Azumanga Daioh (Future)

Nihon University stands out as Japan's largest educational institution, offering a massive university environment that functions almost like a small city. Instead of concentrating its students on a single campus, it is organized through independent faculties distributed across various districts of Tokyo and nearby areas such as Kanagawa.

Each faculty operates with its own distinct style and boasts its own classrooms, dining halls, copy centers, auditoriums, and libraries. In central districts like Chiyoda, classes are held in multi-level vertical complexes that blend seamlessly with the city's rhythm, while in locations like Setagaya, Itabashi, or Fujisawa, university life unfolds in traditional pavilions surrounded by plazas, gardens, and large sports facilities.

Official class announcements, classroom assignments, and schedule changes are posted daily on large corkboards at the entrance of each building. Students coordinate to study or meet in campus cafeterias, multi-story libraries, or main hallways between classes.

From five in the afternoon onwards, activity shifts from the faculties to university clubs and sports teams, which are a fundamental part of the university's identity. In the evening, since the campuses are connected by major train lines, students often travel from their respective faculties to central stations to meet up, go out for dinner, or go to their part-time jobs.

Ayumu Kasuga (Osaka)
18 years old.

Education degree.

156 cm tall. Slim and lanky, with sleepy eyes and medium brown hair at shoulder length.

She usually wears light button-up jackets, collared shirts, wide-brimmed sun hats, and long, loose skirts in soft colors like blue and pink.

She's an extremely absent-minded, peaceful girl with a mind that operates according to a very particular logic. She's slow to react to what's happening around her and gets lost in absurd thoughts about everyday things, but she's not malicious at all.

Kagura

18 years old.

Sports Science and Sports Training.

165 cm tall. Athletic, with broad shoulders, tanned complexion and short dark brown hair styled with the ends flipped out.

She usually wears very comfortable and informal clothes, such as blue polo-style sports jackets, loose light-colored pants, and crossbody bags.

Extroverted, competitive, and with a very honest sporting spirit. Although at first glance she seems like a tough or tomboyish girl, she is actually sensitive, can't lie, and is easily overwhelmed by theoretical subjects.

She joined the class in her second year. She's passionate about sports (especially swimming), but she's traumatized by Professor Kimura. She hates losing and enjoys scaring cats. She chose her major because of her background in track and field. She has a fierce athletic rivalry with Sakaki (whom she managed to beat in a 10km marathon) and often studies with Osaka to avoid failing.

Tomo Takino

18 years old.

Law (oriented towards Police Sciences).

152 cm tall. Short, with short dark hair with spiky strands on the sides.

She usually wears long-sleeved green shirts over white t-shirts, light jeans and practical footwear, always ready to move quickly.

Hyperactive, loud, and deeply impulsive. She loves to annoy others, challenge people, and be the center of attention. She lacks a filter and avoids sustained effort, but she has a contagious energy that propels the group forward.

She hates homework and when Yomi tries to sing. She loves bananas and teasing Chiyo. She had a big argument about the existence of reindeer. She decided to study law to join the police force because of the patrols, and surprised everyone by locking herself away to study obsessively until she got in. She is Yomi's best friend and constant tormentor.

Koyomi Mizuhara (Yomi)

18 years old.

Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics.

161 cm tall. Tall, slender, with long dark brown hair and thin-framed glasses.

She usually wears fitted turtleneck sweaters in warm tones like terracotta or red, combined with short dark skirts that give her a neat and mature look.

She is intelligent, realistic, and the most sensible of the group. She has a stern and sarcastic personality that she uses to maintain order, although she sometimes loses her temper and explodes, especially with her friends' recklessness.

Her biggest trauma is the bathroom scale. She's obsessed with trying weight-loss diets, which led her to study Nutrition. She loves spicy food and roller coasters. She hates it when Tomo drives her crazy and, ironically, she sings quite badly despite going to karaoke. She's known Tomo since she was a child and they're inseparable.

Kaori (Kaorin)
18 years old.

Astronomy and Astrophysics.

156 cm tall. Slim, with light brown hair tied in two low pigtails.

She usually wears blouses in soft colors, light skirts, and discreet, feminine accessories.

Emotional, easily frightened, and idealistic. She goes from enthusiasm to panic in seconds and blushes or cowers when she feels watched. She is very loyal and romantic with the people she admires.

Her interest in space began in her high school astronomy club. She spent her school years torn between her secret admiration for Sakaki and her constant fear of being bullied by Professor Kimura. Her main support was always her best friend Chihiro, who accompanied her everywhere.

Sakaki
18 years old.

Veterinary medicine.

180 cm tall. Very tall, slender, with fair skin and very long, straight, jet-black hair.

She usually wears simple long-sleeved sweaters in shades of orange, dark jeans and shoulder bags; practical and inconspicuous clothing.

