Umihara Kawase

Umihara Kawase serves as the central character of the Umihara Kawase series. She is depicted as a wandering sushi chef from Japan, recognizable by her pink backpack and her distinctive use of an elastic fishing line as both a tool and means of traversal. Her debut appearance was in the original Umihara Kawase, and she has continued to act as the lead protagonist throughout every subsequent installment in the series. She has appeared in both video games and manga.

Umihara Kawase
Umihara Kawase SeriesOther Games AdultYoung Umihara KawaseUmihara Kawase ShunSayonara Umihara KawaseUmihara Kawase FreshUmihara Kawase BaZooKaManga 12 123 Official ArtChibi 12 “ I don't always just run away, I can fight too! „ Cotton Rock 'n' Roll: Superlative Night DreamsBlade Strangers PortraitIn-Game Sprites
Origin
Origin	Umihara Kawase (SNES)
Creator	Studio Saizensen; Kiyoshi Sakai; Toshinobu Kondo
First Appearance	Umihara Kawase (SNES)
Voiced by	Ayumi Jimbo
Characteristics
Species	Human
Gender	Female
Pronouns	She/Her
Sexuality	Heterosexual
Age	9 (Childhood), 20 (Sayonara Umihara Kawase)
Birthday	Unknown
Height	Unknown
Weight	Unknown
Ethnicity	Japanese
Status	Alive
Alignment	Neutral Good
Archetype	Pint-Sized Power House / Wanderer
Occupation	Chef, Delivery Girl
Time Period	Unknown
Language	Japanese
Combat Style	Street Fighting
Homeworld	Earth
Relationships
Affiliations	Noko Yokoyama, Emiko, Harami, Ms. Silvy, Lucipia, Brenda, Bud, Lagar, Mary, Norma, Zip, Seven, Keen, Wrench, Laplus, Kotaro, Billy, Rahr, Tamajiro, Maggie, Garz, Queen, Cotton
Enemies	Fish Creatures, Giant Tadpole, Big Pig, Harami

Background

This dropdown contains the synopsis of Umihara Kawase’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!

Umihara Kawase The initial game has no real story other then Umihara traveling around different fields, collecting fish and going through doors, it's later revealed in an interview that Umihara is going on a journey to find the best ingredients. Umihara Kawase Shun Shun has much of the same as the previous game, with Kawase traveling again through different fields. Sayonara Umihara Kawase Sayonara Umihara Kawase has much of the same story, though now Kawase is aided by a time traveling Police Officer that is her descendant, her old friend Emiko, and a child version of herself. Umihara Kawase Fresh! This game has more of a plot, where Umihara ends up in the village of Kingness, a village she has seen repeatedly in her dreams for reasons unknown to her. She makes friends with the townsfolk and works as a delivery person there, it is later revealed that in actuality, she has been spirited away to this world and this was originally a world in her and her sister's video game. Umihara Kawase BaZooka This game has little story other then Umihara fighting with others in a huge "esports" match.

Name Meaning

Her name "Umihara Kawase" is an abbreviation of an old Japanese saying, "Sea fishes are fat in the belly, river fishes are fat in the back."

In the manga, Kawase spells her name with a different kanji meaning "River rapids" rather than the spelling used in the game (and the manga's title), which uses the meaning "River spine/back". With her surname being written as "primal ocean" or "the deep" rather than "sea belly".

Appearance

General Description: Umihara Kawase is a young girl with a small, slender frame. She has a short stature and is depicted with a simple, everyday appearance. Her posture is upright, and she is commonly shown standing with her body turned slightly to the side.

Facial Features: She has a rounded face with large brown eyes, a small nose, and a small mouth. Her hair is brown, cut short, and uneven, with loose bangs framing her forehead. A single tuft of hair protrudes upward from the top of her head.

Clothing/Outfit:

• Umihara Kawase: Umihara wears a light-blue, long-sleeved jacket over a bright green shirt. She wears an olive-green skirt that reaches above the knees. On her feet, she wears pink-and-white high-top sneakers featuring a star emblem on the outer sides, paired with white socks. She carries a pink backpack with visible shoulder straps, metallic buttons, and a circular emblem on the back.
• Umihara Kawase Shun: The design is similar, though her her jacket is now short-sleeved and is open to expose her black t-shirt instead of a bright green shirt, and her green skirt has become green shorts. Her shoes also take on more white coloring with pink as a secondary color and a yellow button on her right shoe.
• Sayonara Umihara Kawase: The design changes her jacket and t-shirt combo into wearing purely a black sleeveless hoodie like outfit, with blue shorts. She sports the same backpack and shoes, however her socks are now black. Her shoes are back to having the star emblem while also having the white and pink coloring scheme, essentially combining her designs from Umihara Kawase and Umihara Kawase Shun.
• Umihara Kawase Fresh: With Fresh, the design fully abandons the jacket motif giving her a black sleeveless crop top and long blue jeans with a yellow belt. Her shoes also carry more of a reddish-pink hint with white now being more of a secondary color again and a star emblem on her left shoe.
• Umihara Kawase BaZooka: This design carries much from her Fresh design, with the only real change being her blush marks are more shown on her face.

Special Features: A small upward-pointing hair tuft is consistently visible on the top of her head. Her backpack is large relative to her body and is worn over both shoulders. She also is seen normally with a fishing hook, her main form of attacking and traversal.

Alternate Forms/Disguises:

• Young Umihara: Her young design depicts a more overall pink backpack with a dark blue (potentially navy blue) t-shirt with a yellow emblem and green shorts. Her shoes have a black and pink coloring scheme to them while her socks are an orange and purple diamond combination.

Personality

• Love for the Sea: In the manga Umihara shows a great love for the sea, noting when she's in there that she feels like she belongs there.

• Tomboy: Umihara has a natural tomboy personality. In the manga when Shioji is reaching out to her, she mistakes him for a pervert and punches him, sending him flying in the air.

• Kind: Showcased in the manga, Umihara is not a fan of causing trouble for people. She notes to Shioji that she will get out of his way so that he doesn't get chased by the same people chasing her and promises to repay him back someday.

• Outgoing: In Umihara Kawase Fresh!, Kawase notes that she doesn't know the reason she travels but feels like there's never been a place she truly returns, having her go on journeys around the world.

Goals

• On a journey to find the ultimate ingredients (Ongoing).

Relationships

Noko Yokoyama

Noko Yokoyama is Kawase's descendant from the future, being a time-traveling Policewoman, she appears to help aid Umihara in Sayonara Umihara Kawase.

Emiko

Emiko is the childhood friend of Kawase's, as childhood Kawase's profile notes that she moved many times as a kid so she doesn't have many memories of playing with friends of her age, it's likely she doesn't fully remember Emiko.

General Information

Name: Umihara Kawase

Other Name: Yumi (Was called in localization "Yumi's Odd Odyssey")

Origin: Umihara Kawase (SNES)

Overall Franchise: Umihara Kawase

First Appearance: Umihara Kawase (SNES)

Company: KOMODO

Creator

• Overall Studio: Studio Saizensen
• Designer/Programmer: Kiyoshi Sakai
• Artist: Toshinobu Kondo

Actor: Ayumi Jimbo (Blade Strangers, Cotton Fantasy: Superlative Night Dreams)

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Pronouns: She/Her

Handedness: Right-Handed

Age: 9 as Umihara Kawase (Childhood), 20 in Sayonara Umihara Kawase

Birthday: Unknown

Time Period: Unknown, likely Modern Time

Timeline: Main Timeline

Homeworld: Earth

Residence: None (She is a traveling Chef, thus she doesn't have a true home, even staying in caves while traveling)

Story Role: Main Protagonist, Hero

Legacy: Local Legacy (A beloved delivery girl in Kingness)

Influence: Event Influence

Language: Japanese

Ethnicity: Japanese

Religion: N/A

Classification: Sushi chef, Blade Stranger

Species: Human

State of Being: Regular

Physiology: Humanoid Physiology

In-Universe Creator: Unknown

Occupation: Chef, Delivery Girl (In Umihara Kawase Fresh!)

Combat Style: Street Fighting

Affiliations: Noko Yokoyama, Emiko, Harami (Her sister), Ms. Silvy, Lucipia, Brenda, Bud, Lagar, Mary, Norma, Zip, Seven, Keen, Norma, Wrench, Laplus, Kotaro, Billy, Rahr, Tamajiro, Maggie, Garz, Queen, Cotton

Enemies: Fish Creatures, Giant Tadpole, Big Pig, Harami? (While her memories are lost)

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Status: Alive

Alignment: Neutral Good (Umihara saved Shoji from drowning. Offered to help a villager with delivering something to her husband due to her being busy. Notes as she's a resident of the town she wants to help as much as she can. Contributed to a fundraiser when her savings started to grow, with Norma saying she has a good heart)

Protection Level: Street Protector

Potential

• Type(s) of Potential: Growth Potential
• Level of Potential: Growth
• Description: Blade Strangers through understanding or getting past something about themself can awaken themself as Blade Strangers.
• Limitations: Nothing notable.

Archetypal Tiering: Pint-Sized Power House / Wanderer

Codex Statistics

Key: Umihara Kawase Trilogy | Umihara Kawase Fresh & Onwards

Key Information

• Umihara Kawase Trilogy: This key covers all events within the Umihara Kawase Trilogy, including: Umihara Kawase, Umihara Kawase Shun & Sayonara Umihara Kawase/Yumi's Odd Odyssey.
• Umihara Kawase Fresh & Onwards: This key covers all events from Umihara Kawase Fresh & onwards (including games like Umihara BaZooKa).

