Personality:
(From Tasuki no Miko's manga translation, this is what Watase Yuu had to say about Miaka):
"Cheerful and easy going. Gets along with anyone. Easily becomes impulsive when spiritless. Naive and very trusting, but sometimes she surprisingly talks and acts very grown up, so she should not be taken lightly. Open minded and brave but not too bright. Seems to be the type who has to be around other people. She is always looked after by someone. When left on her own, she uses the spirit in people (It seems)."

What's so special about her, anyway?
Well, the obvious reasons first; without her there would be no story, plain and simple.
Miaka has this special touch that literally brings out the best in people, whether they know it or not (and whether they want her to or not). So she really helps her shichiseishi, these seven individuals from all walks of life, to come together and learn to love her and each other and to look out for one another. I'll never understand it, but the girl has a gift.

Thoughts:
As far as series heroines go, I must admit that I'm not terribly fond of Miaka. I admire her strength, for she goes through an awful lot of distressing events in the course of the series that I think would have me sucking my thumb and curled up in the fetal position a long time ago.

It's pretty unnerving that the miko-type person manages somehow to turn the heads and hearts of practically every individual in the series with a drop of testosterone in their blood... don't you think so? I mean, having 5 guys (count 'em...including the OAVs) in love with me would seriously freak me out (especially given my track record. *sweatdrops*).

I guess the thing that bothers me (besides her voice) about Miaka is the stupidity of some of the decisions she makes in the course of the series. I'll agree that Miaka is, as Watase-sensei says, "not too bright", but she's not a complete moron. But sometimes you couldn't guess based on her judgement. And that's letting a lot of things slip due to her probable emotional duress.

What else? Well, I'm tempted to say that she rubs me the wrong way, but that's not entirely true. I'd *love* to have a friend in Miaka, and I'd accept her quirks as just that - quirks. So I guess I just can't quite put my finger on what it is about her that...yeeesh, I can't explain it ;-_-.

Famous quote: "Tamahomeeeee!"