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I never erase a photo once I take it. That's my policy. No matter what kind of photo it is, the moment captured in it only exists at that time.

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair


Mahiru Koizumi (小泉 真昼), is a student of Hope's Peak Academy's Class 77-B, and a participant of the Killing School Trip featured in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Her title is the Ultimate Photographer (超高校級の「写真家」 lit. Super High School Level Photographer).

She, along with Class 77-B, return in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School to explore their school life leading up to The Tragedy.

History[]

Early life[]

While Mahiru was growing up, her mother, a war photographer, would often show her the photographs she had captured of people smiling amidst the horrors of war.[5] The images had such an impact on Mahiru that she decided to follow in her mother's footsteps as a photographer. But because her mother frequently travels, Mahiru was left to fend for herself with her unemployed father, who never offered any assistance with household chores when her mother was gone. She said that she would have liked to travel the world and capture people's smiles if she hadn't had to take care of her dad.

Mahiru had joined a middle school photography club in an effort to improve her photography skills. During this period, she formed a friendship with Sato[6] and unwittingly became enemies with Natsumi Kuzuryu, her junior in the photography club who harbored jealousy towards her talent. Sato, who always sides with Mahiru, begins to develop an intense dislike toward Natsumi, and this hatred later grows into a tragedy involving these three girls.

Prior to the Tragedy[]

Attending Hope's Peak Academy[]

Danganronpa 3 (Despair Arc) - ED (Textless) (17)

Mahiru and Class 77-B.

After Mahiru won numerous photography awards while attending Light Forest Institute[1], Hope's Peak noticed her talent and enrolled her in Class 77-B as the Ultimate Photographer. Her distinctive portraits are what make her work stand out. When Mahiru enrolled at Hope's Peak Academy, her friend Sato attended the Hope's Peak Reserve Course Department. Unfortunately for Mahiru and Sato, the ever-problematic Natsumi also attended the Reserve Course.

In Class 77-B, Mahiru got along well with her eccentric classmates, especially Hiyoko Saionji the Ultimate Traditional Dancer, Mikan Tsumiki the Ultimate Nurse, and Ibuki Mioda the Ultimate Musician. Among them, Mahiru grew particularly closest with Hiyoko. She introduced these three to Sato as well later on. Mahiru also has a lot of admiration for Chisa Yukizome, the Former Ultimate Housekeeper as well as her homeroom teacher, who was very kind to her and who took note of her friendship with Sato—even if sometimes Mahiru thinks she can be an oddball. It was mentioned that Mahiru has a large circle of friends even beyond Class 77-B thanks to her reliability, kindness, and thoughtfulness.[7]

Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc (Episode 03) - Mahiru Protecting Sato (77)

Mahiru offering Sato her lunchbox.

Mahiru frequently spends time eating lunch with Sato in the Reserve Course building. Due to this, Mahiru was once again a convenient target for Natsumi's relentless bullying. However, their hostility has taken on a new dimension as Natsumi turns out to be the younger sister of Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, the Ultimate Yakuza who happens to be a classmate of Mahiru.

Main article: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School - Despair Arc #03
Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc (Episode 03) - Mahiru Protecting Sato (53)

Mahiru protecting Sato from Natsumi.

One day, Mahiru was walking to the Reserve Course building to visit Sato when she heard a commotion coming out from her friend's class. It turned out that Sato and Natsumi were arguing about her. In a playful jab at Mahiru's frequent visits to Reserve Course, Natsumi said that Mahiru goes there mostly to make fun of the talentless, in contrast to herself and Natsumi's brother Fuyuhiko. Mahiru who usually prefers to ignore Natsumi or at least try to be civil with her, eventually became fed up with Natsumi's relentless comments, then brought up the fact that Natsumi's attitude had never changed ever since she joined the photography club. Sato bolstered Mahiru's claim by stating that Natsumi is envious of her since, as the Ultimate Photographer, Mahiru is on an equal footing with her brother in the main course. Just as Natsumi was about to punch Sato, Mahiru stepped in and pulled her out of the classroom, ending the commotion...or so she thought.

It is suggested that Sato might have romantic affections for Mahiru, which would explain why he would go to such extreme lengths to protect her. At one point, Sato happens to meet Chisa and blushes shyly as she explains to her that she's planning to eat with a friend. After their fight with Natsumi and arguments in which Mahiru did not approve of Sato's action, even though it was done to protect her, Sato now insisted that Mahiru has great talent and that her photos will become famous (in the English dub, Sato describes it as the beauty Mahiru brings into the world)—which Mahiru found surprising and flattering. In the English dub, Natsumi also mocked Sato's behavior towards Mahiru by calling her "lovesick". Within this implication, Sato's feelings appear to be one-sided, though this has not been confirmed.

Little did Mahiru realize that her encounter with Natsumi that day set the stage for a tragedy that would unfold in the near future.

The Murder of Natsumi Kuzuryu and Sato[]

Danganronpa 3 - Despair Arc (Episode 03) - Twilight Syndrome Murder Case (30)

Mahiru and Sato discussing the latter's involvement with Natsumi's murder.

One day, together with Sato, Hiyoko, Mikan, and Ibuki, Mahiru discovered a corpse in the music room. The body was later revealed belong to Natsumi's, who was murdered by Sato because the girl had been bullying Mahiru. Sato covered up this truth, said a pervert was responsible for the murder, and persuaded the others not to notify the authorities that they had discovered the corpse. Mahiru took pictures of the body after the other girls left, and then she found evidence in the room next to it that showed Sato was trying to cover up her role in finding the body. Mahiru took a picture of that as well before cleaning it up to protect her friend. The next day Mahiru showed her photos of the body to the other girls, saying they would be useful if the police questioned them, but Sato quickly snatched and destroyed the photos. Mahiru secretly held onto the photo of the evidence implicating Sato and confronted her with it the following day. She promised Sato that the evidence was cleaned up, then asked her what really happened. Sato admitted to a horrified Mahiru that she killed Natsumi, then ran away to dispose of the photo. In the Twilight Syndrome Murder Case, this situation is shown whereby Mahiru (Girl D) approaches Sato (Girl E) to discuss the murder, and Sato presumes that Mahiru will profess her love to her, further suggesting that Sato may have romantic feelings for her.

