Atsushi Nakajima (Bungo Stray Dogs)

Atsushi Nakajima
Bungo Stray Dogs character
Atsushi Nakajima as drawn by Sango Harukawa
First appearance	Bungo Stray Dogs, chapter 1: "Losing a Tiger may be a Blessing in Disguise" (2012)
Created by	Kafka Asagiri Sango Harukawa
Portrayed by	Yūki Torigoe
Voiced by	Yūto Uemura (Japanese) Max Mittelman (English)

Atsushi Nakajima (Japanese: 中島 敦, Hepburn: Nakajima Atsushi) is a fictional character in the manga series Bungo Stray Dogs, written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa. Atsushi also appears in the light novels based on the series and the 2018 film Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple. He is 15 years old in the beginning of the story, and near the end he’s 18 years old. At the age of 15 he was an orphan who was thrown out of an orphanage—an experience that motivates him to find a reason to live. Upon meeting detective Osamu Dazai, Atsushi learns he has a supernatural power called "Beast Beneath the Moonlight" that allows him to turn into a large white tiger with incredible strength, speed, durability, and regenerative capabilities. Despite his lack of confidence, Atsushi has a pure heart and is protective of others, hoping to become a strong person by helping the weak.

Atsushi was created by Asagiri as a weak-but-relatable character searching for his purpose in life. The character is based on a story by author Atsushi Nakajima about a young man becoming a tiger. The character has been voiced by Yūto Uemura in Japanese and Max Mittelman in English. The authors and anime staff of the series enjoyed working on Atsushi due to his interactions with other characters and his impact on the audience.

The initial reaction to Atsushi has been mixed; critics had differing opinions on having a weak-willed character as the lead. However, writers appreciated his rivalry with Port Mafia's Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and his care of former assassin Kyoka Izumi; they felt Atsushi became stronger because of these relationships, which formed his character arc.