Kanji Sasahara

Kanji Sasahara is one of the main characters, and the first to be introduced in the Genshiken anime and manga.

Kanji is a freshman at Shiiou University, with no other particular interest other than anime and manga. Once he finds a pamphlet for Genshiken, he immediately joins the group. Over his four years at Shiiou University, Kanji comes to accept himself for who he is and loses the inhibitions and guilt he once felt and associated with otaku culture, becoming an enthusiastic clubmember, and for a time, a capable club president.

In Genshiken Nidaime, Kanji has since graduated and become a professional manga editor. He is in a relationship with the current Genshiken club president, Chika Ogiue.

In the AWA fics, Kanji made his debut at Chapter 16 of All Worlds Alliance Stories.

Appearance
Kanji is rather plain in appearance, dressing in casual clothes. He has a relaxed and friendly smile on his face for the most part.

Personality
At the beginning of the series, Kanji is a shy, confidence-lacking freshman who on club day at university, decides to join a club he would actually enjoy. Kanji is just coming to terms with his otaku nature and much of the beginning of the series focuses on introducing him to the otaku lifestyle. He is the most balanced member of Genshiken, with no real focus on any particular aspect.

He is generally calm and level headed. However, he can be openly frustrated with other people when they show lack of motivation to complete a task, such as with Mitsunori Kugayama when he was days behind in creating artwork for the club's doujinshi. In the anime, there is a particular episode where Manabu Kuchiki's antics made him uncharacteristically burst out in anger.

Trivia

 * Kanji has a younger sister named Keiko.