"I Search for Your Heart"/"I Used to Live Alone" - Music and the Importance of the Song

In the wake of the death of a musician and songwriter who helped shape my youth, I felt it was important to explain how music can effect people and how the song can touch so many people in very important ways. In any good game, we have the background music and other cues to let us know where we are or the type of event that is occurring. Persona 4 does a great job of having great music that, even outside of the game, that helps to convey the feeling that it's trying to bring forward.

I was talking with my friend a bit about Leonard Cohen's songs a few days after news of his death. I've been a long-time fan of his and at least one of his songs is on any playlist of mine at any given time, or a song of his has given me some motivation or inspiration. A lot of people have done some of the songs as tribute, though "Hallelujah" tends to be the go-to one because of it's simplicity and themes of love, loss, and understanding of how hard love and loss, or even life, can be. With the other musical deaths earlier this year as well, I felt them as an older person who could appreciate their music, but Cohen was someone I did my level best to introduce to multiple others, going so far as to spend a good amount of money for front-row seats in order to drag a friend of mine to see him live during his first tour in years. It was worth that dint into my finances, and well worth it to see him live and listen to his music.

The music of many games can help structure how you feel about them or how you feel about a point in the game. Songs like "SMILE" and "I'll Face Myself" show the growth that the characters are experiencing, or showing as they accept their Shadow selves. The Battle version of "I'll Face Myself" that plays at each major fight is also one that gets you ready to defeat the Shadow, however your play style is, and which also has the same tones as it's lighter, more positive counterpart, but also hints at the dangers you're facing, the change and upset that is coming up instead of the happier tones. The opening theme, of which I often borrow parts of to convey the general theme of the post, is one that talks about finding yourself amid the various other 'selves' that can come up - the television and online persona verses the one you use with your family or friends. While Cohen had no other persona besides who he was - a man who wrote his songs, who enjoyed writing and also enjoyed telling the stories of what he believed in, it was often through his songs and through their stories they told that you got a better idea of what he enjoyed writing about, what he found as something to write about. A lot of it was about love, or about the far more physical aspects of what people consider love, or not about that at all.

As with the versions of "I'll Face Myself" - the Battle and the other one - you get that sense of going up against something for one, while the other is the end and simply melancholy, realizing that yes, you can be like this, and how hard that is to accept. Just as Cohen's songs celebrated all the parts of life that were, in some cases, both beautiful and ugly when you wanted them to be, the soundtrack to Persona 4 allows you to slowly get into the world and the mystery you've found yourself working to solve, as well as the others you fight to help and protect, both inside and outside of the TV World.

I know I was going to talk about Rise and a lot of other things, but life has basically changed it up, so hopefully next time, Rise and her arc will be examined. Because boy is there a lot of it.

"Get You Nowhere" - Death and Persona

While I started this blog with the hopes of finishing the game, a few things came up that have, sadly, stalled it. One of them does have a bit to do with Persona and a point that comes up in regards to two of the characters, but it runs into spoiler territory. So, spoilers and personal stuff will be under the photo, and under the cut.

"Locked up in your Mind" - The Media and False Perceptions

As Kanji becomes part of the group, he manages to "get" a list from a student, and there are hints that the Midnight Channel rumor has turned into something that people tune in for, in the hopes of seeing the action. If they see the fights against the others or if they simply see the Shadow version of the ones thrown in before the fog lifts is unclear, though, as thus far the Protagonist and Investigation Team have managed to save everyone after the first two victims who are thrown into the TVs. As Yosuke said when discussing Saki Konishi's death, he saw her 'in pain' on the Midnight Channel the night before her body was found. If this is what happens when the victims end up remaining until the fog lifts, that means failure would result in basically a snuff film on midnight television, with everyone watching as the Shadows destroyed the 'host' of the series.

This seems to show a changing view of the Midnight Channel and how it operates. As more and more people watch the 'rumored' show, the more it becomes focused on the ones who are on television, and that results in them becoming the ones on the upcoming 'show'. With little known about the Show or it's effects, we can only figure things out from what we see, as well as the new information we get after the arrival of idol Risette.

