Myoudouin Itsuki

Myoudouin Itsuki (明堂院いつき)^? is one of the four main Cures in Heartcatch Pretty Cure!. She is a second-year student at Myoudou Academy and is also the student council president.

Itsuki's alter ego is Cure Sunshine (キュアサンシャイン, Cure Sunshine)^? and she represents the flower, sunflower. Her catchphrase is "I will heal the darkness in your heart with my light!" (その心の闇、私の光で照らしてみせる!)^?.

Bio[]

Appearance[]

Itsuki has the appearance of a young man with brown eyes and short, flared hair framing her face. She used to wear the boy's school uniform at school and casually but then switched to the girls' uniform as she grew out her hair. She also started wearing an outfit Erika and Tsubomi helped her make, which consisted of a gold tunic with orange bow and ribbon designs, denim leggings, and white sneakers. In the movie, she is seen wearing a pale beige turtleneck under a gold-striped top with a dark brown jacket, denim pants, and black shoes.

As Cure Sunshine, Itsuki's eyes turn gold and her very long hair turns blonde, worn in curly twin-tails held by orange bows with gold flowers to match her earrings. Instead of a choker, she has an orange ribbon around her neck. Her attire resembles that of Blossom and Marine's but is a two-piece composed of a cropped blouse with orange ribbon detail and a large gold ribbon on the chest, adorned by a silver and cyan heart brooch. Her skirt has gold petals and a pale yellow flower on each hip. She also gains white and orange flower-shaped wrist pieces with a pale yellow flower and matching colored boots with a ribbon tied on top.

As Super Cure Sunshine, her hair grows longer and she gains an orange heart gem tiara to match her earrings. Her neck ribbon is changed for a pale yellow choker to accent the new coloring of the orange and gold details of her outfit. Her chest ribbon and hair bows slightly alter in shape, while the flowers of her skirt turn light yellow. her skirt grows out in length and gains a pair of tails. Her boots grow longer, and she gains opera gloves, both with ribbon around the top. She also gets rainbow light wings shaped like a heart.

Personality[]

Befitting of her image and upbringing, Itsuki is a wise and princely young woman who is very formal with others. She is calm-tempered and kind, willing to help friends and strangers alike, but she can also be stern when it's necessary and has no problem stepping in to defend those weaker than her. She is brave and compassionate, but this will not stop her from unleashing rage on those who hurt the innocent. She is strongly admired by others for her strength in character and as a person, which played a part in her struggle to find a compromise between who she thought she had to be and who she wanted to be.

Itsuki has a fondness for anything cute and girly. While she is normally gentle and seems to be on the introverted side initially, she becomes excited by things like toys and clothing. When she realizes she can embrace this part of herself, she begins to show it more openly to others.

Relationships[]

Myoudouin Satsuki: Satsuki is Itsuki's older brother and a source of inspiration for her. Her desire to protect Satsuki allowed her to become Cure Sunshine and their relationship had a part in choosing her name.
Potpourri: Potpourri is Itsuki's mascot partner. Itsuki initially thought Potpourri was a cute toy. They eventually bonded when they realized they both want to protect people, but feel they can't do it alone.
Hanasaki Tsubomi: Itsuki was unknowingly the object of Tsubomi's affections, which caused her a great deal of sadness when she found out that Itsuki was actually a girl. She seemed to take to Tsubomi fairly quick and is friendly around her since they met, and she is shown to comfort Tsubomi the way close friends would when she gets frightened.
Kurumi Erika: They are on good terms with one-another, but Itsuki was forced to temporarily threaten to disband her club due to a lack of members. She was willing to let Erika try to keep it open though, and she was happy when she managed to succeed. She turned down Erika's request to join the fashion club until being convinced later. Since then she became a good friend of Erika's.
Tsukikage Yuri: Itsuki was originally unable to approach Yuri, who chose to distance herself from Itsuki and the other girls. After Yuri joins the team, Itsuki and Yuri become close friends who have faith and work well with each other.

Etymology[]

Myoudouin (明堂院, Myōdōin)^?: Myou (明, Myou)^? translates to bright or light, in reference to Itsuki's sunlight-based powers as Cure Sunshine. Dou (堂, Dou)^? comes from the prefix to building meaning magnificent, and in (院, in)^?, meaning institution, temple; mansion; school, a reference to her connection to Myoudou Academy Junior High School Together, its meaning is roughly bright magnificent school.

