Sayu, Shuumatsuban's resident ninja, is obsessed with sleeping and growing taller.
She has mastered all kinds of ninjutsu to run away and hide in pursuit of opportunities to laze around and sleep.
Such an extraordinary skillset may have very unexpected uses.—Description from the Official Website[1]
Personality
A pint-sized ninja attached to the Shuumatsuban, who always seems sleep-deprived.
—In-game character attributes page text
Sayu is a seemingly eternally sleep-deprived ninja who uses her skills to hide from work and responsibilities. Her height is something she's deeply unsatisfied with, believing that sleep can replenish all her energy and help her grow taller.[2] In order to live by this principle and have as much time to nap as possible, she honed her ninjutsu to perfection.
While she is particularly renowned for her apparent laziness, the members of the Shuumatsuban know that she is loyal to their cause as she would never go against their principles[3] and wouldn't slack off on extremely important matters. Ayaka believes that Sayu's laziness came from her sensei's abrupt departure, as she looked up to them and when they left, became lost and confused.
Of course, from Sayu's point of view, this so-called "laziness" is just better time allocation which allows her to focus on things... like sleeping and growing taller.[1] She does not like it when people pat her head, believing that doing so impedes her growth. She tolerates headpats from both the Traveler and Yae Miko, although the latter is out of fear of retaliation by the Guuji.
While a particularly skilled ninja, Sayu usually handles reconnaissance and other miscellaneous tasks. While she is trained in combat, the arts she learned were mostly intended for stealth and evasion. She appreciates the Traveler's company, willing to work harder for their sake.[4] While dressed as a mujina, who she finds extremely adorable, Sayu becomes angered whenever people call her a tanuki, even going as far as to attack them.[5]
Appearance
Sayu uses the short female model and is said to be pint-sized.[6] She has short beige hair and reddish eyes.
Official Introduction
A dreaming companion that leaves no traces behind
Are you in a hurry to find Sayu? Oh, I see, she is usually hiding in the trees in the afternoons. I have my own ways of finding her, so please let me know if you need help... Oh, but if I interfere, then I will deny you the pleasure of finishing this task on your own, won't I?
A pint-sized, agile ninja associated with the Shiyuumatsu-Ban.
Height has never been one of Sayu's strengths... She stopped growing a long time ago, long enough that she feels like she is trapped in a dream where time has stopped.
Why aren't I growing taller? Am I not getting enough sleep?
And just like that, the pint-sized ninja who awoke to this thought drifted off to sleep again.
Sayu firmly believes that sleep can replenish all her energy and help her grow taller. In order to live by this principle and have as much time to nap as possible, she honed her ninjutsu to perfection.
Fleeing, hiding, transforming... Sayu is the master of all ninjutsu techniques. An unsuspecting leaf or a bucket? It might be just one of Sayu's many disguises!
As a result, if the Shiyuumatsu-Ban needs Sayu's help, they need to commit all efforts to finding her first.
Of course, from Sayu's point of view, this so-called "laziness" is just better time allocation which allows her to focus on things... like sleeping and growing taller.
Character Stories
Character Details
Most Inazumans are unaware of the existence of the Shuumatsuban. In fact, the Shuumatsuban is a secret organization under the Yashiro Commission.
There is also a little ninja who goes by the name of Sayu in the Shuumatsuban, and this fact is even less known.
Sayu is a special existence in the Shuumatsuban. She has been raised in the Shuumatsuban since she was a child, and is extremely loyal to the organization.
That said, her most prominent trait is not "loyalty", but "laziness."
Lazing around is what Sayu does best. She has long mastered the various arts of ninjutsu, particularly those that help her to slack off or shirk her duties, such as escape techniques and aura concealment.
People who don't know about her habits will have to make a lot of effort to find her.
However, if you ask Sayu about her slacking, she will shrug and reply, "It's not that I'm lazy, I just want to spend my time on more meaningful things."
Character Story 1
Friendship Lv. 2
Sayu is petite and can even be described as delicate.
This is also something that bothers her —
One by one, her peers are growing taller, but she still has the stature of a child, as her height has not changed at all.
Sayu is really anxious about this matter.
