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Karin Takakura
Karin-haruka2artwork
Character Information
Birthday:
Age:
16 (15 depending on birthday)
Height:
160 cm (5'3")
Family:
Mentioned but not known
Occupation:
High school student
Innate Element:
Varies (determined by birthday)
Weapon(s):
none (uses magic and talismans to attack)
Voice Actor(s):
Tomoko Kawakami
Live Action Actor(s):
First Appearance: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2
Voiced only in OVAs and drama CDs.

Karin Takakura (高倉花梨, Takakura Karin) is the main protagonist in Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2. She is the player's character for the story. Her name and birthday can be changed to the player's preferences in the game, but she will be known by her default name in official media.

So far, she is the only White Dragon Priestess within the series to begin her duties in the parallel world completely by herself.

Role in Games

Karin, a Maple High School student, is transported to a heavenly realm by the White Dragon after a maple leaf falls onto her hands. She is tasked with saving the capital, Kyoto, but her journey is interrupted due to her weak connection to the dragon. Guided by Akram, she arrives in the frail capital and meets Motomi, Yukarihime, and Misono. After fighting a vengeful spirit, Karin decides to restore peace to the divided capital by defeating more spirits and purifying the land. Her efforts increase her reputation and powers, and she is accepted as the Priestess of the Dragon God by both the Emperor and Retired Emperor. However, Chitose casts a barrier around the capital to stop time to counter her actions.

Believing that the barrier is impeding the restoration of peace and the Five Elements, Karin and her guardians break each barrier. As the final one crumbles, Karin and company confront Chitose and Misono to stop them from resurrecting further vengeful spirits. Akram shows his true colors when both parties corner one another and wounds Chitose. Her blood is the final ingredient for summoning the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Learning that they were tricked, Karin's party tries to subdue the evil force. However, they cannot defeat the horde by themselves and are overwhelmed. Both priestesses refuse to surrender to despair, and Chitose entrusts the Black Dragon to Karin. She summons Yinglong and Karin's body is engulfed by the dragons.

For her services, the duo dragon gods will grant three of her wishes. Her first wish is to eradicate every nefarious spirit from the capital, while her second wish is to extend Yinglong's protection throughout the parallel world. After making her third wish to return home, Karin disappears. She returns to the modern world at the exact moment she left it, her priestess powers being completely spent. Karin thinks fondly of the parallel world she helped save and swears to always remember the people she met.

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Yume no Ukihashi takes place about one month after Karin's arrival in the parallel world. As she sleeps one night, her spirit is sucked into the Heavenly Realm where she meets priestess and guardians from two different eras. Although the events they experience within this reality is a forgettable dream, Karin and the other priestesses trust they will someday meet one another again.

Alternate Fates

The player may choose to alter the game's ending by interacting with other characters. If Karin has high ties with them and successfully finished their events, she will use her third wish for them.

  • If the character is a guardian, she will use her third wish to return to him. She may then choose to live in the parallel world or have him accompany her to the modern world.
  • Karin uses her final wish to restore Yukarihime or Chitose's happiness before returning to her world.
  • Karin uses her final wish to rescue Akram from annihilation. She may choose to wander the parallel world together with him or return to her home without him.
  • For the dream game, Karin needs to view the three events each character has before reaching the end. In the Special version of the game, she may choose to return home with two guardians simultaneously or Akram for a different ending.

Character Information

Development

Tohko Mizuno designed Karin with the attempts of personifying a "chipper and energetic" girl. Karin's bright bob-cut hairstyle and her long, flowing sleeves were made to follow this concept. She was one of the characters with the least amount of roughs and retakes. Mizuno believes she did a better job of designing Karin than she did the previous protagonist, Akane.

Personality

The player can alter Karin's personality, choosing between confidence or withdrawal. She can be kind or close-minded, but generally responds positively to the game's events. Despite confusion and rejection, Karin remains friendly and polite, disregarding social customs. She apologizes if she offends someone and believes in her goals. Driven by a desire to help others, she fearlessly jumps into danger. Karin believes in understanding each other's perspectives and doesn't hold grudges. She stays positive and believes in hope and working together for a better future. Her dreams strengthen her priestess powers, and she selflessly desires to use them to save anyone suffering.

While she maybe a healthy girl, Karin has a bit of a sweet tooth and likes to indulge herself with various desserts. She remarked that she once had a cavity from eating too many sweets. Karin also fears taking English tests, although her confession only befuddles an inquiring Yasutsugu.

Character Symbolism

Karin's symbolic flower is the dandelion. Within the flower language the flower is tied to a legendary love story. There once was a young girl with luxurious blond hair who waited patiently for her beloved within a grassland. She stuck to her regime everyday until her hair suddenly paled, her locks of hair withering to be elderly. Ashamed by her new appearance before her lover, the girl fled from the fields and never returned. It's due to this story that the flower is associated with sincere romance and partings.

The flower's method of dispersing its seeds has lead to the flower also symbolizing someone who acts on their own will or masks their true self before others. Dandelions are sometimes used in telling romantic fortunes as a sign of warning someone of their partner's feelings.

Japan calls the flower "tanpopo". Its modern spelling today is taken from the Chinese name for it (蒲公英). During the Edo Period, dandelions were instead called "tsuzumi kusa" (鼓草). The flower's shape was said to have resembled a hand drum's appearance, especially once it lost all of its seeds. It has also been said that the shape of the dandelion's petals personifies the sounds the drum makes when played ("tan" for hitting towards the rim and "popo" for hitting the centre of the drum). The drum was used in several musical plays and folklore including those performed before royalty. Various deities or spirits often appear within these tales and are signaled to the stage with the sounding of a drum. As such the flower has been known to represent divine revelations or divine messages of love (for the dandelion's seeds).

Quotes

  • "I don't think I quite understand."
  • "Can I really do it?"
  • "You don't need to force yourself."
  • "Wonder what my family would think if they heard I'm a priestess. I can't imagine it."
  • "I hear a bell. Someone is calling me..."
  • "You want to protect Kyou, don't you? So do I! Why can't we work together?"
  • "Can't we talk things out?"
  • "I won't let it end! I can't let it end!"
  • "Answer me, Dragon Gods! Listen to my- our prayers!"
  • "I'll give it a shot!"
  • "Don't worry about me!"
  • "It'll be okay."

Fighting Style

Karin is average in power and magic, but her defense is weak. She gets hurt easily by opposing elements, so it's best to keep a healing talisman for herself. During battle, be friendly to at least one guardian to minimize her damage. Karin's normal attacks are okay, but her magic is strong. She bonds quickly with guardians she uses magic with, and their spells are powerful.

Karin is the only one who can heal the party if they get hurt. She can also encourage her guardians to boost their magic. Certain cheers can increase their bond with her. Her sealing ability is important for getting powerful talismans for her guardians to use.

Gallery

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