TV-Series
Description
Ichiko Ohya is a journalist for the Maiasa Newspaper, demoted to entertainment reporting after exposing a scandal involving politician Masayoshi Shido's associate. This exposure led to her partner Kayo Murakami being framed for murder and disappearing, leaving Ohya disillusioned and cynical. She now prioritizes sensationalist clickbait articles over thorough research. Ohya frequents the Crossroads Bar in Shinjuku, where her alcoholism manifests in frequent drunken interactions. Despite her professional decline, she maintains a commitment to journalism, albeit compromised.
Her appearance features brown eyes, black hair in a bob cut, and red lips. Her signature look includes orange sunglasses perched on her hair, a black shirt emblazoned with "low life fight the power," a white long-sleeved undershirt, blue jeans, and black-and-white shoes. She accessorizes with a pink fanny pack, a camera worn around her neck, and carries a water bottle, reinforcing her paparazzo identity.
Ohya first meets the Phantom Thieves during their investigation of artist Ichiryusai Madarame, exchanging contact with the protagonist. Later, blackmailed by Makoto Niijima to target mafia boss Junya Kaneshiro, she provides critical intelligence unlocking access to his Palace. She identifies Kaneshiro after securing an interview with Suguru Kamoshida's abuse victim, Yuuki Mishima. Ohya also appears briefly in the crowd outside the Diet Building during Shido's storyline climax.
Her Devil Arcana Confidant storyline involves a partnership with the protagonist to publish Phantom Thieves articles in exchange for insider information. Through these interactions, she gradually reveals her backstory and investigates Kayo's disappearance. Her boss, Shinpei Honjo, obstructs her efforts by increasing her workload and threatening contacts. The Phantom Thieves intervene by changing Honjo's heart in Mementos, enabling Ohya to locate Kayo, who is found suffering from a mental shutdown. This journey restores Ohya's idealism, and she deduces the protagonist's Phantom Thieves connection but vows secrecy. Her character evolves from cynicism to a renewed commitment to truthful journalism.
Gameplay mechanics tied to her Confidant grant abilities reducing Palace security levels, such as lowering the starting security percentage or decreasing penalties after ambushes. Advancing her Confidant also boosts the protagonist's Charm stat. A romantic subplot is available through specific dialogue choices, culminating in gifts like a Camera or Chocolate that restore SP in subsequent playthroughs.
Outside the main game, Ohya appears in *Persona 5 The Animation* and the manga *Persona 5: Mementos Mission*. In the latter, she contacts the protagonist about a poisoning case involving Shiro Asakura, linking it to an idol's suicide scandal. A fan-created *Persona 5 Adult Confidant AU* reimagines her as a more popular character, ranking fourth in a 2019 poll due to enhanced likability and humor.
Trivia notes include potential namesake references to journalist Sōichi Ohya and wordplay linking the "Crossroads" bar and Devil Arcana to the phrase "meeting the devil at the crossroads." Her surname translates to "lace" in Japanese, while her given name means "1 piece."
Her appearance features brown eyes, black hair in a bob cut, and red lips. Her signature look includes orange sunglasses perched on her hair, a black shirt emblazoned with "low life fight the power," a white long-sleeved undershirt, blue jeans, and black-and-white shoes. She accessorizes with a pink fanny pack, a camera worn around her neck, and carries a water bottle, reinforcing her paparazzo identity.
Ohya first meets the Phantom Thieves during their investigation of artist Ichiryusai Madarame, exchanging contact with the protagonist. Later, blackmailed by Makoto Niijima to target mafia boss Junya Kaneshiro, she provides critical intelligence unlocking access to his Palace. She identifies Kaneshiro after securing an interview with Suguru Kamoshida's abuse victim, Yuuki Mishima. Ohya also appears briefly in the crowd outside the Diet Building during Shido's storyline climax.
Her Devil Arcana Confidant storyline involves a partnership with the protagonist to publish Phantom Thieves articles in exchange for insider information. Through these interactions, she gradually reveals her backstory and investigates Kayo's disappearance. Her boss, Shinpei Honjo, obstructs her efforts by increasing her workload and threatening contacts. The Phantom Thieves intervene by changing Honjo's heart in Mementos, enabling Ohya to locate Kayo, who is found suffering from a mental shutdown. This journey restores Ohya's idealism, and she deduces the protagonist's Phantom Thieves connection but vows secrecy. Her character evolves from cynicism to a renewed commitment to truthful journalism.
Gameplay mechanics tied to her Confidant grant abilities reducing Palace security levels, such as lowering the starting security percentage or decreasing penalties after ambushes. Advancing her Confidant also boosts the protagonist's Charm stat. A romantic subplot is available through specific dialogue choices, culminating in gifts like a Camera or Chocolate that restore SP in subsequent playthroughs.
Outside the main game, Ohya appears in *Persona 5 The Animation* and the manga *Persona 5: Mementos Mission*. In the latter, she contacts the protagonist about a poisoning case involving Shiro Asakura, linking it to an idol's suicide scandal. A fan-created *Persona 5 Adult Confidant AU* reimagines her as a more popular character, ranking fourth in a 2019 poll due to enhanced likability and humor.
Trivia notes include potential namesake references to journalist Sōichi Ohya and wordplay linking the "Crossroads" bar and Devil Arcana to the phrase "meeting the devil at the crossroads." Her surname translates to "lace" in Japanese, while her given name means "1 piece."