Persona 4 Golden: Naoto Shirogane Social Link Guide (2024)

Quick Links

  • Naoto’s Social Link Battle Perks
  • How To Rank Up Naoto's Social Link

Mature, clever, and tasked with helping the police solve the series of bizarre murders happening around Inaba, Naoto Shirogane is a pivotal character in Persona 4 Golden. Heralded as a “Detective Prince,” Naoto is an asset once you save them from their shadow and recruit them for your team.

RELATED: How Long Does It Take To Beat Persona 4 Golden?

Naoto’s social link is among the last that you’ll unlock. Thankfully, that means you’ll have time to become smart enough to speak with them. For help getting closer to detective Naoto Shirogane in Persona 4 Golden, follow along with our guide below.

This article contains spoilers Persona 4 Golden.

Naoto’s Social Link Battle Perks

Persona 4 Golden: Naoto Shirogane Social Link Guide (1)

One of the final social links to unlock, you won’t be able to begin Naoto’s social link in Persona 4 Golden until at least 10/21. You’ll lose a few other social links for story reasons at the end of October or the beginning of November for story reasons, though, which leaves more time to hang out with Naoto.

On or after 10/21, head to the North Shopping District and speak to the man in the black suit. While you can find him this beginning on 10/21, you will need Rank 5 Knowledge and Rank 5 Courage before he'll speak to you. Use the time leading up to this date to max out your social stats to ensure a smooth beginning to Naoto's P4G social link.

After receiving the card, go back to the first floor of Yasogami High and find Naoto to give her the card. Doing so will formally unlock her social link.

Additionally, as a member of the Investigation Team, becoming closer to Naoto will reward her with perks she’s able to use in battle.

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link Unlocks

Rank

Ability

Description

1

Assist

Naoto can wake an ally that's been knocked down.

3

Follow Up

Naoto might perform a follow-up attack.

5

Recover

Naoto can cure ailments during a fight.

7

Endure

Naoto may endure a blow that would otherwise be fatal.

9

Protect

Naoto may take a fatal blow in Yu's place, saving his life.

10 (Max)

Second Awakening

Transforms Sukuna-Hikona into Yamato-Takeru, Naoto's ultimate Persona

Finally, once she joins the Team, you're able to begin inviting Naoto on bike rides. These shared bike rides consume a time slot, but they teach Naoto new battle skills that she's unable to learn through normal means.

RELATED: Things Only Pro Players Know You Can Do In Persona 4 Golden

How To Rank Up Naoto's Social Link

Persona 4 Golden: Naoto Shirogane Social Link Guide (2)

It’s maybe more important here than it is for other social links, what with how little time you have to max Naoto’s link, but you can earn bonus affinity for having a Persona of the same arcana in your party when you spend time with your friends.

Naoto covers your Fortune arcana in Persona 4 Golden, so pay a visit to the Velvet Room before you spend time with her. With so little time to spend, you’ll want every free point of affinity you can get!

In addition to the time crunch, Naoto is one of only two characters in Persona 4 Golden whose social link can reverse after incorrect dialogue choices. If this happens, you’ll have to spend some time with Naoto to patch the relationship before you can continue progressing her social link, costing you time that, by this point in the game, you may not have.

You also have the option to romance Naoto, if you so choose. This will happen during her Rank 8 scene.

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 1

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"What sort of person gave this to you?"

"A man with black sunglasses."

"A man who knew I knew you."

"A suspicious man."

"The man is most likely still here in Inaba. I cannot drag you further into this."

"I can't back out now."

"I gotta help. You're a girl."

"Let's go home together."

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 2

Naoto will learn the Invigorate 1 S. Link Skill after this scene.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"I'd chalk it up as a prank."

"Really?"

"I'm still worried about you."

"That's no fun."

3

2

"......"

"What happened?"

"You don't need to go home?"

"A thief in a sleuth's house?"

"I don't know about those, but my belongings aren't of any particular value, so..."

"You should be careful."

3

2

"Who would want your stuff?"

"Remember that card...?"

3

3

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 3

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

Naoto is holding a sealed letter...

"A challenge for a duel?"

3

3

"A love letter?"

"That card business again...?"

3

2

"How misleading... A sealed letter at a time like this..."

You won't read it?""

"What if it's from a guy?"

"What'll you do with it?"

Persona 4 Golden: Naoto Shirogane Social Link Guide (3)

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 4

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

Naoto is holding a card...

"Another love letter?"

"Is it a guy this time?"

"That 'card' again?"

3

3

"I haven't the time to waste on this..."

"That's right."

"Why so uncomfortable?"

"Running from a challenge?"

"But... to ignore it only makes me angry!"

