Manatsu Shiraishi

**Manatsu Shiraishi** (白石 マナツ *Shiraishi Manatsu*) is a character in Kandagawa Jet Girls.

## Appearance

Manatsu has back-length caramel blonde hair that is tied in a ponytail with bangs hanging on both sides, blue eyes and her skin is more tanned than the other characters.

### Casual

Her casual attire is a Japanese schoolgirl uniform. A white short sleeved top with striped white and blue patterns around the collar and end of sleeve parts. Her top is mostly open, secured by just one strap, which shows off deep cleavage in a purple with black frills bra. She also wears a blue mini skirt, long baggy socks up to near her knees and black shoes. As well as lots of accessories with a necklace, bangles, ear piercings and painted nails.

### Racing

Her racing attire is a Western beach attire. An open short sleeved blue shirt with yellow flower design tied above her stomach and yellow bikini top. She also wears a short pink skirt with gold hoops at the front, and sandals with a flower design that show her toenails have been painted to match her fingernails. Topped off with a big red flower in her hair.

## Personality

Manatsu is a friendly girl who is happy to take photos and inviting others to get involved, and enjoys going shopping and cute things.
She is a follower of the Japanese Gyaru fashion subculture, as shown by her clothing choices, hairstyle, skin tone and her frequency of using over the top Western/American teenage slang when she talks. Although she loves fame, fortune and attention she cares for others feelings and emotions. Shown by how much she cares about those at the old people's home she volunteers at - an activity she greatly enjoys.

## Background

Manatsu is from the Shinjuku Takadanobaba Girls School that she attends together with Yuzu Midorikawa.

## Kandagawa Jet Girls Plot

### Episode 1: The Kandagawa is Calling

Manatsu is taking photographs with Yuzu Midorikawa at an event where she finds Rin Namiki amongst the crowd.

## Videogame

Manatsu teams with Yuzu Midorikawa as MKHU. In their story, they take up jet racing out of boredom in the hopes of gaining fame and fortune. Entering the Kandagawa Cup in order to do that. This puts them at odds with the Sea Serpants when they visit their shrine to pray for luck. The Serpants object to them using jet racing as just a means to another end. As time passes, they realize that they enjoy racing for other people - especially for those at the old people's home that they volunteer at - a bit more than just racing for attention and money. Towards the end they make up with the Sea Serpants who are pleased at their change of heart. The eventually win the Cup but vow to continue racing to make others happy.

They also play roles in the other stories. Often appearing to tease other teams for their closeness or trying to stop them from falling out. In the Unkai Surfers story they remark that one of the people at the old folks home is a manga artist they Surfers love, and agree to take them to meet her when they beat her and Midorikawa in a race.

## Teams

* Team: MKHU
* Jet: Xuiver
* Teammate: Yuzu Midorikawa

## Relationships

### Yuzu Midorikawa

As well as being teammates, Manatsu and Midorikawa are best friends, as well as both being Gyarus. They speak in similar Western terms and share common loves of fame and fortune. They both however care about those at the old people's home they volunteer at.

## Etymology

* The name **Manatsu** is written in katakana (マナツ), which has no special meaning. However, when written in kanji (真夏, 愛夏, 茉夏, 万夏, 真菜津, 真菜都, 真奈津, 真奈都, 麻奈津, 麻奈都, 麻菜津 or 麻菜都), it could possibly mean:
	+ 真夏 - "midsummer".
	+ 愛夏 - "love, affection" (愛) (**mana**) and "summer" (夏) (**tsu**).
	+ 茉夏 - "jasmine" (茉) (**ma**) and "summer" (夏) (**natsu**).
	+ 万夏 - "ten thousand, myriads, all" (万) (**ma**) and "summer" (夏) (**natsu**).
	+ 真菜津 - "real, genuine" (真) (**ma**), "vegetables, greens" (菜) (**na**) and "haven, port, harbor, ferry" (津) (**tsu**).
	+ 真菜都 - "real, genuine" (真) (**ma**), "apple tree" (奈) (**na**) and "metropolis, capital" (都) (**tsu**).
	+ 真奈津 - "real, genuine" (真) (**ma**), "apple tree" (奈) (**na**) and "haven, port, harbor, ferry" (津) (**tsu**).
	+ 真奈都 - "real, genuine" (真) (**ma**), "apple tree" (奈) (**na**) and "metropolis, capital" (都) (**tsu**).
	+ 麻奈津 - "hemp, flax" (麻) (**ma**), "apple tree" (奈) (**na**) and "haven, port, harbor, ferry" (津) (**tsu**).
	+ 麻奈都 - "hemp, flax" (麻) (**ma**), "apple tree" (奈) (**na**) and "metropolis, capital" (都) (**tsu**).
	+ 麻菜津 - "hemp, flax" (麻) (**ma**), "vegetables, greens" (菜) (**na**) and "haven, port, harbor, ferry" (津) (**tsu**).
	+ 麻菜都 - "hemp, flax" (麻) (**ma**), "vegetables, greens" (菜) (**na**) and "metropolis, capital" (都) (**tsu**).
* Manatsu's surname **Shiraishi** means "white" (白) (**shira**) and "stone, volume measure" (石) (**ishi**).

## Trivia

* Manatsu and Yuzu Midorikawa volunteer at an unnamed old person's home.
* Manatsu is follower of the Gyaru Japanese fashion trend, particularly shown by her darker skin tone compared to the other characters. Gyaru is a Japanese transliteration of the English slang word 'gal' ("girl").