Taichi 'Tai' Yagami (八神 太一)
Japanese name: Taichi Yagami (八神 太一)English name: Tai Kamiya
German name: Tai Yagami
Crest: Courage
Digimon: Agumon
Age: 11 (S01 & :2020) / 14 (S02) / 17 (Tri) / 22 (DA: LEK) / 24 (The Beggining)
Grade: 5th (Odaiba Elementary ~ Class A) / 8th
Basic Info
"Taichi "Tai" Kamiya (八神太一), is a fictional character from the first two seasons of the anime and manga Digimon Adventure, and Digimon Adventure 02.
Tai is a very caring and considerate person, even if his actions may cause some people to think otherwise. Unfortunately,
this caring personality is often hidden by his rash actions brought upon by that desire to help people. It takes time for
him to learn how to be a leader, but he does blossom as a person to someone who knows what he has to do and will do it. He
learns to look farther ahead and also to mellow out a little and not act brashly, which is exemplified by how calmly he
takes in situations when mentoring the younger DigiDestined."
"Adventurous, athletic and a born leader, Tai is usually the first to spring into action. His aggressive personality often throws him into the path of danger. He begins to realize, however, that to be a true leader he must inspire the others' confidence, and that can mean using empathy and compassion rather than reckless courage." (Fox Kids)
A cheerful and positive 5th grade boy in Odaiba elementary school. He appears to move with reckless abandon, but he actually does take in his surroundings and he takes good care of his juniors in the soccer club. He can be a bit insensitive, but he acts as a reliable older brother figure to Koushiro and Takeru. If he doesn't know/understand something, he acts while he tries to figure it out; ever since they come to File Island, this active characteristic of him is what makes him the one who pulls the rest of the children along. After he learns that the Digital World is made up of data, he begins to feel as if he is inside a video game and takes dangerous actions. But once realizing that, despite being data, he cannot start over like in reality if something were to happen to him, his desire to win over his fear and his mistakes leads him to learn what true courage is. (Digimon Series Memorial Book: Digimon animation chronicle ~ Digital Scratch)
In Digimon Adventure tri., Tai's usual focus on the "big picture" leads him to become more cautious about battling after seeing the destruction caused by the Digimon's battles, and his resolve falters against the risk of collateral damage. When it becomes clear that Digimon like Alphamon will only cause more damage if they aren't stopped, Tai makes the decision to fight against them, but he still remains uneager to battle. (Digimon Wiki)
Digimon - Last Evolution Kizuna: A college senior studying political science and economics. He currently lives alone, having decided to support himself once he started college. He applies himself cheerfully and earnestly to both his studies and his part-time job, but the truth is, he's undecided about what to do with his future. To this day, if somebody involved with Digimon is in trouble, Taichi will take action to help them. (TOEI)
Digimon Adventure: 2020 (Reboot) : 5th grader. He is an 11-year-old with a fierce sense of responsibility who would rather act for someone else rather than for himself. When he’s suddenly pulled into the internet to battle, he is able to correctly decide on what he needs to do, turning a pinch into opportunity. (TOEI)
"「勉強は苦手でも運動ならおまかせ！」な体育会系 の少年。非常に活発で口よりも先に体が動くタイプ。 ときにはムチャをして失敗することもあるけど、決し てくじけることなく、持ち前の勇気と行動力で仲間た ちをグイグイひっぱっていく。小学校ではサッカーク ラブに所属していて、５年生ながらエースストライ カーだった。" (Toei Animation)
TRANSLATION: "A sporty boy who says, 'Even if I'm not good at studying, leave the physical activities to me!' He is very active and tends to act before he speaks. Sometimes he takes risks and fails, but he never gets discouraged. With his natural courage and energy, he leads his friends with enthusiasm. In elementary school, he was part of the soccer club and was the ace striker, even as a fifth-grader."
Season 01 (デジモンアドベンチャー)
Tai is the leader of the group, which we can see by his goggles he is wearing (typical for all Digimon leaders (except for Digimon Savers)). Actually all the others chose him as their leader. At first he wasn't really sure if he wants to be a leader or not.
Joe: I'm not saying I don't want the responsibility. It's because I believe in you.
Matt: Me too! In times like this, we should follow the leader's decision!
Tai: Hey hey! Since when did I become leader?
Matt: When you disappeared, all of us fell apart. You were the one who brought us back together again!
