his model for his new piece or art. He wanted to preserve the beauty of this girl he knew nothing about. His obsession with art is his strength but also his biggest weak-point.
Yousuke's Confidant Story revolves around him using Mementos as a base for his next masterpiece. He wanted to illustrate the human desire in its raw form. But his first attempt was a failure. He improves as his Confidant Rank goes up!
So, that's all for The Emperor Arcana
I noticed that most of emperor characters are very driven but obsessed with power or improvement: Hidetoshi is strives hold a position of power so no people are treated unjustly under him. Akihiko is obsessed with strength and he works hard to get stronger. Kanji cares too much about being manly, and Yosuke is so obsessed with art and improvement in the field that he has no other character trait.
I think that all Persona Emperors emit this aura of "character" to them. While Akihiko and Kanji emit the aura of muscularity, Yosuke's aura is more of 'elegance" one. I really love how all of the three are out of touch of the real world to some degree...
So, What are your thoughts?
This article was fun The Magician Arcana & The Priestess Arcana article as I needed more research. I learned quite a bit about these girls (and learned how little I know about Margret.)
I was late writing this post, as I wanted my #ArcanaInPersona articles to be weekly ones. I hope I pick up the pace and write the next ones sooner... The next Arcana is one of my favorites: The Heirophant! See you next then!
Cover image is edited from this base image and P5's Emperor Card from the wiki. Hidetoshi image is taken from this video. Akihiko's is taken directly from the wiki. Kanji's from here. PS5 Yusuke's first is taken from the wiki too, the second one is from this Youtube video.
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