MIDOWORTH
???
Caption:
"People often say Midou and Mitsurugi are really similar… so I did a light comparison collage.
#NaruMitsu #MilesEdgeworth #AceAttorney #TakanoriMidou #Katsuya×Midou
After getting into Ace Attorney, I kept hearing this comparison—so I took the chance to revisit my childhood(?) obsession, Kichiku Megane. All I can say is, people’s tastes (XP) really can stay the same for ten years straight…
I put together a quick collage—and wow, they really do look alike! Both have that elite, side-parted hairstyle, J-type workaholic vibe. Like two elegant, tsundere cats… It’s so fitting to call them “Mi-chan”!
Both characters are so heartbreakingly fragile when they’re hit with setbacks (see 1-4 and the main route of Kichiku Megane), but even in utter despair, they never lose themselves. Even after their power, status, and ideals are crushed—after vanishing for a year—they come back, proud and dignified, scarily resilient. And in doing so, they end up guiding the once-lost Naruhodou and Katsuya toward growth (see 2-4 and R-route).
Also… the husbands’ obsessive tendencies are weirdly similar too [laugh-cry emoji]. One changed careers just to chase the light he saw in childhood. The other, even while being a full-on outlaw, still longed to drag Midou “down to my side.”
They’re both super capable, and when they set their minds on something, they make it happen. So of course they end up with their power-admiring, strong-willed partners [side-eye emoji]"
Comment Thread 1 of Post Above:
"Yes, exactly haha! The two of them are alike but not that alike. If I had to compare them in a more abstract way: Midou seems emotionally expressive on the outside because he’s rational on the inside, while Mitsurugi appears rational outwardly but is actually more emotionally driven than Naruhodou.
Between the two tsunderes, Midou is definitely more prideful than Mitsurugi, while Mitsurugi’s a bit flashier in the workplace (laughs)."
"Totally, totally [sneaky laugh emoji]—Midou gives off more of that overbearing aura… And then he crashed and burned because of unspoken workplace rules, ahhh.
He has that classic elite boss vibe—calm, refined, composed. Mitsurugi is comparatively more polite; even when he encounters someone like that middle-aged lady he just couldn’t deal with, he still politely accepts her gift [sneaky laugh emoji].
Maybe it’s an age thing too—red suit, red sports car, red curtains—he just has to decorate his office with everything he likes."
"Comparing Saeki and Naruhodou is fun too. Naruhodou is someone who gives love to get love in return, whereas Saeki awakens to love because someone loves him first.
Though if those two ever met… they’d probably not get along at all haha."
"Katsuya and Naruhodou are like two totally different breeds of dogs… but both give off a bit of that secret tsundere vibe [sneaky laugh emoji]. Naruhodou would definitely disapprove of Katsuya’s methods haha, and Katsuya would probably find Naruhodou kind of airheaded.
CBT: “Mr. Midou, would you like legal assistance?” (.)"
"But ironically, Midou studied law himself haha—yet he still ended up falling into the hands of lawless Saeki Katsuya!"
Comment Thread 2:
1 "Can’t believe it’s already 2024 and we’re still seeing Kichiku Megane content.
Fun fact: Midou was also a law student [laugh-cry emoji].
As someone who played both Kichiku Megane and Ace Attorney over a decade ago, here’s my personal take: on the surface, Midou and Mitsurugi look incredibly similar—their character designs and vibes line up a lot—but deep down, they’re completely different.
Mitsurugi’s core is about fairness and justice—he’s a by-the-book professional and a fundamentally righteous person. Sure, he was portrayed early on as the guy who’d send every defendant straight to jail, but that came with the territory of his job. That’s just what his profession demanded of him.
And Mi-chan is actually quite sensitive and has a surprisingly fragile side, too.
Midou, on the other hand, is 100% outcome-driven. His whole mindset is centered around success and climbing the ladder, no matter the cost. That’s why he doesn’t hesitate to use extreme methods. His treatment of Division 8 (Katsuya’s department) is pure KPI-pressure hell—pushing through even when it’s clearly unsustainable.
