Retsuko
Location
Adrenaline AbilityUnlocked after Friendship Level 16
Hot Stuff Ability
Unlocked after Friendship Level 19
Retsuko wanders Mount Hothead searching for her Lost Luggage. She can get a little frustrated, but the volcano learns a thing or two from her explosive personality. It's time for a vacation.
Personality
"Retsuko is a single, 25 year-old red panda, who really needs a vacation. Despite her cute appearance, something deep within her is filled with rage. Even on a deserted island, it seems like she can’t escape her stressful job – can’t a girl get a break?"
— Retsuko's character page on the official Hello Kitty Island Adventure website
Retsuko's Birthday Celebration occurs annually in early-November.
Gifts
The player can give Retsuko up to three gifts per day. 
Gifting gives Friendship XP (experience points), and enough Friendship XP will increase Retsuko's Friendship Level with the player. Gift limits can be reset by gifting a 
Friendship Blossom or using a 
Friendship Bouquet. Certain quests, such as any Daily Quests from Retsuko, may also reward Friendship XP.
While raising Friendship XP, players will receive 
Dough as a reward for each gift given to Retsuko. The amount received depends on the value of the gift and increases by 1 at Good Friend and by 1 again at Close Friend.
If the player has reached maximum friendship level (
Best Friend status) with Retsuko, they will instead receive 1x 
Retsuko Box for each gift given or Daily Quest completed. It will still contain Dough when opened.
Liked Gifts
| Hearts | Image | Name | Tags | Rarity | Source | Materials | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Volcanic Guitar |
|
Rare | Crafting |  Ingot (2)
| |
|
|
|
Volcano Soundtrack | 
|
Rare | Crafting |  Mechanism (1)
| |
|
Sounds of Steel | 
|
Rare | Crafting | Mechanism (1)
| ||
|
Microphone |
|
Uncommon | Crafting | Ingot (1)
| ||
|
|
Any item with one of the following tags:  Fire,  Music,  Metal
| ||||||
Gifts for Raising Friendship
Refer to the Character Gift Guide for an in-depth explanation of how gifts are valued.
| Friendship Raising Recommendations (may contain spoilers) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 9 |  Volcanic Guitar
|
|
2x + 2x  + 1x
|
Most valuable option, but Ingots are a scarce material because of its use for quests and gifts. Unlocked at  TOPHAT level 4.
|
| 8 |  Sounds of Steel
|
|
1x + 5x + 5x 
|
Valuable but extremely expensive option. Not recommended to craft, but  Crafting Plans are in a  Treasure Chest in the  Lava Caves.  My Melody's Grandpa can gift 1 every day he visits.
|
| 7 |  Volcano Soundtrack
|
|
1x + 5x  + 5x 
|
Good value for cost. Finding enough Toasted Almonds can be difficult. Crafting Plans are in a Treasure Chest in the Lava Caves.
|
| 5 | Regional Music Boxes
Examples: |
|
1x + 1x + varies
Example:
|
Expensive to craft but easier to access than more valuable options. Crafting Plans are mostly in Treasure Chests in their region. The  Rocky Music Box is a possible grand prize from the  Gem Match mini game.
|
| 4 |  Pineapple Lava Soda
|
|
 +  + 
|
An option if low on Ingots and Mechanisms. Available with the  Soda Machine upgrade ( Pekkle level 6).
|
 Toasted Marshmallow Cloud
|
|
+ + 
|
A cheaper but late option if low on Ingots and Mechanisms. Available with the upgraded  Candy Cloud Machine ( Kiki level 5).
| |
| 3 | Ingot
|
|
3x 
|
An option, but crafting something better is preferable. |
| 2 |  Toasty Pizza
|
|
+
|
An option, but craft something if possible. |
| 1 | Toasted Almond
|
|
 Mount Hothead
|
An option, but craft something if possible. |
Character Boxes
These are received starting at the maximum friendship level ( Best Friend status).
