Kaguya Shinomiya is the main female protagonist and the title character of Aka Akasaka's manga and anime series Kaguya-sama: Love is War. In the story, she is the vice president of Shuchiin Academy's student council and a family member of the highly influential Shinomiya conglomerate. Kaguya secretly harbors a crush on the council's president Miyuki Shirogane, but like him, pride gets in the way of confessing their feelings to each other. Thus, they play all sorts of games to make their opponent surrender and reveal their feelings, with varying results.
Kaguya exhibits a personality of a cold, calculating, and intelligent student with little regard for other people. Her signature catchphrase is "How cute", which is how Shirogane imagines what she would say if she ever finds about his weaknesses. However, Kaguya's sheltered upbringing has isolated her from some activities considered normal for most people, such as walking to school and seeing the fireworks.
First released in Winter 2019, the Kaguya-sama anime became a sensation in many anime communities around the world because of its humor and romance. The series quickly established a dynastic presence in some of the wiki's recognized major saimoe tournaments. Kaguya was hyped as the hottest prospects after she posted dominant wins in both the Winter seasonal contests and the overall "Best Girl of the Year" award in both ISML and r/anime. She immediately fulfilled this promise of success in 2020 by pulling off an unprecedented r/anime Best Girl win in her first year of eligibility, which made her the first-ever top seed and manga character to become champion in the tournament's history.
Icons
ISML record[]
| ISML Profile Flavor Text | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (written by Momento10)
As an exceptional general and a true practitioner of things romantic, Kaguya will do absolutely everything to make sure that the boy who she claims to have no interest in admits his romantic interests to her first. No tactic is out-of-bounds for her, who has all the wealth, knowledge, and connections needed for the sake of romantic victory. For someone who claims to be a love expert, Kaguya’s idea of love is childish and innocent. Her knowledge on romance does not go beyond first base, and her ideas of love are akin to fairy tales. Oftentimes, other people are required to teach her various terminologies in order for her to grasp the romantic conversations students have. Kaguya is just like any other high school girl, a hopeless romantic eager to understand what it is like to have a boyfriend. However, Kaguya will never admit that. Expressing her romantic interests to someone would mean admitting defeat, and her pride will never accept that. Call it a heart condition or an unnatural disease, but she will not say she is in love. No matter how many romantic battles she loses, as long as she wins the war, it will be worth it. And Kaguya will win this love war. | |||||||||||||||||||
Kaguya's massive popularity makes her a title candidate in the International Saimoe League, where she won 2 awards in 2019 - winter season and couples exhibition. She was the most successful contestant of ISML 2020's regular season, having posted a 34-1 record including wins against the much-hyped returning champion Mikoto Misaka and contest rival Mai Sakurajima. Her only loss came against Asuna during the 3rd group stage. However, Kaguya fell short in her rematch against Mikoto in the playoff semi-finals, and placed fourth overall after losing her second rematch against Mai-san in the consolations.
Being a powerhouse naturally makes Kaguya a regular necklace winner as well, and as a member of a strong voting faction she tends to win the gem round at the earlier periods - amethyst 3rd prd in 2020 and topaz 2nd prd in 2021.
In ISML 2021, Kaguya posted another 34-1 regular season record over three splits, only losing to Kurumi Tokisaki in Ruby 5 (split 3 round 10). Seeded at 3rd in the playoffs bracket, the vice-president encountered Ai Hayasaka yet again, before defeating her rival Mai to set up another semi-final against Misaka. However, their results against each other last year repeated itself: Kaguya beats Mikoto in the regular season, but the Railgun always beats her where it matters. Shinomiya finished 3rd overall after beating an in-form Mashiro Shiina in the consolations.
Kaguya will return in ISML 2022 as one of the top favourites as her anime's season 3 will air during that time, which will cover the climax of her "Ultra Romantic" relationship with Shirogane.
