Katsuya Jonouchi
Hot-Blooded Best Friend Duelist
Yugi's best friend and former delinquent hot-blooded guy, a young man who grows as a Duelist. Uses Red-Eyes Black Dragon as his ace card.
Quotes
- You and I can see each other, but "friendship" can't be seen, right?
- I'll teach you a real Duel!!
- It ain't about winning or losing, I'm betting it all!
- I won't let ya call me a damn loser!
- For Shizuka, I'll win for sure!
Trivia
- Numerous police contacts in middle school, nearly sent to juvenile hall as a hardcore delinquent.
- Repays debts while doing newspaper delivery part-time.
- When excited, thrusts jaw out and imitates Antonio Inoki.
- Impressive arc from initial bullying of Yugi to deep friendship.
- Struggles with Spell Cards, relies on monster-focused deck.
- Owner of Red-Eyes Black Dragon, skilled with Dragons too.
Alternate names
Joey Wheeler
Jonouchi
Katsuya
Jouno
Profile
- Species
- Human
- Gender
- Male
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Medium build with a somewhat roguish appearance. Has serious expressions befitting a hot-blooded guy or joking expressions. Distinctive facial features with a protruding chin.
- Height
- About 170cm
- Weight
- Unknown
- Eye color
- Brown
- Hair color
- Brown
- Distinguishing features
-
- Protruding lower jaw
- Many hot-blooded expressions
- Iconic items
-
- Red-Eyes Black Dragon card
- Duel Disk
- Newspaper delivery bike
- Duel Gauntlet (Duelist Kingdom)
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Hot-blooded
- Detailed personality
- Passionate with deep friendship, full of manliness protecting friends and sister even in delinquent days. Quick to fight but kind-hearted, grows into a true Duelist.
- Keywords
-
- Deeply loyal to friends
- Competitive
- Hot-blooded
- Delinquent temperament
- Manly spirit
- Dexterous with hands
- Hates bugs
- Likes quizzes
- Motto
- "You and I can see each other, but ya can't see somethin' like friendship, right?"
- Talents
-
- Strong fighter
- Dexterous hands
- Duel talent
- Garage kit and plastic model making
- Skills
-
- Duel Monsters tactics
- Motorcycle riding
- Stamina and endurance from newspaper delivery
- Gambling card strategy
- Card collection management
- Motivation
- Earn surgery fees to prevent sister's blindness, become strong Duelist alongside Yugi.
- Habits
- When excited, thrusts jaw out extremely and imitates Antonio Inoki.
- Favorite foods
- Curry rice
- Hobbies
- Plastic model making, Garage kit making, Duel Monsters
- Favorite colors
- Red
- Disliked insects
- Insects in general
- Disliked foods
- None in particular
- Disliked situations
- Injustice or betrayal, Family separation
- Disliked weather
- Rain (no personal info)
History
- Backstory
- Appears in manga "Yu☆Gi☆Oh!" and anime adaptation. Classmate of protagonist Yugi Muto, hot-blooded former delinquent. Parents divorced, raised in single-father household, personally handles father's gambling debts, also does newspaper delivery part-time. Grows as Duelist motivated by earning surgery fees to prevent sister Shizuka Kawai's blindness. Initially simple monster-focused deck, improves using Spell Cards etc. under Yugi's guidance. Runner-up in Duelist Kingdom arc, Top 4 in Battle City arc, battles Dark Marik. Continues battling as hot strong Duelist cherishing friendships and sisterly bond.
- Debut date
- December 4, 1996
- Work title
- Yu☆Gi☆Oh!
- Media type
- Manga
- Episode or chapter
- God's Puzzle
Millennium Puzzle Pieces Return
- Significant event
- Millennium Puzzle Pieces Return
- Description
- Stole treasured puzzle pieces as part of bullying Yugi, but touched by Yugi's kindness, reconciles and becomes best friend.
Duelist Kingdom Runner-Up
- Significant event
- Duelist Kingdom Runner-Up
- Description
- Enters Duelist Kingdom to earn sister's surgery fees, achieves runner-up.
Battle City Entry and Brainwashing
- Significant event
- Battle City Entry and Brainwashing
- Description
- Loses to Rare Hunter, loses Red-Eyes Black Dragon but reclaims it. Brainwashed to attack Yugi but regains sanity.
Dark Game with Dark Marik
- Significant event
- Dark Game with Dark Marik
- Description
- Challenges Dark Marik in semifinals, falls into coma but fights to the end.
Relationships
Shizuka Kawai
Sibling
Cherished real younger sister, dueled hard for her blindness surgery. Still close after reunion.
Yugi Muto
Best friend
Initially bullied but moved by Yugi's kindness, becomes best friend and fights together.
Hiroto Honda
Best friend
Trusted delinquent comrade. Deepened friendship through mutual rivalry.
Seto Kaiba
Rival
Card game rival. Spurs mutual growth through battles.
Yugi's Companions
Yugi's Companions: teammate
Media appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Manga / Protagonist
1996-2004
Yu-Gi-Oh! (First Anime Series)
Anime / Supporting
1998
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
Anime / Supporting
2000-2004
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters: Pyramid of Light
Movie / Supporting
2004
Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions
Movie / Supporting
2016
Voice cast and creators
Toshiyuki Morikawa
- Voice actor
- Toshiyuki Morikawa
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- First Anime Series
Hiroki Takahashi
- Voice actor
- Hiroki Takahashi
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters onward
- Notes
- Dedicated voice actor
Wayne Grayson
- Voice actor
- Wayne Grayson
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- English dub
- Notes
- Dedicated voice actor
Kazuki Takahashi
- Creator name
- Kazuki Takahashi
- Role
- Original author
Kazuki Takahashi
- Creator name
- Kazuki Takahashi
- Role
- Character designer
Related goods
Red-Eyes Black Dragon figure
- Item name
- Red-Eyes Black Dragon figure
- Category
- Figure
- Availability
- Regular
Katsuya Jonouchi Duel Disk
- Item name
- Katsuya Jonouchi Duel Disk
- Category
- Accessory
- Availability
- Limited
Plastic model kit
- Item name
- Plastic model kit
- Category
- Hobby
- Availability
- Regular