Sadly, Sato was killed by Fuyuhiko on the next day. Mahiru was seen crying on Hiyoko's chest while her classmates watched on in worry. This case was later utilized in the Killing School Trip by Monokuma, serving as the game's second motive and was given the title "Twilight Syndrome Murder Case".

The Beginning Of The End[]

Following the passing of her close friend, Mahiru's life descended into a never-ending series of tragic events. The deaths of Natsumi and Sato affected Mahiru's morale in class greatly. Not long after incident, Mahiru watched a riot caused by the Reserve Course students after finding out that Hope's Peak Academy used their money for human experiments from her classroom's window along with the rest of her classmates. Without her even knowing, this was all planned by the Ultimate Despair Junko Enoshima and Mahiru alongside her classmates were soon to be involved in what would later known as The Tragedy.

Main article: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School - Despair Arc #10
Class 77 Despair

Mahiru and her classmates, brainwashed by Junko.

Once Junko had Chisa and Mikan brainwashed, she led Mahiru and the others underground to her hideout. The class enters what appears to be the chamber that will be used for Class Trials later on as Mikan presses a button to open the entrance. As soon as the room's monitors turn on, Junko appears on screen. The execution of Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer and her class representative, is initiated by Junko after some explanation, with Mahiru and the rest of the class being forced to watch the horror. No matter how hard Mahiru tries to averge her eyes from the screen, she just can't tear her gaze away. The door is opened by Chiaki once she achieves the "goal" in her execution. On the opposite side, she can make out Mahiru, the remainder of the class, and Chisa. Spikes emerge from beneath the earth and stab Chiaki all over as soon as she reaches for Chisa's hand. The recording had a profound effect on Mahiru and her classmates, causing them to spiral into despair.

The Tragedy[]

Danganronpa 3 - Future Arc (Episode 01) - Intro (21)

Mahiru photographing Sonia and her army.

Mahiru joined the Ultimate Despair after falling prey to Junko's brainwashing. Alongside her corrupted classmates, she started The Tragedy and kept it ongoing even after Junko's death in the final stage of the Killing School Life. Her infamous contributions as the Ultimate Despair include photographing Sonia Nevermind, the Ultimate Princess, who commands a mind-controlled army wearing Monokuma helmets, to spread her despair-inducing photographs to the world.

Mahiru and her classmates who did not commit suicide to follow their leader Junko soon became known as the Remnants of Despair. Eventually, the Future Foundation secured the custody of Mahiru and the other fourteen - at first only aware that they were survivors from Hope's Peak Academy. When Makoto Naegi, Class 78th's Ultimate Lucky Student, by that time a member of the 14th Division of the Future Foundation, realized that the survivors were in fact, Remnants of Despair, he quickly directed them to Jabberwock Island in secret.

Danganronpa 2 CG - Neo World Program (4)

Neo World Program

Makoto made them enter the Neo World Program, where their memories were reset to a time prior to their entering Hope's Peak Academy, before they were manipulated by Junko - resulting in all of them not recognizing each other. The plan was to overwrite Mahiru and the others' memories of themselves as Ultimate Despair, replacing them with good ones in order to undo all the damage Junko had done to them. Even her memories of middle school related to Sato and Natsumi seem to have been erased for an unknown reason, as she couldn't remember either of them after playing Twilight Syndrome Murder Case.[6]

The scheme backfired when Izuru Kamukura, the Ultimate Hope and the final product of the Izuru Kamukura Project, uploaded Junko's malware AI just before they were to be programmed. Consequently, they were subjected to the identical brutal incident that befell Class 78th, although in a realistically simulated environment. The killing game became known as the Killing School Trip, an ordeal that Mahiru and the other Remnants of Despair were coerced into participating.

Killing School Trip[]

Main article: Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Danganronpa 2 CG - Students in the classroom

Killing School Trip participants.

Alongside fourteen other Remnants of Despair and one Future Foundation observer, Mahiru participated Killing School Trip. It took place inside a virtual world known as the Neo World Program, which resembles Jabberwock Island. Due to her memories as the Ultimate Despair and life in Hope's Peak Academy was erased by the Future Foundation, she couldn't recognize any of her classmates, even Hiyoko who was one of her closest friends.

Mahiru initially crossed paths with Hajime Hinata, a Reserve Course student and fellow classmate of the late Sato—who, little did she know, was actually Izuru Kamukura all along—while she was hanging out outside the Lodge in Hotel Mirai. Ever so strict and uptight with men, Mahiru wasted no time lecturing Hajime, who recoiled in fear as she described the group's must-have task—gathering Hope Fragments—before they could leave the island. Despite her attitude, Mahiru admitted that she was concerned at first due to suddenly being transported into a strange tropical island. However, her fears gradually faded as she explored the island and interacted with other students.

Danganronpa 2 CG - Everyone at the beach (1)

Mahiru playing at the beach with everyone.

After Usami, the observer of the school trip, an AI programmed by the Future Foundation, reassured the students that they shouldn't be worried and even gave Mahiru and the others their swimsuits, Mahiru couldn't contain her excitement and went swimming with the rest of the group on the beach. Following Usami's suggestion that they throw a party, Mahiru enthusiastically suggests a campfire.

However, just as Mahiru was starting to get excited about the "school trip," she learned that it had been set up by the evil animatronic bear, Monokuma, the self-proclaimed headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy but was actually an artificial intelligence who had taken over the Neo World Program.

