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Miyuki Shirogane

Miyuki Shirogane (白銀 御行, Shirogane Miyuki) serves as the deuteragonist and male lead in the Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai series. Initially, he was a third-year student at Shuchi’in Academy, where he held the prestigious position of president for both the 67th and 68th Student Councils. Currently, Miyuki is furthering his education at Stanford University.

“
It’s not like you have to live up to anyone’s expectations. You should just do what you can do, in your own way.
 ”
— Miyuki Shirogane

Origin

Miyuki Shirogane draws inspiration from Ootomo no Miyuki (大伴 御行), the fourth suitor featured in The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. In the story, he is assigned the challenging quest of retrieving a jewel from the neck of a dragon.

Appearance

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

Miyuki’s full appearance.

Miyuki Shirogane is depicted as a strikingly handsome young man with blonde hair and dark blue sanpaku eyes, accentuated by long eyelashes. His constant lack of sleep and nearsightedness contribute to a glare in his eyes, often highlighted by the bags underneath.

He typically wears the standard black male uniform of Shuchi’in Academy, complemented by the Aiguilette—a golden chain-like accessory that symbolizes his authority as the student council president and is passed down through generations of former presidents.


Personality

Miyuki Shirogane is a dedicated and hardworking student who has risen to the top of his class despite coming from a disadvantaged background. He maintains a high self-image and is committed to preserving his flawless reputation. As a quintessential workaholic, he enjoys his part-time job and often sacrifices his health for his responsibilities, actively seeking to recruit others to join him in his work.

Due to his upbringing, Miyuki rarely discusses finances and makes a concerted effort to avoid wastefulness, often shying away from extravagant gifts. However, he consistently finds a way to sneak 2000 yen into his sister Kei Shirogane’s purse on her birthday, despite their family’s agreement to forgo gift-giving. His concern stems from wanting her to have nice clothes, reflecting his caring nature. Although Kei finds his overprotectiveness annoying, she eventually recognizes his good intentions.

Miyuki’s feelings for Kaguya Shinomiya, the vice president, complicate his character. He is intimidated by her wealth and talents, leading to anxiety about confessing his feelings. He fears that any romantic gesture might make Kaguya look down on him, particularly when she affectionately refers to him as “O-kawaii-koto,” or “How cute.” Even after they begin dating, he strives to maintain an impeccable facade to prove his worth as her equal, deeply concerned about her discovering his flaws.

Feeling like an “impure” student at Shuchi’in Academy, he believes he lacks the advantages of his more privileged classmates and relies solely on his academic prowess. The idea of his exam rankings falling below Kaguya’s frightens him, as it would challenge his perception of himself as a worthy partner.

Despite his inexperience in romance—having never had a girlfriend before Kaguya—Miyuki’s dignified demeanor and popularity lead his peers to seek his advice on love. While he excels academically and is physically capable, he struggles in various activities like sports and singing due to a lack of coordination. Nevertheless, he diligently works to overcome these shortcomings, often dragging Secretary Chika into his efforts without imposing on her.

Beneath his pride and confidence, Miyuki is remarkably selfless and compassionate. He consistently prioritizes the well-being of others over his own ambitions. Generous and supportive, he is always willing to assist fellow students with their issues, even setting aside his desire to have Kaguya confess if it could potentially harm someone else. For instance, when he intended to help Yu study but noticed Kaguya had already taken the initiative, he graciously stepped back, acknowledging that Yu was in capable hands.

History

Miyuki Shirogane’s childhood was marked by his mother’s departure, which left a significant impact on his family. She left when he was young, taking his younger sister, Kei Shirogane, with her after claiming to have fallen “out of love” with their father. Eventually, Kei returned to live with Miyuki and their father. Throughout his early years, Miyuki struggled academically, leading to his mother’s disinterest, as she focused her attention on Kei. This experience deeply traumatized him, contributing to insecurities that would later affect his relationship with Kaguya.

Miyuki’s father faced financial hardships after his factory was shut down and lacked stable employment until his YouTube channel gained popularity. The family initially lived in a modest apartment costing ¥50,000 (approximately $450) per month, but they later moved to a larger home costing ¥200,000 per month following his father’s newfound success. This challenging background shaped Miyuki’s frugal lifestyle, motivating him to take on part-time jobs and work hard to support his family.

His relationship with Kei is complex; while he is overprotective of her, she often desires independence. Despite this, they share a bond that remains somewhat unstable yet positive. Academically, Miyuki has achieved notable accomplishments, including passing the Level 2 Kanji Kentei exam, earning Grade Pre 1 on Eiken, and securing second place in a national mock exam.

