Akeno Himejima
Akeno Himejima |
|
---|---|
Kana: |
姫島 朱乃
|
Rōmaji: | Himejima Akeno |
Profile | |
Race: | |
Gender: | Female |
Age: | 18 (Vol 1-22) 19 (Vol 22-Present) |
Nicknames: |
Priestess of Thunder → Priestess of Thunder and Light
Daughter of Lightning Vestal of Thunder Daughter of the Himejima Clan Black-hair Pony-tail Queen (byIssei Hyoudou) Queen of the Gremory Group |
Hair Color: | Black |
Eye Color: | Violet |
Equipment & Abilities: | |
Personal Status | |
Relatives: |
Baraqiel(Father)
Shuri Himejima(Mother) † Tobio Ikuse(Second Cousin) Suzaku Himejima(Cousin) Ageha Ikuse(Great-Aunt) † Unnamed Grandmother Suou Himejima(Great-Uncle) |
Affiliations: |
Himejima Clan
Rias Gremory’s Peerage Team Rias Gremory(Formerly) Kuoh Academy(First-Year College Student) Occult Research Club(Former Vice-President) Hyoudou Residence D×D Three Factions(Underworld) Heavenly Breasts Japanese Culture Research Society |
Status: | Alive |
Ranking: |
High Class Devil
Queen |
Voice Actor(s): |
Shizuka Itō(Japanese)
Teri Rogers (English, Season 1-2) Kelly Angel(English, Season 3 Onwards) Yong Sin Lee (Korean) |
“ | ” | |
— Akeno Himejima
|
Appearance
Akeno’s full appearance.
Akeno Himejima is an exceptionally beautiful young woman with a voluptuous figure, characterized by her very long black hair and striking violet eyes. Her hair is typically styled in a long ponytail that cascades all the way down to the floor, with two strands falling elegantly from the top and sweeping backward, secured in place by an orange ribbon.
Like many girls at Kuoh Academy, she dons the standard school uniform, complemented by black calf-length socks.
According to the visual book that features her profile, Akeno’s body measurements are [B102-W60-H89 cm] ([B40-W24-H35 in]). She weighs [54 kg] ([119 lbs]) and stands at a height of 168 cm (5 feet 6 inches).
In battle scenes throughout the anime, Akeno often transforms her attire into traditional miko clothing, which includes a white haori with red accents, a red hakama, and a pair of zōri paired with white tabi.
After revealing her Fallen Angel side to Issei, Akeno possesses one Devil wing and one Fallen Angel wing. As the series advances and she embraces her Fallen Angel powers, her wings multiply; initially, they increase to six with the help of Azazel’s bracelets, and later expand to eight, resembling that of a High-Tier Fallen Angel.
Personality
Akeno Himejima initially presents herself as an elegant and gentle woman, epitomizing the ideals of the traditional Japanese woman, or “Yamato Nadeshiko.” Her demeanor exudes calmness, nobility, and dignity. However, beneath this refined exterior lies a deeply sadistic nature that emerges during battle. Akeno shows no mercy or remorse toward her enemies, often maintaining her elegant smile even in the face of their defeat, reveling in the pleasure of inflicting pain.
Despite her darker tendencies, Akeno is known for her kindness, a trait recognized by both Rias and Issei. Before forming a close bond with Rias, she dedicated her time to helping others by purifying evil spirits as a means of making a living.
Akeno’s complex feelings stem from witnessing her mother’s brutal murder and her father’s inability to protect her, leading to a profound hatred for Fallen Angels. This self-loathing towards her own Fallen Angel heritage arises from the guilt she feels, as it contributed to her mother’s death at the hands of the Himejima Clan. This trauma led her to sever ties with her father and live in exile until Rias rescued her from her maternal relatives, who sought to kill her. As a result of her experiences, Akeno empathizes with those who have suffered at the hands of Fallen Angels, such as Issei and Asia, who were manipulated and killed by Raynare. Initially worried that Issei would reject her because of her lineage, Akeno’s feelings for him blossomed when he assured her of his affection.
With Issei’s support, Akeno found the strength to confront the grief of her mother’s death and reconcile with her estranged father, strengthening their familial bond. This journey of healing deepened her love for Issei, leading her to confess her feelings for him.
While Akeno had little interest in dating men due to her past traumas, she developed a fondness for Issei, viewing him as a charming younger student. Her interest intensified after witnessing his determination during the Rating Game against Riser Phenex and his actions during Rias’ engagement ceremony, where he ultimately defeated Riser. She has openly stated that Issei is the first boy to awaken such feelings within her, and she expresses a desire to deepen their relationship. Known for her playful and sadistic teasing, Akeno often flirts with Issei, much to Rias’s irritation. Interestingly, she acknowledges a masochistic side that emerges in her interactions with Issei, contrasting with her typically sadistic nature in combat.
