Ryota Sakuraba is an idol under TSUKINO TALENT PRODUCTION and a member of the unit Growth. He cultivates a soft pretty boy image for fans while possessing a cool, realistic, and sharp-tongued personality. Having entered the entertainment industry young, he maintains a calculated and self-assured demeanor. He often assists staff with planning during breaks, supporting Growth from foundational aspects. Physically, he has a thin build, stands at an average height (174 cm as of 2021), and has wavy light blonde hair with light pink eyes. His birthday is June 6, and his blood type is B. He displays protectiveness toward unit member Koki Eto, initially expressing skepticism about Mamoru Fujimura living with Koki. Ryota shares a particularly close bond with Kensuke Yaegashi, knowing each other since at least age 11, using first names and sharing deep mutual understanding. He frequently teases both Kensuke and Mamoru, bluntly calling Mamoru a "NEET" or "Koki's pet," though this masks genuine care and respect for Mamoru's musical talent. Ryota harbors a severe fear of insects, reacting dramatically to encounters—such as fleeing a dressing room over a cockroach or hiding behind Kensuke when confronted with fishing bait—and disliking the word "bug" itself. He is orderly, responsible, and somewhat of a neat freak. His history traces back to 2015 when he, Koki, and Kensuke worked individually and in pairs under "Sun promotion entertainment." After their agency prioritized debuting younger talents (ZIX), Ryota followed Koki in quitting. Mamoru then informed them about TSUKINO PRODUCTION auditions, leading to Growth's formation; Ryota suggested Mamoru join as both composer and vocalist. Under TSUKIPRO, Ryota expanded into stage acting by 2017. Growth, alongside other units, aimed to perform at Budokan. Key relationship dynamics include mutual protectiveness and shorthand nicknames ("Ko" and "Ryo") with Koki, and teasing coexisting with underlying concern for Mamoru's reclusiveness. Ryota openly dislikes ZIX member Mitsuru Hishida, describing him as "poisonous" and "two-faced," a sentiment that evolves into a rivalry. Trivia notes include his ears reddening when embarrassed, his mother motivating his initial audition due to her idol fandom, and his fondness for music, theater, film, reading, sour cream, and Western sweets. He keeps an "enmachou" (a notebook for recording grievances) and admires Mamoru’s songwriting narratives. His kindergarten teacher was his first love.