Highlights

• Wind Breaker revolves around protagonist Haruka Sakura's struggle with social norms and self-acceptance through the dynamics of high school.
• Characters such as Sugishita, Togame, Tomiyama, Nirei, Suo, Hiragi, Tachibana and Umemiya play pivotal roles in shaping the plot.
• Sakura's journey of self-discovery and moral alignment against the backdrop of Bofurin reveals unexpected layers of strength and vulnerability.

Spring 2024 Anime Season Doesn't Get Better Than New High School Series Windbreak. Simplistic in its approach, the series focuses on its protagonist, Haruka Sakura, who, from an early age, is painfully aware of what it means to not fit in. Due to her unconventional appearance, Sakura becomes an outcast with deep feelings of inferiority compared to her peers.

However, Sakura is determined to turn her weaknesses into strengths, and her starting point is Furin High School. The series features a rather quirky cast of characters, much like the infamous high school anime series, with each character diverse and different from the others. With most of the cast still appearing minimally, here are some critical details about the ones seen so far.

Character chart

Kyotaro Sugishita

Vaisravana Unit Member

A member of Bofurin and a first-year student at Furin High School, Sugishita appears relatively slow and aloof at first. He rarely shows any interest in people, save for any suspicion of disrespect towards Hajime Umemiya.

For unknown reasons, Sugishita is almost religiously devoted to the current leader of Bofurin, which leads him to be seen as a fanatic. Exceptionally tall for his age, Sugishita is not very interactive, as he barely speaks and is not particularly expressive, choosing to express himself mainly through his fists. Despite his aggressive tendencies, he is gentle when the situation calls for it.

Jo Togame

Vice leader

The second-in-command of the rival school, Shishitoren, Jo Togame, at first appears laid-back and calm. However, his behavior develops into a somewhat fickle, unpredictable one. Togame despises weak people and is shown to be arrogant and ruthless in his treatment of his subordinates who prove to be underperforming, which he considers to be a strength.

However, his arrogance comes from personal strength. Despite being only a high school student, he is a fearsome individual, blessed with above-average physical strength, which makes him considerably stronger than most students his age.

Choji Tomiyama

Shishitoren Leader

The leader of the rival school, Shishitoren, Choji Tomiyama, looks like a child due to his small stature. However, beyond his small appearance lies a twisted individual with a propensity for violence and fighting, as shown when he challenges Umemiya to a fight and throws a tantrum until the latter finally agrees.

Although he appears harmless, his personality darkens at the slightest form of violence. He constantly seeks out stronger opponents to test his strength against, a trait that has led him to the top in Shishitoren.

Akihiko Nirei

Vice-Captain of the Vaisravana Unit

Like Sugishita, Akihiko Nirei is a first-year student at Furin High School and vice-captain of Bofurin's vaisravana unit. Nirei is typically cheerful and calm, but occasionally clumsy for various reasons.

Unlike most Bofurin members, Nirei's strengths do not lie in combat. He is easily frightened whenever he must face danger due to years of severe bullying during middle school. However, Nirei possesses excellent memorization and documentation skills, which come in handy in most situations. Aside from his odd tendencies, Nirei is one of the most influential freshmen and shares a close relationship with Sakura.

Hayato Suo

Vice-Captain of the Vaisravana Unit

Arguably the strongest of the first years, Hayato Suo is a member of Bofurin and, like Nirei, vice-captain of the Vaisravana unit. Notable for his eyepatch, Suo is usually always smiling and calm, even in the most extreme situations, and never shows any irritation or negative emotions, which makes him even more intimidating.

Carefully detailed and level-headed, Suo critically analyzes situations and responds accordingly. While he may seem averse to violence, his proficiency in mixed martial arts lends credibility to his overall strength.

Take Hiragi

Vaisravana Unit Leader

A third-year student at Furin High School, Toma Hiragi is one of the four Heavenly Kings of Bofurin and the commander of the Vaisravana unit. Notable for his short, spiky hair, Hiragi is often upset or stressed by the conflicts Bofurin gets involved in.

More than just conflicts, Hiragi is also constantly taking medication due to constant stomach pains, which began in his first year of high school. Hiragi usually appears as a reckless individual at the forefront of fights and gang battles. However, he also shows himself to be calm and level-headed in critical moments, specifically when it comes to his leadership.

Kotoha Tachibana

Waitress

The adoptive sister of the Bofurin boss, Kotoha Tachibana, is also a waitress at Café Pothos. Unlike her adoptive brother, Kotoha is not a student and opposes violence, although she strongly supports Umemiya.

Soft-spoken and gentle, Kotoha is the first to take a liking to Sakura, noticing how bright and distinctive her eyes were. She is also shown to be both stern and gentle when dealing with Sakura, her brother, and Nirei, while maintaining respectful relationships with the older members of the Furin community.

Hajime Umemiya

Bofurin Leader

Third-year student Hajime Umemiya is the leader of Bofurin and Furin High School. Notable for his gray hair and eyes, Umemiya appears warm and friendly and carries with him an infectious charisma that is passed on to all of the Bofurin members. While his friendly demeanor may be overly characteristic, the opposite happens when he is involved in a fight, to the point that the disparity can be shocking even to his subordinates.

Due to his efforts in the Furin community, he is greatly respected and loved by the community members, which extends to Bofurin as a whole. While Umemiya may seem overly simplistic in his interactions, he is also deeply invested in the well-being of all his subordinates and, by extension, the Furin community.

HarukaSakura

Vaisravan Unit Captain

The series' protagonist, Haruka Sakura, is a first-year freshman at Furin High School and the captain of the first-year Vaisravana unit. After being repeatedly judged for her physical appearance, Sakura eventually accepts the delinquent personality projected onto her and heads to Furin to settle down in Bofurin.

Unusually perceptive and reactionary, Sakura is painfully aware of how he is perceived by others, which results in his violent tendencies. However, despite his easy disposition towards violence, Sakura strictly adheres to his morals. He becomes uncomfortable when receiving kindness and cannot handle gratitude. His initial goal towards Furin takes on a new form when he discovers that Bofurin uses his strength to protect the city, a trait that aligns with his self-absorbed morals.