Rinkai!

Rinkai! Azalea

Company type	Multimedia franchise
Industry	Entertainment, Sports
Founded	April 9, 2024 (2024-04-09)
Founder	Mixi
Products	Manga, Anime
Parent	Mixi

is a Japanese multimedia initiative centered on women's keirin racing, developed by Mixi. The manga titled Rinkai! Azalea, authored by Kiyoshi Yamane, started its serialization on Amazia's Manga Bang! platform in April 2024. Its anime version, created by TMS Entertainment, was broadcast from April through June 2024.

Characters

Each character is linked to a distinct Japanese prefecture and connected with a local velodrome. Their family names derive from the cities where these velodromes are situated.

Main characters (Protagonists)

The daughter of an onsen inn proprietor, she is recognized as one of the "On-Sen Sisters" alongside her sibling Atsumi. Despite having no cycling background, she embraced the sport.

With a Japanese mother and French cyclist father, she gained admission to a cycling training academy through the inaugural special selection for female athletes, completing her schooling ahead of schedule.

Previously the center member of a disbanded local idol ensemble, she now strives to pursue cycling as her primary profession.

Brought up as the sole daughter within a leading Tōkai region zaibatsu family, she chose cycling to assert independence from her sheltered lifestyle.

Academically proficient and once employed by a major corporation, she transitioned through various careers before settling on cycling.

A versatile athlete with leadership skills, she has been a dominant figure in national cycling contests since her high school years.

Minor characters

Holder of gold medals at international events and current champion. Initially not an elite competitor, she underwent a significant transformation following a critical turning point, rapidly ascending to prominence.

Manga

Kiyoshi Yamane’s manga series began its run on Amazia's Manga Bang! platform starting April 9, 2024.

Anime

The anime adaptation was revealed simultaneously with the manga at AnimeJapan 2023. Produced by TMS Entertainment and directed by Takaaki Ishiyama, the series features Hideki Shirane as series composer, Hiromi Ono handling character design, and music composed by Shuichiro Fukuhiro, Yoshihei Ueda, and Mana Hirano. It aired from April 9 to June 25, 2024 on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji. The opening song "Windshifter" is performed by Rico Sasaki, while the ending theme "Override!" is sung by the principal cast.

Medialink secured streaming rights for South and Southeast Asia via Ani-One Asia’s YouTube channel. Jonu Media obtained licensing for Spanish-speaking territories.