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Sadayo Kawakami, Joker’s homeroom teacher in Persona 5 Royal, begins the game with a rather cold attitude toward the new transfer student with a criminal record. But only a few weeks into his year in Tokyo, through a bit of teen-boy debauchery, Joker learns a secret about Kawakami that changes everything.

RELATED: Persona 5 Royal: Room Decoration Guide

And since both of them have secrets that need keeping, they strike a mutually beneficial deal. Kawakami in Persona 5 Royal is one of the more divisive Confidant links, but we’ve got a full guide for you on how to rank up Kawakami’s Confidant.

Updated on December 19, 2022 by Gabrielle Castania: While Persona 5 Royal’s Kawakami Confidant is much like it was in vanilla P5, there are still quite a few things to keep track of as you progress through the year. We went back and made sure all the info in our guide is as correct and polished as possible for the smoothest experience befriending your teacher.

Though we’ll do our best to avoid them, this guide may contain spoilers for Persona 5 Royal.

Availability And Perks

persona 5 royal kawakami and joker in a meeting room at school

First available two days after the Phantom Thieves finish Madarame’s Museum Palace, Joker will make some nighttime plans with Ryuji and Mishima anytime after 5/24.

Before this event can take place, though, that day in school, you need to find Kawakami in front of the staff room at Shujin Academy (on the second floor). Distract her from Ms. Chuono by saying, “I have a question for her.

You’ll see a scene play out introducing Kawakami’s side hustle to the player, and after this, you can use the yellow phone on the counter at Leblanc to call Kawakami at nighttime on Fridays and Saturdays. She’ll occasionally text Joker to initiate events on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, too.

While hanging out with Kawakami in this context is necessary to progress her Confidant ranking, each visit from Kawakami will cost you ¥5,000.

Kawakami’s Confidant in Persona 5 Royal will lock on 11/17 for story progression. While she becomes available again at the beginning of January, her perks are most helpful while you’re in the main part of the story. Pair that with her being available early on, and Kawakami is a Confidant you’ll want to max sooner than later.

Kawakami’s Persona 5 Royal Confidant Unlocks

Rank

Skill

Description

1

Slack Off

Joker can perform other activities during Kawakami’s class at school.

3

Housekeeping

Kawakami can make coffee or do laundry when you call her to Leblanc.

5

Free Time

Joker can perform other activities during other classes at school.

6

Super Housekeeping

Kawakami can make curry or infiltration tools when you call her to Leblanc.

10 (Max)

Special Massage

By calling Kawakami for a massage after going into the Metaverse, Joker will still have enough energy to go out at night afterwards.

RELATED: Persona 5 Royal: How To Get The Eternal Lockpick

Ranking Up

persona 5 royal kawakami maid becky and joker at leblanc

Like your other Persona 5 Royal Confidants, your relationship will grow faster with Kawakami if you hang out with her with a Persona of the matching arcana. For Kawakami, that’s Temperance.

Kawakami is impacted by scoring well on your school exams, too. Scoring top of your class will give you 1.5x affinity with her while landing in the top ten gives 1.2x affinity. These stack with your other bonuses as well.

Joker cannot begin hanging out with Kawakami to progress her confidant until he has reached Level 3 Guts.

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 1

There’s only one prompt for this ranking that awards affinity, which is the final one as Joker and Kawakami are at Leblanc.

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"It'll be our wittle secret, just for Becky and Master, okay? Can you keep a secret?"

"Yeah, I get it."

2

3

"I will if you will."

1

2

"Please stop talking like that."

1

2

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 2

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"But then, doesn't it pain your heart to see such a cute maid all dirty?"

"It does."

1

2

"I feel nothing."

0

0

"I'll tell your boss."

0

0

"You weren't expecting to do anything weird with me, were you?"

"I can't say I wasn't..."

0

0

"Absolutely not!"

1

2

"What kind of weird things?"

0

0

"I assume you make a lot, since you can afford a maid service... Well, let me know if you do."

"You need money?"

0

0

"What's it for?"

0

0

"You shouldn't be wasting it on services like this..."

"Are you scolding me?"

