Ken Ichijouji (一乗寺 賢 Ichijōji Ken) is a character in the Digimon 02 anime series.

Ken is the final member of the 02 DigiDestined, partnered with Wormmon, and holder of the Crest of Kindness. Unlike the other 02 DigiDestined, he lives in Tamachi , which is next to Odaiba. At first the devious Digimon Emperor (Digimon Kaiser in Japan), Ken tries tried hard to atone for his wicked acts, and eventually is helped along the way by Daisuke Motomiya and the others. It’s been evident from the start that Miyako Inoue has a crush on him.

Ken is voiced by Paku Romi (Japan) & Derek Stephen Prince (North America).

Between Digimon Adventure & Digimon 02

As a young child, Ken always felt that he was passed over by his parents, in favour of his older brother Osamu (Sam in the US version), a child prodigy, with genius-level intellect. Ken bore a grudge toward Osamu as a result.

Apparently, Ken may had been one of the kids who helped the DigiDestined in their fight with Diaborromon. Months later, while the he was with Osamu in his room, a Digivice appeared from Osamu’s computer. It had been meant for Ken, but neither of them knew this – Osamu picked it up and put it in his drawer, vowing to find out what it was, but Ken, in childish curiosity, touched the Digivice, and was pulled through Osamu’s computer, into the DigiWorld. It was there he met Wormmon and helped Ryo Akiyama with fighting Millenniummon . With Millenniummon defeated, the Digimon forced out pieces of his data in the form of the Dark Spores. Ken pushed Ryo out of the way, and one of the Spores struck him, sinking inside his neck.

Wormmon and Ryo tended to the boy for three weeks, until he was well enough to return to Earth, where he found that it was the same day as he had left; this is likely due to Millenniummon’s ability to warp space and time. Osamu scolded Ken for breaking his trust and touching the Digivice, and Ken, angry, again found himself wishing that he'll never see Osamu again. Later, Osamu died after being hit by a car. Some time after that, Ken felt guilty for making a wish that came true.

Then an e-mail from a mysterious figure (Revealed later to be Yukio Oikawa) tells him to use the digivice to escape the guilt. Ken does this, and is transported to the dark ocean. His digivice turns dark and Ken adopts several aspects of Osamu. Since then he became a boy genius, good at everything that was either sport or intellect-related. However, as the Spore continued its work, Ken became apathetic towards society, viewing everyone around him as pathetic insects, beneath his notice. And thus, set his sights on the world which could challenge him.

Digimon 02

Ken returns to the DigiWorld, and, through the subtle, unseen manipulations of Arukenimon, assumes the guise of the Digimon Emperor. As the Emperor, Ken had many conflicts with the new DigiDestined as he plans to rule the Digital World. When his hatred of those beneath him grew too much, he abandoned Earth to live in the DigiWorld, assuming the Emperor identity permanently. His parents, with no knowledge of where he had gone, were panicked, and made various televised pleas to try and find Ken, but they were in vain.

When creation, Kimeramon, turned on him, and was subsequently defeated by Magnamon, Ken couldn’t believe that he had lost. He proclaimed he would reset the DigiWorld, thinking it was just a computer program. When the DigiDestined explained to him that it was a real place, and that Digimon were living creatures, Ken snapped, realising the cruelty he had inflicted and Wormmon's death sparked the saddess he had for Osamu's death. Numbly, Ken staggered off, to return home.

Ken slept for days, in a pseudo-coma, where memories of his brother, the Digivice, and his first trip to the DigiWorld returned in his mind. When he awoke, he had amnesia, and could not remember his parents. He travelled to the DigiWorld, where, at Primary Village, he was reunited with Wormmon. Since then, Ken vowed to make up for the horrible deeds he committed. As he does, he learns that he used by Arukenimon, when she took all data relating to the Control Spires from the boy's computer.

At first, upon learning that Ken is back and doing good, Daisuke still wanted to ask Ken to join the team, but none of the other DigiDestined liked the idea, particularly Iori. But Ken offically became a member of the team when Exveemon and Stingmon DNA Digivolved to Paildramon. But despite joining the team, Ken felt be a uncomfortable around the others, particularly Iori, who still strongly disliked him for what he did. But Ken helped out in all the battles against Arukenimon, Mummymon, and Black War Greymon.

When Digimon begin to appear on Chirstmas day, Ken & Wormmon when to Mexico City with Yamato Ishida & Gabumon to help Rosa & Gotsumon round up the wild Digimon there. Later that night, Ken got home, he had a dream of his first time in the DigiWorld & the Dark Spore. The next day, Daemon & his Daemon Corps began to appear in Tokyo, wreaking havoc in search for Ken & the Dark Spore. But Arukenimon managed to convince Ken to come with her, using the children she 'kidnapped' to motivate him.

Once inside the truck, Ken met Oikawa, who reveal the nature of Dark Spore, and copy its data into the other children, who had all been taken willingly. After the events that result with Daemon's banishment & opikawa's escape, Ken finnally introduced his stunned parents to Wormmon, and the following day, now aware of what was going on, Ken’s father was happy to help the children look for Oikawa.

By December 30, Ken and the other DigiDestined (with Yamato, Koushiro, and Jou) were standing watch at Hikarigota, waiting for the Spore kids to arrive. When they were all congregated there, Oikawa arrived, and began the process that would have the Spores convert the children’s energies into an energy he could use to enter the DigiWorld. Ken demanded to know why he had been chosen, & what the Control Spires were for. Oikawa happily explained, & then opened the portal. The 02 DigiDestined followed him, only to discover that they weren’t in the DigiWorld at all, but some bizarre other dimension, where Myotismon finall reveals himself: Abandoning Oikawa’s body, and used the power of the Spores to transform himself into MaloMyotismon.

The villain subjected the kids to illusions of their greatest desires. For Ken, on some subconscious level, his desire was to see himself punished for what he did as the Digimon Emperor, and to have his brother back. But "Osamu" told Ken that he can't change the past, but can ensure a future for himself. Following his "brother's" final words & angry at having been manipulated yet again, Ken released his guilt, crying out that he wasn’t the Emperor any more, and that he had been punished enough. And with that, he helps in the final battle against MaloMyotismon.

Digimon 02: Michi E No Armor Shinka

Digimon 02: Diaboromon's Counterattack

Four years after the events of 'Our WarGame', it was discovered that Diaborromon had survived his battle with Omnimon four years beforehand, and has used the time in between to reproduce as millions of Kuramon. While Taichi Yagami, Yamato, Takeru, and Hikari go with Omnimon, Angemon, & Angewomon to battle Diaboromon online, the others had to track down the Kuramon who were appearing in the real world. Ken was involved with the battle with Armageddemon.

Digimon 02: Series Finale epilouge

By the year 2027, Ken becomes a private investigator. He's currently married to Miyako and has three children: a boy, a girl, and a baby.