Ririka Momobami (桃喰 リリカ) is a supporting character from Kakegurui. She is the Vice President of the Student Council at Hyakkaou Private Academy, and the older identical twin sister of Kirari Momobami whose family is aligned with the family of Yumeko Jabami.
Appearance
Ririka's face is mostly hidden throughout the series by a white, theatrical comedy mask that provides vocal distortion. As Ririka is the identical twin sister of Kirari Momobami, the two of them share all of their facial features as they both have pale skin, long platinum hair (gray hair in the anime) with bangs that are styled in a hime-cut, peach/pink tinted lip balm, and light blue eyes. Unlike Kirari, Ririka keeps her long hair down and she doesn't wear lipstick or painted nails, unless she is posing as Kirari.
Ririka wears the standard female Hyakkaou Private Academy issued uniform. A red blazer with black trim lining the cuffs and collar, a white button up dress shirt, a dark pleated skirt, a tie, and black/grey colored tights and the academy's issued footwear: brown colored loafers with black soles.
Personality
Ririka standing silently beside her sister.
Ririka is a very quiet and stoic person who often acts as an observer. Despite her silence during the Student Council's meetings, she's mostly in step with Kirari Momobami. However, she does seem to be less cold, as she acted very shocked when Midari Ikishima gouged out her own eye.
Ririka embarrassed without her mask on.
It's revealed that when she doesn't have her mask on, Ririka is an incredibly shy and somewhat socially awkward person, who visibly has a lack of self-confidence, which makes her a complete opposite of Kirari. This is probably due to her very strict upbringing as she wasn't allowed to do anything except following her twin sister in silence and while wearing mask because her family "erased" her entire existence, forcing her to believe she was merely an extension of Kirari. However, despite this blatant disparity, she was able to disguise herself as her twin sister and perfectly copy her behavior during the meeting with their family. Acting as another person is also a kind of mask for her. During her childhood, it was shown that she would perfectly mimic all aspects of Kirari's to the point that it was completely impossible for anyone to guess which one of them is which. As seen where even their cousin, Sumika Warakubami, a world renown actress, was stomped to separate the two of them and concluded that reason for this was that Ririka truly believed she "was" Kirari down to the deepest depths of her mind.
She seems to be quite perceptive, readily recognizing Rin Obami's trickery during their match. In spite of her amenity, she can be manipulative sometimes and has displayed immense intelligence and insight, forcing Mary Saotome to gamble against Miyo Inbami and Miri Yobami, placing Yumeko Jabami's life on the line. Ririka is a very skilled gambler, which is implying that she might be the reason why Kirari has so much power within the clan.
As seen during her friendship and interactions with Mary, Ririka is slowly beginning to come out of her shell and gain confidence in herself. As seen where she began to gradually becoming to have more confidence in herself to begin removing her mask more often around others and no longer being shy and nervous when interacting with them without it on.
By the time of her being challenged by Kirari, Ririka was stated to now possess a level of independence and separate individualism apart from Kirari to the point that her ability to perfectly act and copy her was now no longer applicable. As seen where Kirari herself noticed that she and her sister no longer completely blended in with each other. As stated by Ririka, Mary has helped her become her own person, separating herself from Kirari and become stronger.
Despite their upbringing, Ririka and Kirari are extremely close are care about each other greatly, so much so that Kirari created the entire student council president election in order for Ririka to gain her independence. Following the election, Kirari accepts that she and Ririka and two different people and affectionately refers to her as “big sis”.
Story
Past
Ririka was born alongside her younger twin sister Kirari to the Momobami family. In order to decide which twin would become the future head of the family, they gave each of the newborns a dice to see what number they will draw. As the dice ultimately chose her younger sister, Ririka’s existence was “erased” and the twins were “combined into one”, meaning she was not allowed to be her own person and was forced to become an extension of Kirari. Due to this, since early childhood, Ririka wasn't allowed to do anything she wanted or develop her own personality and instead was forced to be a perfect copy of Kirari. Because of this inhumane treatment towards Ririka, she developed the ability to “become Kirari”, becoming identical to her in both appearance and personality, which allowed her to impersonate her sister perfectly and act on her behalf if necessary. Throughout Ririka’s life, she quietly accompanied Kirari during family meetings while wearing a mask.
Despite the circumstances, their bond was still very strong. In private, they would talk about their desire to escape from their family, stating that they never liked them in the first place. Although they had mixed feeling towards this decision, both of them came to the conclusion that they are the same, so they perfectly understand each other's feelings.
Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler
Ririka leaving the situation to Sayaka Igarashi
During the first season, Ririka isn't seen doing anything, but she is usually standing silently besides Kirari Momobami (Ririka's twin sister) where she is always present at all meetings of the council, but never comments on anything. When it was time to meet with the Momobami Family, Ririka dressed up as her sister and left the academy, leaving Kirari behind with her mask. Sayaka Igarashi ran to her while she was boarding the helicopter and told Ririka to stay (thinking it was Kirari). Ririka then acted like her sister and said that she will leave the academy in her hands. When Sayaka continues to panic, Ririka tells her to shut up and flies off.
Ririka pretending to be Kirari Momobami
In the family meeting, she is stating how incredibly worthless they are and how greedy their behavior is. She invites them all to the school, if they really want to see what Kirari has created. Later, she is called by Runa Yomozuki, who tells her about the events, that played out at the academy. Runa also mentions that she and Kirari's switch was revealed.
Kakegurui XX
Ririka wanting to talk with Mary Saotome
Ririka wanting to join forces with Mary
During the presidential election, Ririka was looking for Mary Saotome, who she bumps into her and her mask falls off, in which she quickly puts it back on and then proceeds to take Mary with her. Once they're alone, only in the presence of Inaho Yamato, Ririka suggests a gamble. She puts one of her 100 votes in one of her closed hands and Mary has to guess, where the chip is in. If she gets it right, she can keep the votes. If she gets it wrong, she has to join Ririka in the presidential battle. And even if she wins, Ririka would simply follow Mary around.
Ririka following Mary around
Mary was against it and wanted to leave until she heard about Yumeko Jabami being poisoned. Mary then ripped Ririka's mask off, saying that she can't trust someone, who doesn't even show their face. She then questioned, whether Ririka was ordered or wanted this herself. This left Ririka thinking. When Mary got a phone call that Yumeko was in trouble, she realized that Ririka organized the Nim Type Zero game, so that Mary would be forced to get the votes. Then Mary gripped one of her hands, opening the correct chip.
Ririka being scolded by Mary
Since then Ririka followed Mary around everywhere she went, wanting to fight alongside her. She also got more open towards Mary, taking the mask off for her. It seems like Ririka enjoys being around Mary, however, it isn't the other way around. Mary wants that Ririka starts to act on her own and not just under the orders of her sister. Thus Mary decides they should gamble. If Ririka wins, she is allowed to accompany Mary during the fight. It seems that Ririka won off-screen, since she is still seen following Mary around. Mary still doesn't like her and gets annoyed at her.
Ririka declaring the gamble between Yumeko and Rei
She later also gets invited to the auction. At first, Ryota Suzui believes, she might be behind it, but Mary can clear those suspicions, since Ririka herself is quite surprised by the auction. She doesn't take part in it to much. When Yumeko challenges Rei Batsubami to bet it all, she takes the scene and explains that the Jabami name is worth 3 billion Yen and for both of them to wager something equal. She then decides for a simple coin flip to decide their fate. She flips it and it lands in Yumeko's favor.
Ririka's turning point within the gamble.
Shortly after that, she challenged Nozomi Komabami to gamble with her. When asked by Mary, why she did so, Ririka explained that she related with Nozomi. After Nozomi's crushing defeat, Ririka then accepts her as an ally and Nozomi joins them. Ririka then wants to gamble against Rin Obami. At first Ririka's moves were easily readable. But then, unexpectedly she turned the tables and proved to everyone, that she was playing for herself and not on Kirari's behalf. Ririka displayed great confidence and gambling skills during the game. Rin set up a fake game, but Ririka saw through his trick and tossed him out of the election. After the game, she questions whether Ryota is also Yumeko's partner. But Yumeko states, he is a friend which suprises Ririka.
Kakegurui (Kakkokari)
Ririka in Kakkokari
In the spinoff parody, Ririka is only depicted as her "Vice president" persona, always wearing her mask. She never speaks, causing misunderstandings with her fellow Student Council Members. She expresses herself by writing, drawing or mimicking what she wants to convey, usually with poor results. Her mask often changes to reflect her emotions. E.G. Blushing or sweating. She often accompanies Kirari Momobami, assisting her in various ways. One time, Mary Saotome finds her spare mask on the ground and she is mistaken for Ririka by the entire Student Council, just because she's wearing it. Midari Ikishima is the only one to notice that there is something different about her, but that's only because Mary is showing more of her legs than Ririka does.