Itsuki (いつき, Itsuki)^?: A Japanese unisex name, it can have many different meanings depending on how it is written in kanji, however since Itsuki's name is written in hiragana, the meaning it is difficult to come up with an exact meaning for her name in particular. The most likely intended meaning is timber trees (樹, Itsuki)^?, which would fit with the theme of Heartcatch Pretty Cure!.

Cure Sunshine: Itsuki's Cure alias is a name she chooses herself, after looking up and laying her eyes upon a sun. In-story, she chooses the name in inspiration for her brother, who used to cheer her up by using the sun.^HPC23 It also reflects the kanji in her name, meaning "magnificent" and "light". Sunlight, like the name of Cure Marine, is something which flowers need to grow, implying her role as a supporter of Cure Blossom.

History[]

Being Turned Into A Desertrian[]

After school, Itsuki visits Tsubomi and Erika's classroom, wanting Erika's fashion club list of members and giving a warning to disband the club. When the girls go to give Itsuki the members list for the fashion club, they find her training with the other students at the family dojo. Itsuki takes a break to talk to Erika and Tsubomi and tells them she will allow the fashion club to remain. Then a student comes with tea for Itsuki and calls her "Lady", much to Tsubomi's surprise. Erika and Itsuki then proceed to explain to Tsubomi that due to a certain situation, Itsuki has to dress and act as a male, which shatters Tsubomi's crush on her.

She later receives a plush bunny from an admirer. She walks off and hides the doll behind a bronze statue, as she does not want anybody to see her feminine side. Cobraja, however, sees her with her wilted Heart Flower and approaches her. He damages the doll and steals Itsuki's Heart Flower, creating a Desertrian out of a bronze statue. The Desertrian turns people to stone with its eyes, but in the end starts admiring the female school uniform and Cure Marine's clothes, informing Cobraja, who thought she was a boy, that she is female, shocking him. When the Desert Messenger insults her gender, Itsuki's Desertrian kicks him away, and Cure Blossom appears, now understanding how Itsuki really feels about her situation. She then purifies Itsuki's Heart Flower and asks her to join the fashion club afterward, as a way to feel more feminine. Itsuki says she will think about it, and walks off with the fixed bunny and some male friends of hers from the student council.^HPC07

Gender Identity Troubles And Eventual Acceptance[]

Still thinking about Tsubomi's offer to join the fashion club, Itsuki walks past Fairy Drop and spots a cute dress, but chooses not to indulge in it, because she believes it would ruin her image. Erika and Tsubomi talk to her shortly about joining the club, but she is still unsure. They advise her to at least try to design something she would like to make. And so having this in mind before training, she draws a dress and gives it to the fashion club the day afterward. The members of the club are impressed by her design, and asks her to follow them to the shop to find fabric for it. Itsuki is still in a dilemma over whether to try do to girly things or to maintain an image as a boy, but Erika and Tsubomi encourage her to finish the dress the day afterward at her home. She tries it on, and Satsuki sees it and states that it looks cute on her, though she is embarrassed and states that she is just fooling around. After a boy named Hiroto is targeted by Kumojaki, she briefly admires Cure Blossom and Cure Marine, before realizing the more important matter at hand. As Itsuki fights Kumojaki, she realizes what judo really means: to protect others. Itsuki joins the fashion club afterwards, and shares with her family that she is a masculine girl with a love for feminine things.^HPC15

Becoming Cure Sunshine[]

When Kumojaki strikes and steals Mizushima Aya's Heart Flower during a storm, Itsuki orders the students to protect the curtain. She is present for watching Pretty Cure battle against a Desertrian. After the battle, Itsuki goes up to Potpourri (who is posing as a stuffed toy) and hugs her, saying that the plushie is cute. Unknown to her, Potpourri feels a warmth come into her because of her touch, making she think that she is the third Cure.^HPC22 She plays with Potpourri a little before Tsubomi and Erika close up to them, telling that it is their doll. When Itsuki asks where they bought it, however, Erika says that she made it, convincing Itsuki to give it back.