Miyuki transferred to Shuchi’in Academy on a scholarship during his first year of high school. His initial week was disappointing as many of his peers looked down on him for being a transfer student and for not belonging to a zaibatsu or notable lineage. During this time, he was approached by the former Student Council President to become the new general affairs officer and was tasked with cleaning up a swamp. It was there that he witnessed Kaguya Shinomiya rescuing a girl from drowning, despite not knowing how to swim herself, relying on her maid for assistance. This moment left a lasting impression on him, and he found himself genuinely captivated by Kaguya. Following advice from fellow student council member Momo Ryuju, Miyuki adopted a confident, genius persona to attract her attention.

Relationships

Family

Kei Shirogane
Kei Shirogane is Miyuki’s younger sister. He tends to be overprotective and often nags her, leading to a somewhat rebellious attitude from Kei. Despite this dynamic, their bond has strengthened significantly throughout the series, with the two frequently playing the straight man to their father’s eccentric behavior.

Papa Shirogane
Papa Shirogane is Miyuki’s father. His quirky and often embarrassing antics lead to frequent clashes between father and son, especially in public. Nevertheless, Miyuki respects his father and values his advice, expressing a desire to revive the family business that was lost long ago.

Shirogane’s Mother
Miyuki’s mother pushed him to excel academically during his childhood but abandoned him around the age of nine or ten. This abandonment has fueled his relentless drive for success, as he hopes that one day she might return.

Student Council

Kaguya Shinomiya
Kaguya Shinomiya is the girl Miyuki harbors feelings for. His understanding of relationships leads him to believe that whoever confesses first is the loser, which complicates his ability to admit his feelings. Instead, he engages in a series of mind games with Kaguya to prompt her to confess. He finds her beautiful and recalls falling in love with her the moment she saved a student from drowning, demonstrating her kind heart. Despite the socio-economic gap between them, he strives to be seen as her equal. After a series of events, they officially begin dating, albeit secretly, due to Kaguya’s family’s disapproval. Their relationship faces challenges, including a breakup instigated by external pressures, but they ultimately reaffirm their commitment to each other, vowing to reunite despite any obstacles.

Yu Ishigami
Yu Ishigami is a close friend of Miyuki, whom he recruited after uncovering the truth behind a misunderstanding that cast Ishigami in a negative light. Their bond of trust deepens as they confide in each other, and Miyuki often seeks Ishigami’s advice regarding his romantic feelings for Kaguya.

Chika Fujiwara
Chika Fujiwara is a classmate and close friend of Miyuki. While he sometimes views her as a threat to his strategic games with Kaguya, he appreciates her contributions to his skills in various activities, including volleyball and dancing. Their friendship is built on mutual respect, despite the occasional chaos she brings to their lives.

Miko Iino
Miko Iino is a friend and former rival, having once run against Miyuki for the student council presidency. Although their relationship started off awkward, it has evolved as they bond over shared experiences and navigate their respective love lives. Miyuki often provides support and guidance to Miko, further solidifying their connection.

Friends
Ai Hayasaka
Ai Hayasakabecame a friend after revealing her identity as Kaguya’s maid. They maintain a friendship that grows stronger after Ai leaves her position, allowing them to hang out more frequently.

Go Kazamatsuri
Go Kazamatsuri is a friend and classmate who encourages Miyuki to participate in various activities, including karaoke. Their camaraderie is built on shared experiences as fellow “impure” students.

Saburo Toyosaki
Saburo Toyosaki is another friend and classmate of Miyuki who joins him in karaoke activities.

Maki Shijo
Maki Shijois a classmate and friend with whom Miyuki shares a bond over their mutual struggles in confessing their feelings for their respective crushes. He finds her personality reminiscent of Kaguya’s.

Mikado Shijo
Mikado Shijo is an academic rival who scored higher than Miyuki on previous mock exams. Their relationship evolves into a friendship, and they bond over shared interests.

Others

Momo Ryuju
Momo Ryujuserved alongside Miyuki in the student council. Their relationship is characterized by a mutual respect, as Momo occasionally assists Miyuki with various tasks.

Previous Student Council President
The former president of the student council played a significant role in Miyuki’s early experiences at Shuchi’in Academy. Despite past challenges, Miyuki holds him in high regard and continues some of his policies.

Kobachi Osaragi
Kobachi Osaragi is an underclassman and former rival who collaborates with Miyuki to help improve the relationship between Ishigami and Iino. Miyuki admires her ability to handle Miko’s personality.

