
Tenri Ayukawa
Tenri Ayukawa |
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Kanji | 鮎川天理 |
Rōmaji | Ayukawa Tenri |
Age: | 17 |
Birthday: | January 3 |
Height: | 158cm (5’2″) |
Voice Actor | |
Japanese | Kaori Nazuka |
English | Juliet Simmons |
Tenri Ayukawa (鮎川天理, Ayukawa Tenri), is the secondary tritagonist of The World God Only Knows. She is a shy and soft-spoken girl, serving as Keima Katsuragi’s childhood friend and the host of the goddess Diana. Formerly his neighbor and classmate, she has secretly adored Keima for over ten years, ever since an incident during an earthquake strengthened her feelings for him.
Despite her timid nature, Tenri is one of Keima’s most devoted admirers, though she struggles to express her emotions openly. Her role in the series expands significantly during the Goddesses Arc, where her bond with Keima plays a crucial part in awakening Diana and aiding the battle against Vintage.
Background

Appearance in anime
Ten years prior to the events of the series, Tenri and Keima were childhood friends and neighbors. Their friendship was relatively normal until an earthquake incident, during which Keima bravely helped Tenri escape from a collapsing cave. This moment had a profound impact on Tenri, solidifying her love and admiration for Keima though she was too shy to tell him.
Shortly after the incident, the Katsuragi family moved away, separating them. During this time, Tenri became the host for Diana, one of the six goddesses, though she initially kept this fact hidden.
Years later, when the Ayukawa family moves next door to the Katsuragis, Tenri finds herself reunited with Keima. Despite the passage of time, her feelings for him remain strong, though her introverted and hesitant personality makes it difficult for her to express them properly.
Appearance
Tenri has a petite and delicate build, with long, straight dark brown hair and large violet eyes. She often appears nervous or flustered, with her expressions subtly reflecting her gentle and reserved nature.
Her usual outfit consists of the Maijima Private High School uniform, though she is sometimes seen in simple and modest casual clothing when at home. As Diana’s host, she occasionally exhibits subtle divine features, such as an ethereal glow or stronger, more confident body language when Diana takes control.
Personality
Tenri is shy, kind-hearted, and extremely introverted, making her one of the most reserved characters in the series. She struggles with social interactions, often stammering or looking away when nervous, especially around Keima. Despite this, she has a pure and unwavering love for him, even if she lacks the courage to act on it.
Beneath her timid demeanor, Tenri is actually incredibly strong-willed, especially when it comes to protecting Keima. Though she rarely voices her emotions, her actions and deep loyalty reveal a profound inner strength. Unlike other girls Keima has conquered, Tenri’s feelings are entirely genuine, making her one of his most sincere love interests.
Her timidity contrasts sharply with Diana’s bold and confident personality, creating a duality between her reserved human side and her goddess counterpart.
Role in the Story
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The Return of a Childhood Friend
When Tenri moves back to Keima’s neighborhood, she finds herself struggling to reconnect with him due to her shyness. However, it is soon revealed that she is the host of the goddess Diana, making her an important figure in the fight against Vintage. Unlike other conquests, Tenri is not a target for Keima to conquer, as she has already loved him for years. Instead, Keima must help awaken Diana’s full power, which requires Tenri to gain confidence in her love for him. This task proves challenging, as Tenri’s reserved nature makes it difficult for her to express her emotions openly. -
The Goddess Arc and Awakening Diana
During the Goddesses Arc, Tenri and Diana become essential allies in the fight against Vintage. While Tenri herself is too timid to act directly, Diana frequently intervenes, urging Keima to accept Tenri’s feelings so that she can fully awaken. As the arc progresses, Tenri’s hidden strength begins to emerge, particularly when Keima is in danger. Though she remains soft-spoken, her determination to protect him never wavers, proving that her love is stronger than her fear. Eventually, Diana fully awakens, granting Keima and his allies a crucial advantage against Vintage. However, even after the battle, Tenri remains quietly devoted to Keima, choosing to love him from afar rather than forcing her feelings onto him.
Relationships
Keima Katsuragi
Tenri has loved Keima since childhood, though she is too shy to express it. Despite this, she remains deeply loyal to him, supporting him in any way she can. Unlike other girls Keima has conquered, Tenri’s love is completely natural and unprompted.
Diana (Goddess)
The goddess residing within Tenri, who is far more confident and outspoken than her host. Diana frequently pushes Tenri to confess her love to Keima, seeing him as the key to regaining her full power.
Elsie de Lute Ima
Tenri is friendly with Elsie, though their interactions are relatively minimal compared to other characters.
Maijima Private High School Students
Due to her shyness, Tenri does not socialize much with her classmates, often keeping to herself. However, she is well-liked for her kind and gentle nature.