Onsen Musume (japanese: 温泉むすめ) is a Japanese multimedia project featuring anime characters within the theme of

onsen In Japan, are the country's hot springs and the bathing facilities and traditional inns around them. As a volcanically active country, Japan has many onsens scattered throughout all of its major islands. There are approximately 25,000 hot ...

(Japanese hot springs). The characters

anthropomorphize Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology. Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...

onsen as entities in

anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

, and

video games Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...

about them. The project began in November 2016, with an accompanying music video by

Doga Kobo is a Japanese animation studio formed by former Toei Animation members Hideo Furusawa and Megumu Ishiguro, located in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. The studio was established on July 11, 1973, and has been involved in the production of a large number of ...

in 2017. They also have live concerts and events with the characters'

voice actresses Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...

Summary

Onsen Musume are minor goddesses who live in every

. During the day Onsen Musume go to school in

Odaiba today is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan, across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. Odaiba was initially built in this area for defensive purposes in the 1850s. Reclaimed land offshore Shinagawa was dramatically expanded durin ...

, Tokyo to learn how to help more people learn about each Musume's respective onsen, and also to learn special arts that help guests relax and smile. One day they receive a proclamation from Sunahiko, the god who rules over all of the onsen, commanding them to become idols. The Onsen Musume form idol groups in order to compete in the newly-created idol tournament. The main character of the series is Yuina Kusatsu, the Onsen Musume for

Kusatsu Onsen is a hot spring resort located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, northwest of Tokyo. It is a popular tourist destination. There are 13 public baths at Kusatsu Onsen. The small bathhouses that are free for both town residents and tourists are managed ...

. With eight other Onsen Musume, she forms an idol group called "SPRiNGS". In school the nine members are known as the "weird ones", but as idols they aim to become the best Onsen Musume idol group in Japan.

Characters

As of September 2018, there are 110 Onsen Musume representing onsen in

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

and all 47 prefectures of Japan. ; Urume Aria (潤目アリア) : Voiced by

Kikuko Inoue is a Japanese voice actress, singer and narrator. She has been part of the singing groups DoCo and Goddess Family Club. She is the founder and manager of her voice-acting company, Office Anemone. Inoue tends to play the " perfect girlfriend" o ...

; Sunahiko (スクナヒコ) : Voiced by

Nana Mizuki is a Japanese voice actress, singer and narrator from Niihama, Ehime. She is represented by the agency StarCrew. Mizuki was trained as an enka singer, releasing one single under her birth name, Nana Kondō, in 1993 and made her debut as a voice ...

SPRiNGS

A group made of 9 of the "weird students" at the Onsen Musume School. ; Yuina Kusatsu (草津結衣奈) : Voiced by

Yūki Takada is a Japanese voice actress from Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture who is affiliated with Mausu Promotion. After graduating from the Yoyogi Animation School in Fukuoka, she joined Mausu Production in 2015. She is known for her roles as Rin Kurosawa ...

: Image color is yellow; represents

. She is the center of SPRiNGS. ; Saya Hakone (箱根彩耶) : Voiced by Rika Nagae : Image color is purple; represents Miyanoshita Onsen. ; Nanako Akiu (秋保那菜子) : Voiced by Karin Takahashi : Image color is green; represents Akiu Onsen. ; Rinka Arima (有馬輪花) : Voiced by Kana Motomiya : Image color is red; represents

Arima Onsen is an onsen, or hot springs in Kita-ku, Kobe, Japan. This Onsen is still a hidden treasure of modern Kobe, behind Mount Rokkō. It attracts many Japanese who want tranquility with beautiful natural surroundings and yet easy access from the bus ...

with her sister Fuuka. ; Izumi Dogo (道後泉海) : Voiced by Minami Shinoda : Image color is orange; represents Dogo Onsen. She is the leader of SPRiNGS. ; Ayase Noboribetsu (登別綾瀬） : Voiced by

Natsumi Hioka is a Japanese voice actress born in Sapporo, Hokkaido. She is affiliated with Production Baobab. Biography Hioka was born in Sapporo on July 15, 1991. She wanted to become a voice actor after watching late-night anime during high school, such ...

: Image color is sky blue; represents Noboribetsu Onsen. ; Mitsuki Gero (下呂美月) : Voiced by

Yurika Endō is a former Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo, Japan. After starting her career in 2013, she began playing supporting roles in anime series such as ''Ace of Diamond'', ''Magimoji Rurumo'', and ''Sakura Trick''. In 2017, she played the ...

(until 2018), Iori Saeki (2018–present) : Image color is blue; represents Gerō Onsen. ; Fuuka Arima (有馬楓花) : Voiced by

Yūki Kuwahara is a Japanese voice actress from Nagasaki Prefecture. She is affiliated with Mausu Promotion. She is known for voicing Tohru in ''Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid''. Biography In 2012, she graduated from the Tokyo Announcement College Voice Academ ...

