"Having not much to lose and having so little to gain. Once again, I am found in a distant place. What sort of life have I lived, what sort of friends have I made, what kind of end would I take; that is not for me to decide no more. For my life has been nothing but hard work and opportunities, yet it also let others control it. I am in search of peace, but I am afraid of the day I find it, for then I would not be amongst the living."
Full Legal Name — Ji Kim Kaizen
Birthday — 15th of November
Age — 32
Place of Birth — Seoul, South Korea
Nationality — Korean & Japanese
Languages
Korean — Native
Japanese — Advanced
JSL — Advanced
French — Elementary
Religion —Atheist
Martial Status — Single
APPEARANCE
Towering a height of 6'3 feet, the posture that Ji would carry in his fit body would resemble that of a soldier, standing still without showing any significant evidence of ease. His white skin tone, alongside his medium-length wavy hair, which blackness would contrast the skin tone, styling the Korean middle cut, would let it fall towards the sides of his head, emphasizing Ji's face; a lack of expression shown in his sharp black eyes, evidently tired at first glance, presents a judgmental stance on the people he lays his sight on, in addition with his eyebrows, which would resemble a concern—or rather concentrated—look on top of it. The way he carries himself shows a lack of severity; nevertheless, his smile, despite not being to its fullest extent, is shown to the people to whom he talks.
PERSONALITY
Coming from a judgmental and cold family, Ji is often referred to as a distant person—someone with a severe look on his face and a deep and monotonous voice. The way he observes other people also contributes to his bitter attitude and figure, leaving no room to interpret whether or not Ji would be someone who couldn't care less for the person next to him. The ones close to him, on the other hand, would tell another story; Ji, despite having such attributes haunting him, is a caring personality that would not stutter when it comes to helping others.
His values as a person do not stop at his relationships. —Ji shows a passion for learning and adapting to what he believes is the best scenario. Attitudes like this have made him an impressive workaholic, an independent individual who values the seeking of achievement and recognition from people rather than just living on a stale day without meaning.
The way he looks at himself, however, differs from how others might perceive him. His insecurities had been a primary concern throughout his life; not being able to fulfill his family's expectations fully, and people who have been judging him and setting the bar so unrealistically high are what worry Ji the most. His independent behavior also comes with a severe attribute of self-criticism, as he believes that even though he could achieve greatness, he would never be enough—or even worthy—to carry his family's last names. Such things also contribute to Ji's pessimism when facing uncertainty, as time has proven to him that there are more losses than gains on his journey.
STRENGTH - ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
PERCEPTION - ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
ENDURANCE - ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
CHARISMA - ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
INTELLIGENCE - ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
AGILITY - ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
LUCK - ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
LOYALTY - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
FAMILY
As a Gimnyeong Kim clan member, Ji's heritage comes with a remarkable history and influence
in the Korean peninsula. Being the product of infidelity between Byeol Kim, a maiden, and Haruto Kaizen, an ex-military officer who resided in Korea during that time, Ji carries both the Kim and the Kaizen last names. Her mother, the niece of the head of the Kim Nyeong clan, and her sisters, Ara and Ae Kim, represented the base of Ji's childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. However, the controversy over Ji's existence set the stage for a distant and cold relationship between him and his aunts, who never recognized him as a part of the lineage. On the other hand, his father's absence in his life soured his perspective on the Kaizens, a family that has never supported him despite the financial support his father often sent to him.His family tree is protagonized by his step-brothers, Damian, Aleksander, and Hiroto Kaizen—people who he has met sporadically since he arrived in the city of Karakura. Despite this, Ji's relationship with the Kaizen household is resembled by his love for his nephews and nieces, whom he considers to be his own children; Riona, the youngest Kaizen, full of life and happiness, is a constant beacon of hope for Ji, who he appreciates having around, even if it is for a brief period of time. Ashley Kaizen, the oldest daughter of Damian, represents the carrying figure, contrasting the previous reality he had to live before meeting her. Ignacio Kaizen, the son of Hiroto, who has been taken into the custody of Aleksander, demonstrates the independence that Ji should always stick with. For that, the family constitutes a significant and essential base in Ji's life, people that he would never doubt and always love despite the undesirable past.
