Training is fun if you set your mind to a specific goal to work toward!
„
~ Sakura
Sakura Kasugano is a character in the Street Fighter series. She is a Japanese schoolgirl who has an intense fascination with idolizing Ryu, who is capable of copying and learning some of Ryu's moves, but really wants him to train her.
Sakura has short brown hair and actually wears her school uniform, a short-skirted sailor fuku with the collar popped, red bloomers underneath, red shoes based on Converse, a red top under her uniform, red boxing gloves, a yellow scarf tied in the front, and a white headband, which is given by Ryu before the events of Street Fighter Alpha 2.
Personality
In all aspects, Sakura has a very typical teenage girl personality, as she is most of the time happy, energetic, cheerful, positive, hard-working and focused. She has a strong spirit and a very determined attitude in life, either in studies or trains in martial arts. She sees Ryu as an idol, rather than an opponent, since she always watched him fight and mirrors herself on his lifestyle and philosophies. Although her techniques may seem somewhat "rustic" in comparison to Ryu's, she manages to balance her schoolgirl life with her daily tasks in order to be accepted as Ryu's pupil and prove herself by fighting worthy opponents.
Story
Chronologically, Sakura first appeared in Rival Schools, where she had begun to participate in street fighting after watching Ryu win the first World Warrior tournament. Rival Schools saw Sakura involved in the adventure between her school and various others in Aohura city. Fighting in it, she realized how much it meant to her to protect something she cared about.
Street Fighter Alpha 2
The then-15-year old Sakura was searching for Ryu and wished for him to train her to be a better fighter. She met up with many interesting people along the way, and eventually came across Ryu, who was still stressed over the Satsui no Hadou that had corrupted him - he told her he could not train her as he still had much to learn himself. He sparred with her for a bit and as he began to leave, she took a picture of him to remember him by. Sakura also kept training in the hopes of one day meeting Ryu again with a better understanding of fighting.
Street Fighter Alpha 3
At 16, she was still fighting in Street Fighter Alpha 3 and decided to travel the world to find Ryu. She started off in her native Japan and fought the sumo wrestler E. Honda, who mentioned Ryu was going off to such places as India and Thailand. She also fought a rematch with her rival Karin Kanzuki, and though Karin won the fight, admitted Sakura was better and she had learned winning was not everything. Thereafter traveling with her sensei, Dan, she met his friend Blanka along the way and was promised a match with him.
She continued to search the world for Ryu, eventually ditching Dan and finding Ryu's friend and rival Ken. She commented to him how she loved to fight to better herself, and finding inspiration in those words himself, Ken and Sakura eventually found Ryu in Thailand, where he was actually being brainwashed by M. Bison. Sagat had come by this time to find the scene as well, and as Sagat took on Ryu, both Ken and Sakura took on Bison. A combination of Sakura screaming for Ryu and Sagat's urgings finally snapped Ryu out of the mind control and he defeated Bison, destroying him temporarily. He told Sakura then he was not ready to train her and fight a rematch with her yet, and walked off, with Sakura watching him go. She then realized that there was something really special about Ryu, but she didn't know what. She has a friend named Kei Chitose who attends the same high school and sometimes goes along with Sakura's street fighting tour.
Street Fighter IV
Sakura, now 19, returns again, still searching for Ryu. This time, it is heavily implied that her admiration toward Ryu has developed into a full-on crush. Her win quote against Sagat has her admitting that she understands his obsession with Ryu, adding "Isn't he just dreamy?". Some time after the second World Warrior tournament, she confronts Dan to know anything about where her idol Ryu might be. Dan, who doesn't like to appear out of a loop, says that the latest World Warrior tournament is rumored to begin, and that Ken will be participating, speculating that Ryu will also be there like in the previous tournament. Sakura goes there in the tournament. She, Dan and Blanka depart on a cruise ship on which she endures a grueling self-imposed training regime.
Sakura also seems to have since become friends with Karin, texting her frequently to update her on Sakura's progress through the new World Warrior tournament. While the tournament is going on, she actively seeks Ryu, eventually finding him in the S.I.N. headquarters, based on the unknown location, in the midst of taking the BLECE project down from world domination. She is unconsciously knocked down by the struggling force, and awakes to likely see Ryu, who is still standing over her in his triumph. Both Sakura and Ryu escape from the destruction of the S.I.N. HQ in the midst of many explosions, which were probably what Vega was doing, and quickly run into both Dan and Blanka. After the end of the international fighting tournament, she and Ryu exchange their farewells and Sakura goes on the ship to come home. She realized that it was love that she felt for idolizing her memorable friend Ryu. Some time later, while walking with her pet dog, a slightly older-looking Sakura sees Ryu approaching. What happens next is unknown.