The next day, Satsuki learns of a surgery that can cure his illness, which makes everyone in the family happy, though Itsuki notes that something is wrong with her older brother. Later, she takes a fruit basket over to the hospital to cheer up Satsuki, but he politely rejects her attempts. Frustrated, Itsuki meets the girls again, not knowing that they had been stalking her the whole way because of Potpourri's claims that she is Pretty Cure. They reveal that they heard of the story from her mother, and she confesses her worry for Satsuki, making the girls forget to ask her if she has dreamed of the Tree of Hearts and Cure Moonlight.

The day afterward, Potpourri calls out to Itsuki before landing in her arms, scaring Itsuki when she realizes that what she thought was a doll talking. Potpourri reveals to Itsuki that she is the third Cure that can transform and fight to protect the Tree of Hearts. However, despite liking the Pretty Cure clothes, Itsuki rejects Potpourri's offer, stating that she doubts she can protect anyone. Right then, Tsubomi and Erika arrive with a bunch of sunflowers, and Potpourri hides inside Itsuki's shirt, making her look pregnant. When they open Satsuki's door, they see that the window is broken, the bed is empty, and the other half of a Heart Flower falls on the floor, revealing Satsuki. They see a wheelchair-Desertrian cause havoc outside the hospital, and Itsuki witnesses Tsubomi and Erika transform into Pretty Cure, revealing their identities. She soon understands that the Desertrian is Satsuki when it starts talking about its fear of surgeries, but even when she tries to wake him up, it only makes the monster hit her. Potpourri protects Itsuki, saying with tears that they both want to protect something but feel useless alone. Sasorina realizes that Potpourri is the third fairy they are looking for. She tries to take him, but Itsuki protects him, stating that she will become a person who protects people. This causes Potpourri's crest to shine, and they all realize that he was right in that Itsuki is the third Cure. The fairy summons the Shiny Perfume, and Itsuki transforms into Pretty Cure. She is stunned, but when Potpourri tells her to find a name, she sees the sun's shine and fights shortly with the Desertrian before claiming that her name is Cure Sunshine.^HPC23

She fights off the Desertrian using Gold Forte Burst, and together with Tsubomi and Erika go to the Tree of Hearts to see it. There, she reveals her dream about the tree and Cure Moonlight, and meet Dark Pretty Cure in person for the first time. She manages to defend herself before finding a strategy to occupy Dark Cure long enough for her and Potpourri to recreate the barrier around the tree, making it disappear. They are transported back to Kibougahana, and after the surgery, she is with her mother and grandfather to greet Satsuki, relieved that he made it okay.^HPC24

Trial Of The Super Silhouette[]

Cure Sunshine along with the others go to the Pretty Cure Palace to undergo the ultimate test: to obtain the item called Super Silhouette and their upgraded forms. Cure Sunshine's test involves facing a past version of herself. Her past self attacks her in a rage over how she has abandoned her dedication to her martial arts and her devotion to her brother. Cure Sunshine realizes that she has not abandoned her martial arts or her brother, but she has now embraced her love of cute items and fashion as well. Her past self prepares to attack, until she stops just short of Cure Sunshine's face and asks why she let her guard down. Cure Sunshine replies rather than abandoning her past passions, she is currently doing things that will make her brother smile. She returns to the Pretty Cure Palace, which creates a statue of Cure Sunshine in recognition of her passing the test.^HPC32

Later, Cure Sunshine along with Moonlight and Marine are forced to hold the Desert Devil at bay, while Cure Blossom completes her test. The three fight the Desert Devil, managing to keep it off-balance and buy time for Cure Blossom, who arrives just in time, having passed her test. All four summon their new forms, the Super Silhouette.

Stepping Down From Student Council[]

Itsuki reveals to Tsubomi and Erika that, due to the increasing strength of the their foes, she has decided that she needs to focus on being a Pretty Cure. Therefore, she will not enter the elections for student council president, which will reduce her other responsibilities, and allow her vice president Satou Hifumi the chance to run for office. When she learns that Hifumi wants to use his future position to attract girls, she scolds him, which causes him to run away and get turned into a Desertarian. After Hifumi is saved and starts taking initiative to help, Itsuki feels that she can trust her position in his hands.^HPC40

The Return Of Dune And The Final Battle[]

