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Hiyori Iki

Hiyori Iki (壱い岐きひより, Iki Hiyori) is the main female protagonist of the Noragami series. She is a half-ayakashi (半はん妖よう, hanyou), which means her spirit can temporarily leave her human body. Hiyori’s unique condition allows her to interact with gods and ayakashi, placing her in extraordinary circumstances that lead her to form significant relationships with the gods Yato and Yukine.

“
If you’re in a position to save people, you should never even joke like that. My father…The doctor…Would never abandon anyone. He’d never give up on a person’s life, even if they tried to throw it away.
 ”
— Hiyori Iki

Appearance

Hiyori Iki is depicted as a slender young girl, standing at 167 cm (5’6″). She has dark brown hair and brown eyes, though her eye color appears magenta in the anime. As a half-ayakashi, a distinctive “cord” resembling a cat’s tail protrudes from her lower back. In the anime, this cord is shown in dark pink, while its depiction in the manga varies, appearing gray, light brown, or bright pink at different times.

Her typical attire includes her middle school uniform, which consists of a short sailor-style shirt and a knee-length skirt. The anime portrays this uniform in lavender, while the manga presents it in light gray. After graduating from middle school, Hiyori transitions to high school uniforms, often seen in both summer and winter variations. Her winter uniform features a light purple blazer paired with a dark purple pleated skirt and a black button-up shirt adorned with a purple ribbon at the collar. She completes this look with black knee-length socks and brown loafers. Occasionally, she wears the blazer open, revealing a white sweater vest underneath.

In the summer, her high school outfit consists of a short-sleeved blue collared shirt, a dark purple pleated skirt, and the same socks and shoes as her winter uniform. Hiyori also varies her wardrobe with additional layers, often donning a gray trench coat over her uniform and a long pink scarf that reaches her upper thighs, particularly during the winter season depicted in the first season of the anime. As the series progresses into summer, she showcases a range of lighter outfits.

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Hiyori wearing her middle school uniform.

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Hiyori in her spirit form.


Personality

Hiyori Iki is a brave and compassionate individual who consistently puts herself at risk to help others in need. Her kindness extends not only to her friends and family but also to strangers, reflecting her strong moral compass. Hiyori is unafraid to voice her concerns when she believes someone is acting unjustly, although she can be somewhat more lenient when it comes to friends. Her perceptiveness allows her to see the good intentions behind others’ seemingly harsh words or actions.

Despite her admirable qualities, Hiyori can be a bit air-headed or naive at times. For instance, she confidently believes she is ready to take on the role of Yukine’s caretaker, and she comically worries about not being “wireless” when she learns that cutting her cord could lead to her demise. Additionally, she often finds herself flustered in romantic situations, revealing a more vulnerable side to her character.

Hiyori is deeply loyal to those she trusts and is not one to suppress her emotions. Although she yearns to return to her fully human state, she remains unwilling to sever her connections with Yato and Yukine, consistently refusing to do so despite the potential for normalcy.

Interestingly, while she anticipates her mother’s disapproval for being unladylike, Hiyori is an avid martial arts enthusiast. She idolizes a martial artist named Touno, emulating his attacks and drawing inspiration from his philosophy to “pave [their] destiny with their own hands.” This passion showcases her determination and willingness to carve her own path, despite the challenges she faces.

History

Hiyori Iki is an ordinary high school girl who, after a near-death experience, becomes a half-phantom (or ayakashi). This incident occurs when she attempts to save a stranger (Yato, the god of calamity) from being hit by a bus. As a result of this, her soul frequently slips out of her body, allowing her to see spirits, gods, and other supernatural beings.

Skills & Abilities

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Hiyori is more agile as a half-ayakashi than in her human form.

  • Half-Ayakashi Transformation: Hiyori has the extraordinary ability to separate her soul from her physical body, allowing her spirit to roam while her body remains in a dormant state. This places her existence between that of a human and an ayakashi. Although she can initiate this transformation at will, there are instances when her spirit departs unexpectedly.

  • Spirit Cord: In her half-ayakashi form, Hiyori possesses a cord resembling a cat-like tail. This cord serves as a vital lifeline, connecting her physical body to her spirit. If the cord is severed, Hiyori faces fatal consequences, and any pressure applied to it results in intense pain. Prolonged separation from her physical form can cause her cord to disappear.