Ririka wearing her mask in the drama
In another story, Ririka and Midari casually meet Yumemi Yumemite in a cafe where they wanted to buy certain sweets. When Yumemi admits that she is struggling to find inspiration, Ririka starts writing something, however, she only wanted to draw a panda.
Drama
In the live action, a masked Ririka is played by Maiki Kimura. When her face is finally revealed, she is played by Elaiza Ikeda who also plays Kirari Momobami's role.
Ririka disguised as Kirari in the drama
Ririka has black hair in the drama, but it is later shown to be only a wig and her natural hair color is the same as her sister. This is how Kirari is able to switch places with her.
Because of Kirari's absence in Season one, Ririka replaced her in some scenes. She is the one who interrupts Yuriko Nishinotouin's match, accompanied by Sayaka Igarashi, and throws a housepet tag at Yumeko when she loses. Ririka is also responsible for removing Itsuki Sumeragi from her position in the Student Council.
In Season two, she leaves the school on a black car instead of a helicopter.
Episodes
Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler
- A Boring Woman (Non-Speaking)
- Slit-Eyed Woman (Non-Speaking)
- Tempting Woman (Non-Speaking)
- Refusing Women (Flashback, Non-Speaking)
- Love-Dancing Woman (Disguised As Kirari)
- Selective Woman (Disguised As Kirari)
- The Woman Who Bets Her Life (Disguised As Kirari)
- Gambling Woman (Non-Speaking)
Kakegurui XX
- Gambling Women Again (Non-Speaking)
- The Women of Momobami Clan
- Do Not Touch This Woman
- Communicating Women (Non-Speaking)
- The Girl who Changes (?)
- The Connected Woman (?)
- The Hollywood Star
- The Logical Woman (Flashback)
- The Woman Who Bears The X
- The Null Woman
Kakeguri Twin
Chapters
Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler
Relationships
Kirari Momobami
For a large portion of the series, it was unknown what kind of relationship they have. It was revealed that they are twins, in which Ririka is the elder of the pair. As seen from their interactions, Kirari has a genuinely close relationship and refers to her a she irreplaceable older sister. She is the only person whom which Kirari shares her plans with.
Later in the manga, both want to challenge Terano Totobami by replicating a childhood bet in which she has to guess which is which, but Kirari stops her since she feels that "they are not harmonized enough" and she feels that something has changed in her.
Thanks to the time Ririka shared with Mary Saotome, she feels different from Kirari expressing that she feels "her" and that because of this, she is ready to bet with Kirari, current President of the Student Council.
List of Gambles
| Opponents | Gambles |
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Etymology
Ririka is an anagram of Kirari. The name Ririka is written in katakana (リリカ), which has no special meaning. However, the "Riri" part of her name is the katakana/Japanese pronunciation for "Lily" (リリー), while the "ka" part of her name means "mosquito" or "power" (カ).
When written in kanji (花, 華, 百合香, 李々果, 李々花, 李々華, 李々恋, 李梨花, 李梨華, 李理佳, 李理香, 李里花, 李里香, 梨々可, 梨々花, 梨々華, 梨々香, 梨々楓, 梨利佳, 梨李佳, 梨李花, 梨梨花, 梨理香, 梨里佳, 梨里加, 梨里花, 梨里華, 梨里香, 理々花, 理々香, 理利花, 理吏花, 理梨佳, 理梨香, 璃々加, 璃々花, 璃々華, 璃々香, 璃梨花, 璃梨華, 璃里花, 璃莉華, 里々歌, 里々花, 里々華, 里々香, 里李香, 里梨夏, 里梨花, 里莉伽, 里莉香, 倫々果, 琳々佳, 琳々夏, 琳々果, 琳々架, 琳々歌, 琳々火, 琳々珂, 琳々花, 琳々華, 琳々香, 鈴々果, 鈴々歌, 鈴々香, 麗々歌, 凛々夏, 凛々果, 凛々花, 凛々華, 凛々海, 凛々香, 凛理香, 凛里歌, 莉々佳 or 莉々夏), it could possibly mean:
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Trivia
- Ririka and Kirari Momobami are voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro (Japanese) and Michelle Ruff (English).
- Ririka and Shino Asada from Sword Art Online have the same voice actors in both Japanese and English.
- In the Kakegurui (Kakkokari) chapter A Dog, Mary and the Vice President, it is revealed that the Vice President carries around a spare mask for emergencies.