Characters / Idol Densetsu Eriko

Here are the characters of Idol Densetsu Eriko.

Note: Some voice actors aren't known. Please add them if you know!

Musicians

Eriko Tamura

Eriko Tamura (田村 えり子)

Voiced by: Akiko Yajima (Japanese), Nadia Biondini (Italian), Magali Barney (French), Sarah Vivas/María Ángeles Figueiras (European Spanish ), Aamna Omar (Arabic)

Singing voice by: Eriko Tamura (Japanese), Nadia Biondini (Italian), Unknown (French), Unknown (European Spanish), Rasha Rizk (Arabic)

^{Idol outfit}

• All-Loving Hero: She loves music as much as she loves life itself, and she also loves dogs, children and her fellow idols. She shows compassion to Rei even after she's been horrible to her and is always ready to drop whatever she's doing to make her fans happy.
• Author Avatar: For the Real Life singer Eriko Tamura, who provides her singing voice and is her namesake.
• Beauty Equals Goodness: Eriko is very pretty and doll-like, and an empathetic person (if not a bit spoiled).
• Break the Cutie: Viga of Idols of Anime described the show as "Break the Cutie: The Anime". In the first episode, Eriko's parents get into a car accident which kills her father and leaves her mother in a coma. That sets the tone for the rest of the series.
• The Cutie: With her adorable big eyes, innocent nature, tendency to easily be overwhelmed and need care and kind nature, Eriko is this.
• Dub Name Change:
  • Italian: Sabrina.
  • French: Erika (Barely-Changed Dub Name).
  • Arabic: Iruka.
• Girlish Pigtails: She has hair tied into short drill-shaped pigtails, often tied with ribbons.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and is a kind, All-Loving Hero who cherishes everyone and everything. She sang her heart out to calm a crowd that was disappointed by being scammed out of seeing a maritime zoo, and does whatever she can, no matter how small, to uplift her fan's spirits.
• Heroes Love Dogs: She has a Pomeranian named Fortissimo and a Maltese named Pianissimo, and treats them like her children.
• Idol Singer: As the title implies, the series revolves around Eriko becoming one. Also, the show was created to launch a real-life Idol Singer, Eriko Tamura.
• Innocent Blue Eyes: She has big blue eyes and easy to manipulate - she falls to a fan's prank over the phone, and Kosuke enjoys pushing her buttons.
• Fragile Flower: Eriko was surrounded by her loving parents her entire life and after their death, she's reduced a prone to tears mess who breaks into tears at the first adversity.
• Light Feminine and Dark Feminine: She has a pastel aesthetic to her image with her baby pinks and blues and pigtails, while Rei wears darker colours (primarily purple) and is sultry as she is gothic.
• Naïve Newcomer: She had an idealized view of the Idol Singer industry and assumed it would be a walk in the park when she debuted. Not only is she overworked, exhausted and forced to buckle to all sorts of norms and pressures. Even her school life and personal relationships are impacted since she doesn't have time for them anymore.
• Nice to the Waiter: Her familial maid and personal driver adore her for being a sweet girl. When Kosuke tells Karasawa that he is to work for him, he rebukes him and swears his loyalty to "Lady Eriko".
• Ojou: A modern-day example. Eriko is the daughter of a chairman of a large music company and has everything wealth can buy, and a cute, polite woman to boot.
• Panty Shot: Combined with Leg Focus - a couple of scenes have Eriko's long dress being moved by the wind so we get to see her dainty white underwear, as she tries to cover it with her hands.
• Pink Is Feminine: She wears a pink Sensual Spandex dress as an idol. Even the bows in her hair are pink, and her room has pink walls and her default outfit is a pink and white striped shirt.
• Spoiled Sweet: She comes from a wealthy family and once lived in luxury, but was never cruel and snobbish, unlike a certain someone else^note *cough* Kosuke *cough*.
• Tareme Eyes: She has big, reflective eyes and is a Perpetual Smiler.
• Trauma Conga Line: In the first episode, Eriko's parents are involved in a car accident, with her father killed and her mother ending up in a coma. Things get worse from there.

