Why are Ringo-chan's cheeks always red?

Question

In Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou, the character Ringo-chan is the Student Council president of the rival all-girls high school. For some reason, though, her cheeks are always red (as pictured below).

Ringo-chan

At first, I thought they were temporary (situational blushing), but it seems these red marks are always on her cheeks. What are these?

I don't have any source about what I claim next: I think that the red cheek reflects her mental age: she is quite oblivious to the danger in the outside world, as shown in one of the episode. — nhahtdh, Apr 17 '13 at 22:19
Ussualy air headed characters are very active/energetic causing them to have a almost permanent red blush on their cheeks. would support @nhahtdh his statment some what — Dimitri mx, Apr 20 '13 at 20:13
@Dimitrimx: I'd say the red blush is the blush on the cheek of small children. — nhahtdh, Apr 21 '13 at 00:06

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 26 '13 at 16:31

9

The Blush Sticker trope is usually used to express childish cheerfulness and/or naivety. In Japan, children are typically depicted with round rosy cheeks.

Ringo is a bit of an airhead, or rather naive, like a child... The Sanada North High Student Council gave her the "childish" nickname "Ringo-chan" for a reason.~

Fried dumplings

The trope most likely originated from manga where often times it would be easier (and less time consuming) to draw ovals indicating "blushes", rather than shading them in.

Smile~ Happy! enter image description here

edited Apr 26 '13 at 16:31

Cattua

29,397
28
131
219

answered Apr 25 '13 at 22:44

кяαzєя

41,910
21
140
255

3

"*Less time consuming to draw ovals indicating "blushes" than shading them in*" – Interestingly, there are times when Ringo has both the blush "sticker" and real blush. It makes it look very odd. – Cattua Apr 25 '13 at 22:54

score 8 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38

8

Further to Krazer's answer, ringo in Japanese means apple. I found out recently that the rosy parts of the cheeks are called the apples of the cheeks. Ringo-chan's nickname might have come about for similar reasons.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38

Community

1

answered Apr 26 '13 at 03:45

coleopterist

5,819
2
28
41

Why are Ringo-chan's cheeks always red?

2 Answers2