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Mitsuha Miyamizu

Mitsuha Miyamizu (宮水 三葉, Miyamizu Mitsuha) is the central female character in Kimi no Na wa. At 17 years old, she is a high school student residing in the quaint rural town of Itomori. Mitsuha belongs to the Miyamizu family, where she upholds her role as a priestess at their family shrine. Despite her responsibilities, she feels a sense of restlessness and discontent with her life in a small town. Her relationship with her strict father is strained, and she faces criticism for her duties as a shrine maiden. Longing for a different life, Mitsuha dreams of experiencing life as a charming boy in Tokyo. Remarkably, her wish begins to materialize when she starts to experience body-swapping dreams with a high school student named Taki Tachibana.

There’s no way we could meet. But one thing is certain. If we see each other, we’ll know. That you were the one who was inside me. That I was the one who was inside you.
— Mitsuha Miyamizu

Appearance

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

Mitsuha with her short hair.

Mitsuha Miyamizu is depicted as an attractive teenage girl of average height and build, often described as the spitting image of her late mother, Futaba Miyamizu. She has striking, straight black hair that extends to her upper back, styled in a distinctive manner: two braids on either side tied into a small ponytail adorned with a braided cord featuring red, blue, and yellow-orange hues. Bangs cascade down the left side of her face, complemented by chin-length strands framing her cheeks, and she has expressive brown eyes.

After her journey to Tokyo in search of Taki Tachibana, Mitsuha chooses to give her braided cord to him and opts for a new look, cutting her hair to chin-length with two strands that beautifully frame her face. Later, she wears the braided cord again when Taki returns it to her during the moment known as Kataware-doki. In a promotional video, an adult Mitsuha is seen with a chic bob hairstyle, where the braided cord serves as a stylish headband. As she matures, she allows her hair to grow back to upper-back length, keeping a small section braided at the back, again incorporating the braided cord into her look.

In her school life, Mitsuha is frequently seen in her uniform, which comprises a short-sleeved white shirt featuring a pocket and a red ribbon at the collar. The shirt is neatly tucked into a gray skirt, and she completes her outfit with brown loafers and black stockings. During the winter months, she adds an orange (later a blue) sweater over her shirt for warmth.

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

Mitsuha at twenty years old, as shown in a promotional video.

On the fateful day when the comet struck, Mitsuha wore a beautiful blue yukata adorned with white floral patterns, paired with a red obi and light brown sandals.

In a scene from 2016 when time reverses, she is dressed in a white dress embellished with stars, complemented by a yellow cardigan and a pair of elegant heels.

As an adult, Mitsuha often dons a light orange shirt layered with a light pink cardigan. She pairs this with peach-colored jeans that reach just above her shins, cinched at the waist with a brown belt, and she frequently wears yellow heels. Her look is often completed with a necklace and a stylish brown handbag.


Personality

“I hate this town! I hate this life! Please make me a handsome Tokyo boy in my next life!”

— Mitsuha’s wish to live as a boy in Tokyo.

Mitsuha Miyamizu is characterized by her kindness, caring nature, and organizational skills, which complement her supportive and determined demeanor. While she is adventurous and often persistent, she feels constrained by the close-knit lifestyle of her rural hometown, Itomori. This longing for exploration leads her to become somewhat flaky and disinterested in her family’s traditions. When she begins to swap bodies with Taki Tachibana, she fully embraces the small joys of his life, seizing each moment and falling in love with the vibrant city of Tokyo.

During her time in Taki’s body, Mitsuha radiates happiness and gratitude, as his life embodies everything she has ever dreamed of. She cherishes every experience, eagerly spending time at cafes with Taki’s friends, indulging in treats, and capturing photos of even the simplest moments, from delightful desserts to the scenic landscapes of Tokyo. However, the demands of Taki’s part-time jobs overwhelm her, contrasting sharply with her tranquil life in Itomori. Mitsuha’s dignified nature shines through as she insists on maintaining decorum while inhabiting Taki’s body, reminding him to be mindful of skirts, to avoid looking in mirrors, and to steer clear of showers.