Grade: S

Tier: At least 9-C, Higher the longer the lure is hooked | At least 9-B, Higher the longer the lure is hooked

Cardinality: Finite

Dimensionality: 3-D

Power Source: Symbol (Noted that she has a "symbol" inscribed on her arm and it is the source of her power)

Attack Potency: At least Bone level (Potency) (Can throw her lure with enough force to stun a great white shark. Can send Shioji flying with a single punch), Higher the longer the lure is hooked (The longer the lure is hooked, the more damage Kawase will inflict when it's released) | At least Wall level (Potency) (Can fight and harm Crabpose, who is able to easily destroy stone pillars with its claws. Can fight and harm the Giga Tadpole, who is not only of this size but it's jump causes massive vibrations around the area), Higher the longer the lure is hooked

Durability: At least Bone level | At least Wall level

Striking Strength: At least Bone Class | At least Wall Class (Potency)

Lifting Strength: At least Class 1 (She can casually lift great white sharks and put them into her backpack, she can also casually lift fishes her size or larger then her and put them into her backpack, along with being able to forcibly pull them towards her. Great White Sharks weigh around 1000-19000 kg if female and 680-1000 kg if male) | At least Class 1

Travel Speed: Superhuman Speed (Noted to possess a superhuman athletic ability) | Superhuman Speed

Attack Speed: Superhuman Speed | Superhuman Speed

Reaction Speed: Superhuman Reaction (In the manga repeatedly avoided the giant sludge monsters attacks, making people question who in the world she is, and being noted to possess a superhuman athletic ability) | Superhuman Reaction

Stamina: Superhuman (Navigated through 50 fields back to back, requiring her to constantly swing around, swing off her hook, constantly hanging off of it, and fighting against enemies and dodging their attacks, all without showing any signs of tiring or fatigue)

Range: Standard Melee Range, Several Meters with her Fishing Line (Can reach this far with her fishing line)

Intelligence: At least Above Average Intelligence (Noted by several scientists and researchers that she was quite the bright young girl)

Knowledge:

General KnowledgeCombat Knowledge

At least Master level (Umihara is a traveling cook, using her cooking skills to get work in lots of different towns)

At least Master level (Umihara is masterful with her hook, being able to use it to get across ledges that she normally couldn't reach through jumping, using it to dodge and combat enemies, use it to hang off ceilings, which she uses to dodge around multiple seaborne and airborne enemy attacks, finding the smallest gaps to squeeze through, along with swinging around to get to platforms she couldn't prior. Her knowledge of the lure makes it where she can even use it to get under platforms that she normally couldn't reach through jumping or using a lure while falling. Even without her hook, she has an understanding of terrain and environment to get up platforms and ledges that are larger then herself and her jump height. Even while stunned she's still able to shoot out her lure. She can intercept enemy projectiles with her lure)

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Powers and Abilities

Blade Stranger Standard Fighter AbilitiesUnique Abilities

• Second Wind (When a fighter's energy gauge reaches 0, they can recover for a second round)
• Super Armor (With Heat Up, enters an armored state that drains skill gauge, during Heat Up, the fighter won't get knocked back by the first hit on an opponent's combo, and they will continue a move even if the opponent uses an attack that would normally interrupt it)
• Statistics Boost (Fighters can perform an EX Skill which consumes more of the Skill Gauge bar for stronger attacks)
• Charged Attack (Through pressing the light attack button + unique attack button, the fighter can activate a charge attack)
• Awakening (Blade Strangers through understanding or getting past something about themself can awaken themself as Blade Strangers)
• Invulnerability
  • Physical Invulnerability: When fighters use their unique attacks, pressing forward directional button + unique attack button performs an invicible unique middle attack pressing the unique attack button alone works well against aerial attacks, making the fighter invicible against opponent's midair attacks, and pressing the down button + unique attack button performs a low attack that's invincible against many standing skills.
• Counter (Fights can use their unique attacks as counters. Fighters can counter throws with their own throw to perform a grapple)
  • Status Effect Inducement (When pressing back button + unique attack button, the fighter performs an attack which if used as a counter, will knock back and crumple the opponent)
• Guard Break (Fighters can utilize throws to break their opponent's guard)
• Soullessness (Blade Strangers can keep fighting and keep their fighting powers even if their souls are removed)
• Extrasensory Perception (Quote has "transcendental awareness" due to being a Blade Stranger, allowing him to grasp any situation he's in instantly, this applies to all blade strangers)
• Reliance
  • On Server: Blade Strangers, even if erased, can come back as long as they have some backup server they can be restored from.
    • Alternate Replacements
• Exiva's Blessing (Exivia bestows upon a Blade Stranger the power to go beyond time and space and travel through infinite universes through flying through space)
  • Transcendence
  • Dimensional Travel
  • Flight
    • Flight
• Vibration Manipulation (Fighters can perform the defensive skill that allows them to knock back their opponent while guarding their opponent's attack)

• Superhuman Physical Characteristics
  • Superhuman Strength
  • Superhuman Durability
  • Superhuman Speed
  • Superhuman Reaction
  • Superhuman Lifting
  • Superhuman Energy Efficiency
  • Superhuman Precision (Kawase is ble to intercept enemy projectiles with a fish lure, something humanely impossible to do)
• Human Achievements (Umihara is a traveling cook, using her cooking skills to get work in lots of different towns)
• Acrobatics (Umihara can jump long distances without the need or use of the fishing hook. In the manga repeatedly avoided the giant sludge monsters attacks, making people question who in the world she is, and being noted to possess a superhuman athletic ability)
  • Multiple Jumps (Kawase is able to double jump)
• Weapon Mastery
  • Unique Weaponry: Umihara is a master of her fishing hook, being able to use it to attach to surfaces, dodge around enemy attacks while swinging on it, and utilizing it in combat to stun enemies and trap them within her backpack.
  • Knife Mastery: Kawase is able to dual wield knives in a battle for various different cutting and stabbing attacks.
• Animal Taming (Umihara is able to understand and empathically communicate with animals)
• Surface Scaling (Umihara's lure can latch on and attach itself to walls and surfaces, which she can use for getting across gaps she regularly can't jump across)
• Fall Rebound (Umihara Kawase (Childhood) can restart from checkpoints if she at all falls or dies. If Kawase sets a campfire, it's set as a return point where she can return to if she runs out of health)
• Extrasensory Perception (Umihara is able to tell that the monster is not evil or trying to hurt anyone)
• Afterimage Creation (When entering an ultimate, she causes afterimages)
• Elasticity (Her lure is very rubbery and elastic, being able to expand and contract to let her climb up to a ceiling above her, she can also use it as a way of hanging downwards to reach platforms below that she couldn't otherwise)
• Aquatic Breathing (Umihara can grapple around while underwater for an indefinite amount of time with no repercussions. It's noted in the manga that Umihara can breathe underwater)
• Staggering (Through hitting an enemy with the lure, they are stunned)
  • Hammerspace, & Sealing (Once an enemy is stunned and she has the lure button on them, she can pull them into her backpack. Noted in Umihara Kawase Fresh! that the backpack has unlimited storage space. Her backpack is able to hold anything as she has a "symbol" inscribed on her arm)
    • Size Manipulation (Hitting her opponent causes them to shrink into her backpack)
• Summoning (Umihara can summon the Giga Tadpole in Blade Strangers)
• Door Manipulation (Her ultimate has the doors from Umihara Kawase close as she finishes off the opponent)
• Size Manipulation (Can defeat giant giga bosses to shrink them down to regular sizes)
• Electricity Manipulation (Umihara's hook and lure can electrocute people that touch it)
• Time Manipulation
  • Time Manipulation (Umihara is able to stop time, selecting a direction when time is stopped will make it easier to do certian moves, such as throwing her lure diagonally).

• Resistance to
  • Staggering (Even while stunned she's still able to shoot out her lure)
  • Extreme Heats (Is not phased while fighting Harami in a lava room)
  • Oceanic Pressures (Umihara is able to swim to the bottom of the ocean without any effects to her body, with the bottom of the ocean having deep pressures)
• Possible Resistance to
  • Poison Manipulation (It is noted that one of Kawase's dislikes is poisonous mushrooms, implying she has eaten them before)

---

Equipment

Fishing Rod

• Description: Umihara Kawase’s fishing rod is a standard rod paired with an unusually elastic fishing line and weighted lure. While simple in appearance, it functions as a multipurpose tool for movement, capture, and environmental interaction.

• Function: The rod allows Umihara to cast a lure that can attach to walls, ceilings, ledges, and other surfaces. By holding or releasing the lure input, she can control the length and tension of the line, enabling a wide range of movement options.

• Traversal Use:
  • Allows Umihara to swing across gaps using pendulum-like motion created by line tension.
  • Can be anchored to ceilings to climb upward by contracting the line.
  • Enables safe descents and momentum-based jumps when released at the correct timing.
  • The line can automatically hook onto corners and edges when retracted, even after a missed cast.
  • Distance can be extended by timing jumps after the lure is fully deployed.

• Combat Use:
  • Enemies struck by the lure can be caught and pulled in.
  • Captured enemies are retrieved directly and stored in Umihara’s backpack.
  • In certain depictions, the hook and lure can conduct electricity, harming targets that come into contact with the line.

• Notable Traits:
  • The rod’s effectiveness relies heavily on precise timing and player control rather than raw power.
  • Its elastic line allows for movement options not possible through jumping alone.
  • Serves as Umihara’s primary means of navigating environments she cannot traverse unaided.

Backpack

• Description: Umihara Kawase’s backpack is a small, worn pack that she carries at all times. Despite its ordinary appearance, it is capable of storing far more than its physical size would suggest.

• Function: The backpack serves as Umihara’s primary storage container. Once an enemy has been stunned and secured with her fishing line, she can pull the target directly into the backpack for removal from the environment.

• Utility Use:
  • Allows stunned enemies to be retrieved and stored after being caught with the lure.
  • Functions as a disposal method for hostile creatures encountered during exploration.
  • Can contain items and entities without any visible limitation to capacity.

• Notable Traits:
  • Explicitly stated to possess unlimited storage space.
  • Capable of holding objects and creatures of any size.
  • Its ability to store such contents is shown to be tied to Umihara herself rather than the backpack alone.

---

Notable Techniques

Umihara SeriesBlade Strangers TechniquesBlade Strangers Move List

Jump Button

As the name implies, the Jump Button allowes Umihara to jump a modest distance to reach over caverns and bottomless pits.

Climb Up

A ledge might look too high to reach just by jumping, but if Umihara can reach it with her hands, she can climb up. Climb up can also be combined with jumping allowing Umihara to reach platforms she normally wouldn't be able to reach.

