TAI



Taichi Kamiya, nicknamed Tai, is the leader of the DigiDestined crew. He holds the Crest of Courage, and is partnered with Agumon. Tai is brave, but he tends to rush into situations without thinking things through, and he's none too modest either. This has led to clashes, and even fist fights between him and Matt. It's apparent that he has some measure of feeling for Sora, who is his best friend back in the real world, and who he is on the school soccer team with. Four years before the events of Summer 1999, Tai and his sister Kari and their first encounter with Digimon. A Digi-Eggaccidentally fell through a warp between the two worlds, and manifested through the Kamiya's computer, promptly hatching into a Botamon and then Digivolving into a Koromon, and then an Agumon. The Agumon left the apartment to explore, with Kari in tow, and Tai chased after them, but was unable to track them down before a second, massive Digi-Egg appeared in the sky, which opened to reveal Parrotmon. The bird Digimon quickly engaged the Agumon in a scuffle, using his Sonic Destroyer to bring a bridge crashing down on top of him, Kari and Tai. However, as the rubble fell, the Agumon Digivolved into a Greymon, and shielded the kids, before tearing into Parrotmon. However, he was still no match for him, and was knocked out, only to be revived as Tai blew long and hard on Kari's whistle. As the Greymon attacked again with his Nova Flame, they two disappeared in a white light - they were presumed destroyed, but it was later revealed that they'd returned to the DigiWorld. Tai and Kari suppressed the memory of the event, and the damage done was blamed on a terrorist bombing. However, witnessing this battle marked both Tai and Kari - as well as six other kids who saw it - as the next generation of DigiDestined. Four years later, Tai and the other six kids were sucked into the DigiWorld from their summer camp, in a summer when the Earth's weather systems were warping out of control. There, they met their Digimon - Tai's partner was Agumon, but still he did not remember the battle he had seen four years before. When Tai was menaced by Shellmon, shortly after the kids arrived, Agumon became the first of the kids' Digimon to Digivolve to Champion level, becoming Greymon and blasting Shellmon over the horizon with his Nova Blast. Later, when the kids were attacked by Devimon, the island was split up into different parts, and Tai found himself abandoned in Freeze Lang with Agumon, where he ran into Frigimon, though thankfully, Agumon was able to free him from the control of the Black Gear that had infected him. Frigimon then helped them find Matt and Gabumon, and deal with the Black-Gear-possessed Mojyamon. Once the kids beat Devimon, they set off for the continent of Server. Upon arrival on Server, after a run-in with Etemon, Tai was he first to find his Crest, the Crest of Courage. He thought that as he was the only one with a Crest so far, it meant he had to look out for everyone, and take all the responsibility on himself. During another battle with Etemon, Tai tried to use his Crest to make Greymon Digivolve to his Ultimate stage. When that failed - as Tai had not mastered true courage - he tried to force the process, the end result being that the Digivolution became corrupted, transforming Greymon into SkullGreymon, an controllable Digimon who attacked the kids. Fortunately, his energy wore off before he could harm them, but after that, both Tai and Agumon were afraid to try Digivolving again, in case the same thing happened. With aid from Piximon, they overcame their fears. When Sora was kidnapped by Datamon, Tai mastered true courage in coming to her rescue despite the odds, and standing up to Etemon, Greymon successfully Digivolved to MetalGreymon. He then destroyed Etemon and his Dark Network, opening up a rift to the real world in the process, which Tai and he were sucked into. Tai found himself back on Earth, and returned to his apartment to meet up with his sister Kari. It became evident that the weird weather conditions Earth had been experiencing were the result of Digimon crossing between dimensions. Agumon battled Ogremon, and Tai's Digivice then opened the portal to the DigiWorld again, which he and Agumon travelled back through. Meeting up with T.K. at a lakeshore amusement park, Tai realised that time travels a lot faster in the DigiWorld than on Earth - several months had passed there in the few hours he had been on Earth. He and T.K. then found Matt and Joe working in Digitamamon's diner, and then he and Joe found Mimi in the palace of theGekomon and Otamamon. Tai managed to get all of the DigiDestined together again, just in time to run smack into a confrontation with the malevolentMyotismon, who succeeded in opening a portal to Earth. He led his minions on an assault on central Odaiba, in his search for the Eighth Child - the foretold eighth member of the DigiDestined, who was revealed to be Tai's sister, Kari. Myotismon captured her, but Tai was able to find her Digivice, and gave it to her, which, along with her Tag and Crest, supplied by Wizardmon, allowed her to Digivolve her Digimon, Gatomon, into Angewomon. The other Digimon combined their powers with hers, and destroyed Myotismon. However, Myotismon returned as VenomMyotismon, and to fight him, Tai and Matt had to