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CHARACTER INFORMATION:
This page tackles the known information on the characters in the Aquarian Age: Sign For Evolution TV series. Information on this page is still incomplete, and will be updated regularly as information becomes available. Names are given in western format for ease of viewing. Some character names lack a family name--this is because more research is needed to look them up. Also, only the major recurring characters are featured here. Kyouta's parents and the two or three unnamed Darklore members are not mentioned.
WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS.
UPDATED: 7:00 AM 03/05/2004 HK Time

MINDBREAKERS

Kyouta Kamikurata

A high-school student and vocalist of the three-man band T.L. Signal, Kamikurata Kyouta seems to be a typical teenager with dreams of going professional in the music industry. However, he is unaware of the true abilities he possesses. Only when the people he cares about most are threatened does he slowly realize what he is capable of.

Kyouta is a gentle and occasionally naive person for his age, which may be the reason he believes in his music so strongly. When told that he must exercise control over a person to bring out her true abilities, he refuses, not wanting to force his will on other people. This is both a good and bad trait, as it also makes him rather weak of will and initiative at the outset of the series. Thus, it tends to be easy for more forceful personalities to get the better of him. However for a Mindbreaker, even a newly-awakened one, he is one of the better people out there. He cares for Yoriko a lot, and while he denies it, it's obvious how much he loves her. When he loses her for the first time, this puts him in a fit of melancholy that later affects his enthusiasm for the band.

His focus is through his music. Although he doesn't quite understand it yet, his singing can charm and influence others. A bit too strongly; he still doesn't understand what it is about his voice that drives girls crazy.


Keijii Abuto

A talent manager by profession, Abuto is a slick, almost sleazy operator who does not hesitate to use his good looks, influence, and powers to get what he wants. He takes potential young girls into his fold, makes use of their talents, and when he's done with them, he simply disposes of them. And that's just his day job, boys and girls. As a Mindbreaker, he's even worse.

Abuto is a typical Mindbreaker, in the sense that it's not a good thing. He is outwardly charming at first, but is prone to petulance and is quick to anger. He regards the people under his control as property, and doesn't really care much about their safety. Abuto mainly controls Kanae for his purposes, but seeks to gain as much influence and power over as many other factions as he possibly can. When faced with a relatively powerful opponent such as Misato, he instantly breaks out in a cold sweat. Abuto is power-hungry to the extent of lacking foresight, and in the series ends up opening a literal Pandora's Box.

Abuto uses technology to control his charges. In the case of Kanae, it's a control collar strapped around her neck that tightens and electrocutes when Abuto would give the command. He obviously doesn't give a whit about how those under his control feel. And to think, he's just a low-level Mindbreaker. He also uses his technology to form a Kekkai around battles.


ARAYASHIKI
Yoriko Sannou (Benzaiten)

Kyouta's childhood girlfriend, and leader-to-be of this cell of the Arayashiki. Like all of her faction (and others involved in the battle for the Aquarian Age), she keeps her true destiny secret. Yoriko is the fabled Benzaiten, Shinto Buddhist goddess of the arts, and from all indications the chosen one the Arayashiki have been waiting for.

Yoriko is a fairly likable character, sweet without being overly so (unlike your typical saccharine anime heroines). But there's actually a duality that suggests more depth in her personality, which becomes more prevalent later on in the series. A year ahead of Kyouta, she is in her College years (says a lot about Kyouta's study habits, doesn't it?), and really wishes to be just an ordinary girl. The responsibility of being the Benzaiten gives her a lot of angst, which is worsened by not being able to tell Kyouta her secret and the feeling that she is going to lose him eventually. This sets the stage for a shocking change in her through the course of the series. She has two nicknames; Kyouta and the band call her "Yokko", while Rumiko calls her "Yori-Chan" (or "Yoriko-Oneechan").

From the short observations seen so far, Yoriko as the Benzaiten possesses the ability to generate a sword and shield, and from the OP animation may also be able to generate mystical arrows like Rumiko. It remains to be seen if she has further abilities.


Rumiko Sakamoto (Head Priestess)

Younger cousin of Yoriko, but surprisingly mature for her age. While Yoriko attempts to lead a normal life with Kyouta and her friends, Rumiko is acting leader of their branch of the Arayashiki, basically a leader-elect until the true leader, the Benzaiten, fully awakens.