Lure Button: Attach

Umihara KawaseUmihara Kawase Shun

Pressing the Lure Button has Umihara throw out her lure. The luer will return to her when she releases the Lure Button. By keeping the Lure Button on hold, she can attach the lure to a wall. While the lure is attached to a wall she can use it for platforming around and swinging off objects to land to the ground safely. This also helps her get to places she can't get to on her own. The lure can also be thrown while jumping for better swinging results.

Lure Button: Attack

Umihara KawaseUmihara Kawase Shun

Throwing the lure at enemies to catch them. Once they're caught, Umihara simply walks up to it and grabs it, putting it in her backpack (likely for food).

Lure Button: Lure Up

Umihara KawaseUmihara Kawase Shun

Umihara can also hook her lure on a ceiling to climb up. The process has her first throw her lure up to a ceiling, then she can expand or contract her line allowing her to gain better movement.

Lure Button: Lure Hook

Umihara KawaseUmihara Kawase Shun

Even when Kawase doesn't hit anything with her lure, if she keeps the Lure Button on hold, she'll likely hook onto something else. If the line is touching the corner of a ledge when she retracts her lure, the lure will hook onto the corner automatically.

Lure Button: Pendulum Swing

Umihara KawaseUmihara Kawase ShunSayonara Umihara Kawase

Pendulum SwingJumping from Pendulum SwingIn Motion

Umihara uses her line's tension to create large, pendulum-like swings. Timing of her contraction of the line is the key.

She'll jump in the direction the line is swinging when she lets go.

Lure Button: Extend Lure

If her lure isn't long enough to reach the ceiling, she will find a way to extend it. Instead of throwing her lure while jumping, she can jump after she throws the lure. Jumping after using all of the line will add more distance.

Checkpoints

Each character has their own special move. Emiko, Umihara Kawase (Childhood): Can restart from checkpoints. Once they reach a checkpoint, an icon will appear. They can only restart from a checkpoint once per stage.

Time Stop

Tutorial ImageIn Motion

Through initiating the Time Stop button, characters can stop time in the game. Select a direction when time is stopped, and it will be easier to do certain moves, such as throwing the lure diagonally.

Standard Fighter TechniquesUnique Techniques

Skill Gauge

A gauge every fight has, required for Offesnive skills and Ultra skills.

Combo Gauge

Gauge required to continue combos. When the gauge runs out, the combo ends.

Guard

Pressing back on the directional buttons allows the fighter to guard when the opponent is attacking, or retreat when the opponent isn't attacking. There are two types of guards:

• Stand Guard: Guard while standing. Stand Guards cannot guard low attacks.
• Crouch Guard: Guard while crouching. Crouch guards cannot guard midair attacks or unique middle attacks.

Dash/Step

When the fighter double taps forward or backwards, they can perform a dash or a step depending on the fighter.

Normal Attacks

Through pressing the light attack button, fighters perform a light attack. If the attack hits, the fighter can continue to use the light attack for a simple multi-hit combo.

Through pressing the heavy attack button, fighters perform a heavy attack.

Unique Attacks

Through pressing the unique attack button, fighters performs a unique attack.

Pressing the unique attack button performs an attack that works well against aerial attacks. It's invincible against the opponent's mid air attacks.

Pressing forward directional button + unique attack button performs an invincible unique middle attack that works well against normal low attacks.

Pressing down button + unique attack button performs a low attack that can trip the opponent. It's invincible against many standing skills.

Pressing back button + unique attack button performs an attack which, if used as a counter, will knock back and crumple the opponent.

Pressing the unique attack button while in midair performs an attack which, if used as a counter, will knock opponents down.

Pressing the forward-down + unique attack button on a downed opponent performs a down attack, which will slam them into the ground.

Skill Attacks

Through pressing the skill button, this performs a character's unique special skill. Depending on the directional button pressed, one of various skills are performed.

Offensive Skill (Light Attack + Unique Attack) or (ZL Button)

“	A charge attack that cancels their current move or knocks back knocks back an opponent's Gauge.	„
	~ Blade Strangers Online Manual

Pressing the light attack button + unique attack button when there is more than 1 bar on the Skill Gauge performs an offensive skill. This activates a charge attack.

Offensive skills can be performed by a fighter cancelling their current move. They can make a move that wouldn't usually connect.

Defensive Skill (Left/Right Directional Button + Light Attack Button + Unique Attack)

While guarding an opponent's attacks, fighter's pressing the right or left directiaonl button + light attack button + unique attack button at the same time when there is more than 1 bar on their Skill Gauge performs an attack that knocks back the opponent.

If this hits the opponent, it will knock them back but it won't inflict any damage. This is useful for escaping when the opponent is pressuring a fighter into a corner.

Strong Skill (Heavy Attack + Skill)

Used in conjunction with directional inputs, Strong Skills are typically more powerful.

EX Skill (Unique Attack + Skill)

“	Powered-up versions of regular Skills. Using them consumes half a bar from a fighter's gauge.	„
	~ Blade Strangers Online Manual

Through pressing the unique attack button + skill button at the same time, the fighter performs an EX Skill. Depending on the directional buttons pressed, fighters can perform various different EX Skills. An EX Skill consumes half a bar from their Skill Gauge.

Ultra Skill (Heavy Attack + Unique Attack + Skill) or (R Button)

“	A powerful super-attack that consumes at least one bar of the Skill Gauge. HoldUltra Skill used.	„
	~ Blade Strangers Online Manual

Pressing the heavy attack button + skill button + unique attack button when there is more than 1 bar on the Skill Gauge performs an Ultra Skill.

There are two different kinds of Ultra Skills: Skills that consume 1 bar and skills that consume 2 bars.

Depending on the fights action or directional buttons, they can perform specific Ultra Skills.

Overhead Attack (Forward + Unique Attack)

A mid-level attack that's effective against Crouch Guards and normal low attacks.

Low Attack (Down + Unique Attack)

A low attack that knocks down opponents. Effective against most standing Skills.

Throw (Heavy Attack + Light Attack) or (ZR Button)

“	Effective on guarding opponents. Fighters can counter by inputting the throw command.	„
	~ Blade Strangers Online Manual

Pressing the light attack button + heavy attack button at the same time performs a throw.

A throw is an effective move to break the opponent's guard. However, in certain circumstances, the fighter cannot use a throw immediately after their opponent guards their attack. Their throw ill miss.

Grapple

If the opponent tries to throw the fighter, they can counter with their own throw to perform a grapple.

There are various ways to evade the opponent's throw, including the grapple maneuver (use a throw the moment the fighter is about to be thrown). They can also try jumping, running away, etcetera.

Heat Ups (Light Attack + Heavy Attack + Unique Attack) or (L Button)

“	Enter an armored state that drains the Skill Gauge. Can only be performed with a max gauge.	„
	~ Blade Strangers Online Manual

If a fighter is low on health and the Heat Up icon is blinking, pressing the light attack + heavy attack + unique attack buttons when there is more than 1 bar on the Skill Gauge allows the fighter to enter Heat Up Time.

During Heat Up Time, fighters won't get knocked back by the first hit of an opponent's combo, and they will be able to continue a move even if the opponent uses an attack that would normally interrupt it.

During Heat Up Time, the Skill gauge will continually decrease with time. However, using skills will consume that Skill Gauge at leass than the normal rate.

Down Recovery/Wakeup Attacks

If the fighter is knocked down by an opponent, they will enter the 'downed' state. They will remain downed until they are either hit again, or they press an action or directional button.

While downed, they can press a directional button to recover. They can also press an action button to perform a wakeup attack. However, they will be left open if their wakeup attack is guarded.

Rubber Line Mobility

Kawase makes extensive use of her elastic fishing line to maneuver freely around her surroundings. By anchoring the line to distant points, she can rapidly change direction, close gaps, or disengage entirely, making her extremely difficult to pin down.

Elastic Feint Cancels

By releasing bursts of reinforced elastic energy, Kawase can abruptly interrupt her own movement or attacks, allowing her to alter their trajectory or timing mid-action. This technique lets her stay unpredictable and safely reposition even after committing to an advance.

Sustained Pressure Control

Kawase excels at maintaining constant harassment rather than overwhelming force. Through repeated elastic strikes and controlled spacing, she gradually wears down opponents while minimizing her own exposure to retaliation.

Counter-Approach Suppression

When facing cautious or defensive adversaries, Kawase can deploy her elastic line from a distance to discourage pursuit. These retreating maneuvers allow her to safely observe enemy behavior and punish overextensions.

Close-Range Conditioning

Once Kawase establishes control over an opponent’s reactions, she can begin applying more aggressive techniques. By subtly drawing enemies in with minor elastic pulls, she creates openings for follow-up strikes or grappling maneuvers.

Elastic Overhead Assault

Kawase can launch herself forward using her rubber line, striking from above with a downward attack. Though slower to initiate, this maneuver becomes significantly safer when combined with mid-air elastic adjustments.

Enhanced Elastic Charge

By storing additional energy in her movements, Kawase can perform a reinforced forward launch that remains stable even if blocked or resisted. This technique allows her to continue advancing without leaving herself open.

Low Sweep Interference

Kawase employs a grounded elastic strike that travels close to the surface, catching advancing opponents off guard. Its reach and minimal recoil make it ideal for testing enemy movement and denying ground-based approaches.

Short-Range Displacement Throws

Using the pulling force of her elastic line, Kawase can subtly reposition opponents at close range. While risky if anticipated, this technique becomes effective once the enemy has been conditioned to hesitate.

Superior Anti-Air Control

Kawase possesses exceptional ability to intercept airborne opponents. Her primary upward strike is fast, precise, and reliable, making aerial approaches particularly dangerous against her.

Alternative Air Interception Methods

In addition to her primary counter, Kawase has several situational techniques to deal with airborne threats. Some focus on striking low to catch descending foes, while others use vertical reach or elastic movement to intercept from unexpected angles.

Preemptive Vertical Suppression

Certain techniques allow Kawase to deny large portions of airspace altogether. By projecting elastic constructs upward or outward, she can effectively block aerial movement across wide areas, forcing opponents to remain grounded.

Projectile Evasion Maneuvers

Kawase can momentarily ignore incoming ranged attacks during specific elastic movements, allowing her to slip through projectile-heavy zones without harm.

Emergency Evasion

Her only fully invulnerable maneuver is a high-energy escape technique that allows her to completely avoid damage for a brief moment. While powerful, it is reserved strictly for emergencies due to its limitations.