FRIENDSHIP & PARTNERS
Ji's distant and introverted nature has been the main deterrent to developing meaningful relationships with most people; however, despite the setbacks posed by his persona, either by a stroke of luck or coincidence, he managed to build meaningful relationships throughout his life.
The first person he considered a friend was a woman named Kotone Tokugawa. His somewhat unusual personality made Ji an ignored individual during his first months as a Lawyer in Karakura. At a time when Ji's insecurities began to affect his performance, Kotone was the first person to show him some humanity. To care about him. From that moment on, Kotone became someone Ji trusted—a person whom he could call a friend, for once.
During his time as a Lawyer, Ji developed a close bond with Kazuya Elyone-O'Sullivan ('Kaz'), a former chef of Karakura High School. Their clashing personalities cemented a middle ground—a coordinated symphony of personalities, working together despite how different they were—which Ji used to learn more about the island. Later on, Kazuya became one of Ji's personal clients until leaving the city.
One of the people Ji remembered the most during his time in Karakura was the Detective Inspector of the Karakura Police Department, Kokoro Asogi—the niece of the ex-Attorney General, and boss, Goemon Asogi. Their fellowship developed during their line of duties, commonly during suspect interrogations. Their mutual support and understanding set the base for what later developed into a romantic relationship. However, it was not long-lived.
While serving as a Lawyer in the Government, Ji formed close bonds with a handful of colleagues. Governor Dracon Tyrannos, Avery Asogi, Judge Mon Asogi, Lawyer Fukuyu Yusaku, Botan Asogi, and Miguele Cornielle were the workers who stayed alongside Ji and helped appreciate the human nature of work. Not everything was about duty—there was something else. To this day, Ji pays his respect to Tyrannos, the person who made him more human.
During his last moments as a Lawyer in Karakura, Ji met Primrose Guerra ('Prim'). His concerns about the Government during that time, combined with the recent passing of his mother, made Ji feel less connected to the institution. Wanting to find a place to find himself, Ji found Prim. A person whom he regularly talked to whenever he visited the Shrine—the few Maidens who made Ji open up, once again. He found reason with her and, subsequently, peace. He found a person like her mother—someone he could trust again. To this day, Ji still mourns her sudden death.
As a Law Professor in Fukuoka, Ji reconnected with Kasumi Hoe, an ex-partner from college. An uplifting female, whom he later realized was the mother of his daughter, Anita Kaizen. Ji promised to become a supporting partner and father figure since then. Years later, he proposed to Kasumi, with the means of formalizing their relationship, and recognizing the daughter as his.
BACKSTORY
Born on a cold November 15th in a hospital in Seoul, South Korea, Ji was the youngest child of the Kim Nyeong clan, a distinguished and respected family whose backstory is aligned with essential positions in the country. His mother, Byeol Kim, a student at the time of her pregnancy, and Haruto Kaizen, a generalissimo retired military officer, caused in Hiroto's love affair a child whose destiny would be marked by the lack of recognition by both of his families. At a young age, Ji and her mother were a target of discrimination by not only the people who knew about the incident but also by their own family members. The Kims did not recognize Ji as one of their own since the relationship between Hiroto and Byeol was not sacred; they were not married nor devoted to having a family when Ji was born, making them view him as a "Bastard Child." Life was not easy for the most part; not being supportive of him and constantly setting him apart set the stage for a distant and cold relationship between the family members. Her mother, in particular, knowing the situation her family was putting her own son in, decided to take action into her own hands, starting a strict and placing high expectations towards his son in order to prove the Kims wrong.
His adolescence was no different; studying at his local high school, Ji's remarkable grades surpassed the ones of his peers, who consequently isolated Ji due to them thinking that he got it due to his family status. The reality, nevertheless, was far from the truth. Her mother's high standards forced Ji to keep a perfect grade on every course he took. Such expectations created an incredible academic base but also weak social skills, and it was clear for her mother, who constantly had to stand for her son, who had perfect scores but subsequently left the opportunity to interact with potential friends. Once he graduated high school, Ji was immediately placed at the University of Seoul, where he started his new academic degree, Criminal Justice.
