Adapted from Aka Akasaka’s Japanese manga series of the same name, Oshi no Ko recounts a captivating tale of revenge and retribution. The show follows the children of a popular idol who was killed brutally by a deranged fan. Focusing on complex themes, Oshi no Ko explores the harsh realities of the entertainment industry and the price that public figures pay for their fame.
The series primarily revolves around complex characters with unique drives who wish to fulfil their lifelong ambitions and goals. The female characters in particular lead complicated lives, and these are the ones who shine above the rest.
5 Mem-Cho
A Popular YouTuber Who Once Dreamt of Being an Idol
Mem-Cho is a mischievous, animated young woman who has dreamed of becoming an idol from a young age. In order to make her dreams a reality, her mother overworked herself and always cheered for her daughter. But Mem-cho decided to cast her ambitions aside soon afterwards. She went on to find success as a YouTuber and made a good fortune for herself.
Mem-cho’s decision to put aside her dreams of being an idol reveals her selfless nature as she prioritises her family over her goals. She uses her earnings to help her siblings attend college, and gives her family financial support when they need it the most. Her selfless actions eventually come back to bless her, as Mem-cho is invited to join B-Komachi alongside Ruby and Kana. With the revival of the popular idol group, she finally has the chance to fulfill her lifelong goals and achieve her childhood dreams.
4 Ruby Hoshino
Ai Hoshino’s Daughter Who Wants to Follow Her Mother’s Footsteps
After dying due to terminal illness, Sarina Tendouji is reincarnated as Ruby, the daughter of B-Komachi’s popular idol Ai Hoshino. Since she was a huge Ai fan in her previous life, Ruby’s childhood at first seemed like a dream. Ai even trained her to be an idol whenever she found time, and the daughter-mother duo made lasting memories during their dance sessions. Unfortunately, Ruby’s dream turned into a nightmare after the horrific murder of B-Komachi’s popular idol.
Life came to a standstill for Ruby and Aqua as they took years to come to terms with the harsh reality. But taking inspiration from Ai’s career, Ruby decided to follow in her footsteps and become an idol herself. She persevered despite initial hurdles, and revived B-Komachi. Ruby’s ambitious personality is quite similar to her mother, who prioritized her career even when she was pregnant. But unlike Ai, Ruby is more extroverted and social, which allows her to bond with her peers in her idol group.
3 Ai Hoshino
The Popular Idol Who Lived a Secretive Life
Ai Hoshino grew up in an orphanage after getting abandoned by her mother Ayumi, who never showed interest in raising her daughter. The childhood trauma that she endured due to her abusive mother had a far-reaching influence on her personality. Ai grew up to become quite disorderly, asocial, and impetuous. Although she found immense success in the entertainment industry as an idol, Hoshino’s asocial nature made her a loner. Ai could not even become friends with her partners at B-Komachi, and was always too focused on her career.
That’s why today I will once again lie, believing the lies will become the truth. Even if I end up paying for it one day.
People who worked with Ai Hoshino noticed that her charisma dazzled those around her, and she always knew how to be in the spotlight. Despite being in a cut-throat environment, she thrived and stood out among countless idols. Although her life was cut short, Ai’s influence and fame continue to shape the entertainment industry even in the present time, with her daughter and son leveraging the talent they inherited from her.
2 Akane Kurokawa
The Method Actress Desperate to Taste Success
Akane Kurokawa is a method actress who is religiously committed to her craft, and is willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure that she brings out her best in every performance. But being talented is not enough to survive in the entertainment industry. So when she gets the chance to star in a dating show titled Love for Real, she feels that it might turn out to be her big break. Sadly, things go south soon afterwards as she finds herself caught up in a controversy.
The pressure to succeed, combined with the controversy, soon becomes too much for Akane, and she tries to take her own life. But the horrible incident ends up turning into a life-changing experience that makes her a much stronger person. After getting saved by Aqua, the duo forges a professional relationship that influences Kurokawa’s life decisions and shapes her as a human being.
Akane’s talent as an actress is so impressive that many believe that she is a genius. However, her quiet and shy nature never lets the praise get to her head, and she remains committed to getting better. At her best, Akane immerses herself in her characters so brilliantly that she leaves viewers spell-bounded. Despite her tumultuous past, Akane remains dedicated to her lifelong goal of becoming a great actress, which speaks volumes about her tough character.
1 Kana Arima
The Child Prodigy Searching for Herself
At a very young age, Kana Arima tasted success and became a sought-after actress. Her prodigious talent separated her from her peers and made her extremely popular in the entertainment industry. As she started getting more recognition as a genius actor, Kana became arrogant and imperious. This influenced her behaviour to the point that her colleagues found her very difficult to work with, and her never-ending tantrums became too obnoxious to tolerate. When she started losing jobs because of that, her popularity took a serious hit, and Arima suddenly was no longer the star she used to be.
Nobody is looking my way. Mom and the manager abandoned me. Even my fans are fixated on my past glory. […] Tell me you need me, if you do, I’d work my fingers to the bone. Say that I am useful, and I’ll work myself to death for you.
Kana’s mistakes also influenced her personal relationships, and she became isolated. She then learned from her mistakes and became more humble. Arima also tried reinventing herself by trying her hand at singing. Although it never brought her the fame she once had, it went on to influence her career in an unexpected manner. As Kana became an easy-to-work-with actress, she started getting more opportunities. Around the same time, she reunited with Aqua and began harbouring feelings for him. Her friendship with him brought her closer to Ruby Hoshino, who played a crucial role in the ultimate revival of B-Komachi.
Kana is a complex character who has the misfortune of getting too famous too soon, without having the time or the guidance to figure out how to handle her fame. Although it leads to her downfall, the criticism, failure, and hunger for success shaped her character and made her the person she is now. Her story is inspiring, as it teaches resilience and a never-say-die attitude even when the odds are stacked heavily against her.
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