Partial Damage Resistance

One of Kawase’s defensive techniques provides resistance only to direct physical strikes and requires significant preparation. Its delayed activation makes it unreliable as a sudden countermeasure.

5L Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 400 5 1 3 M A standard Jab, can be low profiled with a well timed 2E.

5LL/6L Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 600 5 -3 0 M Kawase swipes at the opponent with a frying pan. One of Kawase's important tool due to its vacuume effect on either hit or blocked. This normal can lead into amy option on block, from tick throw, frame traps, and high and low mix up.

5LLL/6LL Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 720 5 -4 -2 M Kawase Stabs forward with a kitchen knife. Moslty Combo/Pressure Filler in Kawase strings, this is negative enough to be punish by fast reversal like Solange Ligth Dp. Unlike Other 5LLL/6LL, this one is air tight so it can't be staggered for frame traps.

2L Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 400 6 -3 1 M A Low attack. One of the few 2L that hits low. The Hitstun is large enough to Link 4E or 6H.

j.L Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 400 5 5 9 H Kawase's fastest jumping normal.

j.8L Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 400 9 5 9 H Kawase other air light normal. This attack is slower than j.L but has more reach making it better option for Air to air scenarios.

Heavy Attacks

5H Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 900 9 -5 1 M Kawase swing her backpack at the opponent. A standard heavy normal that usebale in combo and pressure butt little elsewhere. Its punishable by fast reversal but spacing it make it safer.

6H Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1000 [1400] 16 [44] -7 [1] -1 [Launch] M Charged version causes a wallbounce in the corner and gains 1 point of armor starting from frame 15. Cannot armor through lows or Ultra Skills. Both versions launch airborne targets.

2H Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 9 -6 -1 L Kawase uses her ishing rode to swip at opponent feet. In the top 4 longest ranged 2H in the game, only matched by summer kawase and surpassed by Solange. Extremely good poke.

3H Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 9 -4 0 M Kawase uses her butt to bob foes. A stubby normal that has its uses in juggle combo thanks to its launching properties on air born opponents. Can be used as a frame trap from 5L and is Kawase's only safe H normal on block at point-blank range with it only being punishable to 4 frame reversals.

j.H Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 9 5 13 H Has a crossup hitbox.

j.2H Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 900 9 -5 Knockdown M Can be done extremely low to the ground by inputting it immediately after Kawase leaves the ground. Has a crossup hitbox but requires very precise spacing to actually use since crossup protection will sometimes trigger even when you land on the other side. Note that this move is NOT a high.

j.8H Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 700 9 5 Launch H Launches grounded opponents on hit.

Unique Attacks

5E Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 11 -4 0 M Head invulnerability starts on frame 5.

6E Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 21 -9 1 H Invulnerable to lows and low height mids from frame 5.

4E Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1200 16 -8 Knockdown M Crumples on counter hit.

2E Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 9 -7 Knockdown L Can low profile some mids on frame 5.

3E Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1500 12 n/a Knockdown OTG OTG Knockdown.

j.E Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1200 17 5 Knockdown H Ground bounces on counter hit. Causes knockdown on regular hit.

Skills

Hooking Lure Light Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 31 -4 1 M Safe special to end blockstrings with. Vacuums the opponent in so you could go for a throw mixup on hit if they are close enough. Heavy Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 22 -4 Launch M This version hits much further out but has a large deadzone between the hook and Kawase. Launches the enemy towards Kawase on hit. Vacuums the opponent on block. EX Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1000 22 -4 Launch M Launches on hit. Massive vacuum effect on block although the frame disadvantage limits how this could be applied without something like Heat Up to support it.

Dancing Lure Light Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1000 13 -17 Knockdown M N/A Heavy Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1200 13 -17 Knockdown M Side switches on hit which can be handy to use at the end of combos where your back is to the corner. EX Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1200 13 -17 Knockdown M Invincible from frames 1-12 making it technically work as a reversal.

Rocket Dash Light Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 800 29 -9 Knockdown H A somewhat slow overhead although the start up resembles Kawase's backdash which could be used to fake out the opponent. It is unsafe on block so use sparingly without conditioning the opponent first to think you're doing something else. Travels half the screen but the punishable frame disadvantage discourages using this as a poke. Heavy Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 0 n/a n/a A feinted version of the hop overhead. Can be used to go for sneaky pressure resets and throw mixups but easily disrespected due to how both the normal overhead and feint can be jabbed out. EX Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1000 29 -18 Launch H While it travels around 3/4ths of the screen, the massive frame disadvantage makes this only useful in combos or as a desperation move.

Rubber Ring Light Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 0 n/a n/a Travels around half the screen. Inputting this as 7S will result in Kawase doing this move backwards. Heavy Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 0 n/a n/a Travels almost fullscreen. Inputting this as 7HS will result in Kawase doing this move backwards. EX Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 600 13 M Becomes a strike but is otherwise pretty similar to to the 8HS version. Inputting this as 7ES will result in Kawase doing this move backwards.

Aerial Hooking Lure Light Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 600 9 -20 -17 M Can be done immediately after a jump but the awful frame advantage on block means that it's not great to use as a poke. Could be useful in air to air encounters since it knocks down on air hit but the angle isn't great for that purpose either. Heavy Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1200 9 -14 Knockdown M Can be done immediately after a jump just like j.S. Not great in neutral when j.S does everything this move does more safely. Used mostly as a combo ender. EX Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1200 9 -7 Launch M Can be done immediately after a jump just like j.S. This move has the interesting property of being able to cancel out of any version of Rubber Ring. The better frame advantage also makes this more handy as a neutral tool but the meter cost limits how often this can be used. Launches on hit.

Aerial Rubber Ring Light Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 0 n/a n/a Travels around half the screen but goes further with more height. Inputting this as j.7S will result in Kawase doing this move backwards. Heavy Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 0 n/a n/a Travels almost fullscreen but goes further with more height. Inputting this as j.7HS will result in Kawase doing this move backwards. EX Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 600 13 M Becomes a strike but is otherwise pretty similar to to the j.8HS version. Inputting this as 7ES will result in Kawase doing this move backwards.

Universal Commands

Throw Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1500 7 N/A Knockdown UNB N/A

Offensive Skill Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1000 8 -15 31 M N/A

Offensive skill (Aerial) Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 1000 6 -20 17 M N/A

Defensive Skill Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 0 N/A

Rising Attack Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 500 10 17 0 M Knocksdown airborne targets. Invincible from frames 1-11.

Ultra Skills

5HSE (can input twice for Lv2) Level 1 Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 2200 11 -20 Knockdown Invincible starting on frame 1. This is Kawase's reversal super. Level 2 Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 3200 11 -20 Knockdown Invincible starting on frame 1. This is also a reversal but the lacking damage in comparison to Giga Tadpole Level 2 means that this should be avoided unless the opponent could be killed when you use this as a DP.

2HSE (can input twice for Lv2) Level 1 Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 2500 31 -20 Knockdown NOT a reversal. This is Kawase's damage super. The 31 frame startup may seem slow but the giant tadpole hitbox means that this combos fairly easily if the opponent is juggled high enough. Level 2 Damage Startup Active Recovery Block Adv Hit Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox Scaling 4500 31 -20 Knockdown NOT a reversal. This is Kawase's most damaging attack. The second hit should always connect if the first one did.

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Other

Standard Tactics: Umihara utilizes her fishing hook for different forms of traversal, in games like Blade Strangers, she showcases the ability to engage in hand to hand combat along with use knives in combat. Her main form of attack comes down to using her fishing rod to stun and then put one in her backpack.

Weaknesses

• Blade Stranger Weaknesses: Altering a Blade Stranger's memories is dangerous, as the link to their worlds will become severed. If the connection is severed, their souls will be removed. Stand Guards cannot guard against low attacks and Crouch Guards cannot guard against midair attacks or unique attacks. Blade Strangers in certain circumstances cannot throw immediately after their opponent guards their attack as they will miss the throw.
• Symbol Weaknesses: When the symbol is given to a living thing, they can't survive after releasing the power of the symbol.
• Unique Weaknesses: Letting go of the Lure Button cancels out her grab animation. Initially lure's hook can break if it stretches too long, though by Umihara Kawase Shun, her hook will just automatically retract back to her if it gets too long.

Profiles

Umihara Kawase

Profiles

1. What Is Umihara Kawase? “Umihara Kawase” is the name of the young girl who appears in this game, and also the name of the character you control. Why does Kawase have to go fishing from cliffs and other dangerous places? As you continue playing, the reason will gradually become clear. What she uses is a fishing rod (more precisely, a lure) with a special rope attached, allowing it to stretch like rubber. This rope is an extremely useful tool. Not only can you throw it to catch fish, but you can also hook it onto walls, leap across gaps, and climb cliffs. By mastering the rope, you can safely advance through stages that would otherwise be impossible. Learn to freely control the rope and make it your own. The name “Umihara Kawase” comes from a Japanese proverb that says, “Fish in the sea have fat, fish in the river have bones.” As the title suggests, this game features enemies such as fish and insects found in the sea and rivers. Of course, many strange creatures also appear. If you are able to clear the game, please take a moment to enjoy its unique atmosphere, reminiscent of a distinctly Japanese sense of quiet solitude.

1. 海腹川背とは 「海腹川背」というのは、このゲームに登場する女の子の名前 （海腹川背）で、あなたが操作するキャラクターのことです。 海腹川背さんは、なぜサカナたちに邪魔されながら、 過酷な道を進んでいきます。繰り返すうちに、その理由が だんだんわかってくるはずです。彼女が使うのは、 竿（釣りに使う疑似餌）がついたゴムのように 伸び縮みする特殊なロープだけです。 でも、このロープは、とっても便利なアイテムで サカナたちに投げつけて捕まえるのはもちろん、 壁を登り、裂け目を飛び越したりするのにも使えます。 あなたも、海腹川背さんが険しいフィールドを 安全に進むことができるよう、あなたもこのロープを 自在に操れるようになってください。 「海腹川背」の本当の意味は、「海の魚は腹に、 川の魚は背に脂がのっている」という格言語です。 このゲームには、タイトル通り海や川の魚や 虫のような敵キャラクターが登場します。 もちろん、異常な姿をした敵も登場します。 プレイに余裕ができたら、日本の風土を感じる 深い味わいをこのゲームでも堪能してください。

Umihara Kawase

Sayonara Umihara Kawase

European Profile

Kawase Gender: Female Age: 20 Personality: Calm Person She Looks Up To: No one Special Skill: Can swallow medicine without drinking water. Doesn't like: Poisonous mushrooms

Japanese version not obtained.