Rei Asagiri

Rei Asagiri

Voiced by: Naoko Matsui (Japanese), Paola Tovaglia (Italian), Céline Monsarrat (French), Marta Sáinz/Beatriz Bravo (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

Singing voice by: Maiko Hashimoto (Japanese), Paola Tovaglia (Italian), Unknown (French), Unknown (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

^{Idol outfit}

^{Alternate Idol outfit}

• Broken Bird: She is secretly full of self loathing because of her mother's abuse and history of abandonment. Both Eriko and Aki reach out to her but she always rejects them as she's assigned herself
• Dark and Troubled Past: She grew up without any parents, and watched her mother live lavishly while she was surrendered to the streets. When she met Yuusuke Tamura, Eriko's father, it was the first time any adult and shown her proper love and care.
• Defrosting Ice Queen: She views Eriko as her rival (in part, this is pushed by Kosuke, who wants her to hate her), and strives to outdo her no matter what. However, when Eriko is knocked out and injured, Rei actually shows her Hidden Heart of Gold by holding her.
• Disappeared Dad: While her mother abandoned her, at least she saw her face. Meanwhile, she never knew who her father was, since Ryoko refuses to tell her. It's Kosuke, Eriko's uncle.
• Dub Name Change:
  • Italian: Susie.
  • French: Aurèle.
• Establishing Character Moment: When Eriko meets her for the first time, Rei speaks to her as if she's beneath her and haughtily marches off. Eriko is intimidated by her and then has an Imagine Spot of Rei being way scarier than she actually is.
• Fire-Forged Friends: Eriko and Rei. They're initially at odds because their companies are rivals, and Yusuke promoted Rei's career to outshine Eriko. However, they eventually become friends.
• Green-Eyed Monster: Rei was denied by her mother after she was born and had no connections or support, and hates Eriko because she was born to two loving parents and had a happy, fulfilling luxurious life. Ironically at the beginning of the anime their positions are reversed - Rei has just signed a deal as Tamura Production's established star while Eriko has lost her parents in a car accident.
• Light Feminine and Dark Feminine: The two main ladies, the aspirant idol singer Eriko Tamura and the already famous performer Rei Asagiri. Eriko is the Light thanks to her child-like appeal which fits well in Japanese society's obsession with cuteness and innocence and her position as a Naïve Newcomer to the business which will make her suffer more than once, while Rei is the Dark since she's an Ice Queen with Hotter and Sexier looks, quite a bit more of singing/performing experience under her belt and a Dark and Troubled Past.
• Parental Abandonment: Her mother didn't want her and she never saw her father. It's implied she grew up in an orphanage. Even though she's a famous performer as a teen, her mother still won't accept her and even cruelly mocks her in the few moments they spend together.
• Perpetual Frowner: She almost never smiles, except when she's singing and acting (where she's putting up a facade).
• The Rival: Enforced. Kosuke wants Rei to hate Eriko because his goal is to knock her out of the spotlight. He sets them up against each other in many ways, from scheduling Eriko to suddenly appear at one of Rei's concerts without telling her, to implying that Yuusuke Tamura is Rei's real father - and he chose to keep Eriko while leaving Rei on the streets.
• The Resenter: She hates Eriko for having an easier life than her. It's why she stares at her with pure hatred when they first meet, despite Eriko not done anything to her.
• Vocal Dissonance: In the original Japanese version, she has a deep voice, befitting her sultry goth appearance. However, in the Arabic dub, her voice is more high pitched. See here.

Shogo Ogi

Shogo Ogi (阿木星吾)

Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese), Ivo de Palma (Italian), Unknown (French), Iván Jara/Luis Etchevers (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

Singing voice by: Masahiko Arimachi (Japanese), Vincenzo Draghi (Italian), Unknown (French), European (European Spanish),, Unknown (Arabic)

Shogo Oki

• Dub Name Change:
  • Aki was called Max in the Italian dub.
  • The Spanish Telecinco dub also changes his name to Ivan.
• Girls Like Musicians: He's the frontman of the band STEA and has a large female demographic, as shown by his concert attendees.
• Inconsistent Spelling: Is his name Shogo Ogi or Seigo Aki?
• Pretty Boy: He's said to have a lot of fangirls that come to watch his performances with Rei and deliberately cultivates this image, being a young singer.
• Pretty Fly For A Japanese Guy: He is Japanese, but his style of dressing resembles African American rappers.
• Nice Guy: He is supportive of both Rei and Eriko, and is trusted by them both.