Abilities
Sakura fights using an imitation of Ryu's "Shotokan" fighting style or Shoto-Clone. She has an ability to manipulate ki and is skilled to use the imperfect Hadoken, but she can't throw it the full length of the battle arena due to her untrained fighting skills unlike Ken, Ryu and other imitators of the same fighting style. Differently, she is able to control and charge the size and power of her Hadoken energy attack and throw larger ones that sacrifices both range and execution speed, which is up to 3 times in a row. In Marvel vs. Capcom series of tag-team fighting games, she launches her Hadoken energy projectiles diagonally upwards, even she performs Hiyakeshita (Sunburned) to horizontally throw them at the opponent. By the time in Capcom vs. SNK series, instead of traditional projectile known as Hadoshou that can be hit thrice, she manipulates an energy spark. However, it is limited to the area during the fight, even though her EX counterpart relies her special Hadoken.
For other attacks than Hadoken she performed, Shunpuu Kyaku is a short version of the Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku that rises and falls in an arcing path and goes about 60% of the screen at its longest range; not sailing in the air. And Shououken is an imitation of the Shoryuken that sees her running before executing the attack by using the throwing body, blowing the end of the combination with an uppercut.
Both Shinkuu Hadoken and Midare Zakura or imitated version of Shoryureppa are her own interpretations and Super Combos added in her fighting style. One of her super attacks is a ground-only spinning leg attack called Haru Ichiban, which translates to "First One of the Spring". This move ends with a side kick that knocks the opponent out of her. Also, in the Marvel vs. Capcom series (under the name of the Hyper Combo called the "Hiyakeshita Sakura"), the Street Fighter Ex series and Rival Schools: United by Fate, she can use the Shun Goku Satsu (Raging Demon), which officially has no canonical reference on the story line of Street Fighter.
In Street Fighter EX3, her appearance sees her gained two unique Meteor Combos: "Nekketsu Hadouken", which manipulates a massive, pink Hadouken several times, exceptionally fast, and deals a big damage than any other projectile, and last but not the least is Genki Ichiban, which can inflict at least 80% damage to her opponent in the fight. However, it is widely telegraphed if she tiptoes toward her opponent and points & laughs; the pointing doesn't block and causes a great deal of knocking them back.
Quotes
“
Wow that was cool, do it again!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Victory is mine. Get up loser, so I can smack you again!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
You need a lesson in etiquette.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Did I impress you? I really hope I did!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I'll be late for class, but it's okay! A good street fight is worth it!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Oh, no! I was supposed to go to the mall with Kei!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Okay I'll skip school and fight you again! But only this rime!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
That's it? I wanted to fight harder?
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Sure! No sweat! I want to fight you to!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Oh no! I forgot to try out my combo I was practicing yesterday.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
What's that? A rematch? You've got it! Okay see you next time.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
C'mon! Get back up! This is too fun to give up soon.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I'm learning a lot of new skills today. And I'm just getting started...
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
That was fun! Let's do it again sometime!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Come on! Show me how tough you really are!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Now, who's next?
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
..,Huh, you were strong. So how did I manage to win.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I grow stronger with each step! That's my sincere belief.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Whew! I love a good mix-up!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Street fighting's my communication!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
You don't got the moves pal!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Can we rub knuckles again?
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Pleased to meet you!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Get ready, here I come!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Careful you might hurt yourself!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Give it your best shot!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Till is really fun!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Oh, come on...
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I play for keeps.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Aha! Why not take me on and find out?
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Get ready.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I won't give up.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Thank you so much.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Y-Yeah! I won!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
What did you think of my moves?
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Hi...Good to see you again.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Bye! We'll meet again! I promise!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I'm only going to get stronger!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Ogh...I need more training.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I'll be a great fighter one day, just you wait and see!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Wow! Not bad!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I hate to say it, but your moves are just plain booooring.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
I seek opponents stronger than myself...just kidding!
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Huh? Oh, sorry, was tying my shoelace you want to fight?
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
“
Sure but let's make it quick. I got class in a few minutes.
„
~ Sakura Kasugano
Trivia
Sakura is one of two fighters who are taught by two of the main characters in Street Fighter, Ryu and Ken. The other imitator is Sean Matsuda, who learned the same fighting style.
Sakura is one of the 19 characters in Street Fighter IV to not have second rivals in Super Street Fighter 4, despite having a ultra combo video to include her second rival (Cammy).
She remains as the only Street Fighter character with a vocal theme song "I Just Want You to Know", primarily found in the arrange soundtrack of Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. The melody would find itself being emulated in her theme song of Street Fighter IV.
She's one of the most popular Street Fighter characters, having more appearances on non-Street Fighter games than Ken.
She is also the youngest fighter of the Street Fighter franchise.
Cammy and Sakura may have likely met and fought in the past, based on their quotes in Super Street Fighter IV (especially in Cammy's quote).