Sayonara Umihara Kawase

Sayonara Umihara Kawase

European Profile

Umihara Kawase (Childhood) Gender: Female Age: 9 Moved many times as a child, and doesn't have many memories of playing with friends of her age.

Japanese version not obtained.

Sayonara Umihara Kawase

Yumi's Odd Odyssey

USA Profile with localization name

Yumi Gender: Female Age: 20 Personality: Calm Person She Looks Up To: No one Special Skill: Can swallow medicine without drinking water. Doesn't like: Poisonous mushrooms

Original on left.

Yumi's Odd Odyssey

Blade Strangers

Kawase As Seen In: Umihara Kawase series Stage: Riverbed of Memories Always wearing her trademark backpack, this young woman is known for acrobatic exploits in which she uses a fishing line as a grappling hook. It’s a surprisingly good fighting tool, as well. Skills (Ground): Fish Hook: Skill Rocket Dash: Back + Skill Rubber Ring: Up + Skill Dancing Lure: Down + Skill Ultra Skills: Tragedy Within a Dream: Heavy Attack + Skill + Unique Attack Giga Tadpole: Down + Heavy Attack + Skill + Unique Attack

Original on left.

Blade Strangers

Gameplay

Blade Strangers

Kawase is an agile, mobility-focused character who relies on movement, spacing, and EX resource management to control the pace of a match. Her long-reaching attacks and ability to cancel movement options with EX Rubber Ring define her neutral, while her offense revolves around conditioning opponents through frame traps and strike/throw pressure. Kawase performs best when carefully managing meter, adapting between evasive play and close-range offense depending on the matchup.

Kawase is an agile, mobility-focused character who uses movement, spacing, and EX resource management to dictate the flow of battle. Her gameplan revolves around harassing opponents with long-reaching attacks, controlling approaches, and converting pressure into damage through frame traps and strike/throw mixups. Proper EX management is critical to both her offense and defense.

StrategyOffenseDefense

• Playstyle: A highly mobile character who relies on stage movement and EX cancels to harass opponents and control tempo.
• Gameplan: EX Rubber Ring is central to Kawase’s strategy, allowing cancels out of Rocket Dash and Aerial Luring Hook. She relies heavily on EX for pressure, combo confirms, and reversals.
• Matchup Approach:
  • Against rushdown characters or Master T-style opponents, Kawase should prioritize meter building with retreating Rubber Ring and counter approaches.
  • Against zoners or characters like Curly, she should play aggressively, staying close and retreating only when holding a life lead or in a disadvantaged position.

• Frame Traps: Kawase’s offense relies on conditioning through Hooking Lure (5S). Against opponents without a 4-frame reversal, 5S functions as a low-risk frame trap.
• Conversions:
  • On hit, 5S can be converted with meter into Offensive Skill or Ultra Skill.
  • On counter hit, Kawase can link into 5L / 2L / 6L for a full combo.
  • EX Hooking Lure (5E+S) grants combo on regular hit, improved counter-hit proration, and stronger vacuum on block.
• Rocket Dash Mixups:
  • Rocket Dash functions as an overhead and can be canceled into EX Rubber Ring on block to remain safe.
  • EX Rocket Dash (4E+S) is safe on block but interruptible unless preceded by charged 6E to form a true blockstring.
• Poking: 2H is a strong low poke with good range and minimal pushback, making it effective for checking ground approaches.
• Tick Throws: 6L’s vacuum effect enables tick throws, but this option is highly risky without proper conditioning.

• Anti-Air Strength: Kawase possesses one of the strongest anti-air kits in the game, with 5E serving as a premier universal anti-air.
• Anti-Air Options:
  • 3B: Low-profiles jump-ins and launches for juggles, safe on whiff.
  • 6H: High vertical reach with armor during charge, but moves Kawase forward.
  • 2S: Longest vertical reach, allows side selection on landing and OS conversions; EX version grants full invincibility.
  • 8ES: A low-risk anti-air command movement that remains actionable on whiff.
  • 2US: Covers most aerial approaches, granting knockdowns or combos depending on level, but has a blind spot directly in front.
• Invincibility:
  • 4S series has projectile invincibility on startup.
  • 5US is Kawase’s only fully invincible move.
  • 2E+S has strike invulnerability only and a long startup, making it a weak reversal.

Trivia

• Kawase's personality is listed as calm.
• Kawase looks up to no one.
• Kawase's special skill is that she can swallow medicine without drinking water.
• Kawase doesn't like poisonous mushrooms.
• Kawase herself is a tomboy despite the games never outright saying it (asides from Blade Strangers), this is likely due to her having a more country girl design along with being pretty powerful in her own right.
  • Her childhood design even sports a more boyish look then the contempary Japanese girl design
• Kawase's young self is the only real true backstory given about her during the series, where it's noted she had to move a lot during her childhood so she doesn't remember much.
• An interesting part of Kawase's world is that unlike other marine animals, all fish that are enemies walk on two legs, making them half-man/half-fish hybrids.
  • This is used as evidence to support the events of Umihara Kawase all being within Umihara's head.
  • Exiva in Blade Strangers even makes reference to this theory as she asks Umihara if the creatures really exist as the fish have legs.
• Umihara Kawase has some differences from the typical action games of the time period, for example, touching or falling into water at all would normally be a game over in action platformers of the time, though as long as Umihara has her hook attached to something, she will be fine.
• Alongside several lesser-known criteria, the game evaluates total playtime when determining which stage the player advances to next. If the ending stage has not been reached within 30 minutes, the game forcibly redirects the player to a fixed field, which automatically becomes the final stage. Given the structure of the game, failing to reach the ending within this time limit effectively results in a forced failure state. Field 28 is only accessible under this specific condition.
  • The time limit can be shortened to five minutes by activating a hidden cheat on the title screen. To do this, press the Select button 100 times until a “5 min.” indicator appears beside the Start option, then select Start. Be aware that if any other input is made while in this state, the indicator will immediately vanish.
• A video that seems to be the first editions PS1 ending of Umihara Kawase Shun was ported from Niconico video, the actual video's link is now dead, and the wayback has failed to capture it. If the youtube video ever dies, a backup has been made on Google Drive.
  • The video can be translated into English: "Umihara Kawase: Shun Ending", it was included in the Fisrt Edition of the game, along with the Yarikomi videos on the OST's first-run bonus DVD.
• There was a promotion video for Umihara Kawase for the Super Famicom in Japan.
• In the original Umihara Kawase Shun. there would be times where in-game advertisements would play, giving further character to Kawase while also advertising a real life product. As Umihara's entire gimmick is fishing-themed, a lot of the advertisements fit thematically with that.
  • This was later removed in Umihara Kawase Shun Second Edition, either due to not having the rights to the products mentioned anymore or due to potential backlash of forced advertising in the game. It is odd for this to receive backlash as the advertisements fit the nature and theme of the game and further Umihara's personality.
• It's noted by Toshinobu Kondo that most people said when Kawase dies in the game, it looks like she transforms into a panty, so he drew the figure as a panty due to this, in actuality it seems like the original pixel artist (from the Super Famicom game) designed this figure as a backpack.
• One of the most unconventional additions to Umihara Kawase Shun is a set of challenges not present in previous entries. These include skill-based tasks such as completing the encyclopedia or clearing a stage with minimal mistakes, finishing the first field within 10 seconds, or catching a fish that leaps from a bucket without being hit. Beyond these tests of skill, there are also purely laborious tasks, like entering a door once or placing three or more sparrows flying randomly on a stage, which feel more like chores than challenges. These may seem designed to lock illustrations or sound content away indefinitely. However, even the seemingly difficult conditions are naturally unlocked simply by progressing through the stages with determination, further emphasizing one of the biggest draws of the series. Notably, some of the hidden illustrations feature canceled concepts and rare congratulatory images.
• There is a mobile version of Umihara Kawase, but the only thing that has currently been found about it was a singular image that sends one to sun-denshi.co.
  • The mobile version was also mentioend during the interview with Toshinobu Kondo.
• Kawase's design is made with fanservice in mind, with Kondo noting he kept hearing "her breasts sure got bigger" when seeing her Sayonara Umihara Kawase design. Kondo also notes that the concept for her character design was to add the sex appeal of a young woman.
  • This design idea is actually turned into a storyline within Blade Strangers, where while summoning Umihara Kawase, they summon a Summer Kawase clone wearing a bikini, this version of Kawase wishes to destroy the original Kawase as she labels her "the darkness" that needs to disappear. She notes how everyone sees her as a cheerful, energetic tomboy, telling her how it's so nice to never worry about anything and how she's so bright and cheery all the time. Kawase rebukes this noting she has to endure constant misery day after day, trying to open one door after another, with Summer Kawase noting that the original her was in constant pain so she threw away the pain. Essentially being a mental battle between the fake half of herself and the true half of herself. It's later revealed that Summer Kawase isn't a copy at all, but a recreation of how others see her, which is why she's in a bathing suit.
  • The story mode is likely a way of showcasing that Kawase should be liked more then just for her body and figure and that she's a human being inside too with struggles and worries.
• Despite the title being Sayonara Umihara Kawase for the third game, Kondo noted the title is actually a holdover from when they were thinking it would be a final fan service item for the Umihara Kawase series, though he kept the name as it had a nice snese of impact as it conveys a sense of being ready for the end along with the wish to return.
• Umihara Kawase Shun was ported to the PSP, but the port was notorious for being very low quality. The graphics looked worse and there was a huge bug where the fishing hook could pass through objects.
  • It also received a port to DS that fixed many of the bugs, slightly tweaked the artstyle, and added a map on the bottom screen for better accessibility. Though one issue with the game is as it's on the DS, it suffers from some screen crunch, the map was likely made to compensate for this.
  • The issues of this port are very likely due to the original team having no involvement with the port.

On the left, the original Umihara Kawase Shun. On the right, the PSP Port of Umihara Kawase Shun.

