Kōji Tanbabashi is a male middle school student and one of the main characters in Inari Kon Kon. He is a classmate of Inari Fushimi, the protagonist, and is the boy she has a crush on from the beginning of the story. Kōji is a member of the school basketball club and is known for his refreshing, kind, and cheerful personality, which makes him popular among his peers. He is described as hardworking and extremely dedicated to his athletic pursuits, with a dream of becoming a professional basketball player. In terms of personal background, Kōji lives with his mother and younger brother after his father passed away when he was young, a circumstance that has led him to help his mother at home and develop practical skills such as cooking. He has black hair and gray eyes, his birthday is April 1, his blood type is O, and his favorite color is orange. At the start of the series, Kōji initially appears to have a crush on their classmate Akemi Sumizome, but this is based on a misunderstanding involving a request for her to become the basketball club manager rather than a romantic confession. Over the course of the story, his feelings shift as he gets to know Inari better. He begins to notice her earnest and considerate nature and eventually comes to terms with the fact that he has developed romantic feelings for her, even confiding this to his closest male friends. As the narrative progresses, Kōji becomes aware of Inari's secret ability to change her shape, which was granted to her by the goddess Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami. Learning about her powers does not drive him away; instead, it strengthens their bond. In the later parts of the story, Kōji takes on a pivotal role. When Inari faces a crisis involving the loss of her human form and the risk of vanishing, he ventures into the divine realm of Takamagahara in an effort to save her. With help from his late father, Kōji succeeds in bringing Inari back to the human world, helping her recommit to living as a human. Through this journey, Kōji develops from a supportive classmate into a key figure who actively participates in the conflict between the human and divine worlds, and his relationship with Inari deepens into a mutual romantic connection.