Day by day, the world seems to be sprouting skyward, and only she remains small as ever.
Growing taller has gradually become an obsession in Sayu's mind.
"As long as I sleep long enough, I can definitely grow taller!"
She came to believe this ever so firmly, seizing every opportunity to sleep as much as possible, creating every opportunity and circumstance, even when there were none.
People around little Sayu often let her be, as they don't have the heart to disturb her sleep.
So now, the situation has progressed such that Sayu is able to fall asleep, even whilst standing.
Character Story 2
Friendship Lv. 3
The ninjutsu that Sayu has learned is not very powerful in combat, but it is quite useful in the matter of slacking off.
She is extremely skilled at hiding and covering her tracks, and is an expert in this area. Therefore, if she has the intention to hide, ordinary people absolutely cannot find her.
However, even the most ingenious puzzles have answers, and even the most elusive treasures have clues for people to find them. This also holds true for Sayu.
After spending enough time with Sayu, one will understand her habits and preferences. Trying to find her doesn't seem so difficult anymore.
For example, if you go to Sayu's room early in the morning and lift the covers, the odds are that you will find her in bed.
At noon, you can check out the trees near the shrine and who knows, you may find something unexpected.
It will be more challenging to find Sayu at night, but it's a good idea to go to her house and wait for her to emerge.
However, please remember not to disturb Sayu, who is busy growing taller, unless it is absolutely necessary.
Even gentle rabbits bite when provoked, let alone Sayu...
Character Story 3
Friendship Lv. 4
That said, finding Sayu doesn't mean that she can be put to work quietly.
Moreover, Sayu's work at the Shuumatsuban is not that of a fixed daily routine, but missions that pop up if and as needed.
And so, this happens:
When new missions are assigned, you won't see hide or tail of her.
By the time she has been found (and with much effort), a more suitable person has been assigned for the mission.
And in case there is no other suitable candidate other than Sayu, all the more she will try to slip away, so as not to be overwhelmed by the mission.
It's just that... If Sayu used her ninjutsu to work hard, she would have had great accomplishments in the Shuumatsuban.
Character Story 4
Friendship Lv. 5
Sayu is the last successor to the Ninjutsu Art — Yoohoo Art.
In this school of ninjutsu, which is known for teasing its enemies, Sayu has learned only ninjutsu such as escape and clone techniques.
These ninjutsu are of little use in actual combat, but have an undeniable aesthetic flair.
Amongst falling leaves, a silhouette vanishes in a flash, a gentle breeze blows, and a kite suddenly appears on the ground... The incredible scene is comparable to an artistic performance.
Thus, whenever there is a festival, Sayu will be invited by various parties to perform her mysterious ninjutsu.
If it's Yoimiya who's searching for her, Sayu can still find ways to hide.
But if the person in question is Lady Guuji Yae, resistance is futile for Sayu.
Clone techniques do nothing to fool the Lady Guuji's sharp eyes, and aura concealment doesn't help Sayu at all in escaping from the Lady Guuji's grasp.
Running for the hills is even less feasible, and might even risk angering the Lady Guuji...
Fortunately, there are very few circumstances that require Lady Guuji Yae to make a personal appearance.
Character Story 5
Friendship Lv. 6
For as long as Sayu can remember, she has been studying ninjutsu with her sensei in the Shuumatsuban.
Although the Shuumatsuban is a clandestine organization, the elders are very kind and have taken good care of young Sayu.
"Being overly reliant on others is never a good thing for a ninja."
After Sayu had reached a bottleneck in learning ninjutsu, her sensei observed her situation and thought thusly.
As the years passed, Sayu grew steadily. Once she was capable enough to defend herself, her sensei chose to leave quietly.
A young animal that leaves the protection of its parents will grow up rapidly. The same is true of the sensei's expectations for Sayu.
The young ninja did not disappoint her sensei. Soon after, Sayu obtained a Vision.
And then, she started working diligently in the Shuumatsuban... diligently shirking her duties.
Sayu is always busy sleeping and hiding from people, so in that sense, she also has a lot to do.
Occasionally, when Sayu is free and alone to enjoy the moonlight, she feels lost deep inside.