Tai: That was just ... by coincidence ...
Mimi: Who cares about that!*
He constantly proves the meaning of his crest - courage (for example when he wants to save Sora and puts his hand through an electric fence ...).
In the first season he doesn't get along so well with Matt (Yamato). Many evil Digimon uses their relationship to control Matt against Tai and the group.
Matt: Taichi is ... my rival ...? Sorry to disappoint you, but I've never considered that of him, not even once!**
In the beginning, Tai gets along well with Izzy (Koushiro) and Sora (because he knows her already from his childhood - they were at the same class already when they were really young) but later on they all become closer and are even best friends. Especially Tai's relationship with Matt is changed - we can see that at the beginning of the episodes when they fight against Piedmon (we see that better in the second season).
Tai: You're finally here. I waited all this time for you to get here.
Matt: Taichi ...
Tai: I knew you'd come.
Matt: Thank you for believing in me. But I'm sorry I was so late. Taichi, you're my true friend! I won't let your friendship be in vain!***
In the first season Tai's playing soccer along with Sora. That's why Sora knows him so well. She said that Tai was never good at drawing, that he isn't a selfish person, and that he changed when he got his crest (but that was only for one episode).
Sora: Taichi was never good at drawing.****
Unlike Sora and probably everyone else, Tai wasn't really prepared to be drag into the Digital world. He hadn't much stuff with him
when the "Tsunami" came and took them in the Digi world. The only thing he had was his mini-telescope (and his goggles, but I don't know if this count!).
** - Digimon Adventure; Episode 44 - Trash Day
*** - Digimon Adventure; Episode 51 - The Crest of Friendship
**** - Digimon Adventure; Episode 08 - Evil Shows His Face
Season 02 (デジモンアドベンチャー02)
In the Season 2 Tai is 3 years older and he is already in junior high school. He didn't change so much he just grown up a little. He isn't that reckless anymore or acting tactless. Actually, Tai's a huge idol of Davis and Davis' is very similar to Tai from the first season. But in this season Tai isn't the leader anymore. He gave his leadership to his soccer co-player and friend Davis. Tai also gave him his goggles when Davis' were destroyed.
In this season Tai still appears quite often. He still tries to save the world with the rest of the DigiDestined group. In the beginning he isn't shown that much, because Agumon couldn't digivolve because of a Digimon Kaiser. The normal digitation didn't work so Digimon could only digitate with their armor digitation. But later when Agumon could digivolve again Tai fought against the evil Digimon again. 25 years later Tai is a Digital World Diplomat and he has one son. We don't know who the mother is but we do that Sora isn't.
"Advanced into Odaiba middle school from elementary. 14 years old, 8th grader. He's the ace of the school soccer club. Through his adventures in 1999 and growth from three years, he now has a grasp of making level-headed decisions. His ability as leader of the children has also been refined. He gives the goggles he cherished along with "courage" to Daisuke. Now that he's in middle school, he has his own room. [Has pictures of Taichi in his school uniform/winter + summer clothes]
Taichi's parents - Yagami Susumu and Yuuko. They've become completely used to the Digimon." (Digimon Series Memorial Book: Digimon animation chronicle ~ Digital Scratch)
Digimon Tri (デジモンアドベンチャーtri)
In Digimon Tri Tai is 17 years old and goes to high school. Timeline of the Digimon Tri should be 3 years after the last battle in Digimon Adventure 02. Tai is now completely different than he was in the first and second season. He has grown up and for the first time he can see all the consequences and the damage Digimon battles are causing in the real world. He can see the bigger picture and that's why he is constantly asking himself if what they are doing is right or wrong. He knows he has to fight the hostile Digimon but he isn't eager to battle like he was when he was young. Like all the DigiDestined he is dealing with growing up and seeing things differently than before. For the first time we can see Tai a little bit from the background not being the leader he was in the first season.
Matt: About the other day. I shouldn't have got angry, but you need to pull yourself together, too. Infected Digimons could appear at any time. Still hanging up? It's not like you. Not like you used to be.
Tai: I can't help it. I'm not what I was. Now I see more and understand less. I'm not sure if what we're doing is right. Or maybe ... we're doing wrong. I know only we can do it. But it's not that simple.
...