"Good luck."

3

2

"Let's catch him together."

3

3

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 5

If you're experiencing this scene before 11/6, the first dialogue prompt is skipped; you'll begin with the second instead.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

*sigh* "What should I do...?"

"Soak it."

"Burn it."

3

2

"Eat it."

"'Eating letters with a red face'...? This is..."

"A riddle."

"A mailbox."

3

2

"A goat."

"Grampa had this? Why did he keep it...?"

"What was that?"

"Good, you got it back." (Requires Rank 5 Understanding)

3

2

"I, er... I think I'll let this play out... And, umm, if possible..."

"I guess I'll help."

3

2

"Let's do it."

3

3

"You're on your own."

Reverses Naoto's social link

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 6

If you reversed Naoto's social link during her Rank 5 scene, you'll need to spend time with her again to fix your relationship. Naoto's Rank 6 scene will play out the next time you hang out with her after that.

Additionally, Naoto will learn the Invigorate 2 S. Link Skill after this scene.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"Why you, though...?"

"Because I looked reliable."

3

2

"Because we looked 'close'."

3

2

"Because I looked useless."

3

2

"'When the banks close, the fruit tree grows. By the large seven at the third is the spot I chose...'"

"7 and 3 o'clock, maybe...?"

"The phrasing is suspicious."

"The numbers are important."

3

3

"......"

"I'm glad you're a girl."

Romance flag

"Your gender doesn't matter."

3

3

"Nothing you can do."

If you're aiming to romance Naoto, choose "I'm glad you're a girl" for the final prompt. This sets up for the romance that begins at Rank 8.

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 7

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"Perhaps the 'minus' part is important..."

"Maybe it's a math problem."

"Check the other cards again?"

"Subtract '40' and '4'?"

3

3

"I feel that... I'm undergoing a change."

"You'll still be you."

"People change."

"Don't be afraid."

3

3

Persona 4 Golden: Naoto Shirogane Social Link Guide (4)

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 8

Naoto will learn the Heat Riser S. Link Skill after this scene.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"We may be able to catch him in the act."

"You seem happy."

3

2

"Don't put yourself at risk."

3

2

"I feel kinda sad."

3

3

The man brandished a knife!

Protect Naoto

Romance path, proceed to the next prompt

Run with Naoto

Platonic path, scene ends

Fight back

"Why...!?"

"Because I love you."

Romance path

"Because we're friends."

Platonic path

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 9

Naoto's Rank 9 scene will be the same regardless of the nature of your relationship following your Rank 8 scene.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"A place I'd be fond of...?"

"Somewhere bright."

"Somewhere high."

3

3

"Somewhere quiet."

"Next, what I 'can't stand' to do. There are several possibilities, but..."

"Cooking."

"Exercising."

"Throwing things away?"

3

3

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 10 (Platonic)

Naoto will learn the Invigorate 3 S. Link Skill after this scene.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"What about you?"

"It was a cinch."

"It was exciting."

"I was about to give up."

"Now you're my assistant!"

"Leave it to me!"

"I want a promotion."

"You're MY assistant."

Naoto's Persona 4 Golden Social Link, Rank 10 (Romance)

Naoto will learn the Invigorate 3 S. Link Skill after this scene.

Dialogue

Your Response

Points Earned With A Matching Persona

Points Earned Without A Matching Persona

"What about you?"

"Is it that interesting?"

"Why don't you sit down?"

"I can't relax..."

"D-Do you find the pitch of my voice strange?"

"Whatever you prefer."

"I like it higher."

3

3

Keep the above in mind to maximize your time with Persona 4 Golden's "Detective Prince," Naoto Shirogane.

NEXT: Persona 4: Every Party Member, Ranked

Persona 4 Golden: Naoto Shirogane Social Link Guide (2024)

FAQs

What are the requirements for Naoto's social link? ›

To initiate Naoto's Social link, the protagonist must have rank 5 Knowledge (Sage) and rank 5 Courage (Heroic). Speak to the man in black on the North side of the Central Shopping District, who will give the protagonist a White Card.

Can you date Naoto? ›

You also have the option to romance Naoto, if you so choose. This will happen during her Rank 8 scene.

How do you hang out with Naoto in Persona 4? ›

If you don't have a qualifying Persona, the gains will be slightly less.
  1. Naoto Shirogane can be met up with on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. She's not available on rainy days.
  2. To find Naoto, visit the Classroof Building 1F on weekdays. On holidays and Sundays, she's at the Samegawa Flood Plain area.
Jun 13, 2020

Does kanji have a crush on Naoto? ›

His sexual orientation remains ambiguous across the series, with Kanji being first interested in Naoto Shirogane when first meeting her, believing her to be a boy, but is still attracted to her when it is revealed that she is a girl.

