[AIR] Introducing the heroine of this moving masterpiece, "Kamio Misuzu"

2025.07.29

"AIR" is a game released in 2000 by the bishoujo game brand "Key," and was a huge hit, selling over 300,000 copies, an unprecedented feat for a bishoujo game. It was adapted into an anime in 2005, and is a masterpiece that has sold over 100,000 discs for all volumes. Here we introduce Kamio Misuzu, the main heroine of the moving masterpiece "AIR."

Contents

What is "AIR"?

An incredibly moving film that has sold over 300,000 copies

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

"AIR" is a masterpiece that sold over 300,000 copies, an unprecedented feat for a bishoujo game. The anime was also a huge hit, selling over 100,000 DVDs.

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

This work focuses not on romance but on familial love and timeless feelings, making it an exceptional work for its release in 2000.

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

A masterpiece that remains deeply moving even today, "AIR" is a pioneering media mix in the fields of "tear-jerking games" and "emotional anime."

The Appeal of "AIR"

Three-Part Story Structure

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

The story of "AIR" is primarily divided into three parts. Part 1 begins with the meeting of the protagonist, Yukito Kunisaki, and the heroine, Misuzu Kamio. Part 2 is set abruptly in the Heian period 1,000 years ago, where various secrets are revealed. Part 3 returns to the present day, when Yukito and Misuzu are still alive, and concludes with a moving finale.

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

This story structure was innovative for the year 2000. The mid-story jump to the Heian period 1,000 years ago was already a dramatic development, but the second half, returning to the present day and told from the perspective of an unexpected character, became a hot topic.

Honestly, the music is also amazing.

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

Speaking of "Key," not only the storyline but also the music has been highly praised. Since Jun Maeda, who also wrote the music for "AIR," composed the music, the music perfectly matches the storyline.

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

Not only the opening theme "Tori no Uta" (Song of the Birds) but also the background music "Natsukage" (Summer Shadows) are wonderful songs, boasting over 10 million views on YouTube.

About the Main Heroine of [AIR], "Kamio Misuzu"

Official Profile

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

Height: 159cm

Weight: 46kg

Measurements: B83/W55/H82

Favorite Foods: Thick, rich peach flavor, dinosaurs

Catchphrases: "Fo," "Haha," "Mirinchin Fight"

Attributes: Clumsy

Though it's not mentioned in the story, she's probably a very beautiful girl

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

In "AIR," the only character explicitly described as "beautiful" is one of the heroines, Tono Minagi. However, since Otomo was mesmerized by Misuzu when they first met, we can assume that Misuzu is also quite beautiful.

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

In the game, soon after they meet, Otomo is troubled by a suspicious dream about Mirin, so it's possible that he was actually quite conscious of her.

Mirin's Favorite Food is a Strange Juice

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

Mirin's hobby is drinking strange juices, and among her favorites is a thick, rich peach-flavored juice.

Mirin's catchphrase when she's in trouble is "gao" (gao), and when she laughs, she says "nihaha" (haha).

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

Mirin loves dinosaurs, so when she's in trouble, her catchphrase is "gao" (gao), which her stepmother, Haruko, has repeatedly scolded her for.

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

When she laughs, she laughs with a "haha" sound, revealing her unique and mysterious side.

A girl with very unique actions

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

Mirin's actions are very unique, and she even uses unique chants, such as "V!" when making a peace sign and "Mirin-chin fight!" when getting pumped up. She's one of the most memorable characters in Key's history.

【AIR】Kamio Mirin dreams of a "girl in the sky"

"It just feels like... there's another me there."

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

"It just feels like... there's another me there." This is one of Mirin's signature lines, featured in the subtitles alongside her key visual. This line truly captures the character of Mirin.

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

Mirin is the dreamer of "a girl who continues to dream sad dreams in the sky." She is the girl the protagonist, Otoko, has been searching for since inheriting his mother's will.

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

Then, Mirin began to tell Otomo about the dreams she was having, and at one point she muttered these words.

Mirin is the reincarnation of the soul of a "girl in the sky."

