Hāfu (ハーフ, "half") is a Japanese word that describes an individual who is the child of one Japanese and one non-Japanese. This list consists of hāfu characters in popular culture.
The list presents film,[1] television, animation, comics,[2] literature[3][4][5] and video game hāfu characters from Western and Japanese media.
Western media
editFilm and television
edit- Vincent Chase from Entourage (2004-2011)
- Edna Mode from The Incredibles franchise
- Buckaroo Banzai[6] from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
- Clark in Rhapsody in August (1991)
- Phoebe Heyerdahl in Hey Arnold! (1996-2004)
- Reagan Ridley[7] from Inside Job (2021-2022)
- Hiro Hamada and Tadashi Hamada from the Big Hero 6 franchise
- Kyo Kusanagi from The King of Fighters (2010)
- O-Ren Ishii[8] and Sofie Fatale[9] from Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
- Milo Powell from Captain Flamingo (2006-2010)
- Junichiro from King of the Hill (1997-2009)
- Brook Soso[10] from Orange is the New Black (2013-2019)
- Paxton Hall-Yoshida[11] from Never Have I Ever (2020-2023)
- Kai (half Japanese, half British)[12] from 47 Ronin (2013)
- Yuki Yoshimido from Wasabi (2001)
- Jaden Shiba, Kevin, Mike, Emily, Antonio Garcia and Lauren Shiba from the Power Rangers franchise
- Molly O'Brien and Kirayoshi O'Brien from the Star Trek franchise
- Maya Ishii-Peters[13] from PEN15 (2019-2021)
- Mizu[14][15] from Blue Eye Samurai (2023)
Comic books
editLiterature
edit- Takeshi Kovacs from the Altered Carbon franchise
- James Suzuki, the son of James Bond and Kissy Suzuki from the James Bond series[16]
- Rei Shimura from Sujata Massey's Rei Shimura series
- Jane Takagi-Little from My Year of Meats[5] and Yumi Fuller, from All Over Creation, two novels by Ruth Ozeki[17]
- Masaaki and Luna in Asako Serizawa’s Inheritors[5]
Video games
edit- Kenshi Takahashi and Takeda Takahashi from the Mortal Kombat franchise
- Ryo Watanabe from the Need for Speed franchise
Japanese media
editVarious studies indicate that the success of Japanese manga could be partially attributed to their characters’ ‘mixed look’;[18] the following list, however, only contains characters who are explicitly designed as hāfu.
Anime, manga and light novels
edit- Sylia Stingray (Japanese-British), Priscilla Asagiri (Japanese-American) and Nene Romanova (Japanese-Russian) from Bubblegum Crisis
- Kousuke Misaki (Japanese-British)[citation needed] from Tomo-chan Is a Girl!
- Roberto Hongo (Japanese-Brazilian)[citation needed] from Captain Tsubasa
- Ryo Asuka[citation needed] from Devilman
- Jou Yokosuka from Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin
- Lan Asuka from Devil Lady
- Eira Kaho (half-Brazilian)[19] from The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
- L Lawliet (25% Japanese) and Raye Penber (American father) from Death Note
- Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan
- Eli Ayase (25% Russian) from Love Live! School Idol Project
- Erika Campbell from Lemon Angel Project
- Ira Gamagoori (American father) from Kill la Kill
- Tsuna Sawada, Mukuro Rokudo and Hayato Gokudera from Reborn!
- Langa Hasegawa (Canadian father) from SK8 the Infinity
- Ai Haibara (British mother),[20] Shukichi Haneda, Masumi Sera and Shuichi Akai from Case Closed
- Isami Aldini (Italian mother), Takumi Aldini (Italian mother) and Nakiri Alice (Danish mother) from Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma
- Jotaro Kujo (British-Italian mother), Josuke Higashikata (British father), Giorno Giovanna (British father) and Jolyne Cujoh (Italian-American mother) from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
- Charles Bernard (French Descent) From Jujutsu Kaisen
- Momo Nishimiya (American father) From Jujutsu Kaisen
- Rio Kazumiya from Sound of the Sky
- Taichi Hiraga-Keaton from Master Keaton
- Cygnus Hyōga (Russian mother) from Saint Seiya
- Pegasus Tenma from Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas
- Chiho Johansson (Swedish father) from Gigant
- Urara Kasugano from Yes! PreCure 5
- Sentarō Kawabuchi from Kids on the Slope
- Asuka Langley Soryu (German-Japanese mother and American father) from Neon Genesis Evangelion[21]
- Lupin III (French grandfather) from Lupin the Third
- Clarissa Satsuki Maezono from HoneyComing
- Louie Nishiwaki (African-American mother) from Dark Edge
- Mari Ohara (Italian-American father) from Love Live! Sunshine!!