What is Naoto Shirogane's gender? ›

Naoto Shirogane is, as canon puts it, a female detective who pretends to be a man in order to garner even a shred of respect from their peers due to a combination of workplace misogyny and lack of female representation in the industry.

Do you need to max all social links Persona 4? ›

You must max-out all Social Links to become a legend. This will best be done on a second/third/fourth playthrough as many of the best dialogue options require higher level Social Qualities (Knowledge, Courage, Understanding, etc.).

Is Naoto a trap? ›

Naoto by design is a trapping and zoning style character who excels at defending space. Your intentions with Naoto should mainly be to force the opponent to take risks in preventing you from setting up control of the screen and the pace of the match.

How old was Naoto? ›

Tokyo Revengers Statistics Chart
CharacterAgeBirthday
Naoto Tachibana13 (Past) 25 (Present)April 12, 1992
Manjiro Sano (Mikey)15 (Past) 27 (Present)August 20, 1990
Ken Ryuguji (Draken)15 (Past) 27 (Present)May 10, 1990
Keisuke Baji14 (Past)November 3, 1990
23 more rows
Feb 25, 2023

How old is Naoto Persona? ›

8 Naoto Shirogane (Age: 15, Height: 5'0", Birthday: April 27)

What level should I be for Naoto p4g? ›

No matter who's with you, we suggest being around Lv. 50-55 to deal with Shadow Naoto.

What happens if you date everyone in Persona 4? ›

is there a downside for having multiple girlfriends? There is no penalties but Naoto would be really upset, so don't. You can but on Valentine's day you'll get an unavoidable moral bashing and you'll make them suffer.

When should I rescue Naoto? ›

Answer with “he's obsessed with the case,” and “the police treat him like a kid.” Head to Junes and enter the TV. The Secret Laboratory will now be available. Rescue Naoto before the end of October 5th.

Who is kanji girlfriend? ›

Kanojo. The standard Japanese word for 'girlfriend' is kanojo (彼女 / かのじょ).

Why does kanji act weird around Naoto? ›

Kanji is immediately attracted to Naoto, often struggling to talk to her, blushing, and generally acting like a lovestruck idiot whenever the two meet. Initially, this plays into the question of whether or not Kanji is gay, but of course we end up discovering that Naoto is actually a woman.

Does Naoto have a gun? ›

The Black Hole is a weapon for Naoto. It can be purchased from the Workshop for ¥43,000 after selling one Castle Cache, dropped by King Castle, and three Giant Right Arms, dropped by Order Giant in the Theater District.

What color is Naoto hair? ›

Naoto is the shortest member of the Investigation Team. She is androgynous in appearance with short blue hair and gray eyes (blue in The Animation and Arena).

Is Naoto a guy? ›

Yes, Naoto is portrayed as a girl who isn't confident in himself and has internalized misogyny in persona 4, but that's because the creators see trans men as girls who aren't confident in themselves and have internalized misogyny.

What is Naoto and Kanji ship name? ›

KanNao is the het ship between Kanji Tatsumi and Naoto Shirogane from the Persona fandom.

What is the hardest social link Persona 4? ›

Naoto's social link is probably the most difficult in the game, due to the extremely short timeframe available to progress through it and the high skill requirements for even starting. Here's everything you need to know about the Fortune Arcana social link in Persona 4 Golden.

What happens if you max out Adachi social link? ›

The Social Link can only be maxed as its original Arcana in a bad ending; should it be progressed after all bad endings have been avoided, the Arcana, and all associated Personas, will change entirely, reflecting the protagonist's discovery of Adachi's true colors and the two having become enemies as a result.

Can social links break in Persona 4? ›

Also in Persona 4, like in Persona 3, Social Links which reached the highest rank cannot be reversed or broken.

What is Naoto persona weakness? ›

Naoto is resistant to Light and Dark, and doesn't have any weaknesses. If the protagonist maxes out Naoto's Social Link, her Persona Sukuna-Hikona will evolve into Yamato-Takeru.

Does Naoto keep his memories? ›

When Takemichi returns to the present, his younger self reverts to the way he was in the past. Only Takemichi and Naoto retain memories of previous timelines, which allows them to recognize when major changes have been caused to the present.

Is Naoto British Persona 4? ›

Useless Persona Trivia: Naoto Shirogane from Persona 4 is Half-British, and Ann Takamaki is ¼ American. As such, these are the only 2 Main Cast Characters that can legally be labelled as "White Women".

