You're wandering through Paulownia Mall at night, and there he is. Suit a bit too sharp, smile a bit too wide, and a theme song that—honestly—is way catchier than any corporate jingle has a right to be. President Tanaka. He's a staple of the series, showing up in cameos from Persona 4 to Persona 5, but in Persona 3 Reload, he’s more than just a TV shopping host. He’s your Devil Arcana.
Getting the Tanaka social link Persona 3 reload started is actually one of the biggest hurdles for players who don't like talking to "online" friends.
How to actually find the man
You can't just walk up to him on day one. First, you have to spend time with Maya (the Hermit Social Link). Around Rank 4 of the Hermit link, she'll mention a shady businessman she saw at the mall. That’s your cue.
But wait. There's a stat check.
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You need Rank 4 Charm (Smooth) just to get him to acknowledge your existence. If you’re still a "Plain" or "unattractive" student in his eyes, he won't give you the time of day. Once you have the charm, find him at Paulownia Mall on Tuesday or Saturday nights.
He’s going to ask for money. A lot of it.
- First night: ¥20,000
- Second night: ¥10,000
- Third night: ¥10,000
Total investment? ¥40,000. It feels like a total scam. In any other game, it probably would be. But in the weird world of Gekkoukan High, this is just the entry fee for a friendship with a billionaire who hates most people.
The weird thing about the Devil Arcana
Most Social Links in Persona 3 Reload require you to carry a matching Persona to get extra "points" and rank up faster. If you want to finish Yukari’s link, you better have a Lovers Persona.
Tanaka is different.
Basically, the Devil and Sun links are "guaranteed" rank-ups. You don't need to bring a Devil Persona like Lilim or Mokoi to make it go faster. Every time you hang out with him, he will rank up. This makes him the perfect Social Link to tackle when you're busy with other things, because you never have to waste a night "spending time" without a rank-up.
Best dialogue choices (though they don't really matter)
Even though he ranks up automatically, you might still want to pick the "best" answers just to see him get flustered or proud. Tanaka loves a protégé. He wants someone who understands the "grind" and doesn't care about ethics.
If he asks about your interests, tell him you like older women or that you're into money. He eats that up. Honestly, the dialogue is some of the funniest in the game because you're basically watching a mid-life crisis in real-time.
Rank 2: Choose "Placebo" and then "Wow." Rank 3: He'll ask if you've ever been to a place like this. Say "Maybe a little."
Rank 4: When he talks about his past, tell him "Sure have!" to keep the ego stroke going.
By the time you hit the later ranks, the tone shifts. You start seeing the cracks in the "President" persona. It's a surprisingly human story about a guy who realized he traded everything for a bank account that doesn't love him back.
Is he worth the ¥40,000?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Absolutely yes because of Beelzebub.
Maxing out the Tanaka social link Persona 3 reload gives you the "Thank-you Letter" key item. This is the only way to fuse the ultimate Devil Persona, Beelzebub. If you’re trying to fill out your Compendium or you just want a high-level magic powerhouse for the late-game Tartarus floors, you need this.
Also, it's worth noting a piece of series history. In the original Persona 3 FES, there was a legendary glitch where if you started Tanaka’s link on the final day of the game (January 31st), you could skip the final boss entirely. Atlus "fixed" this in Reload. He won't even talk to you on the final day now. Capitalism has its limits, apparently.
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Actionable steps for your playthrough
- Prioritize Charm early. Work the part-time job at the cafe or visit the movie theater. You want that Rank 4 Charm by June or July.
- Save your yen. ¥40,000 is a lot in the early game. Don't blow it all on weapons you'll replace in two floors.
- Use him as a "filler" link. Since he's at the mall on Tuesdays and Saturdays, use him to fill nights when the Tower link (Mutatsu) isn't available or when you've finished your social stats.
- Don't worry about carrying a Devil Persona. Free up that inventory slot for something you actually need for combat.
Once you hit Rank 10, Tanaka tells you to find what "truly makes you happy" and to quit hanging out with shady guys like him. It’s one of the few moments of genuine sincerity in his entire life. Grab that Thank-you Letter, fuse Beelzebub, and get back to saving the world.