Note

• Umihara in Blade Stranger has her data summoned, due to this it holds no contradictions with Umihara Kawase and can be used.
• The manga was made as a direct tie-in to the game and was apart of the Umihara Kawase Hyper Technique guidebook published by Scola in 1995. While some argue it's not canon as it has no connection to the games, this argument ignores that the games have next to not story until Umihara Kawase Fresh! which even then it's story is in a vacuum that somewhat fits with the manga's story of Kawase being someone that travels the world. Due to this, the manga is usable as a secondary canon.

Explanations

Enemies

The following is an explanation of the enemies and items Kawase comes across in the Umihara Kawase series. Do note some enemies do not have official names, thus their names are an approximation of their species

Abbreviations

Umihara KawaseUmihara Kawase Shun Enemies Goldfish Patrols a limited area on foot. It can either be avoided entirely or subdued by hooking it with the lure. Many other fish enemies follow comparable movement patterns. Mudfish Shares a similar patrol pattern to the goldfish. Its body is stretched vertically, and it fires acorn-like projectiles resembling small eggs that bounce along the ground. Snapper A blue-colored snapper that behaves almost identically to a goldfish in terms of movement. Tuna Remains on the ground and repeatedly leaps upward. It is best handled by latching onto it with the lure and relocating it to another section of the terrain. Octopus Sprays ink toward Umihara’s direction of approach. When hooked, it is knocked backward. By facing away at the moment the ink connects, its recoil can be used to influence movement. Applying sufficient tension to a suspended fishing line will cause it to detach from walls, leaving it helpless and easy to capture, which is particularly useful on large maps. Sea Anemone Immobile enemy that instead releases spores. These spores crawl along surfaces and attach themselves to the fishing line upon contact. Avoiding them requires understanding their timing and direction. Like the octopus, applying enough force will uproot it from its position. Conch Moves by clinging to nearby surfaces, traveling along walls regardless of whether they are horizontal, vertical, or inverted. Shark Moves back and forth while launching sucker sharks. The sucker sharks themselves follow movement patterns similar to goldfish. Sucker Shark Can either be deployed by a shark or attach itself to the ceiling before dropping down. Giant Crab A boss-type enemy in the form of an enormous crab. It advances side-scrolling while releasing bubbles. Striking these bubbles pushes them away and may awaken smaller crabs inside. As it moves, it smashes Umihara’s scaffolding one segment at a time with its claws. Once the structure blocking the exit is destroyed, the player must evade the crab and climb through the doorway to complete the encounter. Mudskipper Moves back and forth in a goldfish-like pattern. Fires small red egg-like projectiles that must be avoided before capturing it. Seahorses Appear in three variants. The father seahorse floats in midair, spraying ink while producing baby seahorses that move freely. Standard seahorses only travel vertically. Sizes differ: the father is extremely large, standard seahorses are roughly twice Umihara’s size, and babies are about half her height. Normal seahorses can be repositioned by hooking them but take no damage on contact and cannot be stored in the backpack, functioning more as environmental objects. Excessive line tension will also cause them to release ink. Giant Tadpole A boss-class enemy several times larger than Umihara, in the midst of developing legs. As it traverses the stage, it lays eggs that hatch into small frogs. Its jump distance can be anticipated, and it flicks its tail before laying eggs. Frogs may fall into water and continue swimming instead of disappearing. To prevent accidental falls while clinging to the fishing line, frogs are typically captured and stored unless the player is confident in avoiding them. After four back-and-forth cycles, the tadpole dives into the water and opens a sealed door, allowing progression. The reasoning behind its unusual behavior remains unexplained. Doldom Enemies encountered on F25. They hover freely in the air, forming lines, clusters, or circular arrangements, making avoidance difficult. The stage can only be cleared by capturing every individual. They first appear in a straight line, then reappear arranged in a circle once the initial group is collected. Carp Functions similarly to Doldom, but the second formation appears in a cross shape, greatly increasing the difficulty due to the surrounding terrain. Scallop Moves exclusively in a vertical up-and-down motion. Traps Bucket Releases a swarm of small fish when approached—medaka in river stages and flying fish in ocean areas. Medaka dash quickly across the ground, while flying fish leap over water in arcing trajectories. They typically emerge in groups of three. The bucket can be removed with a lure, but it is heavy and unaffected by stunning, requiring direct interaction rather than pulling it in. Bamboo-Structure A bamboo-foot structure suspended from the ceiling that continuously regenerates fish inside. Like the bucket, it can be removed by catching it with the lure. Items Backpack A 1UP item that must be captured manually. It is often hidden in unexpected locations and may appear or disappear suddenly. In Field 42, it can even be used as an anchor point for attaching the fishing line. Compared to the previous installment, the overall count is noticeably reduced, with all obstacles removed except for the bucket. In contrast to earlier entries, this title balances its difficulty primarily through terrain design and situational challenges rather than direct obstruction by enemies. Goldfish Found in rivers. Similar to the goldfish from the previous game, but with significantly altered coloring. Horse Mackerel Appears in the sea and follows the same movement pattern as the goldfish. Mudfish Appears in rivers and behaves like the eel from the previous game. Shark Found in the sea, identical in behavior to the previous shark. Sucker Shark Cannot be killed, but becomes incapacitated when hit. This version is longer and slimmer than the earlier model. Conch Present in both rivers and seas. Unlike the previous game, where hitting it counted as a miss, in this version it simply becomes uncontrollable when struck. Note that river and sea variants differ in color and score by 1 point. Piranha Jumps out unexpectedly and charges at the player. Contact causes a stun but not death. Appears only in select stages and serves as a notable enemy in the DS version encyclopedia. Giant Tadpole Boss-class, two-legged tadpole carried over from the previous game. Its design is slightly bulkier. Movement patterns remain the same, but the number of back-and-forth trips is reduced to three, easing difficulty. The door-blocking board from the previous game is removed, allowing the battle to be skipped, except in stages where two tadpoles attack simultaneously, which are effectively unavoidable. Squid Summoned in groups of six, flying like guided missiles toward the player. They can be captured individually, but disrupting the formation complicates the encounter. They disappear upon contact, so sticking to walls is a viable defensive tactic. Pufferfish Floats leisurely in the air and becomes inoperative when touched. To remove it, attach the fishing line, pull to stretch it, and collide with it. When pulled, it inflates, flies in a straight line, and smashes into a wall before charging toward the player. Hitting it 15 times counts as success, and if its charge collides with a wall, that also counts as a hit. In some cases, it can be defeated in two or three attempts. Despite its position right before the ending stage, it is relatively easy, making it a deceptive “fake final boss.” Giant Bucket Resembles a massive drum barrel with legs. Acts as a normal horse mackerel rather than small fish. After its initial pattern, it walks or jumps upward, requiring the player to quickly hook and move with it to access hidden routes. Its size prioritizes interactions with the fishing line, which can inadvertently cause remaining horse mackerel to be missed. Traps Bucket Same as in the previous game. Killifish emerge from river buckets, while three flying fish appear from sea buckets. Items Backpack Has the same mechanics as before, grants Kawase an extra life.

Continuity in the Umihara Kawase series

The Umihara Kawase series didn't have any real story until the events of Umihara Kawase Fresh where the main selling point was it being the first in the series to implement a story and quests.

There has been a blog listed that notes the back story of Umihara from the creator:

