Rika
Rika SasakiAlternate names: Rita (US), Sonia (France)
Episode Appearances: 43 (1-3, 5-10, 13, 17, 20-21, 23, 25-26, 28-39, 41-43, 47-50, 54-56, 59-60, 63-64, 70)
About Rika:
A less noted character, Rika Sasaki is placed in as Sakura’s friend and classroom mate. Her character role is more the quietest of the trio of friends, which consist of Rika, Chiharu and Naoko.
Probably best known for her relationship between herself and the grade four, then grade five homeroom teacher; Toshiyuki Terada. This relationship isn’t really looked into a fair deal, but this ‘liking’ of her teacher throughout the series is better explained in the manga series.
Mr. Terada is best known for his father figure approach towards the main characters.
The Love Story:
In the anime, he seems somewhat embarrassed by Rika's admiration, he is friendly and fatherlike with her... but in the manga, Mr. Terada and Rika are both in love. He gave her an engagment ring and promises to wait for her and they get married once she has graduated, at 16 or 18. Mr Terada looks older but he is probably about 22-25, which would make him almost 30 when Rika reaches 18.
Some might find this seedy but their love is pure: Rika is a wise and mature girl for her age (she probably lives alone because her parents are away) and the fact he waits for her to be old enough to marry her means he truly loves her for who she is is and age doesn't matter.
(This is very like Sakura's parents love story. Fujitaka was a new teacher and Nadeshiko was in his class, they fell in love and got married when she was 16 Fujitaka would probably have been 22 : the age difference doesn't seem to bother their family and friends as much as the difference in social status - Fujitaka was a simple teacher on a low wage and Nadeshiko was from an important and rich family.)
Character:
Rika’s overall abilities are somewhat astounding, Rita enjoys sports, but doesn’t make an appearance in the Cheerleading squad with her compatriots; Sakura, Naoko and Chihura. This is explained later by her willingness to compete, but in conditions that are easy and overall safe. Also noted is that Rika has some physical limitations (like her inability to swim) that would disallow her to join more anergic clubs like cheerleading.
Rika isn’t sure on the current events around her, but normally, will use her caring abilities to help. Normally seen is Rika doing everything she can to cheer Sakura up in the early days of card capturing. Rika noticeably takes on the character of helping her friends, even if they didn’t ask for it. But in main, Rika normally stays within her own her friend group with Chihura and Naoko, only going as a trio to talk to Sakura, unless its urgent.
Rika is internally afraid of hard things, normally academic problems in math and English. Often requiring help from Sakura or Tomoyo, Sakura somewhat is graceful with her approach to Rika, helping her as much as Rika helps.
Facts:
Because of Rita’s parents being abroad, Rita’s house is one of two residences that Sakura never visits in the series, the other person is Takashi Yamazaki.
Rita is one of three characters who indirectly ‘buys’ a Clow Card without knowledge. Rita purchased the ‘sword’ card in the form of a broche. The other two characters were Meilin and Naoko
Rita is only friend besides Tomoyo, Syaoran and Meilin to visit Sakura’s house, she is also the only visitor to her house that doesn’t know about the Clow Cards.
Unlike Naoko and Chihura, Rika can be as equally gullible as Sakura.
Goofs:
Continuity: Throughout the first 10 episodes, Rita changes her classroom seats 6 times, twice in episode 8.
Credits: Profile researched and written by Isaac Zavelsky. Rika/Terada love story written by Saffy.