0

0

"This is all for you."

0

0

"I requested you."

0

0

Phone Call: "I really wanna do a lot more cleaning for you... Is that okay, Master?"

"You have the wrong number."

1

2

"Uh, what the hell?"

1

2

"Is this the hard sell?"

1

2

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 3

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"The high-end cup noodles really do make a difference, don't they?"

"Yeah, they do."

1

2

"Do some real cooking."

1

2

"Can I have a different maid?"

0

0

"...Besides, I thought I warned you already. Why would you request me again...?"

"I was curious."

0

0

"So I could slack off in class."

0

0

"I wanted to see you."

0

0

"I heard they might even cut the teachers' salaries... I'm so sick of it..."

"Your sister's bills, right?"

0

0

"I'll request you more often."

3

3

"You're really blunt."

0

0

"Oh, did you hear that? Haha... Yeah, I'm a little behind on my sister's medical bills."

"You have it rough."

0

0

"Are they that expensive?"

0

0

"Don't overdo it."

0

0

Phone Call: "...Seriously, though. You're still young, so you really need to eat properly..."

"Thanks."

1

2

"I'll work hard at it."

0

0

"You're not in character."

0

0

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 4

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"I want to provide more services for you..."

"That would be great."

0

0

"What are you scheming?"

0

0

"But he said that he prioritizes 'younger' women!"

"How rude."

1

2

"No surprise there."

0

0

"How old ARE you?"

0

0

"I look pretty good as a maid, don't I?"

"Yes, you do."

1

2

"You're pushing it."

0

0

"You need to love yourself."

3

3

"I don't have a sick sister. All that stuff about the fees and charges was all a lie too."

"I already knew that."

0

0

"Why did you lie to me?"

0

0

"You're a bad teacher."

0

0

persona 5 royal kawakami and joker in the attic at leblanc

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 5

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"You know you're being used for money... and you still request me?"

"It's fun."

1

2

"I want to know more."

0

0

"Who's the Master here?"

1

2

"He threatened me... saying that I'd be dismissed if I continued to tutor Takase-kun."

"How terrible..."

1

2

"It was inevitable."

0

0

"So, did you stop?"

1

2

"If only I had kept my promise to him..."

"It's not your fault."

0

0

"It was bad luck."

0

0

"It's no one's fault."

0

0

"So I ended up paying them the 'apology' money so they wouldn't sue me or say anything."

"You OK with that?"

0

0

"Guardians, huh..."

0

0

"I've been coming here because of a random twist of fate, but we should say goodbye as well."

"It's too late now."

0

0

"What about our deal?"

0

0

"I want to see you again."

0

0

Phone Call: "There's always this nice curry smell around the place. Do you get to eat that place's curry every day?"

"Curry is all I eat."

0

0

"You get bored of the taste."

0

0

"You want some?"

1

2

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 6

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"Sorry... I need to take a break..."

"You just got here."

0

0

"Want to rest a bit?"

1

2

"Give me back my money."

0

0

"I can't stop coughing..."

"Are you all right?"

3

3

"Have you seen a doctor?"

1

2

"You should go home."

3

3

"I had my boss give me more shifts. I had to beg him for them, but..."

"Are you OK?"

0

0

"Don't overdo it."

0

0

Phone Call: "If you neglect stuff like that, it makes you more likely to get sick."

"I'll be fine."

0

0

"Nah, too lazy."

0

0

"How are you feeling, though?"

1

2

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 7

If you’re intending to pursue Kawakami romantically, you’ll need to make a specific choice during this Confidant scene. It's not the final choice toward romancing Kawakami, but you need to make this dialogue decision to progress in that direction. We’ve marked it with **asterisks** for clarity.

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"I should be able to send it out tomorrow..."

"Don't strain yourself."

1

2

"Don't lie."

0

0

"Don't pay them."

2

3

"I guess transferring to our sister company is the only way..."

"Sister company?"

0

0

"Can you make a lot there?"

0

0

** "Think this through more." **

3

3

"So if his guardians demand money, then I just have to pay them..."

"That's the wrong choice."

0

0

"Isn't there another way?"