Source: Air ©VisualArt's/Key/Winged People Tradition Society

Mirin is the reincarnation of Kannabi no Mikoto, a "Winged People" girl who lived 1,000 years ago. She inherited the soul of a "Winged People," or "one who dreams of the stars."

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

However, Kanna's soul was bound by a curse 1,000 years ago, and she was trapped alone in the sky for a long time, constantly forced to experience "sad dreams."

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

As a result, even after her reincarnation, Kanna's soul remained unhealed, and Kanna, who inherited her soul, was also burdened with a tragic fate.

【AIR】Kamio Misuzu is destined to never make friends

The curse of Yaobikuni from 1,000 years ago leaves Misuzu lonely

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

Mirin is a cheerful girl who doesn't distance herself from anyone. However, contrary to her personality, she has a habit of suddenly losing her temper when trying to become friends with someone. This has prevented her from building deep relationships with anyone.

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

As a result, Misuzu has no friends at school. Since both she and the other students know about her mental illness, she naturally chooses to play alone and lives a lonely life.

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

However, Kanrin's quirk is not a mental illness. It was caused 1,000 years ago when Kanrin's previous life, Kannabi no Mikoto, was cursed by her mother, Yaobikuni, to keep people away. It turns out that this curse continued even after Kanna was reincarnated as Kanrin.

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

The reason why the protagonist, Otomo Kunizaki, was able to become friends with Misuzu was because he had the power of "magic," which mitigated the curse.

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

However, their feelings for each other grew so strong that Otomo's magical powers were no longer able to alleviate the curse placed on Mirin, and they both gradually became ill.

She maintains a distant relationship with her mother, Haruko.

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

The reason her stepmother, Haruko, is comfortable being with Misuzu is because they are not actually mother and daughter and therefore only maintain a distant relationship.

However, Haruko, realizing the limits of their relationship, left Misuzu behind and went off on her own. Left behind, Oto and Misuzu gradually grew weaker and weaker.

【AIR】The familial love of Misuzu Kamio and Haruko Kamio brings tears to your eyes

Haruko becomes the de facto protagonist in the second half

Misuzu adored her stepmother, Haruko, but Haruko also loved Misuzu.

However, Haruko was frightened by the fact that Misuzu would one day have to return to her real father, and she held herself back from loving Misuzu.

The mother-daughter love between Mirin and Haruko in the second half of the film is so beautifully depicted it will bring tears to your eyes.

【AIR】Kamio Misuzu's Short Hair is So Angelic

Misuzu is So Cute After Cutting Her Hair

In the second half of the episode, due to Haruko's poor technique, Misuzu's hair gets cut too short, resulting in a short cut.

But she's so adorable, she's like an angel.

Kanrin also loved it, saying, "It made me feel like I was back in my childhood." From there, the story of a mother and daughter, Kanrin and Haruko, reliving lost time, began.

【AIR】Mizuno Kamio's voice actor is Tomoko Kawakami

Kawakami was a talented voice actress who passed away at the young age of 41

The voice actress for "Kamio Misuzu" is Tomoko Kawakami, who also voiced the protagonist "Tenjou Utena" in "Revolutionary Girl Utena" and the protagonist "Shindo Hikaru" in "Hikaru no Go."

Kawakami-san was a voice actress who passed away in June 2011 at the young age of 41 due to ovarian cancer. However, both Utena and Hikaru were captivating protagonists, and she was a truly powerful voice actress.

【AIR】Kamio Mirin Summary

A pioneering heroine of "tear-jerking games" and "tear-jerking anime"

Mirin is an unforgettable, pioneering heroine of "tear-jerking games" and "tear-jerking anime."

The three essential qualities of a main heroine in a "tear-jerker game" or "tear-jerker anime" are "sickly, unfortunate, and possessing a younger sister-like personality." Mirin may be the ultimate main heroine in a "tear-jerker game" or "tear-jerker anime," possessing all three of these qualities.

"AIR" was released in 2000, but in June 2018, Key released their new work, "Summer Pockets," also set in the summer. This new work offers a more modern and powerful worldview.

Summer Pockets' main heroine, Shiroha Naruse, is also an incredibly cute character, so don't miss this one!