: Image color is plum; represents Arima Onsen with her sister Rinka. ; Kanade Baden Yufuin (奏・バーデン由布院) : Voiced by

Misaki Watada is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Aoni Production. Some of her notable roles include Michiru in ''Hell Girl'', Glenda in '' Strike the Blood'', Delmin in ''Show by Rock!!'', and Yaeka Sakuragi in '' The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting''. ...

: Image color is pink; represents Yufuin Onsen.

暁-AKATSUKI-

SPRiNGS's strongest rival. Other groups simply can't compare to their performances. Each member performs so well that they could easily become the centers of other groups. ; Hinata Kinugawa (鬼怒川日向) : Voiced by

Miyu Tomita is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Saitama Prefecture who is signed to Amuse. After aspiring to become a voice actress while studying in elementary school, she participated in two voice acting auditions in 2014, winning one of them. S ...

: Image color is orange; represents Kinugawa Onsen. She is the center of AKATSUKI. ; Kei Tamatsukuri (玉造彗) : Voiced by

Masumi Tazawa is a Japanese voice actress from Kanagawa Prefecture. She is affiliated with Haikyō. Biography Filmography Television animation *''Invaders of the Rokujyōma!?'' (2014), Kiriha Kurano *''Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun'' (2014), Female Student; H ...

: Image color is crimson; represents

Tamatsukuri Onsen is an onsen hot spring located in Tamayu, Shimane Prefecture. The closest large city to the onsen is Matsue, which can be accessed by car, bus, or rail. Tamatsukuri is a noted sulfate spring with water temperatures between . Tamatsukuri Onsen i ...

. ; Tamaki Beppu (別府環綺) : Voiced by Yuka Iwahashi : Image color is indigo; represents

Beppu Onsen is a group of hot springs in the city of Beppu, Ōita in Japan. Beppu Onsen is divided into eight major hot spring areas known as "Beppu Hatto". The most significant characteristic of Beppu's hot springs is the richness of its resources. The v ...

LUSH STAR

LUSH STAR is the rival group that SPRiNGS gets along best with. Members of both groups were friends long before Sunahiko's proclamation. Their specialty is making everyone watching their performance feel more energetic. ; Uika Atami (熱海初夏) : Voiced by

Kaede Hondo is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with I'm Enterprise. She took leading roles for each series, including '' Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama'' as Kokoro Yotsuba, ''Interviews with Monster Girls'' as Hikari Takanashi, ''Girlish Number'' ...

: Image color is dark green; represents Atami Onsen. She is the Center of LUSH STAR. ; Erina Ibusuki (指宿絵璃菜) : Voiced by

Satsumi Matsuda is a Japanese voice actress from Takatsuki, Osaka, affiliated with Arts Vision. She is the twin sister of Risae Matsuda. Both were the 4th and 5th Anisong Grand Prix Finalists with Marina Kawano (4th) and Konomi Suzuki (5th). Filmography Televi ...

: Image color is hot pink; represents Ibusuki Onsen. ; Mana Wakura (和倉雅奈) : Voiced by

Megumi Toda is a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo. She is affiliated with Kenyu Office. She was regular on the Animate Pia Channel, which was broadcast on Nico Nico. Her major roles include Hajime Shinoda in ''New Game!'', Kiitan in ''Etotama'' and Yuzu Ii ...

: Image color is violet; represents

Wakura Onsen is a hot spring (''onsen'') resort on the edge of Nanao Bay at the base of the Noto Peninsula in Nanao, Ishikawa, Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan and one of several well-known, high-end ''onsen'' resorts in Japan. History Wakura Onsen has ex ...

. ; Koyuki Ginzan (銀山小雪) : Voiced by

Maria Naganawa is a Japanese voice actress from Aichi Prefecture, Japan. She is affiliated with I'm Enterprise. Her notable animation roles include Kanna Kamui in ''Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid'', Komekko in ''KonoSuba'', and Platelet in ''Cells at Work!''. Bi ...

: Image color is light yellow; represents

Ginzan Onsen Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉) is an onsen (hot spring) area in Obanazawa, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Its name means "silver mine hot spring". Ginzan Onsen's economy took off thanks to its booming silver production and eventually transitioned ove ...

. ; Honami Shirahama (白浜帆南美) : Voiced by Yuna Taniguchi : Image color is light blue; represents

Nanki-Shirahama Onsen is a hot spring resort in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. It is a major resort area for the Kansai region of Japan, and was ranked alongside Atami Onsen and Beppu Onsen as one of the three major seaside hot spring resorts. H ...