- Rin Okumura from Blue Exorcist
- Lev Haiba from Haikyu!!
- Elena Amamiya (Mexican Father) from Star Twinkle PreCure
- Lucyna "Lucy" Kushinada (Polish mother) from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
- Mario Rossi (Sicilian-American father) from Mario
- Suo Pavlichenko from Darker than Black
- Yasutora "Chad" Sado (unspecified parent of Mexican descent[21]) from Bleach
- Claudine Saijō (French mother) from Revue Starlight
- Eriri Spencer Sawamura from Saekano
- Layla "Reira" Serizawa from Nana
- Kallen Stadtfeld from Code Geass
- Tamaki Suoh (French mother) from Ouran High School Host Club
- Takumi Usui (25% British) Maid Sama!
- Eve Wakamiya from BanG Dream!
- Chris Yukine from Symphogear
- Tōta Konoe (English grandfather) from UQ Holder!
- Thomas H. Norstein (Half-Austrian) from Digimon Data Squad
- Yuta Sakurai (Half-British) from Recovery of an MMO Junkie
- Chrome, Kohaku, and the rest of Ishigami Village from Dr. Stone
- Jack Hanma from Baki the Grappler
- Mikaela Hyakuya (Russian father) from Seraph of the End
- Chitoge Kirisaki from Nisekoi
- Mamori Anezaki (American grandparent) from Eyeshield 21
- Rebecca Miyamoto (American mother) from Pani Poni
- Inoue Aran from Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc
- Urumi Kanzaki[citation needed] from Great Teacher Onizuka
- Jun Kamata, Kaoru Kamata, and Natsuki Smith-Mizuki from Shonan Junai Gumi
- Angelica Karasuma from Hitomi-chan is Shy With Strangers
- Tokiomi Tohsaka (Finnish mother) from Fate/Zero
- Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou / Alya (Russian father) and Maria Mikhailovna Kujou / Masha (Russian father) from Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
- Sakuya Sumeragi from Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture
- Sowande Sakaki in Keep Your Hands off Eizouken!, one of the first African-Japanese as main character in manga[22]
Film and television
edit- Peggy Matsuyama (Swiss father) from Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (1975-1977)
- Vito Hayakawa (half-Filipino)[23] from Smile (2009)
Literature
edit- Kazu and Mitch, in Wildcat Dome by Yuko Tsushima[24]
Video games
edit- Ken Masters (American grandfather), Sean Matsuda (Brazilian mother) and Laura Matsuda (Brazilian mother) from the Street Fighter series
- Lars Alexandersson (Swedish mother) from the Tekken series
- Anastasia (Russian father), Frederica Miyamoto (Italian father), Elena Shimabara and Meguru Hachimiya (American mother) from The Idolmaster series
- Kazuhira Miller (American father) and Samuel Rodrigues (Brazilian mother & paternal grandmother) from the Metal Gear series
- Ann Takamaki (American parent) from the Persona series
- Setsuka (Portuguese father)[25] from the Soulcalibur series
- Aya Brea (American father) from Parasite Eve
- Hitomi (German father) from the Dead or Alive series
- Jinako Carigiri (German father) from Fate/EXTRA CCC
- Rin Tohsaka (25% European), Sakura Matou (25% European) and Illyasviel von Einzbern (German mother) from Fate/Stay Night
- Ciel (French father) from Tsukihime Remake
- Kurisu Makise (American mother) from Steins;Gate
- Haruka Morishima (British grandfather) from Amagami
- Masayoshi Tanimura (Half-Thai mother) from Yakuza 4
Dolls
edit- Licca-chan, a "Japanese Barbie" designed to portray a mixed-race character[26]
See also
edit- Half Is More, a manga focusing on half-Japanese characters
- Mixed-blood Karekore, a Japanese web-series with fantastical "mixed-blood" (Konketsu) characters[27]
- Inuyasha, a Japanese manga series whose half-demon characters have been said to address the issue of Japanese mixed race people[28]
- Hafu (film), a documentary on real Half-Japanese people
References
edit- ↑ Ko, Mika (2014-11-02). "Representations of 'Mixed-Race' Children in Japanese Cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s". Journal of Intercultural Studies. 35 (6): 627–645. doi:10.1080/07256868.2014.963532. ISSN 0725-6868.