The people who have always been with you will one day leave...is this how life is meant to be?
But perhaps someday in the future, I will also meet the person who will always be with me.
Pondering the matter, the little ninja fell asleep again...
Mini Mujina
Friendship Lv. 4
Sayu's outfit is said to be a gift from her sensei.
The style references the form of a small animal — the "mujina," and Sayu's favorite colors were also specially chosen for it.
It is light and flexible, thus making it suitable for a ninja.
Sayu is especially fond of the huge hood, as it brings about a sense of security.
The long tail is designed for Sayu to maintain balance on the branches.
As for the only drawback... this outfit probably looks too much like a tanuki, and Sayu often gets misunderstood because of it.
Initially, she would seriously explain to the other party that:
"I'm not a tanuki, I'm Sayu."
However, over time, similar incidents have occurred too many times, and Sayu now bears a grudge against tanuki.
Nowadays, if such a situation happens again, Sayu will pout in anger.
So, in order to get along well with Sayu, please memorize the following:
Sayu is not a tanuki, but Sayu.
Her outfit is also not that of a tanuki's, but a mini mujina.
Vision
Friendship Lv. 6
This is the story of Sayu when she just started being on her own.
Fragile beings walking alone in this world inevitably find themselves in scary situations. The only way to understand what it's like is to have experienced it.
This is exactly what happened to Sayu. Adept at observation and evasion, she has always understood that she is not suitable for combat.
Her overly petite stature gives her no advantage in terms of strength to speak of, and her ninjutsu will not be of much use in actual combat.
Yet missions do not wait for ninjas to grow fully before descending upon them. In an era of turmoil, Sayu would also find herself in trouble because of not-so-important work.
Surrounded by strong foes, she had to do her best and barely managed to escape. It cost her almost everything to bring the information back safely.
Exhausted and wounded, Sayu was about to faint, but only one thing lingered in her mind:
"It's not only strong brute force that can overpower everything, the weak have their own way of surviving. It's because you're weak that you can notice those unseen moments that change your fate... The chances of escaping from here are slim, but that's what my ninjutsu is for."
The moment the leaves fell, she disappeared. All her pursuers were incredulous. The tiny ninja disappeared as if she were dust in the wind.
The next morning, Sayu struggled to get up, and found that the ninja pack strapped to her leg had long since disappeared.
However, a surprising object appeared in the same place instead — a Vision gleaming in the sunrise.
Now, with the power of the Vision, Sayu can wield a claymore taller than herself. She no longer has to fear the omnipresent strife of a chaotic world.
Unfortunately, Sayu's most immediate worries have not yet been resolved.
Regarding her growing taller, it seems that even a Vision is unable to do anything about it.
Namecard
| Sayu: Muji-Muji Daruma | |
|---|---|
|
Obtain: Reward for reaching Friendship Level 10 with Sayu Description: It is even smaller than Sayu, sure, but it can help her do the things she doesn't want to do. |
Constellation
| Nyctereutes Minor | |
|---|---|
 | Meaning: Lesser Tanuki |
Quests and Events
Archon Quests
- Chapter II
- Act III: Omnipresence Over Mortals
- Proof of Guilt
- The Omnipresent God (cinematic)
- Act III: Omnipresence Over Mortals
Story Quests
Hangout Events
Events
- Hues of the Violet Garden
- Akitsu Kimodameshi
- Part II: Haunted Tales
- Part III: The Currents of Life
Web Events
Character Trials
Quests
- Bottleneck Breaking in Sayu's Hangout Event: Act I - Yoohoo Art: Seichou no Jutsu
- Operation Substitution in Sayu's Hangout Event: Act I - Yoohoo Art: Seichou no Jutsu
- Shuumatsuban Suspicions in Sayu's Hangout Event: Act I - Yoohoo Art: Seichou no Jutsu
Events
- Misty Dungeon: Realm of Light
- A Study in Potions/Solitary Rampart
- Perilous Trail
- Adventurer's Trials
- Misty Dungeon: Realm of Sand
- Misty Dungeon: Realm of Water
Test Run Events
- Yoimiya, Diona, Xinyan, Sayu — 2021-08-10
- Hu Tao, Thoma, Diona, Sayu — 2021-11-02
- Kamisato Ayaka, Razor, Rosaria, Sayu — 2022-04-19
- Cyno, Venti, Candace, Kuki Shinobu, Sayu — 2022-09-28
- Raiden Shogun, Kamisato Ayato, Rosaria, Sayu, Kujou Sara — 2022-12-27
- Zhongli, Tartaglia, Freminet, Sayu — 2023-09-05
- Furina, Baizhu, Charlotte, Beidou — 2023-11-08
Character Mentions
Character Stories
| Character | Stories |
|---|---|
Character Voice-Overs
| Character | Voice-Overs |
|---|---|
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Trivia
- Sayu can wield a weapon that's double her size, thanks to the power of her Vision.