Midou-san would totally be the ultimate cautionary tale of a toxic boss in the Reiwa era—textbook workplace manipulator. Do not take notes from him [laugh-cry emoji]."
2, Reply to 1 "Totally!
Mitsurugi’s so-called “ruthlessness” is largely shaped by DL-6 and the Karuma method—a double whammy of trauma and influence—but even with all that, he still holds onto a core sense of justice. Deep down, he’s a much gentler person.
Midou, though? He’s straight-up workplace PUA + corporate coercion haha. No wonder during that first forced scene, Katsuya calls him out like: “You’re exactly the kind of guy who tramples over most people’s dignity.” [laugh-cry emoji]
Only a villain can deal with a villain, huh, Mi-do-san?"
3, Reply to 1 "And DL-6 really had a massive impact on Mitsurugi’s entire life… It was a deeply traumatic event, and once it was resolved, you can see him becoming softer inside and developing a much stronger sense of empathy."
1, Reply to 3 "Totally—DL-6 was basically the root of Mitsurugi’s C-PTSD. Personally, I think Takumi Shuu did such a brilliant job making his characters feel real and full of depth. After DL-6 is settled, Mitsurugi clearly becomes more humane. He’s still super awkward and fumbling his way through emotions, but he starts trying to trust people more.
I still vividly remember the moment he flew back to Japan just to help Naruhodou—at his core, he really is sincere and deeply invested in others."
1, Reply to 2 "Gotta say—Manfred von Karma may have been a nightmare of a person, but he actually did a decent job raising kids. Both Franziska and Mitsurugi turned out to be good kids [thumbs up emoji].
Totally agree with you: Mitsurugi’s personality, underneath it all, is kind and genuine. Beneath that icy mask, he’s actually even more righteous than Naruhodou. If someone treats him with honesty, he’ll always return it in kind.
He’s good not just to Naruhodou, but to Maya and even Yahari too. I’ve always seen him as a tsundere good guy.
Meanwhile… Midou-san? Pure “villain meets his match” material. Who else turns workplace harassment into prostate play with their male subordinate in the Midou×Katsuya route?! [laugh-cry emoji] That’s next-level—checks every box for xSR and toxic workplace behavior. A full-on lawless menace."
2, Reply to 1 "Honestly, if you really think about it, Midou just barely skirts the edge of legality.
Stuff like "unspoken rules" is basically walking the legal gray zone… very on-brand for someone who was a law student, I guess (?) [doge emoji].
But once he runs into Saeki Katsuya—the true outlaw—he completely crashes and burns, lol.
God, the way I howled at the scene where Midou yells “What’s the point of this, I’m a man!!”
Like, babe—you’re the one who, seeing someone attractive, decided to crush his spirit and arrange for him to be “entertained” by subordinates, remember? [sneaky laugh emoji]"
4, Reply to 2 "And that’s exactly why Katsuya×Midou feels so perfectly matched to me—they’re each other’s equal brand of chaos [sneaky laugh emoji]."
5, Reply to 2 "Mi-chan is a tsundere.
Midou-san is a full-on bitch boss."
Caption:
"Lately, after playing Hades, I went back to revisit some of my favorite characters from older games.
But the more I replayed them, the more off everything started to feel—why do these characters not only share similar hairstyles, appearances, and personalities, but even their lines sound eerily alike?
So I ended up putting together a summary of these "御-types" (the Mi/Go guys, aka the elite, composed, and emotionally repressed archetypes).
Summary of the Core Traits of the Four御系Characters:
▲ 1. Excessive Emotion ("Strangely dramatic lines added!")
You can't unsee it—every "御-type" character has at least one moment where they blurt out something oddly intense like this (and often more than once!).
And it's always in response to something the protagonist did, or some emotional shift in their relationship with the protagonist. There’s always a moment of shaken composure, suspicion, or flat-out denial.