Hiroshi Osawa

Hiroshi Osawa (大沢 洋)

Voiced by: Hiroyuki Shibamoto (Japanese), Luca Semeraro (Italian), Unknown (French), Unknown (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

Singing voice by: Satoshi Katayama (Japanese), Vincenzo Draghi (Italian), Unknown (French), Unknown (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

• Cloudcuckoolander: He's not always present in our world. Though, he doesn't want to be, as he's more than happy to be a reclusive artist.
• Dub Name Change: Hiroshi was called Fabrizio in the Italian dub.
• Girls Like Musicians: He plays the saxophone and charms many women during his street performances.
• Pretty Boy: He has a head full of claw shaped hairs trimmed in an elegant style ,and striking emerald eyes.
• The Rival: Attempted. Ryoko Asagiri tries to use him as a means to dethrone Eriko from fame. However, Hiroshi has no interest in the talent business and cares only for music.
• Speaks Fluent Animal: He can communicate to animals, for whatever reason. He's even seen talking to the pigeons he feeds while he's at Ryoko's apartment.

Eriko's parents

Tropes that apply to both

Left to right: Yuusuke, Eriko and Minako

• Family Theme Naming: All of the women have names that have "Ko" - Minako and Eriko.
• Fantasy-Forbidding Father: They don't want Eriko to be an idol. Though, when Minako finds out later, she's accepting of it and supports her daughter's career.
• Good Parents: Both of them cared for Eriko with all their hearts and their reasoning for opposing her being a singer for her own safety - given the drama Eriko endures because of it (fans so obsessed they threaten to harm themselves if she doesn't talk to them, a tabloid slandering her and eroding her mental health, her idol career getting in the way of her schooling), it's not hard to see where they're coming from.
• In the Blood: Minako is an idol singer, just like Eriko, but her and Yuusuke opposed her going down this path because they knew that the showbiz industry is vicious.
• Plot-Triggering Death: Their death in a car accident leaves Eriko orphaned, and she has to learn how to be independent as a result.

Yuusuke Tamura

Yuusuke Tamura (田村 雄介)

Voiced by: Takaya Hashi (Japanese), Enrico Bertorelli (Italian), Unknown (French), Antonio Cobos/José Ramón Lojo (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

Yuusuke Tamura

• Always Someone Better: Yuusuke was always one step ahead of Kosuke, which is why he resented him. He had a successful company, a loving wife, and was a well-respected media mogul, when Kosuke worked a lower role. After his death, Kosuke took over his company.
• Dub Name Change:
  • Yuusuke was Rolando in the Italian dub.
  • In the Spanish Telecinco dub, his name was changed to Jacobo Tamura.

Minako Tamura

Minako Tamura (田村 美奈子)

Voiced by: Kumiko Takizawa (Japanese), Maura Musi (Italian), Lucie Dolene (French), Mabel Escaño/Luzberta Vázquez (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

Minako Tamura

• Amnesiacs are Innocent: After she awakens from her coma, she doesn't remember anything, and Kosuke tries to take advantage of this to manipulate her.
• Congruent Memory: Her memory is restored when she meets Kenzo, the very matchmaker who set her up with her beloved. His voice jogs her memories and she remembers that she is Minako Tamura.
• Dub Name Change:
  • Minako was Milena in the Italian dub.
  • The Telecinco Spanish dub made her name "Monica".
• Motherly Side Plait: In an ironic use of this trope (which is often a death flag), she has this after she survives her car accident.

Friends

Yasuko Nakata

Yasuko Nakata (仲田 靖子)

Voiced by: Yoshino Takamori (Japanese), Dania Cericola (Italian), Unknown (French), Blanca Rada/Isabel de Luis (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

