Kaedehara Kazuha
Wandering samurai from Inazuma, added in version 1.6.
Kaedehara Kazuha is a playable character from the 2020 action role-playing gacha game Genshin Impact, developed by miHoYo. He was added in a 2021 update and became available in version 1.6. The character is a wandering samurai from the fictional nation of Inazuma. His design is influenced by the samurai code of bushido, including ideals like honor and loyalty, as well as by Man'yōshū poetry and traditional Japanese warrior imagery.
In the game's lore, Kazuha belongs to the Kaedehara clan, a once-prestigious family of swordsmiths who practice the "Isshin Art." The clan had already declined by his childhood, and after his parents died, Kazuha became a wandering samurai. His concept draws from bushido values such as honor (Japanese: 名, Hepburn: mei) and loyalty (忠, chū), mixed with Chinese wuxia notions of chivalry. His combat voice lines are inspired by verses from the Man'yōshū poetry anthology. In Japanese, his speech uses the humble first-person pronoun sessha (拙者; "this unworthy one") and the archaic verb gozaru (ござる) at sentence endings.
Kazuha is voiced in Japanese by Nobunaga Shimazaki, who described the character as outwardly cool, refined, mysterious, and elegant, but also curious, humorous, and slightly mischievous upon closer acquaintance. Shimazaki initially focused on Kazuha's mystique and composure, later bringing out his youthful and playful side. He noted Kazuha has both philosophical calmness and relatable warmth, and aimed to express this multifaceted personality through his acting. The English voice actor is Mark Whitten, the Chinese voice actor is Banma, and the Korean voice actor is Kim Shin-woo.
The Kaedehara clan practices the "Isshin Art," one of the five great swordsmithing arts known as the Raiden Gokaden, which were directly overseen by the Shogunate and the Raiden Shogun herself. Centuries before the game's events, the Raiden Gokaden were nearly destroyed by a blacksmith named Kunikuzushi. By Kazuha's time, the Isshin Art had become effectively extinct, and the other four arts—Amenoma, Aoi, Akame, and Saimon—were also lost or destroyed, leaving no surviving schools of the Raiden Gokaden. After losing his parents and his family's fortune, Kazuha left his ancestral home and began wandering Teyvat. During his travels, he received a Vision, marking him as chosen by the gods.
- Field
- Gaming (Action Role-Playing)
- Nationality
- Inazuma (fictional)
- Known for
- Wandering samurai, Anemo sword user, key figure in Inazuma storyline
Lore & Background
In the game's lore, Kazuha hails from the Kaedehara clan, a once-prestigious swordsmithing family who practices the 'Isshin Art'. His clan had already fallen into decline by the time he was a child, and after his parents' deaths Kazuha became a wandering samurai. The Kaedehara clan are practitioners of the 'Isshin Art', one of the five great swordsmithing arts collectively known as the Raiden Gokaden and directly overseen by the Shogunate and the Raiden Shogun herself. Centuries prior to the game's events, the Raiden Gokaden were nearly wiped out when they became the targets of a blacksmith called Kunikuzushi. By Kazuha's time, the Isshin Art had become effectively extinct, and the other four arts—Amenoma, Aoi, Akame, and Saimon—were also lost or destroyed, meaning none of the Raiden Gokaden remained as active traditions.
Reader's Guide
Kaedehara Kazuha is a 5-star Anemo sword user. His Elemental Skill pulls in nearby enemies and objects, using wind currents to launch himself upward before performing a powerful plunging attack from midair. His Elemental Burst creates a swirling field of Anemo-infused slashes; when this field comes into contact with Hydro, Pyro, Cryo or Electro elements, it absorbs that element to deal additional corresponding damage to enemies. This ability also provides various supportive buffs to the team, enhancing their elemental damage output in battle. Kazuha was generally well received. Players expressed appreciation for Kazuha through fan art, roleplay and cosplay. His portrayal in the story and his combat gameplay both received praise from critics. Lin Zhuoheng of Hong Kong news website HK01 said he was one of the most popular male characters in the game, and called Kazuha's character design truly exceptional due to his warm personality.
Did You Know?
- Kazuha was originally named Kiryuu Kazuha in early development, but it was reportedly changed to avoid association with Hololive idol Kiryu Coco.
- His combat voice lines were inspired by verses from Japan's classical poetry anthology Man'yōshū.
- Kazuha is voiced in Japanese by Nobunaga Shimazaki, in English by Mark Whitten, in Chinese by Banma, and in Korean by Kim Shin-woo.
- In September 2022, miHoYo collaborated with Cadillac to release a special itasha edition of the Cadillac CT4 featuring a design based on Kazuha.
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