“	Umihara Kawase Character Background Setting Material (super secret) 1992-09-21 Kiyoshi Sakai Umihara Kawase, female, around 19 years old (under 20 years old) She travels all over the country in pursuit of the ultimate taste. Kawase's father (deceased), male, around 45 years old at death Since he was young, he has been active as a sink chef, and was feared among foodies because of his harsh taste. He raised Kawase with his own hands, but when Kawase was a junior high school student, he went into the mountains in search of the ultimate material and died. The life she lived for the sake of taste is still talked about in some quarters. Kawase's mother, female, around 48 years old (younger than Kawase's father) Pursuing the ultimate home-cooked taste, she runs a set meal restaurant all by herself. She married Kawase's father, whom she met during her training days, and they started a set-up restaurant together, but they divorced after three or four years due to differences in the tastes they pursued. Kawase's older sister (deceased), female, around 16 years old at death He was taken in by her mother when she divorced and grew up with her. They broke up before Kawase could remember, so Kawase herself doesn't know that she has an older sister. In the future, she devoted herself to the path of taste with the intention of taking over her mother's diner restaurant, but perhaps influenced by her father's blood, she eventually began to pursue the strict taste of a professional. When she was in high school, she cut blowfish without a license, ate the liver, and died from poisoning. ～A few years before Kawase was born～ Kawase's father (who later became known as a ``nagashi no itamae) wanders around the country in pursuit of the ultimate taste, and Kawase's mother (who later became known as Kawase), who works at a set meal restaurant in the outskirts of town in pursuit of the taste that will please people, meet. The two young people, who are also pursuing the path of taste, get married and start a small diner restaurant, but the father, who aims to be a professional with no particular taste, finds himself gradually losing her rigor as a professional as he immerses himself in the warmth of a warm family. Unable to give up on her taste buds, my father chose to become a chef again and divorced. The two daughters are taken in by their mother's side, and their younger sister (Kawase) by their father's side. Kawase had no memory of her mother and older sister since she was not yet conscious (around 1 year old), and since she has not heard anything about it, she does not know that she has an older sister. ~ When Kawase was a junior high school student ~ While traveling around the country with her father, Kawase gradually awakens to the taste of taste. One day, her father went into the mountains as usual in search of the ultimate material and disappeared. A police search failed to find him, and a death report was eventually filed. A simple funeral is held at the restaurant where he lived and worked. Afterwards, Kawase graduates from junior high school under the care of a couple who work at a restaurant, and is encouraged to go on to high school, but she decides to follow in her father's will and become a chef at the sink. Around that time, Kawase's older sister was also helping out at her mother's shop and devoting herself to the path of taste, but she gradually began to gravitate toward the strict tastes of professionals. The mother decides to let her older sister, who has begun to seek the same strict taste as her divorced father, choose the path of her choice. However, after hearing the story of a customer who boasted, ``You can't talk about the flavor of blowfish without eating its liver, while her mother was away, she chopped up the blowfish she had bought to serve at the store without a license, ate the liver, and died of poisoning. ~Kawase, about 19 years old~ Her skills as a chef have also been honed, and as usual, she casually enters a set restaurant after seeing a notice saying ``Currently hiring chefs. She casually eats the ordinary, simple food that is served as a meal, but is shocked by the ultimate home-cooked taste she has never tasted before. Realizing her own lack of strength, she attempts to leave the restaurant, but is stopped by the owner of the diner who recognizes her daughter at first sight, and ends up training from scratch at the restaurant. She spends her days full of fun and love without knowing that she is her biological mother. (During this time, I also heard about my sister who died without knowing that she was my sister) One day, Kawase goes out shopping alone at the market, and from what she casually hears, she learns that the wife of the diner is her mother. Thinking about her father, who died for the sake of taste, and her sister, who died handling blowfish without a license, she realized that she had lost track of the path she should take. As Kawase leaves a letter and is about to leave the store, her mother, who has realized everything, offers her a rice ball that she has made and says, ``This is my first and last taste of my mother. However, Kawase does not accept it and leaves, crying in her heart, saying, ``The path I must take is a difficult one. It was Kawase who learned the depth of the path of taste. ...The character that appears in the game above is Kawase, about half a year later, when her farewell to her mother has turned into a memory. By the way, the three other players have nothing to do with the game. Please note that this material was created to determine the character image at the development stage and will not be disclosed to outsiders. (Because the setting is too intense) Umihara Kawase character image setting Kawase considers cooking to be a natural part of her life, and treats it like breathing. Therefore, I don't like it or hate it, nor do I find it enjoyable or painful. (Sometimes it's hard to search for the ultimate taste) Kawase is always searching for new ways to taste, but this is not for any purpose; it is something that Kawase cannot help but do in order to survive. However, rather than pursuing it out of spite, they see it as a normal part of everyday life, so they don't seem to be too fixated on it. Kawase usually works as a chef (mainly as a live-in) at a set meal restaurant or small restaurant in the outskirts of the town. If you are a live-in employee, you may sleep in a cheap apartment (dormitory?), but if you don't have a place, you can stay in a sleeping bag inside the store after it closes. Sometimes, when I suddenly think of something (while exploring the path of taste), I go into the mountains in search of ingredients. At that time, I sometimes pitch a tent in the mountains and stay holed up for several days. They may also be taken out to sea on fishermen's boats. Kawase lost her parents when she was in junior high school, and was taken care of by a couple who worked at a restaurant. (See setting materials on the back) Since then, she has lived under the care of many people, so she has a strong sense of duty. However, I also believe that humans are meant to live alone. Kawase has always been raised among adults, so she has a rather cold mindset, but as a 19-year-old girl who works at a restaurant on the outskirts of town, she naturally gets a lot of attention from the customers, and although she's embarrassed and doesn't like it, she doesn't really feel that bad about it. Although she is quite talkative (partly because she grew up among adults), her smile is quite popular. (It's a pain, so I've learned how to laugh and cover it up.) The more seriously Kawase takes her cooking, the closer the finished product will be to raw food. This is because when pursuing professional skills, it becomes impossible to ignore the splendor of natural materials. However, this is only done when Kawase is serious about cooking, and she usually makes dishes that feel like casual clothes (← What the heck is that?). The ``Kawase-chan original menu (as the customer's father sometimes calls it) that Kawase usually serves to her customers is often a simple dish that she usually makes for hesrelf to eat, such as ``sliced ​​carp stewed in miso or ``steamed white fish in vegetable soup, but she sticks to the key points, such as flavoring with yuzu peel and using sea salt as a finishing touch. (←This casualness is a characteristic of regular Kawase cuisine.) The stage of the game is Kawase's deep psyche, and the visuals in the game are a visualization of her deep psyche, so to speak, like Kawase's dreams (at night). Kawase's heart is always filled with drafts, searching for the love she never got from her parents, so the mental landscape is quite bleak. The ``search for the path to taste that weighs heavily on Kawase's life as a matter of course is manifested in the form of her struggle with fish. However, it is essentially a battle with oneself, and ther is similar to the fact that the gameplay of ``Umihara Kawase is a battle with oneself. (← Is it true?) The cooking examples are completely random. Don't worry about it. This aspect of the setting was rather unpopular, but personally, I think it was the right decision to write down the secret setting and not make it public. The character image settings were written for outside staff as a reference material on the "real life of Kawase" when creating the "phantom opening animation" and "mysterious image song" during the development of "Shun".	„
	~ MTL of the Umihara Kawase Setting Materials Blog from １９９２－０９－２１

“	＜　　海腹川背キャラクター裏設定資料　（超極秘）　　＞ １９９２－０９－２１ 酒井　潔 ・海腹川背［うみはら　かわせ］　女　１９才くらい（２０歳未満） 　流しの板前、究極の味を追求して全国を流れ歩いている。 ・川背の父（故人）　男　享年４５才くらい 　若い頃から流しの板前として活躍、食通の間ではその味の厳しさゆえに怖れられていた。 　男手一つで川背を育てていたが、川背が中学生のときに究極の素材を求めて山に入り死亡。味のために貫いたその人生は今でも一部で語りつがれている。 ・川背の母　女　４８才くらい（川背の父よりも年下） 　究極のおふくろの味を追求して、女手一つで定食屋をきりもりしている。 　修行時代に知り合った（後の）川背の父と結婚し、二人で定食屋を始めるが、追求する味の道の違いから３～４年で離婚。 ・川背の姉（故人）　女　享年１６才くらい 　離婚の際母にひきとられ、母の元で育つ。 　川背が物心つく前に別れたので、川背自身は姉がいることを知らない。 　将来は母の定食屋を継ごうと味の道に精進していたが、父の血の影響か、いつしか厳しいプロの味を追求するようになる。 　高校生の時、無免許でふぐを捌き、肝を食べて中毒死。 ～　川背の生まれる数年前　～ 　すきのない究極の味を追求して全国を流れ歩く「流しの板前」（後の）川背の父と、人を喜ばせるための味を追求して場末の定食屋を手伝っている（後の）川背の母が出会う。 　同じように味の道を追求する若い二人は結婚し、小さな定食屋を始めるが、すきのない厳しいプロの味を目指す父は、あたたかい家庭のぬくもりにひたり、しだいにプロとしての厳しさを失っていく自分に気づく。 　味の道を捨てられない父は、再び流しの板前としての道を選び離婚。娘二人は、姉は母方、妹（川背）は父方にひきとられる。 　川背は、まだ物心つく前（１才前後）で母と姉の記憶はなく、その後も何も聞かされなかったため、姉がいることは知らない。 ～　川背が中学生の時　～ 　父と二人で全国を流れ歩きながら、しだいに味の道に目覚めていく川背。 　ある日、いつものように究極の素材を求めて山へ入った父はそのまま行方不明に。警察の捜索でも見つからず、結局死亡届が出される。住み込みで働いていた料理屋で質素な葬式が行われる。 　その後川背は、料理屋の夫婦の世話で中学を卒業、高校進学を勧められるが、父の意志を受け継いで流しの板前になる決意をする。 　その前後、川背の姉もまた母の店を手伝いながら味の道に精進していたが、しだいに厳しいプロの味に引かれはじめていた。 　母は、離婚した父と同じ厳しい味を求めはじめていた姉に、好きな道を選ばせる覚悟を決める。 　が、「ふぐの肝も食わずに味の道は語れん」と豪語する客の話を聞いた姉は、母の留守中、店で出すために仕入れてあったふぐを無免許で捌き肝を食べて中毒死する。 ～　川背１９才くらい　～ 　板前としての腕にも磨きがかかり、いつものように「板前募集」の張り紙を見てフラっと定食屋に入る。 　とりあえず賄い（まかない）として出された何のへんてつもない素朴な料理をなにげなく食べるが、今までに味わったことのない究極のおふくろの味にショックを受ける。 　自分の力の無さを思い知り店を出ようとするが、一目見て我が娘と気づいた定食屋のおかみに引き止められ、その店で一から修行し直すことになる。 　実の母とは知らずに、毎日楽しく愛に満あふれた日々を過ごす。（この間に姉とは知らずに、死んだ姉の話も聞く） 　ある日、川背一人で買い出しに出かけた市場で何気なく聞いた話から、定食屋のおかみが自分の母であることを知る。 　味のために死んだ父や、無免許でふぐを捌いて死んだ姉を思い、自分の進むべき道を見失っていたことに気付く。 　置き手紙をして店を出ようとする川背に、全てを悟った母が「最初で最後の母の味」と、自ら握ったおにぎりを差し出すが「自分の進むべき道は厳しさの道」と、受け取らずに心で泣きながら出ていく。 　味の道の奥深さを学んだ川背であった。 　・・・以上、ゲームに登場するのは、この後約半年ほどたって母との別れも思い出に変わった頃の川背です。 　ちなみに、川背以外の３人はゲームには何の関係もありません。 　尚、この資料は、開発段階でのキャラクターイメージを決定づけるために作成されたものであり、部外者には一切公開しません。（設定が強烈すぎるから） 海腹川背キャラクターイメージ設定 　川背が料理を作るのは、自分が生きていく上で当たり前のことと考えていて、息をするのと同じ感覚でとらえている。したがって、好きでも嫌いでもないし、楽しくもつらくもない。（究極の味を模索するのがつらいときはある） 　川背は、常に味の道を模索しているのだが、これも何か目的があるわけではなく、川背が生きていく上でやらずにはいられないことである。ただし、ムキになって追求するのではなく、日常生活の当たり前ととらえているので、そんなに固執しているようには見えない。 　川背は普段、場末の定食屋や小料理屋で（主に住み込みで）板前として働いている。住み込みなら安いアパート（寮？）に寝泊まりしたりするが、場所がなければ閉店後の店内に寝袋で止まったりも平気である。 　たまに、（味の道を模索する上で何か気になって）ふと思い立ったりすると、素材を求めて山へ入ったりもする。その際、山にテントを張って何日かこもったりすることもある。また、漁師の船に乗せてもらって沖へ出たりすることもある。 　川背は中学のときに親を亡くし、料理屋の夫婦の世話で中学を出、（←裏設定資料参照）その後もいろいろな人の世話になって生きてきたので、非常に義理を重んじる。しかし、人間は所詮一人で生きていくものとも考えている。 　川背は、ずっと大人の中で育ったので、わりと冷めた感覚で生きているが、場末の定食屋で働く１９才の女の子といえば、当然客なんかからもチヤホヤされることも多く、照れくさいので嫌なんだけど、そんなに悪い気もしてなかったりする。わりと口ベタなのだが（大人の中で育ったせいもあって）笑顔はなかなか評判である。（めんどくさいので笑ってごまかす技を身につけている） 　川背が真剣に作った料理であればあるほど、出来上がりは生に近い状態になる。プロの技を追求すると、自然の素材の持つ素晴らしさを無視できなくなるからである。しかしこれは、川背が本気で作る場合のみで、普段はそつない普段着感覚の料理（←なんだよそりゃ）を作ることが多い。 　川背が普段客に出す「川背ちゃんオリジナルメニュー」（←客のおやじがこう呼んだりする）は、普段自分が食べるために作っている簡単な料理であることが多く、「鯉のぶつ切り味噌煮込み」とか、「白身魚の野菜スープ蒸し」だったりとかするが、柚の皮で香りづけをしたり、仕上に天塩を使ったりなど、ポイントポイントは押さえている。（←このさりげなさが、普段の川背料理の特徴である） 　ゲームの舞台は川背の深層心理で、ゲーム中のビジュアルは深層心理を映像化したものであり、いわば川背の（夜見る）夢のようなものである。 　川背の心には、常に、満足に得られなかった親からの愛を求めて、すきま風が吹いているので、ずいぶんと殺風景な心象風景となっている。 　川背の生活に、当たり前のようにのしかかる「味の道の模索」は、そのまま、魚との格闘という形で現れている。しかし、本来は自分自身との戦いであって、これは「海腹川背」のゲーム性が、まさに自分との戦いであることに通じる。（←本当か？） ※料理の例に関しては完全にデタラメです。気にしないでください。 　このへんの設定は感触としてはわりと不評だったのですが、個人的には、特に裏設定は書いといたのも、公表しなかったのも正解だったかなあ、とか思います。 　キャラクターイメージ設定は、「旬」の開発中に「幻のオープニングアニメ」や、「謎のイメージソング」を作る時に、「現実の川背の日常生活」の資料として、社外のスタッフ向けに書いたものです。	„
	~ Original Text in the Umihara Kawase Setting Materials Blog from １９９２－０９－２１