Main Tournament[]
Overall Record (as of ISML 2021 regular season)
| ISML Main Tournament Record | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season, playoffs, and 1v1 consolations only. Preliminaries, exhibitions, and any matches involving 3+ characters are NOT included. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Edition | Eliminated in | Final pos. | W | L | RS Record | ||||||||||||||
| ISML 2020 | Semi-finals | 4th | 36 | 3 | 34-1 | ||||||||||||||
| ISML 2021 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 37 | 2 | 34-1 | ||||||||||||||
| ISML 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ISML 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ISML 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total W-L-T: 73-5 | Postseason: 5-3 | RS Record: 68-2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Opponents played: 29 + 16 | |||||||||||||||||||
Match History:
| ISML 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Invite (Winter 2019 Winner) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Seedings R1 (Range): 44,363.4 - seed 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Stage | Rd | Opponent | Score | W-L? | |||||||||||||||
| Split 1 Group B 1st (5W 0L) |
Aqua 1 |  Holo
|
3691 - 895 | W | |||||||||||||||
| Aqua 2 |  Sora Kasugano
|
4007 - 1471 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Aqua 3 |  Ruiko Saten
|
3964 - 2863 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Aqua 4 |  Alice Zuberg
|
5227 - 1307 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Aqua 5 |  Kei Karuizawa
|
3638 - 1378 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Split 2 Group A 1st (15W 0L) |
Tpz 1 |  Ai Haibara
|
2604 - 1360 | W | |||||||||||||||
| Tpz 2 |  Miku Nakano
|
2818 - 1223 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Tpz 3 |  Jibril
|
3176 - 1544 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Tpz 4 |  Tohru
|
3342 - 1453 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Tpz 5 |  Ai Hayasaka
|
3586 - 2045 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 1 |  Utaha Kasumigaoka
|
3255 - 1579 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 2 |  Yui Yuigahama
|
2271 - 1492 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 3 |  Mei Misaki
|
4631 - 1027 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 4 |  Kaori Miyazono
|
3275 - 1556 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 5 |  Index
|
4857 - 1841 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 1 |  Mirai Kuriyama
|
5136 - 2240 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 2 |  Misaki Shokuhou
|
4243 - 2469 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 3 |  Haruhi Suzumiya
|
5171 - 2279 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 4 |  Madoka Kaname
|
5054 - 2501 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 5 |  Mashiro Shiina
|
3866 - 2939 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Split 3 Group A 1st (14W 1L) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Eme 1 |  Sagiri Izumi
|
5666 - 3789 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Eme 2 |  Shiro
|
3845 - 2305 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Eme 3 |  Schwi Dola
|
4611 - 2493 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Eme 4 | Ruiko Saten x2
|
4476 - 2743 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Eme 5 |  Mai Sakurajima
|
4347 - 3382 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 1 |  Iroha Isshiki
|
4584 - 3057 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 2 | Ai Hayasaka x2
|
3820 - 2789 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 3 |  Mio Akiyama
|
4212 - 3199 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 4 |  Chino Kafuu
|
4744 - 3039 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 5 |  Asuna Yuuki
|
3615 - 4190 | L | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 1 |  Kuroko Shirai
|
5063 - 2684 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 2 |  Rin Tohsaka
|
5121 - 2794 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 3 |  Kurisu Makise
|
4674 - 2555 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 4 |  Saber
|
5374 - 2819 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 5 |  Mikoto Misaka