The Midnight Channel: Analysis and Speculation Thus Far

The Midnight Channel appears to be something that exists no matter what the Protagonists or others do, as it is a link to the "Shadow" filled world inhabited by Teddie and the other Shadows. As Teddie explains, Shadows are born from Humans and sometimes will gain a great deal of power if they are repressed, ignored, or denied for a long time. Many of the Shadows that lurk in various areas are similar to each other, with the special Shadows and Minions falling into a specific stereotype that works in the setting given - Yukiko's Avenging Knight who 'tests' the 'princes' coming for Yukiko, Kanji's 'Fighting Gigas' who offers up a bouncer-like persona for those who are trying to gain Kanji's 'affections', and the two larger monsters, based on others, that later take up living in the highest level where the Shadows had once been.

• Shadows as the Repressed Selves/Jungian Archetypes
• Each Shadow is created and shows off what one of the characters wants/desires out of their lives or their current situations.They all speak or focus on the extreme of a harsh truth that the character sees or attempts to hide about themselves.
• Mayumi Yamano - Hatred of Other, Desire to Destroy Other
• Saki Konishi - Hatred of Perceptions, Dislike of Gossip, Dislike of Position
• Without anyone to save them or help them face their other self, both Yamano and Konishi were destroyed by their Shadow self and the Shadows in the area. However, as neither Shadow is encountered in that area, it is possible Shadows are linked to their Host, and thus died with the death of their original self
• Yosuke - Hatred of Loneliness, Unwanted Desire for Thrills vs. Heroic Actions, Misuse of Powers (Magician Reversed)
• Chie - Hatred of Self, Desire to Be Someone Else/Change Self, Desire for Control over Other (Chariot Reversed)
• Yukiko - Hatred of Obligations, Inability to Ask for Help, Inability to See/Use Power (High Priestess Reversed)
• Kanji - Hatred of Perceived Self, Self-Loathing/Self-Stereotyping, Misunderstanding of Self (Emperor Reversed)
• The Midnight Channel as a Conduit for Media
• With more and more attention brought to the Midnight Channel, there gradually creates a pattern and method to what occurs before/during someone's time in the other world and with the creation of their Shadow's "dungeon"
• It is unknown if the Midnight Channel shows the events in the dungeon, but it does show the beginning of the dungeon
• Grainy Video of Victim - Often the first one or two images shown during the rainy night are hard to tell, though there can be some hints of who the intended victim are. The first image often puts someone to mind, though they are not always sure. The second one usually cements the idea of  it being one person in particular.
• The "Show" - After the victim is kidnapped and put into the TV, a show appears on the Midnight Channel
• Originally, the show seemed to have been of just the victim in the setting, though neither is witnessed by the Protagonist. Yosuke, who witnessed the final 'show' before Saki Konishi's death, only states that Konishi appeared to be 'in pain'.
• After the initial two deaths, the shows change when Yukiko is put in, so that she and Kanji appear in a type of television show
• Princess Yukiko's Search for Her Prince Charming
• Similar ideas to "The Bachelor/The Bachelorette" or a dating series, where someone is trying to find "love". 
• MEN ONLY! Kanji Tatsumi in Rosy Steam Paradise
• A late night Skinamax production with a homosexual tone - though it's stated they are trying to find 'love', this is implied to be physical-only, not romantic.
• The rescue ends the show, and it's implied by two classmates that others can watch what happens, though how much they see, including if they see the rescue or acceptance of the Shadow, is not stated. 
• The fact that the two seem to only know that it's a 'show' and as few/no one really talks about the two 'shows' or gossip isn't overheard, the first part might be all that's shown
• Conclusions: With more people watching the Midnight Show, the channel's focus has changed.
• The shows were never about soulmates, but others who were in the media predominantly due to interviews, scandals, or exclusives
• If the person appears in the 'other world', their Shadow may put on a 'show'
• This so far is only confirmed by those who appear on TV and then are put in the Midnight Channel after their appearance.
• Due to more people watching, as well as more being thrown in, the 'shows' are appearing with each main person tossed in
• The 'dungeon' can double as a trap for another person as well, especially if they are close to the person who was shown on the Midnight Channel or has heavy negative emotions towards themselves.

