Kazuha Backstory & Vision

Name: Kaedehara Kazuha

Vision: Anemo

Birthday: 29 October

Constellation: Acer Palmatum

Titles: Scarlet Leaves Pursue Wild Waves

Kazuha is the first character from Inazuma to be introduced to players. Due to his homeland being inspired by Japan, he definitely fits the look of a ‘wandering samurai’, making it one of the reasons why there are players who love Japanese culture snag a Genshin Impact Kazuha account. Even his swordsmanship is different from those of Monstadt or Liyue. The most glaring difference is how Kazuha ‘returns’ his sword. He does a sheathing motion at certain points in his normal attack combo, when he uses ‘Midare Ranzan’, and a few other actions. Other characters just throw their swords in the air, making them reappear at their backs as a ‘returning’ animation.

His E skill, Chihayaburu, pulls in enemies and deals Anemo damage as it launches Kazuha in the air. For 10 seconds after activation, he can do a special plunge attack, Midare Ranzan. It deals Anemo damage and also pulls in nearby enemies and objects. Chihayaburu can be charged to take effect in a larger AoE, as well as deal higher damage. The skill can also be used in midair, good for traversal and reaching a few 

His Burst, Kazuha Slash, makes him slash once in a large AoE, dealing Anemo damage and leaving behind a whirlwind. As long as the whirlwind is active, it periodically sends out bursts of Anemo damage within its AoE. As with other Anemo-imbued attacks, Kazuha Slash can cause a Swirl reaction when a Hydro/Pyro/Electro/Cryo element is introduced to it.

Kazuha benefits greatly from an Elemental Mastery build, as his Swirl damage increases the higher it is. How well he supports his party also relies on that attribute, as he can buff teammates better with a higher EM than with a lower one. With a Viridescent Venerer set, he can further support allies by decreasing a target’s resistance against the elemental damage of the swirled element in the reaction. Kazuha is a great support DPS, though you won’t really need to use his auto-attack all that much.

Kazuha’s Story

The Kaedehara clan of Inazuma was once a famed samurai family. However, they had fallen into dire straits by the time Kazuha was due to inherit. As much as he was saddened and helpless to see his family broken and his future destroyed, he felt a sense of relief. With nothing to hold him back, he was free to wander the world as he wanted. You see, Kazuha has a unique ability to listen to nature.

Where another would hear nothing, Kazuha hears the clouds gathering for a storm, or springs suddenly bubbling to herald an earthquake. Nature has always spoken to him thus, and that always gave him a sense of wanderlust that will not be satisfied trying to handle his clan’s affairs. He wanted to see and hear all kinds of things, and that’s not going to happen with a family to take care of.

So he started on his journey as a wandering samurai, a leaf plucked by the wind, just like his name.

After leaving the city, all of nature became his home. With the sky overhead and accompanied by rushing waters and cool breezes, Kazuha wandered here and there, feeling more at home than in the city. The sounds of nature kept him safe, and he was free to explore and discover what piqued his curiosity.

Sometimes, he was accompanied by others. While traveling through a mountain, he and a merchant were caught by the summer rains. They spotted a hut sitting innocently on the side of the road. Overjoyed, the traveling merchant rushed to get there, asking Kazuha to join him. The young man paused, listened, then cautioned the merchant to stay away. Unable to resist the lure of the shelter, the merchant didn’t heed the wanderer’s advice. He entered the hut and a woman treated him to food, tea, and even a bed to rest on.

The next day, the merchant woke to the sky above and Kazuha leaning over him. Then, he bent over and vomited a pile of leaves and mud. Upon turning to his comfortable ‘bed’, he was horrified to see it was also mud. The young wanderer explained that the wind hadn’t changed around the hut and that it should’ve grown weaker should there be a real one. A bake-danuki seemed to have thought them as easy victims for a prank, and Kazuha cautions the merchant to tread with care in the future.

Another one of his notable companions was one he traveled with for a short while. Despite knowing them for a few moments, Kazuha felt a bond as strong as a friendship formed through years of companionship. Content to part and meet again later, they parted ways a few days before the Shogun declared the Vision Hunt Decree.

All Vision wielders, Kazuha included, panicked and went into hiding. There was one exception who asked for a duel with the Shogun, his dear friend and companion (who we’ll call ‘Tomo’ for clarity). Tomo wanted to show courage to all, as much as he wanted a good duel. Yet, it was obvious that should he lose, he’ll certainly lose his life as well. As soon as Kazuha heard this, he rushed to the Tenshukaku like a whirlwind.

Unfortunately, he reached the duel too late. Tomo’s sword was broken into pieces, and his Vision had become a husk. Kazuha was only able to grab Tomo’s empty Vision before he had to flee himself. Having been seen by the Shogun, he was declared a wanted man for both owning a Vision and stealing another. Afterward, his peaceful wandering days were over. His travels became filled with battles, which he didn’t mind, but it caused him to wonder if it was really the best way to get ideas across to other people.

After some time of this constant battling, he ended up in Ritou at the same time The Crux Fleet’s flagship, the Alcor, was docked there. The captain, Beidou, befriended and picked him up, and that’s how he started sailing with The Crux.

The crew became curious about this outlander. Due to his skill with a sword, diligence, and ability to predict the weather, they all welcomed him with open arms. They were curious about his past, yet all of their attempts to coax it out of him all met with failure. Fortunately, Juza, the Chief Mate, asked him about his name, which finally garnered a reply from the silent young man.

The Crux became his newfound home, one that sailed around oceans to new lands. It was a welcome reprieve to all the combat he encountered back in Inazuma, and he gets to wander further than what his homeland offered. Trouble may find him, but he’s no longer alone. The whole crew supports each other and he’s now part of it.

How Did Kazuha Get His Vision?

Kazuha didn’t start wandering with his Vision, it came sometime after. He had been walking along a path, and the stillness of the wind and the silence of the cicadas told him rain was coming. Spotting a plume of smoke ahead, it seemed he’ll have a roof over his head to weather the storm. He told the owner a storm was coming. Though the master of the house was skeptical, he was let in.

Come noon, the skies poured out the water they were holding, exactly as Kazuha said. With his prediction proven right, the owner let him lodge for the night. Huddled under his borrowed quilt, Kazuha reflected on his journey so far. He’d been to many islands in the archipelago, which necessitated sailing on a boat. He used a small one, and being alone, sailing through storms and headwinds is quite dangerous. Yet, that never deterred him from continuing on his journey with his sword in his hand, knowing in his heart that it is his path.

He woke the next day, a shining Vision on his chest.

Of all the Anemo users, Kazuha is perhaps the one who embodies freedom the most. He’s a wandering swordsman, a leaf tossed this way and that on the wind. He may have roots in his homeland, but those do not bind him where others would be. It’s very fitting for the Anemo Archon, the embodiment of Freedom himself, to grant him an Anemo Vision. Take note, even though he’s from Inazuma, his talent level up materials come from Liyue, due to his affiliation with The Crux. From a developer’s perspective, he couldn’t have Inazuman materials since it isn’t out yet, but his ascension materials came from the Golden Apple Archipelago from the Midsummer event. At any rate, hope you enjoyed reading about Kaedehara Kazuha, and keep on playing Genshin Impact!