Etymology

Kaguya’s surname, Shinomiya (四宮), translates to “four” (四, shi) and “temple, shrine, or palace” (宮, miya). This reflects both her family’s significance and their place within the cultural context of Japanese society.

Her married name, Shirogane (白銀), means “white silver” (白, shiro meaning “white” and 銀, gane meaning “silver”), symbolizing purity and elegance.

Trivia

    • Miyuki’s strikingly intense eyes and distinctive hair color reflect a unique artistic style often seen in manga. His eyes, which squint due to poor eyesight and chronic sleep deprivation, add to his distinctive look.
    • Although Miyuki has a European appearance, he is fully Japanese, having been born and raised in Japan, and is completely unaware of any foreign languages.
    • He rides a blue bike daily, commuting 15 kilometers to school, which takes him about 40 minutes to an hour each way. On rainy days, he opts for the train, but he prides himself on never being late, driven by his commitment to the responsibilities of the Student Council President.
    • Despite his impressive academic prowess, Miyuki struggles with everyday tasks that many take for granted. Through diligent training with Chika, he has managed to overcome some of these challenges, but several remain:
      • He has a severe fear of insects, so much so that he once fainted when a cockroach landed on his face.
      • His early attempts at volleyball were disastrous, often resulting in self-inflicted injuries during serves. Thanks to Chika’s coaching, he has since become a competent player.
      • Singing is another weak spot for Miyuki, who was caught lip-syncing during a school anthem performance. Both Chika and Ai Hayasaka humorously compared his singing to the sound of a sea cucumber’s intestines. Under Chika’s guidance, he has worked to improve his vocal skills.
      • His attempts at balloon art often end in failure, with balloons popping regularly. Even using new balloons has not significantly enhanced his skills.
      • Dancing also presents challenges, but he is gradually improving through various training sessions, having learned traditional Soran dance from Chika and Kaguya and ballroom dancing from Chika as well.
    • On the flip side, Miyuki possesses some unusual talents:
      • He has a natural flair for drawing, constantly honing his skills through practice.
      • He excels at juggling, spinning tops, and yo-yo tricks, showcasing a knack for activities that require coordination.
    • His taste extends to the culinary world, where he enjoys oysters and has a fondness for both cats and penguins.
    • Motivational slogans hang above his study desk, fueling his determination for academic excellence. Notable entries include “Become an equal to Kaguya Shinomiya” and “Defeat Mikado Shijo absolutely,” the latter a nod to his second-place finish in the National Mock Exams.
    • Miyuki’s affection for Kaguya developed long before the series began, sparked by her beauty and her selfless act of saving a drowning girl. He believes that, in matters of love, the first to fall loses.
    • Surprisingly, Miyuki has never experienced the joy of a Christmas cake and has only received ¥2000 gift cards as Christmas gifts. Nonetheless, he discreetly provides financial support to his sister on her birthday.
    • His blood type is O, and he weighed 2118 grams at birth; Kaguya likely knows this due to her connection with the family doctor.
    • The bed hair that extends to the left of his head results from sleeping with his face pressed against a penguin pillow, a hairstyle he struggles to tame in his busy morning routine.
    • Caffeine is essential for Miyuki; he must replenish his reserves every three hours or risk passing out from exhaustion. His sleep schedule consists of just three hours on weekdays and eight on weekends.
    • A passion for astronomy fuels his dreams of becoming an astronomer after graduation. His love for stargazing is so intense that he often overlooks his feelings for Kaguya and her schemes in favor of admiring the moon.
    • He has set his sights on Stanford University, hoping to reclaim his father’s lost business from the Shinomiya Zaibatsu.
    • His LINE profile picture features the Orion constellation, a nod to his astronomical interests.
    • Miyuki is dedicated to ensuring his sister Kei feels secure financially, often apprehensive about her plans to start a YouTube channel for extra income.
    • After his second year at Shuchi’in, he plans to transfer to Stanford, motivated by ambition.
    • Despite his serious demeanor, his sense of fashion is reminiscent of a middle schooler, a consequence of his family’s financial struggles following his father’s business failure.
    • Miyuki and Kaguya share a special bond; they both experienced their first intimate relationship with one another.
    • He demonstrates tactical skill in board games, managing to outmaneuver Chika with her own strategies and even informing Yu about her tactics to gain the upper hand.
    • According to the Personality Database, his MBTI type is ENTJ 3w2.
    • He detests being called “Miyuki-chan” unless it comes from Kaguya, having once reacted violently when a younger boy used the name in front of Kei during his childhood.