Iroha

Iroha is a character from the Samurai Shodown series. She is one of the main protagonists and one of the new characters from Samurai Shodown VI, and is the first non-canonical character to have her canonical debut in Samurai Shodown (2019).

Development
Her conception began due to a desire to add an amorous character. At first, she was designed to be a mostly nude character though eventually her image changed with "a graceful crane" and "Asian wife" motif. Her namesake is taken from the Heian poem of the same name which is a pangram used for learning the hiragana syllabary.

Story
She is a crane who transforms herself into a Japanese maid. She serves her master and appears to think of him as the most important aspect of her life.

Personality
Iroha is an obedient and cheerful maiden. She deeply cares for her master, trying her hardest to stay in her human form whilst in front of him. Iroha's very gentle-hearted, not wishing to cause any violence to her opponent unless they have malicious intent like trying to hurt her master. She strongly dislikes bows, rifles, hunting traps, bear traps, because of bad experiences with them. While brave, her one true fear is exorcists, fearing that they're abilities could affect her transformation power in the long run, although comedically Iroha overreacts sometimes, since exorcist mainly target evil spirits and demons.

She has an overprotective motherly side when it comes to kids; in her win quotes from Rimururu and Shizumaru, Iroha lectures them for wielding weapons at a young age feeling that they could hurt themselves.

Powers

 * Transformation - Iroha can change into her original shape whenever she needs.
 * Pyrokinesis - Iroha can control fire.
 * Feather Projectile - Iroha can shoot a razor sharp feather.

Fighting Style
She fights with two butterfly swords and relies on her speed for close ranged combat. She can also double jump. Several of her moves hint to her original form as a crane such as her projectile (a white feather) and her normal fighting stance. The most obvious reference is her POW move (in SSVI) and Special Move (in SS [Reboot]), where she grabs her opponent and, behind Shoji doors, disrobes and physically beats her foe. Her silhouette during this sequence briefly changes into a crane.

Music

 * Yuzuru no Mai (Dance of the Evening Crane) - Samurai Shodown VI; performed by Maho Kayuri
 * Wings of Yearning - Samurai Shodown (2019)

Voice Actors

 * Mayumi Shindou - Samurai Shodown VI, Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting, Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos
 * Saori Gotō - Samurai Spirits Oni
 * Jun Miruno - Samurai Shodown (2019)

Appearances
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Games

 * Samurai Shodown VI
 * Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting
 * Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos
 * Samurai Spirits Oni
 * Samurai Shodown (2019) - DLC character

Mobile
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 * Days of Memories (Ōedo Ren'ai Emaki, Kaze Maiu Miyako de Tsukamaete!) - unplayable
 * Maid by Iroha
 * Koi no Iroha ~Sakura Saku Haru~
 * Koi no Iroha ~Himawari Kagayaku Natsu~
 * Koi no Iroha ~Momiji Iro Tsuku Aki~
 * Koi no Iroha ~Sazanka Chiru Fuyu ~
 * SNK Gals Island Dokidoki Puzzle Shock!
 * Moeyo! SNK Gals Osuin Katoukai
 * SNK Gals Island Beauty Dungeon Mimi to Kimashita! - as an event character only
 * SNK High School Collection
 * KOF x Fatal Fury
 * Samurai Shodown Tenkadaiichi Kenkakuden
 * SNK Fighting Age
 * Puzzle & Dragons

Etymology

 * The name Iroha means "syllabary order" (いろは).
 * However, when written in kanji (彩葉 or 彩羽), it could possibly mean:
 * 彩葉 - "color" (彩) (iro) and "leaf, plane, lobe, needle, blade, spear, counter for flat things, fragment, piece" (葉) (ha).
 * 彩羽 - "color" (彩) (iro) and "feather" (羽) (ha).