
Kyoko Sakura
Kyoko Sakura |
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Japanese | 佐倉杏子 |
Romaji | Sakura Kyouko |
Personal Information | |
Age | 14 |
Home Place | Kazamino City |
Gender | Female |
Occupation | Student (formerly) Magical Girl |
Witch Form | Ophelia |
Affiliation | Holy Quintet Wings of the Magius |
Weapon | Multi-jointed Spear |
Debut | |
Manga | Chapter 4 |
Anime | Episode 5 |
Portrayal | |
Japanese VA |
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English VA | Lauren Landa |
Appearance
Kyoko Sakura is a tall and slender girl with long, dull red hair that she typically wears in a high ponytail, secured with a black ribbon. Her hairstyle features short, spiked bangs that frame her face, accentuating her sharp red eyes and fierce expression. In her civilian form, Kyoko is often seen in a casual outfit consisting of a black crop top worn under a dark teal hoodie, which remains unzipped at the bottom to reveal her navel. She pairs this with dark blue denim shorts lined with fur at the hem and wears black, below-the-knee boots, giving her a rugged, streetwise appearance. In The Rebellion Story, she is briefly seen wearing the Mitakihara Middle School uniform, customized with black knee-high socks and the standard brown loafers.
As a magical girl, Kyoko wears a distinctive maroon dress with a mandarin collar and an open front panel framed by thick white frills, exposing her Soul Gem, which is embedded at her upper chest. The dress features white accents and detailing that highlight her bold and commanding presence. She wears white, bicep-length detached sleeves with black cuffs buttoned at the wrists. Beneath the dress, she wears a pleated mauve skirt and a black corset with white trim.
Her lower half is outfitted with black thigh-high socks and tall red boots featuring white cuffs and symbolic white markings near the top, which mirror the design of the opening on her bodice. Her magical girl attire emphasizes agility, strength, and her combative fighting style, while also subtly hinting at her elegance and pride.


Personality
Kyoko Sakura is a fiery and strong-willed individual with a bold, tomboyish demeanor. She often comes across as brash, impulsive, and self-centered, showing little concern for others and frequently engaging in conflict. However, this abrasive personality is largely a protective facade, a persona she adopted following the trauma of her past. Beneath her harsh exterior lies a deeply sympathetic and emotionally complex individual, particularly when it comes to those she cares about.
Originally idealistic and selfless, Kyoko’s worldview was shattered after the wish she made to help her father gain followers for his sermons ultimately led to the death of her family. Her father, upon learning the source of his newfound success, rejected her wish and descended into madness, killing the rest of the family and himself. This traumatic experience caused Kyoko to abandon her altruistic ideals and adopt a survivalist philosophy, vowing never to use her powers for others again. She came to believe that sacrifice leads only to pain, and resolved to fight only for her own benefit.
Her hardened attitude masks a deep fear of emotional vulnerability and loss. This is reflected in her excessive pride, her tendency to act tough, and her fierce independence. However, her kindness resurfaces when she sees others particularly Sayaka Miki making the same mistakes she once did. Although she initially clashes with Sayaka, even threatening her in battle, Kyoko’s concern for her gradually grows, and she ultimately tries to steer her away from despair.
Kyoko is also known for her love of food, a trait rooted in the starvation she and her family faced during their time of hardship. She despises wastefulness and becomes visibly upset when others throw food away, going so far as to threaten Sayaka after she discards an apple Kyoko offered. This obsession with food often reflects both her survival instincts and her lingering emotional scars.
Despite her guarded personality, Kyoko shows a capacity for deep compassion. Her emotional arc culminates in her self-sacrifice during the final battle against Sayaka’s witch form, Oktavia von Seckendorff. Unwilling to let Sayaka suffer alone, Kyoko gives her life in a final, desperate attempt to reach her, proving that her selfless nature was never truly lost.
According to Sayaka, Kyoko also has a childlike palate when it comes to food, favoring simple or sweet items, which contrasts with her otherwise tough behavior.
Powers & Abilities
Kyoko Sakura is a close-combat magical girl whose fighting style emphasizes agility, brute strength, and adaptability. Prior to the events of the main series, she possessed illusion-based magic, which she primarily used to distract witches during battle. However, following the tragic loss of her family and the dissolution of her partnership with Mami Tomoe, Kyoko abandoned this ability believing it symbolized the altruistic mindset she no longer embraced.
Her main weapon is a red spear, which is highly versatile and reflects her aggressive approach to combat. The spear can extend and transform into a chain-like form, allowing her to ensnare or restrain opponents at mid-range. She can also split it into multiple sections or manipulate its length to suit various combat scenarios, making her both a close- and mid-range threat. In addition to her weapon-based abilities, Kyoko can conjure magical constructs in the form of lattice-like red diamond walls. These can serve as both offensive tools and defensive barriers, allowing her to trap or hinder enemies strategically.
In Magia Record, her powers are further expanded Kyoko is shown to be capable of creating red, glowing staircases that serve both as traversal tools and dynamic elements in combat. Altogether, her abilities reflect her resourcefulness, fierce determination, and willingness to do whatever it takes to survive and protect those she cares about.
Etymology
The given name Kyoko (杏子) is written using the kanji 杏, meaning “apricot,” and 子, a common suffix in Japanese female names meaning “child.” Together, the name can be interpreted as “child of the apricot tree.” The softness of the name contrasts with Kyoko’s bold and brash personality, potentially reflecting the gentler, more idealistic self she once embodied.
Her surname, Sakura (佐倉), is written using the kanji 佐, meaning “help” or “assist,” and 倉, meaning “warehouse” or “storehouse.” Alternatively, the name Sakura can also be written as 桜, which means “cherry blossoms”, a symbol often associated with beauty, transience, and fleeting life, themes central to the Puella Magi series.