Matt: If you won't do anything you're just running away! At this rate, everything will be destroyed after all. Not just the city, the people too! Only we can save them.*
Digimon Last Evolution Kizuna (デジモンアドベンチャー Last Evolution 絆)
Even though this is a movie and not a whole new season I decided to put this here too since it's a different time period than other seasons and movies. In last evolution Kizuna Tai is 22 years old and a senior at a private University studying political science and economics. Currently he lives alone and works part time job in an arcade place full with pachinko/slot machines in Asagaya. He is so used to their Digimon Adventures so he doesn't really know what to do in the future and doesn't have a solid goals. His personality changed back to the one he had in the first two seasons (cheerful and always ready to help - even if he needs to fight alongside with his Digimon - because in Digimon Tri he had some troubles with it). Through the movie their last adventure with Agumon helps him realise what he wants to do in the future and makes his first step towards it - he finally decides on his thesis topic (How humans and Digimon can coexist).
Matt: In other words, you're upset after someone dissed you at your seminar.
Tai: It's not like I'm upset. It's just, it made me realize what I really want to do.
Matt: So then why'd you call me if you've got it all figured out?
Tai: Yamato, you're going to grad school, right? Why not look for a job?
Matt: Good question.
Tai: What?
Matt: I don't know if grad school's the right choice. But trying to find what I really want to do seems like postponing the inevitable. But with so many around us with solid goals, it really makes you wonder.
Tai: I know what you mean.
...
Matt: Things can't stay the same forever. Friends sometimes grow apart as their lives go in different directions.*
Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning (デジモンアドベンチャー02 THE BEGINNING)
Similar to The Last Evolution Kizuna, I’ve categorized this under the 'Seasons' section because it represents a different time period from the previous movies and seasons. Tai is now a 24-year-old busy working man. We don't see much of him in this movie, only for about a second on TV. As we already know from the Digimon Adventure 02 finale and the movie before this one (Last Evolution Kizuna), he is working towards becoming a Digital World diplomat. In an audio drama released alongside the movie, Kari tells us that he is very busy working in a Digital World-related department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kari: You know my brother works in a Digital World-related department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, right?
Ken: Yeah.
T.K.: While in his role as a government official, Taichi-san happened to learn about some disturbing information.*
Digimon Xros Wars / Digimon Hunters (デジモンクロスウォーズ)
Tai's first appearance in Xros Wars is in episode 68. We can see him on a boat together with Masaru. In episode 76 we can see them both again.
Tagiru and his Digimon were captured by a "big evil rock monster" and they both couldn't move - they were tied up. In the background we can hear Tai's voice saying "don't give up" and then Wargreymon cut the rope and saved them. Along with Tai Masaru came too - they fought and won against this "rock monster".
In episode 78 the old man (who was actually Bugramon) explained why all these different people were suddenly in the same world and the same time.
The old man: I've used Clockmon's abilities to call together heroes of different times and different dimensions. They are heroes who have once saved their own worlds years ago. It will be necessary for all six of its leaders to combine their powers.*
Later in the same episode Tai and Masaru came back to help them fight against Myotismon, MaloMyotismon, and VenoMyotismon. We can also see Matt who came to help Agumon digivolve to Omnimon (Agumon + Gabumon digivolution). Along with Tai and Masaru, Davis, Takuya, and Takato came too. Davis and Tai are the same age because they came from different dimensions and different times. Even though Tai's older than Davis, they are in the same age in Digimon Xros.
In the last episode (79) Tai (and others) lend their powers to Tagiru so that he could pull out the Brave Snatcher (their only weapon). The Brave Snatcher is really heavy so Tagiru decided to go to him and get it (if the snatcher won't come out). Tai and the others go with them. In the end they get the Brave Snatcher and they defeat the enemy!
The Brave Snatcher has our power ... The power of all generations fused together!**
** - Digimon Xros Wars (Digimon Hunters); Episode 79 - Now Burn Up Tagiru! The Glorious Digimon Hunt!
Between the Seasons
DRAMA CD: Digimon adventure: original story, 2-and-a-half year break (デジモンアドベンチャーオリジナルストーリー ２年半の休暇 )
Tai's story in this Drama CD is not long after they went into the Digital world. It's from November 1999. It's about Tai hearing the whistle.
