Jun'ichirō Tanizaki/Relationships

Armed Detective Agency=


 * -|Port Mafia=

Naomi Tanizaki
"For Naomi's sake, I’d gladly burn down the whole world."

- Tanizaki about Naomi to John Steinbeck. As Naomi's older brother, Tanizaki is quite close to her and often looks after her well-being. Because of Naomi's usual advances and suggestive talks with him, especially in the midst of other Agency members and even clients, Tanizaki tends to get embarrassed and tries his best to stop her, though usually to no avail due to Tanizaki getting flustered himself.

Nevertheless, Tanizaki deeply considers Naomi as a very important person in his life and wishes for nothing but her happiness. He is even willing to "burn the whole world" for Naomi if he needs to, as Tanizaki admits how Naomi is on a wholly different plane above and is incomparable to morals, egos, and suchlike. Hence, without second thoughts, the mere idea of Naomi getting harmed triggers Tanizaki's murderous intent, threatening to kill the Port Mafia's own Black Lizard who once hinted to have her assassinated.

In this regard, Tanizaki employs all possible methods to keep Naomi safe. This includes harming civilians and attacking his opponents with intent to kill, usually with the use of his illusory ability. During the instances that Naomi is put in grave danger, Tanizaki readily takes on the opponents responsible. During the hunt for the Armed Detective Agency after being framed as the Decay_of_the Angel, Naomi immediately comes to Tanizaki's mind, agitated that she is under suspicion like the rest of them. In the anime, Tanizaki mutters an apology to Naomi under his breath upon being cornered by Kōyō Ozaki's Golden Demon, displaying his thoughts of her in what he thought to be his final moments.

Doppo Kunikida
Tanizaki and Kunikida share a professional relationship in the Agency, with Tanikaki regarding Kunikida as his senior. They have worked on various cases together, notably during the Guild war as one of the Agency's offensive teams and before the outbreak of the Yokohama fog incident.

Since Tanizaki considers himself as an average Agency member, he freely follows whatever duties are given to him, especially from a senior employee like Kunikida. For instance, Tanizaki became one of Kunikida's partners in crime, the other being Naomi, in preparing a scheme to make Osamu Dazai act the most burdensome role for Atsushi Nakajima's entrance exam. When the plan backfired after Dazai saw through it and Tanizaki ended up taking the role of a bomber, Kunikida apologized to Tanizaki and treated him to a pub; Tanizaki nonetheless considered it as a good experience.

Atsushi Nakajima
"Ah, don't worry, Atsushi-kun. I-I-I'm in c-control, so we'll be f-fine!"

- Tanizaki tries to assure Atsushi while heading to Moby Dick

Tanizaki first met Atsushi during the latter's entrance exam, during which Tanizaki portrayed the role of a bomber. After performing his role convincingly, Tanizaki later apologized to Atsushi for acting rudely towards him and introduced himself formally to the newcomer. In turn, Atsushi thought to himself how Tanizaki is quite a "nicer man than he thought". During Atsushi's initial days in the Agency or times of nervousness, Tanizaki would assure him at times, even noting that a person like Tanizaki himself was able to last quite long in their line of work.

Eventually, they became quite close as subordinates, primarily because the two seem to be the more "normal" members of the Agency. The two also worked together on a few cases and can fight tough opponents as a productive team, including a "stakeout" mission with a client, against Lucy Maud Montgomery, and in infiltrating Moby Dick, during which he anxiously flew a plane alongside a similarly nervous Atsushi.

As an Agency comrade, Tanizaki constantly bargained to rescue Atsushi when he was kidnapped by the Mafia despite his fellow Agency seniors, Kunikida and Ranpo Edogawa, reasoning out not to meddle with Atsushi's personal affairs. Moreover, when partnered with Atsushi on short notice for a traffic accident case that involved Atsushi's former orphanage director, Tanizaki allowed to take him off the case if he wished to, despite Atsushi's initial exuberance towards the director's death, and became worried about Atsushi's inner turmoil throughout the case.

Akiko Yosano
"Do you hate having to join the Mafia that much? If that's the case, I'll join the Mafia. I'll take your place."

- Tanizaki makes a proposal for Yosano's sake

Like the other Agency members, Tanizaki finds Yosano's treatments to be repulsive. However, Tanizaki's fright towards her seems to be quite deep and almost traumatizing (especially as portrayed in other media), since Tanizaki often found himself undergoing Yosano's treatments. He warned the rookie Atsushi not to get hurt in the Agency at all costs, lest he undergo Yosano's torturous treatments himself. He also appears to shudder at Yosano's visage, albeit almost naturally because he was talking about her.

However, similar to how he treats the rest of the Agency, Tanizaki regards Yosano with utmost comradeship. Their mutual trust in each other became quite notable when an Agency member is set to be transferred to the Mafia in exchange for the latter's aid from the Hunting Dogs; Tanizaki saw Yosano's apparent distrust towards the Mafia and, in order to learn more about Yosano's relation to them (particularly Ōgai Mori), Tanizaki volunteered to take her place in the Mafia instead. Nevertheless, Yosano asked him not to do such thing for her sake and merely told her rather personal story to Tanizaki and Kenji Miyazawa.

