A rope swings over a vast expanse, the void threatening to swallow a boy whole as the wind whistles around him. He could fall at any moment, succumbing to the expansive darkness, and becoming unreachable. This scene introduces our protagonist, Haruka Sakura. A boy who is out of place in the eyes of society. At first glance, something about Sakura is ‘wrong’; he has two-tone eyes and hair, dresses like a delinquent — all wrapped in a sour attitude. Often compared to a cat and just as agile, Sakura is always ready for a fight. His only way of survival is his fist… However, you quickly find out he is not some feral street cat beyond saving, contrary to popular belief within the fictional world, as Sakura craves a home like any stray waiting and wandering for someone who will give them a chance.
Sakura is more than excited to sink his teeth in and claw his way to the top. It was non-negotiable to prove that if he was the worst, then he’d be the best of those in his field. However, he comes face to face with the exact thing he's always wanted, but was too scared to confront: A home. Furin is a school for the lowest of the low. Delinquents, troublemakers, those who society never wanted to help, fill the halls of the vandalized school, making up the gang Bofurin, meaning Windbreaker. You see, Furin is not a battle royale built on the destruction of your fellow classmates, as Sakura had expected. They are the protectors of their town, fighting off rival gangs or thugs seeking to ruin a haven. With the vision of their great leader, Umemiya, they strive to protect others and touch the hearts of those they cross paths with, especially those they confront. The ability to connect with others branches throughout Windbreaker like the ever-growing roots of a garden. Furin itself was built on the ashes of a burning forest that now flourishes thanks to its Umemiya. The very man Sakura wishes to dethrone.
Sakura’s anger and anxiety are slowly burnt away to make room for compassion and self acceptance. Sakura is often reflected in those who strive to do the right thing but are lost to themselves. He is shown to live alone in a rundown apartment; all we know of his family is that they abandoned him. Haruka is alone for most of his life, trying to fight and claw his way to the top of a summit he had no understanding of. He is the reflection of those who are struggling to open up to those around them. Despite it all, Sakura is a mirror to those in second time and time again. His lost pursuit of power in Togame, his lack of emotional regulation in Kaji, and his depressive need to keep people away in Endo.
Sakura walks an endless tightrope of expectations. We see this visual in the opening scenes. He is forced into this situation not by his own free will but off the judgement and pressure of others. He struggles to steady himself on this path thrusted upon him by society. It is not a secret that the homogeneous nature of Japan isolates people for the smallest ‘flaw’. Having been born with an abnormal appearance Sakura has always been belittled and deemed as lesser by his peers and even adults.
He hates when people are “all looks” he questions this with Niere before they are friends and with his Jo Togame the second in command of a rival gang Shishitoren. Togame is adorned with glasses that cloud your view of his eyes and thus his intent, his slow yet domineering movement brings a dread to even his own men. It becomes apparent exactly what Shishitoren stands for. To have power is to be free and the weak only bring them down and are purged from the group to ensure salvation. The fight between the two words and bruising fist are thrown like sharp knives whittling down at Togame’s resolve.Togame is not just larger than Sakura but is weighted down by the heavy burden he must carry as second in commanded. A weight Sakura does not carry. This is when Sakura realizes Togame is not just some brutal enforcer of Shishitoren’s misguided ideals but someone who is also suffering from them. Thus the conversation starts. The fight between the two is an emotional and blood soaked conversation for ideals. A desperate fight for each to hear the other's bleeding heart. The two finally showing their hearts wearing them like bloody bandages on their knuckles. The first person Sakura has connected with the only way he knows how, a fight that spoke more to peace, then it ever utter the breath of violence.
Haruka is just a boy with the misguided aspirations of leading, but his heart has always wanted a home. He has found not only Furin, but many others to call his friends and family. He will dig his heels in and clench his teeth to fight tooth and nail for them. He strives to trust in those around him not only to accept him but to protect him in fights. He spends time to learn his classmates names, he is made grade captain not because he’s the strongest on there but because he in his little time there inspired those around him.
Sakura leaves an endless trail of inspiration in his wake, allowing those around him to open up to him. Though he struggles with it himself, in the current chapters of the manga we still don’t know much of his life before Furin. He suffers colds alone and treats basic kindnesses as a foreign concept. He is constantly, even now struggling. In the fight with Endo he is willing to sacrifice himself just to save Furin, the town and Umemiya from the wrath of Norishi. He even after months, still believes that life will be better without him there to mess it up. Sakura’s life is now richer than it has ever been but every stray taken in still fears the cold feeling of abandonment.
He wishes to be understood, this garden that is Furin was made for Sakura. A vast array of wild flowers and brambles that at first seem to be disorganized and left to rot. Is being carefully tilled ready for him to inert, Sakura is unaware that Umemiya has made this very garden plot for him. He crafted the shelter that Sakura needs to finally be himself and thrive into the leader others believe him to be. With every bruising conversation and misstep he is closer and closer to achieving his dream.
Where winds die down, and despite his fear, he can feel it. He can hear the voice of all of those who reach out to him. Steading himself he steps off that tight rope. The fall is not steep, his feet are met with soft grass, his heart warm with acceptance. In a field full of various wild flowers, he looks up to see his friends wanting with open arms-waiting for him. He rushes to follow the grass parting and crumpling under his excitement. The tightrope, still there, with no one to balance on it. Only a path left to prove he was ever there now leading to Furin High. Leading him home.
- Author’s Note: Windbreaker and in extension Haruka Sakura have been the only pillar I’ve really had this semester. All 190+ chapters are all well written, handling queer themes, identity, and the fights are so well choreographed. Haruka Sakura is one of my favorite MC’s in anime as I find reflection of anger and fears in his journey. As someone with untreated anger and anxieties of abandonment I struggled with finding my foot hold in the world.
This essay is to illustrate the navigation of his character from that fearful boy against to look at others to an inspiration of not just his peers b it to those beyond the screen. The complex metaphors and characters of Windbreaker are woven tightly with found family and growth. That human connection is something to be cherished even if the way you connect is different.
I hope that if I’ve done anything I’ve convicted you to at least watch the first season of such a beautiful anime that is still relatively underrated in the community and that I shed light on the story of Sakura that Satoru Nii has crafted and continues to make.
Disclaimer: This piece is also using metaphors and call backs to the song Drag Path by Twenty One Pilots However due to the fact that the song is only available on tiktok because the song was a limited time buy thus is not directly sourced as even the genius lyrics were scrubbed from the internet. So please forgive for taking the proaction to maintain the longevity of the essay on this platform without fear.
We haven't spoke much lately but I do want to remind you that I care about you and am here whenever you want to talk to somebody n.n 🖤✨️
Hi Darling! this was really sweet to see out of nowhere tyvm!
im sorry your blogs keep getting nuked by staff :u legit rlly love the stuff you find to rb
Ive been okay! idk just trying to make it from weekend to weekend lol, i hope youve been doing alright too tho! ive been really bad at messaging ppl in general but i see your posts and mentally say hi, i do feel bad whenever i dont reply as much as i feel like friends deserve :'3
If youre ever having a bad night and wann talk too feel free to hmu and ill try and support as best i can. also if you ever have songs you wanna share pls feel free to send them to me! big fan of your music tastes
