Starting as a magazine and expanding into various media such as anime and games, "Love Live!" continues to be loved by fans all over the world, with no signs of waning popularity. We've put together a detailed profile of each member of the school idol unit "μ's" that appears in "Love Live!", taking an in-depth look at the characters and their personalities, so you can get to know not only μ's but also "Love Live!" as a whole.
Honoka Kosaka, Founder and Leader of μ’s
Honoka Kosaka is the founder and leader of the school idol unit "μ’s," the main character in "Love Live!" She has a strong passion for her school idol activities, and even when faced with difficulties, she overcomes them with her natural cheerfulness and positive attitude. While her tendency to drag others into her life may seem troubling at first glance, she is blessed with reliable friends who believe in her and follow her, and she is determined to prevent the closure of her school, Otonokizaka Academy.
School idol activities come to fruition through inspiration
Before Otonokizaka Academy faced the threat of closure, Honoka Kosaka was an ordinary girl. However, because she loved her school so much, she searched for ways to contribute. Then, after seeing the "A-RISE" video playing on AdVision in Akihabara, she decided to liven up the school with her own school idol activities. Honoka Kosaka had no experience singing or dancing, but with a strong determination to "do it, we'll do it!", she got her childhood friends Kotori Minami and Umi Sonoda involved. Gradually, the number of members grew, and they set their sights on competing in Love Live!.
A popular character who has won first place twice in the general election
In the past fan voting project "Love Live! Center General Election," Honoka Kosaka won first place twice, in the first and third general elections. Her consistently high rankings in other general elections underscore her passionate support among fans. Her bright smile and positive attitude captivate fans, and just looking at her makes them feel energized—no wonder why she's so popular.
Ayase Eli, the big sister who brings the members together
Ayase Eli is the student council president of Otonokizaka Academy. Early in the story, she opposes Honoka Kosaka, who tries to liven up the school through school idol activities. However, her actions as student council president are unsuccessful, and she struggles to accept Honoka's admiration for school idols. However, after Honoka invites her to join μ's, Ayase Eli joins. Now that she's true to her true feelings, she not only acts as a big sister to bring together the unique members, but also works to strengthen μ's's unity.
What is "Smart! Cute! Elichika!"?
Eri Ayase's catchphrase is "Smart! Cute! Elichika!", but she never directly utters it in the story. Although it has only been written on the self-introduction track of her debut song "Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE" and on the Purikura stickers in the first episode of the anime's second season, it is used by fans as the ultimate compliment for Ayase Eli. In fact, Ayase Eli has the triple threat of excellent grades, good looks, and exceptional athletic ability, so it's no exaggeration to say that she is the most sensible character out of all the μ's members.
Even her out-of-touch side is cute and a stark contrast to her personality
Ayase Eli is a blonde beauty, but perhaps because she's so perfect at everything, she has a surprising side to her: she's ignorant of the everyday activities of ordinary high school girls. She's shown to be thrilled by the taste of a hamburger she's never tried before, exclaiming "Harasho!", and excited about her first experiences with amusement parks like bowling. Furthermore, in the second season of the anime, her character becomes even more of a wreck, so comparing her appearance with the first season might be a cute surprise.
Minami Kotori, in charge of designing costumes for live shows
Minami Kotori's mother is the president of Otonokizaka Academy, and she is childhood friends with Kosaka Honoka. She's a behind-the-scenes character, working on μ's's live costumes and promotional posters. She also worked part-time at a maid cafe, claiming she didn't have any outstanding features, and her work earned her the nickname "Minarinsky," a legendary maid.
She has a laid-back personality, but a strong core
Childhood friends Honoka Kosaka and Umi Sonoda are cheerful, energetic, and impulsive, while Kotori Minami is serious and reserved. Minami acts as a mediator between the two, easing the tension. While she often ultimately acts according to Honoka Kousaka's ideas, Minami Kotori isn't swayed by her passion; she acts with firm will. When Minami Kotori calmly works on costumes, saying, "I have my own role to play," it feels like she's teaching us a life lesson.
Prioritizing school idols over achieving dreams
Minami Kotori, who is in charge of costume production for μ’s, has aspirations of studying fashion in the future, and her mother introduces her to the opportunity to study abroad. While studying abroad could have made her dream a reality, Minami ultimately prioritizes her activities with μ’s. Although Honoka Kosaka once tried to dissuade her, she seemed to value "what she wants to do now" above all else. This shows her desire to value time with her friends over pursuing her dreams, and it's also the moment when μ’s, which was on the verge of falling apart, reunites.
