Tsukahara Meiji

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Tsukahara Meiji (冢原铭史)
Species/Race	Human; Japanese Magus
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Clock Tower; Holy Grail War participant
Occupation/Role	Magus; Master of Archer (Loxia/Robin Hood)
First Appearance	Chapter 6
Age	21 263

Background / History

Meiji was a struggling street magician in Japan, specializing in card tricks, before Karl Winsted discovered his magical talent and brought him into the world of magecraft. Karl subsequently brought him to the Clock Tower, where Meiji faced discrimination over his background and was bullied by elite students. 6 7

At the Clock Tower, Meiji studied under Abner Fergus Winifred, one of the few instructors who did not dismiss him for his origins or his interest in manga. 33 52

Karl’s support made Meiji deeply loyal to him. Believing that “a scholar dies for his confidant,” Meiji agreed to assist Karl in the Holy Grail War despite having no experience in magus combat and little understanding of its lethal stakes. 7 15

Meiji received Command Spells and entered the Holy Grail War as a Master. During an early attack by Assassin, his first catalyst—a gold ring modeled after the Ring of the Nibelungen—was destroyed. He instead used an oak branch from Sherwood Forest to summon Archer, Loxia, one of the figures connected to the Robin Hood legend. 10 16 24

Appearance

Meiji is a young Japanese man with soft black hair, dark eyes, and wheat-colored skin. 16 258

• Often wears a white glove over the hand bearing his Command Spells. 52
• Described as having an unreliable air befitting a novice magic apprentice. 263
• Carries magical poker cards as his primary magecraft medium. 17 263

Personality

Meiji is easygoing, excitable, and intensely influenced by manga, anime, and light novels. He often imagines himself as a heroic protagonist, which fuels both his chuunibyou mannerisms and his strong sense of justice. 29 151

Although socially awkward—particularly around women—he is considerate of Loxia’s feelings and uses card tricks to help the frightened Tohsaka Mina relax. 30 252

He initially trusts Karl without reservation, seeing him as the friend who rescued him from isolation. Abner’s revelations eventually force Meiji to question whether Karl manipulated him, though Meiji remains unable to wholly hate him because Karl gave him access to magecraft, the Clock Tower, and the people he came to value. 195 196 253

Meiji’s defining trait is his refusal to abandon people in distress. He repeatedly protects Mina despite their status as rival Masters, rejects exploiting others through Charm Magic, and ultimately seeks the Holy Grail to repair the destruction inflicted on innocent people by the war. 151 220 254 258

Abilities & Skills

Magecraft

Meiji is an inexperienced Magus with mediocre Magic Power and limited combat ability. Maintaining Loxia’s physical manifestation places substantial strain on him, requiring her to rely heavily on Spirit Form and Independent Action before Karl’s support improves their supply arrangement. 17 33 51 68

• Uses poker cards as magical implements. 17 263
• Can perform healing magecraft through a pale-blue poker card. 17
• Created and concealed an underground shelter in a forest while fleeing with Mina. 225
• Exploited the tracking conditions of Matou Aya’s Earth Assassin Bug to mislead it. 258

Hand Magic

Meiji employs a distinct card-based magecraft style known as Hand magic. 15

• Used Royal Flush as a powerful offensive trump card against Assassin. 15
• His magical cards are of limited practical value against powerful opponents. 263

Crisis Calm

Meiji possesses a trait called Crisis Calm, allowing him to remain unusually composed when faced with immediate danger. 16

• Enabled him to make the decision to abandon his destroyed first catalyst and summon Archer with the oak branch. 16
• Lets him act decisively under pressure despite his ordinary abilities and frequent fear afterward. 16 225 253

Master–Servant Contract

Meiji is Archer Loxia’s Master and holds three Command Spells. 10 17 52

• Can mentally communicate with Loxia through their contract. 67 81
• Can sense Loxia’s return through their Mana Connection, though he initially cannot determine her exact location. 51
• Uses Command Spells as an emergency method to recall Loxia when she is in danger. 33
• Karl later enhances the contract’s mana supply through a Master–Servant contract with Meiji, rather than directly supplying Loxia. 53 69

Stage Magic

Before becoming a Magus, Meiji worked as a street magician and retained skill with ordinary card tricks. 7

• Used a card trick and a handkerchief routine to break the tension with Mina at their camp. 252
• His familiarity with otaku and cosplay culture indirectly helps Karl register Loxia’s anti-Servant rifle as a cosplay prop through Charm Magic. 69

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Magical poker cards — Focuses for his Hand magic, including offensive and healing effects. 15 17
• Command Spells — Three crimson spells marking him as Loxia’s Master. 10 52
• Oak branch from Sherwood Forest — His second catalyst; used to summon Archer. 16 24
• Holy Grail War research materials — Documents on earlier wars provided and annotated by Karl. 7

Relationships

• Karl Winsted — Benefactor, closest friend, and eventual source of deep doubt. Karl found Meiji on the streets, introduced him to magecraft, and involved him in the Holy Grail War; Meiji later learns Karl is likely an impostor and may have manipulated him. 7 195 196 253
• Loxia / Archer (Robin Hood) — His Servant. Their relationship develops from mutual uncertainty into trust, friendship, and shared resolve to confront the war’s consequences. 17 31 33 221 258 263
• Abner Fergus Winifred — Former Clock Tower instructor and adversary in the war. Abner treats Meiji with unusual kindness, protects him after capturing him, and encourages him to question Karl’s influence. 33 190 191 195
• Tohsaka Mina — Rival Master whom Meiji repeatedly protects. While initially unsettled by his impulsive heroism, Mina comes to trust his composure and goodwill. 151 225 253
• Da Vinci — Karl’s Caster. Meiji works from Da Vinci’s posthumous Oak Bow blueprints and admires his dedication to his work. 266 274

Story Role / Major Arcs

Clock Tower Student

Meiji endures class-based harassment at the Clock Tower but refuses to be humiliated, retaliating with magecraft after bullies destroy his lunch. Karl intervenes to drive them away. 6

Entry into the Holy Grail War

Driven by gratitude to Karl, Meiji accepts a role in Karl’s plan and gains Command Spells. His first confrontation with Assassin shatters his naïve view of magus combat, but his determination to survive allows him to summon Loxia. 7 10 16 17

Partnership with Loxia

Meiji and Loxia conduct reconnaissance, learn to communicate more naturally, and grow closer through ordinary outings as well as combat preparation. His inadequate Magic Power remains a serious constraint on her abilities. 30 32 33 51

Doubting Karl

After being captured by Abner, Meiji learns that Karl may be an impostor connected to the destruction of the Winsted family and may have influenced Meiji with a Mental Wedge. This revelation destabilizes the loyalty on which Meiji entered the war. 190 195 196

Protecting Mina and Leaving the War

Meiji saves Mina from Hicks and later from Abner despite the strategic disadvantage. When Surtr devastates the city, he initially decides to abandon the war and return home, refusing to let Loxia execute Mina. 151 220 221

Resolve to Obtain the Holy Grail

Unable to leave the ruined city or ignore its victims, Meiji reverses his decision. He resolves to seek the Holy Grail not for Karl, but to restore what the Holy Grail War has destroyed. Loxia accepts this purpose even at the cost of her own wish. 254 258

Trivia

• Meiji is an avid otaku who openly reads manga even at the Clock Tower. 29
• He considers himself a gentleman, despite privately becoming flustered by Loxia’s appearance. 70
• He is notably inexperienced in romance and still has no girlfriend at age 21. 263
• Loxia compares his soul to Robin Hood’s: not because of strength or talent, but because both are willing to risk themselves for people in need. 263