The Helpless Nature of Ryotaro Dojima || P4G Analysis

[@wadosk_NB]

That line of "Give me back Nanako... Give her back! She's... She's all I have...!" absolutely breaks me every time i hear it Dojima is such a good character You just get such a good feel for the guy Everything he goes through is just so humanly understandable

[@electricdeer2031]

You can see his heart cracked open, clinging for the only treasure he has left. Truly an emotional scene

[@illuminoeye_gaming]

dojima is loved least because hes really just a broken man trying his absolute best, and he trusts you. in my eyes, what made me warm up to him is that hes really struggling but unlike most adults he actually opens up to you. if you ever notice a thing with adults, especially dad figures is they have to be strong and masculine and all that, but dojima breaks it because by the end of it he understands your maturity and treats you more like an adult that is capable and responsible. he trusts you, and for a lot of teenagers who grow up playing the game, they wish to be seen as mature, grown up, young adults but their parents never trust them, never treat them with the respect they're due. this is driven home when he essentially begs you to save nanako - hes trusting you, a "dumb teenager" with the love of his life, his everything. idk man i love dojima

[@spookieboogi6161]

Love him to as a dad and husband I respect him even more I’d be broken if I lost my wife and couldn’t find the bastard who took her from me. I’d look at my son and see her I’d see her asking my why I haven’t avenged her and it would eat me alive.

[@illuminoeye_gaming]

@@spookieboogi6161 i can only imagine the perspective you have as an actual dad, must hit really close to home for you 😭

[@spookieboogi6161]

@@illuminoeye_gaming yeah if I lost my son and couldn’t find the answer to why after losing my wife to a killer I couldn’t find bro I’d probably become the punisher or red hood lol

[@shinigamimiroku3723]

The moment when Dojima screams after Adachi runs off to the TV World... Man, you can't help but feel for him. The man responsible for all of the mayhem he endured throughout the year, culminating in his only daughter getting kidnapped and his being stuck in the hospital, being the boy-man assigned to you in order to help him grow into a decent detective... I really felt it, though, when you retrieve Adachi from the TV World, only to find out that Dojima had an ambulance ready for them to take his former partner of the force into protective custody. It was one of the biggest defining moments for Uncle Dojima, and I think it leaves a lasting impact on Adachi when we meet up with him again in Arena Ultimax since he's able to have a good moment with Dojima at the end.

[@stanisawdrewienkowski2843]

Aside from the fact that he doesn't give you time to prove that TV world is real ( There is LITERALLY a TV in the room, if he doesn't belive you, Yu can literally stick hi hand into it, and that's that, proven), he really struck me as a man that couldn't handle his emotions. It's not like there were many therapist in Inaba. He is willing to reflect on himself, even when you strike a nerve he will listen to you (provided you have courage to say these things to his face). I feel that he was giving Adachi a bit to much of scolding, at least from the point we first see their interaction, maybe he was more lenient at the very begining, maybe a bit of positive reinforcment would motivate Adachi better, ut that i just the kind of man he is. He tries his bet, but doesn't know how to succeed on hi own, and achieving rank 10 with him let's him overcome the hurdle he was strugling with.

[@Amarant127]

Sticking the hand in the TV isn´t a good idea. The murders started just the day after of Yu´s arrival and Dojima is suspicious of him. He´ll be under arrest, Yu can´t go and say "ey I have magical powers but I´m not the murder, there is another person like me somewhere". I´m agree with Adachi´s scolding, sometimes is excesive and that doesn´t helps. I suppose that is all due to the stress that Dojima has.

[@stanisawdrewienkowski2843]

@@Amarant127 Definetly stress might be a factor for scolding, altough I still think that, at least when you'v done all 10 Social Links Dojima trsuts you enough to don't lock you up in a cell suspecting you of murders. And in that case you would immidietly recive the call from your friends about who the top suspect is, possibly saving Nanako. He might be suspicious of why Yu was involved, but I don't thing he would immidietly shift into: "You are the murderer" mindset, especially that the killingsstarted before Yu arrived, and all the kidnaping victims he befriended, no murder there

[@ThiccFurryBoi34]

Wonder if it runs in the family

[@Amarant127]

@@stanisawdrewienkowski2843 Yes, he trust him during the progress of the game but I remember how at first he said one or two times that the murders started when Yu arrived to the town and that he has to discard "the random factor" or something like that. Mayumi´s corpse appeared the day after Yu´s arrival. Even if Dojima trusts him he has superiors who can think the opposite (even Naoto thought that the killer was somebody in the group) and if they believe him the police would keep an eye over the IT activities. That is why I think that keeping the TV thing in secret was the smartest move.

