Koji Yatabe

Koji Yatabe (谷田部 浩二, Yatabe Kōji) is a character first introduced in Durarara!! 3way Standoff. He is an exalted member of the Yellow Scarves and appears in some episodes of the anime. Koji is a friend of Masaomi Kida and is one of the first members to join the Yellow Scarves, serving as the gang's second-in-command. It is revealed in Durarara!! SHx2 that he at one time dated Nozomi Kotonami.

Appearance
Koji has brown hair and eyes. He wears a plain yellow bandanna on his head, like most of members of the Yellow Scarves, with a yellow v-neck shirt, jacket, jeans, a white necklace, and an amulet.

Personality
Koji is friendly and loyal.

Background
Koji first meets Masaomi in a park around New Year's when he is saved from a group of middle and high school delinquents who had attempted to extort money off of him and his friends. While Masaomi stayed behind to fight off the older boys, Koji and his friends run off to find help, encountering the middle-school student Kazane Kinomiya. They return to the park to witness Shizuo Heiwajima taking care of the remaining delinquents. Once Masaomi returns to consciousness, Koji and his friends properly introduce themselves and help him walk through Ikebukuro, where they witness the Headless Rider passing by together.

At some point during middle school Yatabe joins the newly-formed Yellow Scarves.

Saika Arc
He attempts to recruit Masaomi back to the Yellow Scarves but fails. He is briefly seen being harassed by the police.

Yellow Scarves Arc
He reports to Masaomi information he learns about the Dollars. He later witnesses Celty save Anri. He is seen when Masaomi orders the Yellow Scarves to not engage the Dollars.

Adachi Arc
He is called by Masaomi to assemble the Yellow Scarves.

Kadota's Coma Arc
He is followed by Walker to the Yellow Scarves meeting. He is assaulted by Aoba's guys and is saved by his fellow members.

Etymology

 * The name Koji means "prosperous" (浩) (ko) and "two" (二) (ji).
 * Koji's surname Yatobe means "valley" (谷) (ya), "field, rice paddy" (田) (to) and "part, department, category" (部) (be).

Trivia

 * He is the only video game-original character to appear in canon.