|
4964 - 4583 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Playoffs Seed A1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ro16 | (B8) Misaki Shokuhou x2
|
6069 - 4012 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| QF | (A5) Ai Hayasaka x3
|
6177 - 4669 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| SF | (A3) Mikoto Misaka x2
|
7651 - 7995 | L | ||||||||||||||||
| PO 5 | Mai Sakurajima x2
|
8209 - 8779 | L | ||||||||||||||||
| Final position: 4th | |||||||||||||||||||
| ISML 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Invite (2020 Amethyst necklace) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preliminary R1 (Approval): 2652 votes (2nd) Preliminary R2 (Limited to 3 votes): 2353 (1st) Results: 6th / 72nd (ARP: 6, CVP: 2.660) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Stage | Rd | Opponent | Score | W-L? | |||||||||||||||
| Split 1 Group F 1st (5W 0L) |
Aqua 1 | Kaori Miyazono
|
2054 - 1061 | W | |||||||||||||||
| Aqua 2 |  Taiga Aisaka
|
2439 - 1189 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Aqua 3 |  Megumin
|
3116 - 1755 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Aqua 4 | Shiro
|
3014 - 1858 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Aqua 5 |  Kanna Kamui
|
2839 - 1631 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Split 2 Group D 1st (15W 0L) |
Tpz 1 |  Meiko Honma
|
2165 - 826 | W | |||||||||||||||
| Tpz 2 |  Azusa Nakano
|
1497 - 937 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Tpz 3 |  Isla
|
1347 - 834 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Tpz 4 |  Mitsuha Miyamizu
|
1989 - 1116 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Tpz 5 | Kuroko Shirai
|
2181 - 1323 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 1 |  Yoshino
|
1564 - 1057 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 2 | Mio Akiyama
|
1321 - 897 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 3 |  Aqua
|
1778 - 920 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 4 |  Kanade Tachibana
|
2130 - 1600 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Amet 5 |  Chika Fujiwara
|
2394 - 1731 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 1 |  Chiyo Sakura
|
2054 - 1269 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 2 |  Kazari Uiharu
|
2742 - 1303 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 3 |  Tamako Kitashirakawa
|
2080 - 1130 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 4 | Index
|
2313 - 1948 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Sapp 5 |  Kurumi Tokisaki
|
2223 - 2140 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Split 3 Group A 3rd (14W 1L) 3-way tie for 1st SCVPD: 6.513 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Eme 1 | Schwi Dola
|
1284 - 702 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Eme 2 | Ruiko Saten
|
1673 - 869 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Eme 3 | Ai Hayasaka
|
1317 - 841 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Eme 4 | Yui Yuigahama
|
1395 - 925 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Eme 5 |  Rikka Takanashi
|
1384 - 1247 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 1 | Rin Tohsaka
|
1427 - 1007 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 2 | Tohru
|
1469 - 875 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 3 | Kanna Kamui x2
|
1613 - 806 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 4 | Chika Fujiwara x2
|
1602 - 922 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Ruby 5 | Kurumi Tokisaki x2
|
1300 - 1413 | L | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 1 | Taiga Aisaka x2
|
1393 - 969 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 2 | Iroha Isshiki
|
1495 - 955 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 3 |  Tsukasa Tsukuyomi
|
1401 - 1108 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 4 | Kuroko Shirai x2
|
1634 - 1214 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Dia 5 | Mikoto Misaka
|
1868 - 1684 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Playoffs Seed 3 Wins: 34 CVP: 49.337 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ro16 | (14) Ai Hayasaka x2
|
