Akio Kitano
President of the Midoribori Karuta Club and mentor to Yūsei Nishida. Has a contentious relationship with Harada like cats and dogs. Skilled at teaching the basics and admired by Yūsei.
Trivia
- Akio Kitano is depicted as a kind mentor skilled at teaching fundamentals to Yūsei Nishida.
- While in a rivalry with Hideo Harada, he has a complex relationship, such as giving him a zabuton during the Meijin match.
- His Edoite temperament and sore loser side are occasionally visible.
- In the live-action movies, voiced by Kensuke Satō.
Alternate names
Kitano Akio
Profile
- Species
- Human
- Gender
- Male
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Middle-aged man with an Edoite vibe. Calm appearance as a mentor. Polite, but shows a strict side in competitions at times.
- Eye color
- Brown
- Hair color
- Black
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Strict
- Detailed personality
- Known as a mentor who carefully teaches the basics, devoted to his disciples and passionate about education. Meanwhile, his relationship with rival Harada is hostile, with mutual wariness.
- Keywords
-
- Mentor
- Strict
- Loyalty
- Rivalry
- Gakuran type
- Talents
-
- Mentoring ability
- Strategic insight
- Competitive karuta technique
- Skills
-
- Basic instruction to Yūsei
- Administrative skills as president
- Mental support
- Motivation
- To train Yūsei strongly and sustainably strengthen the Midoribori Karuta Club. Always hold a sense of rivalry with Harada.
History
- Backstory
- Accumulated long years of experience in competitive karuta clubs and assumed the position of president of the Midoribori Karuta Club. Devotes himself to educating the next generation as Yūsei Nishida's mentor. Has irreconcilable conflicts with Hideo Harada both in public and private, a fierce love-hate relationship.
- Work title
- Chihayafuru
- Media type
- Manga
Becoming Yūsei Nishida's mentor
- Significant event
- Becoming Yūsei Nishida's mentor
- Description
- Thoroughly taught the basics to Yūsei and supported his growth.
Rivalry with Hideo Harada
- Significant event
- Rivalry with Hideo Harada
- Description
- In the karuta world, they are in an opposing relationship, mutually checking each other.
Providing zabuton to Harada at the Meijin match
- Significant event
- Providing zabuton to Harada at the Meijin match
- Description
- There is an episode where he provided a zabuton to the rival Harada with a gesture of consideration.
Relationships
Yūsei Nishida
Student mentor
Built a strong mentor-disciple relationship by imparting basic techniques and spirit to Yūsei and guiding him.
Hideo Harada
Rival
Rivalry in the karuta world with intense competitive spirit, a love-hate relationship. Also gave a zabuton during Harada's Meijin match.
Midoribori Karuta Club
Midoribori Karuta Club: leader
Media appearances
Chihayafuru
Manga / Supporting
2007 - Ongoing
Chihayafuru
Anime / Supporting
2011-2013 / 2019-2020
Chihayafuru Live-Action Movie Series
Movie / Supporting
2016-2018
Voice cast and creators
Kensuke Satō
- Voice actor
- Kensuke Satō
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- TV Anime
Yuki Suetsugu
- Creator name
- Yuki Suetsugu
- Role
- Original author
unknown
- Creator name
- unknown
- Role
- Original author
unknown
- Creator name
- unknown
- Role
- Character designer