TV-Series
Description
Kanata Saionji is the main male protagonist of the series. He is a 14-year-old eighth grader who stands 167 centimeters tall and was born on December 25. As the son of a Buddhist monk, he lives in the Saionji Temple, a large, traditional Japanese temple situated on a hill. Kanata is known for his good looks and charismatic demeanor, which make him one of the most popular boys at his school, attracting admiration from many female classmates. He excels academically and is also very athletic, often demonstrating a natural talent in sports.
Despite his polished and handsome image at school, Kanata's personality is more complex and dual-sided within the privacy of his home. He tends to be lazy, lacks proper manners, and often reads comic books or watches television rather than attending to household chores. He is generally an easygoing and quiet person who does not speak much, which can sometimes make him appear cool or aloof. However, beneath this reserved exterior, he is a deeply loving and caring individual who values his family and friends. He has a particular fondness for pumpkin, which he enjoys prepared in any form, from boiled squash to fried chips, a preference that stems from a childhood memory of his late mother feeding it to him.
The story's central conflict and Kanata's primary motivation arise when his father, Hōsho Saionji, abruptly leaves for a year-long spiritual journey to India. Almost simultaneously, a girl named Miyu Kozuki comes to live at the temple after her parents are sent to America by NASA. Their situation becomes even more extraordinary when a tiny UFO crashes into the temple, carrying an alien baby named Ruu and his shape-shifting, cat-like babysitter, Wannya. Because Ruu's home planet, Otto, was lost in a wormhole, Wannya asks the two teenagers to care for them, and Kanata agrees. This forces him into the sudden and demanding roles of a housemate, a secret keeper, and an adoptive father figure.
Kanata’s initial relationship with Miyu is rocky, beginning with an awkward first encounter when she walks in on him in the bathroom. To protect their reputations, they pretend to be cousins at school, hiding the fact that they live alone together. Kanata often teases Miyu, particularly about her clumsiness or cooking, but this is largely a mask to hide his growing true feelings for her. Over the course of the series, he learns that they were actually childhood friends, as his late mother, Hitome, was a good friend of Miyu's mother. His jealousy is occasionally sparked when other boys, such as Seiya Yaboshi, show an interest in Miyu.
One of the most defining aspects of his role is his relationship with the alien baby Ruu. Because Kanata resembles Ruu's real father, the baby calls him "papa". As a result, Kanata develops a deep, paternal love for the child and is fiercely protective of him, going to great lengths to ensure his safety and happiness. He also shares a strong bond with Wannya, who often takes on the cooking and cleaning duties Kanata neglects. At school, his best friend is Santa Kurosu, whom he befriended due to their mutual love for an unpopular superhero character, Cactus Man.
Throughout the narrative, Kanata demonstrates several notable abilities. As a son of a temple priest, he possesses knowledge of Shinto and Buddhist rituals, including the use of ofuda charms to perform exorcisms and ward off supernatural beings like yōkai. He is also a skilled cook, especially with pumpkin-based dishes, a talent that becomes more evident in later stories.
His character undergoes significant development from a reluctant cohabitant to a responsible young man who embraces his unconventional family. He initially refuses to admit his true emotions, but as the story progresses, his walls break down. After Ruu and Wannya eventually return to their home planet, the bond he formed with them remains. In the series' conclusion, years later, Kanata stops hiding his feelings and confesses his love to Miyu, whom he eventually marries. He succeeds his father as the resident priest of the Saionji Temple, and they have a daughter named Miu. Even as an adult, his playful, teasing nature persists, often leading to humorous quarrels with his wife in their daily life, with Kanata frequently being the one to cook for the family.
Despite his polished and handsome image at school, Kanata's personality is more complex and dual-sided within the privacy of his home. He tends to be lazy, lacks proper manners, and often reads comic books or watches television rather than attending to household chores. He is generally an easygoing and quiet person who does not speak much, which can sometimes make him appear cool or aloof. However, beneath this reserved exterior, he is a deeply loving and caring individual who values his family and friends. He has a particular fondness for pumpkin, which he enjoys prepared in any form, from boiled squash to fried chips, a preference that stems from a childhood memory of his late mother feeding it to him.
The story's central conflict and Kanata's primary motivation arise when his father, Hōsho Saionji, abruptly leaves for a year-long spiritual journey to India. Almost simultaneously, a girl named Miyu Kozuki comes to live at the temple after her parents are sent to America by NASA. Their situation becomes even more extraordinary when a tiny UFO crashes into the temple, carrying an alien baby named Ruu and his shape-shifting, cat-like babysitter, Wannya. Because Ruu's home planet, Otto, was lost in a wormhole, Wannya asks the two teenagers to care for them, and Kanata agrees. This forces him into the sudden and demanding roles of a housemate, a secret keeper, and an adoptive father figure.
Kanata’s initial relationship with Miyu is rocky, beginning with an awkward first encounter when she walks in on him in the bathroom. To protect their reputations, they pretend to be cousins at school, hiding the fact that they live alone together. Kanata often teases Miyu, particularly about her clumsiness or cooking, but this is largely a mask to hide his growing true feelings for her. Over the course of the series, he learns that they were actually childhood friends, as his late mother, Hitome, was a good friend of Miyu's mother. His jealousy is occasionally sparked when other boys, such as Seiya Yaboshi, show an interest in Miyu.
One of the most defining aspects of his role is his relationship with the alien baby Ruu. Because Kanata resembles Ruu's real father, the baby calls him "papa". As a result, Kanata develops a deep, paternal love for the child and is fiercely protective of him, going to great lengths to ensure his safety and happiness. He also shares a strong bond with Wannya, who often takes on the cooking and cleaning duties Kanata neglects. At school, his best friend is Santa Kurosu, whom he befriended due to their mutual love for an unpopular superhero character, Cactus Man.
Throughout the narrative, Kanata demonstrates several notable abilities. As a son of a temple priest, he possesses knowledge of Shinto and Buddhist rituals, including the use of ofuda charms to perform exorcisms and ward off supernatural beings like yōkai. He is also a skilled cook, especially with pumpkin-based dishes, a talent that becomes more evident in later stories.
His character undergoes significant development from a reluctant cohabitant to a responsible young man who embraces his unconventional family. He initially refuses to admit his true emotions, but as the story progresses, his walls break down. After Ruu and Wannya eventually return to their home planet, the bond he formed with them remains. In the series' conclusion, years later, Kanata stops hiding his feelings and confesses his love to Miyu, whom he eventually marries. He succeeds his father as the resident priest of the Saionji Temple, and they have a daughter named Miu. Even as an adult, his playful, teasing nature persists, often leading to humorous quarrels with his wife in their daily life, with Kanata frequently being the one to cook for the family.