The Oshi no Ko manga series features an extensive cast of characters created by Aka Akasaka. The story follows a doctor and his recently deceased patient are reborn as twins to a famous Japanese musical idol and navigate the highs and lows of the Japanese entertainment industry as they grow up together through their lives.
Main characters
editAquamarine Hoshino / Aqua
edit- Voiced by: Takeo Ōtsuka (Aqua, teen),[1] Yumi Uchiyama (Aqua, child),[1] Kent Itō (Gorou)[1] (Japanese); Jack Stansbury (Aqua, teen),[2] Chaney Moore (Aqua, child),[2] Jeremy Gee (Gorou)[2] (English)
- Portrayed by: Kaito Sakurai (Aqua),[3] Ryo Narita (Gorou)[4]
Originally an obstetrician-gynecologist working at a hospital in Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture, in his mid-thirties named Gorou Amamiya (雨宮 吾郎, Amamiya Gorō), Aquamarine Hoshino (星野 愛久愛海, Hoshino Akuamarin) (also known as Aqua (アクア, Akua)) was a big fan of Ai Hoshino and also responsible for delivering Ai's babies. He met his demise after Ai's stalker killed him, causing him to be reincarnated as the son of Ai himself. When his mother was killed, he swears to discover the truth behind the murder. He theorizes that his father is in the entertainment industry and suspects he may be responsible for giving information about Hoshino's whereabouts, which leads him into pursuing a career in acting to find him and avenge his mother and murder his father. He temporarily starts dating Akane, but breaks up with her for her safety after she discovers his true motivation for tracking down his father.
Ruby Hoshino
edit- Voiced by: Yurie Igoma (Ruby),[1] Tomoyo Takayanagi (Sarina)[1] (Japanese); Alyssa Marek (Ruby), Savanna Menzel (Sarina)[2] (English)
- Portrayed by: Nagisa Saitō[3]
Ruby Hoshino (星野 瑠美衣, Hoshino Rubii) was originally a terminally ill patient named Sarina Tendōji (天童寺 さりな, Tendōji Sarina) under the care of Gorou, she finds herself reincarnated along with her twin-brother, Aquamarine, as the daughter of Ai Hoshino. Before her reincarnation, Sarina obsessed over idols and dreamed to become one. A few years after being reincarnated, Ai is murdered. After Ai's death, Ruby trains to be an idol like her mother was. However, she is still not very good at singing. At the age of 14, Ruby auditioned to become an idol but was rejected through a fake phone call made by Aqua, who did not want her to follow in Ai's footsteps. Instead, Miyako offers Ruby the opportunity to form her own idol group under Strawberry Productions. The idol group, named B-Komachi in honor of Ai's old group, consists of her, Kana Arima and Mem-cho. As Sarina, she was deeply in love with Gorou, even though her feelings were one-sided as he never reciprocated at all, and these feelings resurfaced when she discovered that he reincarnated as Aqua, despite the fact he is currently her brother.
Ai Hoshino
edit- Voiced by: Rie Takahashi[5] (Japanese); Donna Bella Litton[2] (English)
- Portrayed by: Asuka Saitō[3]
A popular and charismatic pop idol. Ai Hoshino (星野 アイ, Hoshino Ai) lived in the countryside without her father, missing from birth, and her mother, who was arrested. She grew up in an orphanage, and at age 12, she was scouted by the president of Strawberry Productions, Ichigo Saitou, to become an idol. Ai did not believe she could become an idol due to not knowing love. Ichigo explains that she can lie and pretend to show love to her fans. She eventually becomes the face of the idol group B-Komachi. At age 16, Ai became pregnant with twins. She decided to give birth to them and hid these facts from the world so she could have the experience of a loving family, and took a hiatus from her idol activities. After the birth of her twins, who she named Aquamarine and Ruby, she returned to work. At age 20, she was murdered by an obsessive fan who tracked her to her new apartment. In the last moments of her life, she realizes that she really loved her children, and wished to be a bigger part of Aqua's and Ruby's lives, finally able to feel what it was like to truly love. Her death became the impetus for her son, Aqua, to pursue an acting career in order to seek revenge on her killer. Her name in Japanese can translate to "starry eye",[a] in reference to the six-pointed stars visible in both her and her children's eyes.