During his time as a scholar in college, Ji developed a passion for sports and debate. Despite his evident lack of social interactions, Ji presented a clear potential when it came to debating and physical exercise. He joined the university volleyball team and the student council, positions that his mother did not approve of but ultimately had to accept since she agreed that Ji needed to have the option to decide for himself. His love for learning, as well as his ability to help with both his college and his sports team, made Ji stand out from the rest of the students in the University. He became the captain of the volleyball team and vice president of the student councils, positions that clearly showed Ji's determination to achieve greatness. On top of that, his constant seek for a deeper understanding of the world of law granted him a research opportunity with Professor Hayashi, working together in the interpretation of recent laws and the correction of mistakes that could have been present in the courtrooms in Seoul. Such achievements granted Ji a scholarship to continue his studies, and he is now a prospective lawyer with a Juris Doctor degree. He subsequently accepted the opportunity, continuing his degree and involving himself once again in some extracurricular activities. Thanks to Professor Hayashi, Ji was able to secure an internship at a local law firm dedicated to legal disputes and focusing on contracts. Ji worked for them as an assistant and Junior Associate, helping the team file lawsuits and involving himself in resolving disputes, which mostly came to an agreement.
Upon obtaining his J.D. degree, Ji was offered an opportunity to continue his work in the firm, now as a Lawyer. However, Ji's interests differed with the opportunities he was being offered. With the money he gathered during his time in the law firm, he was able to partly pay his tuition for the continuation of his academic life, now reaching the Master of Law Degree. He rejected the opportunity to serve as a lawyer in the firm but permitted himself to continue his internship until his graduation. Once he earned his final degree in the world of law, he was suddenly presented with numerous job opportunities, ranging from the western parts of China to the busy life in Seoul and the developing parts of Japan. However, one of the options that got Ji's interest was a position to serve in the government of a growing city on a small island in Japan—Karakura.
WRITINGS
THE BEGINNING
"Mother. It is I, Ji. I hope you are doing well. I wanted to start the routine of mailing each other. Since you do not know how to send letters, and Mr. Kim is rather uncooperative whenever it comes to me, I guess the best way to communicate is through this method. I am excited to represent my first-ever clients in this city! The Attorney General, Goemon Asogi, has introduced me to the Town Hall and how the Government operates. He is a very serious individual and very demanding in that regard. I also made my introduction to the rest of my peers in Town Hall. I have met Mr. Russo, Mr. Tachitsu, and Ms. Otori. A Lawyer and two judges, respectively. I was assigned to a case already, a civil lawsuit. I will be representing Commissioner Martinez against Willow Nina. I cannot give you much information, as you know why, but rest assured, your son will not lose this case. You raised no quitter.
- Your son, Ji."
"Dear Mother, I hope you are feeling well. This month has been somewhat volatile. The government just introduced two new laws. Disrespect Towards a Public Official, and Capital Murder. The latter I approved in an internal vote. However, I have deep concerns about the first one. As a citizen, I would not want to face punishment if I were found criticizing the government. I find this to be a violation of our constitutional rights. Inside the conference room, the proposal was passed by one extra vote, from Commissioner Martinez himself. I am still dumbfounded by how the Police Department has a say on Legislative matters, or Government matters, in this case. I find this unconstitutional. On a brighter note, I started dating Aya Otori. Yes, Ms. Otori, the Judge. So, not everything is bad, or at least confusing, but things are moving fast. I will make sure I gather all the information I have from Mr. Martinez and win the case. The trial will happen next week.
- Love you, Ji."
"Mother, it is your son. I wanted to inform you that I won the case. It was a relatively simple one. However, Mr. Asogi did not seem pleased at all. He told me my performance was far from desirable. I did my best, but it seems it was not enough that day. On the other hand, Aya has been distant from me. I do not know why, maybe because I cannot speak correctly, or perhaps because I do not know how to talk to people. I am afraid I do not see this relationship working out as I once thought. Mother, sometimes, I think moving to this town was not really the right choice for me. Sometimes, I wish I were that sixteen-year-old kid. Having you by my side, having no real issues. Even though I was not exactly wanted in that family, you made me feel loved. Even though I knew the rest did not love me. I know I never told you this, but I am very grateful to have you in my life. I will make sure you feel proud to have me, mother.