Danganronpa 2 CG - The Imposter eating while Akane and Mahiru watch

Mahiru scolding Akane and the Imposter at the party.

Despite the challenges posed by the Killing School Trip, Mahiru's determination to do what's best for everyone shines through. She maintains her rigorous attitude toward men, particularly the cowardly Ultimate Mechanic, Kazuichi Soda, whom she had to drag off from his room to the hotel restaurant to kick off the meeting. At the meeting, Mahiru disagreed with the Ultimate Imposter (who was pretending to be Byakuya Togami) and did not want them to be the group's leader since, in her opinion, they were too annoyingly aggressive. She had a preference for Sonia and attempted to persuade her to take the lead, primarily because she believed that Sonia's status as the "Ultimate Princess" qualified her for the position. However, Sonia informed her that her position is merely for "decoration" and that and that a leader would have protected their men, something the Imposter appeared willing to do. It was for this reason that Mahiru grudgingly acknowledged the Imposter as the leader.

Danganronpa 2 CG - Mahiru Koizumi's layout of the lodge

The old lodge layout by Mahiru.

As the official leader, Ultimate Imposter, suggested holding a party at the old lodge, Mahiru offered to take pictures. The whole time she didn't realize that the party was thrown to save her and the others from Nagito Komaeda's, the Ultimate Lucky Student, murderous plan. Amidst the lively party, a blackout happened at the party, and Mahiru was sent to a state of shock after discovering the body of Ultimate Imposter under the table thereafter. Despite the initial argument that they had, Mahiru had already considered the Ultimate Imposter as a friend, and that's why she became determined in solving their murder and encouraged Hajime to do the same. She made use of photos she had shot at the party and had even planned them out so that everyone could see the room's condition before the blackout. The students use this photo to piece together the events leading up to the Class Trial when Nagito is revealed to have planned the blackout and to discover that the Ultimate Cook, Teruteru Hanamura, was actually the one responsible for the murder of the Ultimate Imposter. Mahiru and the others, minus Teruteru who was later executed by Monokuma, survived the first Class Trial.

People were furious and began to despise Nagito after they found out he directly caused the death of the Imposter and Teruteru, most notably, Kazuichi and the Ultimate Team Manager, Nekomaru Nidai, who bound Nagito in the ancient lodge. The equally upset but sympathetic Mahiru, thought that they were going too far and that the group shouldn't let Nagito starve to death. Despite her best intentions, she ended up giving up on feeding Nagito breakfast since she was so irritated with him. Instead, Mahiru forced Hajime to deliver Nagito the food she had already prepared, and went on to spend time together with Hiyoko. In fact, Mahiru and Hiyoko's friendship blossoms on the very same day after she was willing to help Hiyoko solve her problem by showering with her and teaching her how to tie her kimono obi. They became close, just as they had when they were students at Hope's Peak Academy. Creator Kazutaka Kodaka later explained that Hiyoko's school memories with Mahiru are very precious to her, which is why she became close to her despite losing her memories in the Neo World Program.[7]

Twilight Syndrome Murder Case[]

Twilight Syndrome Murder Case Corpse Discovery

Mahiru (Girl D) and others discovered a girl's (Natsumi) corpse.

Mahiru's attempt to feed Nagito wasn't her last encounter with him. In fact, Mahiru met with Nagito again, who later encouraged her to play the second motive that Monokuma has prepared, the Twilight Syndrome Murder Case. Mahiru decided to not play it until she received a file filled with real-life photos from Fuyuhiko, who won the prize as he was the first one to attain the game's true ending. Unbeknownst to Mahiru, the game is based on the real-life murder case of Natsumi Kuzuryu, Fuyuhiko's sister, and her late best friend, Sato, so it includes everyone involved in the murder as game characters. Mahiru, for example, plays the role of Girl D, alongside Hiyoko, Mikan, and Ibuki, who were among the students who found Natsumi's body. After finishing the game, Mahiru learned that the player character Guy F—the person who killed Sato—was actually Fuyuhiko, who sought revenge for his sister's murder. Depressed and terrified by what the game showed her, Mahiru spends her last days trying to gather the other girls in the game to discuss it.

Mahiru's Fate[]

Danganronpa 2 Chapter 2 - Closing Argument Act 1

While Mahiru and Hiyoko were discussing the motive, Peko quietly listened in.

Hiyoko was the only one to accept Mahiru's invitation to the beach house; Mikan declined, and Ibuki—who had accepted—was later advised by Mahiru not to go since she and Mikan were already scheduled to go on Sonia's girls-only swimming trip. After this, Mikan felt immense remorse and even blamed herself for indirectly allowing the impending tragedy, and Ibuki felt guilty too that she would later hold a concert in Mahiru's honor. While Mahiru and Hiyoko were about to talk about the Twilight Syndrome murder case, Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman, who had been working as Fuyuhiko's hitwoman behind the scenes before and during the Killing School Trip, overheard them. Determined to let her young master escape the killing game, Peko devised a scheme to ruin Mahiru and Hiyoko's rendezvous. She promptly sent them a false message to pull it off. Peko instructed Hiyoko to meet Mahiru at Beach House at 2:00 p.m. in a message signed by Mahiru, and at 2:30 p.m., Peko sent a message signed by Hiyoko to Mahiru.

Danganronpa 2 CG - Mahiru Koizumi's body discovery

Mahiru's body.