Kenji Miyazawa
Tanizaki and Kenji have a harmonious relationship in the Agency and have worked on some cases, such as during the midst of the Cannibalism operation with Yosano and once again towards its conclusion. Tanizaki also considers Kenji as an exemplary detective among the Agency, who has cracked various tough cases despite his young age.

Tanizaki became worried when Kenji turned up missing after the Guild's visit to the Agency office, having noticed that Kenji could not be found in their dorm. Later on, during the Agency's frameup, Tanizaki displayed constant concern over his fellow detectives, including Kenji after being assaulted various of times by the Hunting Dogs. After Kenji got stabbed by a Hunting Dogs sword, Tanizaki frantically tried to remove it, though to no avail. Tanizaki and Kenji eventually rejoined the rest of the Agency and even plotted to surprise them, only for Demon Snow to detect their presence and foil their plan.

Kyōka Izumi
Like the other Agency members, Tanizaki became fond of Kyōka upon her arrival in the office, with Tanizaki even taking some photos of her and finding her "so cute in everything". During the President's recovery party after the events of Cannibalism, Tanizaki recalled the incident when he allowed Kyōka to stay in the Agency and tried to have Kyōka apologize to Fukuzawa on their behalf for disobeying his orders by fighting the Mafia. Tanizaki asked her to "practice saying 'I'm sorry' in a Japanese-style maid outfit, ball up her hands, and use them to cover her mouth"; he even asked her to have "more tears" before getting caught by Naomi.

Osamu Dazai
Given Dazai's carefree behavior in the Agency, Tanizaki occasionally witnesses Dazai's shenanigans especially towards Kunikida and once thought that he was a "demon" when Dazai brought in Master Carlyle in the Agency in an attempt to disrupt Kunikida's schedule. Tanizaki is also not exempted from experiencing Dazai's tricks firsthand, a notable example being when Dazai collaborated with Naomi to make Tanizaki be chosen as the bomber for Atsushi's entrance exam when Tanizaki and Kunikida were plotting to have Dazai play the role himself.

Nevertheless, Tanizaki views Dazai to be a rather exemplary member of the Agency, thinking that he might be the Agency's second important person just below Ranpo. On the few times they are shown working together, Tanizaki and Dazai appear to get along professionally. Tanizaki was one of Dazai's contacts while hospitalized during the Cannibalism operation, who updated him on their status and the President's disappearance. Tanizaki also places his trust in Dazai's judgement, illustrated when he and Kenji worked as Dazai's aerial eyes above the Rats in the House of the Dead's hideout; though Tanizaki initially thought that Fyodor Dostoevsky might have fled in the vehicles they spotted, he nonetheless disregarded them when Dazai strictly said so.

Ranpo Edogawa
"They haven't made contact because Ranpo-san thought that to be best! There's no issue here."

- Tanizaki avows his trust in Ranpo to the Black Lizard commanders

Like the rest of the Agency, Tanizaki treats Ranpo with high regard, especially for the great detective's remarkable deduction prowess. His faith in Ranpo is further exemplified during the Cannibalism operation when he agreed to try and win over the Mafia as arranged by Ranpo. Even in the midst of upfront threats and the Agency's failure to communicate with the Mafia at the appointed time, Tanizaki believed that it must be the most optimal course of action that Ranpo deemed so.

Furthermore, though Tanizaki is also familiar with Ranpo's carefree and childlike behavior, he surmised that Ranpo might nevertheless be the second most important person at the Agency, given that he has the most history and achievements among them, though Ranpo outright declined such title.

Yukichi Fukuzawa
"But, like, I'd be way too nervous… Have you seen the president's eyes when he's angry? He could burn a hole through an iron plate. He'd probably even make a little girl cry."

- Tanizaki describes Fukuzawa's intimidating disposition

Tanizaki holds utmost respect to Fukuzawa, though he has voiced out how he is fairly intimidated by the President. When trying to find out about the Agency's origins, Tanizaki turned to Kunikida instead of the President and claimed that he was still relatively a nobody in the Agency, despite Kunikida advising him that rank is irrelevant with Fukuzawa.

As with his fellow Agency members, Tanizaki became utterly worried for the President's affliction. He firmly recommended killing Mori to save Fukuzawa in return despite the others' apprehension, which he nearly succeeded in doing. He also disobeyed Fukuzawa's direct orders not to fight the Mafia for his sake, indicative of Tanizaki's willingness to transgress if it means protecting the President.

Ichiyō Higuchi
"You dirty little punk… You hurt Naomi, didn't you? […] Atsushi-kun, take cover down the alley. This woman… is dead."

- Tanizaki threatens Higuchi

Initially meeting Higuchi on her pretense as a client, Tanizaki was naturally polite and courteous to her. He also took notice of how she quickly reverted back to normal upon being invited by Dazai to a double suicide, pondering whether she was "used to weirdos". However, once Higuchi dropped her act, Tanizaki turned hostile to the mafioso for firing at them and hurting Naomi in the process. He instantly displayed killing intent and attempted to murder her himself, only to be stopped by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa.