- I love you. Ji."
"Mom, I hope you are doing well. Aya and I broke up. Mr. Tochitsu and Mr. Russo ridiculed me over a lie. They claim that I flirted with Avery Asogi, the Vice-Governor, and wife of the Attorney General, Goemon Asogi. He scolded me in his office over this lie. And as I told you, Aya broke up with me because of my lack of popularity in this building. If that was not everything. My colleagues attacked me. I was punched in my stomach, thrown through a window, and left there. When I arrived at the hospital, I was told I had multiple broken ribs, and I had broken my leg. I am writing to you from inside this hospital, as a matter of fact. Work has not stopped, despite this. We had a new Mayor, Annabel Sturm. She did not seem pleased with the report I gave them regarding the assault and quickly dismissed it. There is, however, some good news. I met with the one person who did not mistreat me, Ms. Kotone Tokugawa, a Judge. She is probably the only good reason I have to keep working inside this place for now. I know it is not enough for most people, considering all the bad stuff. However, I do not have much in Korea either. People already did not like me when I was a student. Here, I have someone who is at least friendly to me. I wish more people were like Ms. Tokugawa. On another —more professional—matter, I was assigned to yet another case. Rosella Draco against Zentaro Saiky, a KPD officer. Government Negligence. My client is very young and inexperienced in the legal system, so I have to make sure she understands all the legal procedures before going to court. I hope I win this one. It will be complicated.
- Please, write back when you can. Ji."
"From one person to another. Your son really does not have a break when it comes to date, mother. I have to admit that I am surprised that I have made more connections in Karakura than I did all my life in Korea. So far, I know three people, and one of them is who I am dating, Mahuen Igoop-Sacree, a local news reporter. If you would like to meet her, I will probably do it sometime in the near future. Apart from that, I have been working on my next case, as I was already assigned to another one. So, I have high hopes I win again!
- Your son."
"Mother. I won, once again. This time, I have improved some of my past performance, and I can say that Mr. Asogi seemed a little more satisfied. I have been doing well for the most part; I have met some new workers in the faction, one of them being a governor, a very interesting individual who was a high-ranking officer in the police department. Anyway, I will make sure to come up with more news later, as I am going on a date soon and will need to prepare.
- I miss you. Ji."THE BEGINNING
"Mother. It is I, Ji. I hope you are doing well. I wanted to start the routine of mailing each other. Since you do not know how to send letters, and Mr. Kim is rather uncooperative whenever it comes to me, I guess the best way to communicate is through this method. I am excited to represent my first-ever clients in this city! The Attorney General, Goemon Asogi, has introduced me to the Town Hall and how the Government operates. He is a very serious individual and very demanding in that regard. I also made my introduction to the rest of my peers in Town Hall. I have met Mr. Russo, Mr. Tachitsu, and Ms. Otori. A Lawyer and two judges, respectively. I was assigned to a case already, a civil lawsuit. I will be representing Commissioner Martinez against Willow Nina. I cannot give you much information, as you know why, but rest assured, your son will not lose this case. You raised no quitter.
- Your son, Ji."
"Dear Mother, I hope you are feeling well. This month has been somewhat volatile. The government just introduced two new laws. Disrespect Towards a Public Official, and Capital Murder. The latter I approved in an internal vote. However, I have deep concerns about the first one. As a citizen, I would not want to face punishment if I were found criticizing the government. I find this to be a violation of our constitutional rights. Inside the conference room, the proposal was passed by one extra vote, from Commissioner Martinez himself. I am still dumbfounded by how the Police Department has a say on Legislative matters, or Government matters, in this case. I find this unconstitutional. On a brighter note, I started dating Aya Otori. Yes, Ms. Otori, the Judge. So, not everything is bad, or at least confusing, but things are moving fast. I will make sure I gather all the information I have from Mr. Martinez and win the case. The trial will happen next week.
- Love you, Ji."
