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Kaede Akamatsu
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Kanji: 赤松楓 Katakana: アカマツ カエデ Hiragana: あかまつかえで Romaji: Akamatsu Kaede Latin Alphabet: Kaede Akamatsu Korean: 아카마츠 카에데 Simplified Chinese: 赤松枫 Russian: Каэде Акамацу |
| Occupation: | High School Student |
| Relationships: | Shuichi Saihara (partner; alive) Miu Iruma (ally; deceased) |
| Fandom: | Dangan Ronpa |
| Other: | Talent: 超高校級の「ピアニスト」lit. Super High School Level Pianist Official English Translation: The Ultimate Pianist JPN Voice Actor: Sayaka Kanda |
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Kaede Akamatsu is a prominent and popular character in the Dangan Ronpa series. She debuted in Dangan Ronpa V3: Killing Harmony as the series' fourth protagonist after Makoto Naegi, Hajime Hinata and Komaru Naegi.
Canon Background
Kaede Akamatsu has two different canonical backstories, as The Mastermind of the Killing Game in V3 is said to have fabricated one for her before the start of the game.
Whether Akamatsu's personality was actually fabricated or not is never stated as fact, however, fitting with the game's truth vs. fiction theme. There's been plenty of meta on the subject.
Fabricated Personality
As a child, Kaede Akamatsu loved playing piano, so much so that her friends often teased her about it. Her skills in playing earned her many awards and recognition. Eventually, she was one day scouted to enroll in the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles. In Japanese, she is a Super High School Level Pianist. In English, she is the Ultimate Pianist.
She is an outgoing and positive person who's skilled in "orchestrating," or rather, bringing others together under one common goal. In Killing Harmony, she dedicates herself to ending the Killing Game, but isn't successful.
During Chapter 1, Akamatsu was framed by Tsumugi Shirogane for the murder of Rantaro Amami, leading to her execution by Monokuma. After Chapter 1, her status as protagonist was replaced by Shuichi Saihara.
Akamatsu's birthday is March 26th. This is Beethoven's Day in Japan, which falls on the anniversary of his death, something which may be referenced in fanworks. On Twitter and Pixiv, art tagged with #赤松楓生誕祭[year value] are commonly released on her birthday.
Pre-Game Personality
Kaede Akamatsu was an average teenage girl as well as a massive fan of the Dangan Ronpa series, an in-universe reality TV show. She auditioned for the show's 53rd season (stylized as V3) and made the cut to participate in a killing game. In fanworks, this is considered to be her pre-game personality. Like with every other V3 student, all of this info is filtered by Tsumugi Shirogane, and fans may not believe this part of her character is canonical.
What is also known about pre-game Akamatsu is that she auditioned because she had no hope in humanity, thus believed she'd be a good fit for it. There's been fanon speculation about the rest of her personality, though in a minuscule amount compared to what's been theorized for Shuichi Saihara's and Kokichi Ouma's pre-game personalities.
Fanworks featuring her pre-game personality are often labelled as:
- JPN: ギャル松 (Galmatsu)
- ENG: Pre-Game Kaede Akamatsu
Popular Tropes & Fanon
- Pre-Game Kaede Akamatsu: as elaborated above.
- Supportive Kaede Akamatsu: in-tune with her canon and fanon characterization. Has a large canon basis, as seen with the "Free Time Event" feature originally introduced in the first Dangan Ronpa game where the player can choose to hang out with another student of their choice between in-game days. Thus, Akamatsu is semi-canonically friends with all of the V3 cast.
- Lesbian Kaede Akamatsu: her being a lesbian is a popular headcanon, more so than any other sexuality, with Bisexual Kaede Akamatsu being not far behind.
- Kaede Akamatsu Lives: a popular fix-it AU, as many fans believe her death was unfair. Very popular in canon-divergent canon rewrites. Related is the idea of post-chapter 1 Protagonist Kaede Akamatsu.
- Trans Kaede Akamatsu: with Male to Female Akamatsu being the most common. Popular for transfic.
- Kaede Akamatsu Needs a Hug: common in angst and hurt/comfort works, as well as canon compliant ones.
- Autistic Kaede Akamatsu: her having Autism is a popular headcanon due to her sheer interest in playing the piano as well as her socially awkward personality, with Kaede Akamatsu Has ADHD being not far behind.
All of the above are wrangled tags on Archive of Our Own. On Pixiv, there are also some tags specific to Akamatsu:
- Akamatsu Mistreatment, 「赤松は不憫」, referring to fans' reactions to the mismanagement of Akamatsu not being Killing Harmony's proper protagonist by Spike Chunsoft and other fans. Discussion of this may bring up how advertising her as the proper protagonist, only to not deliver, is an example misogyny in fandom, or at least tone-deaf to it.