For a little girl only 10-12 years old, Rumiko is incredibly mature and responsible for her age, possibly even more mature than Yoriko as she is tasked to lead and govern the Arayashiki. The way she carries herself in the clan commands respect, even though some members treat her lightly because of her age. On the other hand, Rumiko is still a child despite these heavy responsibilities. She still cares for her cousin more than the needs of Arayashiki.

Rumiko's abilities are a bit mysterious and difficult to describe. What's been seen so far is that she can project a small shield of red energy, or a binding red cord--red seems to be the constant theme of the Arayashiki. Another is the ability to call forth a mystical set of bow and arrows (FYI, the arrows are known as 'Watakushi', a kind of two-pronged 'flesh-tearing' arrows used in feudal Japan). Arayashiki gestures and actions are very arcane, but unlike the cold spell-casting of WIZ-DOM, the chanting and concentrated focus of abilities used (in Rumiko's and the other Arayashiki's case), there's a lot of emotion and force of will ("Kokoro", in Japanese) exercised.


WIZ-DOM
Lemon Yamamoto (Magical Girl)

A young WIZ-DOM member, Lemon is fairly gung-ho about her duties, and seems to enjoy causing mischief whenever she gets the slightest chance. She is quite eager to do her tasks, and delights in causing others harm.

Don't let the cute innocent face and childish expressions fool you. Lemon's a demon with her powers, and she's just an apprentice. Dangerous, she is far less subtle than her partner, Yui. As seen in the first two episodes, she does most of the actual leg work, while her true master stays hidden in the shadows. One only wonders what kind of capabilities she will have eventually; for that the manga series should be investigated.

Lemon's magical abilities in the TV series seems to lean toward water and ice-related magic. Slippery puddles, ice darts, and the like are what have been observed with her so far. She uses a wand for focus in both the TV series and the manga, and being magic-based her application of ice attacks is quite different (and admittedly less spectacular) from E.G.O. girl Asumi's use of ice attacks.

Lemon also features heavily in the Aquarian Age manga "Memory of Wings" and "Geneaology of a Star", and although she's pretty much the same character, she doesn't seem nearly as sinister in the manga as she is in the TV series...But she's definitely as mischievous, if slightly oddball (Nothing like seeing Yen signs flashing in Lemon's eyes to make you take her a bit less seriously as a threat). Viewers of the TV series will automatically equate her as an 'evil' character, which may be unfair given her more detailed backstory as shown in the "Memory of Wings" manga series.


. . .
Yui Konnou (Librarian Witch)

Yui is Lemon's partner. She isn't specifically named in the TV series, but her name turns up in the TV series ending credits and Manga. She works as a librarian in a local school, and though they are technically partners, it's clear that Yui has more experience. She prefers to work behind the scenes while Lemon does the actual leg work.

Little is known of Lemon's partner; even in the TV series, her motives seem quite unclear. What is known, however, is that she is a very powerful wizard, to have been able to take control not only of Asumi, but of a great number of other people as well, all at the same time. She seeks power, and her original goal in going after Kyouta was to gain control of his Mindbreaker abilities somehow.

Yui also features in the Aquarian Age manga, but only turns up in "Geneaology of a Star". Her 'normal' character design as the Librarian appears differently from her TV appearance, but her 'awakened' form is the same.

DARKLORE
Kanae Morino (Werecat)

A pop idol and teen star, Kanae is quite forward and aggressive--signs of her nature as a Darklore member. She's quite direct to the point about her wanting Kyouta, and couldn't care less about how others think of her actions. On the other hand, she is completely subservient to Abuto's commands and actions, despite (or because of?) the abuse he heaps on her.

Kanae is under Abuto's charge, and from the way he treats her, you sometimes wonder why she even comes pining back to him after it all. This even after she breaks from his control. But then again, we can't even begin to fathom the power Mindbreakers have over their charges.

Kanae is a Werecat, transforming into a wild beast-woman for combat. Her abilities are mostly feral physical attacks, such as claws and incredible agility. But she has energy projectiles available to her arsenal as well. On that note, however, it seems that her strengths are mostly in close combat rather than ranged energy projectiles like most others.


Sarasvati (Beast-Goddess)

Sarasvati is the Hindu goddess of the arts, and the Darklore counterpart to the Arayashiki's Benzaiten. Further information regarding this is restricted until further notice.