Akeno displays a bold and flirtatious demeanor, unabashedly flirting with Issei without concern for Rias’s awareness. She often attempts to be intimate with him, yet she respects Rias enough not to interfere with their relationship, even assisting Issei in confessing his feelings to Rias. After falling for Issei, her seductive nature deepens, and she becomes obsessed with seizing any opportunity to be with him, often interrupted by Rias and others.
Beneath her confident facade lies an emotionally vulnerable side that emerges when she removes her “Onee-Sama” mask. This aspect of her personality reveals a reliance on the men in her life, particularly Issei and her father, especially after their reconciliation. The trauma of her mother’s execution left her deeply scarred and heartbroken for years, a pain she began to heal through her relationship with her father. When faced with threats to her loved ones, Akeno can spiral into depression or heightened anxiety, as seen when Issei was injured during the Rating Game between the Sitri and Gremory factions, or when he was thought to be dead in the Dimensional Gap.
Despite her seductive nature and mature demeanor, Akeno retains a sense of innocence and emotionality regarding love. She behaves like a typical young woman during her dates with Issei, which doesn’t diminish her flirtatiousness. While she appears composed and clear-headed, Akeno experiences jealousy like the other girls and is fiercely protective of her relationship with Issei.
History
Akeno Himejima is the sole offspring of Shuri Himejima, a Shinto priestess from the esteemed Himejima Clan, and Baraqiel, a Fallen Angel who plays a pivotal role as one of the leaders of the Grigori organization. During her childhood, Akeno was deeply attached to her mother, as her father was frequently absent due to his duties. The trauma of witnessing her mother’s violent death profoundly affected her, leading Akeno to harbor resentment toward Baraqiel for failing to protect Shuri. After losing her mother, she sought refuge with relatives from her mother’s side, only to be cast out due to her Fallen Angel bloodline.
At the young age of ten, Akeno found herself alone, wandering throughout Japan without food or money. Drawing upon her mother’s teachings, she honed her skills in purifying evil spirits to survive for a year and a half. During her travels, she inadvertently rescued a human who was bound by a contract with a Devil from the Gremory Clan. Fearing retribution from the Devil because of her Fallen Angel heritage, Akeno chose to keep a low profile.
Her journey took a perilous turn when her Himejima relatives discovered her and attempted to kill her. Just as her Grand-Uncle Suou Himejima was about to strike the final blow, Rias Gremory and her father’s Bishop, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, intervened. They negotiated with Akeno’s family to spare her life under two conditions: she would never set foot in Himejima territory again and would remain at Rias’s side. Akeno was then welcomed into the Gremory Palace, where she received an education that encompassed not only academics but also the social graces expected of a lady, further strengthening her bond with Rias and leading to a deep friendship.
As she progressed to Junior High, Rias acquired her Evil Pieces and designated Akeno as her first servant. Two years prior to the series’ events, Akeno entered Kuoh Academy alongside Rias, where she was instrumental in revitalizing the Occult Research Club, serving as its Vice-President. During their second year, they embarked on a trip to Kyoto. Although Rias cherished every moment, their lack of planning meant they missed out on visiting key attractions, such as Nijou-jou. This oversight left Rias visibly upset, prompting her to stomp her feet in frustration at the railway station, much to Akeno’s amusement as she tried to console her friend.
In addition to their Kyoto adventure, Akeno and Rias decided to create a haunted house for the school festival. They enlisted the help of actual ghosts, having sought out friendly youkai looking for work to contribute to the decorations. This choice, however, earned them a stern reprimand from Sona Sitri, who was not pleased with their decision to involve real spirits in the event.
Powers & Abilities
Equipment
Queen Piece (女王の駒, Joō no Koma): Akeno was reincarnated using the Queen Piece, a special chess piece that endows her with a combination of traits typically associated with the Rook, Bishop, and Knight. However, her abilities are predominantly aligned with the Bishop trait, which enhances her magical prowess.
Bracelets: Akeno possesses golden bracelets inscribed with magical symbols, a creation of Azazel. These bracelets played a crucial role in her transformation into a Fallen Angel, aiding her in harnessing her powers.
Oni Affinity: Inherited from her mother, Akeno has a profound connection with Onis. She has formed contracts with several smaller Onis and two legendary figures: Ura and Ibaraki Douji. These bonds allow her to summon these powerful beings when needed.
Oni Mask: Akeno also owns a distinctive oni mask, which she uses as a conduit to summon the two legendary Onis bound by her contracts. Ura is a well-known Evil Oni who led his tribe on Onigashima, while Ibaraki Douji is a powerful Daiyoukai who served as the right-hand man to the infamous Shuten Douji.