What if Naoto died? ›

Although if Naoto dies, Takemichi would still be able to time leap. The reason being, it's possible that the thing that triggered his power isn't just because he touches hands with Naoto, but also his strong desire to change the past.

What does Naoto mean in Japanese? ›

Popularity:10504. Origin:Japanese. Meaning:Honesty; Esteem. Naoto is a boy's name of Japanese origin. This sweet name means "honesty" and "esteem".

Who is Naoto father? ›

Masato Tachibana ( 橘 たちばな 正人 まさと ,, Tachibana Masato?) is Hinata and Naoto Tachibana's father.

Who is the bad guy in Persona 4? ›

Tohru Adachi is the main antagonist of the video game Persona 4. A police detective who keeps up the appearance of being incompetent and friendly, he is in reality the culprit behind the murders plaguing Inaba, has almost no regard for human life and will go to any lengths simply to amuse himself.

What age is Nanako? ›

Nanako Dojima is the daughter of Ryotaro Dojima and cousin of the Protagonist. She is probably about 6 years old and has short brown hair with pigtails. Nanako is surprisingly mature for her age, as she's had to grow-up to take care of the family.

What is the hardest boss in P4G? ›

Persona 4 Golden: Every Boss, Ranked By Difficulty
  • 8 Shadow Naoto.
  • 7 Izanami-No-Okami.
  • 6 Kusumi-No-Okami.
  • 5 Ameno-Sagiri.
  • 4 Kunino-Sagiri.
  • 3 Shadow Mitsuo.
  • 2 Shadow Yukiko.
  • 1 Shadow Kanji.
Sep 12, 2022

What is the max level in P4G? ›

Social Qualities in Persona 4 Golden will help with taking tests, Social Links, and part-time jobs. There are a total of 5 Social Qualities, and each can be leveled up (the max being level 5). Below are all five Qualities, ways to upgrade them, and what will become available after upgrading them past a certain level.

What rank do you romance Yukiko? ›

Additionally, if you're aiming to romance Yukiko during this playthrough, the option to do so occurs during her Rank 9 scene.

Who is the best girl in Persona 4? ›

Rise Kujikawa is without a doubt the cutest girl in the game. That is kind of the point as she is a pop star and idol. Everyone wants her, but she doesn't want anyone else but Yu.

Can you romance 2 people in Persona? ›

Yes, you can have more than one girlfriend in Persona 5 Royal. In fact, you can date every single romance option if you want — but it's not necessarily recommended. Romancing multiple girls will eventually come back to bite you much later in the story, so think carefully before committing to a relationship.

Can you have multiple romances in Persona 4 Golden? ›

The first time you enter a relationship, you will earn A Special Lady trophy. It's possible to enter more than one relationship in a game, but that could come back to bite you in the behind when Valentine's Day or Christmas comes rolling around.

How much time do you have to save Nanako? ›

November 20th (11/20) Today is the last day to rescue Nanako from Heaven. Do so before evening, or else the game will end.

What happens if you spend time with the cat Persona 4? ›

This will be used later on to access new locations for your character to travel. Eventually, a cat will appear outside the front of the house. You will be able to spend time with it to increase your Expression. There are two main areas in the Dojima Residence: the Living Room (downstairs) and Your Room (upstairs).

What do police think of Naoto? ›

> It seems that Naoto had a fervid obsession with the investigation. But it seems that his obsession was not well received, and the police treated him like a child.

What do Japanese call their boyfriend? ›

Kareshi (彼氏 / かれし) is the most commonly used word for 'boyfriend' in Japanese.

Who is Aki Shino love interest? ›

Aki Shino (志野亜貴, Shino Aki) is one of the main characters of the series. She is a resident of Share House Kitayama who came from Itoshima, f*ckuoka. In the alternative timeline of 2018, she and Kyoya got married (which makes her Aki Hashiba) and she gave birth to a daughter named Maki Hashiba.

Who does Nanako like? ›

She develops a great admiration and possible romantic feelings for the "Saint-Juste of the Flowers" Rei Asaka. Their relationship is one of the major driving plots of the series. Nanako is voiced by Hiroko Kasahara (original series) and Yūko Mizutani (television pilot).

What is the hardest Japanese kanji character? ›

たいと(taito) is the most difficult Japanese Kanji on the record with a total of 84 strokes. It is formed by combining 3 雲 (くもkumo) with 3 龍 (りゅうRyuu). 雲 means cloud and 龍 means dragon in English. たいと is said to be a type of Japanese surname.

What does Shadow Naoto symbolize? ›

Shadow Naoto represents the reversed Fortune Arcana. The reversed Fortune indicates mounting misfortune and a feeling that everything possible is going wrong. It also reflects one who is egotistical.