Arriving at the beach home at precisely 2:30 p.m., Mahiru found herself embroiled in a dispute with Fuyuhiko on the current motive. She told him it was wrong to kill Sato just for revenge, which made Fuyuhiko furious. Similar to the final scene in Twilight Syndrome Murder Case, where a metal bat was used to bludgeon Sato to death, Peko struck Mahiru in the head with the same murder weapon right before Fuyuhiko intervened, preventing Fuyuhiko from carrying out the same deed. Without experiencing any pain, Mahiru died instantly. Peko promptly sent her young master out from the crime scene and placed Mahiru's corpse on the door facing the road. This was done to stop Hiyoko, who had been drugged earlier by Peko, from leaving through that door. Peko then placed the mask of the Sun Witch ♪ Esper Ito next to Mahiru's body as her "calling card." Hiyoko who was left unconscious in the closet of the beach house during this time soon woke up, saw Mahiru's body, and escaped the beach house via the front door.

Thanks to Hajime, Nagito, and Chiaki's efforts—and to Hiyoko's testimony—the truth behind Mahiru's death is brought to light. It is also important to note that Fuyuhiko also refused the claim that Peko was acting as his mere tool, which meant that everyone's vote for Peko was valid. Peko remorsefully apologizes for taking Mahiru's life and begs the class not to let anyone else die like her again shortly before she was executed by Monokuma.

Danganronpa 2 CG - Mahiru Koizumi's photo effigy

Mahiru's memorial.

Following Mahiru's passing, Hiyoko erected a shrine to her using photographs that Mahiru had taken in gratitude for her kindness and memory. The fact that the memorial exudes a "creepy and unsettling" aura is beside the point, according to Chiaki, who emphasized that the creator had good intentions. Apologizing for the memorial's appearance, Hiyoko begins to cry and confesses she created it out of concern that Mahiru would be lonely. Hiyoko then asks for them to not burn it, to which the others agree, keeping it up for Hiyoko and Mahiru's sake.

Later on, Fuyuhiko who was involved in Mahiru's murder showed his remorse by attempting Seppuku. In his Free Time Events, Fuyuhiko mentioned that the first thing he would do if he were to survive the Killing School Trip was to hold a funeral for Mahiru, Peko, and Natsumi. It was later found that Mahiru and others who had "died" on the Killing School Trip were in a comatose state, therefore Fuyuhiko was relieved of the responsibility of holding her funeral.

Post-Killing School Trip[]

After Alter Ego Junko—the mastermind behind the Killing School Trip—was defeated, Mahiru lay in a coma for a while. However, she and the others were revived by Izuru Kamukura, who had now merged with Hajime's personality and memories.

As shown in Danganronpa 2.5: Nagito Komaeda and the World Vanquisher, Mahiru who was now alive and awake from Neo World Program, boarded the boat with the rest of Class 77-B and they all then headed for the Future Foundation HQ, to stop the Final Killing Game involving Future Foundation leaders.

Resurrection and atonement[]

Main article: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Hope Arc
Koizumi Mioda high five

Mahiru and Ibuki's teamwork.

Mahiru and her classmates arrived at the island where the Future Foundation's off-shore facility was located, having left from Jabberwock Island. Having rescued Byakuya Togami and Yasuhiro Hagakure, two members of the Future Foundation and survivors of the Killing School Life, from beneath the rubble, the group set out to confront their one and only classmate, Ryota Mitarai, the Ultimate Animator, who Junko had coerced into creating the brainwashing video that transformed Mahiru and the others into the Ultimate Despair. Unlike Mahiru and the rest, he avoided being turned into Ultimate Despair due to his contribution. Thus, the Class 77-B's fight with the brainwashed rescue squad troops, including the Former Super High School Level Elite Task Force, began.

Venturing into the underwater facility beneath the main building, Ibuki played on her electric guitar to a crowd of brainwashed rescue squad troops, rendering them unconscious with the sheer pain of her music. She is saved by Mahiru who quashed the efforts of the former Super High School Level Marksman who was taking aim for a shot at Ibuki. The flash of Mahiru's camera caused temporary blindness for the squad member, enabling Mahiru to remove her noise canceling headphones and causing her to fall unconscious. Mahiru and Ibuki share a high five once all squad members are unconscious.

Class 77-B acting

Remnants of Despair's atonement.

Later, Mahiru helped convince Ryota to abandon his plan to brainwash the world. When Hajime began persuading him to join them in atonement, Mahiru happily accepted Ryota into the group.

Shortly afterward, Mahiru and the other former Remnants of Despair shoulder the blame for the Final Killing Game in a broadcast to the Future Foundation, presenting themselves in their despair persona and relieving the organization of any wrongdoing. With the battle won, Mahiru and the Class 77-B return to Jabberwock island by boat, and she was seen celebrating with her closest friends: Hiyoko, Mikan, and Ibuki.

Real Fiction[]

Danganronpa V3 Tsumugi Shirogane Halfbody Sprite (Mahiru Koizumi) (2)

Mahiru cosplayed by Tsumugi Shirogane.

Main article: Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

In Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, it is alleged by the mastermind Tsumugi Shirogane, the Ultimate Cosplayer, that the entire Danganronpa franchise is fictional in-universe; a series of games, anime, and later live-action dramas performed actors. In particular, Tsumugi, who is the Ultimate Cosplayer, claims she is only able to cosplay fictional characters (breaking out into a bright pink rash whenever she tries to cosplay a real person), and the fact she is able to cosplay as the whole cast of Danganronpa characters including Mukuro Ikusaba is used as evidence to support her claim that all of the cast are fictional. However, due to a number of holes in Tsumugi's story which make her an unreliable narrator, whether or not she was telling the truth is deliberately left up to the player's interpretation; as a result, it is up to the player whether they believe Mahiru's story within the Danganronpa series was real, or a fictional story written by Team Danganronpa and performed by an actor.

Creation and development[]

Danganronpa 2 Character Concept - 1.2 Reload Art Book (33)

According to the creator, Kazutaka Kodaka, Mahiru's "genericness" and "realisticness" as a high school student—design and personality-wise—become her greatest appeals when grouped with the more eccentric characters.[8] Additionally, he reveals that he assigned her the title Ultimate Photographer as part of a murder plot he had already devised.