let themselves be struck by Angewomon and Angemon's attacks, in accordance with a prophecy unearthed by Gennai. This allowed Agumon and Gabumon to Warp-Digivolve to their Mega stages of WarGreymon andMetalGarurumon, who went on to beat VenomMyotismon. Tai returned along with the other kids, now with Kari in tow, to the DigiWorld, where they and their Digimon battled the Dark Masters. During the battle withPuppetmon, Tai and Matt had their ultimate confrontation, as WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon fought, as Matt had been tricked into it by Cherrymon. Matt left the team, realising that he wanted to try and find his own path in life, rather than simply following Tai's orders. Joe and Mimi did the same, no longer wishing to fight. Then, while fighting Machinedramon, Kari fell ill, and Tai blamed himself, recalling how she had almost died once due to his negligence several years prior. Her health was restored, and Machinedramon bested, and Tai and the others went on to prepare for battle against Piedmon. While they were fighting LadyDevimon, Tai dispatched Sora and T.K. to find Matt and the others and bring them back. They did so, but Tai and WarGreymon had already been badly battered by Piedmon. Matt's Crest of Friendship energised WarGreymon, restoring him to normal, and he and Tai realised that, despite all their differences, they were great friends. As the battle was joined by MetalGarurumon, Piedmon used his powers to transform WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon into key chains - quickly followed by Tai and Matt themselves! One by one the kids fell to the villain, until only T.K., Kari and Patamon remained. T.K.'s Crest finally glowed, allowing Patamon to Digivolve toMagnaAngemon, who used his MagnaAntidote to return everyone to normal. Mimi and her Digimon allies then arrived to help finally defeat Piedmon and hisVilemon horde. Following that, they were plunged into battle with Apocalymon, who destroyed their crests and deleted their digital selves. However, the kids realised that the power was inside them, and it had been all along. They reconstituted their digital bodies, and their Digimon then Digivolved and defeated Apocalymon, restoring the balance in the DigiWorld. Tai returned to the real world with his friends, leaving the Digimon behind - but he knew that some day, the portal would open again, and they would return. In November 1999, Tai heard the sound of Kari's whistle, but, knowing that it had been left with Gatomon in the DigiWorld, realised that a gate had once again opened. Through his father's computer, he communicated with Agumon, but the gate closed before Kari returned home to see it. This was revealed in a Japanese audio drama CD released three years after season one ended. Eight months later, Tai and Sora had a falling out, when Sora interpreted his giving her a hairpin for her birthday as an insult. She refused to speak to him, and Tai attempted to e-mail her an apology, accidentally signed with “love,” which was then sent by Kari. The mail failed to go through, however, due to electronic disruptions created by Kuramon, a part-Digimon, part-virus creature who had hatched into the Internet, out of a Digi-Egg created by Willis, an American DigiDestined boy. Izzy had already learned of Kuramon’s existence, and raced to Tai’s apartment to inform him. As he explained the situation to Tai, Kuramon Digivolved into Tsumemon in front of their eyes, then, as they networked Izzy’s computer to Tai’s father’s, he became Keramon. Not knowing what to do, Tai wished Agumon was there – and his wish was soon granted, as Gennai and the Digimon contacted them from the DigiWorld. Unable to get in touch with any of the other kids, Tai and Izzy had to go it alone, as Agumon and Tentomon went into the Internet to battle Keramon. During the battle, he became Infermon and defeated their Digimon before escaping. Infermon then proceeded to shut down communications all across the world, as Tai tried again to raise the other kids, this time succeeding in contacting Matt and T.K., allowing Gabumon and Patamon to join the battle. As WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon faced off against Infermon with Tentomon and Patamon backing them up, the villain Digivolved again into his Mega form of Diaboromon, and quickly took down the two Rookies. As a result of the many e-mails of support they were receiving, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon’s processing speeds began to slow down, and when Tai bashed the computer in anger, it crashed and had to be rebooted. In that short space of time, Diaboromon defeated the two Megas and escaped again, activating nuclear missiles and multiplying himself many times over, intending to wipe out the DigiDestined utterly. WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon faced off against him once again, and somehow, the bond between them and Tai and Matt was so strong, it pulled Tai and Matt into the Internet, where they were able to bolster the Digimon. Then, the two Megas absorbed the energy from the many e-mails they had been sent, and fused together into a  obliterated the Diaboromon clones, and with one second left, impaled Diaboromon through the head, destroying him and stopping the missile detonation – also allowing Tai’s mail to get through to Sora.