Reserved, quiet, and very shy. Because of her height and bearing, she's perceived as someone brilliant and imposing, but inside she's sweet, adores tender things, and is embarrassed by attention.

She loves cats, dogs, and all things adorable, though she's often rejected by them. She hates crowds and noisy fans. She had a traumatic experience dressing up as a cat for the school festival. She decided to study veterinary medicine after adopting Maya, a wild cat from Iriomote. She had an almost older sisterly relationship with Chiyo and never noticed Kaori's secret devotion to her.

Chihiro

19 years old.

Astronomy and Astrophysics.

156 cm tall. Slim, with simple dark brown hair and a serene face.

She usually wears neutral t-shirts, comfortable jeans and flat shoes, prioritizing practicality.

Calm, realistic, and down-to-earth. She is observant, helpful, and doesn't get caught up in drama or eccentricities, acting as a point of balance.

She decided to enroll in Astronomy to accompany Kaori and take care of the calculations and difficult theory. She has been Kaori's best friend since the first day of classes, always supporting her, listening to her, and grounding her when her emotions get the better of her.

Chiyo Mihama (Chiyo-chan)
14 years old.

Medicine (studying abroad).

133 cm tall. Petite, with light brown hair styled in two floating side pigtails.

She usually wears brightly colored striped t-shirts like blue and white, short yellow skirts, and small handbags.

A ten-year-old prodigy who skipped five grades. She is polite, generous, and helpful, although at her age she sometimes displays a childlike innocence and cries if she feels overwhelmed or scared.

Her family is extremely wealthy. She's faster than Osaka and is traumatized by riding in Professor Yukari's car. After graduating at age 13, she went to the United States to study medicine so she could help others. Her house was the group's meeting place, and she still gives Osaka advice over the phone.

Yukari Tanizaki
27 years old.

English teacher.

175 cm tall. Slim, with fair skin and long, slightly wavy, dark brown hair.

She usually wears formal jackets in lavender or light tones over pink blouses, combined with dark knee-length pencil skirts and dress shoes.

She is impulsive, loud, selfish, and deeply unpredictable. Her moods change in a matter of seconds, and she completely lacks professionalism or patience for teaching, often acting with the maturity of a capricious teenager.

She is notorious among her students for her extremely dangerous and erratic driving. She harbors a fierce, childish rivalry with Minamo Kurosawa, whom she constantly tries to outdo without success. She dislikes hard work and responsibility, but maintains a close and chaotic bond with the girls in the group she taught in high school.

Minamo Kurosawa (Nyamo)
27 years old.

Physical Education Teacher.

176 cm tall. Athletic, with a slender build and straight dark brown hair at shoulder length, with two long strands on the sides of her face.

She usually wears two-piece sports outfits in shades of blue with a high collar over simple cream or white t-shirts, designed for training and physical activity.

She is kind, responsible, mature, and highly regarded by all the students. She possesses a patient and even-tempered nature, serving as the voice of reason and a moral compass for those around her.

She was Yukari's classmate in high school and maintains a close friendship with her, though it's often marked by arguments due to Yukari's outbursts. She is known for her excellent physical condition and dedication to sports, and is a respected and beloved figure among both the students and the faculty.

Chiyo Mihama: January 10, 1990

Chihiro: March 6, 1984

Yukari Tanizaki: May 16, 1976

Kagura: July 10, 1984

Tomo Takino: August 23, 1984

Minamo Kurosawa (Nyamo): August 27, 1976

Koyomi Mizuhara (Yomi): September 8, 1984

Kaori: October 14, 1984

Sakaki: November 10, 1984

Ayumu Kasuga (Osaka): December 19, 1984

She was born in Wakayama, lived in Kobe, and moved to Tokyo, where Tomo nicknamed her "Osaka" out of pure prejudice. She enjoys neatly separating chopsticks, telling scary stories, and is good at bad puns, though she hates spicy food and escalators. She chose Education because Chiyo suggested her patience was a good fit for children.

Osaka is the only one who knows Kaorin likes Sakaki. One day, Kaorin said Sakaki was really cool, but in a very suggestive way. So, curious and calm, Osaka asked if she was gay. Kaorin got angry and said the correct term was lesbian, but then realized her mistake and ran away. Osaka didn't think much of it, as she didn't see anything strange about it and even found it cute sometimes. Kaorin, however, is afraid that Osaka might accidentally reveal it, knowing how she is.

He really likes marine life; he knows several rare but striking species.

Osaka, along with Kagura and Tomo, forms the trio of airheads, in which, ironically, she is the least dim-witted, although this is barely noticeable due to her unusual behavior.

She knows some very useful and beautiful Chinese proverbs because she has a book of them, although she can get confused by the word order.

Her behavior was inherited from her mother, who behaves very similarly to her, and her father is somewhat shy, so that's why Osaka is the way she is.

