Ikumi Mito, nicknamed "Nikumi," studies in Tōtsuki Culinary Academy's 92nd generation. She hails from the influential Mito family, a dominant force in Japan's meat industry. Her strict upbringing, heavily influenced by her father, demanded she discard any perceived feminine weaknesses to become the family business's strong successor. A pivotal childhood moment occurred on her ninth birthday when her father destroyed a teddy bear gifted by her mother, reinforcing his lessons on strength and resilience. Ikumi possesses short blonde hair featuring a distinctive ahoge, brown skin, and turquoise eyes (depicted as green in the anime). Her physical measurements are bust 90 cm, waist 57 cm, and hips 88 cm. She frequently wears a modified Tōtsuki summer uniform revealing her cleavage and consistently accessorizes with a choker. Her standard cooking attire includes a bikini top, fringed shorts, leather wristbands, and an arm sheath for her knife. She sometimes wears a Bōsōzoku-style jacket at Kanichi Konishi's suggestion. Initially fiery and combative, Ikumi flaunted her family status and meat expertise, intimidating those she deemed inferior. This arrogance stemmed from her father's teachings and her role enforcing for Erina Nakiri's faction, where she disbanded culinary clubs like Don RS through Shokugeki duels. Her perspective shifted dramatically after losing a Shokugeki to Sōma Yukihira. Despite using premium A5-grade beef, Sōma defeated her with his Chaliapin Steak Don, which emphasized balance over premium ingredients. This loss caused Erina Nakiri to sever ties with her. Following her defeat, Ikumi's softer, kindhearted nature surfaced. She joined Don RS per the duel's conditions and gradually became one of Sōma's closest allies. She developed a crush on him, rarely admitting it openly, exhibiting tsundere tendencies like blushing, stuttering, or reacting violently when teased about her feelings. Only close friends like Sōma, Kanichi Konishi, and Polar Star Dormitory residents (e.g., Megumi Tadokoro, Ryōko Sakaki, Yūki Yoshino) may call her "Nikumi," a nickname she initially disliked but accepted after Sōma called it cute. She assists Sōma whenever requested, though she often misinterprets his requests as exclusive invitations, leading to irritation when others join. Post-defeat, her culinary skills evolved beyond meat-centric dishes. She incorporated broader techniques and ingredients, like Chinese spices and tanjoyu oil, into creations such as her Dongpo Pork Curry Don during the Autumn Elections, showcasing increased focus on dish harmony. In her second year, she expressed annoyance at attention from other males, stating she only desired Sōma's attention. During fifth season events, Ikumi participated in Tōtsuki's final exams, supporting the team's effort to achieve a ¥3 million profit in one day at the Elite Ten's renovated beachside restaurant while wearing a camouflage-style bikini. She later observed the BLUE preliminary competitions without advancing as a participant.