[@stanisawdrewienkowski2843]

@@Amarant127 I guess there are possible outcomes swinging both ways, and I forgot that the first death happened literaly day after Yu got in town, not just before, yeah that changes quite a bit. But I think that telling Dojima and at least trying to convince him couldn't turn out too bad. Because even if he reports Yu as a suspect, what is he gonna back his claim up with? A mirror world? It's not like Yu would show this to the prosecution when he is on the stand, and by the time anything significant could happen, Naoto would figure out culprits identity, proven some of Yus alibis etc, thus Dojima would have no choice to let go, and now he would be able to look at the case from different angle now that he knows the truth behind the killings. Bonus points for the fact that Nanako would be kidnaped mere hours after the arrrest, giving credibility to Yu's innocence. If I am not missing anything big, I think that nothing bad could come Investigation Teams way, other than suspicious glances from Dojima, and maybe a ban from goeing out at night, but if the killings resumed, I think he could be reasoned with.

[@FF-tp7qs]

He genuinely respects YU I always felt like, more than any other social links in the game, it feels like you are doing it wrong if you don't max out both Ryotaro and Nanako's social links

[@basedchimera5859]

Persona does dad characters so well. Awesome work!

[@HidinginPrivate]

Yeah they really got the whole stoic anxious father thing down

[@illuminoeye_gaming]

@@HidinginPrivate dojima ran so sojiro could run side by side 🛐

[@manimifire8563]

Ryotaro Dojima was the character to make me cry for the first time in my playthrough, I couldn't imagine his thoughts when he saw Nanako no longer living. I like his character a lot, great analysis as always.

[@michaelhall736]

I always wondered what Dojima's opinion on the Phantom Thieves would be since he's not like other police officers in the series.

[@dhi_holo]

While I imagine he has a different view, I'm sure his view on it is not too far off Zenkichi's view The two of them aren't too different, even A wife lost to cars, a daughter who they feel they can't care for properly, investigating the same thing the party is involved in, and hell, Apostle is the equivalent card to the Heirophant in a different deck, so their arcanas mirror to an extent

[@rayvenkman2087]

@@dhi_holo I think Zenkichi and Akane could be seen as a dark counterpart to Ryotaro and Nanako where the daughter (Akane) held resentment towards her father for being a coward before she knew the truth of her father’s decision to not pursue the real killer despite knowing who was responsible while the father (Zenkichi) is internally hating at himself for being unable to catch his wife’s killer, knowing he’s hiding in plain sight. In a way, Zenkichi is what Ryotaro could have ended up eventually becoming if he didn’t have Yu in his life to help him and his daughter start connecting properly together again while his only child is still young enough to not feel the bitterness towards her own father yet. That or rather, Zenkichi does have a Yu in the form of his own commissioner but you the player (Joker) are playing the part of the Adachi to his Ryotaro with the serial killer aspect and fake goofy personality swapped out for a more quiet unassuming young man with a benevolent trickster nature. The Jester swapped out for the Fool.

[@Pduarte79]

Probably like Sae Niijima, but less open minded to idea. Since he's honest, but a bit old fashioned. Would be a bit conflicted.

[@Alex_Barbosa]

Dojima is probably my favorite character in the series. You can tell he's trying so hard to be there for you and Nanako, and that he trusts you despite your suspicious activities around town. But hes easily overwhelmed by his own feelings of insecurity and guilt. But he tries so hard despite that, you just want to hug him and let him know he doesn't have to do it all alone.

[@dumbbirdyboysquawks8147]

I adored Dojima from the very beginning, strangely enough. You can see he wears his pain as a just out of sight, to keep it obscured from everyone so he can't be further hurt as a result of an already festering wound to his pride, and his security.

[@SteadyTokai]

The part where the P3 music chimed in the background reminded me about how it reminds me that everyone can suffer from grief. No matter how strong the mind set, the drive or ambition you throw out, sometimes it takes more than a stern face to let you grow, understand and surpass the trauma and baggage you're holding. He was a man who slowly started to give up and you bring him back to a level that he has someone in front of him all a long that is worth keeping safe and around... Nanako. Nanako is his strength and his hope. No matter how it goes, his child is the biggest goal.