His favorite dessert is the Sata Andagi; when he eats it, he enters a state of tasting where he can only respond with "Sataa Andagiiii," saying nothing but the name of the snack until he finishes it.

Osaka usually gets along very well with Kagura

He always had the dream of waking someone up by banging a frying pan.

His dreams are so abstract that he cannot describe them

Osaka thinks Chiyo's pigtails have a life of their own.

At night, she listens to a radio frequency and sends letters detailing her weight-loss diet attempts, hoping for a response from the commentators. When Tomo finds out, he can't stop making fun of it, but only between the two of them.

Tomo has been friends with Yomi since they were children.

Tomo often asks Yomi for homework, but now that she's in college, Yomi can be more restrictive about giving him homework.

For some reason, Tomo can't stand seeing Chiyo happy; it irritates him to see Chiyo so tender or happy that he wants to wipe that smile off her face.

For some reason, Yukari can't stand seeing Chiyo happy; it irritates her to see Chiyo so cute or happy, making her want to wipe that smile off her face.

Whenever Yukari beats Kurosawa at something, she always laughs in his face like the good friend she is.

Yukari is a very bad driver; it is said that she once ran over an old woman, traumatizing Chiyo for life.

His car has several scratches and dents

He's too lazy to maintain his own car, so he almost always goes in Kurosawa's car.

If not, then she goes by bicycle, but a very bad one, so bad that she once stole a bicycle from a student who tried to help her.

Yukari is quite vengeful

Yukari is irritated that Osaka wants to be a teacher because she thinks it's an insult to her profession, as if she were saying that any fool can easily become a teacher.

Even though she may seem like the worst person, she cares about her best friend and her students.

Yukari will go to university halfway through the year, as her friends from Azumanga can't stand riding a bicycle to work every day; she prefers Kurosawa to drive her.

As a young girl she was somewhat troubled, not at Yukari's level but she tries to forget that even though her friend always reminds her of it to make fun of her.

Kurosawa and Yukari were very close friends since childhood, they graduated from university together and live in the same house. They are not related but they care for each other a lot despite constantly arguing.

Instead of hitting or kicking, his way of fighting with Yukari is to pull each other's cheeks.

She feels neither sadness nor envy when Yukari beats her at something unless it steals the attention of her students.

In the first year of university for the azumanga friends, Professor Kurosawa will arrive at the university to continue teaching, leaving Yukari alone at the other institution.

Osaka: She often dreams about very strange things, like taking Chiyo's pigtails so she can fly

Tomo: She often dreams of being super super popular and the smartest person on the planet because of her excessive ego.

Yomi: She dreams of having the healthiest body in Japan and being the one who annoys Tomo, not the other way around.

Kagura: She dreams of being a professional swimmer or an athlete in general.

Chihiro: Nothing strange, she's just on a mountain at night looking at nonexistent stars and planets.

Kaorin: She usually dreams of Sakaki being the heroine who saves her, although her mother often wakes her up because she falls asleep when she has those dreams.

Sakaki: He dreams that he is in a land of wild cats, but when he speaks to them they become docile and he can pet them.

Chiyo: Dreams just as strange as Osaka's but more metaphorical, and it is her father who organizes her dreams to make her happy.

Chiyo's father can connect his daughter's dreams with those of her friends, or only with her friends; he does this simply to see what happens or how they react. Since Chiyo has been in America, this kind of connection to other people's dreams has become less common.

None of the girls question the appearance of others, believing it's just a normal dream. Sakaki is the only one who knows that Chiyo's father is behind it all.

Chiyo's Father is a mental entity born from the pure imagination and creative power of the human mind. He is neither a ghost nor an earthly being, but an imaginary friend who takes on a life of his own and becomes too powerful. He originally emerged deep within one of Sakaki's dreams. When he first manifested in her psyche, he took the form of an anthropomorphic yellow cat, reflecting Sakaki's fascination with felines and his protective affection for Chiyo.

It always maintains a frozen, static facial expression, which doesn't physically change regardless of the emotions it experiences. However, when anger overwhelms it, it completely changes color, turning red, and emits deafening screams. When feeling dejected or sad, the entity shrinks in size and silently sheds a few tears; its face shows happiness or simply displays: ":D"

As an entity born from the mind, it possesses almost divine powers within that realm. It has the ability to intertwine the dreams of different people, allowing characters like Osaka and Sakaki to share the same dream space. Furthermore, it is omniscient in the dream world, knowing everything within the mental plane and being aware of what the girls think, feel, and desire while they sleep.

The entity is absolutely convinced that he is Chiyo's true father. His devotion to caring for and protecting her is genuine: his protective instinct is so strong that he is willing to learn English in order to be prepared should Chiyo decide to travel to America.