First introduced as Joker’s homeroom teacher, Sadayo Kawakami quickly develops a cold attitude towards her new student with the criminal record. However, after Joker discovers a huge secret about her, the two decide to strike a deal.
Here’s a spoiler-free guide on how to max out her confidant in Persona 5: Royal.
Availability
Two days after the Phantom Thieves successfully complete Madarame’s Palace, Joker will make nighttime plans with Ryuji and Mishima (the earliest this event can happen is 5/24). The following day, Joker must find Kawakami in front of the staff room (Shujin Academy, second floor) and distract her from Ms. Chuono by saying “I have a question for her.”
Kawakami is available at nighttime on Fridays and Saturdays. Occasionally, she will text Joker to initiate events on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
It’s important to note that spending time with Kawakami will cost Joker 5,000 yen each event.
Due to story-related reasons, this confidant becomes unavailable beginning November 17, so it is encouraged to max her out before then. Kawakami does become available again at the beginning of January, but her perks are arguably some of the most helpful in the game, so she is a confidant you’ll want to prioritize.
Perks
- Rank 1 || Slack Off: Allows you to perform various activities in Kawakami’s class.
- Rank 3 || Housekeeping: Allows you to request Kawakami to make coffee or do laundry for you.
- Rank 5 || Free Time: Gain free time in other teachers’ classes with Kawakami’s help.
- Rank 6 || Super Housekeeping: Allows you to request Kawakami to make curry or infiltration tools for you.
- Rank 10 || Special Massage: Request a massage after going into the Metaverse, which lets you go out at night.
Rank-Up Events
As with every confidant, having a persona of a corresponding arcana will increase the number of points you earn with them by one. The point increases with a Star persona on hand are indicated in brackets next to the regular increases as such:
Prompt 1) point values for answers a, b, c [point values with matching persona]
In addition, Kawakami is one of the confidants that is impacted by scoring high on exams, which will also provide a bonus. Ranking first in the entire school will give you 1.5x affinity points, while ranking within the top ten will give 1.2x. This stacks with the bonuses from having a matching persona. If you’re receiving bonus points on top of 3 points already, you will still see only three musical notes but gain more within the actual mechanics.
Rank 1
Level 3 Guts (“Staunch”) required.
The only prompt that awards affinity points is the last one, which occurs when Kawakami and Joker are standing on the first floor of Leblanc.
- 1) 2, 1, 1 [3, 2, 2]
Rank 2
- 1) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
- 2) 0, 1, 0 [0, 2, 0]
- 3) 0, 0
- 4) 0, 0, 0
- Phone call: 1, 1, 1 [2, 2, 2]
Rank 3
- 1) 1, 1, 0 [2, 2, 0]
- 2) 0, 0, 0
- 3) 0, 3, 0
- 4) 0, 0, 0
- Phone call: 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
Rank 4
- 1) 0, 0
- 2) 1, 0, 0 [2, 0, 0]
- 3) 1, 0, 3 [2, 0, 3]
- 4) 0, 0, 0
Rank 5
- 1) 1, 0, 1 [2, 0, 2]
- 2) 1, 0, 1 [2, 0, 2]
- 3) 0, 0, 0
- 4) 0, 0
- 5) 0, 0, 0
- Phone call: 0, 0, 1 [0, 0, 2]
Rank 6
- 1) 0, 1, 0 [0, 2, 0]
- 2) 3, 1, 2 [3, 2, 3]
- 3) 0, 0
- Phone call: 0, 0, 1 [0, 0, 2]
Rank 7
Note that if you are interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with Kawakami, you must select the *-ed option in prompt 2. Otherwise you’ll be locked out of that option later on.
- 1) 1, 0, 2 [2, 0, 3]
- 2) 0, 0, 3*
- 3) 0, 0, 0
Rank 8
Unavailable if there is no school the next day.
- 1) 0, 0, 2 [0, 0, 3]
- 2) 1, 2, 0 [2, 3, 0]
- 3) 0, 0, 0
- 4) 0, 0
- 5) 3, 3, 3
- 6) 2, 3 [3, 3]
- Phone call: 1, 1, 1 [2, 2, 2]
Part 2 of this event occurs the next day during school. This will not take up any of Joker’s free time. The conversation prompts are irrelevant to your confidant progression.
Receive the “A Teacher Maid to Suffer” Mementos request.
Rank 9
Locked until the “A Teacher Maid to Suffer” Mementos request is completed. Only available on days that Joker has school.
- 1) 2, 0, 0, [3, 0, 0]
- 2) 3, 3
- 3) 1 [2] (remain friends, end of conversation), 1 [2] (romance)
- 4) 1 [2] (remain friends, end of conversation), 1 [2] (romance)
- 5) 0 (remain friends), 0 (romance, end of conversation)
If friends:
- Phone call: 0, 1, 0 [0, 2, 0]
Part 2 of this event occurs the next day during school. This will not take up any of Joker’s free time. There are no conversation prompts.
Rank 10 (MAX)
If friends:
- 1) 2, 2 [3, 3]
- 2) 2, 0, 0 [3, 0, 0]
- 3) 0, 0, 0
- 4) 0, 0, 0
- 5) 3, 3
If dating:
- 1) 0, 0, 0
- 2) 0, 0
- 3) 0, 0, 0
- 4) 0, 0
- 5) 0, 0, 0
- 6) 3, 3
- 7) 3, 3
Non-Rank Invited Hangouts
Occasionally, Kawakami will text Joker to hang out with her somewhere. While these hangouts will not increase your rank, you will still receive affinity points. Replying to Kawakami’s messages immediately will incur a 1.2x increase in affinity points. All of the same parameters for bonuses apply to non-rank hangouts as well.
9/10 – Date In Hawaii
This is only available if you are in a romantic relationship (rank MAX) with Kawakami. On 9/6, make sure you have a Temperance persona with you before flying off to Hawaii.
- 1) 3, 0, 2
- 2) 3, 0, 0
- 3) 2, 2, 3
- 4) 3, 3
- 5) 0, 0
Receive “Hawaiian Ring” accessory (Ma+5/Lu+5).
10/26 – Cultural Festival Afterparty Date at Shujin
This is only available if you are in a romantic relationship with Kawakami.
- 1) 0, 0, 0
- 2) 0, 0
- 3) 3, 2, 1
- 4) 0, 0
- 5) 0, 0
Receive “Sadayo Taiyaki” (restore 100 SP to 1 ally).
Non-Rank Hangouts
If you do not have enough points to unlock the next ranked event (or have already maxed out your bond with her), you can invite Kawakami out to several different locations. All of the same parameters for bonuses apply to non-rank hangouts as well.
Cleaning Joker’s Room (General Hangout Event)
There are no conversation options. You will receive 2 [3] affinity points afterward.
Ueno – Museum
- 3, 2, 2 [3, 3, 3]
Shibuya (Buffet)
This is only available if you decide to stay just friends (Rank 9 or higher).
- 2, 3 2 [3, 3, 3]
Odaiba (Giant Ferris Wheel)
This is only available if you are in a romantic relationship.
- 3, 3, 3
Receive “Night Pennant” room decoration.
Aoyama-Itchome – Leblanc Attic
This is only available if you are in a romantic relationship.
- 3, 3, 3
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