Rika Sasaki
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Rika Sasaki (佐々木 利佳 Sasaki Rika?) is a fictional character in CLAMP's anime and manga series Cardcaptor Sakura. She is known as Rita in the English adaptation Cardcaptors.
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[edit] Character and role
Rika is one of Sakura Kinomoto's (Sakura Avalon in Cardcaptors) classmates in school. She, along with Chiharu Mihara (Chelsea) and Naoko Yanagisawa (Nikki), often appear alongside Sakura at school and during during school events.
Rika is very elegant and mature for her age, although she can be very shy, especially when it comes to speaking to her teacher (and fiancé), Yoshiyuki Terada. Rika is also a skilled cook, able to bake cakes and cookies with ease. She cannot swim very well, as evidenced in Episode 63 when she almost drowns during one of Eriol Hiiragizawa's (Eli Moon) magical trials.
Rika is involved in the main plot in Episode 9 when she buys a brooch that is actually a Clow Card in hiding. The Card is revealed to be The Sword, as it materializes in Rika's hands when she puts on the broach and becomes possessed. The possessed Rika attacks Sakura, but Sakura soon distracts Rika using The Illusion and captures The Sword, returning Rika to normal.
Near the end of the manga, Rika gives Sakura important advice about love, comparing her situation with Terada to how Sakura feels about Syaoran (though names are never stated).
[edit] Relationship with Yoshiyuki Terada
Rika is most known for her relationship with teacher Yoshiyuki Terada. The student-teacher relationship is not uncommon in Japanese fiction, as it can be interpreted as very romantic for a young girl to follow an older man as a student and mentee, only to fall in love with him in the end. Rika and Terada's relationship reflects this innocence and happiness, untainted by criticism and controversy despite their age difference.
Their relationship is established early in the manga when Rika and Terada exchange blushing looks (whose true meaning is oblivious to Sakura). At the end of one chapter, Terada presents Rika with a ring, explaining that he hopes one day it will become a wedding ring. Since then, they have continued to exchange moments whenever possible; their relationship remains unannounced in canon, though Tomoyo Daidouji (Madison Taylor) is able to observe the secret bond they share.
In the anime, their relationship is not as deep; rather it seems that they are not engaged, but Rika still is infatuated with Terada. She enjoys his presence and always shares with him the cakes that she bakes. Terada also appears to return the affection (though in a very subtle way) when Rika gives Terada the teddy bear that she made, and he decides to name it after her, whom he considers his hardest working student.
In Episode 9 when Sakura uses The Illusion to distract a possessed Rika, Sakura commands Illusion to show Rika the person for whom she has the most feelings. The Card shows a colorful silhouette in front of Rika in the shape of Terada. Rika also whispers, "Sensei..." (which can mean teacher in Japanese) before Sakura seals The Sword and releases Rika from her spell.
In Episode 46, "Sakura and the Last Judgement," Sakura is transported into a world where everyone forgets their feelings towards the person he or she loves most. Sakura sees Terada giving a paper to Rika, but she, instead of responding with a usual blush for knowing glance, takes the paper and simply walks away. Whether Sakura fully realizes this change in Rika's feelings is questionable, but it is evident to the viewer that Rika holds affection for Terada.
[edit] Rika in Cardcaptors
Rika's name is changed to the similar-sounding Rita in Cardcaptors. Her mannerisms are mostly the same. However, her shyness and reactions toward Mr. Terada are presented in a way that would imply that she was afraid of him instead of attracted to him.
[edit] Statistics
- Birthday: 16 November
- Blood Type: O
- Favorite Subject: P.E.
- Least Favorite Subject: None
- Favorite Color: White
- Favorite Flower: Marguerite
- Favorite Food: Muffins
- Least Favorite Food: Fermented soybeans
- Best Recipe: Lunchboxes
- Wish List: Western clothing
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Information
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Characters
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Clow Cards
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| Episode Guide: Clow Card Arc: 1-18, 19-35, 36-46 | Sakura Card Arc: 47-59, 60-70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
