Highlights
- Wind Breaker centers around protagonist Haruka Sakura’s struggle with societal norms and self-acceptance through high school dynamics.
- Characters like Sugishita, Togame, Tomiyama, Nirei, Suo, Hiragi, Tachibana, and Umemiya play pivotal roles in shaping the storyline.
- Sakura’s journey of self-discovery and moral alignment within the backdrop of Bofurin unveils unexpected layers of strength and vulnerability.
The Spring 2024 anime season does not get better than the new high school series Wind Breaker. Simplistic in its approach, the series is centered around its protagonist, Haruka Sakura, who, from an early age, is made painfully aware of what it means not to fit in with society. Due to his rather unconventional appearance, Sakura is made an outcast with deep feelings of inferiority towards his peers.
However, Sakura is determined to turn his weaknesses into strengths, and his starting point is Furin High School. The series boasts quite a peculiar cast of characters, much like the infamous time-loop high school anime series, with each character diverse and different from the rest. With most of the cast still appearing minimally, here are some critical details about those seen so far.
Character Chart
| Name | Age | Height | Birthday |
| Kyotaro Sugishita | 15 | 192cm / 6’3 | Nov 3 |
| Jo Togame | 17 | 187cm / 6’1 | Apr 13 |
| Choji Tomiyama | 17 | 158cm / 5’2 | Mar 7 |
| Akihiko Nirei | 15 | 163cm / 5’4 | Sep 21 |
| Hayato Suo | 15 | 174cm / 5’7 | Mar 28 |
| Toma Hiragi | N/A | 187cm / 6’1 | Dec 7 |
| Kotoha Tachibana | 16 | 158cm / 5’2 | Apr 5 |
| Hajime Umemiya | N/A | 188cm / 6’2 | Feb 1 |
| Haruka Sakura | 15 | 169cm / 5’6 | Apr 1 |
Kyotaro Sugishita
Vaisravana Unit Member
- Debut: Episode 02
A member of Bofurin and a first-year at Furin High School, Sugishita appears relatively slow and aloof at first. He rarely shows any interest in people except for any suspected disrespect towards Hajime Umemiya.
For unknown reasons, Sugishita is almost religiously devotional to the current leader of Bofurin, which leads him to be seen as a fanatic. Unusually tall for his age, Sugishita is not very interactive, as he hardly talks and is not particularly expressive, choosing to express himself primarily through his fists. Despite his aggressive tendencies, he is kind when the situation demands it.
Jo Togame
Shishitoren Vice Leader
- Debut: Episode 03
The Second-in-Command at the rival high school, Shishitoren, Jo Togame, first appears laid-back and calm. However, his demeanor fades into a somewhat fickle unpredictability. Togame despises weak people and is shown to be arrogant and ruthless in treating his subordinates, who show that they are not up to the standard, which he considers a strength.
However, his arrogance comes from personal strength. Despite being just a high schooler, he is a fearsome individual blessed with above-average physical strength, ensuring that he is considerably stronger than most students his age.
Choji Tomiyama
Shishitoren Leader
- Debut: Episode 04
The leader of the rival high school, Shishitoren, Choji Tomiyama, appears like a child due to his small stature. However, beyond his small appearance lies a twisted individual with a penchant for violence and fights, as shown when he challenges Umemiya to a fight and throws a tantrum until the latter finally agrees.
While he appears harmless, his personality darkens at the slightest form of violence. He constantly looks for stronger opponents to test his strength, a trait that led him to the top at Shishitoren.
Akihiko Nirei
Vice-Captain of the Vaisravana Unit
- Debut: Episode 02
Like Sugishita, Akihiko Nirei is a first-year student at Furin High School and the vice-captain of Bofurin’s vaisravana unit. Nirei is typically cheerful and calm but occasionally clumsy for various reasons.
Unlike most members of Bofurin, Nirei’s strengths do not lie in combat. He gets easily frightened whenever he has to face danger due to years of severe bullying through middle school. However, Nirei possesses great memorization and documentation skills, which are useful in most situations. Beyond his awkward tendencies, Nirei is one of the most influential first-years and shares a close relationship with Sakura.
Hayato Suo
Vice-Captain of the Vaisravana Unit
- Debut: Episode 01
Arguably the strongest of the first years, Hayato Suo is a member of Bofurin and, like Nirei, a vice-captain of the Vaisravana unit. Conspicuous due to his eye patch, Suo is typically always smiling and calm, even in the most extreme situations, and never shows any irritation or negative emotion, which makes him even more intimidating.
Carefully detailed and level-headed, Suo analyses situations critically and responds accordingly. While he may seem averse to violence, his proficiency in mixed martial arts lends credibility to his overall strength.
Toma Hiragi
Vaisravana Unit Leader
- Debut: Episode 01
A third-year student at Furin High School, Toma Hiragi is one of the four Heavenly Kings of Bofurin and commander of the vaisravana unit. Notable for his short, spiky hair, Hiragi is usually upset or stressed by the conflicts the Bofurin engages in.
More than the conflicts, Hiragi is also always on medication due to constant stomach pains, which began in his first year in high school. Usually, Hiragi appears as a rash individual at the forefront of fights and gang battles. However, he is also shown to be calm and level-headed at critical moments, specifically regarding his leadership.
Kotoha Tachibana
Waitress
- Debut: Episode 01
The adoptive sister of the head of Bofurin, Kotoha Tachibana, is also a waitress at the Cafe Pothos. Unlike her adoptive brother, Kotoha is not a student and is somewhat opposed to violence, even though she highly supports Umemiya.
Soft-spoken and kind, Kotoha is the first to take a liking to Sakura, noting how bright and distinct his eyes were. She is also shown to be quite as stern as she is kind when dealing with Sakura, her brother, and Nirei while maintaining respectful relationships with the older members of Furin’s community.
Hajime Umemiya
Bofurin Leader
- Debut: Episode 03
Third-year student Hajime Umemiya is the leader of Bofurin and Furin High School. Conspicuous due to his grey hair and eyes, Umemiya comes across as warm and friendly and carries with him an infectious charisma that transmits to all members of Bofurin. Though his friendly demeanor can be overly characteristic, the opposite is the case when he is engaged in a fight, to the point where the disparity can be jarring even to his subordinates.
Due to his efforts in the Furin community, he is well-respected and loved by the community members, which extends to Bofurin as a whole. While Umemiya appears overly simplistic in his interactions, he is also deeply invested in the welfare of all under him and, by extension, the Furin community.
Haruka Sakura
Captain of the Vaisravan Unit
- Debut: Episode 01
The series’ protagonist, Haruka Sakura, is a first-year freshman at Furin High School and the first-year Vaisravana unit captain. After repeatedly being judged by his physical appearance, Sakura finally accepts the delinquent persona projected on him and comes to Furin to establish himself at Bofurin.
Unusually perceptive and reactionary, Sakura is painfully aware of how he is perceived by others, which results in his violent tendencies. However, despite his easy disposition to violence, Sakura abides strictly by his morals. He is shown to get uncomfortable when shown kindness and cannot deal with gratitude. His initial goal at Furin takes a new form when he learns that Bofurin uses its strength to protect the town, a trait that aligns with his self-imbibed morals.
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