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Miharu Ratokie

A Belfast civilian who worked as a Zeon spy to support her younger siblings during the One Year War.
Jenxi Seow Published 14 Jun 2025 Updated 14 Jun 2025
Miharu Ratokie

Miharu Ratokie was a civilian from Belfast, Ireland who worked as a spy for the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. After her parents died in the fighting, she took on the dangerous role to support her younger siblings, Jill and Milly.

Biography

Early life

Miharu Ratokie lived with her family in Belfast, Ireland. When the One Year War broke out, the fighting claimed the lives of her parents, leaving her as the sole guardian of her two younger siblings. Faced with the desperate need to provide for Jill and Milly, she accepted work as a spy for the Principality of Zeon.

Zeon spy activities

The Principality of Zeon assigned Miharu the code number 107 and tasked her with gathering intelligence on Earth Federation forces. She used the payment from her espionage work to buy food and necessities for her siblings, keeping them alive in war-torn Belfast.

When the assault carrier White Base arrived at the Federation dock in Belfast for repairs following the Battle of Odessa, Miharu spotted the unusual vessel from her home. Recognising its strategic importance, she quickly photographed the ship and sent the intelligence to Zeon forces using a balloon-delivered message system that reached the Mad Angler squadron waiting beneath the harbour.

Meeting Kai Shiden

Posing as a local street vendor, Miharu approached the White Base crew to gather additional intelligence. She encountered Kai Shiden, a RX-77-2 Guncannon pilot who had decided to desert the ship. Rather than buying from her, Kai was struck by her appearance and commented on her attractiveness, though he initially showed little interest.

When Zeon amphibious mobile suits attacked Belfast, Miharu was taking photographs of the battle when Kai nearly hit her with his car whilst fleeing the combat zone. Concerned for her safety, he warned her to leave the dangerous area. This chance encounter led to Miharu inviting Kai to her home, where he met her younger siblings.

Developing feelings

During dinner with the Ratokie family, Kai observed the poverty in which they lived and quickly deduced that Miharu was working as a spy to support her brother and sister. Despite recognising her true role, he sympathised with her difficult circumstances and chose not to expose her. Instead, he began sharing information about the White Base with her, understanding the desperate situation that had driven her to espionage.

As their relationship developed, Miharu found herself genuinely caring for Kai beyond her mission requirements. When Zeon forces provided her with money and a Federation uniform to infiltrate the White Base, she gave the payment to her siblings and tearfully embraced them, uncertain when she would return.

Infiltrating White Base

Miharu successfully infiltrated the White Base during the chaos of a Zeon attack, disguising herself as a Federation soldier. She made her way to Captain Bright Noa’s quarters to search for intelligence, but Kai discovered her presence when he noticed a tear in her uniform. Rather than report her, he helped conceal her identity and hid her in his room.

During the journey towards Jaburo, a Zeon vessel disguised as a fishing boat made contact with Miharu. Flanagan Boone instructed her to locate and gather intelligence about the “white mobile suit” aboard the ship. However, when a fire broke out during a subsequent attack, Miharu was shocked to see children aboard the White Base helping to fight the blaze, reminding her of her own siblings.

Change of heart

Overwhelmed by guilt at seeing the children in danger and realising the consequences of her actions, Miharu confessed to Kai that she was a spy. She expressed her desire to help defend the ship rather than continue her espionage mission. Kai, understanding her internal conflict, accepted her confession and agreed to let her assist in the battle.

Final battle and death

When Flanagan Boone launched his attack on the White Base with his MAM-07 Grublo and accompanying MSM-07 Z’Gok units over the Atlantic Ocean, Miharu joined Kai in a Gunperry transport to help defend the ship. During the engagement, enemy fire damaged the Gunperry’s electrical systems, preventing the missiles from being fired remotely from the cockpit.

