TV-Series
Description
Kanna Kirishima is a fictional character from the Sakura Wars franchise, known for her immense physical strength and straightforward personality. She hails from Okinawa, Japan, and is the 28th successor of the Kirishima-ryu style of Ryukyu karate. Born on September 7, 1903, Kanna stands 197 centimeters tall, making her the tallest member of the Imperial Combat Revue's Flower Division. Her parents have both passed away; her mother died from unknown causes, and her father, who was the 27th master of the Kirishima style, died in a martial arts match with a Chinese fighter. This loss deeply affected her, and she briefly left the Flower Division to pursue revenge against her father's killer before returning to the team.
Kanna's personality is defined by her big-hearted, easygoing, and hot-blooded nature. She is a quintessential tomboy, often described as having a masculine demeanor, and along with her muscular build and short hair, she is sometimes mistaken for a man. Despite her tough exterior, she has a soft spot for children and is known to love them very much. This gap moe extends to her being surprisingly shy in romantic situations. Her one notable fear is of snakes, stemming from an incident in her childhood where she was bitten by one while training alone. Kanna is also renowned for being a glutton; she requires an enormous amount of food to maintain her strength, such as eating about ten bowls of rice in the morning, and has extensive knowledge of affordable places to eat hearty meals.
Kanna's motivation is rooted in her duty as a member of the Flower Division, where she serves as one of its original members. She is fiercely loyal to her teammates and committed to protecting the Imperial Capital. Her role in the story is often that of a supportive older sister figure to her comrades and a reliable source of raw muscle and combat power for the team. On the battlefield, Kanna is the melee bomber, wielding extraordinary attack power that makes her ideal for dealing massive damage to single targets, despite her limited attack range. In the theatrical performances that the Flower Division stages, she typically plays tall, dashing male roles, such as Son Wukong in their adaptation of Journey to the West.
Her key relationships within the group are notably strong. She shares a close camaraderie with Maria Tachibana, as the two were recruited around the same time and are the eldest members of the team. Kanna also has a mentor-like relationship with the team's captain, Ichiro Ogami, treating him like a younger brother or a sparring partner. One of the most prominent dynamics is her relationship with Sumire Kanzaki. The two constantly brawl and trade insults, with Kanna calling Sumire "Miss Cactus" and Sumire retorting with "Gorilla Girl." Despite their constant fighting, they share a deep and genuine friendship, and Kanna was reportedly the most heartbroken member when Sumire retired from the team.
Kanna's character development is subtle but present. While she remains a steadfast rock for the team, with one of the most steeled mentalities among the members, the series explores her vulnerable side through her fear of snakes and her deep-seated loneliness after losing her parents. Her friendship with Sumire also evolves; their shared fears (Sumire is afraid of spiders) help them reconcile and grow closer after a major fight. In the second game, if chosen as the main heroine by the player, Kanna's story arc involves her traveling with Ogami to her home in Okinawa and visiting her father's grave, revealing her heartfelt feelings and the sense of loss she still carries.
Notable abilities include her mastery of the Kirishima-ryu style of karate, which she brings to both the stage and the battlefield. In combat, she pilots a red Koubu, which is equipped for close-quarters combat, using magnetized hand claws as its primary weapon. Her physical prowess is superhuman; she is said to have swum from Okinawa to Tokyo after her boat broke down, and she can effortlessly lift heavy objects that strain other characters. Her fighting style is a direct application of her karate training, culminating in powerful special attacks that can devastate enemies.
Kanna's personality is defined by her big-hearted, easygoing, and hot-blooded nature. She is a quintessential tomboy, often described as having a masculine demeanor, and along with her muscular build and short hair, she is sometimes mistaken for a man. Despite her tough exterior, she has a soft spot for children and is known to love them very much. This gap moe extends to her being surprisingly shy in romantic situations. Her one notable fear is of snakes, stemming from an incident in her childhood where she was bitten by one while training alone. Kanna is also renowned for being a glutton; she requires an enormous amount of food to maintain her strength, such as eating about ten bowls of rice in the morning, and has extensive knowledge of affordable places to eat hearty meals.
Kanna's motivation is rooted in her duty as a member of the Flower Division, where she serves as one of its original members. She is fiercely loyal to her teammates and committed to protecting the Imperial Capital. Her role in the story is often that of a supportive older sister figure to her comrades and a reliable source of raw muscle and combat power for the team. On the battlefield, Kanna is the melee bomber, wielding extraordinary attack power that makes her ideal for dealing massive damage to single targets, despite her limited attack range. In the theatrical performances that the Flower Division stages, she typically plays tall, dashing male roles, such as Son Wukong in their adaptation of Journey to the West.
Her key relationships within the group are notably strong. She shares a close camaraderie with Maria Tachibana, as the two were recruited around the same time and are the eldest members of the team. Kanna also has a mentor-like relationship with the team's captain, Ichiro Ogami, treating him like a younger brother or a sparring partner. One of the most prominent dynamics is her relationship with Sumire Kanzaki. The two constantly brawl and trade insults, with Kanna calling Sumire "Miss Cactus" and Sumire retorting with "Gorilla Girl." Despite their constant fighting, they share a deep and genuine friendship, and Kanna was reportedly the most heartbroken member when Sumire retired from the team.
Kanna's character development is subtle but present. While she remains a steadfast rock for the team, with one of the most steeled mentalities among the members, the series explores her vulnerable side through her fear of snakes and her deep-seated loneliness after losing her parents. Her friendship with Sumire also evolves; their shared fears (Sumire is afraid of spiders) help them reconcile and grow closer after a major fight. In the second game, if chosen as the main heroine by the player, Kanna's story arc involves her traveling with Ogami to her home in Okinawa and visiting her father's grave, revealing her heartfelt feelings and the sense of loss she still carries.
Notable abilities include her mastery of the Kirishima-ryu style of karate, which she brings to both the stage and the battlefield. In combat, she pilots a red Koubu, which is equipped for close-quarters combat, using magnetized hand claws as its primary weapon. Her physical prowess is superhuman; she is said to have swum from Okinawa to Tokyo after her boat broke down, and she can effortlessly lift heavy objects that strain other characters. Her fighting style is a direct application of her karate training, culminating in powerful special attacks that can devastate enemies.