"Mother, it is your son. I wanted to inform you that I won the case. It was a relatively simple one. However, Mr. Asogi did not seem pleased at all. He told me my performance was far from desirable. I did my best, but it seems it was not enough that day. On the other hand, Aya has been distant from me. I do not know why, maybe because I cannot speak correctly, or perhaps because I do not know how to talk to people. I am afraid I do not see this relationship working out as I once thought. Mother, sometimes, I think moving to this town was not really the right choice for me. Sometimes, I wish I were that sixteen-year-old kid. Having you by my side, having no real issues. Even though I was not exactly wanted in that family, you made me feel loved. Even though I knew the rest did not love me. I know I never told you this, but I am very grateful to have you in my life. I will make sure you feel proud to have me, mother.
- I love you. Ji."
"Mom, I hope you are doing well. Aya and I broke up. Mr. Tochitsu and Mr. Russo ridiculed me over a lie. They claim that I flirted with Avery Asogi, the Vice-Governor, and wife of the Attorney General, Goemon Asogi. He scolded me in his office over this lie. And as I told you, Aya broke up with me because of my lack of popularity in this building. If that was not everything. My colleagues attacked me. I was punched in my stomach, thrown through a window, and left there. When I arrived at the hospital, I was told I had multiple broken ribs, and I had broken my leg. I am writing to you from inside this hospital, as a matter of fact. Work has not stopped, despite this. We had a new Mayor, Annabel Sturm. She did not seem pleased with the report I gave them regarding the assault and quickly dismissed it. There is, however, some good news. I met with the one person who did not mistreat me, Ms. Kotone Tokugawa, a Judge. She is probably the only good reason I have to keep working inside this place for now. I know it is not enough for most people, considering all the bad stuff. However, I do not have much in Korea either. People already did not like me when I was a student. Here, I have someone who is at least friendly to me. I wish more people were like Ms. Tokugawa. On another —more professional—matter, I was assigned to yet another case. Rosella Draco against Zentaro Saiky, a KPD officer. Government Negligence. My client is very young and inexperienced in the legal system, so I have to make sure she understands all the legal procedures before going to court. I hope I win this one. It will be complicated.
- Please, write back when you can. Ji."
"From one person to another. Your son really does not have a break when it comes to date, mother. I have to admit that I am surprised that I have made more connections in Karakura than I did all my life in Korea. So far, I know three people, and one of them is who I am dating, Mahuen Igoop-Sacree, a local news reporter. If you would like to meet her, I will probably do it sometime in the near future. Apart from that, I have been working on my next case, as I was already assigned to another one. So, I have high hopes I win again!
- Your son."
"Mother. I won, once again. This time, I have improved some of my past performance, and I can say that Mr. Asogi seemed a little more satisfied. I have been doing well for the most part; I have met some new workers in the faction, one of them being a governor, a very interesting individual who was a high-ranking officer in the police department. Anyway, I will make sure to come up with more news later, as I am going on a date soon and will need to prepare.
"Dear Mother, it has been a few weeks since I last wrote to you, and I am sorry for it. It is just that I have been dealing with this leg problem. — During my first weeks in the government, I accidentally fell from one of the not-so-secured places, and I broke my leg. Now, do not worry about it, Mother. I am doing well, and I am healthy, but I have to keep walking with a wooden cane so it does not hurt that much. I am going to the hospital soon so this can be dealt with."
"Mother. Mahuen and I parted ways. We never talked that much, so I guess it was for the best. However, she seemed to be having some other compromises, if you know what I mean. Regardless of that, I am doing well. The doctors haven't properly checked the situation with my leg, as they did not tell me what I have. The government itself has been somewhat quiet recently, but I do not mind it that much. Now, I will need to focus on yet another case.
- Your son, who loves you, Ji."
"Dear Mother. I heard about your heart attack. I am sorry for not being there when you needed me. I will make sure to visit you once I am free from my duties as a lawyer. I had to defend a young girl against an officer who tased her. The case is complicated, but all I know is that she needs someone right now, and I cannot leave her. She is way too scared and ignorant about all of this, so it would be better to take care of the situation until I am once again free."
"I hope you are doing better today, Mother. Your son won the case. The girl will receive compensation for the unwarranted attack and will receive apologies from the Karakura Police Department. —I am growing more confident in the way I am doing my cases now, and I think that Mr. Asogi is noticing that. Who knows, maybe one day I will be able to step up as the new Attorney General. But for now, I still have much to learn from him.