The Midnight Channel is changing, and it only gets weirder when Risette comes to town and a new change occurs.

Next Time: False Perceptions 2 - Celebrity and Media

"Loading...Loading...Loading" - Another Lull (May-June)

After saving Kanji, there is another long time period occurs in which you can build more of the Social Links, gain more Links, or simply continue to study and gain information. You have all of May to save him, though doing so earlier will at least allow you the opening of learning and doing more things, instead of worrying over what will happen to Kanji.

 For the time between saving Kanji and the arrival of the next "victim", most of the work done is on strengthening your already established S.Links. While others are available, you were given a year to complete the task given, and some of them need to have you meet or establish a relation with others for them to work. This lets you learn more about your various established S.Links and, as we find out after maxing out one of the S.Links, will allow you to gain access to the highest form of that Persona group, as well as allow other members of the Investigation Team to understand themselves.

CLOSER TO THE TRUTH

Being able to gain more S.Links shows that many of the links already established do need love so you can find more information about the town and people, as well as help your friends. By deepening these Links, you learn more about your friends and they begin to help out more and more - every other level or so added more to their abilities to fight with the others and Protagonist. Early on, they gain the power to take a mortal blow for the Protagonist, but as things continue, they gain more and more able to help others out, helping out others with standing when they're knocked back, or even breaking them out of some of the ailments you can get. In the meantime, more talks with others allow for learning more and more about the characters and why they are acting the way they are - Ayame does her best to get better, practicing an instrument that, at first, she was not very good at, and she gains more confidence over time. Kou and Daisuke both show off that there are more to them, with both having serious issues that effect their abilities and actions towards others. Nanako asks serious questions and, while able to deal with her life in a very serious and mature way, she still shows her age and remains the most precious of Cinnamon Rolls, up there with Castiel of Supernatural and Steven from Steven Universe.

(I have not seen Supernatural Season 11 yet, no, why do you ask? Huh? Oh, the Persona I summoned? No, it's not because I'm doing this, I'm just going to kill the writers who think that was ok)

Dojima's history only adds more to why he acts the way he does and the rather sad case about his wife and why he continues to search for information about what happened the night she died. Though the case is not a massive one, it's an example of how one small thing can really effect someone, and how that changes his interactions with Nanako. His job and the work to find more causes a lot of issues, as he can't think of a way to really talk to Nanako about this, and even has a hard time talking with the Protagonist. In other cases, he looks at the Protagonist with some confusion and even thinking that the Protagonist has something to do with the deaths and disappearances, especially with what happened early on (I still blame Yousuke for that) but also for his connection to Yukiko after her disappearance. Add in Kanji, who is a known trouble-maker, and Dojima will definitely have issues with the Protagonist's friends.

For now, we do have one or two new S.Links, and the maxing out the links, giving us an unbreakable bond and allowing for that character to admit to his own character flaws and work to fix them.

The Moon Card (XVIII): Ai Ebihara

Showing up as an uninteresting girl who has to 'help' the sport's team you joined when you started the Strength Card, Ai is there due to having skipped classes to go shop. Though she appears superficial, Ai also shows off times when it becomes obvious her attitude is actually from having been hurt or with few people paying attention to her, or those who do pay attention having ulterior motives. She seems fine with the Protagonist due to how he deals with her, and his courage of going out with her on the first trip, ditching class, but also that he does his best to understand her and won't always take her pushy nature. Despite that, Ai is still an interesting character and shows some more depth than expected.

The Empress Card (III): Margaret

The one who holds the book that involves all the Personas you create, Margaret mostly works with Igor and is his silent partner for the most part. This card comes up only if your Intelligence is high enough, and she mostly asks for the creation of Personas with certain advantages, most of them making them more balanced throughout their links. The link continues more and more as you create more and more of the Personas she wants, which can often demand you level up so you can create more and more Personas with various types of balance and abilities. This does mean she speaks up more and it makes things interesting as she gains more and more interest and a desire to help the Protagonist as she can.