Despite her cheerful disposition, Mitsuha struggles with embarrassment over her family’s traditions, particularly when faced with ridicule from her classmates. Her strict father adds to her insecurities, leading her to endure belittlement without retaliating, unlike Taki, who responds with assertiveness. Yet, inspired by Taki’s courage, Mitsuha ultimately finds the strength to confront her father and advocate for the evacuation of Itomori, demonstrating her unwavering determination.

In Taki’s presence, Mitsuha exhibits a more feminine side, which captures the attention of Taki’s crush, Miki Okudera. As she helps Taki navigate his feelings for Okudera, she secretly grapples with her own burgeoning love for him. When it comes to romance, Mitsuha becomes flustered and excited, particularly upon their first real meeting. Additionally, she displays a knack for giving relationship advice, though Taki playfully suggests that she is merely teasing him.

Background

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

Mitsuha with her parents.

Mitsuha was born on December 1, 1995, as the first child of Toshiki and Futaba Miyamizu. From a young age, she was immersed in the traditions and rituals of the Miyamizu family, learning about their role in maintaining the local shrine. When Mitsuha was eight, her younger sister, Yotsuha, was born, and the family enjoyed a blissful and harmonious life together until tragedy struck.

Mitsuha’s life changed drastically when Futaba passed away when she was around 11 years old. This loss left her father, Toshiki, heartbroken and feeling powerless to save his wife. In the wake of her death, he distanced himself from the Miyamizu shrine and its traditions, opting instead to pursue a career in politics. He openly confessed that his love was solely for Futaba, not for the family’s legacy. Although Toshiki wanted to take Mitsuha and Yotsuha with him, the sisters chose to stay with their grandmother, Hitoha Miyamizu.

Despite the absence of both parents, Mitsuha managed to maintain a relatively happy childhood. However, her relationship with her father remained strained, especially after he became the mayor of Itomori, where his strict demeanor often clashed with her more free-spirited nature. Mitsuha also faced criticism and judgment from her peers during her participation in Miyamizu traditions, which added to her feelings of discontent.

In 2010 or 2011, Mitsuha began her studies at Itomori High School, where she developed close friendships with Sayaka Natori and Katsuhiko Teshigawara (often referred to as Tessie). Due to Tessie’s connection as the son of her father’s contractor, they sometimes became targets of teasing from their classmates.

In other media

Manga

In contrast to the film, the Kimi no Na wa. manga delves deeper into the epilogue from Mitsuha’s viewpoint. She recounts how her father, Toshiki Miyamizu, orchestrates the evacuation of the residents of Itomori using helicopters. After completing high school, Mitsuha enrolls in a university in Tokyo, eventually securing a position as an office worker. Throughout her journey, she maintains friendships with Sayaka Natori and Tessie, both of whom also reside in Tokyo.

Tenki no Ko

In the 2021 film Tenki no Ko , Mitsuha is featured as a jewelry saleswoman at a shop located in LUMINE. She assists Hodaka Morishima by providing advice on whether the ring he has selected for Hina Amano is appropriate. At this point in the narrative, Mitsuha has yet to reunite with Taki Tachibana.

In a 2024 director’s interview, Makoto Shinkai confirmed that Mitsuha and Taki eventually got married, solidifying their bond beyond the events of Kimi no Na wa. 

Powers and Abilities

Soul Exchange

As a member of the Miyamizu family, Mitsuha possesses unique spiritual abilities that allow her to engage in a phenomenon known as soul exchange. This ability enables her to switch souls with another individual, specifically Taki Tachibana, which is activated during sleep and potentially linked to her spiritual powers. Unbeknownst to her, Mitsuha harbors a desire to “reincarnate as a handsome boy living in Tokyo,” which contributes to this mystical experience. This extraordinary exchange occurs exclusively during her youth, with the precise conditions and triggers remaining largely a mystery. Notably, this phenomenon transcends both time and space. The exchanges can also be instigated by the other party through the consumption of herkuchikamizake, a traditional sake imbued with spiritual significance. However, the memories from these exchanges tend to fade over time, often feeling more like a dream than a tangible recollection.

