【Oshi no Ko】What Does Arima Kana Like to Eat? Uncovering the Real Story Behind "Baking Soda Sauce" and "Bell Pepper Exercise"

Introduction: An Idol's "Food Diary" That's Surprisingly Different?

When delving into the characters in [Oshi no Ko], fans are always curious about various details of their idols, and "What do they like to eat?" is one of the most common questions. For the popular character Kanan Arima, the answer to this question might be different from what everyone thinks. Rather than having specific food preferences, two "foods" have become inseparable parts of her character image: "baking soda" and "green pepper."

This article will take you to explore the meanings behind these foods and how they shaped the child prodigy we know as "Kanan Arima."

"The Child Prodigy Who Can Lick Baking Soda"—The Origin of Baking Soda-chan

When mentioning Kanan Arima, the first word that comes to many fans' minds is "Baking Soda-chan" (重曹ちゃん). This nickname originated from the second episode of the anime, where Ruby misheard Kanan Arima's title "The child prodigy who can cry in 10 seconds" (10秒で泣ける天才子役) as the similarly pronounced "The child prodigy who can lick baking soda" (重曹を舐める天才子役).

This slip of the tongue became a classic because it perfectly captured Kanan Arima's predicament at the time—after her child star halo faded, her acting career hit a low point, and she could only take on insignificant jobs. This playful nickname symbolized her past of unrecognized talent.

So, does Kanan Arima really like eating baking soda?

The answer is no. She never showed any liking for eating baking soda in the story; it was purely a joke stemming from a pun. However, this meme became so deeply ingrained that even the official channels went along with it, not only posting parody "infinite floor licking" GIFs on social media but also collaborating with a Japanese cleaning product company to release a joint baking soda powder product called "Baking Soda-chan" featuring Kanan Arima's portrait. Of course, this product is genuine cleaning supplies and is specifically marked as "not edible."

"Green Pepper Calisthenics"—A Disliked Yet Inseparable Past

Besides baking soda, another food closely associated with Kanan Arima is "green pepper." In fact, green pepper is a food she dislikes. But ironically, during the low point of her acting career, she worked as the big sister on the children's program "Green Pepper Calisthenics" (ピーマン体操).

This program aimed to help children overcome their aversion to green peppers, with lyrics full of content like "Eating green peppers will make you full of energy" and "Everyone's favorite green pepper." For Kanan Arima, who was in her adolescence and wanted to become a cool actress, wearing a cute green pepper mascot costume and doing calisthenics was undoubtedly a "dark history" she'd rather forget.

However, this experience also showcased her professionalism and resilience as an actress. Even with work and food she dislikes, she still gives her all to complete it. The anime's official YouTube channel even released a fun video featuring Kanan Arima's voice actress Megumi Han doing the "Green Pepper Calisthenics" with children, making this meme even more lively and amusing.

Conclusion: The Character's Charm Behind the Food Symbols

In summary, Kanan Arima does not have a clearly defined "favorite food." Instead, "baking soda" and "green pepper," two things she doesn't eat at all, have become important symbols defining her character arc through jokes and work experiences in the story.

"Baking soda" represents her low point and bitterness of being forgotten by the world, while "green pepper" symbolizes the professionalism of having to compromise for the sake of her dreams. It is these "foods" full of stories that make Kanan Arima's image more three-dimensional and lifelike, allowing us to witness her moving journey from a faded child star to shining brightly on stage again through relentless effort.

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