You probably remember the first time she popped up on screen. Blue bikini top, denim shorts, and that unlit cigarette she’s always fiddling with. In a show filled with people screaming or panicking, Kuina Hikari felt like a breath of fresh air. She was cool. She was detached. Honestly, she looked like she was just there for the vibes at The Beach.
But then Season 1, Episode 7 happened.
Suddenly, we weren't just watching a sidekick for Chishiya. We were watching one of the most deeply written characters in modern Japanese TV. If you’ve spent any time on Reddit or Twitter lately, you know the fans are obsessed. And it isn't just because she can kick a katana out of a guy's hand while wearing platform flip-flops—though, let’s be real, that was incredible. It’s because Kuina represents a level of resilience that most "death game" characters never touch.
The Backstory That Actually Matters
Most shows treat a "twist" about a character's identity like a gimmick. Alice in Borderland didn't. When we see the flashback of Kuina as a young boy in her father’s dojo, it’s heartbreaking. Her father was a hardline martial arts instructor who wanted a son to carry on the family legacy. He saw her interest in makeup as a weakness, a betrayal.
She didn't just "leave home." She was essentially erased from her family.
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What makes her story so powerful is how she uses that trauma. Her father forced her to learn martial arts to make her a "man." Instead, those exact skills—that muscle memory she resented—are what keep her alive in the Borderlands. It’s poetic, really. She uses the tools of her oppression to defend her authentic self. When she fights "Last Boss" (Samura) at the end of the first season, she isn't just fighting a guy with a sword. She’s fighting the ghost of her father and every person who told her she shouldn't exist.
Why Aya Asahina Was the Perfect Choice
Let's talk about the actress for a second. Aya Asahina is a powerhouse. Before she was an actress, she was a model and even worked as a midwife’s assistant. You can see that physical discipline in how she moves. Most of those stunts? That’s her.
There was some debate online about whether a transgender actress should have played the role. It’s a valid conversation. In the manga, the "reveal" is handled a bit differently—it's more of a blunt conversation by a campfire. But in the Netflix series, Asahina brings a certain "big sister" energy to the role. She’s protective of Arisu and Usagi, but she never loses that edge.
The Smoking Habit
Ever notice she never actually lights that cigarette? It’s a "fake" cigarette. She’s trying to quit. It’s such a small, human detail. In a world where lasers can drop from the sky at any second, Kuina is worried about her lung health. It’s a nod to her mother, who was hospitalized back in the "real" world. She wants to survive not just for herself, but to see her mom one last time. That’s her North Star.
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Survival as a Spades Specialist
In the world of Alice in Borderland, games are split by suits.
- Diamonds: Intelligence.
- Clubs: Teamwork.
- Hearts: Psychology/Betrayal.
- Spades: Physicality.
Kuina is a Spades queen. While she starts out as a partner to Chishiya (a Diamonds/Hearts genius), she eventually realizes she doesn't need to be his pawn. By Season 2, she's a frontline warrior. Watching her go up against the King of Spades was stressful, to say the least. She takes hits that would kill a normal person.
The show does this thing where it rewards characters who have already survived a "personal" hell before the games even started. Kuina already transitioned. She already faced social death. Compared to that, a guy with a machine gun is just another Tuesday.
Manga vs. Live Action: The Subtle Shifts
If you haven't read the manga by Haro Aso, you’re missing out on some context, but the show actually improved on her character in some ways. In the manga, there’s a scene where a character named Tatta mentions he used to... well, let's just say he found her attractive before knowing her history. Her response in the manga is much more aggressive and "don't care" than the show.
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The Netflix version makes her feel more like the emotional glue of the group. She’s the one who keeps Arisu grounded when he’s spiraling. She’s the one who stays loyal when Chishiya goes off on his little solo missions.
Why She’s More Than Just "Representation"
Kuina is a great character because her identity is part of her, but it isn't all of her. She’s a fighter. She’s a daughter. She’s a quitter (of smoking). She’s a survivor.
The scene at the very end of Season 2—no spoilers if you haven't finished it—where she finally sees her parents again? It’s arguably the most emotional moment in the whole series. It’s the closure she earned through blood, sweat, and a lot of high-kicks.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Kuina and the series, here is what you should do next:
- Watch Episode 7 of Season 1 again: Pay attention to the choreography of the fight with Samura. Every move Kuina makes is a direct callback to the dojo scenes. It’s a masterpiece of visual storytelling.
- Follow Aya Asahina on social media: She often posts behind-the-scenes clips of her martial arts training. It’ll make you appreciate the "King of Spades" fight way more.
- Read the manga "Alice in Borderland: Retry": While it focuses more on Arisu later in life, it gives you a better sense of the philosophy of the world that Kuina had to navigate.
- Check out the "Caterpillar to Butterfly" theory: Fans often compare Kuina to the Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. Her transition and her growth into a warrior mirror that metamorphosis perfectly.
Kuina didn't just play the game; she redefined what it looks like to win on your own terms. Whether she's in a Tokyo wasteland or a hospital room, she's staying exactly who she is.