- I miss you, Ji."
"Today, we received new lawyers from the government. Two of them caught my attention: Ms. Fukuyu and Mr. Corniele —They have very interesting personalities, to say the least, but they do show that they want to learn from everyone. This could be a way to step up and show Mr. Asogi that I can be a competent co-worker and help him with the lawyers' training. He will probably refuse, but there is nothing to lose.
- Hope for your recovery, Ji."
"Mother, it has been some time. I have been performing quite well in the Government, or at least that is what my peers said to me. Mr. Asogi quit, mother. I am afraid I never had the opportunity to show him who I wanted to become. Anyway, I have heard that you have fallen ill once again. I will make sure to come and visit you soon, but I still have some work to do. There has been a spike in lawsuits, and there has not been much movement from my department, so I have to stay here for a few days, at least, and sort this out.
- I love you. Your son, Ji."
UPRISING
"I enjoyed our time together in Korea —I really needed to take a break from all these problems. I am just worried that you have not been getting better since the last time I saw you. I hope for the best, as you know, but I want to be honest with you —I do not feel prepared to see you go away, mother. I understand that you are not as young as I remember you, nor as healthy as before, but I still hope you recover. You know I love you, and I will always be trying my best for you, as I always do.
- Your son, Ji."
"Dear Mr. Kim, I have heard about my mother's passing away not so long ago. I am deeply saddened by the news, and would like to offer my deepest sense of regret for not being able to attend her funeral, as the rest of our family expected. The reason I was unable to attend was due to the amount of work I had to do this month, and no one wrote about this event. The only reason I knew about my mother's funeral was from you, Mr. Kim. I loved her, and I did my best so she could be proud of me. I will come next week to mourn her death, as for now, I cannot leave my duties.
- Sincerely, Ji."
"Dear Mr. Kim, I am writing to express my deepest disgust at the family's recent actions toward me. I do not understand how I, his only son, was not allowed to enter the Kim's graveyard so I could say goodbye to my mother. I will remind you that despite not being "pure blooded," she directly spoke on how I was "as Kim as the rest of you all." I am sorry for this letter, but I do hope I find a response that would solve this matter, as I am not very pleased with the treatment I received.
- Ji Kim Kaizen."
"I do not know why I trusted Mr. Kim would respond to me, Mother. I miss you dearly, and I want to be able to see you in the graveyard so I can mourn your death. However, I am afraid I will just be able to keep these letters to myself so that I can let this weight off my chest. Mr. Asogi left, as you know, and there has been a search for the new Attorney General. I do not wish to jinx myself, but I believe I could be a good candidate for the position. The three other options that I could see as well are Mr. Russo, who has experience in the position. However, he is not serious, so I would discard him. Then, there is Mr. Asogi, Botan, who is also more experienced and an Asogi, but his consistency leaves much to be desired. Lastly, there is Mr. Cornielle, who honestly is a good option, since he is very active and has shown to be competitive for this position. However, his lack of experience could play against him. I think I have both enough experience and reputation to be, at the very least, a potential candidate, but I could only wish.
- I miss you, Ji."
"Mother, I wanted to let you know that I started officially dating a woman named Kokoro Asogi. Yes, yet another Asogi. She is a Detective in the Karakura Police Department and a great mother. I am unsure how I feel about her having a child already, but I know that she makes me feel safe, and I could not ask for more at this moment. I was moved to another office today, a much prettier one. My name is also being recognized among some of the Karakuran people. I have started to receive emails and phone calls with inquiries about legal matters and potential lawsuits. I am enjoying my stay so far, but I have noticed some rare events going on with the higher positions. I am not entirely sure what is going on, but there have been some instances of interference between my clients and I, which I do not like at all."
- Ji."
"Mother. It has been around four months since I last wrote to you. I wanted to let you know that your son has bought a diamond ring for Kokoro. I am planning on marrying her as soon as possible. I have not felt this way until I met her. The way she is around me... It is different. I think she is the one. - On another note. I was talking with some of my colleagues, and a lot of them seem confident about my possible promotion to Attorney General. I have not considered the position myself. However, I do believe I have what it takes. Time will only tell."
[More work will be written as Ji's story progresses]
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