Onionlinks

Onionlinks

Did You Know?

Docy turns out that context is a key part of learning.

Kirari Momobami

Kirari Momobami (桃喰 綺羅莉) serves as a prominent antagonist in both Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler and Kakegurui Twin. She holds the esteemed title of the 105th Student Council President at Hyakkaou Private Academy, where she is portrayed as an overwhelmingly formidable figure within the institution. Kirari is credited with establishing the current system of gambling that governs the academy, a system that places immense value on high-stakes games and manipulation.

In addition to her role at the academy, Kirari leads the influential Momobami clan, a powerful consortium made up of various wealthy families. This clan operates in conjunction with Yumeko Jabami’s family, creating a complex web of alliances and rivalries that are pivotal to the series’ narrative. Kirari’s character is marked by her cold, calculating demeanor and her strategic prowess in the high-stakes world of gambling, making her one of the most feared individuals in the series.

But Even So, We Still Gamble. We Do That Because We Enjoy the Risk.
— Kirari Momobami

Appearance

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Kirari’s full appearance.

Kirari Momobami is an attractive girl of average height with very light skin. She has long white hair (gray in the anime) styled into two knotted rings, adorned with ribbons, and features squared bangs with cheek-length locks framing her face. Her striking blue eyes are complemented by matching blue lipstick and blue-painted nails, although she is occasionally depicted with pink lipstick in some official art.

She wears the standard Hyakkaou Private Academy uniform, consisting of a red blazer trimmed in black at the cuffs and neck, decorated with gold buttons, and accompanied by a black tie. Kirari pairs this with a patterned gray skirt, black-tinted pantyhose, and the academy’s signature brown loafers with black soles. When outside of the academy, she dons a black kimono featuring her family crest on the back and sides, embellished with a floral print on the lower half, complemented by a matching obi and white tabi.


Personality

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Kirari relishing the experience of being “devoured.”

While Kirari Momobami presents herself as a refined and proper lady, she is, in reality, a calculating and manipulative individual with a psychopathic disposition, showing little regard for anyone but herself. A complete narcissist, she belittles others, firmly believing that everyone should play by her rules. This is evident when Mary Saotome declines her invitation to join the student council; Kirari dismisses her reasons as foolish and illogical.

As the architect of the notorious pet system, Kirari encourages mistreatment, bullying, and subhuman conditions for other students, revealing her sadistic tendencies. She has little concern for human life, focusing solely on her interests and believing that as long as the journey is entertaining, the outcome is inconsequential.

Kirari refers to the academy as her “aquarium,” taking pleasure in observing how individuals behave when they are at their lowest and must fight for dominance. She is indifferent to winning or losing, craving excitement, which allows her to mask her other emotions. An exceptional gambler, she frequently bets everything she possesses and takes considerable risks, with outcomes that consistently favor her. Her thrilling nature is reminiscent of Yumeko Jabami, as both derive pleasure from the suspense and the fading hope of their opponents, reveling in the suffering inflicted by their gambling outcomes. Ririka Momobami describes Kirari as selfish, believing her desires should be fulfilled, which is why she is willing to risk everything to make her dreams a reality.

Despite her generally cold and detached demeanor, Kirari demonstrates a genuine bond with her older twin sister, Ririka Momobami. Their interactions reveal that she truly treasures and loves her sister, expressing delight in Ririka’s growing self-confidence through her friendship with Mary Saotome. Kirari also displays affection toward her personal assistant, Sayaka Igarashi, and, despite their rivalry, she holds fond memories of playing games with her various cousins during their childhood.

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Kirari amused by Yumeko’s challenge.

While Kirari typically maintains a calm and confident facade, there are moments when her composure is disrupted. This first occurs during a poker match against Rin Obami and Sumika Warakubami, where her excitement at facing her cousins quickly turns to shock and disappointment when both fold. Her composure is further shaken upon learning that Sayaka accessed the Hyakkaou Private Academy Vault—a fund of 3 billion yen collected by the student council—to buy votes from the academy’s student body to secure her victory. This revelation leaves Kirari visibly shocked, even causing her to collapse momentarily.

