Jiraiya

Jiraiya (ジライヤ, Jiraiya) is a recurring demon in the series.



Jiraiya (児雷也) is a character from Japanese folklore. He is a ninja who uses shapeshifting magic to morph into a gigantic toad.

Jiraiya is the initial Persona for Yosuke Hanamura. It is first seen when the Protagonist and Yosuke enters the Midnight Channel one more time to investigate the death cause of Saki Konishi, a senior student of the Protagonist and Yosuke in Yasogami High School.

Entering the Midnight Channel, Teddie brought them towards an area similar to the Central Shopping District. This area, called Twisted Shopping District, manifests the inner thoughts of Saki Konishi. When Yosuke hears of how Saki had been feeling when she worked at Junes, he could not help feeling guilty. This prompted the appearance of an "Other Yosuke" - which is Yosuke's Shadow.

The Shadow then mocks Yosuke's purpose of coming to the Midnight Channel, revealing that he is only coming for the thrill of exploring the new world. The Shadow also reveals that Yosuke never saw Saki Konishi nor the others as friends, but rather things to escape his insecurities of being alone, and the fact that the Shadow knows this is because he is Yosuke. Yosuke repeatedly denies the Shadow's claims, telling him that the Shadow isn't him.

The Shadow taunts Yosuke to say it again, that he isn't the Shadow, in which Yosuke gives in. Fueled by Yosuke's exclamation, the Shadow transforms into his standalone ego, and attacks the party. The protagonist summons his Persona and defeats the Shadow. With the encouragement of the Protagonist and Teddie, Yosuke then accepts that the Shadow is who he is, and the Shadow transfigures into Yosuke's own Persona, Jiraiya.

It is noted that Shadow Yosuke is nicknamed Dark Jiraiya in the Persona 4 Art Book