TV-Series
Description
Ayu Tsukimiya is a seventeen-year-old girl and a central figure in the story of Kanon, first encountered by the protagonist Yuichi Aizawa shortly after he returns to the city where he lived as a child. Despite being the same age as Yuichi, her short stature of 154 centimeters and her overall petite frame of 41 kilograms cause him to initially perceive her as much younger. Her most recognizable appearance consists of a large tan duffle coat worn over a sweater and shorts, mittens, brown argyle socks, snow boots, and a red hairband that holds her short brown hair. Her most distinctive accessory is a small backpack adorned with a pair of wings on either side.
Ayu’s personality is defined by a high-spirited and energetic nature, often coming across as strange or mysterious to those around her. She is notoriously clumsy, prone to tripping, and can be naive about common modern objects, such as not knowing what a mobile phone is. One of her most famous traits is her verbal tic, "ugū," which she exclaims when experiencing frustration, anger, fear, or mild defeat. Another notable linguistic habit is her use of the masculine Japanese pronoun "boku" to refer to herself, a quirk that adds to her unconventional character. Despite her generally bold and impulsive behavior, such as tackling Yuichi whenever she sees him, she is paradoxically terrified of ghosts and supernatural stories, becoming easily frightened in dark or unsettling situations. Her absolute favorite food is taiyaki, a fish-shaped cake, which she is frequently seen eating and which holds significant personal meaning for her.
The central motivation driving Ayu throughout the story is her desperate search for something she has lost. However, she cannot remember what this important item is, leading to a frustrating and fruitless quest through the snowy city. Yuichi becomes her companion in this search, and through their interactions, it is revealed that they share a deep and tragic history from seven years prior. They first met as children when Yuichi comforted her after the death of her mother by buying her taiyaki. During that winter, he gave her a small angel doll he had won from a claw machine, promising to grant her any three wishes. Her first wish was for Yuichi to never forget her, and her second was that they could go to school together, which led them to declare a large tree in a forest clearing as their private school.
The story’s climax reveals that on the last day they met as children, Ayu fell from that very tree and suffered a severe head injury. The Ayu that Yuichi meets in the present is an astral projection, an ikiryō, of her comatose self, which explains her ethereal and mysterious nature. Throughout her route, Yuichi helps her remember the past, and he eventually realizes that the object she was searching for was the angel doll she had buried near the tree. By finding and repairing the doll, he allows her to use her third and final wish. In a poignant turn, Ayu considers wishing for Yuichi to forget her entirely so he can move on from his grief. In the end, her wish is not needed; the power of their memories and connection allows her to miraculously awaken from the seven-year coma, leading to a joyful reunion.
Ayu’s role in the narrative is that of the main heroine, and the entire story of Kanon revolves around her and her connection to Yuichi’s past. Her key relationships are primarily with Yuichi, whose forgotten memories are the key to saving her, and with his aunt Akiko, who has been silently praying for her recovery for years. Ayu’s development is tragic and circular; she moves from being a lost, amnesiac spirit to a girl who confronts a painful past and, through the strength of a childhood promise, earns a second chance at life. Her notable ability, though not a conscious one, is her manifestation as an astral projection, allowing her spirit to wander the city and interact with the living while her real body remains hospitalized.
Ayu’s personality is defined by a high-spirited and energetic nature, often coming across as strange or mysterious to those around her. She is notoriously clumsy, prone to tripping, and can be naive about common modern objects, such as not knowing what a mobile phone is. One of her most famous traits is her verbal tic, "ugū," which she exclaims when experiencing frustration, anger, fear, or mild defeat. Another notable linguistic habit is her use of the masculine Japanese pronoun "boku" to refer to herself, a quirk that adds to her unconventional character. Despite her generally bold and impulsive behavior, such as tackling Yuichi whenever she sees him, she is paradoxically terrified of ghosts and supernatural stories, becoming easily frightened in dark or unsettling situations. Her absolute favorite food is taiyaki, a fish-shaped cake, which she is frequently seen eating and which holds significant personal meaning for her.
The central motivation driving Ayu throughout the story is her desperate search for something she has lost. However, she cannot remember what this important item is, leading to a frustrating and fruitless quest through the snowy city. Yuichi becomes her companion in this search, and through their interactions, it is revealed that they share a deep and tragic history from seven years prior. They first met as children when Yuichi comforted her after the death of her mother by buying her taiyaki. During that winter, he gave her a small angel doll he had won from a claw machine, promising to grant her any three wishes. Her first wish was for Yuichi to never forget her, and her second was that they could go to school together, which led them to declare a large tree in a forest clearing as their private school.
The story’s climax reveals that on the last day they met as children, Ayu fell from that very tree and suffered a severe head injury. The Ayu that Yuichi meets in the present is an astral projection, an ikiryō, of her comatose self, which explains her ethereal and mysterious nature. Throughout her route, Yuichi helps her remember the past, and he eventually realizes that the object she was searching for was the angel doll she had buried near the tree. By finding and repairing the doll, he allows her to use her third and final wish. In a poignant turn, Ayu considers wishing for Yuichi to forget her entirely so he can move on from his grief. In the end, her wish is not needed; the power of their memories and connection allows her to miraculously awaken from the seven-year coma, leading to a joyful reunion.
Ayu’s role in the narrative is that of the main heroine, and the entire story of Kanon revolves around her and her connection to Yuichi’s past. Her key relationships are primarily with Yuichi, whose forgotten memories are the key to saving her, and with his aunt Akiko, who has been silently praying for her recovery for years. Ayu’s development is tragic and circular; she moves from being a lost, amnesiac spirit to a girl who confronts a painful past and, through the strength of a childhood promise, earns a second chance at life. Her notable ability, though not a conscious one, is her manifestation as an astral projection, allowing her spirit to wander the city and interact with the living while her real body remains hospitalized.