In the beginning he thought that that was Kari but later he remembered that she left it with Gatomon in the digital world. After finding the digivice he realized that
the sound comes from his dad's computer. The gate to the digital world was open. After 3 months he finally saw Agumon and Gatomon again. They were in the digital world for
a year or half a year ~ for 3 days in the human world. Tai also said that he was really lonely when Agumon wasn't around because he spent the most time together with him
then he did with anyone else.
He also mentioned that he didn't play soccer after he came back from the Digi world. But Agumon gave him the will to play soccer with his soul and heart again. Later when he told Kari about the gate she was mad at him because he didn't wait for her. And after this moment the gate opened from time to time and they could visit each other all the time.
Credits: Digital Scratch
Family
MOTHER YUUKO YAGAMI
Mrs. Yagami is a nice mother, who wants to do everything that her children want (in the second movie Tai wants a cake and
he gets it (well, would get it, if it didn't burn xD). I would say she's quite young (at least she looks young).
She practically lets her children do what they want but she still cares for them a lot. She really cares for her children.
When Kari had a fever Yuuko called her and checked if she is alright and if she took a medicine.
She was really worried about her children and she also cried when Bakemon "kidnapped" her and she saw Tai and Kari on Greymon - she didn't know that
Greymon is a good Digimon and she thought that he is going to eat them. Besides that, she is a very reasonable person since she let
Tai and Kari go to the Digital world alone (I mean without any adult).
FATHER SUSUMU YAGAMI
We get a strange opinion about him when we watch the first movie. While Kari and Tai are hiding Agumon in their room,
the father comes home and he's drunk. I know, this is nothing special, but then mother says to him something like: 'Every
night you are like this!' xD If we believe what subtitles are saying (Japanese is not something I understand). Otherwise
I think he still presents a good character, who loves his family. I think that he really gets along well with Kari and Tai (and Yuuko too).
I remember that episode when Kari and Susumu were both watching TV together and laughing really hard. He is just like Yuuko. He cares
for his children and wants to protect them. He even fought with Bakemons to help everyone to be free (they were kind of imprisoned).
CHILD ~ SON
25 years after Season 02 Tai has one child - son. He looks just like his father when he was young. We don't know his name and we don't even know
who her mother is. As all children in the world he also has his own Digimon partner. You guessed right, his Digimon partner is Koromon!
KARI AND HER FAMILY
Great family, great love... Tai is always there for Kari and so is Kari for her brother. They would do whatever it takes to
protect each other. They also help each other very much. For example when Tai was hiding his Digimon in front of his parents.
Or when Kari was much younger and she wet her bed and Tai always cover for her.
When Kari becomes a DigiDestined and goes to the Digiworld, Tai always cares for her and is worried about her.
Although Kari is 3 years younger, she sometimes appears like an older worried sister.
25 years later Kari has one son (I think it's a son ;o) which is Tai's nephew. We don't know his name and his father but we do know
that his Digimon si Salamon.
GRANDPARENTS
We never see Tai's grandparents. They are just mentioned. Yuuko and Susumu went to the hospital to visit Tai's grandmother. She fell and bowed her ankle. She
wasn't hurt that much and she was released 3 days after. Both grandmother and grandfather were more worried about Kari's cold. They also said that they look forward to seeing
Kari and Tai again. When Tai first came from the Digital world his parents were visiting his grandparents.
CAT MIKO
Cat like any other cat - agressive (attacks Koromon (Movie 1)), jealaus (attacks Koromon when Kari takes her food
to feed Koromon (Movie 1)), curious (discoveres Kari's digivice (Season 1)), wants to know everything
(watches Diablomon and good digimon fighting on Izzy computer (Movie 2)).
I don't know which type of a cat is she and I can't even guess.
Voice Actors
♥ Toshiko Fujita - Japanese VA
♥ Natsuki Hanae - Japanese VA (Digimon Tri & Last Evolution Kizuna)
♥ Yuko Sanpei - Japanese VA (Digimon Adventure Reboot)
♥ Joshua Seth - English VA
♥ Jason Spisak - English VA (2nd movie)
♥ Florian Knorrn - German VA
♥ Patrick van Balen - Dutch VA
♥ Gerry Meza - Mexican VA
♥ Luiz Sergio Vieira - Portuguese VA
♥ Cinzia Villari - Italian VA
♥ Blanca Rada - Spanish VA
♥ Donald Reignoux - French VA
♥ Angie Yousuf - Arabic VA