Ichiko Sakura
Ichiko Sakura |
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| Kanji: | 桜 市子 |
| Romaji | Sakura Ichiko |
| Statistics | |
| Age: | 17 |
| Birthday: | April 16th |
| Height: | 164 cm (5’4″) |
| Portrayed by: | |
| Japanese: | Kana Hanazawa |
| English: | Brina Palencia |
Ichiko Sakura (桜 市子, Sakura Ichiko), is the main protagonist of the anime and manga series Binbougami ga! (Good Luck Girl!). A beautiful, intelligent, and affluent high school student, Ichiko lives a charmed life due to her abnormally high levels of Fortune Energy. Her good luck affects everyone around her usually at their expense granting her prosperity while inadvertently causing misfortune to others.
Unbeknownst to Ichiko, she is the reincarnation of Kanna, a benevolent girl from centuries past who also possessed powerful Fortune Energy and once roamed the land aiding those in need. Her reincarnated state attracts the attention of the poverty goddess Momiji, who is sent from the spirit world to restore balance by draining Ichiko’s excessive fortune. What begins as a chaotic rivalry soon evolves into a story of growth, friendship, and rediscovering empathy.
Background
Appearance in Anime
Ichiko was born with an unusually high concentration of Fortune Energy, making her extremely lucky in every aspect of life. She is wealthy, academically gifted, physically attractive, and universally admired yet emotionally distant. Having grown up spoiled and isolated due to her powers, Ichiko finds it hard to relate to others and tends to hide her vulnerabilities behind arrogance.
Her privileged life is disrupted when Momiji, the poverty goddess, arrives to drain her Fortune Energy and restore balance to the world. As the two clash in increasingly absurd and comedic battles, Ichiko is forced to confront her loneliness, insecurities, and the unintended harm her powers have caused.
Eventually, Ichiko begins to open her heart to others, forming genuine connections and slowly redefining what it means to live a fulfilled life not through luck or beauty, but through compassion and friendship.
Appearance
Ichiko is a slender, attractive high school girl with long brown hair, usually worn loose, and striking hazel eyes. Her physical features are often exaggerated for comedic effect, especially her well-endowed figure, which becomes a frequent target of gags and envy.
She typically wears her school uniform, but occasionally dons luxurious casual wear, reflecting her affluent lifestyle. Despite her looks, Ichiko’s expressions often range from smug confidence to flustered outrage, especially during her clashes with Momiji.
Personality
At first glance, Ichiko is arrogant, prideful, and dismissive, often acting superior due to her fortune and beauty. She is quick-tempered and sarcastic, and her interactions with others are usually laced with biting humor or outright insults particularly directed at Momiji.
However, underneath her ego lies a lonely and emotionally neglected girl who secretly longs for connection. Her fortune has insulated her from hardship, but it has also made her unaware of the suffering it causes others. As the story progresses, Ichiko develops a sense of empathy and learns to value relationships over luck, becoming a more caring and self-aware person.
Role in the Story
The Fortunate Prodigy: Ichiko begins the series enjoying a seemingly perfect life good grades, admiration from peers, and unmatched luck. However, her fortune is unbalanced, and the spirit world sends Momiji to correct the imbalance by draining her excess energy.
The Battle with Momiji: What follows is a comedic and escalating series of battles between fortune and misfortune, as Ichiko resists Momiji’s efforts while slowly realizing the harm her powers cause to others. Their relationship, though initially antagonistic, gradually develops into a strange but heartfelt friendship.
Awakening Empathy: Ichiko’s encounters with ordinary humans like Keita Tsuwabuki and others help her understand the importance of emotional bonds. As she slowly gives up pieces of her Fortune Energy to help others, Ichiko begins to resemble Kanna, her past incarnation a girl who used her gifts to bring good to the world.
Relationships
Momiji: The goddess of poverty and Ichiko’s chaotic rival. Their dynamic forms the core of the series, with Momiji trying to strip Ichiko of her Fortune Energy. Despite their constant bickering, they develop a bizarre friendship rooted in mutual respect and eventual emotional support.
Keita Tsuwabuki: A humble and hardworking classmate who becomes Ichiko’s first real friend. Keita’s dedication to his family and simple life gradually draws out Ichiko’s empathy. She harbors romantic feelings for him, though she often hides them behind tsundere behavior.
Ranmaru Rindou: A tomboyish girl who becomes one of Ichiko’s few female friends. Though initially clashing with Ichiko due to their differences, Ranmaru comes to understand and support her, especially as Ichiko begins to grow emotionally.