Akane Kashiwagi

Akane Kashiwagi柏木 あかね
Appeared in	Ju-on: White Ghost
Relatives	Hajime Kashiwagi (father)
Status	Alive
Gender	Female
Ethnicity	Japanese
Portrayed by	Akina Minami Natsuki Kasa

Akane Kashiwagi (柏木 あかね Kashiwagi Akane) is a character from Ju-on: White Ghost, portrayed by Akina Minami and Natsuki Kasa. A sensitive, Akane had her best friend Mirai abused and murdered, and grew up in guilt for not helping her.

Biography

Childhood

Akane was best friends with Mirai and once visited her. Akane was told by Mirai that she was suffering from sexual abuse from her older brother Atsushi Isobe, only to be kicked off the house by Atsushi himself. As Atsushi touched her, Akane instantly felt something wrong in both him and the house, and tried to warn Mirai in vain. Outside, Akane saw Mirai screaming for help until Atsushi closed the window, and ran scared, leaving her helpless. The day after, Akane was thoughtful while her frisky father Hajime, a taxi driver, took her to school. Hajime disappeared after leaving her there.

Youth

Akane play the Kokkuri with her schoolmates.

Akane grew up guilty for not helping Mirai and one day in school, was invited by her friends Mayumi and Yuka to play Kokkuri. Akane reluctantly agreed and was suggested to call for her deceased father. The coin, however, spelt Mirai's name, moments before her ghost itself manifested. Akane ran out of the class, leaving her friends puzzled. While going home, Akane walked by the former Isobe household, and remembered that she left Mirai helpless when she was abused, and concluded she kept seeing her due to her regret. When she finally arrived home, Mirai's ghost visited Akane once again, and left her bear keychain as a keepsake.

Etymology

• The name Akane is written in hiragana (あかね), which has no special meaning. However, when written in kanji (茜), it could possibly mean "deep red, dye from the rubia plant".
• Akane's surname Kashiwagi means "oak tree" (柏木).

Notes

• Akane and Hajime's father-and-daughter storyline is reminiscent of Izumi and Toyama's stoyline from Ju-on: The Grudge.
• It is implied that Akane inherited her sensitive gift from her father, as Hajime had a glimpse of Atsushi in the backseat.
• Akane is a rare instance of a Ju-on character that is not victimized by the title grudge curse and remains alive. She joins Lisa from The Grudge 3.

Gallery

Mirai's grandmother Haru approaches them.

Mirai tells about her situation to Akane.

Right after he touches her, Akane senses the evil inside Atsushi and the house.

Akane thinks about Mirai.

Akane's memory of Mirai, at her former house.

Akane at school.

The rancorous ghost of Mirai manifests to Akane while she plays Kokkuri with her friends.

Akane as she sees Mirai in her house.

One last visit of Mirai to Akane.