What level should you fight kanji? ›

We recommend being around Lv.

24, and the cronies he'll summon to join him are roughly the same. Attempt the fight at a lower level, and you'll likely struggle to keep the team in good health against Kanji's onslaught, so be sure to train before the fight.

Why does Naoto dress like a boy? ›

Naoto was created for Persona 4. She is a young detective who moves to Inaba, the setting of Persona 4, to solve a serial-murder case. Due to the gendered stereotypes of detectives and institutional misogyny in law enforcement, Naoto presents as a man in order to hide her gender.

Is Naoto a romance option? ›

You also have the option to romance Naoto, if you so choose. This will happen during her Rank 8 scene.

What level is Shadow Naoto? ›

It is advisable to cross-fuse the Persona Tam Lin before engaging Naoto (the protagonist must be at least level 53 first), as it has no weakness to any element and its Ziodyne skill inflicts extra damage on her (no knockdown).

When can you start Nanako social link? ›

The protagonist automatically starts Nanako's Social Link on May 3rd. She can be found during the evening inside the Dojima Residence when the protagonist finishes the story's current dungeon or between story dungeons. The protagonist is only allowed to rank Nanako's Social Link when Ryotaro Dojima is not home.

How do I start a social link with Dojima? ›

Dojima's social link begins automatically and can be started anytime after 5/6. The good news is that he's easy to find, always popping up at the Dojima residence most nights, but this will only be true between dungeons in the story, or after you've finished the dungeon you're currently infiltrating.

When can you start a social link with Mitsuru? ›

The Empress Arcana social link is one of the late-game social links, and can only be started after November 21. Talk to Mitsuru outside the faculty office on 1F of the school, after school in order to start the link. You will need to have Max Rank Academics before she will agree to your invite.

When should I start Kanji social link? ›

To get Kanji, Persona 4 Golden players will need to have completed the Steamy Bathhouse dungeon. Once Kanji officially joins the team, players will hear rumors about someone bullying another student. Players can confront Kanji as early as June 9th to initiate the Social Link.

Do you need to max out Nanako? ›

However, it's worth noting early that befriending Nanako requires you to max your Expression skill. You cannot begin Rank 4 with Nanako until you have Rank 3 Expression, while you need to reach Rank 5 Expression to begin her Rank 6 scene.

How old is Nanako? ›

Nanako, age 7, is a character in the Persona series. This young and innocent girl is the daughter of Ryotaro Dojima and his wife who is deceased. She is also the cousin of the Protagonist (Yu Narukami), and progressively takes quite a liking toward him.

Is Adachi a social link? ›

Adachi is the only Social Link that is available during day and night depending on the Rank. Thanks to this unpredictability, the protagonist will want to spend their early-game free time with him before the evening-exclusive Social Links become available.

How do you get the true ending in p4g? ›

After chatting, go to the Central Shopping District and into the Velvet Room to grab a key item from Igor. After doing all this, finally head to the gas station that you first stopped at when you started the game and talk to the attendant there to trigger the true ending of the game.

What is Dojima age? ›

12 Ryotaro Dojima (Age: 42, Height: 5'11", Birthday: May 16)

Can I date Mitsuru? ›

Mitsuru is a fascinating character whose personal social link has connections to the larger plot of P3P. The player will have to wait a long time to romance her though as it cannot be started until November 21st and you also must max out your Academics.

Can you romance Mitsuru Kirijo? ›

How to romance Mitsuru. If you're playing as the male protagonist, you automatically start a romantic relationship with Mitsuru by progressing her Social Link. There's no specific moment where you confess your passion or decide to remain friends. That's true for your relationships with Aigis, Fuuka, and Yukari as well.

Does Junpei have a social link? ›

While Junpei is a member of Sees in both the male and female route, he is only available as a social link if you choose to play as the girl. While you can't romance Junpei even when playing as the female protagonist, the story helps you learn more about your hot-headed and kind-hearted teammate.

How many Japanese kanji should I learn a day? ›

1. How many kanji will I learn each day? Some simple math will show that you need to learn at least 23 kanji every day to complete your mission on schedule (2,042 kanji ÷ 90 days = 22.7).

Should I bother learning kanji? ›

Although you don't strictly need to learn kanji to speak and understand Japanese, it will be a lot easier if you do. Plus if you want to live and work in Japan then knowing some kanji is pretty much required.

How many kanji should a beginner have? ›

Start with 1-stroke kanji and work your way up. There are approximately 2,000 kanji you have to learn no matter what, so you might as well put them in an order that makes a lot more sense. By starting simply and moving your way up, you are able to build one kanji upon another.

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