[@schuetz600]

I love this man so much. Dojima officially accepting you as part of the family is one of the most touching and rewarding moments in this game for me. Glad you looked at his involvement in the main story too rather than just sticking to his s link! His actions there tell us just as much about him as a character as his s link does and I'm glad you explained that. Can't wait for you to drop your Nanako vid!

[@statz3697]

I finished dojima’s social link about a week ago and I gotta say he might just be one of my favourite characters in the persona series from what I’ve played so far.

[@statesminds]

Dojima is a really good character and grew a good bit throughout the game. Great video!

[@HidinginPrivate]

He's great! Thanks!

[@HidinginPrivate]

As this releases (and as I type this comment) I am on my drive back from Austin) thus is a sort of shorter companion piece for the Nanako segment- so if some things seem missing, they're probably in the Nanako video. Eeeeee

[@spookieboogi6161]

As a husband and dad I felt his helplessness If I lost my son and wife in such a manner I’d be broken he’s stronger than he gives himself credit for.

[@MaxusFox23]

One thing I would've liked to see in the game that was changed in the anime was pushing Dojima into facing Nanako when she runs out. I get he's a grieving husband that keeps himself occupied as a coping mechanism alongside looking for clues regarding the hit-and-run, but he's also avoiding and actively hurting the only member of his family he has left. Making Yu to take care of Nanako because he doesn't know or wants to deal with her is something that a lot of parents do with the elder kids in the house, but at the same time he assigned Yu a role that doesn't belong to him, "You're running from her". Yu isn't her father, Dojima is. Nanako's line "WHEN is always?!" hits like a truck because all she wants is to be listened BY HER FATHER who barely spends time at home. All she needed was to be listened and be reassured that she isn't a burden nor a detestable child in her father's eyes... but it would've been better if the game actually let Dojima tell her that himself when she needed it rather than wait until it was too late and sh*t hit the fan with Namatame. I know this is more related to Nanako's social link, but it felt like a massive missed opportunity.

[@plaza3825]

That he didn't do better by his daughter does feel bad, but that's not a bug in the writing but a deliberate choice. Tragedy like this hurts so much *because* it could have been avoidable. IMO the real flaw here is how the protag could have immediately proved the tv world in the interrogation room by sticking his hand in that little tv. I understand that it's sensitive information, but it feels disingenuous to the themes of truth to hide something so big from direct family

[@serenepastel]

The initial concept of Dojima being the culprit hurts so much when compared to the version we got. We love and respect complex parent characters who love with all their hearts despite their shortcomings. His songs in the Midnight Channel musical are some of my absolute favorites in the fan made musical

[@BAIGAMING]

People always say that Dojima was originally intended to be the killer according to the Japanese artbooks, I don't know if it was just or rumor or not. Even the game jokes with you if you choose Dojima as the killer near the end, the game tells you something like "Yeah he could've been the killer but no he's not, please choose someone else." I dunno, it's cheesy and it'd ruin his character, but I think the plot would've been so interested if he was the killer. Adachi seemed really tacked on and the game seemed rushed.

[@tezcanaslan2877]

Adachi being the killer makes sense if you know quite a bit of Japanese culture

[@yoh2525]

So my yougner sister died when I was 5. My parents withdrew and ignored me and my little brother in a way similar (though a bit more extreme) to Dojima and Nanako. I've seen a lot of flak to him for how he treated her but honestly he's the most human when it comes to writing of the characters imo. He's not perfect. He's a person still grieving while still having to be a parent. It's tragic but beautifully and realistically written.

[@vxicepickxv]

I think having different structures and lengths for different characters work the best, because a lot of explanations won't take the same amount of time.

[@rigby8701]

Great vegetables

[@HidinginPrivate]

Great Vegetables

[@ral2cool]

Damn this one really spoke to me with dojima’s character and story yeah, but your commentary throughout was very nice to hear, like geez man I wasn’t expecting to get a bit emotional hear you talk on him with how it kinda pertains to my life at the moment. Great vid as per usual 💙

[@ryanhatfield8602]

Dojima is my favorite social link in the series he is just so interesting and cool.

