Kenji

Ian McCue

### Family

Hiro Asada (father, in the fanfic), Mrs. Ayako Asada (mother, in the fanfic), Sakura Asada (twin sister, in the fanfic)

### Friends

Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon, Edward, Henry, Emily, Rebecca, Nia, Toby, Sir Topham Hatt, Duck, Bill and Ben, Timothy, Rosie, Stanley, Ryan, Sonny, Diesel, Daisy, Salty, Porter, Paxton, Sidney, Philip, Victor, Skarloey and Rheneas, Whiff, Marion, Skiff, Mavis, Annie and Clarabel, Charlie, Billy, Terence, Bertie, Bulgy, Cleo, Ruth, Donald and Douglas, Cranky, Carly, Judy and Jerome, Elizabeth, George, Peter Sam, Sir Handel, Mighty Mac, Duncan, Freddie, Duke, Owen, Merrick, Harvey, Millie, Luke, Stephen, Glynn, Shane, Aubrey and Aiden, Tamika, Ace. Isla, Spencer, Henrietta, Hugo, Rocky, Harold, Flynn, Captain, Butch, Belle, Nelson, Jack, Alfie, Oliver, Max and Monty, Kelly, Byron, Ned, Isobelle, Patrick, Brenda, Buster, Darcy, Kevin, Oliver, Ashima, Rajiv, Noor Jehan, Shankar, Charubala, Lorenzo, Beppe, Gina, Stefano, Ester, Gabriela, Gustavo, Raul, Marcia and Marcio, Fernando, Hank, Sam, Gator, Norman and Dennis, Hong-Mei, Yong Bao, An-An and Yin-Long, Den, Dart, Beau, Toad, Duchess, Lexi, Theo, Hurricane, Merlin, Frankie, Beresford, Caitlin, Connor, Ferdinand, Bash and Dash, Emerson, Lei, Natalie, Cassia, 'Arry and Bert, Bert, Rex, Mike**All Engines Go!:** Kana, Sandy

**Fanfic:** Ten Cents, Sunshine, Theodore, Emily, Hercules, Big Mac, Warrior, Grampus, O.J., Top Hat, Big Mickey, Sally, Boomer, Frank and Eddie, Oliver, Foduck, The Dispatcher, Izzy Gomez, Captain Star, Captain Zero, Zak, Zorran, Zebedee, Zip, Zug, Mighty Mo, Lucy, Phillip and Filmore, Hank, George

### Likes

Being accompanied to return to Japan by Hiro

### Dislikes

Being stealing by Baz and Bernie as their getaway vehicle, afraid of travelling home alone

## Character's Bio

### Birthdate

Sometimes between 1964 and 1986 (built)22nd September 1958 (fanfic, as a human)

## Physical Apearance

### Eye Colour

Black (cartoon)Light purplish blue (fanfic, as a human, first prototype)

Peppermint blue (fanfic, as a human, second prototype)

### Complexion

Silver with royal blue skirts (cartoon)Pale (fanfic, as a human)

### Status

Alive

**Kenji** was one of *Thomas & Friends* characters. He is a high speed Japanese electric engine who visits the Island of Sodor for The Technology Fair. In his last appearance, Kenji misses Japan same as Hiro because he was scared to travelling home alone. Later, Hiro was agree to accompany him home.

## Biography

### *Thomas & Friends*

Kenji first arrived on Sodor via the Rail Ferry at Brendam Docks, from which he was transported to Ulfstead Castle by Gordon and Rebecca. Electrical wires were set up especially for him around the Estate Railway.

Kenji was publicly revealed on the first night of the Technology Fair, where he impressed both the crowd and the other engines. After his first run with his passenger coach, he met up with Thomas and talked to him about his around-the-world trip and his Japanese friend, Hiro.

Later, when Baz and Bernie stole the plans to Ruth's Hover-Car, they stole Kenji to be their getaway vehicle in place of Sonny. Due to the lack of overhead wires on The Main Line, Kenji was gradually slowed down until Thomas brought him to a stop.

Following the chase, Kenji was repaired at the Sodor Steamworks, where Ruth fitted him with an electric battery similar to Stafford, allowing him to work on the un-electrified areas of the North Western Railway until the Rail Ferry back to Japan arrived. When it did arrive, however, Kenji was afraid of travelling home alone and hid in Hiro's Hideout in the Whistling Woods. After being found by Thomas and Hiro, Hiro agreed to accompany him home, wanting to go back to his homeland.

## Personality

Kenji is cool, calm and patient, and unlike early British Railways diesel and electric engines, he does not boast about his modern elements, making it easy for him to get along with others. Kenji holds a sense of curiosity about the world outside his home country, and he can hold a civil conversation with even those skeptical about him. Although he enjoys trying new things he had not done before, Kenji has been shown to get nervous if he has to travel long distances by himself.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Kenji is based on a 0 series Shinkansen, also known as a "Bullet Train". These were the first generation of such engines and were designed specifically to run the high-speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen line in Japan. By 2008, all units had been withdrawn from active service, however a large number are preserved, including one at the National Railway Museum in York, which was donated as a gift by the West Japan Railway Company in 2001.

Kenji was modified to run on the North Western Railway, in that he received buffers and a tail-lamp on his rear and he has a pin-and-hook coupling system (which was replaced with a screw-link coupling after The Technology Fair). He was also re-gauged to the international standard gauge wheelbase, and received a battery pack from Ruth to let him to run without the aid of power lines.

## Physical Appearance

### Livery

Kenji is entirely silver with the exception of his skirts, which are painted royal blue.

### Fanfic

As a human in a first prototype, Kenji has pale complexion, black hair, light purplish blue eyes and wears royal blue coat with six silver buttons, white shirt, black necktie with silver tie slide, black trousers and shoes.

In the second prototype, Kenji's eyes are peppermint blue in colour.

## Fanfics

The Secret & Dearest Life of Everything in Sodor

Kenji appears in the fanfic as a human, he works on the Japanese Railway in Japan as an electric train driver and also had a family, his parents, Hiro and Mrs. Ayako Asada and a twin sister named Sakura.

In the chapter, *"The Happening"*, in the incident, Ace saw three engines halted on the tracks. He went to find Hiro and Kenji, but suddenly he finally found them holding Thomas' unconscious body. Then, at the hospital, Ace told Hiro and Kenji what happens to Thomas. Hiro was telling him that Thomas had been unconscious badly because of dropping his inhaler. Ace, Hiro and Kenji are allowing to see Thomas at the hospital room. The doctor tells them that Thomas' asthma was nearly severe.