Kazuhiro Kitase is the protagonist of "Welcome to Japan," a 25-year-old salaryman from Koto Ward, Tokyo, who possesses the unique ability to travel between modern Japan and a fantasy world of swords and magic.
Basic Information
Gender: Male
Age: 25 years old (real world), approximately 15 years old (dream world)
Occupation: Salaryman (real world), Dream Swordsman (dream world)
Voice Actor: Yusuke Kobayashi / Keiko Watanabe (childhood)
Primary Residence: Koto Ward, Tokyo
Dream World Alias: Kazuhiro Kitase (a misspelling of his name made during registration)
Kazuhiro's extraordinary ability allows him to transfer his consciousness to his younger, teenage self in the dream world simply by sleeping. He returns to the real world if he sleeps again in the dream world or dies there, such as from a monster attack. This effective "reset" mechanism has enabled him to act recklessly, resulting in his exceptionally high level of 72 at the start of the story.
He is remarkably proficient in the diverse languages of the dream world, easily communicating with elves, lesser dragons, cat-folk, and even monsters; he even maintains friendships with typically hostile lizardmen. Ironically, despite his linguistic prowess in a fantasy realm, he cannot speak English in the real world. When Kazuhiro travels between worlds, he can bring along people he is touching and any food or drinks placed nearby, though companions will appear naked upon their first transfer as clothes and equipment cannot be transported.
Kazuhiro's early life was marked by his biological mother's disappearance, leading him to be raised by his grandparents in Aomori. This event caused him to lose interest in the real world, prompting him to frequently sleep and immerse himself in the dream world. His perspective begins to shift, however, when Marie, an elf from the dream world, unexpectedly arrives in modern Japan, sparking his renewed curiosity about his own reality.
His adventures in the dream world once led him and his elf childhood friend, Mariabelle, to their demise by the legendary dragon Wridra's "Dragon Breath." Upon waking in Japan, Kazuhiro was stunned to find Mariabelle—who is later known as Marie—had materialized alongside him, revealing that his "dreams" were, in fact, a tangible other world. This unexpected arrival leads to Kazuhiro and Marie cohabiting (perhaps temporarily) in modern Japan. Notably, Kazuhiro's initial encounters with Marie and other female companions often involve highly dangerous situations, including attempted or actual murder.
Welcome to Japan
Protagonist
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