0

0

"Just rest for now."

0

0

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 8

Only available on school nights. Part two takes place the following day at school, but it will not take up Joker’s free time that day. You receive the “A Teacher Maid to Suffer” Mementos Request during this scene.

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"...So this is just what I have to do."

"That's the wrong decision."

0

0

"Please reconsider."

0

0

"Is this really what you want?"

2

3

"That's why I'm going to quit both my teaching job and my maid job... What do you think?"

"You're running away."

1

2

"If that's what you decided."

2

3

"I need my teacher."

0

0

"And yet, I still felt the need to teach... I wonder why I feel that way even now."

"Try to remember."

0

0

"That's your answer."

0

0

"Take a look at yourself."

0

0

"I can't make things right with Takase-kun like this..."

"Are you going to give up?"

0

0

"Mistakes can be fixed."

0

0

"And that is my answer! ...Well, what do you think?"

"Be confident in your answer."

2

3

"That's the right choice."

2

3

"You're asking a student?"

2

3

"But from now on, I'm going to protect you too. As your teacher, I will never betray you."

"I want to protect you."

2

3

"That's reassuring."

2

3

Phone Call: "But I felt so stuck facing it alone. It's thanks to you that I actually figured out what I need to do."

"You're welcome."

1

2

"So much for being a maid."

0

0

"I'll do anything for you."

0

0

persona 5 royal kawakami and joker in the hospital student's parents mementos request

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 9

This rank is locked until you complete the “A Teacher Maid to Suffer” Mementos Request for Kawakami, and she will only call you afterwards if you choose to stay friends. Additionally, this event will only be available on schooldays.

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"I bet I'll be an old woman by the time I achieve my dreams."

"Nonsense."

2

3

"You may be right."

0

0

"Aren't you old already...?"

0

0

"Today marks the day I graduate from being your maid."

"What a bummer."

3

3

"Thank you for your service."

3

3

"Besides, won't you be lonely? Hm?"

"Not really."

1

2

"I want to keep seeing you."

1

2

"Giving someone the wrong idea... It's a sinful act, you know?"

"Got it."

1

2

"I mean what I say."

0, progress to romance track

"This situation isn't normal. I'm a teacher, and you're my student, you know?"

"I'm a master; you're a maid."

Friendship

"I'm a man; you're a woman."

Romance

If You Stayed Friends

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

Phone Call: "But somewhere along the way, I forgot about all that... Reigniting your original resolve is easier said than done."

"I agree."

0

0

"You can do it."

1

2

"You were a pretty good maid."

0

0

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 10 (Friendship)

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"I need to work hard so I can make up for all the times I let my students down in the past."

"I'm glad to hear that."

2

3

"Sounds like you're busy."

1

2

"I put up with the mess because you were my client, but you need to thoroughly clean in here!"

"I will."

2

3

"You're not my mom..."

0

0

"Same goes for you."

0

0

"You're a member of the Phantom Thieves, right?"

"What are you talking about?"

0

0

"Why do you think that?"

0

0

"I'm just a high schooler."

0

0

"And you're the only one who knew about my situation."

"You got me."

0

0

"You have no proof."

0

0

"...So what if I am?"

0

0

"A new path where I'll never abandon any of my students..."

"That sounds promising."

2

3

"I'll make sure of it."

2

3

Kawakami’s Confidant, Rank 10 (Romance)

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"...I'm sorry."

"...Really?"

0

0

"I see."

0

0

"That's too bad..."

0

0

"...I'm a teacher... And you're my student..."

"It doesn't matter."

0

0

"That's the best part."

0

0

"I'm restraining myself because you're so special to me..."

"We won't get caught."

0

0

"Don't worry about it."

0

0

"You're so responsible."

0

0

"Or is that the sort of thing a member of the Phantom Thieves is into?"

"What are you talking about?"

0

0

"When did you realize?"

0

0

"And you're the only one who knew about my situation."

"You got me."

0

0

"You have no proof."

0

0

"...So what if I am?"

0

0

"A new path where I'll never abandon any of my students..."

"That sounds promising."

3

3

"I'll make sure of it."