[@PineNeedle-Supreme]

I love Dojima, for a lot of reasons. He was one of my favourite characters in the game, I felt the bond between him, Narukami and Nanako, and after finishing his social link I still talked to him and had coffee with him whenever I could. When he finds out youre involved in the case, how even if you tell him the truth he doesnt believe you, he thinks your lying, and is upset that even after everything you still cant trust him, was just one of the many things near the end of the game that broke me.

[@DKzCoolD2]

Yoooooo first time the "watch this other video" comment actually worked! I love Dojima so much. Or Brojima as I like to call him. His and Nanako's links are my favorites. Aaaaand the hospital scenes always make me cry. Weeeeee.

[@ShadowStar-wo8vi]

The parallels between Dojima and Zenkichi are real (though in Zenkichi’s case, he nabs the guy who killed his wife.)

[@Amarant127]

Dojima, the guy that seems to be a jerk in the beginning on the game until you discover his true reasons about his attitude and his depression. The part of the hospital when he talks about how a failure of father he is broke my heart. Appart of that, he and his sister should win the prize of parents of the year. Seriously, I understand the depression and his suffering but I´m really shocked of see how both have neglected their children. Must to be a Japan thing I think.

[@popcultureoverdosed]

Most importantly, he's a total daddy 😍

[@Pduarte79]

His only weakness is ☕ and 🍦. Lol

[@chuck77thevideogang]

Dude I love when this guy uploads. Keep up the great content!

[@HidinginPrivate]

I'll try my best!

[@jonathan_byers_stan2416]

ight i'm a little buzzed rn but,,, dojima being a taurusis so interesting. and i didn't know arcana was tied to astrology but that's so cool?? i'm rlly into astrology and researching tarot. ofc your sun sign is only a portion of your personality, but i can see the stubborness and rocky stability he has. like, he WANTS tbat and can reach it. eartb signs are hard working but when it comes tk emotions they're kind kf messes. so yeah

[@dolphinboi-playmonsterranc9668]

Hey kiddo, I changed your diapers and I'm consumed with depression over the loss of my wife and I don't know if I can take care of my young daughter alone Japan is a very mother centric country, single fatherhood is a lot more difficult than Pursuit of Happyness would make you think.

[@HidinginPrivate]

Well I mean Nanako isn't that young. She's out of diapers atleast. As far as kids go, Nanako is a shining beakon of responsibility

[@isakjarlestedt2001]

really fun to hear you go this deep into the design and writing for this character

[@HidinginPrivate]

Glad you think so

[@isakjarlestedt2001]

@@HidinginPrivate :-)

[@jaysutter9934]

Great Vegetables

[@isapu1948]

Even after having seen his story and his pain, I still can't bring myself to forgive him for his treatment of Nanako. I can't help but feel like a part of him thinks "I am an adult with adult problems™ with consequences! Nanako is a child. Unless she's being physically threatened or not following MY rules, then nothing serious should ever happen to her, her problems are small, they can be left for later!" Is it clear yet that I'm projecting?

[@blackcat-fr6lu]

🤓

[@cotocoyerakson8195]

It's hard to not use projection while playing Persona, everyone is so relatable.

[@zenronez1158]

Great video I already like dojima but this video makes me like him more. I kinda feel for him not wanting to seen as weak or wanting to have control.

[@neozomg2541]

this is such a good video. I don't have anything to say that others haven't already said in the comments but I can't wait for the rest of the series!

[@zeo1087]

Awesome video as always, I can’t wait till the Nanako video comes out!

[@HidinginPrivate]

It's a biggie! The nanako video is over 30 minutes long yeeeesh

[@DKzCoolD2]

Need.. video.. of .. goddess.. Nanako..

[@zeo1087]

@@DKzCoolD2 :( okay then

[@returnedtomonkey8886]

11:04 Genuinely joyously Dojima model in game: 😠

[@yuki5619]

IT'S DADJIMA TIMEEEE

[@HidinginPrivate]

EEEEE

[@baronagony4767]

As an aside I think Persona 4 would have been even better if Dojima was abducted instead of Nanako. His shadow world would have been amazing. Not that Nanako was bad but she basically had kidnap me written on her forehead the first time I saw her

[@stovebot4280]

I agree he would've had a very cool dungeon theme but i think both plot wise and logically because how would adachi/namatame wrestle a trained police officer into a tv

[@stovebot4280]

I agree he would've had a very cool dungeon theme but i think both plot wise and logically because how would adachi/namatame wrestle a trained police officer into a tv

[@statz3697]

Just finished vanilla persona 4 like 5 minutes ago and I don’t think I can put into words how I feel about it but I’m sure il look back at the time I spent playing it fondly. I maxed out every social link except for Margret and kanji now I wanna replay it to complete them lol.

