Anko Kitashirakawa is the younger sister of the protagonist Tamako. At the time of the film Tamako Love Story, she is an elementary school student, having been in the fourth grade at the start of the preceding series. She is a young girl with long, waist-length black hair, which she typically wears in a single ponytail secured on the right side with a small red bauble, and has brown, fox-like eyes. Unlike her older sister, who is often cheerfully impractical, Anko is notably more grounded, practical, and fashion-conscious for her age, frequently providing a calm and rational counterpoint to the whimsical behavior of those around her. She has a strong desire to appear mature and dislikes being treated like a child, which manifests in her preference to be called simply An rather than her given name, which is also the word for sweet red bean paste.

Anko’s personality is shaped by a deep sense of responsibility and emotional perceptiveness. She often lightly chides Tamako for her eccentric ideas regarding the family’s mochi business but does so with underlying care. Despite their differences in behavior, the two sisters share a strong bond. While Anko is sometimes bothered by what she sees as Tamako’s lack of practicality, she also acknowledges her sister’s ability to be serious when necessary and expresses her affection in subtle, quiet ways. Her pragmatic nature also extends to her interactions with Dera Mochimazzi, the talking bird. She is frequently bothered by his presence, finding him to be creepy and perverted, and she is often seen asking when he plans to leave. Nevertheless, she recognizes that he can give good advice, and there is a running gag in the film where Dera mistakes her for her older sister.

In Tamako Love Story, Anko acts as an observant and quiet supporter of the central relationship. She is described as the calm, rational middle ground between Tamako’s obliviousness and Mochizo Oji’s awkwardness, and she desires to see them grow up together. She is on friendly terms with Mochizo, affectionately nicknaming him Mochi, and they share a signature greeting where they raise a hand to each other without waving. She trusts him enough to share her worries, showing that despite her young age, she is a perceptive confidante. A significant part of her personal development in the broader narrative involves navigating her own feelings, including a childhood crush on a boy named Yuzuki, which causes her to experience shyness and upset when he moves away. This mirrors the themes of growing up and change that are central to the film.

The memory of her late mother, Hinako, who passed away when Anko was very young, is a foundational aspect of her character. Anko retains only a few, precious memories of her mother, such as being adorned with makeup for market festivals. For a time, she found these memories sad and subconsciously pushed away things that reminded her of her mother, including the family’s mochi-making tradition and even her own name. Her character arc involves coming to terms with this loss, and she learns to embrace these memories as a source of comfort and strength rather than sadness. This allows her to become more comfortable with her family, her role in the community, and ultimately with herself. Among her notable abilities is her strong sense of fashion and style, which she uses to express her individuality, as well as a talent for art and drawing. Her emotional intelligence and ability to act as a grounding force for her family are her most significant traits, highlighting a maturity that belies her elementary school age.