|
Small Retsuko Box | Medium Retsuko Box | Retsuko Box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Received From | 1-heart gifts
|
2-heart gifts
|
3-heart gifts
Daily Quests |
| May Contain | Dough
|
Dough
|
Dough
|
Friendship
Friendship Rewards
| Level | Image | Reward | Reward Type | Reward Text | Required XP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Friendship Level Up | Friendship | “You are now New Friends with Retsuko!” | 1 |
| 2 | 
|
Avatar Palette | Palette | “Avatar Palette unlock” | 20 |
| 3 | 
|
Stamina Apple Slice | Item | “Retsuko gifts you a stamina apple slice!” | 65 |
| 4 | 
|
Avatar Palette | Palette | “Avatar Palette unlock” | 106 |
| 5 | 
|
Tropical Side Table | Furniture | “Retsuko gifts you a tropical side table.” | 176 |
| 6 | 
|
Avatar Palette | Palette | “Avatar Palette unlock” | 246 |
| 7 | 
|
Unlock "Enraging Ruins" | Quest | “Story Quest: Enraging Ruins” | 316 |
| 8 | 
|
Mountain Soundtrack Crafting Plans | Crafting Plans | “Retsuko gifts you the mountain soundtrack crafting plans.” | 387 |
| 9 | 
|
Pizza Oven | Station Upgrade | “Station Upgrade: Pizza Oven!” | 457 |
| 10 |
|
Friendship Level Up | Friendship | “You are now Good Friends with Retsuko!” | 600 |
| 11 |
|
Unlock "Fire Up the Volcano" | Quest | “Story Quest: Fire Up the Volcano” | 803 |
| 12 | 
|
Tropical Plant Vase | Furniture | “Retsuko gifts you a tropical plant vase.” | 1005 |
| 13 |
|
Ultimate Joke Pizza Cooking Recipe | Recipe | “Retsuko gifts you the ultimate joke pizza cooking recipe.” | 1208 |
| 14 | 
|
Avatar Palette | Palette | “Avatar Palette unlock” | 1512 |
| 15 |
|
Friendship Level Up | Friendship/Crafting Plans | “You are now Close Friends with Retsuko! Pizza Oven blueprint unlocked.” | 1967 |
| 16 | 
|
Adrenaline Ability Level 1/Companion | Ability/Companion | “Retsuko can be your companion. Adrenaline ability unlocked.” | 2571 |
| 17 |
|
Unlock Swimming Lessons | Quest | “Story Quest: Swimming Lessons” | 3174 |
| 18 | 
|
Adrenaline Ability Level 2 | Ability | “Adrenaline ability upgrade.” | 3777 |
| 19 | 
|
Hot Stuff Ability | Ability | “Hot Stuff ability unlocked.” | 4380 |
| 20 |
|
Friendship Level Up | Friendship | “You are now Best Friends with Retsuko!” | 5134 |
Friendship Status
The player will reach Best Friend status with Retsuko at friendship level 20. After reaching Best Friend status with Retsuko, the player can obtain 
Spirit Heart status by bringing her as a companion to meet the 
Island Spirit.
Quests
| Name | Description | Objective | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepest Dark | "The darkness at the bottom of the sea can be comforting. Go there and tell me about it!" | Dive to the bottom of The Hole | + Friendship Points
|
| Heaviest Metal | "Can you believe it? This cute little music box actually plays heavy metal music. Can you find one please?" | Get a  Volcanic Music Box
|
+ Friendship Points
|
| Fiery Flowers | "Some of the flowers on the mountain really speak to me. So beautiful, full of molten fire." | Collect 2 Magma Bloom
|
+ Friendship Points
|
| Heavy Metal | "Metal is really marvellous - it's used to create guitars, microphones, and even amplifiers!" | Collect 3 Iron
|
+ Friendship Points
|
| Ride the Waves | "I bet Rainbow Reef is a great place to relax. It would be nice to float along the surface." | Visit  Rainbow Reef
|
+ Friendship Points
|
| Heavier Metal | "Maybe we should turn up the heat and craft an ingot. I can use it as a paperweight at work." | Craft 1 Ingot
|
+ Friendship Points
|
Character Outfits
| Image | Name | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
|
Island Vacation Outfit | Immediate |
|
Concert Outfit | "Fire Up the Volcano" quest |
|
Swimsuit Outfit | "Swimming Lessons" quest |
|
Retsuko's Friendship Festival Outfit | Friendship Festival |
|
Give and Gather Sweater Outfit ( only)
|
Give & Gather Celebration |
Gallery
Island Vacation Outfit - default
Concert Outfit
Swimsuit Outfit
Friendship Festival Event Outfit
Give & Gather Celebration Event Outfit
One of her "heavy metal"-singing cutscenes in Island Adventure
Notes
Names in Alternate Languages
| Language | Name | Language | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| العربية | 简体中文 | 小烈 (Xiǎo liè) | |
| 繁體中文 | 烈子 (Lièzǐ) | Nederlands | |
| English (United Kingdom) | English | Retsuko | |
| français (Canada) | français | ||
| Deutsch | italiano | ||
| 日本語 | 한국인 | ||
| português (Brasil) | русский | ||
| español | Türkçe |
- Retsuko is originally from the Netflix anime Aggretsuko, or Aggressive Retsuko, where she stars as the titular character. In the show, Retsuko blows off steam through her hobby: heavy-metal karaoke.
- Per developer Chelsea on Discord, "Retsuko and Gudetama both have slightly different ownership / licensing restrictions from the main Hello Kitty and Friends cast" when asked about why Retsuko did not receive a 50th Anniversary Original Overalls like the other residents.[note 1]