ACCEPT AND OVERCOME YOUR WEAKNESS

Depending on how often you give different people attention, you will probably get Yousuke's S.Link of the Magician to max out first. "Max" is at level 10, and creates an unbreakable bond between the Protagonist and the one that the S.Link represents. In this case, we also discover that those who are part of the Investigation team, their Persona changes as well.

This does make sense that the Persona would change as well, as it's often created via the Investigation Team accepting a part of themselves that they don't like. With the continued growth of the various ones in the group, even allowing them to admit to issues they still have or deal with problems they'd had beforehand, or ones that even came up and remained despite everything.

Jiraiya to Susano-o

Allowing Yousuke to figure out for himself what it is that he has issues with, as well as how he feels towards the Protagonist (as a friend, despite what the fanfic and yaoi might think) before the two have a fight. This mostly works for Yousuke to realize he is an equal to the Protagonist and how he's allowed to still be upset and sad over the loss of Saki-sempai, as well as realize that he now enjoys the small town he once hated, not to mention that he realizes how much he really cares for those he sees as true friends. Yousuke learns more as he befriends the Protagonist, and admits a lot about himself and his motivations, not to mention gaining probably the first friendship where he's thought of as an equal to the other person.

In this case, a trickster-esque folk-hero becomes a far more violent but also redemptive god as his Persona reaches it's highest level and becomes Susano-o. A god of storm and sea, Susano-o is most famous for a rivalry with his sister, which resulted in him nearly causes eternal night and also got him banished down to Earth, only to kill a huge dragon, Yamata no Orochi. As the main Persona of the Magician-holding Yousuke, this does make sense in some cases, especially for the major tale of defeating a great monster who killed women. Though not a direct correlation, Yousuke realizing his equal status to the Protagonist, as well as finally coming to peace with himself, and is happy to have gotten to his full potential. Knowing his strengths and weaknesses allows Yousuke to move forward, and to know how far he can go and how much he can help.

Next time: The Media and False Perceptions

More on the Persona (Elements, Folklore,and Transformation) - Take-Mikazuchi the Emperor

PERSONAS: The Dungeon

Like Yukiko's Castle, the Steamy Bathhouse serves more as a way to throw in the stereotype of what the outside world might believe or say that the other person wants, but instead of being based on complete rebellion against tradition while embracing an ideal, this is more going towards what society or others would think they wanted. If you don't like the opposite gender, then you're obviously homosexual. For Kanji, this translates into going somewhere that might accept him - a tough guy who does things for 'nice' reasons - and where he might find someone who shares in his interests but won't laugh at him for having those interests. In the case of Kanji, instead of looking for a 'prince' to take him away, he's searching for someone who will accept him, and this manifests as the idea that it must be a man (because of a bad experience or experiences with girls) and that it must be in a homosexual way. This is part of the reason why Kanji's actual sexuality is a bit harder to figure out - he might be gay, but it's more likely he's bisexual because of how he reacts to the girls, and because of his issues with that sexuality. It's often shown in media and through conversations about media's portrayal of bisexuals that being such is very hard - I often use the "Chasing Amy" analogy because it does have points where the female protagonist points out that she 'loves who she loves', but at the same time is ostracized when she begins to date a guy who she cares for after spending a lot of time exclusively dating women. Though the main issue with the story is to not be so emasculated by having a partner with more 'history' than you, another issue is with sexuality itself, and the problems that can come from trying to find yourself and letting others push you into a specific box.

The Steamy Bathhouse - Floor 10

Arriving at Floor 10 of the Bathhouse, after the Shadow begins to warm to the Protagonist as someone who will accept him, the group is confronted by Shadow Kanji, who serves only to enrage Kanji with his admissions of liking guys and why that is, not to mention his deeper seated fears of not being accepted by anyone. The Tough Guy and Nice Guy summoned by Shadow Kanji in his next form are ones that focus on boosting and aiding the Shadow, not to mention making it near-impossible to throw out the stronger attacks against everyone, forcing you to focus your attacks and status ailments on the Tough and Nice Guys before you can even work on damaging the very dangerous Shadow Kanji. Compared to Yukiko's battle, this one is far more stressful and dangerous, and harder to get through. While Yukiko might have held back a bit at first because her Shadow still trusted Chie and the others, Kanji has no such trust, and as such his power is quicker to display and his allies serve to only keep him from attacks, and thus from any attempts to defeat the rejected Shadow and allow Kanji the time to finally accept that part of himself.

