[AIR] Introducing Uraha, a master of magic and ancestor of the protagonist

2025.07.29

"AIR" is famous as a tear-jerking media mix work. The game, released in 2000, has sold over 300,000 copies, an unimaginable amount for a bishoujo game, and remains popular as of 2018. Here we introduce Uraha, an ancestor of "AIR's" protagonist, "Kunizaki Otohito," and a master of magic.

Contents

What kind of work is "AIR"?

A masterpiece that has sold over 300,000 copies, an unprecedented record for a bishoujo game.

Kamio Misuzu and Sora
Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

"AIR" is a bishoujo game released by the bishoujo game brand "Key" in 2000. It has been highly praised since its release as a moving masterpiece.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

This masterpiece has sold over 300,000 copies, making it an unprecedented hit for a bishoujo game.

It was made into an anime in 2005 and became popular among the general public.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

In 2005, Kyoto Animation produced an anime adaptation, which gained incredible popularity at the time and quickly spread to the general public.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

The entire series sold over 100,000 DVDs, sparking the subsequent smash hit "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya," and sparking an anime boom.

Explaining the Appeal of "AIR"

An Epic Story Spanning 1,000 Years

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

"AIR" is divided into a "present-day" and a "past" arc. The story begins in the present, where the protagonist, Yukito Kunisaki, and the heroine, Misuzu Kamio, meet. The story then shifts to the Heian period 1,000 years ago, where the secrets of Yukito and Misuzu are revealed.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

The second half of the story returns to the present day, where Misuzu and her stepmother, Haruko, fulfill their mission and reach a moving finale.

The music is simply amazing

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

Not just "AIR," "Key"'s works all have fantastic music, and many of their videos have been viewed over one million times on YouTube.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

"Natsukage," the most popular background music from "AIR," is a famous masterpiece that has already surpassed one million plays. Its composer, Jun Maeda, is often praised as a genius, having also served as the screenwriter for "AIR."

The anime version is easy to watch, being short and complete in just 12 episodes.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

This is also important, but the "AIR" anime is packed with fun and emotion into its 12 episodes, making it extremely easy to watch.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

There are few other anime works that can move you this much in just 12 episodes. Even compared to classic anime like "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" and "Plastic Memories," which are considered tear-jerking masterpieces in a single season, "AIR" may even be a cut above.

We recommend the TV version of the "AIR" anime

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

"AIR" has also been released in theaters, but the content differs significantly between the two versions, making the TV version, which is more faithful to the original work, a more moving introduction.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

While watching the movie version is great, you'll definitely be more moved by watching the TV version of "AIR" first.

【AIR】Character Introduction for Uraha

Uraha is a lady-in-waiting to Kannabi-no-Mikoto and a true Yamato Nadeshiko

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

Uraha is a lady-in-waiting to Kannabi-no-Mikoto, the heroine of the "SUMMER Arc," set 1,000 years ago. She is a beautiful woman with black hair and a truly Japanese appearance.

Uraha's personality is bright and surprisingly playful

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

While Uraha's appearance may be that of a true Japanese woman, her personality is surprisingly playful and cheerful, and she enjoys teasing the naive and over-reacting Kanna.

A master at hiding his presence, a powerful warrior who even Yanagi is wary of.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

Uraha is a master at hiding his presence, a master swordsman, and a powerful warrior who even Yanagi, the protagonist of the "Summer Arc," is wary of. His dagger, which he carries, suggests he was trained in combat techniques.

Uraha's kindness led her to escape the shrine with Yanagi's help, feeling sorry for Kanna's plight.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshokai

Feeling sorry for Kanna, who has lived a lonely life in the shrine since childhood, Uraha enlists Yanagi's help and the two of them escape the shrine and decide to journey to the sacred mountain where Kanna's mother is said to reside.

In the game, she is not said to sweat.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

Though omitted in the anime, in the game, Ryuya is in awe of Uraha, who does not sweat at all despite traveling in the middle of summer, and is depicted as viewing Uraha as more of a monster than Kanna, the winged human.

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasajin Denshoukai

According to Uraha, it's not that she's not sweating, she's just straightening up to avoid being noticed, but it's a memorable setting that gives us a glimpse into Uraha's potential.

Uraha has incredible talent for magic

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Tsubasa Denshokai

Uraha was born with incredible talent for magic, and without any training, she was able to escape the barrier of Mount Sacred Mountain and reach Kanna's mother, Yaobikuni.

Uraha later decided to formally study magic and demonstrated incredible talent, a skill that has been passed down through generations of Ryuya and Uraha's descendants.

Uraha entrusts a prayer that transcends generations to save Kanna, who is trapped in the sky.

Captivated in the sky by the curse of the monks of Mount Sacred Mountain, Kanna is cursed to constantly have sad dreams alone.

Uraha studied magic to save Kanna from the curse, but even her talented abilities were unable to lift the curse placed on her by the monks of Mount Sacred Mountain.

So, Uraha decided to have a child with Ryuya and take on the epic challenge of saving Kanna's soul, who has been reincarnated from a tsubasajin into a human, once the curse is lifted. This would allow her to save Kanna's soul, which has been reincarnated from a tsubasajin into a human, once the curse is lifted.

The protagonist of "AIR," Kunizaki Oto, is a descendant of Uraha

The protagonist, Kunizaki Oto, is a descendant of Uraha

The protagonist of "AIR," Kunizaki Oto, is actually a descendant of Uraha and Yanagiya, and it turns out that Oto's magical abilities were inherited from Uraha's generation.

Uraha realized that the only way to save Kanna, who was imprisoned in the sky, was to heal her soul, which would eventually be reincarnated from a tsubasajin into a human. To that end, Uraha conceived a child with Yanagiya and passed on his will to save Kanna's soul to their descendants.

And so, Kanna, a former winged human, reincarnated into a human called Misuzu. In a rural seaside town, she met Otori, a descendant of Uraha and Yanagiya.

【AIR】Uraha Summary

Uraha is a beautiful woman with a very playful and kind personality

Uraha is a very playful and lovable woman, and despite her beautiful appearance, she is a charming woman.

His kindness in trying to save Kanna even after reincarnation is admirable, and he's a truly beautiful character.