Love Live! is a story that unfolds in various ways, depicting the μ's group, including Kosaka Honoka, as they try to prevent Otonokizaka Academy from closing down, to their exploits in Love Live!. Among these stories, their rivals are the school idol group A-RISE from UTX Academy, who have the ability to win the first Love Live! competition. We've put together a look at what kind of school idols A-RISE are, including their profiles.
A-RISE reigns supreme as the top school idol group.
A-RISE is a school idol group formed at UTX Academy, consisting of Kira Tsubasa, Toudou Erena, and Yuki Anju. They captivated many fans with their incredible singing ability and performances, and more than anything, they were the ones who inspired Honoka Kosaka to "save her school with school idols." Other idol-loving fans, Hanayo Koizumi and Nico Yazawa, are also crazy about them, proving their significant influence on μ's.
Winner of the school idol festival "Love Live!"
A-RISE is made up of students enrolled in the performing arts department at UTX Academy. They were selected as members after passing rigorous auditions within the school. They perform at live shows that are above professional standards, surpassing even professional idols. Their overwhelming talent led them to win the first Love Live! competition, and it's no exaggeration to say they are school idols with an air of more than just champions.
Many students enroll at UTX Academy because they admire A-RISE
A-RISE is portrayed as a top school idol group, and many junior high school girls aspire to enroll at UTX Academy because of their popularity. One of the people close to μ’s is Honoka Kosaka’s younger sister, Yukiho Kosaka. In the manga, it’s revealed that Maki Nishikino and Nico Yazawa also aspired to attend UTX Academy. While A-RISE wasn’t the reason Maki Nishikino wanted to attend UTX Academy, it’s undoubtedly influenced many.
What is UTX Academy based on? Where is the school located?
UTX Gakuen was modeled after the Akihabara UDX, a multi-purpose entertainment facility in Akihabara, Tokyo. Like the actual building, it's too large to be called a high school, but it uses an IC card attendance system and offers a wide range of opportunities, including connections to the entertainment industry and study abroad. Of course, the facility also houses a live music venue called the UTX Theater, where A-RISE performed and gained a fan base.
Are Entertainment Department students guaranteed to enter the entertainment industry after graduation?
In the Love Live! manga, Honoka Kosaka states that students in the UTX Academy Performing Arts Department are required to enter the entertainment industry after graduating. The group A-RISE is also said to be made up of select members who have made it through the rigorous training and dance lessons within the performing arts department, so perhaps it's similar to Horikoshi High School in real life? Among them, Kira Tsubasa, Toudou Erena, and Yuuki Anju were selected and are now active as top school idols.
The popularity of UTX Academy is the cause of the closure of Otonokizaka Academy
"Love Live! The story begins when Otonokizaka Academy, where Kosaka Honoka and her friends attend, faces the threat of closure. Otonokizaka Academy was once a popular school with both tradition and popularity, but the existence of A-RISE, created by UTX Academy, has taken away all prospective students. With the two schools being close to each other and popular idols attending the school, it's no wonder that all the popularity is concentrated at UTX Academy.
A-RISE Declares War on μ’s, Recognizing Them as Rivals
The second season of the "Love Live!" anime focuses on μ’s achievements within Love Live!, but A-RISE stands in their way as a major obstacle. Although μ’s presents them with the greatest challenge, one day they are invited to UTX Academy by A-RISE. A-RISE praises μ’s as a team with a great lineup, confessing that they have not only been paying attention to them but also supporting them. Rather than boasting about their status as the top team, A-RISE recognizes μ’s as a formidable opponent.
Live Battle on the Rooftop of UTX Academy
Recognizing that they must overcome each other as rivals, A-RISE proposed a live showdown on the rooftop stage of UTX Academy. Honoka Kosaka readily agreed, and the first Love Live! match unfolded with a fierce battle between the two teams. A-RISE, as the previous tournament's winners, delivered a stunning performance, while μ's also delivered a stunning performance of "Yume no Tobira." μ's performance was so impressive that even Kira Tsubasa felt anxious, and they were ready to face off in the final qualifying round.
Love Live! They end up losing to μ’s in the final qualifying round.
In episode 9 of the second season of the anime, A-RISE and μ’s finally face off in a battle for a spot in the Love Live! finals. The stage is surrounded by illuminations, and A-RISE performs their signature dance number, "Shocking Party." Meanwhile, μ’s competed with "Snow halation," a winter love song perfectly suited to illuminations, and won a ticket to the finals. While Kira Tsubasa couldn't accept their defeat, she passionately cheered μ’s on, hoping they would win Love Live!.
Kira Tsubasa, Leader of A-RISE
A-RISE is a select group of students enrolled in the performing arts department of UTX Academy, but its leader in the game is Kira Tsubasa. Her aura is evident not only in her appearance but also in her name, making her a character who is perfectly capable of demonstrating leadership skills. μ’s was still relatively new at the time, but Kira possessed the ability to discern the true value of each member, accurately identifying their individual personalities. Furthermore, she took her school idol career seriously.
