Rinkai!

Japanese media franchise

リンカイ！
Rinkai!
Anime key visual
Genre	Sports (keirin)
Created by	Mixi
Manga
Rinkai! Azalea
Written by	Kiyoshi Yamane
Published by	Amazia
Magazine	Manga Bang!
Original run	April 9, 2024 – present
Anime television series
Directed by	Takaaki Ishiyama
Written by	Hideki Shirane
Music by	Shuichiro Fukuhiro Yoshihei Ueda Mana Hirano
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Licensed by	SA/SEA: Medialink
Original network	Tokyo MX, BS Fuji
Original run	April 9, 2024 – present
Episodes	3

Rinkai! (リンカイ！) is a Japanese mixed-media project about women's keirin cycling created by Mixi. A manga series by Kiyoshi Yamane titled Rinkai! Azalea began serialization in Amazia's Manga Bang! service in April 2024. An anime television series produced by TMS Entertainment premiered in April 2024.

Characters

As per their official profiles, every character is a cyclist each representative from a different Japanese prefecture, associated with a specific velodrome situated there. Each character's surname shares in turn the name of the city which is home to such velodrome.

Izumi Itō (伊藤泉, Itō Izumi): Voiced by: Umino Kawamura^[1]; The daughter of the owner of an onsen inn establishment, together with her older sister Atsumi they are known as the "On-Sen Sisters". A cycling enthusiast, she became an athlete without having any previous experience in the sport.^[2]
Nana Hiratsuka (平塚ナナ, Hiratsuka Nana): Voiced by: Azusa Aoi^[1]; Born to a Japanese mother and a French father, himself also a cyclist, she achieved entrance to a cycling training institute in the first ever special selection for female athletes, all the while completing school education ahead of schedule.^[3]
Miko Yahiko (弥彦巫子, Yahiko Miko): Voiced by: Rena Hasegawa^[4]; Previously the center of a former local idol group which ended up disbanding due to certain internal issues, she set out to become a cyclist who would be able to earn a living with her own strength alone.^[5]
Sachi Nagoya (那古屋紗智, Nagoya Sachi): Voiced by: Saika Kitamori^[6]; The only daughter of a renowned zaibatsu family of the Tōkai region, after being raised in a sheltered and overly affective way by her parents, she decided to become a cyclist in order to become independent from her family.^[7]
Kinusa Takamatsu (高松絹早, Takamatsu Kinusa): Voiced by: Riho Sugiyama^[8]; Capable both in sports and in the academic field, after graduating from school she found a job at a major firm. Not feeling fulfilled with it, however, she switched through different occupations, from office worker to yoga instructor, until finally becoming a cyclist.^[9]
Ai Kumamoto (熊本愛, Kumamoto Ai): Voiced by: Minami Hinata^[10]; A sports multi-talent with an innate leader character, she began cycling competitions since the second year of high school, dominating the whole national scene with her prowess.^[11]
Tsutsuji Kurume (久留米美虹, Kurume Tsutsuji): Voiced by: Rico Sasaki^[12]; A gold medalist at worldwide competitions and current title holder. Despite not starting as an elite athlete, she changed radically after going through a certain moment of her life, rising all at once to the top position.^[13]
Chigiri Toyohashi (豊橋契, Toyohashi Chigiri): Voiced by: Yukari Anzai^[14]
Suzu Matsusaka (松阪鈴, Matsusaka Suzu): Voiced by: Miho Morisaki^[14]
Sora Iwakitaira (磐城平颯来, Iwakitaira Sora): Voiced by: Yuka Ozaki^[14]
Remi Hiroshima (広島恋未, Hiroshima Remi): Voiced by: Hinako Takahashi^[15]
Midori Maebashi (前橋緑, Maebashi Midori): Voiced by: Misato Murai^[16]
Rika Matsudo (松戸梨花, Matsudo Rika): Voiced by: Minami Shinoda^[17]
Rio Kishiwada (岸和田リオ, Kishiwada Rio): Voiced by: Rena Maeda^[17]
Yakuko Toyama (富山薬子, Toyama Yakuko): Voiced by: Hiromi Kawakami^[17]
Momoka Tamano (玉野桃花, Tamano Momoka): Voiced by: Hikaru Tono^[15]
Remu Tachikawa (立川麗夢, Tachikawa Remu): Voiced by: Yū Wakui^[18]
Miyako Mukomachi (向日町京子, Mukomachi Miyako): Voiced by: Mariko Higashiuchi^[19]
Kōme Hōfu (防府幸梅, Hōfu Kōme): Voiced by: Makoto Koichi^[16]

Media

Manga

A manga series by Kiyoshi Yamane titled Rinkai! Azalea (リンカイ！アザレア, Rinkai! Azarea) began serialization in Amazia's Manga Bang! service April 9, 2024.^[20]