[@stovebot4280]

Have you done new game plus? There might be a surprise for you (provided you do the true ending and beat all the bosses that show up after the main ones) Oh wait thats vanilla p4 idk if the "surprise" is in that game

[@stovebot4280]

Have you done new game plus? There might be a surprise for you (provided you do the true ending and beat all the bosses that show up after the main ones) Oh wait thats vanilla p4 idk if the "surprise" is in that game

[@kingdomkey63]

"I've been waiting for this"

[@HidinginPrivate]

Akihiko video VHS exclusive release

[@anthonysilveira6181]

This one’s a banger

[@HidinginPrivate]

Epic

[@diegovicencio6323]

I love him

[@HidinginPrivate]

Good man

[@USChoudhari]

Thanks for the video!

[@HidinginPrivate]

Thanks for watching it!

[@ItsShaz1]

Loved the video my friend

[@HidinginPrivate]

Thank you

[@TheLegendLynx]

Love to see the Goat in a video. I look forward to whos next! Please do Persona 3 too when you finish persona 4

[@HidinginPrivate]

I'll consider it. Depends if Snickety Slice has his out by then and what it's like as well as if this series is financially viable once I reach an end. Lots of segments still to come though!

[@cotocoyerakson8195]

I like him cause he reminds me of my mother, she also didn't knew how to deal with stuff and became a workaholic beliving that giving us finantial support was enough, she never gave us emotional support and when we bring this up she gets mad and say "That's in the past, you're adult now so get over it." so seeing someone who is running away from his own child but is still willing to change, or at least can see how bad as parent he are. Maybe I was projecting my own issues on the game, trying to help that family was just me trying to fix my own family. Being accepted as part of the family feels like having a functional family that I didn't got here. For Nanako I do have a younger sister so doing her quests was daily basis for me, but also I believe I was also projecting my little sister and me on her since we know what is to be neglected and doubt the love of a parent. Dojima may be neglectful but he also is the strong male figure that a men needs on his development to grow as a men, and I didn't had that too so that's maybe another reason to why does I like him so much, is the father I wanted to have, someone strong, stoic and responsible, a men with strong values and who is trying his best, who aknowladge his mistakes. This is just a personal analysis of why does I like him, sometimes we project a lot of things and act upon our personal desires. I don't know if most people play games using their own ideals and desires while doing it, or they just roleplay all the time, or does not even care about the lore and just play to have fun. But Persona is a game that hits us in the heart, make us empathize with characters. It's hard to not feel something about the character or say: "Hey, buddy... I know from where are comming from" so maybe that's the reason why people like so much characters that sometimes seems to be assholes.

[@Nodegama]

Good analysis!

[@HidinginPrivate]

Thanks!

[@firebreak2009]

He is a good character

[@HidinginPrivate]

Yeah

[@hakaytypebeat7982]

I share a birthday with this guy

[@truecooler21]

2:57 yeesh I know all of us played the game but give the newbs a warning 3:14 too

[@HidinginPrivate]

Not to sound too hardcore, but If anyone clicks on a video analyzing a character and doesn't expect spoilers related to that character that is 100% their fault. I'm not gonna change the way the video is written because people lack a 5th grade level of competency. Like imagine going to a restaurant and asking if a food contains peanuts (bc you have a peanut allergy) then after they tell you YES, you excitedly order the food anyways. It's not the restaurant's responsibility to inquire on their patron's allergies.

[@truecooler21]

@@HidinginPrivate It was more of a joke but yeah i get it

[@isamekailmahmud9302]

feed the algorithm

[@Dinker27]

😭👍❤

[@peronafanman]

How does one hide in private?

[@HidinginPrivate]

Normally I suppose?

[@Light14Lilium]

Am I missing something? I dont find any video on nanako

[@HidinginPrivate]

Ah yeah sorry it's just not out yet. I changed release order to reflect length and the Nanako video is over 30 minutes so eee

[@Light14Lilium]

@@HidinginPrivate oh ok! I just get a bit confused cause some characters are mentioned as having videos but I cant find them. Its schedule then? Ok! I really like these lore videos even though I dont play the game xD. Thank you I enjoyed them! Enough reason to subscribe