At Christmas, Dune returns to earth, and after the power Cure Flower is sealed off from their battle.^HPC44 The Cures attack Dune, seemingly getting the upper hand. As the dust settles, however, Dune is still standing and then goes on the offensive against the Cures. Itsuki and her friends then head off to save Kaoruko after giving reassurance to their surviving families and friends.^HPC45

While fighting there way to Kaoruko, Kumojaki and Cobraja appear before the girls challenging them to a final battle. Cure Marine along with Cure Sunshine accept the challenge telling Cure Moonlight and Cure Blossom to believe in them and for them to rescue Kaoruko. Cure Sunshine fights Cobraja and he takes her away from Cure Marine so the two can fight alone. Cobraja claims that Cure Sunshine is the best to fight him as she has such beauty on the battle field. He evades her attacks again and again, even destroying her shield by making his cards absorb into the shield and explode. Just as he prepares to defeat her Potpourri jumps in front of her and protects her with his own shield and tells Cobraja that Cure Sunshine is the most beautiful there is for how she wants to protect everyone's hearts and smile. Cure Sunshine and Potpourri combine the shields to deflect Cobraja's attacks and then use Sunshine Beam together putting Cobraja on the fence. Cure Sunshine then purifies him with Gold Forte Burst and Cobraja is lifted into the sky by the golden sun flowers.

Cure Sunshine meets back up with Cure Marine and the two are clearly exhausted from their fights, so to evade the Snackys, they disguise themselves as Snackys to get to Kaoruko. They get to Kaoruko and are so relieved, they collapse to the floor. Coupe presents the Heart Pot and with the hope of their friends, Itsuki and Erika are given energy to continue fighting thier way to find Cure Moonlight and Cure Blossom. Moonlight and Blossom just managing to hold there own against Dune until Dune shoots dark energy at them which exploded on impact. Sunshine and Marine join Moonlight and Blossom in fighting Dune, and then call fourth the Heartcatch Mirage to use Heartcatch Orchestra against Dune.^HPC48

Although their group attack is proven to be useless as Dune was able to break free from Heartcatch Orchestra, before the four could finish him off. It isn't until the four girls became Infinity Silhouette to completely defeat him, finally freeing Earth from his grip.^HPC49

Epilogue[]

After her life as Cure Sunshine ended, Itsuki decides to bid her friends farewell, so she can study aboard in France in order to pursue her fashion career as a model.^HPC49

Cure Sunshine[]

"The flower that bathes in the sunlight, Cure Sunshine!"
陽の光浴びる一輪の花、キュアサンシャイン！
Hi no hikari abiru ichirin no hana, Kyua Sanshain!

Cure Sunshine (キュアサンシャイン, Cure Sunshine)^? is the Cure identity Itsuki gains when she has to protect her older brother when he becomes a Desertrian.^HPC22 She is very different from Cure Blossom and Cure Marine in the sense that her Heart Perfume is called the Shiny Perfume, she uses the Shiny Tambourine rather than the Flower Tacts and her attack is named Gold Forte Burst rather than the usual Pink, Blue, Silver and Dark Forte Wave. When facing the advanced Desertrian, Cure Blossom, Cure Marine and Cure Sunshine can also perform a group finisher called Shining Fortissimo.^HPC31 Itsuki transforms by saying "Pretty Cure! Open My Heart!".

She can perform Floral Power Fortissimo with Cure Moonlight, as shown in episode 38. During the final battle against Dune Cure Sunshine and Cure Marine perform Floral Power Fortissimo together. Before her first transformation, she already knew how to transform and fight. Cure Sunshine is capable of fighting with martial arts, as the leader of the Myoudouin Dojo. Later on in the series, she becomes Heartcatch Pretty Cure Super Silhouette along with Cure Blossom, Cure Marine, and Cure Moonlight in episode 38.

Transformation[]

The sequence begins when she holds up her Shiny Perfume and the top part slides down. Her hair becomes longer, and Potpourri creates her Heart Seed for her. Then Itsuki shouts "Pretty Cure! Open my Heart!". She inserts the seed into the Shiny Perfume and transformation begins. She then sprays the perfume all around, tossing it around as she goes. Her top, skirt, boots and bracelets appear. Then her hair color changes to bright yellow and becomes styled into twintails as her hair ornaments and earrings appear. She puts her perfume to her skirt and it transforms to little pink and white colored bag. She spins and kicks around and introduces herself.

