Akito Tenkawa (天河 明人 Tenkawa Akito) is the main character of the anime series Martian Successor Nadesico.

Akito was born on Mars as the child of two researchers. His parents are killed in an explosion (caused by their employer, Nergal, we find out later). He is also one of the sole survivors of the Jovian invasion of Mars when he inadvertently bosun jumped to the Earth during the invasion.

He is fired from his job as a chef for suffering panic attacks when the Jovians attack Earth, and he stumbles upon his childhood friend, Yurika Misumaru, although he doesn't remember her, who was on the way to Nergal owned ND-001 Nadesico to serve as its captain. He follows because he remembers who Yurika was and thinks she might know what happened to his parents. He is enlisted as a cook for the Nadesico because he happened to be there, and also becomes a temporary pilot when Gai Daigoji , the official Aestevalis pilot, breaks his leg, as Akito received the necessary control implant while living on Mars.

After a escaping from the UEF, the Earth's defense force, the Nadesico went to Mars to investigate Nergal facilities. Akito juggles his responsibilities in the kitchen with those of being a combat pilot, while developing a romantic relationship with the ship's communications officer, Megumi Reinard. Once the ship returns to Earth, Akito struggles with his conflicting feelings for Megumi and Yurika.

It is discovered that Akito, Yurika, and Inez Fressange, the Nadesico's science/medical officer, have the ability to control bosun jumping, which allows instantaneous travel through space-time. As natives of Mars, they have had their DNA reengineered by microscopic nanites that are used to make the planed hospitable, only "martians" and their descendants can control the process.

Shortly after his marriage to Yurika, the two are kidnapped by unknown parties (and their disappearance hidden by the destruction of the shuttle that they were on.) During this period, Akito is experimented on, and in the process loses much of his humanity (he comments that he has lost most sensation including taste, ruining his dream of being a cook.) Reborn as the Prince of Darkness, Akito escapes his captors, and proceeds to wage a one man war of revenge on them, piloting an extensively customized version of his Aestevalis.

Voice Actor:

Japanese Seiyuu: Yuji Ueda
English Voice Actor: Spike Spencer