Live action TV
Description
Kenji Makabe is a JAXA astronaut candidate who becomes one of the closest friends and rivals to the protagonist, Mutta Nanba. Born on April 10, 1993, Kenji is depicted as a calm, supportive, and dedicated individual, often seen in formal attire with a characteristic single strand of hair falling across his forehead. His primary motivation for becoming an astronaut stems from a desire to escape the monotony of his previous job, where he felt confined to a small corner of a large facility. An adventurous spirit from his youth, he wished to see the world's great sights and soar higher, a path encouraged by his wife, Yuki, whom he married after they met in college. His family, including his daughters Fuka and An, serves as his greatest source of inspiration and strength.
In the story, Kenji meets Mutta during the second examination interview for the astronaut program, and they become close friends within minutes, forming a bond defined by mutual support and respect. During the third selection examinations, which involve a closed-environment test, Kenji is placed in Team B. He demonstrates natural leadership qualities but faces conflict when his attempts to unify the team clash with another member's competitive behavior. When pushed to consider quitting the exam, he nearly gives in to despair but recovers after remembering his daughter's encouraging words, ultimately choosing to complete the training with a positive attitude. This incident highlights his deep sense of responsibility and his ability to persevere under psychological stress.
Kenji's development throughout the story is marked by his evolving understanding of teamwork and his own limitations. He is a thoughtful and meticulous individual who values direct experience over secondhand knowledge, wishing to understand things for himself rather than just reading about them. His relationship with Mutta deepens during shared training exercises, such as the NEEMO underwater mission, where they learn to rely on each other's ideas. However, Kenji also struggles with the reality that only one of them might be chosen for a lunar mission, leading to a period of emotional distance. He eventually comes to terms with this, recognizing Mutta's suitability for the moon while continuing to forge his own path.
Kenji's notable abilities include a natural capacity for leadership and a talent for accurately guessing people's ages. He is characterized by a serious and precise nature, though he himself admits to being a "twisted person". When his chance for a lunar mission passes, he is selected for the historic first manned asteroid exploration mission, Swerts, and later volunteers for the Tiger Team, a group formed to rescue other astronauts in distress by securing supply routes. Throughout these challenges, he remains a figure defined by his dedication to his family, his unwavering friendship with Mutta, and his commitment to the demanding journey of becoming an astronaut.
In the story, Kenji meets Mutta during the second examination interview for the astronaut program, and they become close friends within minutes, forming a bond defined by mutual support and respect. During the third selection examinations, which involve a closed-environment test, Kenji is placed in Team B. He demonstrates natural leadership qualities but faces conflict when his attempts to unify the team clash with another member's competitive behavior. When pushed to consider quitting the exam, he nearly gives in to despair but recovers after remembering his daughter's encouraging words, ultimately choosing to complete the training with a positive attitude. This incident highlights his deep sense of responsibility and his ability to persevere under psychological stress.
Kenji's development throughout the story is marked by his evolving understanding of teamwork and his own limitations. He is a thoughtful and meticulous individual who values direct experience over secondhand knowledge, wishing to understand things for himself rather than just reading about them. His relationship with Mutta deepens during shared training exercises, such as the NEEMO underwater mission, where they learn to rely on each other's ideas. However, Kenji also struggles with the reality that only one of them might be chosen for a lunar mission, leading to a period of emotional distance. He eventually comes to terms with this, recognizing Mutta's suitability for the moon while continuing to forge his own path.
Kenji's notable abilities include a natural capacity for leadership and a talent for accurately guessing people's ages. He is characterized by a serious and precise nature, though he himself admits to being a "twisted person". When his chance for a lunar mission passes, he is selected for the historic first manned asteroid exploration mission, Swerts, and later volunteers for the Tiger Team, a group formed to rescue other astronauts in distress by securing supply routes. Throughout these challenges, he remains a figure defined by his dedication to his family, his unwavering friendship with Mutta, and his commitment to the demanding journey of becoming an astronaut.