Iroha Igarashi
Iroha Igarashi |
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| Japanese | 五十嵐 色葉 |
| Romaji | Igarashi Iroha |
| Statistics | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Student (Former) |
| Family | Mr. Igarashi (Father) Mrs. Igarashi (Mother) Chika Igarashi (Non-biological younger Brother) Hikari Tsutsui (Husband) |
| Debut | |
| Manga | Chapter 1 |
| Anime | About the Time I First Met Her |
| Actors | |
| Japanese | Yū Serizawa |
| English | Christina Kelly |
Iroha Igarashi (五十嵐 色葉, Igarashi Iroha) is one of the main protagonists of the 3D Kanojo: Real Girl series. A beautiful and outspoken high school girl with a notorious reputation, Iroha becomes the unexpected love interest of the socially isolated otaku, Hikari Tsutsui. Despite her initial image as a “problem girl” who skips class and gets into trouble, Iroha reveals a sincere, kind, and straightforward personality as her relationship with Hikari deepens. Her bold nature and unconventional behavior challenge Hikari’s preconceived notions of “3D girls,” and through her, he begins to change both his outlook on life and himself. Iroha’s hidden vulnerabilities and the time limit on their relationship add emotional weight to the story, making her a central figure in Hikari’s personal growth.
Personality
Appearance in Anime
Iroha is a kind-hearted, honest, and straightforward girl who often speaks without hesitation. She gives off a carefree and bold impression, and despite having little interest in making close friends, she is naturally sociable and easy to talk to. Iroha frequently skips class, jokes around, and dates openly, which earns her a reputation as a flirt or “the girl who sleeps around.” However, this is a misunderstanding, she is actually a virgin, a fact revealed during a rooftop argument with Hikari in Episode 2.
Beneath her rebellious image, Iroha is surprisingly responsible and dedicated. She never avoids punishment and consistently attends remedial classes, showing that she takes responsibility for her actions. Her seemingly aloof attitude masks a strong sense of determination and resilience.
Iroha values being seen for who she truly is rather than being admired only for her looks. This desire for genuine connection is what draws her to Hikari Tsutsui, whom she sees past the “creepy otaku” label and recognizes as someone sincere and worth trusting.
As she grows closer to Hikari and forms new friendships, Iroha becomes deeply protective of those she cares about. She is quick to defend them from insults or judgment and is fiercely loyal, often going out of her way to support them during difficult times. Her compassionate nature becomes more evident as she opens her heart to others.
Appearance
Iroha is a strikingly beautiful and stylish high school girl, often described by Yuto Ito and Sumie Ayado as “the perfect 3D girl.” She has long, wavy light pink hair that reaches her waist, with her bangs swept to the left and a few longer strands framing her face down to her chest. Her eyes appear light or dark brown depending on the scene, adding to her expressive and captivating look.
She is known for her fashionable sense of style and is frequently seen in a variety of outfits outside of school. At school, she wears the standard uniform: a white blouse paired with a pink bow, a skirt, and dark thigh-high stockings, complementing her overall elegant yet playful appearance.
Background
Iroha developed a reputation at school as a flirtatious girl, often disliked by other girls who accused her of stealing their boyfriends. Despite these rumors, much of this reputation is based on misunderstandings and her straightforward nature.
Her story truly begins when she is assigned to clean the school pool as punishment, alongside Hikari Tsutsui, who was disciplined for being late. Their initial meeting is awkward, she accidentally knocks him into the pool and forgets she had previously insulted him. However, she quickly begins to show her true character by standing up for Tsutsui and his friend Yuto Ito when they are being mocked by their classmates.
Her interest in Tsutsui grows after he defends her from a boy she had unintentionally led on. Although Tsutsui initially rejects her due to his mistrust of “3D girls,” he soon realizes her sincerity and asks her out. Iroha accepts without hesitation, but she also reveals a bittersweet truth: she will be transferring schools in six months.
Etymology
The name Iroha (色葉) is composed of the kanji for “color” or “complexion” (色, iro) and “leaf” or “blade” (葉, ha), evoking imagery of natural beauty and change.
Her surname Igarashi (五十嵐) combines the kanji for “fifty” (五十, iga) and “storm” or “tempest” (嵐, arashi), giving her name a dynamic and powerful nuance.
After marriage, her name becomes Iroha Tsutsui (筒井 色葉), where Tsutsui is made up of the kanji for “cylinder” or “tube” (筒, tsutsu) and “well” or “pit” (井, i), a name shared with her husband Hikari Tsutsui.