Kazuomi Ōga
Kazuomi Ōga |
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| Kanji: | 大神 和臣 |
| Romaji | Ōga Kazuomi |
| Statistics | |
| Age: | 17 |
| Birthday: | June 4, 1995 |
| Height: | 171 cm (5’7″) |
| Portrayed by: | |
| Japanese: | Yūma Uchida |
| English: | Blake Shepard |
Kazuomi Ōga (大神 和臣, Ōga Kazuomi), is a supporting character in the anime and manga series ReLIFE. A third-year student at Aoba High School, Ōga is known for his exceptional academic performance and serious demeanor, often regarded as a model student by both his classmates and teachers. After Arata Kaizaki reenters high school life through the ReLIFE experiment, he quickly becomes one of Kaizaki’s closest classmates and friends, forming a bond that is both sincere and impactful.
Despite his impressive grades and leadership roles, Ōga struggles with poor athletic ability and is notably dense when it comes to romantic relationships, especially regarding his own feelings. His mix of brilliance and social obliviousness adds both humor and emotional warmth to the story.
Background
Appearance in Anime
Born into a regular family and attending Aoba High School, Kazuomi Ōga quickly distinguished himself as an academic ace, consistently ranking at the top among the boys in his grade. His natural intelligence and responsible nature often led to his selection as class representative, a role he accepted despite his personal preference for a simpler, less stressful school life.
When Arata Kaizaki joins Aoba High, disguised as a teenage student for the ReLIFE project, Ōga is one of the first to befriend him, helping him navigate the academic and social challenges of high school life. Over time, their friendship becomes a foundation for both characters’ growth.
While admired for his competence and appearance, Ōga’s personal life is complicated by his cluelessness regarding romance, particularly his feelings for a certain classmate, which become a recurring element throughout the story.
Appearance
Ōga is a tall, handsome young man with short dark brown hair and sharp dark eyes. His facial features are neat and mature, giving him the appearance of a reliable and serious student. He typically wears the standard Aoba High School uniform neatly, further enhancing his image as a model student.
Despite his cool exterior, his body language during casual situations especially when sports are involved can be awkward, revealing his lack of athleticism and contrasting with his otherwise composed image.
Personality
Kazuomi Ōga is intelligent, responsible, and straightforward, often embodying the ideal image of a serious high school student. He takes academics seriously and holds himself to high standards, earning the respect of teachers and peers alike.
However, outside of academics, Ōga is surprisingly naïve, especially regarding social cues and romantic feelings both his own and others’. His denseness provides comedic relief in the story, as he remains oblivious to obvious romantic tension involving himself and a classmate.
While he can appear stoic, Ōga is kind-hearted, supportive, and earnest, especially in his friendships. He values fairness, honesty, and hard work, and is willing to lend a hand to those who need it, even if he doesn’t always fully understand their emotional complexities.
Role in the Story
Meeting Arata Kaizaki: Ōga becomes a close classmate of Arata Kaizaki after the latter’s ReLIFE experiment begins. He often helps Arata academically, while Arata, in turn, observes Ōga’s personal and emotional struggles. Their growing friendship offers both humor and depth, as Arata tries to nudge Ōga toward greater emotional awareness.
Academic Excellence and Leadership: As one of the top students at Aoba High, Ōga consistently ranks first among the boys and serves as class representative multiple times. His leadership often puts him in positions of responsibility, although he sometimes struggles to balance schoolwork with social and emotional development.
Romantic Cluelessness: One of Ōga’s most endearing arcs involves his romantic obliviousness, particularly toward a close classmate who harbors feelings for him. Despite numerous hints and awkward moments, it takes external intervention and personal growth for Ōga to realize and acknowledge his own feelings.
Relationships
Arata Kaizaki: Ōga quickly forms a strong bond with Arata, who becomes one of his few confidants. Though initially unaware of Arata’s true identity, their friendship is marked by mutual respect, support, and personal growth.
Rena Kariu: A major emotional thread in the story is Ōga’s relationship with Rena Kariu, a fellow classmate. Although Kariu harbors feelings for him, Ōga remains oblivious for much of the series, leading to numerous misunderstandings and comedic moments. Over time, with encouragement from friends, he begins to recognize and reciprocate her feelings.
Chizuru Hishiro: Though not particularly close at first, Ōga develops a respectful and friendly rapport with Chizuru, admiring her blunt honesty and academic prowess, which sometimes rivals his own.