The Emperor: Take-Mikazuchi

Going from the more human and hidden Shadow you fight, with dual color schemes to show his 'nice guy' and 'tough guy' personas that he shows off to the masses and the few, Kanji's Shadow is similar to Chie's in that they are both strong and protecting themselves from harsh truths, or trying to wrap themselves up in an identity that can sometimes appear ill-fitted. Where as Chie's Shadow attempted to look like Yukiko with it's long, black hair, and was more feminine in a dominate way, Kanji's Shadow wraps itself into a rose and masculine shell, hiding behind two strong, burly men who keep away or strengthen his views. In contrast, the Persona that Kanji gets after finally accepting himself is taller than most, with a skeleton outline on a burly, almost robotic body that is over-proportioned in some areas and smaller in others. He carries a lightning bolt, and is the main one outside of the Protagonist who uses Zio (Lightning) attacks on his opponents, not to mention his physical strength. In contrast, Take-Mikazuchi seems larger than the other Personas, and ready to battle anything and everything that gets in his way, if not through magic than by physical strength alone.

Named for a god created by Izanagi after he slew the fire-god Kagutsuchi, Take-Mikazuchi is one who descends to pacify the deities of Izumo on command of Amatsu, and engages one in the first sumo wrestling match, easily defeating him. He is considered a god of thunder and a sword-god, which explains his use of that element as well as his wielding the thunderbolt like a sword, save when he drives it into the ground to summon lightning. Considering the main Persona of the Protagonist, as well as the one that Kanji gains, it's not surprising that this one appears after Kanji is saved by the group and accepts himself.

The Emperor's focus on control and power is a good one for someone so dangerous as Take-Mikazuchi as well as someone like Kanji. As he learns to control himself, by learning more about himself and accepting that to add to his power, Take-Mikazuchi becomes stronger as well. Thunder and swords themselves are also things that demand a great deal of control and that are often seen as a sign of power - Lightning is often seen as the highest form of fire, or a symbol of particularly strong gods, such as Zeus or Thor in Western mythology. Having weapons or lightning itself weaponized often a sign of power and status, and with now, the idea of controlling lightning safely has spurred on a sudden interest in Tesla and his experiments with electricity. 

ELEMENT

Element: Zio (Electricity)

          Weakness: Garu (Wind)

Electricity is an element that is not really seen within the standard mix of spiritual elements uses by various religions and people, but it is often put into the category of 'fire' or a higher form of fire, and linked to heavenly or divine power and might. Thunder and Lightning Gods are often depicted as the strongest of their group, and even as the leaders in some cases. Control over this element is one that demands control of other elements as well. 

Of course, this element is abound in various other games and genres as well - Lightning Elementals are in many of the fantasy games or MMOs, and control over lightning is shown as a power that can be gained by the Sith in Star Wars, especially those who give fully into the Dark Side. But as an element or power, it's often one of the strongest ones that you can gain, or signifies the approach of powerful beings. Those with lightning as a power are often bigger or stronger than the others, and quicker to anger and fight (such as Sailor Jupiter from Sailor Moon). But they are also shown to have a variety of passions and feelings, and will do their best to fight for their cause.

Kanji's determination and work to figure himself out, to 'control' himself through self-knowledge and understanding his limits, means that holding a power over lightning is something he has to master. Knowing enough about himself to calm down and even hit his Shadow only shows that while he is confused about certain aspects of himself, he also knows that this confusion can be easily cleared up by reminding himself of why he does this or why he thinks a certain way. Even with being the butt of some jokes, Kanji becomes a bit slower to anger, and his understanding of himself will help the others they meet up with and who join them in the quest to discover the killer.

