Name:
Akito Tenkawa
Name:
Akito Tenkawa
Race: Human, raised on Mars
Birthday: February 26, 2178
Age: 18
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 121 lbs
Blood Type: A positive
Family: Deceased
Status: Cook, Aestivalis Pilot
Quote: But I am a cook!
Anime: Martian Successor Nadesico
Voice: (English) Spike Spencer (Japanese) Yuji Ueda
History and Personality: Akito was born and raised in Utopia Colony on Mars, where his parents, researchers for Nergal, were killed in an explosion during an experiment. Shortly after this Mars was invaded by the Jovians in their first attack against Earth. Akito, who had been implanted with piloting nanites in order to run equipment, was defending a young girl when there was an explosion, and the next thing he knew he was on Earth. On Earth Akito became o chef, but at the start of the series he is fired because he has panic attacks whenever the alarm goes off to signal a Jovian attack. Riding his bike home Akito runs into Yurika Misumaru, the daughter of a general, who turns out to be a girl he grew up with on Mars. Though he does not at first recognize Yurika he soon remembers who she is and chases after her hoping to learn something about the death of his parents. He ends up following her to the Nadesico, a privately owned warship, financed by Nergal, with an almost completely civilian crew. All Akito wants are answers, but somehow he ends up a member of the crew. Officially he's part of the kitchen crew, but since he has pilot nanites, and apparently a knack for flying Eastivalis (mechas), he quickly becomes the star fighter pilot - much to his dismay.
Trying to deal with his paralyzing fear of battle, his confusing past, Yurika's umm... slightly obsessive affections, and the attention of nearly every woman on board, is difficult. And, to make matters worse, it appears his miraculous escape from Mars is putting him on the spot with both the military and Nergal. Add to that the fact that no one is being completely honest about anything, and that the horrible and evil Jovians are actually... humans? and you can understand why Akito is more than a little uncertain.
It is soon discovered that Akito, Yurika, and Dr. Fressange (the chief medical/science officer onboard) are all survivors of the Martian attack and can actually control boson jumping which allows instantaneous travel through space-time. As natives of Mars, they have had their DNA reengineered by microscopic nanites that are used to make the planet hospitable. Thus, only "Martians" and their descendants can control the process. This makes them a rare commodity, one both sides are determined to have. When Akito learns that the Jovians are humans and their story doesnt' match the one he's been told only a sense of duty keeps him fighting for earth. But how long can he fight for something he no longer believes in? And is there a way to stop this war based on lies? What is the truth behind the war? And how can he deal with the knowledge that Nergal - his current employer - caused the death of his parents, and the war. And what about the fact the Ms. Fressange (who is at least ten years is senior) is actually the little girl (much his junior) whom he attempted to save in the first attack on Mars? Not to mention that fact that he still hates fighting, wants only to be a cook, and can't quite figure out himself, let alone everything else. All Akito really wants to do is make a good meal and sit down to watch his favorite anime, Gekigenkan, where right is right, wrong is wrong, and the good guys always win.
All decisions are made for him when Nergal turns on the crew and they are forced into hiding. Fortunately, with a little help from the kitchen staff and Ruri (the child genius pilot), they retake the ship and attempt to end the war on their terms. The Nadesico teams up with the leader of the Jovian forces in the hopes of putting a stop to it all, but there are those on both sides who have no desire to end the bloodshed. When their allies are killed and they barely escape with their lives the crew of the Nadesico make a heart rending decision to leave everything they have known behind and take off on their own. But, on the bright side, Akito and Yurika have resolved their issues and admitted their feelings for one another (or, rather, Akito finally confesses he returns Yurika's feelings). That's gotta count for something, right?
Relationships: While it appears that the entirety of the female population of the Nadesico rather rapidly becomes infatuated with Akito, there are only a few he has much interaction with - and that not always by his choice...
Akito's closest relationship (much to his dismay) is with Yurika. The two were close as children, but apparently Yurika has read more into their relationship than he remembers there having been. She's in love with her memories of him, and very quickly falls head over heels for the current him too. Though he often protests and attempts to push her away, Akito relies on her in a way. His greatest fear seems to be that since he doesn't feel he knows himself she can't possibly know him. And he appears to feel that she shouldn't have to put up with all his problems. However, Yurika is persistent, and eventually Akito realizes that he does love her, and since he isn't going to get rid of her he might as well tell her. Ah, nothing like a happy ending, eh?
Dr. Fressange delights in teasing Yurika by feigning interest in Akito, however, her interest turns out to be mostly platonic with a dash of hero worship. It turns out she was the young girl Akito saved in the Jovian attack on mars many years before. Apparently she boson jumped into the past and grew up as a scientist in Nergal. This is the reason she is now older than Akito.
Megumi, the communication officer, attempts to build a relationship with Akito, and for a time it seems he might be willing, they even kiss on multiple occasions; however, Megumi eventually comes to realize that there is a connection between Yurika and Akito that she cannot understand. Ryoko, head of the Aestivalis unit they pick up from a destroyed station, also develops feelings for Akito (and her squad mates tease her about it every chance they get), but she never makes a move.
Yuri, the ship's pilot and primary interface with the ship's AI, generally finds all adults to be idiots. However, she seems to like Akito well enough. The nature of their connection is somewhat ambiguous, but I felt the need to include her here as in the movie she was taken in and raised by Akito and Yurika after they escaped the war.
Techniques: Since Akito never really received any training he fights with a combination of common sense and sheer panic. Techniques? What are those?
Why we love him: He's confused, often cowardly, and prone to bouts of panicked or exasperated yelling, but he's a good guy who just wants to make the world a better place. And it's cute to watch him blush when all those older women hit on him...
All information from wikipedia is used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License and can be copied/altered and redistributed under the guidelines of this license.