  • Enhanced Physical Abilities: While in her half-ayakashi state, Hiyori experiences heightened strength, speed, and agility. Her training in martial arts enables her to engage effectively with formidable ayakashi, though she is careful to avoid damaging her cord during combat.

  • Jungle Savate (ジャングル・サバット Janguru sabatto?): Hiyori employs a martial arts technique known as Jungle Savate, which she learned by watching videos of her idol, Touno.

  • Clairalience: Hiyori possesses an exceptional sense of smell for beings from the Far Shore, allowing her to identify the scent of gods or shinki and distinguish between individuals even over considerable distances.

  • Supernatural Senses: Hiyori can perceive entities from the Far Shore, a skill inherited to some extent from her maternal lineage. Even before her transformation, she had the ability to see gods, and her half-ayakashi status grants her the capability to see shinki, wandering spirits, and other ayakashi.

  • Memory Reading: Hiyori seems to have an innate ability to glimpse into the memories of others, unintentionally accessing Yato’s childhood memories on one occasion. However, the origins of this ability remain unexplained.

Relationships

Yato
Initially, Hiyori’s relationship with Yato was primarily transactional, centered around his promise to help her regain her full humanity. However, as time progressed, their bond evolved into a deep friendship characterized by mutual trust. Hiyori often takes on a more mature role in their dynamic, even as they both exhibit quirky behaviors that strengthen their camaraderie. She supports Yato’s aspirations, regardless of their seriousness. By Chapter 79, Hiyori confesses her romantic feelings for Yato, revealing the depth of her affection.

Yukine
Hiyori regards Yukine as one of her closest friends and a reliable younger brother. Her concern for him is evident when she worries about his safety after discovering Yato’s actions regarding a Shinki. This prompts her to invite him to her home, believing Yato might not adequately care for him. Hiyori actively supports Yukine’s education by gifting him her old schoolbooks and helping him study. Initially, Yukine viewed Hiyori as a means to an end in his quest for redemption, but her encouragement and kindness foster a strong friendship between them. He grows to care deeply for her well-being, often anxious about her forgetting him and Yato.

Kazuma
By Chapter 78, Kazuma appears to recognize Hiyori’s feelings for Yato but warns her that it is considered a sin for gods to love mortals. This moment highlights the complexities of her relationship with Yato and the challenges they face.

Kofuku
Hiyori has a friendly relationship with Kofuku, who affectionately teases her with the nickname “Hiyorin.” Although Hiyori is somewhat wary of Kofuku’s status as the God of Poverty, she nonetheless holds a deep trust in her. Kofuku, along with Daikoku, becomes a source of support for Hiyori, particularly in times when Yato is in danger. Kofuku often jokes about Hiyori’s feelings for Yato, adding a playful dynamic to their interactions.

Yama & Ami
Yama and Ami are among Hiyori’s closest human friends, forming a supportive trio. They are accustomed to Hiyori’s “snooze attacks,” during which her spirit leaves her body, and they care for her during these episodes without hesitation. Hiyori’s concern for her friends is evident, showcasing the depth of their friendship.

Trivia

  • The name Hiyori is a homophone for “日和” (hiyori), which means “fair weather.” This creates a thematic connection with Yato and Yukine , whose names incorporate the kanji for “night” and “snow,” respectively. Together, the three names symbolize different “conditions” of the sky.

  • Hiyori’s surname, Iki, combines two meanings: “壱” (i), meaning “one,” and “岐” (ki), which can mean “branch off,” “fork in the road,” “scene,” “arena,” or “theater.”

  • Hiyori’s character song,“Mitai Sekai,”is performed by her Japanese voice actress, Maaya Uchida.

  • Although Hiyori often dozes off in class, she eventually manages to catch up, even taking on the role of a teacher for Yukine by assigning him lessons and homework, indicating her academic capabilities.

  • Hiyori tends to overlook Yato’s numerous emails and tweets. However, when Yukine borrows Yato’s phone to message her, she responds every time.

  • Akira Yamashita humorously refers to Hiyori’s ability to leave her body as her “insta-snooze” trick, since it appears to him that she simply falls asleep.

  • Hiyori feels embarrassed about her ability to track scents, which adds to her character’s charm and relatability.