A quick overview of the characters so far in SANDA Vol. 1 by Paru Itagaki. Even the most off-to-the-side character can be weird and menacing without even trying in this case, which makes this a good fireside read just in time for the holidays.
Warning: Death, violence and spoilers!
Kazushige “Kazzy” Sanda and Santa Claus
Kazushige “Kazzy” Sanda
- Age: 14-years-old
- Height: 5’2”
- Student of Daikoku Welfare Academy
Literally the runt of the school, Sanda isn’t the most popular student in the academy. Still, his kindness is very prominent among his classmates, so he’s really quite average until he mistakes Fuyumura’s sudden need to kill him as a sign of a high school crush. Turns out, Fuyu is aware of Sanda’s family curse and is only attempting to lift it to unleash the powers of Santa. After Santa’s powers (and the attempted murder) had been summoned, Sanda swore to Fuyumura that he would help her find Ono so long as she kept his family curse a secret.
Santa Claus
- Age: Unknown
- Height: Between 7’10” and 8’4”
- Ancient and powerful spirit of gift-giving
Even though times have changed and children aren’t as ‘adorable’ as they used to be, he is still willing to protect them from corrupt adults like Oshibu. The real Santa had passed long ago, only his physical body exists now through Sanda.
Shiori “Fuyu” Fuyumura
Shiori “Fuyu” Fuyumura
- Age: 14-years-old
- Height: 5’9″
- Student of Daikoku Welfare Academy
A scary loner, tall and pretty. She mostly kept to herself at the academy until she was befriended by her classmate, Ono. The more they hung out together, the closer they had bonded, and the more Fuyu learned about the legend of Santa Claus from Ono. When Ono disappeared, Fuyu became lost without her, until signs of the Santa legend began to manifest in Sanda. After enlisting Sanda/Santa in her search, Fuyu will stop at nothing to find her friend. Now, even fall for Amaya’s sob story about his parents’ bakery.
Hitoshi “Pretty Boy” Amaya
Hitoshi “Pretty Boy” Amaya
- Age: 14-years-old
- Height: 5’5”
- Student of Daikoku Welfare Academy
Amaya gave off some rather Grinch-like vibes because of, again, sadistic tendencies. He doesn’t want to destroy Christmas because it’s just the cost of doing business. He wants to destroy it because he just enjoys wanton destruction. However, when Santa saves him from the basement treatment, he literally has a change of heart, transforming from the Grinch to wanting to save his parents’ bakery by helping Santa and Fuyu from now on. Amaya could’ve just ratted them out immediately; instead, he planned the whole kidnapping scenario out, which means he’s patient, which means that even though his plans were thwarted, he was saved, and was recruited by Sanda and Fuyu, he could potentially be a problem again later.
Hifumi Oshibu
Hifumi Oshibu
- Age: 92 years old
- Height: Unknown
- Principal of the Daikoku Welfare Academy
Safeguarding the children had become an all-out obsession for him, turning a school into a veritable prison. He enforces the “Trauma-Free Curriculum” so heavily that the students aren’t even allowed to voice their own opinions of him or the school without being deemed ‘traumatized’ by and sent to ‘the basement’. We still haven’t figured out what the basement is for yet. We just hope it has nothing to do with maintaining his youthful good looks.
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