Ochaco Uraraka

Lore & Background

Ochaco Uraraka is a student at U.A. High School for Heroes in Class 1-A. Her quirk, Zero Gravity, allows her to nullify the effects of gravity and make any object weightless. Overuse of her quirk causes her to suffer from nausea. She starts off being able to remove gravity from anything up to three tonnes in weight. Closing her fingers together cancels her quirk's effects. Born into a poor household, she aspires to become a hero to financially support her parents. She is depicted as a sincere, kind, bright, and determined student who endeavours to help her parents after having lived a difficult life. One time, she wanted to use her quirk to help her parents with their construction business, but they told her to pursue her own path. She is described as having lived a difficult life, but she plans to help her parents live more comfortable lives. Ochaco, being the first friend of the protagonist Izuku Midoriya, understands him well, trusts him, and shares behaviours with him. She thinks about him and plans to enter an intimate relationship; so she becomes increasingly interested in him. Horikoshi revealed in chapter 394 that Ochaco loves Izuku.

In Their Own Story

Ochaco first appears in "Entrance Exam", the third chapter of the manga, when going to take an entrance examination with Izuku Midoriya and other students of Class 1-A. She notices Izuku and is friendly towards him. During the examination, when Izuku was falling, Ochaco touches him to save him from death. This shows her quirk, Zero Gravity, allows her to remove gravity from objects by touching these objects. She explains to Izuku and Tenya Ida that she wants to earn money to support her poor parents. Then, she fights Katsuki in the UA Sports Festival. Later, she trains under Gunhead, a professional hero, to strengthen herself, learn martial arts, and combine physical combat with her quirk. She fights alongside Yuga Aoyama against Thirteen in the final examination and wins because of her ability to think and internalise what she learnt from her internship. Some time after, she works with fellow student Tsuyu Asui, professional hero Ryukyu, and professional hero Sea Rescue Hero Selkie to stop drug smugglers flying an aeroplane. Using her powers and tools, she enters the aeroplane and knocks the pilot out. Realising the drug could contaminate the ocean if the aeroplane crashes, she negates the aeroplane's weight and lands it with help from Ryukyu and fellow intern Nejire Hado. Because of the antagonist All For One's actions in causing society to struggle and Tomura Shigaraki looking for Izuku, civilians try to stay away from Izuku and not support him. Ochaco convinces them UA High School needs Izuku, and if he does not return, everyone will die. Throughout My Hero Academia, Ochaco and antagonist Himiko Toga fight each other, but Ochaco ultimately wins and gets Himiko to change her ways. During her final fight with Himiko Toga, Ochaco awakens her quirk, but only after talking to Himiko Toga to attempt to understand her and getting stabbed by her. After awakening, Ochaco does not need to touch anyone or anything to cause them to float.

Reader's Guide

Ochaco Uraraka is a central protagonist in the series. Her arc begins with a focus on financial stability but matures into a profound understanding of what it means to be a hero. She attends U.A. High School as part of Class 1-A. Her primary ability, Zero Gravity, allows her to touch objects and render them weightless. To prevent accidental activations during daily interaction, her hero costume features specialized gloves that insulate her touch until she chooses to engage the Quirk. Overexerting herself by exceeding the three tonne weight limit will cause her nausea. Closing her fingers together cancels her quirk's effects. After awakening her quirk during her final fight with Himiko Toga, Ochaco does not need to touch anyone or anything to cause them to float.

Did You Know?

• Horikoshi originally planned to have a character who could change her size, Yu Takeyama or Mount Lady, to fill the role that became Ochaco's.
• An editor noted in the English translation of the first volume of My Hero Academia that Ochaco's name means 'Tea-Girl Pretty-Day' and conveys beauty.
• Ochaco is voiced by Ayane Sakura in Japanese and Luci Christian in English.
• Horikoshi revealed in chapter 394 that Ochaco loves Izuku.
• During her final fight with Himiko Toga, Ochaco awakens her quirk so she does not need to touch anyone or anything to cause them to float.