Retsuko and Her Friends | Carrier Man Trading Co. | Other Characters | Comics and Other Media
This page is for the various Canon Foreigners seen in Aggretsuko (Oni). For characters from the original anime, check that series' character page.
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Aggretsuko (original run)
Karen
A goose from Carrier Man's Canadian branch who visits as a "productivity advisor" after her department beats Japan on employee satisfaction scores. Naturally, Retsuko is charged with handling her.
- Armor-Piercing Response:Karen: You can't let him take advantage of your good nature like that. Tell him off! Who cares if he gets mad?
Retsuko: I do.
Karen: But why?
Retsuko: Because, unlike you, I have to stay here and suffer the consequences. - A Shared Suffering: Similar to Retsuko, she too suffered under a Mean Boss until she was eventually able to get him fired. It's one of the reasons why she wants to help revamp the workplaces of the other company offices.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Besides her million give-or-take suggestions, Karen advocates a healthier workplace environment (like hers) which makes her clash and call out Ton on Retsuko's behalf as she sees him overworking her with tasks not related to her job (e.g. bringing him tea). Later in the kitchenette, Karen (rightfully) puts the blame for the office's low scores on Ton's handling and argues how not speaking up about it makes no one any favors. Retsuko concedes her point and reminds her how Karen can complain as a visitor while she is a full-time employee and her handler who will suffer the consequences of any of her guest's actions.
- Break the Haughty: Spends most of Issue #3 writing helpful yet irrelevant suggestions in sticky notes and making multiple cultural faux-pas that get Retsuko in trouble. Midway, she has a Jerkass Realization when Retsuko sadly reminds her how much her actions have affected her. Afterward, Karen humbly apologizes.
- Commonality Connection: Bonds with Retsuko in the karaoke bar using the genre they know best: heavy metal.
- Culture Clash: Due to her outgoing personality. Not only does Karen miss the common "reverence" salute when introducing herself to Retsuko, she frequently invades others' personal space and glues sticky notes with random, off-the-cuff suggestions that distract everyone, slowing down productivity.
- Cross Cultural Kerfuffle: During a lunch outing, Karen freaks out when the waitress serves her ramen with mushrooms (as she didn't know they were included and neither Retsuko, Haida or Fenneko told her) and causes a scene when she asks to speak with the manager...and then backtracks when Haida reminds her she didn't say "no mushrooms". (Although since she didn't know they were included, why would she?) Result: a horrified waitress and three embarrassed regulars.Retsuko: Just eat your damn noodles.
- Drama Queen: Downplayed. Karen is overly enthusiastic, fusses over any detail she finds "wrong" and "in need of solving" (personal space be damned!) and has very poor tact when interacting with people. However, she's willing to pull back when gone too far and all in all means well.
- Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu?: Credit where's due, she is the first brave enough to guide Ton on where to shove it.
- Genki Girl: Overly peppy and cheerful, much to the annoyance of Retsuko and her colleagues.
- Hidden Depths: She comes off as overly-optimistic and pushy about how she views the workplace should work, but the reason she does so is because she doesn't want others to suffer under a terrible boss like she did. There's also the fact that she's the lead vocalist of an indie metal band.
- Innocently Insensitive: Her default mode, mostly due to being way too direct compared to the Japan branch's demureness.
- Ironic Name: "Karen" isn't a name commonly associated with someone who knows what's like to work under a tyrant.
- Meaningful Name: "Karen" is slang for the Obnoxious Entitled Housewife, an middle-aged woman who uses her privileged position to bully people (especially people in the service and retail industry) into submission or otherwise get people who displease her in trouble (most stereotypically, demanding to speak to the manager when an employee doesn't bend the knee to them). While the stereotype is chiefly American, it is also known in Canada.
- Metal Scream: Joins Retsuko in a round of metal karaoke to vent about shitty bosses in the workplace. Karen then reveals she's in a metal band of her own.
- National Animal Stereotypes: She's Canadian, so naturally she's a Canada goose.
- Nice Girl: Despite being a send-up of the "Karen" stereotype, she's generally a lot nicer and quickly understands her mistake after yelling at a waitress over a misunderstanding (though she still asks to have her order redone).
- Odd Friendship: With Retsuko.
