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Kagura (Azumanga Daioh)
Encyclopedia
, given name
unknown, is a fictional character from the anime
and manga
series Azumanga Daioh
.
Her family name
comes from Shinto
ritual: the kanji for Kagura (神楽) mean "entertainment of the gods", used to describe the traditional music played at shrines and the Imperial Court. Kagura also makes a cameo appearance as an anthropologist in by Kazuhisa Todayama which refers to several other Azumanga Daioh characters. Kagura was chosen #7 of the 10 Best Supporting Characters In Anime by Mania.
's students, Kagura does not become a true acquaintance of the group until sometime later, joining Yukari
's class in the 2nd year (Yukari selects her as a ringer to win the school athletic competitions). She devotes most of her time to the swim team but is an all-around good athlete. Thanks to her dedication to swimming Kagura receives some rather pronounced tan lines during the summer months, which friends like Osaka
waste no time in pointing out.
She also has a one-sided rivalry with Sakaki
and attempts to outdo her in all activities, be it playing softball
, sprinting, or even eating lunch. This is how her character was introduced to the rest of the cast, when during 1st year's field day, she was defeated by Sakaki in a running event. The next time the two meet, Kagura has decided to make Sakaki her rival, yet she also makes continuous attempts to be a good friend to Sakaki. Sakaki is a natural athlete (and doesn't remember a thing about running against Kagura during the first Athletics Fest, which stuns Kagura) and defeats her in almost everything except stamina events. Like her would-be rival, she is embarrassed when Tomo
calls attention to her large breasts.
Kagura is similar to Tomo in sheer energy and her lack of interest in studying, but is not prone to Tomo's impulsive outbursts and irritating behavior. Her low test scores and apathy for schoolwork have earned her a place in the "Bonkuras" (translated as "Knuckleheads" in the anime and "Numbnuts" in the manga) alongside Tomo and Osaka. Tomo also points out that despite their scores and attitude toward schoolwork, they both ended up in the prestigious high-school anyway.
While Kagura is driven by competition, she is sweet and sensitive and can be brought to tears, especially when she feels she's let someone down or during emotional situations. Unlike Tomo, Kagura is good-natured and eager to help people, such as scaring away cats that get near Sakaki so that Sakaki wouldn't get bitten, or helping a foreigner up a flight of steps with his bags despite being unable to communicate with him. She is in many ways the stereotypical "tomboy
with a soft heart".
Kagura has a respect for Nyamo that occasionally borders on hero-worship. She frequently calls her "coach" and was one of the biggest admirers of Nyamo's infamous "adult lecture".
Japanese ("Azumanga Web Daioh" short): Mitsuki Saiga
English: Allison Sumrall
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
unknown, is a fictional character from the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series Azumanga Daioh
Azumanga Daioh
is a Japanese comedy manga by Kiyohiko Azuma. It was serialized by MediaWorks in the shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh from 1999 to 2002 and collected in four bound volumes...
.
Her family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
comes from Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
ritual: the kanji for Kagura (神楽) mean "entertainment of the gods", used to describe the traditional music played at shrines and the Imperial Court. Kagura also makes a cameo appearance as an anthropologist in by Kazuhisa Todayama which refers to several other Azumanga Daioh characters. Kagura was chosen #7 of the 10 Best Supporting Characters In Anime by Mania.
Biography
While she makes appearances earlier on as one of NyamoMinamo Kurosawa
, also known as , normally called Kurosawa-sensei by her students, is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Azumanga Daioh.-Biography:...
's students, Kagura does not become a true acquaintance of the group until sometime later, joining Yukari
Yukari Tanizaki
, also known as "Miss Yukari" , is a character from the manga and anime series Azumanga Daioh.-Biography:...
