Oshi no Ko: Kana and Akane’s Complicated Rivalry, Explained

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Key Takeaways

  • Akane idolizes Kana, pushing her to enter showbiz and chase after her despite their rivalry.
  • The rivalry is complex, driven by admiration and compassion rather than outright dislike.
  • Kana feels dejected as her position and crush diminish, while Akane fails to bring out Kana’s true potential.

As a seasoned viewer of anime and someone who’s seen more than my fair share of rivalries, I must say that the one between Kana and Akane in “Oshi no Ko” truly stands out. It’s not often that you come across a competition where the participants have such complex feelings towards each other – it’s like they’re caught in a whirlwind of admiration, jealousy, and unspoken affection.

In the world of “Oshi no Ko,” Kana and Akane find themselves locked in a fierce competition, not only in their romantic pursuits but also in their careers as performers. A situation once perceived as a love triangle involving Aqua, Kana, and Akane turned out to be something more intricate than mere professional rivalry between the two actresses. As the series unfolds into its second season, we come to understand that the rivalry between Kana and Akane is far more complex than it initially appeared.

It was assumed that the two were competing for Aqua’s affection, but it turned out that Akane was a devoted fan of Kana, encouraging her to pursue a career in entertainment and chase after Kana. Rather than trying to outdo each other like typical rivals might, Akane has consistently worked to rekindle the spark that made Kana successful.

What Was the Basis for Kana and Akane’s Rivalry?

There Is More to This Rivalry Than a Simple Love Triangle

Arc 2.5D Stage Play
Season 2
Episodes 13
Chapters 41 – 66

From the outset, Arima Kana and Kurokawa Akane maintain a complex dynamic that influences their behavior both on and off the job. Notably, Arima Kana is a prodigious child actor capable of stirring deep emotions in her audience, even upon command. This talent propelled Kana’s fame at an astonishing pace, positioning her as the preferred choice for numerous commercials and shows. The swift rise to stardom inflated Kana’s ego, causing her to act haughtily towards others to maintain her popularity. Moreover, she had a keen understanding of what producers desired from her performances, rendering her an adaptable actress—a quality that appealed to the producers.

As Kana grew older, her fame started waning, but this is around the time Akane first took notice of Kana, captivated by her allure and acting skills. Their rivalry, however, is not straightforward due to several factors. They had crossed paths years earlier at an audition, where Akane had admired Kana immensely, idolizing her talent in acting. In fact, it was Kana’s influence that led Akane to pursue a career as an actress herself, attempting to emulate Kana by cutting her hair in the same style.

To emulate Kana-chan, I put in a tremendous amount of effort because she was my aspiration and objective. My affection for her was profound, until the moment I encountered her for the first time.

Sadly, it turned out that Akane discovered the unsavory behind-the-scenes manipulations in the entertainment world, including match-fixing. To her dismay, she found out that Kana had secured a role without going through an audition process. In this conversation, Akane uncovered what had happened to Kana, the actress she admired, who seemed to have been consumed by the industry.

Initially in the series, Kana encounters Hoshino Ruby, Aqua, and Ai (their mother) on a TV drama set. In a hasty judgment, she criticizes Ai. This incident results in Aqua outshining Kana during filming. Later, they cross paths again at Aqua’s performing arts high school. After another encounter several years later, Kana finds herself drawn to Aqua, which contributes to their ongoing rivalry.

It turns out that while he was on the reality dating show LoveNow, Aqua crossed paths with Kurokawa Akane. They started dating, and since Aqua admired her talent and detective abilities, he enlisted her help in finding his mother’s murderer. However, this revelation only made things more complicated, as it sparked jealousy in Kana, creating tension between the two women.

As Kana grew more fond of Aqua, she frequently brought up his fabricated dating situation to him and corrected any misconceptions about the relationship between Aqua and Akane among their co-stars, which revealed her disapproval towards their relationship dynamic.

What Makes Their Rivalry Complicated?

Akane Genuinely Cares for Kana and Wants to See Her at Her Best, Although Unbeknownst to Kana

Kana harbored a strong aversion towards Akane, despite acknowledging her acting prowess. What truly irked her was their mutual connection with Aqua, which sparked a fierce competition between them. Interestingly, while Kana felt animosity towards Akane and her bond with Aqua, Akane held great respect for Kana’s abilities.

As you are now Kana-chan, I hate you. I really hate you.

Despite a perceived rivalry between them, Akane had always encouraged Kana’s growth, helping her overcome self-doubts. While Kana is undeniably an outstanding actress, she strategically toned down her performances in the industry to let others shine brighter and secure their roles as supporting characters. However, offstage, Kana can be quite self-centered in her acting endeavors.

The complex nature of their rivalry stems from the emotions of both actresses, Kana believing Akane took her romantic interest and elevated her career with her talents, while Kana’s own career seemed to falter. This led to a significant drop in Kana’s self-worth. Despite her attempts to outdo Akane, she found little success.

She shines the brightest when she’s drawing all the attention to herself.

In truth, Akane held a deep affection for Kana and aimed to bring out the best in her. The competition between them wasn’t rooted in disdain but rather Akane’s desire to reveal Kana’s true abilities and triumph against her at her peak. Yet, despite understanding this rivalry, Akane continually struggled to restore the old Kana.

  • Akane knows Kana’s crush on Aqua and continues to date him, knowing it hurts Kana.
  • Akane excels as an actress and wishes to draw out Kana’s talent. However, Kana is too aware of the circumstances in showbiz to allow herself to shine brighter.

Initially, it seemed that Akane and Kana’s relationship was straightforward, with Akane dating Aqua while Kana looked on from afar. But in the second season of the anime, it turns out that Akane harbors deeper feelings for Kana, revealing a rivalry fueled by admiration and empathy. Although they haven’t been unkind to each other and have demonstrated civility, Kana remains disheartened as her acting career and affection for Akane appear to wane.

Oshi no Ko is available to stream on Hulu.

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2024-12-07 05:34