Essentially this explains that Umihara became a traveling chef as it was a dream of her father's and she had a sister she lost along with her own father being dead. The validity of this backstory comes to question as this is a blog site that is allegedly run by a friend of Sakai's, which is a common false attribute. Another thing, is the blog claims to be written in 1992, however blog websites didn't come around until 1994. The blog also makes claims that this backstory was used to make the cutscenes in Umihara Kawase Shun, the issue with this is that nothing in the cutscenes really meet what this backstory is showing, the cutscenes just show that Kawase has a love for fishing, and traveling around. There are also even some minor contradictions to the backstory. The backstory claims that Kawase has a taste that makes it where she can only eat well-made food, or homemade food, yet she is shown eating common food like instant noodles, there's also no real implication of her dedication to being a chef like in the backstory in these cutscenes, thus the claim that this backstory was used to make the cutscenes has many issues. There are also arguments that the blog backstory is legitimate as it was the basis for Fresh's backstory, though this has some major problems. While visually they may look similar, they have no actual similarities other then Umihara being a traveling chef, which is a backstory already noted in Saoynara Umihara Kawase's Q&A. Umihara's sister is alive and she knew her and lived with her, which completely contradicts the backstory in the blog. While one could argue it borrowed elements from the backstory, the only notable element one could gather is her traveling the world, a backstory already in Sayonara, visually shown in the cutscenes of Shun and exists in the manga. Thus the argument of Fresh's story was made from the backstory has no real strong reasoning to it.

Though even assuming the backstory is true, it has long since been retconned by later material. One of the major points in the backstory notes how Kawase's parents were separated and she never knew her mother as she was 1 years old when they separated, so her and her father traveled around the country. However in Sayonara Umihara Kawase, it is just noted that young Kawase moved many times as a child where she has no memories of playing with friends her age. While one could argue that this is merely just basing itself off the backstory, wandering the country wouldn't imply moving, it would imply there's a set place one lives as they're traveling around. Another thing to note is that they note that Kawase's older sister died to poisoning, however in Umihara Kawase Fresh Kawase's big sister isn't dead, instead being spirited away to a different world, Kawase's backstory also notes that she and her big sister used to play video games together, which directly contradicts the backstory given in the blog where she never knew her big sister and didn't even know she had one.

The Umihara Kawase manga borrows nothing from this backstory and instead creates it's own story of Umihara Kawase somehow having the ability to breathe underwater and is trying to find her missing father who was kidnapped by an organization. Some argue it has absolutely no connection to the games, though the issue is that the games had next to no story other then Kawase being a traveling chef, thus there's really nothing to connect it to. The manga is of course a secondary canon as later games like Fresh don't directly follow it, only following Umihara being someone that travels the world. Though interestingly, no matter the Umihara Kawase game with water, Kawase can stay underwater for an indefinite amount of time without any repercussions as long as she has her hook connected to an object, which is likely where the idea of her being able to breathe underwater comes from.

Overall Umihara Kawase's continuity mainly circles around Kawase being a traveling chef in search of the ultimate ingredient, and due to the dubious nature of the backstory from a blog (and even if it is real it has long since been heavily retconned), it will not be used on the profile for any of the indexing. Some aspects of the manga can be used as it's an official piece of material that serves as a secondary canon.

Gallery

Game ArtworkSketchesCharacter DesignObjects & Animations

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  Umihara Kawase's front box art

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  Umihara Kawase back box art

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  Umihara Kawase (Super Famicon) Converyor Belts

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  Umihara Kawase (Super Famicon) Field 0

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  Umihara Kawase (Super Famicon) Field 1

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  Umihara Kawase (Super Famicon) Field 2

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  Blade Strangers Kawase Colors

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  Umihara Kawase Fresh English Switch box art

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  Umihara Kawase Fresh Japanese Switch box art

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  Umihara Kawase Fresh PS4 Japanese box art

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  Umihara Kawase Fresh PS4 English box art

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Misconceptions

The entirety of Umihara Kawase takes place in Umihara's mind

This comes from a statement from Kondo noting that "Its implied in this game that the world is that of Umihara’s psychological landscape, so its like the fish are trying to stop her on this journey.", however this is misreading the sentence. The sentence is in actuality noting as Umihara's goal is to be a traveling chef, "Umihara Kawase is a traveling chef, so she’s on a journey to find the ultimate ingredients." the world represents that psychological landscape, hence the fish symbolize it.

In Sayonara Umihara Kawase, Umihara is shown having different endings, in all endings, she is shown walking in a dark forest after leaving the door, while this is interpretative, it heavily implies is that the dream world is a literal alternative universe rahter then being a literal dream. It also shows no support for it all being a dream, as it wouldn't make much sense for her to be in a forest after the end.

This also doesn't explain the existence of Noko Yokoyama, a time traveling police woman that's Kawase's descendant from the future, she doesn't represent or reflect anything about Umihara wanting to be a chef. Even in Blade Strangers which alludes to the fan interpretation dream theory, she recognizes Umihara as her ancestor.

In Umihara Kawase Fresh!, the story never really implies or showcases this is all in Umihara's head. She notes about dreaming about a town repeatedly, and later actually ends up in the town she finds in her dreams. She's also directly showcased to get hungry and can die from starving, a weird attribute if it's all a dream in her head. The ending also reveals she was spirited away to another world, rather then it being a dream world, based off a video game she and her sister used to play.

Works like the manga showcase that nothing about her dreaming is really applied.

In media like Blade Strangers she is summoned from her world, acknowledging the characters from the games, even when they acknowledge the dream world and for her to "return to the real world" she still retains all of her abilities and techniques, making it likely that the pscyhological world is an alternate world rather then a true literal dream, even after she wins against Lina she notes it's time to find another door to open. This is also shown that when they were trying to summon Umihara Kawase, they instead summoned a manifestation of her pain with her Summer Kawase self, which in reality turned out to be an image of everyone's idea of her. Though obviously Blade Strangers is a crossover fighting game that sometime uses popular fan interpretations over canon.

Overall, the idea that the events are in her head don't seem to be supported by the game, and instead more supernatural elements exist.

Battle Records

14 - 0 - 0

VictoriesLossesInconclusive

Umihara Kawase (SNES)Umihara Kawase FreshUmihara Kawase BaZooKa!Umihara Kawase Manga

• Giant Tadpole - Fight
  • Conditions: Umihara needed to dodge around the giant boss until it eventually left.
  • Location: Field 8

• Fish Formation - Fight
  • Conditions: The fight was an enemy gauntlet.
  • Location: Field 25

• Giant Seahorse - Fight
  • Conditions: Umihara needed to dodge around the giant boss until she could find the exit.
  • Location: Field 36

• Giant Tadpole - Fight
  • Conditions: Match was a rematch. Umihara needed to dodge around the giant boss until it eventually left.
  • Location: Field 40

• Fish Formation - Fight
  • Conditions: Match was a rematch. The fight was an enemy gauntlet.
  • Location: Field 49

• Giant Crab - Fight
  • Conditions: Umihara needed to dodge around the giant boss until it destroyed the wall blocking the exit.
  • Location: Field 56

• Giga Tadpole - Fight
  • Conditions: None.
  • Location: Fields of Kingness

• Big Pig - Fight
  • Conditions: None.
  • Location: Kingness Castle

• Crabpose - Fight
  • Conditions: None.
  • Location: Forest of Kingness

• Harami - Fight
  • Conditions: None.
  • Location: Deep Caverns

• Big Tadpole - Fight
  • Conditions: None.
  • Location: World 1 - Boss

• Big Pig - Fight
  • Conditions: None.
  • Location: World 2 - Boss

• Crabpose - Fight
  • Conditions: None.
  • Location: World 3 - Boss

• Giant Slime Monster - Fight
  • Conditions: Umihara had help from Shioji and his cousin.
  • Location: Shioji's dad house

None.

None.