Kana Arima
edit- Voiced by: Megumi Han[6] (Japanese); Natalie Rial[2] (English)
- Portrayed by: Nanoka Hara[3]
Kana Arima (有馬 かな, Arima Kana) was considered an acting prodigy as a child and known as "a genius child actor who can cry in ten seconds", and Ruby refers to her as "the child who licks baking soda". Kana first met Aqua when a movie she was featured in needed an extra and Aqua, who had accompanied Ai to the shoot, stepped in at the request of director Gotanda. As a teenager, the number of roles she got declined because she would always steal the spotlight from her peers. To survive in the industry, Kana decided to hold back her acting talent. Kana reunited with Aqua and Ruby in high school and found herself falling in love with Aqua, even though he does not reciprocate. She was still struggling to make it big as an actress when Aqua and Ruby persuaded her to join Ruby's idol group, B-Komachi, and Kana became the focal member of the group. After two years in B-Komachi, Kana leaves the group to focus on her revived acting career. She also has a deep, burning hatred for her rival Akane, which has stemmed from their childhood when Akane once idolized her.
Akane Kurokawa
edit- Voiced by: Manaka Iwami[7] (Japanese); Kristen McGuire[8] (English)
- Portrayed by: Mizuki Kayashima[3]
Akane Kurokawa (黒川 あかね, Kurokawa Akane) is a stage actress who signs up for a teenage reality dating show, My Love with a Star Begins Now (LoveNow), where she meets Aqua. During the show, Akane was an overlooked contestant who wanted to make her presence known in order to promote the Lalalie Theatrical Company she is affiliated with. On an episode of LoveNow, she accidentally scratched fellow cast member Yuki Sumi in the face. Viewer backlash resulted and Akane was targeted and sent insults and death threats on social media, which caused her to become suicidal. Aqua intervenes before her suicide attempt can succeed. Near the end of the show, her image improves due to the efforts of the rest of the cast, and Aqua kisses her during the last episode. They decide to stay together as a couple after the show ends to maintain appearances, and Akane later genuinely falls in love with Aqua, which only fuels Kana's jealousy and hatred for her. Akane once idolized Kana for her acting abilities as a child and strived to be just like her, but following a heated argument that led to Kana scolding and emotionally abusing her on their first meeting, the two girls grew to despise each other with a passion. Her approach to stage acting has her research the characters she is playing and infer much about their motivations and characteristics, much like method acting. Several months into their relationship, she figures out Aqua's plans to avenge his mother and vows to support him any way she can. However, Aqua breaks up with her soon after for her own safety. When Aqua enters the final phase of his plan for revenge against his father through Ai's biographical film, she vows to stop him from giving in to his darker impulses before he is irrevocably changed.
Strawberry Productions
editIchigo Saitō
edit- Voiced by: Hisao Egawa[9] (Japanese); Brandon Hearnsberger[2] (English)
Ichigo Saitō (斎藤 壱護, Saitō Ichigo) is the president of Strawberry Productions. He is the husband of Miyako Saitō. Ichigo was responsible for the recruitment of Ai Hoshino to B-Komachi. He acts as the caretaker for Aqua and Ruby after Ai's death. Soon after Ai's death, he disappeared for a decade until Ruby tracked him down in order to get advice on her own plans for revenge on her mother's killer. Soon after, he was tracked down by Aqua as well, and expressing a fellow desire for revenge on the killer, assists Aqua with his plans.
Miyako Saitō
edit- Voiced by: Lynn[9] (Japanese); Christina Kelly[2] (English)
Miyako Saitō (斎藤 ミヤコ, Saitō Miyako) is the wife of Ichigo Saitō and acts as the primary caretaker for Aqua and Ruby after Ai's death. She manages Strawberry Productions and keeps the business afloat after the disbandment of the original B-Komachi and the disappearance of Ichigo.
Mem-cho
edit- Voiced by: Rumi Okubo[7] (Japanese); Juliet Simmons[8] (English)
- Portrayed by: Ano[3]
Mem-cho (MEMちょ) is a YouTuber and TikTok influencer who signs up for LoveNow. She pursued her dream of becoming an idol, but was unsuccessful due to her family situation. She decided to become a streamer and lied about her age to gain many followers. After LoveNow, Aqua recruits her to B-Komachi. She was reluctant due to her age, but ultimately decides to join.
