OVA
Description
Nobue Itoh is the oldest member of the group, acting as an older sister figure to Chika Itoh and frequently interacting with Chika's friends Miu Matsuoka, Matsuri Sakuragi, and Ana Coppola. In the anime adaptations, including Strawberry Marshmallow Encore, she is a junior college student. This represents a change from the original manga, where she was portrayed as a 16-year-old high school freshman; the anime adjusted her age to 20 to accommodate her habitual smoking and drinking, legally restricted to adults in Japan. She initially jokes about being 16 in the anime before stating her actual age as 20.
She exhibits a persistent nicotine addiction, constantly borrowing money from Chika for cigarettes and seeking part-time jobs to fund this habit. Nobue combines general maturity and kindness with pronounced irritability, particularly in response to Miu's antics. Alcohol consumption, especially beer, often triggers immature or impulsive behavior, including unrestrained hugging of characters she finds cute. She demonstrates a clear preference for Matsuri and Ana, considering them significantly cuter than Chika or Miu, though she finds all the girls appealing. This favoritism fuels Miu's jealousy and subsequent attempts to bully Matsuri and Ana, typically prompting Nobue's defensive intervention.
Physically, she is the tallest among the main characters. Her appearance evolved early in the manga, with her hair color shifting from blonde to dark brown. In the anime, including Encore, her hair is consistently depicted as short and black.
Across all media, she functions as a de facto authority figure and organizer for the younger girls. Storylines frequently involve her financial struggles due to smoking, attempts to find employment, and participation in group activities like beach trips, festivals, hot spring visits, and everyday interactions in Chika's room. The manga incarnation displays greater immaturity, exemplified by pranks like falsely convincing Matsuri that Miu had died. The anime adaptations temper this trait slightly, though she retains a mischievous streak, especially when intoxicated. The OVAs, including Encore, depict her continuing involvement, such as taking the girls to the beach in the final Encore episode, navigating job hunting challenges (including Miu sabotaging an application), and mediating group conflicts stemming from Miu's attention-seeking behavior.
Key elements include her birthday (October 17), blood type (A), appreciation for the "moe" aesthetic, and specific "moe triggers" like seeing Ana in a yukata, which elicit enthusiastic reactions. Her financial dependence on Chika and protective instincts toward Matsuri and Ana remain consistent throughout her appearances.
She exhibits a persistent nicotine addiction, constantly borrowing money from Chika for cigarettes and seeking part-time jobs to fund this habit. Nobue combines general maturity and kindness with pronounced irritability, particularly in response to Miu's antics. Alcohol consumption, especially beer, often triggers immature or impulsive behavior, including unrestrained hugging of characters she finds cute. She demonstrates a clear preference for Matsuri and Ana, considering them significantly cuter than Chika or Miu, though she finds all the girls appealing. This favoritism fuels Miu's jealousy and subsequent attempts to bully Matsuri and Ana, typically prompting Nobue's defensive intervention.
Physically, she is the tallest among the main characters. Her appearance evolved early in the manga, with her hair color shifting from blonde to dark brown. In the anime, including Encore, her hair is consistently depicted as short and black.
Across all media, she functions as a de facto authority figure and organizer for the younger girls. Storylines frequently involve her financial struggles due to smoking, attempts to find employment, and participation in group activities like beach trips, festivals, hot spring visits, and everyday interactions in Chika's room. The manga incarnation displays greater immaturity, exemplified by pranks like falsely convincing Matsuri that Miu had died. The anime adaptations temper this trait slightly, though she retains a mischievous streak, especially when intoxicated. The OVAs, including Encore, depict her continuing involvement, such as taking the girls to the beach in the final Encore episode, navigating job hunting challenges (including Miu sabotaging an application), and mediating group conflicts stemming from Miu's attention-seeking behavior.
Key elements include her birthday (October 17), blood type (A), appreciation for the "moe" aesthetic, and specific "moe triggers" like seeing Ana in a yukata, which elicit enthusiastic reactions. Her financial dependence on Chika and protective instincts toward Matsuri and Ana remain consistent throughout her appearances.