Super Cure Sunshine[]

Super Silhouette Pose — Super Cure Sunshine

"The flowers shining around the world, Heartcatch Pretty Cure, Super Silhouette!"
世界に輝く一面の花、ハートキャッチプリキュア・スーパーシルエット！
Sekai ni kagayaku ichimen no hana, Hātokyachi Purikyua Sūpā Shiruetto!

Super Cure Sunshine (スーパーキュアサンシャイン, Super Cure Sunshine)^? is the Super Silhouette upgrade Cure Sunshine receives after passing the trial in the Pretty Cure Palace. This form is obtained when the items called Heartcatch Mirage and Super Pretty Cure Seed is used. In this form, she can use the group finisher, Heartcatch Orchestra.

Attacks[]

Gold Forte Burst (ブルー・フォルテウェイブ, Gold Forte Burst)^?: Her finisher, which requires the Shiny Tambourine.
Floral Power Fortissimo (フローラルパワーフォルテッモ, Floral Power Fortissimo)^?: Her group attack with Blossom or Marine that requires their Flower Tacts.
Shining Fortissimo (シャイニングフォルティシモ, Shining Fortissimo)^?: A group attack with Blossom and Marine, which was first used in episode 31. It requires her Shiny Tambourine as well as Blossom and Marine’s Flower Tacts.
Heartcatch Orchestra (ハートキャッチオーケストラ, Heartcatch Orchestra)^?: A group attack with Blossom, Marine and Moonlight. They all must be in their Super Silhouette form, and it requires the Heartcatch Mirage as well as their respective weapons.
Cure Sunshine also uses a number of her own sub-attacks: Cure Sunshine Sub Attacks

Songs[]

Itsuki's voice actress, Kuwashima Houko, has provided her voice for several image songs for the character she voices. As a Cure, Itsuki has an image song dedicated to her, though only one, compared to Hanasaki Tsubomi and Kurumi Erika's two songs. To make up for this, Kudo Mayu sings a character song about her. Many of them include group songs with Mizuki Nana, who voices Hanasaki Tsubomi, Mizusawa Fumie, who voices Kurumi Erika, and Hisakawa Aya, who voices Tsukikage Yuri.

Group songs[]

Heart Flowers (Along with Mizuki Nana, and Mizusawa Fumie)
Heart Seeds (Along with Mizuki Nana, Mizusawa Fumie, and Hisakawa Aya)
Shantia ~Land of Happiness~ Ending Ver. (Along with Fairouz Ai, Hanamori Yumiri, Ishikawa Yui, Seto Asami, Hidaka Rina, Nana Mizuki, Mizusawa Fumie, and Hisakawa Aya)

Trivia[]

Itsuki is the first Cure to be:
- confused for a boy due to her clothes and mannerisms.
- an ordinary civilian as an addition during the midway of the season instead of a fairy, a villain or a humanoid coming from another world.
Itsuki uses different personal pronouns for her civilian and Cure forms: Itsuki uses "boku" (僕), a male pronoun, while Cure Sunshine uses "watashi" (私), a gender-neutral pronoun used mostly by females.
- In her character songs, she uses the pronoun "watashi."
For the Pretty Cure All Stars DX3 Movie Character Polls held by Toei Animation, Cure Sunshine appeared in the following rankings:
- 8th in "Favorite Pretty Cure"
- 6th in "The Pretty Cure you want to team up with most"
- 6th in "The Pretty Cure you want to be most"
In the Pretty Cure All Stars Suite Flower Card Collection, Itsuki is represented by the sunflower, which symbolizes aspiration and brilliance in the Language of Flowers.
Itsuki appeared as Cure Sunshine to give the 10th anniversary congratulatory message at the beginning of episode 20 of Happiness Charge Pretty Cure!.
Although her mother told Tsubomi and Erika that she started martial arts at the age of five in episode 15, in episode 25 she told the fashion club members she started martial arts at the age of four.
In many of her focusing episodes, especially during the first half of the series, Itsuki appears to have a butler who is unnamed but has a few speaking lines. He usually stands outside the Myoudouin household and appears far away on-screen with his face never being shown.
Itsuki shares her given name with the surname of Itsuki Sakuya, a minor character from Healin' Good♥Pretty Cure.