- In her official character profile page and when talking about her height problem in the Version 2.0 Special Program, HoYoverse keeps her age ambiguous by saying "all her peers of the same age have grown taller, but only she remains as tiny as before" or that she was raised in the Shuumatsuban "since she was a child."[7] However, she is still referred to as a "girl" and "child" in Kano Nana's dialogue and idle quotes, and a "kid" in Kano Nana's Healthy Diet Reputation Request.
- Sayu is mentioned in the descriptions of the following 4 Furnishings:
Etymology
- Sayu's name uses the kanji for "early/fast" (早) and "citron" (柚).
- Sayu's constellation, Nyctereutes Minor, is the New Latin for "The Lesser Tanuki."
- Nyctereutes is the genus of ferret-like canines which only includes the raccoon dog, also known as the tanuki.
- Nyctereutes derives from the Ancient Greek νυκτερευτής nuktereutḗs, meaning "one who hunts by night."
- Sayu's outfit also has the notable features of a tanuki, such as the ears, tail, and the leaf that sits atop her head.
- Despite Sayu's resemblance to a tanuki, her motif is supposedly based on the mujina, as indicated by her title "Mujina Ninja" and the name of her Muji-Muji Daruma.
- Mujina (狢) is an archaic term that mainly refers to the Japanese badger, though it is sometimes confused with the Japanese raccoon dog.
- In Japanese folklore, mujina are badger-like youkai similar to bake-danuki that are capable of shapeshifting into multiple forms, including humans. They are commonly depicted as mischievous or cunning, where they will shapeshift to trick humans in a non-malicious manner.
- In Sayu's "Yoohoo Arts", Yoohoo is from a word (Chinese: 呜呼 wūhū; Japanese: 嗚呼 aa/oko) that is an interjection to express sorrow, regret, compassion or grief, similar to "alas" or "alack"
Other Languages
Character Title: Mujina Ninja
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Mujina Ninja | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 忍里之貉 Rěnlǐ zhī Hé | Ninja Village Raccoon-Dog |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 忍里之貉 Rěnlǐ zhī Hé | |
| Japanese | 忍びの里の貉 Shinobi no Sato no Mujina | Ninja Village Raccoon-Dog |
| Korean | 닌자 너구리 Ninja Neoguri | Ninja Raccoon |
| Spanish | La Tejón Ninja | The Badger Ninja |
| French | Mujina shinobi | Mujina Shinobi |
| Russian | Мудзина- Mudzina-nindzya | — |
| Thai | นินจามูจิน่า | Mujina Ninja |
| Vietnamese | Ninja Mujina | Mujina Ninja |
| German | Mujina-Ninja | — |
| Indonesian | Mujina Ninja | — |
| Portuguese | Mujina Ninja | — |
| Turkish | Mujina Ninja | — |
| Italian | Ninja mujina | Mujina Ninja |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Official Genshin Impact Website: Sayu
- ↑ YouTube: Version 2.0 Special Program
- ↑ Hangout Event, Sayu, Act I - Yoohoo Art: Seichou no Jutsu: A Mysterious Order
- ↑ World Quest, The Very Special Fortune Slip, Part 3: Where the Dandelions Find Rest
- ↑ Arataki Itto's Voice-Over: About Sayu
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Kano Nana
- ↑ Twitter: Sayu's Character Announcement
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