Ryūrō Hirotsu
"You want me to leak Agency internals? Go ahead and threaten me all you want—"

- Tanizaki declines Hirotsu's invitation to spy on the Agency for the Mafia

During the events of Cannibalism, Tanizaki was personally guarded by the Black Lizard commanders. Once the Agency's appointed time until the virus ability user was caught ran out, Hirotsu planned to have Tanizaki turn spy for the Mafia and leak the Agency's plans, but Tanizaki naturally refused. However, Hirotsu instantly hinted having Gin assassinate Naomi as a threat for Tanizaki, much to the latter's grim rage.

However, during the Agency frameup, Tanizaki and the other Agency members are eventually aided by Hirotsu and the Black Lizard as ordered by Mori. Tanizaki, Kenji, and initially Yosano ended up escaping from the Hunting Dogs as helped by the Mafia.

Michizō Tachihara
"Pull the trigger all you want. Your little lead pellets won't even graze me."

- Tanizaki challenges Tachihara to shoot him

Tanizaki's initial interaction with Tachihara involved spite towards each other as part of opposing organizations during the Cannibalism operation. Against Tachihara's threats, Tanizaki initially acted rather coolly under pressure, but once Naomi's welfare was brought in, Tanizaki talked down to Tachihara. The latter affirmed how Tanizaki's ability merely allowed him to vanish and make mirages, to which Tanizaki challenged Tachihara to fire at him and provoked that his bullets shall not even graze him, much to Tachihara's agitation.

Nevertheless, Tanizaki and the other framed Agency members are helped by Tachihara and the Black Lizard on Mori's orders. Tanizaki, Kenji, and initially Yosano ended up escaping from the Hunting Dogs as helped by the Mafia, despite Tachihara's initial preference not to help and distrust for the Agency.

Gin Akutagawa
As part of the Black Lizard who threatened to harm Naomi, Gin became one of Tanizaki's first targets to attack when he broke free from his restraints. He attempted to slice her from the back though Gin quickly evaded him. Later on, however, Tanizaki and the other Agency members on the run are assisted by Gin and the other Black Lizard members when Mori ordered to do so in escaping the Hunting Dogs dispatched after the Agency.

Ōgai Mori
"For the battle to end, this is our only option. In this fight, someone will have to lose their life. Let this life put an end to it all—"

- Tanizaki contemplates ending Mori's life to save Fukuzawa

Tanizaki first met Mori as an unsuspecting man in white looking for his missing young companion, pushing him out of the way along the streets when Naomi suddenly vanished after the Guild's arrival in Yokohama. Eventually, Tanizaki, Atsushi, and the man in white are transported to Lucy Maud Montgomery's dimension, where three indirectly collaborated in defeating Lucy and bringing back their captured peers.

Tanizaki and Mori, now identified as the Port Mafia boss, later meet each other during the Guild war, particularly when Tanizaki projected a mirage of Fukuzawa during the two leaders' negotiation. Mori noticed Tanizaki's ability and accurately recognized it to be a "3-D imaging ability".

Later on, among the Agency members, Tanizaki sternly suggested to kill Mori in order to save Fukuzawa from the mutually-destroying virus. In the end, upon surrendering to the Mafia as part of Ranpo's plan, Tanizaki escaped and headed to Mori's chamber, willingly aiming to end his life. He claimed that the battle shall end with claiming one of the other's lives, pertaining to Mori. This plan, however, failed when Kōyō Ozaki prevented him to kill the Mafia boss.

Kōyō Ozaki
Tanizaki battled Kōyō that foiled his assassination attempt on Mori, which gravely injured Tanizaki. Nonetheless, Tanizaki pressed on and attempted to attack Kōyō from the back using his ability, albeit to no avail; the Mafia executive proved to gain the upper hand against Tanizaki, even cornering the latter to his near-utter defeat if not for Kyōka's intervention to rescue him.

Lucy Maud Montgomery
Tanizaki recognized Lucy to be a Guild member during the latter's arrival in Yokohama prior the outbreak of the three-way conflict. He immediately noticed her among a crowd and attempted to catch up to her, only to be transported to her own dimension along with Atsushi and other civilians. Tanizaki showed an amount of disdain towards Lucy for capturing Naomi and Kenji, after which he performed to best Lucy alongside Atsushi and retrieve their fellow Agency members, even after Tanizaki himself was imprisoned into her dimension's secret room.

John Steinbeck
During his and Kunikida's encounter with Guild Fellowcrafts Steinbeck and Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Tanizaki became triggered to a murderous intent when Steinbeck mentioned their plans of capturing Naomi, adding that they might probably jail or torture her. When Steinbeck assumed that moralists like the detectives would not understand their line of work, Tanizaki corrected him that morals do not compare to Naomi for him and that he would gladly burn the world for her sake. Hence, Tanizaki did not hesitate to have a passing transport truck crash into Steinbeck and Lovecraft, eventually leading to their brief arrest.