Next Time: The Long Lull (May-June/July)

"Sea of the Unconscious" - Shadow Kanji Analysis

Unlike some of the other dungeons, the Steamy Bathhouse feels more like Kanji's attempt to hide himself over being found, and it's only after being pursued for so long, he's finally open to the idea of being 'found' by the Protagonist and being accepted. That only happens after meeting the Shadow and having to deal with the more aggressive Gigas-Hogan (I will call them that because seriously, they look like him). When you find Shadow Kanji and the real Kanji, you find that Kanji is much quieter until Shadow Kanji continually states that he only likes men. Kanji's rejection of him is what sets off the battle, and the continued determination to find someone who 'accepts' him, and the Shadow's angry retort to toss aside anyone who gets in his way.

[I am a Shadow...the true self]

Kanji Tatsumi: The Emperor Take-Mitzuchi

Shadow Kanji is very aggressive, making him an even harder boss to deal with than Shadow Yukiko. He also has two lesser Shadows working with him, both of whom are very, very hard to defeat if you're attempting to spam attacks on everyone.

Kanji himself is met shortly after it's revealed by the Midnight Channel that he'll be the next victim. Seen talking to a strange, slender young man dressed in dark blue, Kanji is seen muttering to himself and then, when annoyed or embarrassed, attempting to threaten the group while they watch over him to try to stop the killer. This fails quickly, and the group is forced back into the TV World to rescue him. Unluckily, due to Teddie's inability to figure himself out and Kanji's own inner turmoil, the group has to rely on information from the slender young man to get there, finding out he has a 'complex'.
Kanji at the beginning is overly tough and puts on a very tough-guy appearance and attitude when you first meet him and is very quick to anger and even more prone to misunderstandings. Half of the dialogue ends up with him chasing after you or the others in an attempt to beat you up or try to argue about the misunderstandings.
After accepting his other self, Kanji seems more self-aware of himself and who he really is. As much as the others, he understands what it is that brought up his Shadow and what he really wanted and was attempting to get. Kanji is not always the quickest to understand the whole thing, but he does his best and will push forward with everyone after he's joined the team. Next to Yosuke and the Protagonist, he's one of the stronger fighters and will always work to deal as much damage as he can.
Even though Kanji's sexuality is the main reason for his Shadow appearing, he is still teased about it by the others, especially by Yosuke. However, he seems more confident in himself and his 'true self', so while he gets angry and gets into a few different antics, overall he's a great help to the group and does ultimately add something new to the group dynamic.

TAROT ANALYSIS

The Emperor (IV), Reversed

The Emperor is often just that - a man in power, often depicted in a way different from the Empress, who lounges in beauty and flowers. The Emperor is often shown ruling over a blasted or stony landscape, with harder features and battle armor worn and ready, holding an Ankh and a globe. He symbolizes the top of the secular hierarchy, and holds control over all he surveys. 

Reversed, though, this meaning changes quickly. The Emperor goes from being in control and having a solid foundation to holding control by sheer force of will. Reversed, the card means that there's an abuse of power and a hold onto power in a bad way, or simply a stopping of thinking and instead holding hard onto old ideas. This could also represent negative authority figures in your life - Kanji is known to Dojima through police work, meaning he's been arrested or in trouble more than once, resulting in him having to deal with the police. Despite Dojima's authority and ability, he's unable to really connect with younger children or teenagers, and that means he can sometimes come across as very harsh when he's worried or upset about something.

The main focus of the Emperor is control, though - reversed, that control is lost or held onto in a very negative or toxic way. In Kanji's case, his control of situations and of himself is, at the time, very tenuous and he's been pulled into bad situations due to his inability to control himself and articulate what he really wants or feels. Turning the card upright will allow Kanji to control himself more, understand when to speak and when to threaten, as well as give him more confidence in what he likes and realize that he doesn't have to stick to one side or the other, despite his confusion.

THEME: Sexuality and Gender

I continually mention this about Kanji, because for this part, sexuality is a more important part of what makes Kanji a target and what pulls out his Shadow. Kanji's sexuality is never explicitly stated as 'gay' or 'straight', and another character's introduction will only make this subject a bit more confusing. For now, I'm fine with breaking it down based on "The Genderbread Man" {Source: It's Pronounced Metrosexual}, as I think that will help explain why I see Kanji as a bisexual (the spoilerific character that, in game, we've only met but don't have the name of yet, will play into this too)

Gender Identity: Male

Gender Expression: Male with Female-coded Interests (sewing)

Biological Sex: Male

Sexual Orientation: Bisexual or scoring at least 3-4 on the Kinsey Scale (homosexual with heterosexual tendencies).