Mahiru's character design was in fact, used as a base for all Danganronpa 2 characters by the character designer, Rui Komatsuzaki during the very early stages of the game's production. The concept for Mahiru's design originated from Komatsuzaki's vision of a female protagonist in Danganronpa 2, before the developers had a firm grasp on the plot of the first game's sequel.[8] At the time, his concept for the protagonist was based on Mahiru's original beta design, which included a "girl not that pretty" with red bob hair and white clothes. Despite the protagonist's proposal being rejected in less than two seconds[8], he persisted in using it as a template for a female character until they finally landed on her present role, and Mahiru Koizumi was finally allowed to see the light of day. Komatsuzaki agreed with Kodaka that she sticks out for being ordinary because she is constantly surrounded by dense designs.

Interestingly enough, in an interview with Kodaka and Danganronpa 3's animation producer, Yuji Higa, from the Otomedia Winter 2016 issue, Kodaka revealed that Mahiru would be a good protagonist of a Danganronpa 3 spinoff due to her serious personality. She would probably think about how she and the former members of Ultimate Despair have to carry their sin.[9]

Alongside Kodaka and Komatsuzaki, Yū Kobayashi, Mahiru's Japanese voice actress, made a comment on her character:

"Mahiru Koizumi is a normal girl that feels like the only decent person in that crowd of quirky characters. She's like the class president who likes to take care of others, being especially kind and considerate to the girls. But as much as she's good to the girls, she's cold and even harsh to the boys (laughs). I think her most likable trait is that she's a realistic girl you can find anywhere. Enjoy the photographer girl's 'Say cheese!' voice clip."[8]

Name[]

Her last name (小泉) literally translates to "little fountain", while her first name (真昼) means "midday", or "broad daylight". Kodaka says that Mahiru is a favorite name of his because it conveys positivity and passion, which is indicative of her charater.[8]

Alternate Fates[]

Island Mode and Ultimate Talent Development Plan exist in two separate alternate universes where Mahiru still attends Hope's Peak Academy, but no students are in peril. As they are alternate universes, these events are non-canonical, but because Mahiru's personality is unchanged, backstory information shared by her in these events is considered questionably or dubiously canonical rather than fully non-canonical.

Free Time Events are also considered somewhat questionably canonical due to the nature of how Free Time Events are accessed (in that some characters' Free Time Events cannot be fully completed during the course of the canon game storyline due to limitations on the number of interactions you can have with them during one playthrough, and thus can only be accessed after they have canonically died either through a second playthrough or via Island Mode). However, due to Free Time Events being largely experienced during the canon game storyline, Free Time Events are more grounded in canon than Island Mode and Ultimate Talent Development Plan and are largely considered canon by the majority of players.

Appearance[]

Mahiru Koizumi Fullbody Sprite (1)
Danganronpa 2 Character Design Profile Mahiru Koizumi

Mahiru has fair skin with light freckles flecked across her cheeks. She has vivid red hair cut in a short, smooth bob, with choppy bangs. Her eyes are a rather dark olive green.

She wears a white uniform dress shirt with short sleeves and a chest pocket, with a red-and-white plaid tie at her collar. On top of this, she wears an olive green school jumper with a pleated skirt. Her legwear consists of a darker olive knee-high socks with lighter colored lines running around the cuff, with olive-black flat sneakers with white laces and soles. Her former school's symbol can be found on her shirt's sleeves, her jumper's chest, and her socks' cuffs. Mahiru can be seen with a black digital camera, appearing to be modeled after a Canon product, but with no discernable specific brand. It is hung around her body with an orange strap, a thin yellow line running through the center, attached with silver buckles.

During her high school years, she wore the standard Hope's Peak Academy uniform with black knee-high socks and the same shoes she wore in her first appearance. Her hair appears to be slightly shorter and thinner.

As a member of the Ultimate Despair, she wore a white, short-sleeved, collarless t-shirt with a pair of denim shorts and thigh-high socks of a dark color. She appears to be wearing the same shoes as she wore in her first appearance. She is equipped with a black photography satchel that is hung around her body, and the same camera that she usually carries around with her on the daily.

Personality[]

Mahiru is a sensible and optimistic girl who is generally rather calm and unafraid to speak her mind. She initially comes off as confident but is later revealed to have self-esteem issues. It is evidenced by Mahiru's constant comparing of her photographs to those of her mother, a famous war photographer whose career led her to be absent from home for much of Mahiru's life. However, she finds it frustrating since others too always compare her style to her mother's, and that despite her love for photography, she feels her title is stupid compared to her classmates. Meanwhile, unlike her successful mother, her father was a very poor parent, leaving the responsibility of the housework entirely to her. When Hajime was being scolded by Mahiru, he likened it to being yelled at by his mom.

Mahiru has high expectations of men and is quick to be abrasive towards them. She is much more tolerant and friendly to girls. In the original Japanese, she refers the girls in her class with their first name and "-chan" honorifics, while she refers the guys casually with their last name only. The subjects of her photos are usually of girls and explains that she easily gets bored of photographing guys. She loves taking photos of people's smiles, and it's revealed in her Free Time Events that she recorded everything in Jabberwock Island so that they won't forget, except for the guys which she only recorded once every three days.

