You know that earworm of a jingle? The one that goes "Anata no, terebi ni..." and suddenly you’re reaching for your wallet? That’s President Tanaka. In Tanaka Persona 3 Reload, he isn't just a TV shopping host; he’s the "Devil" you literally have to pay to hang out with. Honestly, most players treat him as a joke character or a way to get some cheap SP items on a Sunday morning. They’re missing out.
He is one of the most unique Social Links in the entire game because he doesn't care about your "bonds" or your feelings. He cares about your cash. If you want to see the real side of the businessman who somehow appears in almost every Persona game since the third one, you’ve got to play his game. It’s expensive, it’s sketchy, and it’s surprisingly one of the best written arcs in the remake.
How to actually unlock Tanaka Persona 3 Reload
Don't expect him to just show up at school. That’s not how he operates. Tanaka is a night owl, and he only hangs out at the Paulownia Mall. But before he even looks at you, you’ve got to do some legwork. You need to reach Rank 4 of the Hermit Social Link (that’s Maya, the online gamer). Once she mentions a shady businessman, the door is cracked open.
But wait, there’s a catch. You can’t just walk up to him with zero social standing. You need Rank 4 Charm (Smooth). If you haven't been hitting the Hagakure Ramen shop or the movies, you're out of luck.
The 40,000 Yen "Investment"
Once you meet the requirements, find him sitting by the fountain on a Tuesday or Saturday night. He’s going to ask for an investment. It’s basically a scam, let’s be real. You have to give him 20,000 Yen the first time. Then, you have to come back on a different night and give him another 10,000. Then another 10,000.
Total cost? 40,000 Yen.
In the early game, that is a massive chunk of change. You could buy like fifty Mad Bulls with that. But once you cough up the final installment, the Devil Social Link finally begins.
The weird truth about ranking up the Devil Link
In most Social Links, you have to sweat over every dialogue choice. If you say the wrong thing to Yukari, she might get annoyed. If you mess up with Kenji, you’re stuck wasting a day.
Tanaka Persona 3 Reload is different.
The Devil Social Link is what fans call an "automatic" rank-up link. Basically, every single time you meet with him, the rank goes up. It doesn’t matter if you have a Devil Arcana Persona in your inventory. It doesn’t even really matter what you say, though picking the "greedy" answers is more fun and fits the vibe.
This makes him incredibly valuable for your schedule. Since he only appears at night, and night slots are usually much easier to fill than day slots, you can max him out without any stress. You just need those ten nights. He’s the perfect gap-filler when you’ve finished your social stats but haven't unlocked the Tower monk (Mutatsu) yet.
📖 Related: Grand Theft Auto 5 for Xbox 1: Why We Are Still Playing This Game Ten Years Later
What you get for dealing with a scammer
You might wonder why you’re spending 40k and ten nights talking to a guy who wants to sell you "placebo" pills. The rewards are actually top-tier.
- Fusion Bonus: Every rank increases the XP bonus for Devil Personas.
- The Ultimate Devil: Maxing him out gives you the Thank-You Letter. This is the key to fusing Beelzebub, arguably one of the strongest magic-based Personas in the game.
- Amazing Commodities: While not strictly tied to his Social Link rank, his TV show on Sundays becomes your lifeline. In Reload, the item sets are significantly better than the original. You can get high-end accessories and rare consumables that make Tartarus runs much less of a headache.
Why his story actually matters
Without spoiling the ending, Tanaka’s arc isn't just about him being a jerk. He’s the embodiment of the Devil Arcana—temptation, materialism, and the darker side of human ambition. But by the time you reach Rank 10, you see a sliver of humanity. He’s still a capitalist at heart, sure, but he starts to respect the protagonist's "invested interest" in him. It’s a cynical, funny, and strangely touching story about how even the most money-hungry person in Iwatodai needs a friend.
Common mistakes to avoid
People often wait too long to start his link because of the 40,000 Yen entry fee. Don't do that. Money in Reload is much easier to come by than in the FES or Portable versions. Just one good run through the middle blocks of Tartarus with a few "Wealth" Arcana cards from Shuffle Time will net you way more than 40k.
Another mistake? Forgetting his TV show on Sundays. You have to interact with the TV in your room. If you go straight to the mall or the shrine, you miss the window. The items he sells are often exclusive or at least much cheaper than buying them separately.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough
Check your current Charm rank immediately. If you're at Rank 3, spend your next few nights at the arcade playing "You're the Star" to bump it up. Once you hit "Smooth," make sure you have 40,000 Yen ready. If you're short on cash, go to Tartarus on a "Great" condition night and focus on breaking every orange crystal you see; the loot you sell to Officer Kurosawa will cover Tanaka’s "fee" in no time. Once the link is active, prioritize him on Tuesday nights to clear his schedule before the late-game rush.