Kenji



Kenji is a human friend to the Autobots in the Generation 1 continuity.

Kenji is a young Japanese boy who was a primary ally in the Autobots' missions in his country. Bright and inquisitive, he served as an advance scout for the Autobots, often reporting suspiciously Decepticon-like activity to them.

"Fight! Super Robot Life Form" Manga
Kenji first encountered the Transformers during a battle in Tokyo, where Optimus Prime saved him from a near-fatal encounter with Starscream. In this earliest meeting, Kenji expressed at least some prior knowledge of who the Autobots were, specifically that they were the "good guys". Kenji was dumped into the custody of Smokescreen while the rest of the Autobot force tussled with the Decepticon jets and the new warrior, Menasor. It was Kenji's quick thinking that allowed the Autobots to win the day, and in gratitude, they made him an honorary "partner," giving him a helmet (which resembled Prime's) that allowed him to contact the Autobots when necessary.

On a later mission, Kenji was partnered with Bumblebee to track down Soundwave and his cassette minions. Thanks to a timely assist from Cliffjumper and Ironhide, Soundwave and his cronies were routed.

Some time later, Kenji visited the United States, where he was given a tour of the then-under construction Metroplex. He then accompanied an Autobot recon patrol into battle against the Insecticons.

In a particularly strange mission, Kenji was present at an Autobot outpost in Japan when Starscream returned to threaten that country again, this time alongside Blitzwing and carrying Megatron, full-sized, in gun mode! Kenji watched and cheered as the new Autobot city commander, Ultra Magnus arrived to turn the tide of battle.

Kenji's next encounter with the Transformers came while attending a baseball game (in which Takara was a player). The game was interrupted by a brawl between Defensor, Superion, Menasor, and Bruticus. Kenji rode the Protectobot Groove to deliver a message to Superion, a vital tactic that again, allowed the Autobots to drive the Decepticons away.

While on vacation with Seaspray, Hound, and Perceptor, Kenji came across an island paradise. Unfortunately, said paradise was slated for demolition... by the Constructicons! The arrival of the Aerialbots (and First Aid, along with some holographic magic from Hound, set things straight, and the wayward Constructicons were forced to replant the forest they'd destroyed.

Kenji's last documented adventure concerned a rash of violence around Tokyo. The Stunticons and Onslaught, disguised as Autobots, went on a destructive rampage, making sure that the Autobots took the blame for the damages. Another boy at Kenji's school, Makoto, was spouting pro-Decepticon propoganda. Things came to a head at a public rally, where two hooded speakers espoused the Decepticon cause before an interested audience. The "Autobots" showed up to wreck things, followed shortly after by the REAL Autobots. In the ensuing chaos, it was revealed that the "speakers' were no less than the Decepticons Rumble and Frenzy, and the entire debacle was a plot to discredit the Autobots! Following the Decepticons' defeat, Kenji was never seen again.  It is possible he may have been present for Starscream's Underbase-powered attack on Tokyo, although his actions (and his survival) are purely conjecture.