21st Century Boys

遠藤健児

Endo Kenji grew up in late-1960s/early-1970s Japan, at a time when American phenomena, notably the space race and the era of Woodstock, were resounding around the world. An avid reader of manga who often saw apocalyptic scenarios playing out, he always responded with the cry of "I would fight". During this time, he and his friends made up a scenario for world conquest in order to play heroes. Flash forward to 1997, when Kenji has taken charge of his family liquor shop, and turned it into a convenience store. He is now raising the daughter of his sister, [Kiriko](https://anilist.co/character/29789/Endou-Kiriko) (who disappeared immediately after leaving her daughter to Kenji), and living a fairly ordinary life. However, after events from the prophecy he made up earlier begin to come true, he learns of an evil organization, led by a masked man called "Friend", which is using his plans to conquer the world. As the organization's hold on the government strengthens, he becomes a wanted man and lives on the streets, continuing to (covertly) oppose Friend on the streets, partially through terrorism and partially through a protest song he wrote (named "Bob Lennon"), until ~!he apparently dies trying to stop an exploding giant robot, just after seeing Friend's unmasked face.!~ ~!He survives however, although we do not know of any of his actions prior to meeting Damian Yoshida, gutarist of the Thriller band the Eroim Esseims, in 2014 at a crossroads and subsequently teaching him how to play "Bob Lennon". It appears that he may have been suffering from amnesia at this time, as he identified himself as the devil (in a reference to the real life Blues legend of Robert Johnson, said to have influenced rock 'n' roll.) He then continued to wander Japan until the third year of Friend era (era in which Friend was declared president of the world), when a sudden surge of memory causes him to recall his identity. While heading to Tokyo, he meets up with old friend Konichi, now a radio DJ, who, oblivious to Kenji's true identity, records his song (a version of "Bob Lennon" with modified lyrics) and subsequently broadcasts it on radio. As Kenji makes his way past border guards now under Friend's control, using charisma and song, he gains more and more of a following. Once he reaches Tokyo, he confronts Friend and watches him and another old friend, Sada Kiyoshi, die together in an explosion. Finally, he reunites with his old friends and niece, and there the story ends. !~

ともだち

The main antagonist of the series. An enigmatic cult leader who, in 1997, began using the symbol [Kenji](https://anilist.co/character/3442/Endou-Kenji) and his friends put together in the 1970s. His followers have filled venues such as the Budokan.One of his goals is to take over the world. His face is hidden in shadow throughout the series; he even confronts Kenji by wearing a mask. His true identity is one of the driving mysteries of the series. As of 2000, the Friendship Democratic Party (FDP) is established as a political group with government representatives such as Manjome Inshu. ~!Over the course of the series, two people assume the identity of Friend: Fukubei, who is one of Kenji's schoolmates, initially appears to be one of Kenji's allies, and Katsumata, another of Kenji's schoolmates, the latter of whom possesses special powers.!~

遠藤カンナ

[Kenji](https://anilist.co/character/3442/Endou-Kenji)'s niece, she serves as the protagonist for the events in the aftermath of the "Bloody New Year's Eve". She is shown to have ESP at an advanced level, and is capable of predicting the future (To a small extent), bend spoons with her mind, and even once strangled a woman without touching her (in a fit of emotional rage). She loves rock&roll, due to Kenji's obsession with it. She idolizes Kenji despite what the rest of the world thinks of him, and is also quite skilled at the guitar. She lives by herself in a low-rent apartment and works part-time at a small noodle shop in the middle of Thai/ Chinese Mafia territorium. ~!She is daughter of [Kiriko Endou](https://anilist.co/character/29789/Kiriko-Endo) and "Friend" [(Fukubei Hattori)](https://anilist.co/character/21461/Fukubei-Hattori).!~

落合長治

A childhood friend of Kenji's who created the "Friend" symbol and became a salaryman. Later traveled to Tibet and Thailand after his son died, at which point he gets involved in the dealings of the "Friend" group. 長治 is sometimes misread as "Nagaharu" but his first name is Chouji.

瀬戸口ユキジ

服部

Fukubei is one of Kenji's childhood friends, but he barely remembers him at the class reunion. He lives with his three children and wife, who happens to be the member of the "Friend's" cult. Later, he decides to join Kenji to save the world ~! It is revealed that Fukubei was the first "Friend."!~

木戸三郎

In 1997, Donkey became a teacher in a technical school. Married and father of a boy, he lost almost all contact with his old friends. It investigates a little too close to Friend, and sends letters to Kenji about it and it will lead to his assassination by Masao and another henchman of Friend. His death is the starting point for the investigation of Kenji, equally shocked and saddened his friends Donkey's death.

福田啓太郎

[Kenji](https://anilist.co/character/3442/Kenji-Endou)'s childhood friend nicknamed Froggy. He has been hiding out in America when he discovers that Kanna's mother has gone there to try to manufacture the vaccine for the outbreak of 2015.

今野裕一

Childhood friend of Kenji and his band, Konchi is a character who is very present in the flashbacks of the 70s, but which is secondary because we never see adulthood. We know he was part of the band child and he was close to Kenji and others. However, he moved in his last year at primary school and went to live in Hokkaido, that is what explains why one sees so little. In 2000, he received a letter of Kenji who asked for his help but Konchi does not meet his childhood friend ... and it seems to regret in the year 3 Ami. It is indeed this year we (re) discover this character, which broadcasts the song Kenji loop on the radio from his position of Hokkaido. ~!It appears to us under the identity of a mysterious DJ, and we discover in Volume 21 his real identity. He lives alone since 2015 and let go of the second virus is obviously look reminiscent of the 1970s and the peace and love movement. We know that Kenji met during this trip through Japan. It is also at this meeting that he heard the song and decided to spread. But he did not recognize Kenji this time, which is understandable since they had not seen since childhood ...!~

角田

A manga artist who got arrested for violation of the "New Youth Protection Guidelines". ~!Later escapes from the prison together with [Otcho](https://anilist.co/character/6004/Chouji-Ochiai).!~