Yasuko

• Action Girl: Eriko's friend Yasuko is a Tae Kwon Do expert, and handles any fight scene that happens.
• Badass Biker: Like the stereotype of Japanese Delinquents, Yasuko is a tough biker and even drops off gifts for Eriko with it.
• Boyish Short Hair: She has light brown, shoulder-length hair, which is convenient for her since she bikes and swims.
• Cool Big Sis: She acts as Eriko's big sister, protecting her from bullies and teaching her how to fight and swim.
• Dub Name Change:
  • Yasuko was Roberta in the Italian dub.
  • There were two European Spanish dubs - one by Telecinco (where she was voiced by Blanca Rada) and one by Jonu Media (where she was voiced by Isabel de Luis). In the Telecinco dub she was named Natalia whereas in the Jonu dub she remained Yasuko.
• Foreign Culture Fetish: She seems to have one for other Asian countries - she practices Taekwondo (a Korean martial art) and in the first episode, gives Eriko a souvenier she bought while she was in Hong Kong.
• Japanese Delinquents: Eriko's senpai Yasuko is the archetypal "tough girl", who likes fighting and motorbikes, and is mentioned to have been expelled from school.
• Hot-Blooded: Downplayed. She's usually a joker who's rarely fazed, but when it comes to sports, she considers that Serious Business and tells her opponent she won't go easy on them.
• Passionate Sports Girl: Yasuko loves biking, is a skilled Taekwondo practicioner and the former Captain of the swimming team. One episode even has her teach Eriko the latter.
• Tomboy and Girly Girl: While Eriko is a sweet girl who's fragile and feminine, Yasuko is a rule breaker and a ladette who does extreme sports for fun.

Asami

Asami Yamagata

Voiced by: Chieko Honda (Japanese), Lara Parmiani (Italian), Unknown (French), Ruth Pazo Oliveras/Carmen Cervantes (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

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Asami

• Adaptational Name Change: She was called Asami Seyama in the manga and Asami Yamagata in the anime.
• Dub Name Change: There were two European Spanish dubs - one by Telecinco (where she was voiced by Carmen Cervantes) and one by Jonu Media (where she was voiced by Ruth Pazo Oliveras). In the Telecinco dub she was named Gala whereas in the Jonu dub she remained Asami.
• Nice Girl: She is very caring and supportive to Eriko, who heavily needs it since her parents died.
• Satellite Character: Only exists to be Eriko's best friend and shower her with endless praise, and is almost never seen outside of her school uniform.

Uchida Family

Tropes that apply to both

• Family Theme Naming: Only the Italian dub where Shinya is Giorgio and Kazuki is Gianluca.
• Nice Guy: They're both good people at heart and see Kosuke for the maniac he is, hence their desire to protect Eriko.

Shinya Uchida

Shinya Uchida (内田 真也)

Voiced by: Tomomichi Nishimura (Japanese), Maurizio Scattorin (Italian), Unknown (French), Unknown (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

• Best Friend: He is best friends with Eriko's father and after he dies, he takes custody of her.
• Dub Name Change: He was Giorgio in the Italian dub.
• Good Parents: To Eriko and his biological son Kazuki. He encourages them both to pursue their passions.

Kazuki Uchida

Kazuki Uchida (朝霧 良子)

Voiced by: Shigeru Nakahara (Japanese), Paolo Torrisi (Italian), Unknown (French), Juan Tinaquero (European Spanish), Qasim Mlho (Arabic)

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Kazuki Uchida

• Affectionate Nickname: Eriko always calls him "Kacchan".
• Berserk Button: He is furious when some men call Eriko a "slut" based on rumours and nearly pummels them, but Eriko stops him.
• Childhood Friend Romance: He is Eriko's childhood friend and has loved her ever since they first met.
• Dub Name Change: He was Gianluca in the Italian dub.
• Satellite Character: He doesn't get much screentime and development outside of being Eriko's love interest.

Antagonists

Tropes that apply to both

• Arch-Enemy: Eriko Tamura. They hate that she's achieving fame and want her downfall to promote their own talents.
• Big Bad Duumvirate: Kosuke and Ryoko both aim to see Eriko fall and pull whatever strings they can to make sure she falls flat on her face, because her success is a threat to their agency.
• Hate Sink: Both are abusive/neglectful to their respective relative (Kosuke to Eriko, Ryoko to Rei), with Ryoko even outright abandoning Rei. They show their disdain for their careers by mocking them and telling them they'll never amount to anything (though while Kosuke actively sabotages Eriko, Ryoko has no such interest in Rei). Throw in their narcissism, self-centeredness and disregard for anything that doesn't serve them, and you get Kosuke and Ryoko.
• Parental Abandonment: Neither of them wanted to raise Rei, and Ryoko never showed her affection while Kosuke refused to meet her. Though in the end this is reversed when Kosuke becomes a loving father to Rei while Ryoko remains aloof.
• Unholy Matrimony: He's a greedy businessman that treats his employees like cattle and she's a cruel woman who only cares about herself. They had an affair once which led to the birth of Rei.