The situation escalates when Yumeko reveals that she distributed her votes by purposefully losing gambles to the housepets of the academy, allowing them to escape their status multiple times and dismantling the housepet system. This completely disrupts Kirari’s carefully crafted “aquarium,” which surprises her cousins, who notice the loss of her usual self-assured demeanor. Nevertheless, Kirari possesses the remarkable ability to regain her composure quickly after such shocks, seamlessly restoring her confident and collected disposition.

Drama

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Kirari’s in live action.

In the live-action adaptation, Kirari Momobami is portrayed by Filipino-Japanese actress Elaiza Ikeda. Unlike her manga counterpart, who is depicted with blue lipstick, Kirari in the live-action series wears purple lipstick, a choice that mirrors the aesthetic of the manga covers. However, on the cover of Season Two, she is shown sporting light blue lipstick.

Kirari is notably absent during Season One, with her significant scenes being filled by Ririka Momobami and Kaede Manyuda. For example, it is Kaede who invites Mary Saotome to join the Student Council. Throughout Season One, Kirari is occasionally shown in shadowy glimpses, but her face remains hidden. It isn’t until Season Two that Kirari becomes a more prominent character. In this iteration, she is portrayed as colder than in the manga, exhibiting a demeanor that rarely breaks into a smile.

Relationships

Ririka Momobami
Kirari Momobami shares a complex relationship with her twin sister, Ririka Momobami, who serves as her vice president. Initially, the sisters were very close, but over time, they became estranged. Despite this distance, Kirari has demonstrated moments of genuine care for Ririka and has expressed pride in her sister’s development into her own individual.

Sayaka Igarashi
To Kirari, Sayaka Igarashi presents an intriguing paradox. She finds Sayaka to be overly rational and often feels a disconnect because Sayaka prioritizes reason above all else, even in the face of danger. This rationality, devoid of personal desires, fascinates Kirari. She views Sayaka as her perfect opposite and appreciates her for who she is, even if their perspectives differ significantly.

List of Gambles

Opponents Gambles
  • Kirari vs Rin
  • Kirari vs 104th Student Council President
  • Kirari vs Ouri
  • Kirari vs Midari
  • Kirari vs Yumeko & Ryota (Anime only)
  • Kirari vs Horo
  • Kirari vs Mary & Ririka

Etymology

    The name Kirari (綺羅) is composed of two kanji: ki (綺), meaning “fine clothes,” and ri (莉), which translates to “white jasmine.” The kanji 綺 (ki) is also associated with the term kirei (綺麗), meaning “beautiful” or “clean.” Additionally, it can convey meanings such as “sparkle,” “light,” or “glitter” (きらり or キラリ).

    Kirari’s surname, Momobami (桃喰), combines the kanji momo (桃) meaning “peach,” and bami (喰) which translates to “bite.”

Trivia

    • Kirari Momobami and her twin sister Ririka are voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro in the Japanese version and Michelle Ruff in the English dub.
    • Interestingly, Kirari shares the same voice actors as Sinon from Sword Art Online in both the Japanese and English versions.
    • Kirari’s calm and composed demeanor often contrasts with her sadistic tendencies, highlighting her complex personality.
    • Despite her position as the main antagonist, Kirari exhibits a strong bond with her sister, showing that her character has emotional depth beyond her ruthless exterior.
    • The character of Kirari was designed to embody the archetype of the “cool, calculating villain,” a trope commonly found in gambling-themed narratives.
    • Kirari’s fascination with observing the struggles of others reflects a psychological depth, making her more than just a typical antagonist; she represents a deeper commentary on power dynamics and human nature.
    • The Momobami clan, of which Kirari is the leader, symbolizes the intertwining of wealth, power, and manipulation within the world of Kakegurui.
    • In the anime, Kirari is often seen wearing blue lipstick, which emphasizes her unique style and enhances her visually striking appearance.
    • Kirari’s character design and demeanor are influenced by traditional Japanese aesthetics, aligning with her family’s wealthy background and cultural heritage.