Read on its own, the line might sound weird or overly dramatic—but in context, it hits even weirder. Like… what’s really going on here…?
- “It’s not like I…” / “I never said that…” (Core trait: Tsundere)
This is basically a classic line from the御-type playbook. The moment you see a sentence start like this, you know they’re (once again) about to start weaving some excuse or elaborate justification just to cover up what they really feel inside!
(I’m looking directly at you, Mitsurugi and Thanatos! The way you both come up with nearly identical excuses to “help” the protagonist—like, come on, did you two write the same emotional playbook?? I got such intense déjà vu reading either one of your scenes.)
All four of these characters have at least some tsundere tendencies—whether it’s worrying about the protagonist getting into trouble, planning some surprise, or just awkwardly showing they care, there’s always that very御 flavor behind their actions.
That said, I have to point out: when it really matters, these guys can throw a straight pitch like no other!!
Who wouldn’t fall for that kind of contrast?!
- Workaholic / Gifted Prodigy (Smart, diligent corporate drones)
Beyond the similarities in speech and personality, probably the biggest thing these four characters share is their relentless dedication to work.
Each of them shows an almost indescribable obsession with their jobs—and they all perform way above the average in their respective fields.
Midou spent ten years working at MGN and climbed to department head while still young. He’s so committed, he even brings work along when handling personal matters.
Mitsurugi became a prosecutor at 20, built up an undefeated streak, and in Investigations, he goes several days without rest just to finish a case.
Thanatos could just teleport everywhere with his natural talent, but still insists on working long, grinding hours every day for the sake of his duties.
Van Zieks became a prosecutor early because of his goals—and apparently, he’s also the only prosecutor in all of London (??).
Also worth noting: Midou, Mitsurugi, and Van Zieks all have backgrounds in law. And both Thanatos and Van Zieks have nicknames tied to death.
Like… are you guys sure you’re not somehow related?
And despite all their diligence and hard work, all four of them inevitably end up being harassed by their superiors, framed, or blindsided by betrayal—often with direct consequences on their careers.
Funny how that part’s also weirdly consistent across the board…
★4. Perfection[ism] (The Noble and Refined Essence)
This—this is what I would call the purest essence of the “御 aura”!
Every御-type character inevitably carries this trait: not only do they strive for perfection in their careers, but their speech, mannerisms, and general conduct are all incredibly polished.
Every gesture, every glance exudes an unmistakable sense of nobility.
But it’s also this very aura that often makes them seem distant or hard to approach in-universe—at least from the perspective of more “normal” characters. They’re often seen as stern or expressionless (typical of the “traditional supernatural elite” archetype).
Also worth pointing out: all four of them have a distinct fondness for red things.
Mitsurugi loves black tea,
Midou favors red wine,
Van Zieks also drinks red wine,
and Thanatos… is drawn to life (read: blood).
- Special Backgrounds
When it comes to their origins, all four of these characters have some sort of notable or unusual background.
(Well—technically, three of them do.)
Van Zieks is a literal noble, in every sense of the word.
Mitsurugi was adopted into the prestigious von Karma family.
Thanatos is Death incarnate himself.
(…And then there’s Midou—to this day, we still know nothing about his background or his parents. He’s the only one of the four with zero family info revealed. Poor guy…)
The characters shown in the long image are from:
Miles Edgeworth from the Ace Attorney / Investigations series
Takanori Midou from the Kichiku Megane series
Barok van Zieks from The Great Ace Attorney series
Thanatos from Hades
To fellow fans who aren't familiar yet—go check out these characters and their respective works!!
(This wave? This wave is pure joy for the fans of all four!)"
Comment 1:
"Ahhh, rereading this suddenly made me realize—Midou’s family was mentioned briefly!
In a short interview from the official fanbook, it says that his father was a business elite, and that Midou also hoped to become like him when he grew up.
But aside from that, yeah, nothing else was really revealed. x
Kind of similar to Mitsurugi in that way, actually."