Miharu volunteered to manually fire the missiles from the launch catapult, despite Kai’s protests about the danger. She successfully activated the missile launch system, contributing to the destruction of Boone’s MAM-07 Grublo, but the force of the missile’s exhaust blast knocked her from the Gunperry. She fell to her death in the Atlantic Ocean below.

In the compilation movie version, Miharu’s final missile shot was responsible for killing Flanagan Boone in his Grublo, making her sacrifice instrumental in the Federation’s victory.

Personality and traits

Miharu demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Despite being thrust into a dangerous role as a spy, she maintained her primary focus on protecting and providing for her younger siblings. Her willingness to risk her life for their survival showed her deep sense of responsibility and love for her family.

Initially committed to her mission as a Zeon spy, Miharu’s conscience eventually overcame her duty when she witnessed the human cost of the war firsthand. Her decision to confess to Kai and help defend the White Base revealed her fundamentally compassionate nature and moral integrity.

She possessed a keen understanding of people and situations, successfully maintaining her cover as both a street vendor and later as a Federation soldier. However, her growing emotional attachment to Kai created internal conflict between her personal feelings and her obligations to both Zeon and her siblings.

Relationships

Kai Shiden

Miharu’s relationship with Kai Shiden began as part of her espionage mission but evolved into genuine affection. Initially frustrated by his reluctance to share useful intelligence, she gradually came to care for him personally. Her feelings deepened during their time together aboard the White Base, leading to her decision to abandon her spy mission and help defend the ship.

Kai, despite quickly recognising her role as a spy, chose to protect rather than expose her. He understood the desperate circumstances that had driven her to espionage and sympathised with her situation. Her death devastated him and marked a turning point in his character development, transforming him from a selfish soldier into someone who cared deeply about protecting civilians.

Jill and Milly Ratokie

As the eldest sibling, Miharu took full responsibility for caring for Jill and Milly after their parents’ death. Her love for them drove her to accept the dangerous role of a Zeon spy, and she consistently prioritised their welfare above her own safety. Her decision to help defend the White Base was partly motivated by seeing other children in danger and being reminded of her siblings.

After Miharu’s death, both siblings faced uncertain futures. Jill was later captured by the Titans and forced to undergo Cyber Newtype enhancement, ultimately becoming test subject 005 and pilot of the MRX-008 Prototype Psycho Gundam. Milly was eventually taken in by Kai, who felt responsible for protecting her after Miharu’s death.

Behind the scenes

Miharu Ratokie was created by Hiroyuki Hoshiyama, who drew inspiration from the Italian neorealist film “Bicycle Thieves” for her character arc. Director Tomino Yoshiyuki and Character Designer Yasuhiko Yoshikazu were reportedly moved to tears whilst creating Miharu’s storyline, according to Itano Ichiro.

The character first appeared in episode 26, “Char Returns,” and her story concluded in episode 27, “Across the Atlantic Ocean.” Her tragic death scene established a template for similar sequences throughout the Gundam franchise, where deceased characters appear to console the living.

Voice acting

Miharu was voiced by Satomi Majima in the original Japanese version and by Kelly Sheridan in the English dub. The Korean version featured Kwon Ji-ae as her voice actress.

Design notes

Miharu’s name combines Japanese and European elements, suggesting mixed heritage or an immigrant family background. Her Irish surname “Ratokie” contrasts with her Japanese given name “Miharu,” reflecting the international nature of the Universal Century setting.

Her code number 107 was deliberately chosen to complement Kai Shiden’s RX-77-2 Guncannon registration number C-108, symbolising their connection through consecutive numbering.

Cultural impact

Miharu’s character has appeared in various Gundam media and parodies over the years. In comedic adaptations, she often receives happier endings, surviving her ordeal and reuniting with her siblings. The character’s influence can be seen in later Gundam series, where civilian characters caught in wartime conflicts face similar moral dilemmas.

Her story significantly impacted Kai Shiden’s character development throughout the Universal Century timeline, influencing his later career as a journalist and his continued efforts to protect civilians and expose military corruption.

Appearances

See also