A charismatic individual who leads others with her personality and drive
Kira Tsubasa's personality is similar to μ's' Honoka Kosaka's, and she is aggressive and eager to get things moving through her own actions. Although her playful behavior can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for those around her and the other members, her charisma nonetheless allows her to turn it into a powerful leadership skill. She's about the same height as Yazawa, but despite her petite stature, she exudes a powerful presence.
Erena Toudou: Popular with Women for Her Calm Demeanor
Another A-RISE member, Erena Toudou, is one of the quieter members of the group, but her slender figure and demeanor make her popular with women. She has a distinctive mole on her left eye, giving her a mature vibe, and she is also one of the people who recognizes μ’s’s talent. At 1653cm tall, she’s taller than Eli Ayase, making her a character who could also be successful as a model.
Elevating A-RISE's Value with Her Outstanding Singing Ability
Erena Toudou's outstanding singing ability not only elevates A-RISE to the top school idol category, but also to a higher level. While she may normally appear cool, unfortunately, Love Live! They were unable to advance to the finals. While she must have felt more than just dejected, she is depicted here rushing to the stage to watch μ’s perform bravely, cheering them on.
Anju Yuki exudes healing and compassion
Yuuki Anju's distinctive wavy long hair exudes a certain mature sexiness. Not only does she exude mature sexiness, but her gentle manner and casual way of playing with her hair are sure to captivate many men. This aura makes Yuuki Anju a character who exudes healing and tolerance, and she delivers captivating performances as a member of the top school idol group A-RISE.
Despite her gentle personality, Anju Yuki acts as a harmonizer for the group.
Her mature demeanor can sometimes give the impression of being a little selfish, but Anju Yuki often finds herself holding back Kira Tsubasa, who tends to act on her own. She also acts as a mediator between Erena Toudou and A-RISE, neutralizing the situation. It's no exaggeration to say that A-RISE wouldn't function properly without her. There's also a scene in the movie where she helps Kotori Minami make her costume, and her caring nature makes her a perfect example of a wonderful older sister.
Introducing A-RISE's Music!
A-RISE appears as a formidable opponent standing in μ's's path to victory in Love Live!, but what kind of songs have they performed in Love Live!? Their songs have had such an impact on the story's protagonist, Honoka Kosaka, that they are beloved by many school idol fans. While they may not appear often, we'll introduce some of their songs that have had a major impact on many characters, so be sure to check them out.
Private Wars
Since A-RISE's first appearance in the anime, "Private Wars" has long been their signature song. When the announcement of their live performance scene aired on Advision in Akihabara, many fans gathered in front of the screen and cheered, clearly demonstrating their immense popularity.
Shocking Party
The 2nd Love Live! The song they performed in the final round was "Shocking Party," an up-tempo dance number. A-RISE delivered a performance as good as ever, but unfortunately lost to their rivals, μ's. Still, the song far surpassed other school idols on the popularity charts, so there's no doubt it was a song that fully showcased A-RISE's talent.
Concerns about UTX Academy and A-RISE
A-RISE is depicted as a prominent school idol group in "Love Live!", and there are many topics surrounding them and the UTX Academy they attend. While μ's-related topics tend to get all the attention, here we'll take a look at some of the online topics about A-RISE and UTX Academy. This will give you an opportunity to learn more about A-RISE, so be sure to check it out.
Private Wars Gains Attention from Global Artists
A-RISE's signature song, "Private Wars," has sparked online discussion about its similarity to "I Was Made for Loving You" by the world-famous hard rock band KISS. In response to this, a scene appeared in the anime in which μ’s members appeared dressed as what appeared to be KISS members, prompting KISS member Gene Simmons to respond on Twitter. Love Live! is a global hit, and even during the anime's broadcast, it had already caught the attention of international figures.
Will UTX Academy be closed in Love Live! Sunshine!!?
「UTXが廃校になった」証拠を探してきました。ごちゃごちゃしてますが。サンシャインでは徹底的に「UTX」のロゴの位置にカメラが向かなかったり、UTX生が一人もいなかったりしたので、絶対に何かあると思っています。 #lovelive pic.twitter.com/klmrYn0ePa
— かいだこ (@kaidako) July 3, 2016
At the beginning of the second installment of the series, Love Live! Sunshine!!, protagonist Chika Takami is captivated by μ’s live performance footage. However, one Love Liver who noticed this scene posted an image suggesting that UTX Academy had been closed, sparking a major stir. The AdVision building is the same building that houses UTX Academy, but when comparing the same scene in Love Live!, the letters "UTX" are nowhere to be found. While we have no idea what happened at UTX Academy several years after μ’s's exploits, it must have come as a huge shock to A-RISE fans.
Let's take a look at A-RISE, the impact it had on so many people.
This article examines the profile and overview of A-RISE, the top school idols attending UTX Academy. While A-RISE may not appear frequently, there's no denying their significant influence, as many people, including Honoka Kosaka, look up to them. While A-RISE looms large as μ's's rivals, focusing on them will give Love Live! a different perspective, so be sure to consider it from an A-RISE perspective when rewatching.
