It’s officially fall, and the autumn leaves are beginning to change. What better way to celebrate the season than with Haruhime Sanjouno wearing a beautiful, nontraditional miko outfit? The autumn leaves surrounding her blend beautifully with the patterns on her hakama. It’s a nice change of pace from the maid outfit she began wearing after joining the Hestia Familia and the traditional kimono she wore as a member of the Ishtar Familia.
Haruhime has had a difficult life, to say the least. She was sold to the Ishtar Familia to be forced into prostitution. Thankfully, Aisha Belka, an executive member of the Familia, helped protect Haruhime from sexual exploitation during her time there. After the Ishtar Familia fell, Haruhime joined the Hestia Familia, where she became both a maid and a powerful magic user.
The image above comes from the game DanMachi ~Memoria Freese~. This version of Haruhime was released as part of the Hero Festival Gacha in February 2024. Unfortunately, the game’s international services ended on February 28, 2024. The Japanese version continued operating, however, so dedicated fans outside Japan have still had ways to experience the game.
As for me, I’ll stick with the anime. DanMachi might look like a playful, fan-service-filled romp at first, but it can explore some surprisingly dark themes. Haruhime’s story is a good example of that. If you can endure the occasional bath scene, give DanMachi a shot this fall!
So what do you think?