Pieyon
edit- Voiced by: Taishi Murata[9] (Japanese); Andrew Love[10] (English)
Pieyon (ぴえヨン) is a anonymous famous physical training Youtuber affiliated with Strawberry Productions, who coaches choreography for B-Komachi members. He makes over 100 million yen a year.
Entertainment industry
editStars/performers
editFrill Shiranui
edit- Voiced by: Asami Seto[9] (Japanese); Annie Wild[8] (English)
Frill Shiranui (不知火 フリル, Shiranui Furiru) is a student of Youtou High School's Performing Arts Program and one of Ruby's classmates. She is a multi-talented performer who can sing, dance, and act. She later is expected to play Airi Himekawa in Director Gotanda's and Aqua's planned Ai biographical movie after originally being chosen for the role of Ai before allowing Ruby to play the role following a self audition where she was impressed by Ruby's acting skill and conviction.
Melt Narushima
edit- Voiced by: Seiji Maeda[9] (Japanese); Bryson Baugus[10] (English)
Melt Narushima (鳴嶋 メルト, Narushima Meruto) is a model and actor affiliated with Sonic Stage Productions. He was an arrogant and untrained actor when playing the male lead in the Sweet Today live-action adaptation, but still managed to deliver a solid performance for the final scene after being provoked by Aquamarine Hoshino. The experience humbled him and he has worked on improving his acting skills by the time he joined the stage production of Tokyo Blade. He later is expected to play Goro Amamiya on Director Gotanda's and Aqua's planned Ai biographical movie.
Minami Kotobuki
edit- Voiced by: Hina Yōmiya[9] (Japanese); Brittany Lauda[10] (English)
Minami Kotobuki (寿 みなみ, Kotobuki Minami) is a student in the Performing Arts Program of Youtou High School and a classmate of Ruby and Frill. In the show business industry, she works as a gravure model.
Yuki Sumi
edit- Voiced by: Saori Ōnishi[9] (Japanese); Olivia Swasey[8] (English)
Yuki Sumi (鷲見 ゆき, Sumi Yuki) is a fashion model and a participant in the reality dating show The Beginning of My Love With An Idol or LoveNow. Initially imagining she would fade into the background, she used her character to create drama and interest.
Taiki Himekawa
edit- Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama[11]
Taiki Himekawa (姫川 大輝, Himekawa Taiki) is an award-winning stage actor affiliated with the Lalalie Theatrical Company, first seen as the main star of the Tokyo Blade stage production. It is later revealed that he is also Aqua and Ruby's older half-brother, conceived when his mother, an actress, Airi Himekawa cheated on his legal father with their biological father, Hikaru Kamiki; the latter was eleven years old at that time and an aspiring child actor joining the Lala Lai Theatrical Company when he was molested by Airi resulting in Taiki's birth. However, he himself remains unaware that he is the product of an affair.
Production
editTaishi Gotanda
edit- Voiced by: Yasuyuki Kase[9] (Japanese); Ty Mahany[2] (English)
Taishi Gotanda (五反田 泰志, Gotanda Taishi) is the film director who scouted Aqua and convinced him to become an actor when he saw his potential. After Ai's death, he recruited Aqua as his student at Aqua's request. He is one of the few people who knows the real identity of Aqua. He was once recruited by Ai to make a documentary film of her prior to her death. The creation of this biographical film of Ai's life is part of Aqua's plan of revenge against his father and Ai's killer.
Masaya Kaburagi
edit- Voiced by: Masaki Terasoma[9] (Japanese); Justin Doran[8] (English)
Masaya Kaburagi (鏑木 勝也, Kaburagi Masaya) is a producer affiliated with an internet TV Station Dot TV!, and producer of the Sweet Today live-action adaptation and the webshow Dig Deep! One Chance. He seems to have deep ties with Ai at the past.
Yoriko Kichijouji
edit- Voiced by: Shizuka Itō[9] (Japanese); Kelly Greenshield[8] (English)
Yoriko Kichijouji (吉祥寺 頼子, Kichijōji Yoriko) is the manga artist behind the popular manga series I'll Go With Sweet Today and Abiko's mentor. She also serves as producer for its live action drama where Kana is starring.