Anime

An anime television series was announced alongside the manga series at the AnimeJapan 2023 event.^[1]^[21] The series is produced by TMS Entertainment and directed by Takaaki Ishiyama, with Hideki Shirane handling series composition, Hiromi Ono designing the characters, and Shuichiro Fukuhiro, Yoshihei Ueda and Mana Hirano composing the music.^[22] It premiered on April 9, 2024 on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji.^[23] The opening theme song is "Windshifter" performed by Rico Sasaki, while the ending theme song is "Override!" performed by the main cast.^[24]

Medialink has licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia and its streaming on Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel.^[25] Rinkai! is licensed for Spanish-speaking countries via Jonu Media.^[26]

Episodes

No.	Title ^[27]	Original air date ^[28]
1	"Hot Springs and Vows" Transliteration: "Onsen to Chikai" (Japanese: 温泉と誓い)	April 9, 2024 (2024-04-09)
2	"The Courage to Take The Step" Transliteration: "Fumidasu Yūki" (Japanese: 踏み出す勇気)	April 16, 2024 (2024-04-16)
3	"L14 Term" Transliteration: "L14 Ki" (Japanese: L14期)	April 23, 2024 (2024-04-23)
4	"Just a Start"	April 30, 2024 (2024-04-30)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Rinkai! Project About Women's Cycling Gets Anime, Manga". Anime News Network. March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
^ 伊東泉 CHARACTER リンカイ！Project 公式サイト. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 2, 2023.
^ 平塚ナナ CHARACTER リンカイ！Project 公式サイト. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 2, 2023.
^ 第2回「リンカイ！LIVEきゃんぷ」5月19日（金）20:20～ライブ配信！ゲストに弥彦巫子役の長谷川玲奈さんが登場！！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). May 18, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
^ 弥彦巫子 CHARACTER リンカイ！Project 公式サイト. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 2, 2023.
^ 第3回「リンカイ！LIVEきゃんぷ」6月15日（木）16:00～ライブ配信！ゲストに那古屋役の北守さいかさんが登場！！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). June 12, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
^ 那古屋紗智 CHARACTER リンカイ！Project 公式サイト. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 2, 2023.
^ 第4回「リンカイ！LIVEきゃんぷ」7月17日（月）19:30～ライブ配信！ゲストに高松役の杉山里穂さんが登場！！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
^ 高松絹早 CHARACTER リンカイ！Project 公式サイト. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 2, 2023.
^ 第5回「リンカイ！LIVEきゃんぷ」8月16日（水）19:50～ライブ配信！ゲストに熊本役の日向未南さんが登場！！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
^ 熊本愛 CHARACTER リンカイ！Project 公式サイト. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 18, 2023.
^ "Rinkai! Women's Cycling Project Unveils More Cast, Anime's TV Debut Next Spring". Anime News Network. November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
^ 久留米美虹 CHARACTER リンカイ！Project 公式サイト. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved November 28, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Rinkai! Women's Cycling Anime Reveals 3 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
^ ^a ^b 第8回「リンカイ！LIVEきゃんぷ」12月14日（木）20:20～ライブ配信！ゲストに広島役の高橋雛子さん、玉野役の遠野ひかるさんが登場！！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
^ ^a ^b 第11回「リンカイ！LIVEきゃんぷ」2月26日（月）20:20～ライブ配信！ゲストに防府役の小市眞琴さん、前橋役の村井美里さんが登場！！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). February 19, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Rinkai! Women's Cycling Anime Adds 5 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
^ 第9回「リンカイ！LIVEきゃんぷ」12月27日（水）20:20～ライブ配信！ゲストに立川役の和久井優さんが登場！！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). December 21, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
^ 第10回「リンカイ！LIVEきゃんぷ」2月10日（土）19:20～ライブ配信！MC佐々木李子さん、和久井優さん！ゲストに向日町役の東内マリ子さんが登場！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
^ コミック『リンカイ！アザレア』4月9日(火)マンガBANG！にて連載開始！. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
^ Dennison, Kara (March 28, 2023). "Women's Cycling Project Rinkai! Announces Anime and Manga Adaptations". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
^ "TVアニメ「リンカイ！」が本日4月9日より放送開始！" (in Japanese).
^ "2024春アニメ・最速放送＆放送日順まとめ一覧！　これを見れば見逃しなし！" (in Japanese).
^ "Rinkai! Women's Cycling Anime's Video Unveils Opening Song, Staff, April 9 Debut". Anime News Network. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
^ "Ani-One Asia Licenses Astro Note, Rinkai! Anime".
^ "Jonu Media licencia Rinkai!, con simucast en Jonu Play cada martes" (in Spanish).
^ "Sutōrī | "Rinkai!" Project Kōshiki Saito" STORY | リンカイ！Project 公式サイト [Story | "Rinkai!" Project Official Site]. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ "On'Ea | "Rinkai!" Project Kōshiki Saito" ONAIR | リンカイ！Project 公式サイト [On Air | "Rinkai!" Project Official Site]. rinkai-pj.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 9, 2024.