's class in the 2nd year (Yukari selects her as a ringer to win the school athletic competitions). She devotes most of her time to the swim team but is an all-around good athlete. Thanks to her dedication to swimming Kagura receives some rather pronounced tan lines during the summer months, which friends like Osaka
Ayumu Kasuga
, more commonly known as , is a character from the anime and manga series Azumanga Daioh.She was voted 7th in the top 100 poll, "Anime Heroines of 2002" by readers of the Japanese anime magazine Newtype in 2003.-Biography:...
waste no time in pointing out.
She also has a one-sided rivalry with Sakaki
Sakaki (Azumanga Daioh)
, given name unknown, is a character from the anime and manga series Azumanga Daioh.Her family name, Sakaki, is that of an evergreen tree of Japan considered sacred in Shinto, and which is often found on the grounds of shrines....
and attempts to outdo her in all activities, be it playing softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, sprinting, or even eating lunch. This is how her character was introduced to the rest of the cast, when during 1st year's field day, she was defeated by Sakaki in a running event. The next time the two meet, Kagura has decided to make Sakaki her rival, yet she also makes continuous attempts to be a good friend to Sakaki. Sakaki is a natural athlete (and doesn't remember a thing about running against Kagura during the first Athletics Fest, which stuns Kagura) and defeats her in almost everything except stamina events. Like her would-be rival, she is embarrassed when Tomo
Tomo Takino
is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Azumanga Daioh. Tomo is voiced by Chieko Higuchi and by Tomoe Hanba in a Azumanga Web Daioh short episode. In the English version Mandy Clark voices Tomo. Tomo's surname means 'waterfall field.'...
calls attention to her large breasts.
Kagura is similar to Tomo in sheer energy and her lack of interest in studying, but is not prone to Tomo's impulsive outbursts and irritating behavior. Her low test scores and apathy for schoolwork have earned her a place in the "Bonkuras" (translated as "Knuckleheads" in the anime and "Numbnuts" in the manga) alongside Tomo and Osaka. Tomo also points out that despite their scores and attitude toward schoolwork, they both ended up in the prestigious high-school anyway.
While Kagura is driven by competition, she is sweet and sensitive and can be brought to tears, especially when she feels she's let someone down or during emotional situations. Unlike Tomo, Kagura is good-natured and eager to help people, such as scaring away cats that get near Sakaki so that Sakaki wouldn't get bitten, or helping a foreigner up a flight of steps with his bags despite being unable to communicate with him. She is in many ways the stereotypical "tomboy
Tomboy
A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
with a soft heart".
Kagura has a respect for Nyamo that occasionally borders on hero-worship. She frequently calls her "coach" and was one of the biggest admirers of Nyamo's infamous "adult lecture".
Voice actors
Japanese (television series and movie): Houko KuwashimaHouko Kuwashima
is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She is capable of playing a variety of roles, ranging from young boys to feminine women. Kuwashima is currently affiliated with Aoni Production. Her given name, , is sometimes misread as Noriko, even in Japan...
Japanese ("Azumanga Web Daioh" short): Mitsuki Saiga
Mitsuki Saiga
is a female seiyū who was born in Saitama. Saiga works at Ken Production.-Anime:* .hack//Roots * .hack//Sign * 07-Ghost * Ashita no Nadja...
English: Allison Sumrall
Allison Sumrall
Allison L. Sumrall is an American voice actress working with ADV Films and Seraphim Digital, known for her roles in the English-language dubs of anime series...
Character songs
- "Ashita wa Makenai GO! FRIEND" Words by Aki Hata, music by Kosuke Kanai
- She sings the unrequited friendship to "the famous uncanny womanSakaki (Azumanga Daioh), given name unknown, is a character from the anime and manga series Azumanga Daioh.Her family name, Sakaki, is that of an evergreen tree of Japan considered sacred in Shinto, and which is often found on the grounds of shrines....
" in this song.
- She sings the unrequited friendship to "the famous uncanny woman
- "Lazy Crazy Bonkuraa-zu" Words by Aki Hata, music by Kosuke Kanai