Sonoda Umi: A Serious and Competitive Yamato Nadeshiko
Sonoda Umi is childhood friends with Kosaka Honoka and Minami Kotori. She has a serious personality among the μ’s members and acts as a kind of guardian to Kosaka Honoka. Her family is the head of a traditional Japanese dance school, and she is a member of the archery club at school. Her appearance also makes her a perfect example of a Yamato Nadeshiko. However, she can also be timid and reserved. She initially rejected Honoka's invitation to join the school idol group, calling it indecent, but eventually gave in and joined the group.
She has a serious personality, but a tendency to fantasize.
Umi Sonoda has a very serious personality and is a member of the archery club, giving her a serious image, but inside she is a pure and innocent girl. Although she resists Honoka Kosaka's suggestion that they become school idols, she finds herself daydreaming about becoming one during club activities. Blowing kisses is a staple in μ's music videos, and the phrase "love arrow shoot" was even born from her imagination.
Umi Sonoda, the Lyricist for μ’s
Umi Sonoda once wrote poetry as a hobby, and while it may have been a dark memory for her, she was asked by Kotori Minami to write the lyrics. Although she scolds Honoka Kosaka harshly, she is often kind to Kotori Minami, and when she says, "Please...!" with tears in her eyes, it seems her heart has been pierced. This is how μ's's famous songs of today were created, and she began working together with Maki Nishikino to create them.
Hoshizora Rin, a sporty girl with an abundance of energy
Hoshizora Rin, a first-year student whose greatest weapon is her bright, sparkling smile, is one of μ’s’s best athletes. Her athleticism is so impressive that rival school idol group A-RISE considers her to be nationally ranked. She has a distinctive way of speaking, ending her sentences with "nyaa," and not only does she have a smile, but she also cheers up the other members with her cheerful comments. Furthermore, she has a kind, caring nature, and her diverse expressions have captivated countless fans.
She is best friends with Hanayo Koizumi
She has known Hanayo Koizumi, a fellow first-year student, since elementary school, and they have a very close relationship. That's why, when Koizumi Hanayo was hesitant to take the first step toward her dream of becoming a school idol, she encouraged her to join the club. While she may appear innocent at first glance, she is actually very devoted, encouraging her teammates and working together with them. Above all, she does so for her beloved Koizumi Hanayo, and the two share a strong bond.
She's boyish, but she also shows off her feminine side
When she was in elementary school, a boy told her that skirts didn't suit her, and Hoshizora Rin felt uncomfortable acting cute and feminine. Koizumi Hanayo understood her best friend's desire to be feminine, and secretly prepared a wedding dress for her for a concert featuring only first- and third-year students. The concert was a huge success, and Hoshizora Rin overcame her fear of skirts, starting with the next practice.
Maki Nishikino, a cool girl who rarely reveals her true feelings
Maki Nishikino is one of the most popular characters in "Love Live!", and her pairing with Nico Yazawa is arguably the best. He is in charge of composing songs for μ's, and after being spotted playing the piano by Kosaka Honoka, he receives an enthusiastic invitation to join. Naturally, he has no interest in school idol activities and declines, but is subsequently asked to compose songs alone. Then, after seeing the song he wrote for μ's on their debut stage, Nishikino Maki is moved by the three of them and decides to join.
Tsundere? But she's actually very caring towards her teammates.
Although her personality is described as a tsundere, Nishikino Maki has many stories of caring for her teammates. She supported Koizumi Hanayo when she was unsure about joining μ's, and encouraged Hoshizora Rin when she was worried about being more feminine. She also worked to make Nozomi Tojo's wish to "write a song with all the members of μ's" come true. While she usually comes across as ostentatious and stubborn, she's a caring girl when it comes to her teammates.
She hates to lose, but she has a pure heart.
Nishikino Maki is a character whose true feelings and actions don't always match, but it's precisely because of this that she's beloved by so many fans. While she's competitive and can't be honest, she also possesses an innocence that shows she still believes in Santa Claus. Because of this, the other members often manipulate her, but it's this "easy" side of her that makes her so adorable.