Aggretsuko: Meet Her Friends
Natsuki
Appearing in Aggretsuko: Meet Her Friends: Issue 3. One of two professional golf players giving out a free class as part of a silent auction. Due to a mix-up, Retsuko books her as part of Ton's scheme to win the other golfer's class without spending too much money, with the put-upon employee taking (read:forced to take) her lessons.
- Awesomeness by Analysis: Her M.O. in tournaments and charity-imparted lessons. One thing separating her from Kin is her ability in adapting and observing every aspect in the playing field before imposing any movement on the field. Then, it's just decisive action taking."Golf is the peaceful sport. You don't score by pushing back against an opponent. You succeed through focus and control as you navigate nature".
- The Bet: As it turns out, Natsuki and Kin made a bet on whose approach would work better before meeting the auction winners. Natsuki wins by forfeit.
- Cool Teacher: First thing she says to Retsuko? Admitting golf is "not everyone's cup of tea", yet she intends on making the afternoon worthwhile and fun for her. She makes good on that promise.
- Death Glare: Gives one to Kin when he mentions "[not mind]ing watching [her butt]" as she bends to pick up his ball that sank in the lake (and tried to pawn it off as Retsuko's).
- Good Is Not Dumb: A cheerful, smart cookie. While her eager nature upon meeting Ton and Retsuko already screams Nice Girl, she's quick to pick on ways for her day pupil to learn the basic without losing her temper once. She also stops Ton when he starts berating his employee for interrupting his shot by pointing out Kin is the one he should be yelling at (almost daring him to do so).
- Humble Hero: Famed In-Story, yet still treats everyone the same. Best exemplified in her first scene when she meets her student by walking on foot, arms stretched out in solidarity.
- In Harmony with Nature: Her stance on how to play the game. It is, after all, more subjected to the whims of the outdoor climate than any willpower, so why fight it when you can synchronize it to your advantage?
- Nice Girl: As part of etiquette, she's courteous with everyone upon meeting them and continues being so even as she realizes the kind of person Ton is and gets ogled and berated by Kin.
- Opposed Mentors: Natsuki enjoys golf and encourages any student in the most patient way to take their time in every shot, think clearly about the ball's direction and avoid using brute force to push against any element interfering with the angle (especially when there's no rush). This makes Retsuko feel at ease with her and learn through experience without unnecessary pressure. On the contrary, Kin, sharing Ton's aggressiveness, encourages brute force and pressures him into making several mistakes.
- Only Sane Man: Nice, mature and closer to earth than Kin.
- Right Man in the Wrong Place: The only reason she was there in the first place was because Retsuko bidded higher on her to keep Ton's offer on Kin. Ironically, her teaching methods and zen attitude proves resourceful in teaching the red panda (someone who doesn't have an interest in golf) compared to Kin's punishing approach with Ton (who is the interested party, yet wouldn't even consider giving the flamingo a chance due to her gender anyway).
Kin
Appearing in Aggretsuko: Meet Her Friends: Issue 3. One of two professional golf players giving out a free class as part of a silent auction. Ton's preferred choice for a teacher, his skills are overshadowed by his winning personality, progressive opinions and humble attitude.
- Apathetic Teacher: He blatantly doesn't care if Ton learns as long as he's paid for the lesson.
- The Bet: As it turns out, Kin and Natsuki made a bet on whose approach would work better before meeting the auction winners. Kin loses by Ton and tantrum.
- Broken Pedestal: As the day progresses, Ton becomes irritated by Kin's jerkass antics, loud mouth and his less-than-impressive teaching skills. The final straw comes when Kin mocks his desire to spend time with his daughters. He later derides him as "nothing special".
- Hate Sink: Arrogant, misogynistic and a complete asshole to everyone with no redeeming qualities.
- I Was Beaten by a Girl: He doesn't take kindly to Natsuki beating him.
- Jerkass: He makes Ton look like an ok-ish, sentimental guy, especially when it comes to the former's love for his daughters.
- Shadow Archetype: Kin is basically every single negative aspect of Ton's character amplified to unbearable degrees. He's overly confident in his abilities, prefers to blame other people for his mistakes, only sees glory and money as important without any respect for golf as a sport, uses the class as tax evasion, holds over-the-top misogynistic views and derides any vulnerability or affection.