3190 - 1849 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| QF | (6) Mai Sakurajima
|
3229 - 2973 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| SF | (2) Mikoto Misaka x2
|
3841 - 4425 | L | ||||||||||||||||
| 3rd-4th | (4) Mashiro Shiina
|
11,299 - 9722 | W | ||||||||||||||||
| Final position: 3rd | |||||||||||||||||||
Gem Record:
- Wins: 2
- Appearances:
- 2020: Aquamarine - 3rd, Topaz - 5th, Amethyst - Winner
- 2021: Aquamarine - 7th, Topaz - Winner
Seasonal & Exhibition[]
Seasonal Diadem - 2019 Winter:
- Elim. round (Approval voting, Max 8): 14,084 - 1st / 24th, Advanced
- Hinata Hoshino @ Wataten, 7529 - 3662
- Yotsuba Nakano @ 5-toubun, 7065 - 5067
- Miku Nakano @ 5-toubun, 8398 - 6395
Inter-seasonal exhibition
- (Spring) Fumino Furuhashi @ Bokuben, 13,096 - 4534
- (Summer) Gray @ Fate/Lord El-Melloi II, 20,872 - 9217
- (Fall) Ishtar @ Fate/Grand Order, 13,977 - 11,193
Couples/Ships I (2019) w/ 
Miyuki Shirogane
- Yuuji x Shana @ Shakugan no Shana, 12,515 - 7163
- Mizore x Nozomi @ Euphonium, 12,357 - 6542
- Madoka x Homura @ Madoka Magica, 11,774 - 9972
- Oreki x Chitanda @ Hyouka, 9818 - 7781
Poster gallery[]
r/anime record[]
History[]
TBD
Main[]
Seasonal Salt: 2019 Winter - seed 1
- (64) Stella Shining @ The Price of Smiles, 2476 - 123
- (33) Nagi Kirima @ Boogiepop, 2574 - 280
- (16) Dororo @ Dororo, 2572 - '384
- (9) Yotsuba Nakano @ 5-toubun, 3198 - 920
- (4) Raphtalia @ Shield Hero, 3605 - 2732
- (3) Ai Hayasaka @ Kaguya-sama, 4186 - 3501
Best Girl of 2019 - seed 1
- (32) Sotca Luckythar @ Hitoribocchi, 2193 - 228
- (16) Fumino Furuhashi @ Bokuben, 1665 - 472
- (8) Miku Nakano @ 5-toubun, 1776 - 972
- (5) Shinobu Kochou @ Demon Slayer, 1531 - 571
- (2) Chika Fujiwara @ Kaguya-sama, 1772 - 918
Best Girl 7 - seed 1
- (512) Meteora Österreich @ Re:Creators, 3704 - 465
- (257) Akeno Himejima @ High School DxD, 3126 - 687
- (129) Kyouko Sakura @ Madoka Magica, 4342 - 1063
- (65) Rei Ayanami @ Evangelion, 5334 - 1470
- (33) Yunyun @ Konosuba, 4956 - 1703
- (16) Mayuri Shiina @ Steins;Gate, 6384 - 2414
- (9) Emilia @ Re:Zero, 9867 - 4726
- (4) Ai Hayasaka @ Kaguya-sama, 8801 - 7168
- (6) Mai Sakurajima @ Seishun Buta Yarou, 11,617 - 8961
Other[]
24-Hour Best Girl (2019, 1 mil. subscriber event) - seed 1
- (255) Sodachi Oikura @ Monogatari, 331 - 135
- (127) Yuzuki Shiraishi @ Sora Yori, 243 - 72
- (66) Azusa Nakano @ K-On!, 34 - 28 [Note 1]
- (34) Yunyun @ Konosuba, 499 - 278
- (15) Holo @ Spice and Wolf, 489 - 442
- (7) Kurisu Makise @ Steins;Gate, 684 - 662
- (6) Ai Hayasaka @ Kaguya-sama, 628 - 467
- (5) Mai Sakurajima @ Seishun Buta Yarou, 546 - 606
[Note 1] (Mods mistakenly ended the round FAR too early)
24-Hour WORST Girl (April Fools 2020) - seed 1
- (256) Caster @ Fate/stay night, 199 - 63
- (128) Emi Yusa @ The Devil is a Part-Timer, 213 - 114
- (64) Momo Yaoyorozu @ My Hero Academia, 236 - 83
- (32) Riza Hawkeye @ Fullmetal Alchemist, 374 - 244
- (17) Ryuuko Matoi @ Kill la Kill, 358 - 311
- (9) Kurisu Makise @ Steins;Gate, 310 - 322
Salty Sea VI w/ Miyuki Shirogane (Summer 2020) - seed 1
Honours[]
Contest Wins[]
Total Wins : 9 (
)
- ISML 2019 Diadem of Winter
- r/anime Seasonal Salt - 2019 Winter
- r/anime's Best Girl of 2019
- r/anime Best Girl 7 ★
- Facebook Favorite Tsundere 2020 (Image link)
- Anime Random 2.0 Torneo de waifus 2020 (FB image link)
- Mangahelpers Best Couple 2020 (ft. Miyuki Shirogane) (Mangehelpers link)
- Mi unica addicion: Para la best Frentona Ever (2021) (FB link 1), (FB link 2)
- Moe Moe World Battle of the Moe 2021 (FB link)
Non-Contest honours[]
- Crunchyroll Anime Awards Best Couple 2020 (ft. Miyuki Shirogane) (FB link)
Runner-up list[]
Runner-up finishes = 10
- Anitrendz Character Champions League
- r/anime's Salty Sea 2020 (w/ Miyuki Shirogane)
- r/anime's 24 hour Best Girl Contest 2019
- Baidu Nova Moe 2019
- Facebook Female Character of the Year 2020 (Image link)
- NightBreed AMM torneo de waifus 2020 (FB link)
- Anime Tsundere Waifu Tournament 2020 Vol.1 (FB link)
- Pekin University Yuanhuo Moe S2 (2021) (Image link)
- Anime Time Best Waifu 2021 (FB link)
- FACEBOOK Amor Por Animes BR アニメを愛する Best Student Waifu 2021 (FB link)
External Links[]
Beware of spoilers and pop-ups.
