Persona 5: The Phantom X’s Kiuchi: Is He A Better Villain Than The Memes Might Suggest?

The Context Behind the Memes

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. Critics and fans alike have dunked on Kiuchi because his villainy appears, well, absurd. His “evil” deeds consist of slamming into people on crowded Japanese subway platforms, complete with maniacal laughter and theatrical threats. Compared to the Persona 5 lineup of hardcore baddies—with villains who indulge in abuse, exploitation, and worse—Kiuchi comes off as laughably unserious. Many have argued that his inclusion as a Palace boss feels overblown, better suited for a side quest in the game’s classic Mementos dungeons.

The memes, naturally, followed. Social media had a field day. People were quoting his lines unironically (“It’s slammin’ time!”) and dubbing him the best (or worst) antagonist Atlus has created. It’s fair to say Kiuchi has been the talk of the Persona town, but the real question is this: does Kiuchi have more going on beneath all the bombast?

Diving Into the Slammer’s Nuance

Here’s the twist you didn’t see coming. Kiuchi’s so-called absurdity actually serves a narrative purpose. Atlus wasn’t aiming for a Kamoshida-level villain here. Instead, Kiuchi represents a quieter, more insidious kind of issue that often goes unchecked in everyday interactions. His actions are a prime example of societal microaggressions that snowball into larger cultural problems.

Yes, his “crime” might seem small—even petty—but that’s kind of the point. Japan, like many countries, has societal problems that aren’t headline-grabbing but are still deeply uncomfortable and harmful. Kiuchi’s character is based on the real-life phenomenon of butsukari otoko (“bumping man”). These individuals deliberately shove into women in crowded spaces, using the chaos to mask predatory behavior. Kiuchi might ramp up the theatrics for the sake of the story, but his existence in P5X reflects a real-world issue ignored all too often.

By bringing someone like Kiuchi into the spotlight, the game shines a light on those less obvious “villains” of society. It’s a subtle nudge to the player that small, everyday injustices deserve to be called out and dealt with, even if they don’t seem as dire as abuse or exploitation. The meme-worthy dialogue? That’s the sugar to help the message go down.

A Villain That Matches The Phantom X Tone

It’s worth noting that Persona 5: The Phantom X treads a slightly different thematic line than the original Persona 5. While both games deal with corruption and justice, P5X seems more willing to experiment with quirky villains and slightly offbeat tones. Kiuchi’s exaggerated behavior might make him feel like a caricature, but it also fits perfectly into the slightly zanier world that The Phantom X is building.

Rather than mirroring the dark and intense beginnings of Persona 5, P5X eases players in with a villain that’s detestable yet ridiculous. Kiuchi’s Palace is less about grit and more about satire, which feels intentional. His over-the-top theatrics serve as both a critique of the very real issue of subway harassment and a lighter intro before ramping up the stakes later in the game.

Why The Memes Don’t Do Kiuchi Justice

The memes are funny. Don’t get it twisted—we’re all here for the jokes about “slamming” and villainy turned up to eleven. But focusing just on the humor of Kiuchi’s antics misses the point. He’s not just a throwaway character written for a cheap laugh (though sure, his lines are hilarious). Instead, he’s a calculated narrative device designed to get you thinking.

By presenting a villain whose actions are (seemingly) less severe, the game forces players to confront an uncomfortable truth: many injustices go unaddressed simply because they don’t “feel” big enough to tackle. Kiuchi is a reminder that the accumulation of these small wrongs can have a massive impact, even if they aren’t as obviously horrifying as the crimes of Kamoshida or Shido.

Final Thoughts on the Subway Slammer

Does Takeyuki Kiuchi deserve to go down in history alongside the most iconic villains? Probably not. But does he deserve to be relegated entirely to joke status? Definitely not. He’s a curious inclusion in The Phantom X, balancing on the line between satire and meaningful commentary. Through his exaggerated antics, the writers draw attention to how pervasive and harmful certain societal behaviors can be, even when they’re not plastered across newspaper headlines.

Love to hate him or meme him into oblivion, Kiuchi isn’t just a punchline. He’s a subtle reminder that even the smallest acts of injustice deserve to be challenged. And hey, say what you will, but the man has presence. Not every villain can turn a single line into a viral sensation.

Visit Total Apex Gaming for more game-related news.