Hachiware: Chiikawa’s cheerful friend (personality, birthday, key episodes)
Based on Chiifan’s Japanese character article, which checks the official anime and movie character pages. Translated on Oct 11, 2026.
Hachiware is the one with the blue pattern on the head and the big smile, almost always at Chiikawa’s side together with Usagi. On the official anime page, Hachiware comes second, right after Chiikawa. When something goes wrong, Hachiware is usually the first to look on the bright side, and that is a big part of why so many fans love this character. Below: what the official pages say, the episodes to watch, and the 19 story arcs Hachiware appears in.
- Name
- Hachiware (ハチワレ); look for the blue pattern on the head
- Anime voice
- 田中誠人 (Makoto Tanaka), Japanese anime and movie
- Birthday
- May 1, the same day as Chiikawa
- Home
- A cave (official anime profile)
- Story arcs
- Appears in 19 of the 20 arcs collected on Chiifan
What kind of character is Hachiware?
The anime site calls Hachiware “Chiikawa’s friend, bright and positive, living in a cave.” The movie site adds that Hachiware loves taking photos with a camera, cooking tasty meals and eating them, and is the type who takes good care of one thing for a long time.
- Fans often say Hachiware cheers Chiikawa on, yet gets scared and fails too, and that this is what makes the character so likable. That is a reader’s view, not an official one.
- The best place to see Hachiware’s persistence is the Weeding Exam Arc, posted from Aug 28, 2020 to Feb 6, 2023. The reading page is in Japanese, but you only need to scroll: Nagano’s X posts are lined up from top to bottom in order, 10 per page, and the 「次のページ」 (Next page) button at the bottom takes you on.
Is Hachiware a cat?
Hachiware looks a lot like a cat, but no official profile says what animal Hachiware is. According to a Japanese news report, an exhibit at the Nagano exhibition (ナガノ展) explained that Hachiware is “not a cat.”
- Hachiware’s age and gender have not been revealed.
- Hachiware’s family and origins have never been told either; living in a cave is as far as the official profile goes.
When did Hachiware first appear?
There is no announcement of the post in which Hachiware was first drawn, and the anime has no “first appearance” note either. So we only list what can be confirmed.
- The earliest anime episode we could confirm Hachiware in is Ep. 18 「草むしり／おそろい」 (Jul 29, 2022), where Chiikawa and Hachiware show off matching weapons (sasumata, forked poles). Earlier episodes may include Hachiware too.
- Among the arcs on Chiifan, the earliest one with Hachiware is the Pitfall Arc, which began on Jul 31, 2020. That is not necessarily the first appearance.
Key episodes for Hachiware (no spoilers)
If you want one continuous story, start with the Weeding Exam Arc. For single episodes, these are the ones where Hachiware stands out.
- Ep. 57 「草むしり検定／古本」 (Apr 18, 2023)
- Hachiware finds a Grade 5 “weeding exam” book and buys one at the used-book shop.
- Ep. 59 「夜食／試験当日」 (Apr 25, 2023)
- Late-night studying, then exam day, with a nervous Chiikawa.
- Ep. 18 「草むしり／おそろい」 (Jul 29, 2022)
- Matching weapons with Chiikawa.
- Ep. 238 「ハチワレの一日」 (Jan 24, 2025)
- A day in Hachiware’s life, reaching for the Grade 5 book again.
- Ep. 239 「ハチワレの一日②／帽子」 (Jan 28, 2025)
- A nap, then off to weeding; in the second half, Pochette Yoroi-san’s new hat.
- The scene where the friends find the Grade 5 book is in Japanese Volume 2.
- In an interview on the movie site, Nagano says the film team was asked not to break the characters’ image, with the example of how Chiikawa’s hand moves when Chiikawa and Hachiware look at a flyer.
The 19 story arcs Hachiware appears in
Counted from the character lists on Chiifan’s reading pages, most-featured first. Links open the first page with Hachiware (in Japanese). Post counts are what we collected, not official episode numbers.
- Siren Arc (Island Arc)
- throughout · 96 posts · 2023 · Japanese Vol. 8
- Black Shooting Star Arc
- throughout · 38 posts · 2021–2022 · Japanese Vol. 5 · anime ep. 213–235
- Weeding Exam Arc
- throughout · 28 posts · 2020–2023 · Japanese Vol. 2 · anime ep. 57
- Pajama Parties Arc
- throughout · 30 posts · 2021 · Japanese Vol. 4 · anime ep. 144–155
- Gekokujo (Turning the Tables) Arc
- throughout · 30 posts · 2022–2023 · anime ep. 302–303, 324–329, 343–344
- Shisa Arc
- throughout · 24 posts · 2022 · anime ep. 245–256
- Weeding Exam, 3rd Try (Sunfish) Arc
- throughout · 30 posts · 2025
- Praise Ribbon Arc
- throughout · 15 posts · 2020–2021 · anime ep. 160–164
- “Little Friend” Arc
- throughout · 18 posts · 2021 · Japanese Vol. 3 · anime ep. 85–93
- Ode Arc
- throughout · 15 posts · 2021 · Japanese Vol. 5 · anime ep. 189–198
- …plus 9 more arcs. See the manga guide for all of them.
Hachiware’s closest friends
Hachiware shows the most personality through other characters. These are the links confirmed by the official profiles and episodes.
- Chiikawa
- Introduced on the movie site as Hachiware’s “dear friend.” Weeding and the exam, they do together.
- Usagi
- The third of the trio; the three often go out together.
- Shisa
- In the Kurimanju and the God Arc, Hachiware and Shisa try to rescue Kurimanju from a night festival.
- Furuhonya
- The used-book seller Hachiware buys from in Ep. 57.
- Praise Ribbon Arc: Hachiware ties the ribbon from a cookie Chiikawa gave as a present to a vase at home.
- Muchauman Arc: camera-loving Hachiware tries to take Chiikawa’s photo with a hero called Muchauman.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hachiware’s birthday?
May 1, the same as Chiikawa. The anime’s official X account posted birthday wishes on May 1, 2026.
Who voices Hachiware?
田中誠人 (Makoto Tanaka), per the voice credits on the anime and movie websites.
Is Hachiware a cat?
Not officially. A Japanese news report says the Nagano exhibition described Hachiware as “not a cat,” and no profile names the animal.
Where does Hachiware live?
In a cave, according to the official anime character page.
Where can I read Hachiware’s stories?
On Nagano’s X account (@ngnchiikawa). Chiifan shows 19 arcs with Hachiware in order; the Weeding Exam Arc is a great start.
Sources
Pages marked (Japanese) are only available in Japanese.