Iroha Inukai

Iroha Inukai is a middle school girl with long, reddish-orange semi-long hair. On the left side, she wears a heart-shaped hairpin that is pink and purple. Her eyes are green and stand out.

As Cure Friendly, her hair changes to long blond with heart-shaped braids tied at the ends with purple and white ribbons. Her eyes turn blue with pink highlights and yellow pupils. She wears a big purple beret-style headband, a purple frilly dress with a cape, white frilly cuffs, and swinging purple ribbon earrings. The dress has many frills, a magenta ribbon on the chest, and a purple gem. Her cape is magenta underneath, and her skirt has large ribbons with V-shaped ends. She wears white over-the-knee socks and pastel purple shoes with heart decorations. Her look is both cute and stylish, different from the usually mature purple Cures.

Iroha is energetic, honest, and very kind. She loves animals and enjoys taking care of them, so she is always ready to help others. She dislikes lies and secrets, so it is hard for her to keep things hidden. This sometimes makes her act awkwardly or appear suspicious.

Iroha is brave, not afraid to fight monsters, and is always quick to help friends and animals. She’s also a little clumsy when it comes to cooking and sewing and doesn’t realize her own weaknesses in these skills. When it comes to romance, she is very innocent and doesn’t notice when someone likes her.

She cares deeply about Komugi Inukai and worries a lot when her friends or pets are in danger. Iroha always tries to solve problems through honest communication.

• Birthday: August 7
• School: Private Wangan Second Junior High School, 2nd year, Class 1
• Favorite food: Grape sherbet
• Favorite color: Purple

Iroha wakes up early every day to walk with Komugi Inukai, her dog and friend. She became Komugi’s owner after asking Youko Inukai at a pet shelter if she could take care of Komugi. Youko told her that if the original owner returned, Komugi would have to go back, and Iroha agreed. Because Komugi was so attached to her, Iroha promised to take care of her and started her journey as a loving pet owner.

Physical Strength

Iroha is very athletic, known at school for her sports skills. As Cure Friendly, her physical abilities become even stronger, like running fast, jumping high, and dodging attacks.

Special Skills as Cure Friendly

• Ribbon Barrier: Iroha can make purple ribbon-shaped shields to protect herself and others. She can use many at once and use them as platforms. However, clever enemies can unravel them, and sometimes their size gets smaller if she is sick or tired.
• Friendly Ribbon: By turning her barrier ribbon into a long, single ribbon, Iroha can wrap up or bind enemies. The ribbon can take different shapes, but very strong enemies can sometimes break free.
• Diamond Ribbon Style: A powered-up form that appears after episode 30, which comes from the Diamond Ribbon Castle. Her costume becomes even more dazzling.

Komugi Inukai

Iroha and Komugi are deeply bonded. Iroha takes care of Komugi every day and cherishes her as a true partner. Even as Komugi becomes a Pretty Cure herself, Iroha worries about her safety and supports her as much as possible.

Satoru Toyama

Satoru is a close friend and someone Iroha trusts to talk to. She doesn’t realize his true feelings for her until he confesses. Iroha gets nervous and runs away when he admits he likes her, only understanding her own feelings later. Eventually, she realizes Satoru is special to her and, after a big rescue, confesses she wants him to be more than just a friend. They become a couple, and their first date is a shy but happy event.

Friends

Iroha is very friendly and calls her friends and pets by special nicknames. She calls Mayu and Yuki with “-chan,” and Satoru with “-kun.” She also has friends like Mey Mey and Daifuku, and gets along well with all kinds of animals.

Family

Iroha’s family supports her love of animals. They help her adjust when Komugi comes to live with them and comfort her during difficult times.

Becoming Komugi’s Owner

When Iroha first meets Komugi, she asks Youko Inukai if she can keep her. After learning the promise about the original owner, Iroha hesitates but quickly says she wants to be with Komugi. Their new life together begins.

Discovering Komugi’s Secret

When she is attacked by a monster, Iroha is shocked to find a mysterious girl helping her turn out to be Komugi in human form. She is overjoyed to talk to “human Komugi,” but struggles with how to keep this secret from others and stop Komugi (as a dog) from talking. Eventually, Satoru discovers the secret, which makes Iroha feel much better, and she starts telling her best friends and family the truth.

Becoming Cure Friendly

Worried about Komugi fighting alone, Iroha awakens as Cure Friendly in episode 2. She teams up with Komugi and other Cures, using her caring nature to help not only animals but also people.

Challenges with Komugi

When Komugi gets into trouble, like fighting over the leash or running away, Iroha worries and does her best to fix things. After receiving a special outfit for Komugi from Mayu, Iroha decides to talk with Komugi honestly. This leads to them making up after a fight.

Facing Romance

Iroha is surprised when Satoru confesses his feelings. She gets flustered and escapes because she is so inexperienced in love. After a chat with Mayu, she tries to act normal, but Satoru says they should stay friends. Just as Iroha decides to tell Satoru her feelings, he is kidnapped by Zakuro. She realizes how much Satoru means to her and saves him, finally telling him he is her “special wonderful.” They become a couple.

Separation and Reunion with Komugi

When a visitor, Ayako Yuuki, comes to see Komugi, Iroha learns that Komugi once had a previous owner, Kurihara. Iroha is heartbroken at the idea of losing Komugi but begs Kurihara not to take her away. Moved by Iroha’s devotion, Kurihara trusts Komugi to her, and their bond grows even stronger.

Iroha’s Dog Form

After Niko’s powers go wild in episode 40, Iroha briefly turns into a dog that looks like a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, with sideburns like Cure Friendly and wearing her usual hairpin. She can still talk, but sometimes ends sentences with “woof.” In this form, she is playful but finds it hard to control her dog instincts. Eventually, she returns to normal once Niko’s power is fixed.

• Iroha is the 80th Pretty Cure in the history of the series, though an “80th Cure” appeared in the previous All Stars F movie, making it a special case.
• She is the second purple Cure to appear so early (episode 2) in the series, the last time being Cure Coral in Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure.
• The “hands together” pose she does during her introduction means “friend” in sign language.
• Iroha’s goal, revealed before she transforms, is to become friends with animals all over the world.
• Her Cure Friendly design, with a cape and beret, was inspired by the show’s early idea of being animal detectives helping lost pets.

“Let’s color the world with everyone’s smiles! Cure Friendly! Let me hear your voice!”