3

3

"I'll obey them, you know... even though I'm no longer a maid."

"I want to rely on you."

3

3

"I want you to rely on me."

3

3

RELATED: Persona 5 Royal: Complete Confidant Gift Guide

Additional Hangouts With Kawakami

Untitled persona 5 royal kawakami and joker on the beach in hawaii

Sometimes, Kawakami will text Joker to see about making plans with him instead of Joker always being the one to ask. While you can’t rank up your Confidants during these additional scenes, you still build affinity all the same. Additionally, replying to Kawakami’s text as soon as you see it will grant a 1.2x multiplier to your affinity during the scene.

These are Kawakami’s extra hangout scenes.

Taking Kawakami On A Date In Hawaii

This event is exclusively shown if you're in a romantic relationship with Kawakami before leaving for the trip. If you're not dating her, the game will present you with other options for this scene instead.

Unless you've kept one on you, be sure to grab a Temperance Persona on 9/6 before leaving for the trip - the Velvet Room is inaccessible on vacation!

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"What are you looking at?"

"Your swimsuit."

3

3

"The Waikiki beach."

0

0

"I can't really say."

1

2

"Tasting the local delicacies is an absolute must on vacation, don't you think?"

"It's the true pleasure of traveling."

3

3

"Let's eat together."

0

0

"Treat me."

0

0

"If that's true, then... I'm sorry."

"There's nothing we can do about it."

1

2

"I'll endure it."

1

2

"I want to see you more."

3

3

"...Just kidding. It's to commemorate today."

"Thanks."

2

3

"Are these matching?"

3

3

"We should head back."

"I don't want you to go."

0

0

"Just a bit longer."

0

0

Additional Benefits

Hawaiian Rug: Ma+5 and Lu+5

The Shujin Academy School Festival Afterparty Date With Kawakami On 10/26

As with Hawaiii, this scene is exclusive to if you're dating Kawakami.

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

"That's today's youth for you, I guess."

"You're right."

0

0

"It's all fruitless effort."

0

0

"You're quite dignified."

0

0

"I'll be there to help you."

"Thanks."

3

3

"That's reassuring."

3

3

"You're the ideal maid."

2

3

"But depend on me sometimes, all right?"

"How about a massage?"

0

0

"Can I sleep on your lap?"

0

0

"...This is embarrassing."

"It looks delicious."

0

0

"This makes me happy."

0

0

Additional Benefits

Sadayo Taiyaki: Restores 100SP to one ally.

Non-Ranking Hangouts

persona 5 royal kawakami and joker odaiba ferris wheel date

If your Confidant with someone won’t level up during their next hangout, Joker warns you before you hang out. However, still agreeing to go even in these situations will accrue points toward your Confidant ranking with Kawakami.

Below are your hangout options for when Kawakami isn’t quite ready to level up.

Kawakami's Dialogue

Joker's Response

Points earned without a Temperance Persona

Points earned with a Temperance Persona

Ueno, at the Museum

"I'm going to start acting like an honest teacher again."

"I'm looking forward to it."

2

3

"You know about art too?"

3

3

"No more 'Master'?"

3

3

Shibuya, at the Buffet (Only available if you stayed friends with Kawakami)

"Pasta, cake, omelette with fried rice... I'm up against a masterful chef..."

"You're going to eat all that?"

2

3

"Don't overdo it."

3

3

"You're gonna get sick again."

2

3

Odaiba, on the Ferris Wheel (Only available if you're romancing Kawakami)

"But that's what I love... It's frustrating to admit it... but I love you."

"Not as much as I love you."

3

3

"Do you regret that?"

3

3

"I know."

3

3

Additional Bonus

Night Pennant: A decoration for Joker's bedroom

Aoyama-Itchome, in the attic at Leblanc (Only available if you're romancing Kawakami)

"That old saying 'love is losing' is so true."

"Then I've lost too."

3

3

"I'm glad to see you."

3

3

"I want to be with you forever."

3

3

And with all the information above, you've now got everything you need to max out Kawakami's Confidant!

Next: Persona 5 Royal: How To Upgrade Your Technical Rank