- Kaguya-sama Wikia
- MyAnimeList
- Moegirl (Chinese)
- Baidu Baike (Chinese)
- NamuWiki (Korean)
| r/anime's Seasonal Salt Winners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bold Underlined names indicate Best Girl of (the Year) winner. Girls who won best girl of the year but not its seasonal are listed separately. | ||||
| 2017 | (Summer & Fall only):  Yuki M. •  Moriko
| |||
| 2018 |  Zero Two •  Anzu •  Chisa • Mai-san
| |||
| 2019 |  Kaguya •  Bocchi •  Shinobu K •  Ristarte
| |||
| 2020 |  Maple •  Iino •  Chizuru •  Nobara • Tsukasa
| |||
| 2021 |  Hori •  Vivy •  Saki Saki •  Miko Y •  Lena
| |||
| 2022 |  Marin • Spring • Summer • Fall
| |||
| 2023 | ||||
| ISML Seasonal Diadem Winners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 |  Ririchiyo •  Kuroyukihime • Asuna • Rikka
| |||
| 2013 |  Black Rabbit • Kurumi •  Kirigiri • Mirai
| |||
| 2014 |  Chitoge • Shiro • Chiyo •  Isuzu
| |||
| 2015 |  Megumi K. • Isla •  Nao •  MitsukiND, SEQ
| |||
| 2016 | Megumin •  Rem •  Aoba •  Chitose
| |||
| 2017 | Kanna •  Chtholly •  Suzune •  Nayuta
| |||
| 2018 |  Violet •  UrarakaND, SEQ •  Platelet • Mai-san
| |||
| 2019 | Kaguya •  Fumino •  Gray •  Ishtar
| |||
| 2020 |  Kotoko •  Kei S.SEQ • Chizuru •  Elaina
| |||
| 2021 | Female | MikuND, SEQ • IinoND, SEQ •  Keke DC •  RanND, SEQ
| ||
| Male |  TanjiroSEQ, DC •  NatsumeSEQ •  Kimihiko •  Lugh
| |||
| 2022 | Female | |||
| Male | ||||
| ND - NOT a DEBUTANT; appeared in a seasonal contest beforehand SEQ - Appeared in a SEQUEL installment DC - Won inter-seasonal playoffs (Divine Circlet / Crown) DCX - Won inter-seasonal playoffs but not a seasonal (listed last) | ||||
| ISML Necklace Winners | |
|---|---|
| First year of necklace win only. Circlets from 2012-2015 included (if applicable). | |
| 2008 |  Shana •  Setsuna S. •  Kagami •  Kyou • Haruhi
|
| 2009 |  Tomoyo S. •  Yuki N. •  Suigintou •  Suiseiseki •  Hinagiku •  Shinku
|
| 2010 | Mio • Taiga • Mikoto
|
| 2011 | Kanade •  Ruri •  Hellscythe
|
| 2012 | No new winners. |
| 2013 | Mashiro • Rikka • Asuna
|
| 2014 | Kuroyukihime
|
| 2015 |  Yukino •  Kosaki • Chitoge • Chiyo •  Ayase
|
| 2016 | Nao • Tohsaka • Saber • Kurisu
|
| 2017 | Rem •  Emilia • Katou
|
| 2018 | Chtholly • Azunyan • Kanna
|
| 2019 | Violet • Sagiri • Kurumi • Mai-san
|
| 2020 | Kaguya
|
| 2021 | Elaina
|
