My Dress-Up Darling is a popular rom-com series that blurs the line between seinen and shojo in all the right ways, and it all starts with the charming hero Gojo Wakana. He grew up loving traditional hina dolls and aspires to become a doll maker like his grandfather, but he has a long way to go. In the meantime, he can work on cosplay instead, and it's highly rewarding work.
Gojo Wakana is a fine shonen-style seinen hero thanks to his gentle and kind personality, not to mention his great work ethic and adorable shyness, which is what drew Kitagawa Marin to him. Gojo's personality can also be described according to his MBTI personality type, which may shed new light on who and what he really is.
Gojo Wakana's MBTI Type: ISFJ-T, The Defender
The Defender, or ISFJ, is one of the more common of the 16 personality types, and these people are easy to like thanks to being humble, selfless and generous, never drawing attention to themselves or demanding repayment for their kind deeds. Their code is ISFJ for Introverted Observant Feeling Judging, which combines to make a sensitive but quiet person with a strong sense of duty and responsibility, but without being flashy or showy about it. Like the Protagonist type, Defenders want to support and uplift others without putting themselves on a pedestal. They are also practical and detail-oriented like Logisticians but are more focused on helping people than creating spreadsheets.
The ISFJ personality type has some apparent contradictions, but Defenders like Gojo Wakana always find good ways to figure these out to get some work done. These people are shy, quiet and introverted, hence the I, but they are also selfless and care much more about other people than themselves like quieter Protagonists. Moreover, ISFJs are meticulous and hard workers, but they don't take pride in their good work ethic -- they care more about the results in terms of helping others. If asked, a Defender would say that their hard work is its own reward. Even if they are thanked for their hard work, a Defender will be reluctant to accept credit. It's not about them.
ISFJs have many strengths, including their selfless generosity, which is a virtue in the eyes of practically everyone. This means they are always desperately needed and appreciated everywhere they go, such as nurses and counselors. These people are patient and reliable thanks to their good work ethic, and an ISFJ won't leave a job half-done if someone needs them. Defenders are also notably creative and imaginative, and they can figure out the solution for any problem if it means aiding someone in need.
On the downside, Defenders are prone to burning themselves out and must remember to take care of themselves as well. A worn-out Defender can't help anyone if they don't help themselves first. Moreover, Defenders might be too sensitive for their own good and take things too personally, which may discourage or distract them from the job at hand. Defenders can also be oddly stubborn and hesitant to change their ways.
Gojo Wakana As A Defender In My Dress-Up Darling
Gojo Wakana expresses his turbulent ISFJ-T nature in many ways, starting with his excellent work ethic. As a true Defender, Gojo is practical and detail-oriented, and he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to finish the job, even if he must stay up all night to get it done. He practiced long and hard to paint hina doll faces, and he shocked Marin when he pushed himself to the limit to complete her costume in time for an event. Gojo also went the extra mile to help Juju and her sister Shinju make their costumes, and he eagerly learned about new techniques and accessories to help these girls make their cosplays even more authentic.
In addition, Gojo is a humble and meek boy who takes himself seriously but never boasts about anything, even when everyone else showers him with praise for a job well done. Gojo is undeniably talented and effective as a cosplay maker, but he wouldn't dream of hogging the spotlight or letting all this go to his head. Instead, he humbly shrugs off praise and focuses on what he can do better next time for the sake of his friends -- a true Defender move.
He is also generous, compassionate and gentle, and he is quick to look away if the girls show too much skin. He respects girls' privacy a great deal, and he can't bear the thought of making anyone else uncomfortable, even if he is secretly tempted to take a peek. While My Dress-Up Darling has plenty of fan service, a respectful ISFJ like Gojo Wakana won't take advantage of it or risk compromising his principles. That's the Defender way.