Taki theorizes that the purpose of these body-swapping episodes may be linked to the Miyamizu women and their partners being able to alert the town about the impending comet’s impact.

Needlework

As a traditionalist when it comes to braided cords, Mitsuha is also skilled in needlework, showcasing her connection to her heritage and the craftsmanship involved in creating these intricate designs.

Etymology

The name Mitsuha (三葉) is composed of two characters: “three” (三,mitsu) and “leaf” (葉,ha), translating literally to “three leaves.” This naming convention extends to her family lineage; her grandmother’s name signifies “one leaf,” her mother’s name means “two leaves,” and her younger sister’s name denotes “four leaves.” Mitsuha’s father, Toshiki, chose this name as a meaningful tribute to the family’s heritage.

Her surname, Miyamizu (宮水), combines the characters for “temple” or “shrine” (宮,miya) and “water” (水,mizu), highlighting the family’s responsibilities as priestesses. In contrast, her married name, Tachibana (立花), consists of “standing” (立,tachi) and “flower” or “blossom” (花,hana/bana), symbolizing growth and beauty.

Trivia

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

    Twenty-year-old Mitsuha meeting Taki in an alternate timeline.

    • The moment when Mitsuha and Taki Tachibana meet at Kataware-doki marks the only occasion they are the same age, as this phenomenon allows for inhuman experiences.

    • At the film’s beginning, the narrative obscures that it is already the following day when Mitsuha is shown heading to school after waking up. This is achieved by having her sister, Yotsuha Miyamizu, wear similar clothing. Although Yotsuha, a grade schooler, lacks a uniform like Mitsuha’s, she initially appears in denim shorts that later change to a different pair of bluish shorts. This leads to a moment of confusion when “Mitsuha” (who is actually Taki) is shown reacting to her own naked body, failing to do her hair correctly, and simply putting on her uniform before heading downstairs for breakfast. Strangely, she then returns to her room to properly style her hair (something Taki struggles with) before finally proceeding to school. In the manga adaptation, this is clarified with Mitsuha waking up again, indicating two separate days.

    • According to Makoto Shinkai, the colors of Mitsuha’s braided ribbon carry symbolic meanings: the center represents the comet, the blue symbolizes the lake of her hometown, while the red and orange signify Kataware-doki.

    • When Mitsuha gives Taki her braided cord, it creates a connection reminiscent of the Japanese myth of the “red string of Fate.” This myth suggests that two people tied by this thread are destined to be lovers, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The cord may stretch or tangle but never break.

    • This concept ties into the film’s theme of Musubi , representing the intertwining of time. Despite being separated by time, circumstances, and memory, Mitsuha and Taki’s feelings remain interconnected, culminating in their reunion after a long separation.

    • Mitsuha speaks in a local dialect typical of Itomori residents, utilizing the verb ya instead of the standard da in her speech.

    • When Taki inhabits Mitsuha’s body, he struggles with her hairstyle and ends up wearing her hair in a ponytail, as he is unsure how she styles it.

    • Sayaka Natori mentioned that on the first day of their body-swapping, Mitsuha attended school with disheveled bed hair.

    • In Taki’s body, Mitsuha is often depicted indulging in large, sugary desserts, hinting at her sweet tooth.

    • Yotsuha notes that Mitsuha is difficult to wake up when she sleeps and frequently experiences sleeplessness.

    • In an alternate timeline, a 20-year-old Mitsuha meets Taki, depicted in the official music video “Sparkle” from the limited DVD of RADWIMPS’ albumNingen Kaika. This scene does not appear in the YouTube version.

    • Makoto Shinkai, the film’s director, has revealed that Mitsuha not only relocated to Tokyo for safety but also sought employment in the fashion industry, likely influenced by her childhood traditions.