If there’s anything someone can count on aPersonagame for, it’s an interesting cast of characters, both good and bad, andPersona 5: The Phantom Xlives up to this reputation. The game’s principal cast, especially quirkyteammates like Lufel and Manaka Nagao, have engendered a great deal of affection fromPhantom Xfans, but certain antagonists have developed followings of a different sort.
One much-discussed antagonist is the Subway Slammer, the first major antagonist ofPersona 5: The Phantom X. Under the influence of Shadows manipulating his desires, the Slammer, real name Takeyuki Kiuchi, body slams, tackles, or otherwise charges into unsuspecting women on the subway, relishing in his havoc with ridiculous lines like “The whole subway is mine for the slammin'!” Naturally, the seemingly absurd nature of his crimes, coupled with his off-beat attitude and silly nickname, has made the Subway Slammer something of a laughingstock online, with many ironically praising him, poking fun at him, and even criticizing his character writing as being too low-stakes and frivolous to make for an interesting villain arc. But as it turns out, the Subway Slammer is likely based upon an unsettling phenomenon in real-world Japan.
Persona 5: The Phantom X’s Subway Slammer Has Roots In Reality
The Subway Slammer Is Likely Based Upon Butsukari Otoko, or “Bumping Men,” in Japan
Staying composed, polite, and reserved in public spaces is part of Japan’s general social code of conduct—raucous or obnoxious behavior is generally less tolerated in cities like Tokyo than in western metropolises like New York or London. But one unexpectedly prominent subset of men, known as butsukari otoko, shirk these societal expectations, intentionally causing disruptive and physically aggressive behavior in public areas such as trains and subway terminals. It is these men thatPersona 5: The Phantom X’s first antagonistis based upon.
This bizarre behavior is broken into a few categories based on the attacker’s preferred method of assault. Some butsukari otoko stalk a specific woman before shoving into her, for instance, while others will go as far as punching their victims in the face. One class of butsukari otoko, sometimes called the my-own-way-type, is known to bump into people while aggressively walking against the flow of foot traffic, making them especially difficult to catch; they usually disappear into the crowd before their victims know what hit them. This is howPersona 5: The Phantom X’s villaingets away with his attacks as well.
Even the real-world “Subway Slammers” have drawn mocking reactions from the online community, both inside and outside of Japan. While many of these incidents are of little consequence and therefore easy to make light of, it can be quite a serious problem as well: butsukari otoko can seriously injure their victims, and whilePersona 5: The Phantom Xmay explainthe issue through magical realism, there are no Shadows in real life. The men who commit these small acts of violence are engaging in explicitly antisocial behavior, likely motivated by misogynistic complexes. Since this trend seems specific to men, and the victims of these attacks are almost exclusively women, it’s also likely that the offenders are gaining a sense of sexual gratification from this behavior, which is disturbing indeed.
WhetherPersona 5: The Phantom Xis making light of the butsukari otoko trend to bring levity to a severe problem or because Atlus doesn’t feel that the pattern of attacks is worthy of reverence is unclear. That said, it’s worth noting thatPersona 5writer Yusuke Nittadisavowed the Subway Slammer storyline in a now-deleted tweet, suggesting that thePersonateam may not wholly stand behind this infamous villain, for one reason or another.
Persona5: The Phantom X
WHERE TO PLAY
“We’re the Phantom Thieves, and we’re here to steal your heart!”The beloved RPG series with over 22 million copies sold finally arrives on PC and mobile!Set in modern-day Tokyo!Normal high-school student by day, villain-fighting Phantom Thief by night!Explore the dungeons of the heart and defeat the distorted enemyShadows!Dive into dungeons of the heart called Palaces with your fellow Phantom Thieves, who have awakened their Persona, the power of the heart. Steal the Treasure to restore the warped heart!Stylish, snappy, and satisfying turn-based combat!Experience the signature flair of the Persona series with striking visuals and addictive moves that can wipe out all your foes in one swoop!Level up your Persona, the power of your heart, and become the most powerful Persona-user!Obtain new Personas, infiltrate dungeons of the heart, and prevent a future of ruin!Enjoy your youth as a student!Savor student life in an urban metropolis as a high-school student! How you spend your days after school is up to you—deepen your friendships, devote your time to clubs, or even work part-time!Interact with a variety of fascinating characters!Tons of new characters inhabit the game, created under the supervision of Shigenori Soejima and the rest of the Persona team!
