Ritsuko Sakakibara

"If you really want to fulfill your dreams, don't be scared to reach for it. You will really be a loser if you don't even try."

- Ritsuko Sakakibara

Ritsuko Sakakibara (榊原 理津子 Sakakibara Ritsuko) is the deceased older sister of Reiko Mikami, the wife of Yousuke Sakakibara and the mother of Kouichi Sakakibara who only appears in the school graduation album and the old Sakakibara family pictures.

She went to Yomiyama North Middle School in 1972 where she was in the same class with the dead Misaki Yomiyama, 9th Grade Class 3.

Appearance
Ritsuko has long brown hair and brown eyes (black eyes in the manga). In her middle school days, she wears a ponytail in the anime, where in the manga, her hair is shoulder length and her hair is worn down. Also, she is seen after Kouichi Sakakibara's birth in the manga wearing her hair tied in a pigtail.

Personality
Ritsuko was shown to be a loving and caring person where Yousuke Sakakibara mentions that Ritsuko is a very special lady who has a great taste in men and she is also a supporting sister. Reiko Mikami mentions that when Ryouhei Mikami (Reiko's father) went against Reiko's decision to attend art university, Ritsuko is the only one who stood up for her and supported her. Also, in the manga, in Another 0 chapters, Ritsuko is shown as a kind-hearted, calm and peaceful woman as she says that she will protect her younger sister after Reiko yelled at her. Reiko claimed the fact that she admired Ritsuko the most and she was her idol. Also, she was very happy when Ritsuko came in Yomiyama to give birth to Kouichi Sakakibara.

Plot
In the manga, Ritsuko appears also in Reiko Mikami's flashback. After Kouichi Sakakibara came to live with Reiko, she is seen standing in front of Ritsuko's altar, talking to her. It is unknown whether she died while giving birth to Kouichi, or if she died shortly after his birth. In chapter 10, it is hinted that her death was in that class, because of the calamity. And it was also confirmed that she is actually The Death Of May of the 9th Grade Class 3 in 1983. In Another 0 chapters, it is shown that she died shortly after Kouichi's birth. Also, Misaki Yomiyama enters the room, Ritsuko calls his name and then dies. The cause of her death is unrevealed. After her death, her father (Kouichi's grandfather), is always seen sitting in front of her altar, probably still depressed about her death, claiming that he is sick of funerals (including Reiko's). Also, Rei-chan (family's pet) always repeat the phrase "Poor Ritsuko, poor Reiko". In Episode 5, when Kouichi was looking at his mother's class picture, the librarian, Tatsuji Chibiki came to him and asked about his mother. Tatsuji is shown to know about his mother since he was the homeroom teacher of class 3-3 in 1972. In Episode 10 Kouichi had shown Mei Misaki some old pictures with Ritsuko in her teens.

Quotes

 * "I will always be with you. even though I have no idea of the problems you're facing...But it doesn't matter. No matter what happens, I will stand by your side."
 * "You have to be more confident."
 * "And if you have worked hard, but it didn't turn out well, then I will protect you."
 * "Why did it turn out this way? Someone.."
 * "Who are you? Misaki-kun?"

Etymology

 * The name Ritsuko means "reason, logic" (理) (ri), "haven, port, harbor, ferry" (津) (tsu) and "child" (子) (ko).
 * It can also mean "ferry child".
 * Ritsuko's surname Sakakibara means "sakaki tree" (榊) (sakaki) and "field, plain" (原) (hara/bara), which literally means "the truth of the sacred Shinto tree field".

Trivia

 * In the manga, Tatsuji Chibiki shows no knowledge about Ritsuko's death.
 * It is affirmed about the fact that Ritsuko and Reiko Mikami's (Ritsuko's sister) look a lot alike.
 * In the manga, the relationship between Ritsuko and Reiko is more pronounced and close than in the anime.
 * The age difference between Ritsuko and Reiko is that they are born 11 years apart.
 * In the original novel, Ritsuko died of a sudden illness soon after Kouichi Sakakibara was born.

Gallery

 * Main article: Ritsuko Sakakibara/Image Gallery