When Kanji finally confronts and accepts his Shadow, he has to explain to it that it doesn't matter to him if it's women or men - that he wants to be accepted. It might be from bad experiences with women that his Shadow gained the idea of being homosexual, not to mention the incidents with the slender young man who was asking him questions and who Kanji is shown to find handsome, or at least get flustered around. He later gets a bloody nose when he sees the girls in their bathing suits, hinting at least an attraction to the girls in a sexual way (he turns around when the girls arrive, and other events later on hint at his attraction to certain types of women). Kanji accepts that he is a male and sees himself as such, but his sexuality is the main source of his confusion, and as he stated after he accepts himself, he is interested in someone who will accept him. Without more confirmations about what he feels, Kanji's sexuality is left up to whatever the player feels he should be. Again, my personal headcanon is that Kanji is bisexual, though possibly homoromantic.

Next up: More on the Persona

"Search for Your Heart" - Steamy Bathhouse Analysis

The world that Shadow Kanji 'creates' to deal with his issue is the Steamy Bathhouse. Subtle, the symbolism isn't always (even Yukiko's Castle, while it took three posts, was still pretty simple), but it also works to explain what the characters are going through, as well as what they haven't faced yet as far as fears and insecurities.
In the case of Kanji, it's played a bit for laughs about his issues with his sexuality and how he's perceived by everyone. Like Yukiko, he's seen as something and his hidden side instantly goes for broke on what it is - Yukiko as the 'damsal/princess' in distress to be 'rescued', and Kanji as the VERY stereotypical homosexual. This also comes through in that the Midnight Channel seems to have warped from simply a place where one sees a blurry image of someone, to something where the Shadows are running TV shows.

Media Influence: Yukiko's Castle (Dating) and Kanji's Bathhouse ('Exclusives')

Both Yukiko and Kanji are the first to really show this off, and as Yosuke said when he first saw the Shadow's 'broadcast', it looked like a tacky show. Specifically, it looks like a low-rent version of "The Bachelorette" or something similar, in which one woman or man is being pursued by a variety of others to become their 'true love'. Yukiko's desire to have someone 'rescue' her creates a show in which she'll find someone worthy of her love.
Kanji's insecurities and confusion about who he does like (I'm guessing that the small, slender guy isn't the first that Kanji was confused about, just the first who actually talked to him) presents itself as an 'exclusive' in which his Shadow goes into a Bathhouse. The nature of the exclusive seems to be to find someone who will join in his 'scandalous' behavior, and who will help him understand gender roles. After all, for a tough guy, he enjoys sewing and creating things that are considered 'girly', and he's questioning his orientation. In this case, his Shadow takes on the role of a 'reporter' who's lines are more from a porno than from an 'exclusive' (so, more late-night 'Skinomax'). What both of them say also shows their repressed feelings and urges, as well as how the media or other ideas have skewed things. Yukiko's Shadow is quick to say she's going to 'score' a 'hot stud' and even admits to be 'stacked' and wearing lacy underwear - she's going to entice a man to 'rescue' her however she can, and inside the Castle, the 'stud' is now a 'prince', going from someone who's simply handsome and sexually pleasing to a more idealized version.
Kanji's Shadow, in contrast, talks about finding someone to explore the "gender barrier" and seek a "subliminal love" as he goes to enter the Bathhouse. While Shadow Kanji does show some of what he really wants (to be accepted despite his interest in 'girly' things), he goes about in a way that is, like many of the other Shadows, to the extreme of what he really feels and believes. He goes into the Bathhouse seeking 'love', but in a more carnal way than Kanji himself might be looking for at the time.