In May 2000, Tai and the other kids were called back into the DigiWorld by Gennai, who instructed them to release the powers of their Crests, forming a shield that would protect the DigiWorld against evil. As a side effect, Agumon and the other Digimon were left unable to Digivolve to their Ultimate forms.

As time went by, Tai met Davis through their joint love of soccer, and Davis apparently started to wear goggles of his own in emulation of Tai.

Four years after Apocalymon’s defeat, when the Digimon Emperor began his conquest of the DigiWorld, Agumon called on Tai for help. Tai was somehow able to enter the DigiWorld (it was never explained how, but it must have been via an already-open Digi-Port, as he would not be able to open one of his own with his Digivice), only to discover that Agumon was unable to Digivolve. Meeting up with Gatomon and Patamon, he discovered the Digi-Egg of Courage, and attempted to lift it. He was unable to, but at his touch, it released three fireballs, which proved to be three new D-3 Digivices, which transported themselves to the real world, where they were received by Davis, Yolei and Cody. Davis entered the DigiWorld with T.K. and Kari, in response to a summons from Tai, who was most surprised to see Davis there. Davis was then able to lift the Digi-Egg of Courage, and in doing so, released Veemon, his Digimon partner, who then used the Digi-Egg to Armour Digivolve to Flamedramon and defeat a Monochromon under the control of one of the Emperor’s Dark Rings. Davis’s goggles were destroyed in the fight, and Tai gave him his to replace them.

The following day, Tai called a meeting of the original eight DigiDestined, to discuss what should be done next. He, Izzy, and Sora decided to accompany T.K., Kari, Davis, Yolei and Cody into the DigiWorld, but when they were about to pass through the Digi-Port, Mr. Fujiama entered the room. Tai dragged him out of the room, saying he needed some advice, allowing the others to head for the DigiWorld.

After the destruction of the Control Spire at Santa Caria, Tai appeared briefly to assess the situation. It was learned that the Control Spires were responsible for inhibiting Digivolution, and with this in mind, Tai was able to have Agumon becomeGreymon to help destroy more of them.

When Kari was stranded in the Gardromon city, T.K. and Davis attempted to save her, while Yolei called on Tai for help. Tai went into the DigiWorld, to find Kari and the others under threat from Andromon, who had fallen prey to one of the Emperor’s Dark Rings. Tai and Kari were able to bring Andromon’s memories of their adventure four years ago to the surface, and light from Kari’s D-3 allowed him to overcome the Dark Ring’s powers. After returning to the real world, the group ran into Izzy, who was angry with Tai for not alerting him to the situation. Tai apologised, and Izzy unveiled some of his discoveries about the D-3s.