E.G.O.
Asumi Hougetsu (Cryokinetic)

Asumi is a longtime classmate of Kyouta and a generally quiet, cool-speaking girl. Due to her best friend Kiriko's requests and the subtle machinations of WIZ-DOM, she comes to grow close to Kyouta, despite her initial disinterest. She later joins Cosmopop and becomes his constant companion while Yoriko has gone.

The first impression one gets of Asumi is "Ice Maiden" (in this case, literally). She is quite deadpan over best friend Kiriko's obsession with Kyouta, and initially has no interest in him until he saves her by awakening her powers. From which point, she can't stay away. This unfortunately causes her friendship with Kiriko to suffer, especially when she coldly tells her to give up on him in a later episode. On the flip side, she's unusually bubbly around Kyouta and the band members. It's hard to tell which is the act and which is her true personality when comparing the two.

Asumi is a Cryokinetic, or one who has the psionic ability to freeze water (or even the water vapor in the air) for use as an attack. Although it isn't shown, a Cryokinetic is also capable of causing heat subtraction in objects, freezing them from inside out.


Kiriko Heguri (Pyrokinetic)

Kiriko is Asumi's best friend, and she refers to the latter as sempai occasionally due to Asumi being her senior. A longtime fan of Kyouta's music, but far too nervous and shy to face him directly at the outset. After things sour between the two longtime friends, she tries to enter a talent agency in the hopes of meeting Kyouta again. She later on is received by Abuto as an office assistant, then later as a model in the agency he works for.

Kiriko is Asumi's polar opposite. Where Asumi is cool, Kiriko is excitable. She has also liked Kyouta for a long time (the phrase 'Day One' comes to mind), but never quite got the courage to meet him face-to-face. When Asumi finally draws close to Kyouta, Kiriko's frustration causes her to join the Cosmopop agency in hopes of meeting him again...

Kiriko was awakened far earlier than Asumi. Though it's not clearly seen nor stated, Kiriko is a Pyrokinetic, with the psionic ability to attack using heat and fire. In some cases, there's no visible flame, just a very powerful expulsion of heat (such as the 'melting umbrella' scene in one episode)


ERASER
Misato Yukimura (Eraser)

Working at Cosmopop as Talent Manager and boss, it's Misato who gives Kyouta and his band their first break in show business. A true career woman, she's able to be both softspoken and understanding or sharp and direct, as the need exists for it. All of this with a cool poker face. In reality, she is a member of the Eraser faction, and like all Erasers, no one knows her true motives.

Misato's objectives are shrouded in mystery. It's clear from the way she tells Yoriko off, or the way she protects Kyouta later in the series, that she's interested in his power. But the how or why is beyond us at this point. It's rather typical of the Eraser faction to work subtly and cryptic ways. She and Ryuusei seem to be co-conspirators in an unknown plot involving T.L. Signal.

What little has been seen of Misato as an Eraser barely hints at their powers. She has demonstrated so far the ability to create a barrier field, and even enhance it with some sort of energy spikes as defense. Even in her human guise, she easily counteracts WIZ-DOM attacks, neutralizing them. Unlike the others, this Eraser does not engage in active hand-to-hand or movement during combat; Misato simply hovers, the movement of her wings the only sign of action she takes when using her abilities.


Ryuusei (Eraser?)

The mysterious pop singer Ryuusei is, initially, one of Kyouta's idols. After an unpleasant first personal meeting between the two, they become unspoken rivals in a way. Unknown to Kyouta, Ryuusei and Misato seem to be co-conspirators in a plan that puts Kyouta and T.L. Signal on the center stage.

There's been some debate whether or not Ryuusei is another Mindbreaker or not. However, for purposes of this file he is classified under the Eraser faction. No powers are observed from him, unless you count his singing. He seems to be one of those privy to Misato's (Eraser's?) secret plans. These are evidenced by the cryptic messages he exchanges with Misato, especially toward the end of the series.

Others:

Jyun and Shingo Kyouta's bandmates in T.L. Signal. The bespectacled Jyunichi Kojima is his keyboardist and straight man, while the long-haired and shaggy Shingo Hiruta is his guitarist. Both are good friends with Yoriko, but being normal human beings cannot see, much less fathom, the kind of mess she and Kyouta have gotten into. Both Shingo and Jyun aim to be pro musicians as much as Kyouta, but being normal, ordinary people, they sometimes fail to understand the reason for his melancholy moods. Their existence is a strong foil for the TV series as they reflect the rest of the world's blindness to the Aquarian Age.

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