Adhara

SPRiNGS's polar opposite, Adhara gives refined and exact performances. They charm audiences with their otherworldly aura. ; Kira Kurokawa (黒川姫楽) : Voiced by

Minami Tanaka is a Japanese voice actress. Filmography Anime series Anime films Original video animation Video games Dubbing Live-action Animation References External links Official profile * * * 1996 births Living people Voice ac ...

: Image color is dark violet; represents Kurokawa Onsen. She is Adhara's center. ; Suika Hanamaki (花巻吹歌) : Voiced by

Riho Iida is a Japanese ex-child model-turned-actress, voice actress and singer. Her nickname is Rippi. Biography History Iida came into the spotlight when she was 11 years old, appearing on the '' Tensai Terebi Kun MAX'' (天才てれびくんMAX) serie ...

: Image color is pale green. Represents Hanamaki Onsen. ; Nodoka Nyuto (乳頭和) : Voiced by

Shiori Mikami is a Japanese voice actress from Aomori Prefecture, Japan. She was affiliated with Aoni Production until 2011. She won the Best Rookie Actress at the 6th Seiyu Awards. Filmography Anime * ''Shugo Chara!'' (and ''Shugo Chara! Doki'') (2008), Sch ...

: Image color is light pink; represents Nyūtō Onsen. ; Tomoe Shirahone (白骨朋依) : Voiced by Hiyori Nitta : Image color is lavender; represents Shirahone Onsen. ; Momo Konpira (こんぴら桃萌)) : Voiced by Yuri Yoshida : Image color is deep pink; represents Konpira Onsen. ; Kurumi Tsukioka (月岡来瑠碧) : Voiced by

Nozomi Nishida is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Gifu Prefecture. She began her voice acting career in 2014 and played her first major role in 2016 as the character Makina Nakajima in the anime series ''Macross Delta''. She became part of the music g ...

: Image color is emerald; represents Tsukioka Onsen. ; Seira Yunokawa (湯の川星羅) : Voiced by Ruriko Yamaguchi : Image color is cyan; represents Yunokawa Onsen

petit corolla

An idol group that studies SPRiNGS's performances. ; Hana Ikaho (伊香保葉凪) : Voiced by

Himika Akaneya is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Akita Prefecture who is a member of the idol group i☆Ris. She is affiliated with 81 Produce. She has also revealed that "Himika Akaneya" is not just her stage name, but her actual name as well. Film ...

: Represents Ikaho Onsen. ; Rikka Ureshino (嬉野六香) : Voiced by

Ari Ozawa is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with I'm Enterprise, which she joined in April 2013. Ozawa decided to become a voice actress after becoming a fan of ''Negima!'' during her seventh grade. She played her first leading role as Chiyo Sakura ...

: Represents Ureshino Onsen. ; Tsubaki Ito (伊東椿月) : Voiced by

Eri Suzuki is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Haikyo. Filmography Anime Film Video games References External links * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Suzuki, Eri Living people Voice actresses from Kanagawa Prefecture Japanese voice actresse ...

: Represents Ito Onsen. ; Arisa Kinosaki (城崎亜莉咲) : Voiced by

Nanami Yamashita is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. She was a member of Wake Up, Girls!. Biography Filmography Anime ;2014 *''Wake Up, Girls!'' as Nanami Hisami *'' Dramatical Murder'' as Female A (ep 5) *''Hanayamata'' a ...

: Represents Kinosaki Onsen.

Web Radio

Since April 24, 2017 Onsen Musume has been broadcasting a radio show every Monday titled "Onsen Musume: Present-ish web radio! Mimipoka!! YOU should come and play, yo!~". It is hosted by each of the characters. Once a month they broadcast the show live from Haneda Airport's International terminal's TIAT Sky Hall. On April 2, 2018 they began broadcasting a second Monday radio show, the "Onsen Musume Public Relations Department". Each episode is accompanied by a simple video. It is hosted by Seitaro Mukai, and Onsen Musume characters appear as regular guests.

Manga

; Onsen Musume 1-panel manga theater : Starting January 25, 2017, manga by Erika Ragunoha were published on the Onsen Musume

Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...

feed. ; Onsen Musume 4-panel manga theater : A 4-panel manga by Eku Kamikura was published on the Onsen Musume Twitter on November 30, 2017. After that, on March 29, 2018, they began publishing weekly 4-panel manga by Watanon. ; Web manga : On April 24, 2017 a web manga by Mikura Chikage was announced. It was expected to start in May 2018, but the first chapter was released in September instead.

Video game

"Onsen Musume Yunohana Collection" was released on August 3, 2018 for Android and

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also includes ...

. It uses the player's location data to find onsen near them, and also includes original stories and over 100 characters.

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://onsen-musume.jp/, name=Onsen Musume official website Mass media franchises Hot springs of Japan Animated musical groups Japanese pop music groups Japanese idol video games Android (operating system) games IOS games