[Idolmaster] A talented producer and idol? Ritsuko Akizuki

Ritsuko is one of only two producers at 765 Pro. A skilled and accomplished producer with glasses and a suit, she is also the person who sparked 765 Pro's breakthrough. Ritsuko has a past that she doesn't want people to know about, but that experience is what drives her today. This time, we'll introduce you to Ritsuko.

Akizuki Ritsuko Anime Profile

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA Height & Weight: 156cm, 43kg Age: 19 Birthday: June 23rd Birthplace: Tokyo Measurements: B85/W57/H85 Hobbies: Obtaining qualifications, analysis and practice, volunteering Image Color: Green CV: Naomi Wakabayashi

Reliable Big Sister: Akizuki Ritsuko

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA Ritsuko supports the idols from behind the scenes as a producer. She acts as a big sister to the idols at the agency, offering advice on their entertainment careers, helping them with their schoolwork, and even scolding the sometimes rowdy idols. She's smart and resourceful, so she's relied on in many ways outside of her job. She's a "talented woman" who's relied on by people older than her, including the company president and office staff Kotori Otonashi and Azusa.

Akizuki Ritsuko, the Strict at Times

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA She has a serious personality and is devoted to her work. He scolds Miki, who calls him by his first name, to add "san" to her honorifics, scolds her for calling the producer "honey", and scolds the Futami sisters for always acting out of control at the agency... However, he is also considerate of Chihaya, who had trouble fitting in at the agency, and tries to get her to call him by his first name in an attempt to bring them closer. He occasionally watches the idols' lessons, and is very strict with her, giving her the nickname "Demon Sergeant". However, this is also done out of concern for the idols.

Akizuki Ritsuko's Life-Changing Point

Part-Time Job at 765 Pro

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA Since high school, Ritsuko has aspired to become a producer, wanting to develop the idols she envisions. She barges into 765 Pro and starts working as a part-time office clerk.

Debuting as an Idol

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA Subsequently, due to a labor shortage, she is asked to make her debut as an idol. She accepted the offer in order to understand what it feels like to be an idol on stage, and made her debut as an idol. At the time, she was juggling three jobs: student (a third-year high school student at the time), office worker, and idol, but she managed them all perfectly. However, she says she doesn't want people to know that she was an idol.

The Transition to Producer and Ryugu Komachi

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA Then, as the number of idols in the agency increased, management found itself short-staffed. Ritsuko quit idol work and graduated from high school, focusing her career solely on producing. This is the image of Ritsuko in the anime. For a while, she was struggling with a blank schedule, but then the group she organized, Ryugu Komachi, became a huge hit, and she was finally able to develop the idols she envisioned.

Back on stage? Akizuki Ritsuko

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA Ritsuko, refusing to give her all as a producer, is determined to do her best. However, Azusa catches the mumps during Ryugu Komachi's secret live performance. Ritsuko steps in to fill the gap. Ritsuko no longer has any fans, and is intimidated by the prospect of performing on a stage far larger than any she has ever experienced. However, thanks to the support of Ryugu Komachi and former Ritsuko fans who rushed over at the last minute, the performance is a success. Since then, she has occasionally performed on stage (at the mercy of the other members).

A Surprising Side of Akizuki Ritsuko

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA Although she's quite sharp, she's also greedy for money, and while 765 Pro's finances are tight, she's tempted by Kotori and the producer to take promotional photos, once again spending a lot of money. She's also a girl who dreams of love, and enjoys reading girls' novels. While she's confident as a producer, she lacks confidence as an idol, thinking she's "chubby," and she gets nervous before live performances, showing a surprisingly weak side.

Akizuki Ritsuko's Ideal

Source: THE iDOLM@STER ©Toshiyuki Kubooka ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. ©BNEI/PROJECT iM@S ©BNEI/PROJECT CINDERELLA Ritsuko seems to enjoy being with the boisterous yet cheerful idols more than anything else right now, and she fears that something will disrupt this routine, like what happened with Chihaya and Haruka. Still, she believes in the bonds of 765 Pro and is trying to walk a new path. That is to raise Ryugu Komachi's leader, Iori, to be the kind of idol Ritsuko envisions, and together they aim to reach the top of the idol world. In the future, she is also thinking about going independent and starting her own production company.