Mahiru is also known for being protective, loving, and incredibly tolerant, especially towards girls, which is demonstrated by her friendship with Hiyoko, Mikan, and Ibuki. With Hiyoko, although they are the same age, Mahiru treats Hiyoko like a younger sister and becomes very close to her, even assisting her with her clothes. Mahiru shows much patience and kindness with Hiyoko, despite Hiyoko's clinginess and frequent immature behavior. As a result, Mahiru became Hiyoko's favorite and one of the few people she genuinely loves and respects and vice versa; she even started calling her "Big Sis." Since Mahiru is so tolerant, she becomes close friends with Hiyoko despite the fact that Hiyoko has terrible manners most of the time. However, Mahiru does scold Hiyoko occasionally for making disrespectful comments. Mahiru, unlike Hiyoko, is extremely kind to Mikan since she knows how shy she is. Mahiru expresses more concern for Mikan than anyone else, although she is also surprised by everyone else's clumsiness. Mahiru says Mikan takes "skill" to tumble into awkward poses. When Mikan fell into a compromising position, Mahiru would try to cheer her up by telling her to be careful next time; she would also be furious at anyone who made fun of her or threatened her. She also gets along well with Ibuki who does have contrasting personalities with her.

Mahiru wants to help as many people as she can, but it'd be a mistake to call her a pushover. She doesn't hesitate to scold those who are rude to her and is also really good at taking care of people although never failing to complain about it. She's also a highly empathetic person even caring about those who treated her poorly as shown by her utter regret over Natsumi's murder and trying to make amends with Fuyuhiko despite both of them mistreating her. Even though she was upset with Nagito for what occurred to Teruteru and the Ultimate Imposter, she was the first to bring him food and worry about him being chained in the old lodge, demonstrating her empathic personality.

When confronted with injustice, Mahiru's sympathetic character, raw emotions, and unwavering sense of justice are on full display. This is demonstrated when she finds the body of the Ultimate Imposter and allows her grief to drive her resolve to uncover who murdered them. Another example is when, despite Fuyuhiko's reputation for aggression and violence, Mahiru confronts him about Sato's death and tells him that vengeance is wrong for whatever reason. This is all the more striking when one considers that by that time, Mahiru still had her school memories of Sato erased and relied solely on the information presented in the game.

Talent[]

Ultimate Photographer[]

Danganronpa 2 Mahiru Koizumi English Game Introduction

From a young age, Mahiru was inspired to become a photographer like her mother, who was a famous war photographer. Despite being young, she won numerous photographer awards and became famous for her skill at taking portraits. Mahiru's core belief as a photographer is photos depict everything. Whether it's beautiful or horrible, it's the duty of a photographer to keep taking photos, which is why in any kind of situation, Mahiru doesn't mind snapping photos. However, Mahiru has been shown to dislike selfies.

Even though she is specialized in multiple photography categories, Mahiru's favorite involves taking portraits of smiling people. She could take a perfect shot of someone's smile and according to Hajime, he never saw someone smile so bright and heartwarming until he saw Mahiru's photos. Traveling the world and capturing the joy on the faces of people from different backgrounds has long been her dream as well. Despite that, she expressed her dislike towards boys by not taking many pictures of them.

Compared to her mother's theme, Mahiru's is considered too conventional and many people don't really care to judge it and expected her to take pictures of different objects, as they believe that she could produce more "amazing" results. She became tired of receiving constant insincere compliments to her photos, such as "amazing" and "awesome". This is why Mahiru felt both bashful and touched when Hajime said that looking at her photos let him "realize what's actually important in front of you". As a result of this remark, Mahiru was grateful that Hajime tried to take her picture during her last Free Time Event per her request, even though the result was "goofy," according to her. The shot remains a favorite of hers, and she went so far as to say she likes it as much as photos her mom would take, complimenting it as "a record of myself as you see me," mirroring Hajime's heartfelt comment.

Despite being the Ultimate Photographer, Mahiru doesn't have many pictures of herself.

Ultimate Photographer official translations in other languages
Language Talent Translation
日本語 Japanese 超高校級の「写真家」 Super High School Level Photographer
français French La Photographe Ultime The Ultimate Photographer *
Ultime Photographe Ultimate Photographer *
Deutsch German Super-Highschool-Fotografin Super Highschool Photographer *
italiano Italian Super Fotografa Liceale Super High School Level Photographer *
nci Spanish (Mexico) Superfotografa de preparatoria Super High School Photographer *
português do Brasil Portuguese (Brazil) Super Colegial Fotógrafa Super High School Photographer *

Free Time Events & Bonus Mode Guides[]

The links below are full transcripts and in depth guides for Mahiru Koizumi's relationship routes in Free Time Events, Island Mode, Ultimate Talent Development Plan, and Danganronpa S Development Mode including her MonoMono Machine Present preferences and most effective dialogue options.

DR2 Present 126 Mahiru's Undergarments Danganronpa 2 Island Mode Trip Ticket Danganronpa 2 Island Mode Mahiru Koizumi Pixel Icon (1) DRS Development Icon
Free Time Events Island Mode Ultimate Talent
Development Plan
Danganronpa S
Development Mode

Quotes[]

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (English)

Prologue:

  • "Let's see... I'm Mahiru Koizumi. I'll be counting on you from now on."
  • "I'm eager to get along with everyone so we can get off this island, but I was worried things wouldn't go well."
  • "Sorry to disappoint you, but I've already made a mental note to remember you as "Unreliable Hajime". It's gonna be tough for you to change my mind. You better man up and try even harder to do your best!"

