Genshiken - Characters

Characters

Kanji Sasahara (笹原 完士, Sasahara Kanji?)

At the beginning of the series, Sasahara is just coming to terms with his otaku nature and much of the beginning of the series focuses on introducing him to the otaku lifestyle. He is the most balanced member of Genshiken, with no real focus on any particular aspect.

Makoto Kousaka (高坂 真琴, Kōsaka Makoto?)

Kousaka is the character who most focuses on video games, particularly fighters and porn games. He also does not fit the otaku stereotype in that he is much more outwardly fashionable than would be expected. He likes his girlfriend Kasukabe very much, though she doesn't share his interests.

Saki Kasukabe (春日部 咲, Kasukabe Saki?)

The only non-otaku main character, Kasukabe hates otaku and their lifestyle, but is forced to hang around the Genshiken in order to be with her boyfriend Kousaka. A down to earth, practical, manipulative, and attractive young woman, Saki is somewhat ruthless and easily angered. She spends most of her time physically abusing the male members of Genshiken. However, as the series progresses, Kasukabe begins to exhibit more otaku-like characteristics, and slowly stops abusing Genshiken members.

Harunobu Madarame (斑目 晴信, Madarame Harunobu?)

Madarame is the most hardcore otaku of the Genshiken members. He carries his obsessions to an almost dangerous degree, spending nearly all of his money on dōjinshi, which leaves little money for food or other living expenses. For example at Compfest, he hurt his hand to the point of it being numb and swelling yet he didn't want to leave. Although he's the main antagonist of Saki, he gradually and secretly falls in love with her, but never has the courage to declare himself during 3 years, sure that his feelings have no chance to be reciprocated.

Souichiro Tanaka (田中 総市郎, Tanaka Sōichirō?)

Tanaka focuses on designing costumes for cosplay, and thus has a strong connection with Ohno. He also has a strong focus on plamo, or plastic models.

Mitsunori Kugayama (久我山 光紀, Kugayama Mitsunori?)

Kugayama is a stuttering, overweight member who is Genshiken's only artist until Ogiue's arrival. However, he lacks the motivation and commitment to create a full-fledged dōjinshi.

Kanako Ohno (大野 加奈子, Ōno Kanako?)

The first female to join Genshiken of her own free will, Ohno is a soft-spoken, well-endowed girl who enjoys cosplaying. Her enthusiasm for her hobbies serves as a foil for Kasukabe and later Ogiue, who both resist her attempts to get them involved in club activities. She has what is known as "oyajicon", meaning that her preference for anime men is that of middle-aged characters.

Chika Ogiue (荻上 千佳, Ogiue Chika?)

Not introduced until later in the manga series, and not introduced until the OVA for the anime, Ogiue reads and creates female-oriented, yaoi dōjinshi. The other female members of Genshiken sometimes call her a "Fujoshi" (腐女子, "rotten girl") because of that. She is deeply ashamed of her otaku nature, but gradually comes to accept it as the series progresses.

Manabu Kuchiki (朽木 学, Kuchiki Manabu?)

Also not introduced until later in the series, Kuchiki is a loud and annoying (but good hearted & helpful) member that sometimes is disliked by the rest of Genshiken, especially by the girls. He's actually the expansive cute-fixation otaku: he calls other members with the -chan suffix, his movements and behavior copy those of many popular anime and most of the time he speaks imitating the voices of cartoon characters.

Susanna Hopkins (スザンナ・ホプキンス, Suzanna Hopukinsu?)

Introduced later in the series as one of Ohno's (younger) American friends, she comes with fellow American Angela to visit Ohno and to attend a couple of ComiFest events with Genshiken. Despite being American, she knows a large number of famous anime and manga quotes in Japanese. In Genshiken's relaunch, Sue moves to Japan and is accepted into Shiiou University as a 1st-year student, where she immediately joins Genshiken as the first of the "second generation" members.

Rika Yoshitake (吉武 莉華, Yoshitake Rika?)

Introduced in the relaunch of Genshiken, Yoshitake is one of four new Genshiken members, coming in on her first year after seeing Ogiue's poster drawing demonstration. She's a fujioshi like Ogiue but with a very bright personality.

Merei Yajima (矢島 美怜, Yajima Merei?)

Introduced in the relaunch of Genshiken, like her friend Yoshitake, she too is a fujioshi and joined Genshiken after seeing Ogiue's poster drawing demonstration. Unlike Yoshitake, Yajima can be dour and has a hard time accepting things such as Hato's cross-dressing. She tends to dress frumpy and is overweight.

Kenjiro Hato (波戸 賢二郎, Hato Kenjirou?)

Introduced in the relaunch of Genshiken, Hato is the last of the new Genshiken members and the only male to join. However, despite being heterosexual, Hato has the same love of yaoi and boy's love doujinshi and manga as Ogiue, Ohno, and the other fujioshi of Genshiken. Because being a fudanshi (a male fujoshi) would have caused Hato problems, he adopted a female persona, including a perfect female voice, and dresses as a female when attending Genshiken, garnering a lot of attention in doing so because he's seen as a very attractive girl.