Abiko Samejima
edit- Voiced by: Ayane Sakura[12]
Abiko Samejima (鮫島 アビ子, Samejima Abiko) is the manga artist behind the popular manga series Tokyo Blade, and became a producer for its stage play after expressing displeasure with how its adaptation and script was progressing. She used to be Yoriko's assistant and student.
Hikaru Kamiki
editHikaru Kamiki (カミキ ヒカル, Kamiki Hikaru) is one of the masterminds behind Ai and Gorou's murders, and the biological father of Aqua and Ruby. He was raped by a married adult actress who gave birth to his first child, Taiki, when Kamiki was only eleven years old. At age fifteen, he met Ai at the Lalalie Theatrical Company where he was teaching as an alumnus, and the two began a brief relationship resulting in her pregnancy with the twins. He is suspected by Aqua to have recruited an obsessive fan of Ai to commit her murder, and has been involved in numerous orchestrated murders of other actresses. He is identified by Akane through clues gleaned from Aqua and her own research into Ai after she comes across him at a film awards ceremony, which leads Aqua to move forward with his plan for revenge. Once Hikaru found out from Aqua that Ai still loved him, as soon as he loved himself, he ultimately regrets his actions and decides to atone his crimes, with a plan to turn himself in to the police.
Others
editCrow Girl
editCrow Girl is mysterious unnamed girl in the woods who is a seemingly supernatural being aware of everything that transpires within the story, including Aqua and Ruby's reincarnation. She was originally a wounded crow who was rescued and cared for by Gorou and Sarina until it passed away. At Aqua's request, she manifests in the real world to portray the infant twins in 15 Years of Lies.
Ryosuke Kaihara
editRyosuke Kaihara is a mentally unstable shut-in who is an obsessive fan of Ai. When he learned from someone that Ai was pregnant, he was enraged by the revelation and with the help of that person tracked her down, he was the one who murdered Gorou right after Ryosuke reveals to the latter that he was searching for Ai outside the hospital where she was staying, he pushed the latter off the cliff to his death near the hospital on the same day Ai gives birth to her twins, Ryosuke could not enter the hospital in fear of getting caught and fled. Four years later, he also learned about Ai's residential address from the same person who told him about Ai's pregnancy, he arrived at her place on the day of her birthday which is also when she is planning to sing at a concert she is scheduled to appear pretending to give her flowers which has a knife concealed inside it as a fan and fatally stabbed her right in front of the twin's eyes; however Ai reveals to him that she has not forgotten every of her fan's names including him, especially the gift he gave to her much to his horror, he immediately left the apartment and committed suicide afterwards.
Notes
edit- ^ Read as "星のアイ"
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Hodgkins, Crystalyn; Cayanan, Joanna (December 11, 2022). "Oshi no Ko Anime Reveals Teaser, Cast, April 2023 TV Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mateo, Alex (May 17, 2023). "Oshi no Ko Anime Reveals English Dub Cast, May 24 Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f 【推しの子】実写映像化キャスト発表【櫻井海音・齋藤飛鳥・齊藤なぎさ・原菜乃華・茅島みずき・あの】. Oricon News (in Japanese). January 24, 2024. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna (July 30, 2024). "Live-Action Oshi no Ko Series Casts Ryō Narita". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (October 12, 2022). "Oshi no Ko Anime Debuts in 2023 with 90-Minute 1st Episode". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
- ^ Loo, Egan (February 19, 2023). "Oshi no Ko Anime Posts Theatrical Trailer With YOASOBI's Opening Song, New Cast Member". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 24, 2023). "Oshi no Ko Anime's Video Reveals More Cast, Previews Ending Song". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Don't Miss the [OSHI NO KO] English Dub Premiere on HIDIVE May 24!". Hidive. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Oshi no Ko (2023) – Japanese Cast". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Oshi no Ko (2023)". Behind The Voice Actors – English Dub. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 23, 2024). "Oshi no Ko Anime's 2nd Season Reveals July Debut, More Cast in Video". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 24, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (May 26, 2024). "Oshi no Ko Season 2 Reveals Main Promo Video, More Cast, Opening Song, July 3 Debut, AX Preview". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.