Men Only - Shadow Kanji's Own Misconceptions

As you go through the Bathhouse and later run into Shadow Kanji and his minions, a few things come up - Shadow Kanji is only interested in men, and the voices you hear (implied to be memories or Kanji's inner thoughts) revolve around what is 'manly' and what men do. As I stated before, while Kanji very obviously identifies as male, the fact that he enjoys 'feminine' activities is what ultimately causes some of his issues and his Shadow's misreadings of their own feelings.
Kanji, though a tough guy on the outside and able to fight off whoever he'd like, is overall still worried about what people think of him and this greatly effects his outlook on himself. He's been teased for liking to do 'girly' things (sew, paint, etc) but he's also talked about behind his back by men and women alike. However, Shadow Kanji went with the darker emotions towards women and how they treated him and went to the other extreme - that means he only likes guys and must find a man who accepts him.
Underneath the stereotyping and attacking, Shadow Kanji mostly is looking for someone to accept him no matter what he likes or dislikes, but the Shadow that comes out of Kanji's confusion over liking guys and girls, let alone his social awkwardness that leads to him picking fights or yelling at people, results in the Shadow saying he only likes guys. This means he only wants the guys to accept him, and spends most of the upper levels attempting to flirt with the Protagonist.

Steamy Bathhouse Analysis

Bath houses and public bathing have a VERY LONG HISTORY. Basically any and all bath houses from the ancient world were used in multiple ways, especially for relaxing. Think expensive spa or health club. However, for as long as there have been the types of bath houses where you just went to relax, there has been sex in those bath houses. Wikipedia cites records as far back at the 6th Century BCE, and with various attempts to close bath houses and other areas known for men getting together.
In general, many of the bath houses filled the role of an area for someone to go and have sex with another man - some men might be closeted or not identify as gay or bisexual for a variety of reasons - and for said encounter to be private and anonymous. Bathhouses also served as meeting places and safe havens for homosexual men (and, in some cases, women) during times when homosexuality was not as widely accepted, or are still safe places in countries where homosexuality is not widely accepted. Overall, bath houses tend to be members-only and, thus, exclusive and with a wide variety of rules.
The two main monsters you go up against is one called the Daring Gigas - a larger version of some of the muscular monsters you face off against, who spends most of his time doing wrestler's poses and who's hairstyle reminds me of Hulk Hogan. Like the Knight before him, Gigas is there to show what the Shadow believes the original version wants. In this case, and in the cases of the later Tough Guy and Nice Guy minions who helps the Shadow when it transforms, Shadow Kanji shows that he likes muscular but effeminate men (so, the bara stereotype plays in here a lot) that he believes will accept him for who he is - someone who is similar to him in the sense of being strong and muscular but also who enjoys feminine-coded things. The main thing that Shadow Kanji seems to want, despite his carnal portrayal of it, is companionship and someone who sees him as himself and doesn't judge him for what he likes and his hobbies.
Many of the monsters in the places remain the same, with a few, such as the Officers, added in to possibly relate to the theme. The Knights I only saw in Yukiko's Castle, thus far, and the Officers stay mostly within the Bathhouse thus far. Considering that Dojima knows Kanji through 'work', the officers could also represent what Kanji feels about the police force or those who continually bust him, as well as representing the history that law enforcement has with gay bathhouses (which is to say, a bad one). No matter how awesome some of the officers are, there is always going to be the ones that got into it just for the power, and who will abuse everyone they can.

The bathhouse in general is very straightforward, I think the main conflict in this case is just Kanji's true feelings and his acceptance of them. While Yukiko does deny her 'show' looking like Kanji's, and Yosuke ponders if people are watching the Midnight Channel, resulting in a new question - has the formatting changed because more people are looking at the Midnight Channel, and enjoyed Yukiko's 'Search for Her Prince Charming'? The first two, who had few people watching, seemed to not have any show whatsoever, despite one being a TV Reporter. If the killer did send them in with the intention to kill them, why has the Midnight Channel changed from simply showing the victim in pain or being attacked to now drawing it out?

The Bathhouse is 11 levels, as opposed to Yukiko's ten, and the focus is all on Kanji and his attempt to figure himself out, not to mention accept himself and realize what his true nature is, not to mention find people who will accept him, despite all they saw.

Next Up: Shadow Kanji Analysis