When Agumon was captured by the Digimon Emperor and fitted with a Dark Ring, he Digivolved into SkullGreymon again. After reverting to Agumon, the Emperor spirited him away, and continued his experiments, trying to make him Digivolve into MetalGreymon. The Emperor’s partner, Wormmon, wanted the Emperor to use him to fight, rather than Agumon, and so he freed Agumon, to no avail, as the Emperor pursued him. Tai and Matt had come to the DigiWorld with the new kids to track down Agumon, but Agumon found them, and there was a brief reunion between Tai and him, before the Emperor arrived, and attached a newly-created Dark Spiral to Agumon, which gave him the power to Dark Digivolve into a viral version of MetalGreymon, who the Emperor promptly took on a rampage across the DigiWorld. Tai and the others pursued him, and in a final battle, Davis activated the newly discovered Digi-Egg of Friendship, and Veemon became Raidramon, using his power to destroy the Spiral and free Agumon.

During the summer, Tai and some of the other older DigiDestined accompanied the newer kids into the DigiWorld in search of the Digimon Emperor’s base. When it was located, Tai formulated a plan to allow the newer kids to go into the DigiWorld and stay there until the Emperor’s base was destroyed – they would say they were going on a camping trip, with Tai, Matt and Izzy really did go camping to cover for them. After the kids’ first battle with the Emperor’s creation, Kimeramon, Tai, Matt and Izzy deliberated on what to do. Their Digimon helped set the Emperor’s base aflame using an oil pipeline, allowing the newer kids time to sneak in. In the ensuing battle, Magnamon defeated Kimeramon, and the Emperor reverted back to his persona of Ken Ichijouji. The kids returned to the campsite, where Tai and Matt were doing their best to get rid of June. On the trip home, Tai remarked to Izzy that the DigiWorld was in safe hands with the new kids on the job.

Tai didn’t appear again for a long time, and next showed up at Christmas time. The newer kids had brought Agumon and the other Digimon into the real world to celebrate Christmas with their partners, and Tai was overjoyed to see him again. Later that day, when he and the older kids were at Matt’s concert, before the show started, Tai found Sora by Matt’s dressing room, and asked her if she was going to the concert with anyone, evidently planning to ask her himself. When she replied that she was going alone, in case Matt was free afterwards, Tai was clearly saddened, but said nothing, merely encouraging Sora to go on into the room and say hi to Matt for him. As Agumon commented that he’s really grown up, Tai was promptly knocked off his feet as June raced past. Then, the concert was disrupted when aDarkTyrannomon and some Bakemon burst into the auditorium. Agumon found himself unable to Digivolve, as Arukenimon had brought a Control Spire and the wild Digimon through to the real world, so Tai quickly called on Kari, who arrived with the other kids. The Armour Digimon destroyed the Control Spire, and then everyone Digivolved to send the wild Digimon back to the DigiWorld.

When Izzy discovered that Control Spires were appearing all over the Earth, the DigiDestined quickly made contact with other DigiDestined kids in various different countries. Gennai appeared to organise the proceedings, and then gave each of the Digimon a power boost courtesy of one of Azulongmon’s Digi-Cores, restoring the original eight Digimon’s ability to Digivolve to the Ultimate level. The kids were then taken all over the world by Imperialdramon to destroy the spires and round up the wild Digimon. Tai, T.K. and their Digimon were taken to France, where they met with T.K.’s grandfather, and confronted Mamemon, BigMamemon andMetalMamemon at the Palace of Versailles. The Mamemons had taken Catherine, a French DigiDestined girl, hostage, and Tai and T.K. – both quite taken with her – freed her and her Floramon as Greymon and Angemon battled the misfits. Then, their boss, Giromon, appeared, and Greymon and Angemon Digivolved into MetalGreymon and MagnaAngemon to defeat them, along with a little help from Kiwimon, Floramon’s Champion form.

After returning to Japan, Tai talked to Kari about the future of the new DigiDestined – and the fact that they would have to destroy real, living Digimon some day. That day turned out to be the following one, as the Daemon Corps arrived in Tokyo, intent on finding Ken and the Dark Spore within him. Tai, Izzy, Davis and Ken all took on SkullSatamon with their Digimon, but the villain defeated them easily, and soon the other Digimon fell too. Agumon and the other gave up their power to Digivolve to Ultimate once again, using the power to energise Imperialdramon, who Mode Changed to his Fighter Mode and destroyed SkullSatamon. ''Then, despite the fact that there were evil Digimon running loose all over the city, Tai and the older kids... went home.''