Chapter 1:

  • "Hey, straigten up a little more! Shouldn't a man like you be embarrassed to walk like that?"
  • "She's beyond being just a clumsy girl. That fall of hers was like a magic trick or something..."
  • "Hey! You may talk like you're tough, wiseguy, but you wouldn't be here unless you were scared, too! I guess even a big bad yakuza like you must've been scared of that monster, huh?"
  • "I had a lot on my mind, and I don't know if I'll ever get the answers I'm looking for..."
  • "Even cleaning has its limits..."
  • "E-Everyone, calm down! We gotta stay calm in a situation like this!"
  • "I don't have enough confidence to investigate the body...and it's not like I have the brains either... I'll just stay by Byakuya's side. That's the least I can do. That's what guard duty is, right?"
  • "Something like this...is the only thing we can do in order to stay alive..."
  • "I don't like it either but...we won't survive...if we don't go through with it."
  • "Getting cheered up by a boy isn't like me at all!"
  • "Anyway...I won't dwell on it for now. I can't become a burden to everyone. You better work hard on your investigation too! How much longer are you planning to stand around? Do you understand what's going on? You gotta find out how Byakuya died."
  • "You... How can you say something so irresponsible...!? We've been doing our best to investigate this murder, even though we don't want to, just to survive!"
  • "C-Complaining won't get us anywhere! If you're really a man, then man up for god's sake! We've come this far... We have no choice but to keep moving forward..."
  • "Hey, weren't you guys taught any basic manners!? Or were you raised in a locker room!?"
  • "Hey, what's the deal? Don't butt into other people's business, especially if you didn't do any investigating."
  • "It's scary but...doing our best is our only option. There's no way I'm doing what Nagito said."
  • "Hey! Why are you threatening her?!"

Chapter 2:

  • "Of course! Escaping from this island is our main goal!"
  • "Jeez, this goes for Fuyuhiko too, but...you boys should really get a hold of yourselves!"
  • "S-So what? Don't say things that don't make sense!"
  • "Even though I think what Teruteru did was stupid, it'd be bad if I allowed Monokuma to influence me, too. That's right, I'm never gonna follow Monokuma's orders...!"
  • "I know you like video games, but if you don't get out in the sun more, you'll get sick. And you know, it's important to get to know the others better too! So let's play games outside. I'm sure they have stuff like jump rope and bamboo-copter at the supermarket. Then you can play with us after breakfast. Good deeds should be done quickly, as they say."
  • "Jeez, all this fighting... I can tell it's not going to be easy in the future..."
  • "But regardless, I will never kill anyone. I mean, it's impossible."
  • "N-No. It's fine. It's important that everyone gets along anyway! Just tell them I'm not feeling well... Plus...it doesn't have to be today. There's...always tomorrow..." (to Ibuki)
  • "The fact that your sister was killed is terrible... It's unfortunate...but... You shouldn't have killed that girl! You had no right do to that! Nobody has the right to judge others for their crimes! Revenge...is just wrong!"

Chapter 5:

  • "48805:/:lf~|@;:wanttomakeamends;l"----?*saycheeseL68(smile:$2243+Leveryo*ne" (Mahiru's cottage post fifth-trial)
  • "It's so unreliable to be freaked out like that... You're a man, aren't you?"

Free Time Events:

  • "I want a record that right now, we're all living together in this place... It's pretty simple...but in this kind of situation, it's easy for us to forget that, you know? So I decided to make a record of everyone each day so we won't forget."
  • "Words like "awesome" and "amazing" aren't words of praise at all. They sound half-assed and insincere... I really hate when people say stuff like that."
  • "Photos depict everything, whether it's beautiful or horrible. That's the truth contained in these images... That's why no matter what situation we're in, it's a photographer's duty to keep taking photos. ..That's basically what my mom taught me."
  • "Actually, I don't know what to do. Is it really okay for me to just keep taking photos of the world I live in...? I want to visit different worlds and take pictures of people's sparkling smiles there, just like my mom... But I guess life isn't so simple. I mean, if I go overseas, my dad's gonna be all alone..."
  • "I never erase a photo once I take it. That's my policy. No matter what kind of photo it is, the moment captured in it only exists at that time."
  • "No matter what the photographer does, it's the subject that needs to ready themselves."

Island Mode:

  • "A blue sky and people's smiles are my favorite pairing."
  • "Proper subjects have to have facial expressions! Compared to that thing, Usami's a much better choice!"
  • "Well that's obvious! Anyone who would take photos during a movie doesn't deserve to hold a camera!"
  • "Since there's some weird things on this island, it's better to be safe than sorry..."
  • "You're right. I need to do my best."
  • "After meeting you, I feel like I was able to find myself, you know? A version of myself that I never would've discovered if I was just taking pictures on my own..."
  • "If you weren't here with me, I... I wouldn't have realized something important. This feeling of cherishing someone like this... I feel like I forgot about it this whole time. So... Thank you... really. Thank you for finding me."

Ultimate Talent Development Plan:

  • "Geez...you're a boy, y'know? That means you need to get your act together. Well, maybe you're just nice to a fault... But that's better than being a jerk like most boys. I support your goal of becoming a gentleman. Set a good example for the other boys, okay?"
  • "Miu...this match won't be fair if you use your inventions! You can't rely on them all the time!"

Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Despair Arc (English)

Episode 09:

  • "I can't stay here, waiting all by myself."

List of appearances[]

Merchandise[]

The link below lists all official licensed merchandise featuring Mahiru Koizumi:

Trivia[]

References[]


Navigation[]