Kosuke Tamura

Kosuke Tamura (田村 項介)

Voiced by: Shōzō Iizuka (Japanese), Tony Fuochi (Italian), Unknown (French), Daniel Sánchez/Joaquín Lens (European Spanish), Unknown (Arabic)

Kosuke Tamura

• Aww Look They Really Do Love Each Other: Not to Eriko. To Rei...when she's attacked by bandits and badly injured. Even though Rei was the very daughter he spurned at birth, he realizes he cares for her and stays by her side hoping she'll get better. She makes a full recovery and the two accept each other as father and daughter, and Kosuke reforms into a nicer man.
• Bad Boss: To all of Kosuke's employees. He insists that the Tamura Mansion driver and maid now work for him after his death, both of who vehemently reject him, and treats the company staff so badly they take the Screw This, I'm Outta Here route. One even punches him before leaving.
• Big Bad: While he didn't expect his brother to die, once he's out of the picture he gleefully takes over his company and tries to sabotage Eriko's career because she's his daughter. He is behind almost every tragedy she faces, and is obsessed with doing whatever he can to make sure she doesn't make it big.
• Corrupt Corporate Executive: Once he gets control of his deceased brother's company. He's basically the anime version of Eric Raymond, but perhaps even worse.
• Dub Name Change:
  • Kosuke was Luciano in the Italian dub.
  • In the Spanish Telecinco dub his name was Enrique.
• Easily Forgiven: Eriko forgives him for everything he's ever done and all the people he's ever hurt when he shows his caring side to Rei.
• Evil Laugh: Kosuke often does this, thanks to Shōzō Iizuka's baritonal voice.
• Evil Uncle: To his orphaned niece.
• Heel–Face Turn: He eventually reforms and passes over the company to Minako after finding out Rei is his daughter and realizing he loves her. When Eriko makes her idol debut in America, he's there to support her, and is even seen making someone laugh by carrying her dogs in a funny manner◊.
• It's All About Me: When Eriko's father Yuusuke dies, Kosuke screams and grieves...because the Tamuras were about to close a huge financial deal and now they can't.
  Kosuke: "Idiot! What a terrible time to die!"
• Luke, I Am Your Father: Rei mentioned that she was abandoned by her mom at birth and never knew her Disappeared Dad, growing up in poverty and becoming a musician in spite of the odds. That Disappeared Dad is none other than Kosuke - meaning her and Eriko are cousins.
• Manipulative Bastard: Kosuke actively manipulates people in his attempts to destroy Eriko's career. These include Rei, his employees, her fans and anyone willing to make a quick buck or two.
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: His physical appearance is based on the Japanese actor Hiroyuki Nagato.
• The Resenter: Ko resented his brother Yuusuke for having everything he didn't - success, wealth and a happy family. He had a job at Tamura Productions too, but it's implied he only got it out of Yuusuke's kindness. He felt inferior to him so when he finally died, he took over the company and gloated about how he, for once, was the luckier one.

Ryoko Asagiri

Ryoko Asagiri (朝霧良子)

Voiced by: Yoshiko Sakakibara (Japanese), Caterina Rochira (Italian), Ana García Olivares/Carmen Carpintero (European Spanish), Unknown (French), Unknown (Arabic)

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Ryoko Asagiri

• Abusive Mom: She's a terrible mother to Rei. She abandoned her when she was a child, refused to acknowledge her when she sees her in person and cares only about money.
• The Alcoholic: She has a terrible drinking habit and is frequently seen drinking when she's alone.
• Broken Bird: She was an actress in her youth but her success was short-lived and her fame dried up. Now, Asagiri watches the celebrity industry from the sidelines looking for a way to break in again.
• Curtains Match the Window: She has red hair and red eyes. Rei also inherited her eyes, but they're of a brownish shade.
• Dub Name Change:
  • Ryoko Asagiri was Simonetta in the Italian dub.
  • There were two European Spanish dubs - one by Telecinco (where she was voiced by Ana García Olivares) and one by Jonu Media (where she was voiced by Carmen Carpintero). In the Telecinco dub she was never named, making it an inverse of Named by the Dub.
• In the Blood: Rei is an actress, just like her. However, she's mainly a rock musician and her acting roles are short scenes and commercials.