Mariko Sakakibara is a main character in the anime Between the Sky and Sea. She is a seventeen-year-old female with brown hair and green eyes. Her occupation is listed as a factory worker, though she is also depicted as a successful and experienced spaceship captain who operates a fishing vessel. She serves as the captain of the Blue Mermaids, an all-female fishing company. Mariko is a veteran of the Fourth World War, having fought in its final battle. This wartime experience deeply shaped her character, teaching her the value of life and the importance of working together as a team. She is a strong advocate for teamwork, communication, and following rules. Despite her tough exterior, she has a caring side and is deeply concerned for the well-being of her crew members, often going beyond her duties to help them and even risking her life to save them from danger. Her past experiences have made her a respected figure among her crew, and she plays a vital role in training the protagonist, Haru Soramachi, to become a skilled space fisherman. Mariko is valued for her leadership, hard work, and dedication to fishing. She is portrayed as systematic, methodical, organized, logical, and practical, valuing consistency, structure, and routine. She can be seen as reliable and practical with a strong work ethic, though she may have difficulty with unexpected events or changes to her routine. She is also known to be reserved and not openly expressive about her emotions, but she cares for her crew's well-being. Her backstory as a veteran and her commitment to her team are defining aspects of her role in the story.