v  e
GAME CHARACTERS
Monokuma Units MonokumaMonomiShirokumaKurokumaMonokuma Kubs (Monotaro, Monosuke, Monophanie, Monokid, Monodam)
Danganronpa:
Trigger Happy Havoc
Makoto NaegiAoi AsahinaAlter EgoByakuya TogamiCelestia LudenbergChihiro FujisakiGenocide JackHifumi YamadaJin KirigiriJunko EnoshimaKiyotaka IshimaruKyoko KirigiriLeon KuwataMondo OwadaMukuro IkusabaSakura OgamiSayaka MaizonoToko FukawaYasuhiro Hagakure
Danganronpa 2:
Goodbye Despair
Hajime HinataAkane OwariByakuya TogamiChiaki NanamiFour Dark Devas of DestructionFuyuhiko KuzuryuGundham TanakaHiyoko SaionjiIbuki MiodaJunko EnoshimaKazuichi SodaMahiru KoizumiMikan TsumikiMonobeastsNagito KomaedaNatsumi KuzuryuNekomaru NidaiPeko PekoyamaSonia NevermindSatoTeruteru Hanamura
Danganronpa
Another Episode:
Ultra Despair Girls
Komaru NaegiToko FukawaGenocide JackJataro KemuriKotoko UtsugiMasaru DaimonMonaca TowaNagisa ShingetsuHaiji TowaHiroko HagakureHit List TargetsIzuru KamukuraThe ServantTaichi FujisakiYuta Asahina
Danganronpa V3:
Killing Harmony
Kaede AkamatsuAngie YonagaExisalsGonta GokuharaHimiko YumenoKaito MomotaK1-B0Kirumi TojoKokichi OmaKorekiyo ShingujiMaki HarukawaMiu IrumaRantaro AmamiRyoma HoshiShuichi SaiharaTenko ChabashiraTsumugi Shirogane
For minor characters, see: Minor Characters
v  e
ANIME CHARACTERS
Danganronpa:
The Animation
Makoto NaegiMonokumaAoi AsahinaAlter EgoByakuya TogamiCelestia LudenbergChihiro FujisakiGenocide JackHifumi YamadaJin KirigiriJunko EnoshimaKiyotaka IshimaruKyoko KirigiriLeon KuwataMondo OwadaMukuro IkusabaSakura OgamiSayaka MaizonoToko FukawaYasuhiro Hagakure
Danganronpa 3:
End of Hope's
Peak High School
Future Arc
Main Characters Makoto NaegiAoi AsahinaByakuya TogamiChisa YukizomeDaisaku BandaiGreat GozuJuzo SakakuraKazuo TenganKoichi KizakuraKyoko KirigiriKyosuke MunakataMiaya GekkogaharaMonaca TowaMonokumaMonomiRuruka AndoRyota MitaraiSeiko KimuraSonosuke IzayoiYasuhiro Hagakure
Minor Characters Komaru NaegiToko FukawaGenocide JackWarriors of Hope
Danganronpa 3:
End of Hope's
Peak High School
Despair Arc
Main Characters Junko EnoshimaMukuro IkusabaIzuru KamukuraAkane OwariChiaki NanamiChisa YukizomeFuyuhiko KuzuryuGundham TanakaHiyoko SaionjiIbuki MiodaKazuichi SodaMahiru KoizumiMikan TsumikiNagito KomaedaNekomaru NidaiPeko PekoyamaRyota MitaraiSuper High School Level ImposterSonia NevermindTeruteru Hanamura
Minor Characters Jin KirigiriJuzo SakakuraKazuo TenganKoichi KizakuraKyosuke MunakataNatsumi KuzuryuSatoThe Student Council
Danganronpa
2.5
Main Characters Nagito KomaedaFuyuhiko KuzuryūKazuichi SōdaMikan TsumikiPeko PekoyamaSonia NevermindWorld Vanquisher
Minor Characters Akane OwariChisa YukizomeGundham TanakaHajime HinataHiyoko SaionjiIbuki MiodaMahiru KoizumiMakoto NaegiNekomaru NidaiRuruka AndoRyota MitaraiSayaka MaizonoSeiko KimuraSuper High School Level ImposterSonosuke IzayoiTeruteru Hanamura
For minor characters, see: Minor Characters
v  e
NOVEL CHARACTERS
Danganronpa Zero Ryoko OtonashiYasuke MatsudaChihiro FujisakiIsshiki MadaraiIzuru KamukuraJin KirigiriJunko EnoshimaKyoko KirigiriMakoto NaegiMukuro IkusabaThe Steering CommitteeSōshun MurasameThe Student CouncilYuto Kamishiro
Danganronpa Kirigiri Kyoko KirigiriYui SamidareDetective Library membersFuhito KirigiriGekka RyuzōjiHajiki YakiJin KirigiriLicorneMikado Shinsen • Nazuna Tooakitsu • Norman's Hotel Murder Case participantsSachi MizuiyamaSae YozuruSalvador Fukuro YadorigiSuisei NanamuraTadashi AsakuraTōkichirō Endō • Tsukiyo Nada
Kirigiriso Kyoko Kirigiri • Kouhei Matsudaira • Santa ShikibaKyouka
Danganronpa: Togami Byakuya Togami • Blue InkAloysius PennyworthSuisei NanamuraTaeko KanaiUltimate Imposter
Short Stories Danganronpa:
Trigger Happy Havoc IF
Mukuro IkusabaJunko EnoshimaAoi AsahinaByakuya TogamiCelestia LudenbergChihiro FujisakiGenocide JackHifumi YamadaKiyotaka IshimaruKyoko KirigiriLeon KuwataMakoto NaegiMondo OwadaMonokumaSakura OgamiSayaka MaizonoToko FukawaYasuhiro Hagakure
Makoto Naegi Secret File Makoto NaegiKomaru NaegiJin Kirigiri
Ultra Despair Hagakure Yasuhiro HagakureKanon NakajimaKotoko UtsugiMasaru DaimonLeon Kuwata
Danganronpa:
Danganronpa 1 ・2 Beautiful Days
MonokumaMonomiAkane OwariAoi AsahinaByakuya TogamiCelestia LudenbergChiaki NanamiChihiro FujisakiFuyuhiko KuzuryūGundam TanakaHajime HinataHifumi YamadaHiyoko SaionjiIbuki MiodaKazuichi SōdaKiyotaka IshimaruKyōko KirigiriLeon KuwataMahiru KoizumiMakoto NaegiMikan TsumikiMondo ŌwadaMukuro IkusabaNagito KomaedaNekomaru NidaiPeko PekoyamaSakura ŌgamiSayaka MaizonoSonia NevermindTeruteru HanamuraTōko FukawaYasuhiro Hagakure
For minor characters, see: Minor Characters
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