TV-Series
Description
Lettuce Midorikawa, also known as Retasu Midorikawa, is a central character infused with finless porpoise DNA, granting her aquatic abilities as Mew Lettuce. Initially a shy, timid junior high student subjected to bullying by "The Three Beckies," she clung to false friendships due to loneliness. Her parents consistently encouraged her to embrace her true self, assuring her genuine friends would come, shaping her early reluctance to assert herself or trust others.
Her origin varies slightly: in the manga, she first appears at an endangered species exhibit facing bully harassment, later gaining her powers during an earthquake that merges her DNA with the porpoise. In the anime, Ichigo encounters her carrying belongings for her tormentors. A pivotal moment occurs when her uncontrolled powers manifest as spectral phenomena at her school’s pool, prompting Ichigo and Minto to intervene. Their reassurance helps her accept her abilities and join the team, marking her growth from isolation to camaraderie.
Personality-wise, she exhibits extreme politeness, using formal speech even with friends and family, alongside clumsiness and introversion. Her initial lack of confidence gradually transforms through teammates' support, particularly Ichigo, her first genuine friend. This evolution allows her to distance herself from the bullies and embrace her protector role. While some adaptations imply high intelligence, primary sources describe her as "canonically airheaded" and emotionally intuitive rather than academically inclined, with strong moral convictions guiding her actions.
Physically, her civilian form features dark green braided hair, blue eyes, glasses, and typically a school uniform or Café Mew Mew’s green maid outfit. As Mew Lettuce, her hair brightens to lime green, her eyes shift to match, and her glasses vanish. Her transformed attire includes a green strapless dress with petal-like detailing, garters, a choker with her Mew Pendant, and long white head antennas. A distinctive Mew Mark resembling a fish rests on her chest. When exposed to Mew Aqua, her legs morph into a porpoise tail underwater, enhancing her swimming despite her initial inability to swim unaided.
Her abilities center on hydrokinesis intensifying with her emotions. She manipulates water to create defensive bubbles, perceive events or presences within water, and generate pressurized blasts using her weapon, the Lettustanets (castanets). As the sole Mew capable of underwater respiration, she plays a critical role in aquatic missions. In the reboot *Tokyo Mew Mew New*, her age adjusts to a first-year high school student, aligning with Ichigo and Minto. This version redesigns her Mew form with wave-like hair curls, a layered skirt, and additional ribbons, though her core powers remain unchanged.
Her development includes subtle romantic subplots, notably a recurring crush on Ryou Shirogane. She saves him from drowning via an oxygen-transferring kiss and shares meaningful moments like cake-sharing, highlighting her growing assertiveness in personal relationships. Her family—parents Yomogi and Eizaburou, and younger brother Uri—provides a supportive backdrop. Her hobbies include doll-making, reflecting her creativity. Her birthday is April 29, coinciding with Japan’s "Day of Green," reinforcing her color motif.
Her origin varies slightly: in the manga, she first appears at an endangered species exhibit facing bully harassment, later gaining her powers during an earthquake that merges her DNA with the porpoise. In the anime, Ichigo encounters her carrying belongings for her tormentors. A pivotal moment occurs when her uncontrolled powers manifest as spectral phenomena at her school’s pool, prompting Ichigo and Minto to intervene. Their reassurance helps her accept her abilities and join the team, marking her growth from isolation to camaraderie.
Personality-wise, she exhibits extreme politeness, using formal speech even with friends and family, alongside clumsiness and introversion. Her initial lack of confidence gradually transforms through teammates' support, particularly Ichigo, her first genuine friend. This evolution allows her to distance herself from the bullies and embrace her protector role. While some adaptations imply high intelligence, primary sources describe her as "canonically airheaded" and emotionally intuitive rather than academically inclined, with strong moral convictions guiding her actions.
Physically, her civilian form features dark green braided hair, blue eyes, glasses, and typically a school uniform or Café Mew Mew’s green maid outfit. As Mew Lettuce, her hair brightens to lime green, her eyes shift to match, and her glasses vanish. Her transformed attire includes a green strapless dress with petal-like detailing, garters, a choker with her Mew Pendant, and long white head antennas. A distinctive Mew Mark resembling a fish rests on her chest. When exposed to Mew Aqua, her legs morph into a porpoise tail underwater, enhancing her swimming despite her initial inability to swim unaided.
Her abilities center on hydrokinesis intensifying with her emotions. She manipulates water to create defensive bubbles, perceive events or presences within water, and generate pressurized blasts using her weapon, the Lettustanets (castanets). As the sole Mew capable of underwater respiration, she plays a critical role in aquatic missions. In the reboot *Tokyo Mew Mew New*, her age adjusts to a first-year high school student, aligning with Ichigo and Minto. This version redesigns her Mew form with wave-like hair curls, a layered skirt, and additional ribbons, though her core powers remain unchanged.
Her development includes subtle romantic subplots, notably a recurring crush on Ryou Shirogane. She saves him from drowning via an oxygen-transferring kiss and shares meaningful moments like cake-sharing, highlighting her growing assertiveness in personal relationships. Her family—parents Yomogi and Eizaburou, and younger brother Uri—provides a supportive backdrop. Her hobbies include doll-making, reflecting her creativity. Her birthday is April 29, coinciding with Japan’s "Day of Green," reinforcing her color motif.