Nozomi Tojo, the goddess who supports μ’s behind the scenes
Nozomi Tojo may not play a prominent role in the story, but she is doing various things behind the scenes. She is the godmother of the school idol group "μ's" that was born at Otonokizaka Academy, and she also supports her best friend and student council president, Ayase Eli, in the student council. She also gave other members the motivation to join μ's and advice, so it could be said that μ's would not have been formed without Tojo Nozomi. Because of her behavior, fans call her the "Goddess of μ's."
A friendly, kind-hearted, and reliable senior
Nozomi Tojo also has a mischievous side, and often sexually harasses Nico Yazawa by groping her breasts, calling it "Washiwashi MAX." She's also depicted as abruptly initiating a pillow fight during training camp, which is her own way of communicating. μ's is made up of students ranging from first-year to third-year, but her actions are intended to break down the barriers between grade levels. Even when she's just pranking, she's playful and approachable.
She's tolerant, yet lonely
Nozomi Tojo is a tolerant and reassuring member of μ’s, but while she acts as a guardian for everyone else, she is also constantly searching for her place in the world. Her parents forced her to transfer schools frequently from a young age, meaning she had few friends. However, after meeting Eli Ayase in high school and then μ’s, she formed a group of friends, and Nozomi Tojo cherishes that space deeply. She even calls μ’s a “miracle,” and those words reveal just how important they are to her.
Koizumi Hanayo is shy, but dreams of becoming an idol.
Koizumi Hanayo is a quiet and shy girl, but she loves idols, which is why she becomes interested in the school idols that have emerged at Otonokizaka Academy. Although she had always wanted to join μ’s, she only watched from afar at first. However, thanks to the encouragement of her best friends, Rin Hoshizora and Maki Nishikino, she finally made the decision. After joining μ’s, she switched from wearing glasses to contact lenses and began to dedicate her days to singing and dancing.
She loves to eat, and her favorite food is white rice.
Koizumi Hanayo absolutely loves to eat, and her favorite food is white rice. Seeing her eating with such gusto is sure to make anyone, even if they're not a fan, happy. In the second season of the anime, she's depicted stuffing her face with an extra-large rice ball, which apparently led to her gaining weight. Her boundless love for white rice is evident in a collaboration project featuring Uonuma Koshihikari rice, where she displays her angelic smile.
Her passion for idols is unmatched
It was precisely because of her strong passion for idols that Koizumi Hanayo watched μ’s first live performance with shining eyes. Her knowledge and passion for idols is unmatched by anyone in μ’s, even overwhelming Yazawa Nico, the captain of the Idol Research Club. She also constantly keeps up with the latest school idol news, and it was always her who announced the upcoming Love Live! event. Her enthusiasm was recognized, and she was appointed captain of the Idol Research Club when the third-year students graduated.
Yazawa Nico's Strong Desire for Idols
Until school idols were born at Otonokizaka Academy, Yazawa Nico was the sole manager of the Idol Research Club. Because she had worked so hard alone, she was hostile toward μ’s when they were formed, but that was because she loved idols more than anyone else and aspired to become a school idol. Yazawa Nico is competitive and proud, but as she deepened her friendships with the members, she began to realize that "you don't need to put on airs at μ’s," and this has created a new place for her.
Explaining to μ’s what it means to be an idol
Yazawa Nico was once a school idol, but her overly ambitious goals and strict professionalism led to members abandoning her, eventually leaving her with only one member in the Idol Research Club. Her passion for idols is genuine, as evidenced by her words, "An idol's job is to make people smile." While she may have had some reluctance to accept Honoka Kosaka and the rest of μ's, it's clear that she truly loves the existence of idols.
She's also a kind older sister who takes care of her younger siblings.
While there are many scenes depicting her stubborn rivalry with first-year student Maki Nishikino, Nico Yazawa demonstrates her wealth, rivaling that of the Nishikino family. However, her actual family background was not particularly wealthy, and she spent her days caring for her two younger sisters and one younger brother while also doing the housework. This domestic side is evident during μ’s training camp, where she is depicted serving up home-cooked meals, showing her big sister-like side.
All the members of μ’s are irresistibly charming!
We've summarized the appeal of the school idol group "μ's" from "Love Live!". What do you think? Each member has their own unique personality, yet their charm is unmatched. It's precisely because each member has their own unique traits that "Love Live!" is so unique. The story of μ's never ends, and even after the anime has finished airing, it continues to enjoy enduring popularity. Be sure to check out the movie and game versions as well as the TV anime to experience the wonder of μ's for yourself.