- ↑ "Top 10 Haafu Characters in Anime [Best List]". Honey's Anime. 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ Hibi, Yoshitaka (2021-08-25). "Giving "Mixed-Blood" a Voice: Literary Representation of the Contact Zone in Prewar Japan". nomadit.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ Galvane, Linda (2010). "In the Middle, Somewhat... Japanese-Russian Mixed Blood Characters in Contemporary Russian Literature". New Zealand Slavonic Journal. 44: 69–87. ISSN 0028-8683.
- 1 2 3 https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1058&context=english_honors
- ↑ "Movie Review: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!". Forgetful Film Critic. 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ Kenny.b (2023-07-14). "Reagan Ridley: Inside Job's Charming Radical". Cartoon Vibe | Anime, 90s Cartoons & Character Guides. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ Siller, Alexandra Clare (2016-05-03). "O-Ren Ishii: Samurai of The Underworld". Medium. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ Johnson, Brian C.; Blanchard, Sykra C. (2008-09-02). Reel Diversity. Peter Lang US. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-4541-9299-2.
- ↑ WooWriter, Kelly; Entertainment, Yahoo (2014-06-17). "Everything You Need to Know About 'Orange Is the New Black' Newcomer Kimiko Glenn". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ "Mixed Asian Media–Never Have I Ever Star Darren Barnet is Team Devi". Mixed Asian Media. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ Youseph, Ramon (2020-02-10). "47 Ronin (2013)". Kung-fu Kingdom. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ https://people.com/all-about-maya-erskine-parents-8553566
- ↑ Radulovic, Petrana (2023-11-07). "Blue Eye Samurai creator wanted to tell a different type of mixed-race story". Polygon.com. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ White, Abbey (2023-11-06). "How 'Blue Eye Samurai's' Exploration of Mixed Race Identity Helps It "Break All of the Boxes" in Animated Storytelling". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ Gunning, Cathal (2022-01-01). "James Suzuki Is James Bond's Only (Canon) Son". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ "MELUS: Multi-Ethnic Literature of the U.S." muse.jhu.edu. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ "(PDF) What Race Do They Represent and Does Mine Have Anything to Do with It? Perceived Racial Categories of Anime Characters". ResearchGate. Archived from the original on 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ https://anibase.net/en/character/l5OvY/Eira-Kaho
- ↑ Aoyama, Gosho (2018). "Chapter 1011". Case Closed.
- 1 2 Gramuglia, Anthony (2019-09-16). "Carole & Tuesday and Cannon Busters Are Bringing Racial Diversity to Anime". CBR. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ "Multicultural representation in Japan's media slowly evolving | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2025-01-21. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ Rochelle (2009-04-22). "TBS Friday Drama SMILE Episode 1 Synopsis". JPOP Manila. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ Hofmann-Kuroda, Lisa (2025-03-18). "Race Made Radioactive: How Yuko Tsushima Fused Multiracial Identity and Military Occupation". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ "Setsuka: SoulCalibur 6 | DashFight". dashfight.com. 2022-10-29. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ Kanesaka, Erica. "The Mixed-Race Fantasy Behind Kawaii Aesthetics". Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ↑ "Konketsu no Karekore (ONA) - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ↑ "Half-Demon and Still Whole: Mixed-Race Identity in InuYasha - SOLRAD". 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2026-06-16.