- "I'll turn this lie, into the truth!", 「この嘘を真実に!」, referring to her catchphrase during class trials. This one is unique to Akamatsu.
Other places where fandom lives may portray Akamatsu with one or all of these attributes.
Subjects of Fannish Interest & Meta
This article or section needs expansion. |
Queercoding
Some fans believe she is queercoded.
Relationships
This is purposefully an incomplete list, as Akamatsu is shipped with much of Dangan Ronpa's cast. Please add any notable relationships in fanworks if they are missing.
In Kanji, Akamatsu is usually represented in a pairing names with 赤 (aka) or 楓 (kae). In Hiragana, あか (kae) is common.
The order seen should be what's most popular unless marked with "possibly." ENG portmanteaus are also subject to change. Relationships listed fall into GL, NL, BL, Poly, Combi or Cargo.
| With... | Full Label | Type | Portmanteau / Phrase | Kanji or Katakana | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shuichi Saihara | Kaede Akamatsu/Shuichi Saihara | NL | Saimatsu | 最赤 (Saiaka) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Shuichi Saihara | Kaede Akamatsu & Shuichi Saihara | Combi | (n/a) | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Miu Iruma | Kaede Akamatsu/Miu Iruma | GL | Irumatsu | 赤入 (Akairu), 入赤 (Iruaka) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Rantaro Amami | Kaede Akamatsu/Rantaro Amami | NL | Amamatsu | 蘭楓 (Rankae), 天赤 (Tenaka) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Rantaro Amami | Kaede Akamatsu & Rantaro Amami | Combi | (n/a) | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa | Kaede Akamatsu/Maki Harukawa | GL | Kaemaki | 赤春 (Akaharu), 春赤 (Haruaka) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa | Kaede Akamatsu & Maki Harukawa | Combi | (n/a) | V3・ダブルヒロイン (V3 Double Heroines) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kiibo | Kaede Akamatsu/Kiibo | NL | Kiiede | キボ赤 (Kiboaka) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kaito Momota | Kaede Akamatsu/Kaito Momota | NL | Akamota, Kaimatsu | 百赤 (Momoaka) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kokichi Ouma; Rantaro Amami | Akamatsu & Amami & Ouma | Combi | Mastermind Busters | 首謀者バスターズ (Mastermind Busters) | Poly is also common |
| Tsumugi Shirogane | Kaede Akamatsu/Tsumugi Shirogane | GL | Kaemugi, Shiromatsu | 赤つむ (Akatsumu) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kokichi Ouma | Kaede Akamatsu/Kokichi Ouma | NL | Oumatsu, Oumaede | 王赤 (Ouaka) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kokichi Ouma | Kaede Akamatsu & Kokichi Ouma | Combi | (n/a) | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kirumi Tojo | Kaede Akamatsu/Kirumi Tojo | GL | Kaerumi, Kirukaede | 赤斬 (Akaki) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Tenko Chabashira | Kaede Akamatsu/Tenko Chabashira | GL | Tenkaede | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Mondo Oowada | Kaede Akamatsu/Mondo Oowada | NL | Owatsu | (n/a) | Friends in Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp. |
| Angie Yonaga | Kaede Akamatsu/Angie Yonaga | GL | Yonamatsu | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Ryoma Hoshi | Kaede Akamatsu/Ryoma Hoshi | NL | Akahoshi | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Himiko Yumeno | Kaede Akamatsu/Himiko Yumeno | GL | Akameno | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Korekiyo Shinguji | Kaede Akamatsu/Korekiyo Shinguji | NL | Kaekiyo, Shinmatsu | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Gonta Gokuhara | Kaede Akamatsu/Gonta Gokuhara | NL | Gokumatsu | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Kokichi Ouma; Shuichi Saihara | Akamatsu/Ouma/Saihara | Poly | Saioumatsu | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa; Miu Iruma | Akamatsu/Harukawa/Iruma | Poly | Makaemiu, Kaeirumaki, Miumakaede | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
| Maki Harukawa; Tenko Chabashira | Akamatsu/Chabashira/Harukawa | Poly | Tenkaemaki | (n/a) | (Seen on its page.) |
Akamatsu is also popular for self-shipping works. See List of Dangan Ronpa Relationship Names for more.
Example/Notable Fanac
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fan Communities/Fan Events
Wikis
- Kaede Akamatsu on Danganronpa Wiki
- 赤松楓 on PixivEncyclopedia
- Kaede Akamatsu on the Shipping Wiki
- 아카마츠 카에데 on Namuwiki
Fan Fic
Fan Art
General Fanworks
Fan Mixes
- life carries on by robcina, Archived version (2018)
- fake happy by akechigoro, Archived version (2017)
- Eighth Notes. by know-your-paradoxes, Archived version (2016)