Two days later, Agumon called Tai and Kari into the DigiWorld, where they discovered mass destruction, courtesy of the returned BlackWarGreymon, who had travelled to Earth, intending to destroy Oikawa, the human who created Arukenimon and Mummymon, and hence had created him. Azulongmon restored Agumon’s power to Warp-Digivolve, and as WarGreymon, he and Tai took on BlackWarGreymon, trying to stop him from killing Oikawa, who they needed to remove the copies of the Dark Spore he had implanted in other children. With help from Imperialdramon, they managed to defeat BlackWarGreymon, and he left to think more on the friendship they had offered him.

Tai appeared again briefly when Oikawa absorbed the power of a Dark Spore. BlackWarGreymon defended Cody’s grandfather, but was fatally injured, and Tai and WarGreymon arrived in time to witness his sacrifice, as he used the remainder of his strength to seal the gate at Highton View Terrace.

When the other kids were all standing watch at Highton View Terrace, Tai was with Sora, as they trailed Noriko, the girl whose spore had flowered and been absorbed by Oikawa. Meanwhile, the newer kids pursued Oikawa, Arukenimon, Mummymon and the Spore kids through a portal they believed led to the DigiWorld – when in actuality, it led to a completely different dimension... where the truth was finally revealed. The spirit of Myotismon had been within Oikawa for the last four years, manipulating his actions. Myotismon exited Oikawa’s body, and used the power of the Dark Spores to transform himself into MaloMyotismon. After an abortive attempt at seducing the kids with illusions of their greatest desires, the villain fled into the DigiWorld, where he absorbed the darkness there, boosting his powers – and began to spread a shroud of darkness across both Earth and the DigiWorld.

Tai, the other kids, and the parents of all the DigiDestined went to the summer camp where everything had started, and Tai attempted to open the gateway to the DigiWorld there, to no avail at first, but then the portal opened, and the DigiDestined and Noriko travelled through – as, at the same time, DigiDestined from all over the world travelled through similar portals, all congregating on the site of the final battle. The Spore kids were convinced to believe in their dreams, the positive energy weakened MaloMyotismon, discorporating his body, and then everyone used their Digivices to power up Imperialdramon, who used his Giga Crusher attack to destroy Myotismon’s spirit – hopefully for good.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm0cm0.0001pt;">Three months later, a photo of Tai as a child began circulating on the Internet, and led Izzy to the discovery that Diaboromon had survived his battle with Omnimon four years beforehand, and had used the time in between to reproduce as millions of Kuramon. The Kuramon was transmitting themselves via this e-mail, and manifesting in the real world. While the younger DigiDestined set about rounding up the Kuramon, Tai, Matt and Omnimon headed into the Internet to battle Diaboromon again. At first their path was barred by a Kuramon swarm, but some timely help from T.K., Kari, Angemon and Angewomon allowed Omnimon to destroy Diaboromon. However, just beforehand, Davis had learned that Kari had gone into the 'net, and demanded that Yolei open the gate for him to go to her - but in doing so, he played right into Diaboromon's hands, as the gate opened so wide that all the Kuramon were able to escape into the real world, and merge into the monstrous Armageddemon. Omnimon followed him back to the real world, but was quickly defeated, sending Tai and Matt into a state of shock. Thankfully, Sora's arrival snapped them both out of it, and they then watched as Imperialdramon Paladin Mode took Armageddemon down.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm0cm0.0001pt;">Twenty-five years into the future, the portal to the DigiWorld remains opens, and Tai becomes a diplomat, dealing with relations between the two worlds. Agumon works alongside him. In addition to getting a serious haircut, Tai is also married, and has a son, who has a Koromon for a partner.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm0cm0.0001pt;">Chronologically speaking, Tai first appears in "Digimon: The Movie."' He first appears in the series in '“And so it begins...” His voice is supplied by Joshua Seth, except in  "Revenge of Diaboromon,"  where Jason Spisak takes over the role.