The word '可憐' is also used in the Japanese name for Broken Coral, as well as part of Ink Theory's Japanese name, カレントリップ. The name is also from the Danish-originated name 'Karen'. Karen's name is from '可憐', meaning 'pretty'.Oonie's name is a phonetic rendering of the Japanese word for urchin, 'ウニ'.Zuzu's name comes from the instrument she plays, the kazoo.Ink Theory's name seems to come from jazz theory or music theory.An Ink Theory album can be seen in the background of Naut Couture, alongside a Hightide Era album.Ink Theory's name on the album art has what looks like a bass clef in the left, connected 8th notes in the middle, and a piano dynamic in the end.The venue's name is a parody of the Zepp brand of music venues in Japan. Their rivalry fueled a performance of the ages when Ink Theory participated in a battle of the bands where they faced off against Bottom Feeders at a popular venue situated in Inkadia called ZAPP square.In-universe, they have a rivalry with the Bottom Feeders, since both bands debuted simultaneously and utilize classical instruments, but have conflicting styles.Specifically, it reads '可憐,' which translates to 'pretty', while coincidentally also being pronounced 'Karen'. Strangely, in the Valentine's Day artwork, Yoko's hat appears to have actual Japanese kanji, rather than wording in the Inkling language.This connection can be seen in the outfits worn by both bands: Hightide Era wears mainly black with red neckties, and Ink Theory wears mainly black with gold ties. According to a Splatoon 2 anniversary Famitsu interview with the developers, in-universe, Ink Theory was inspired by Hightide Era.Ink Theory logo from the Splatoon Base website In Splatoon 3, Kitamura is a member of a new band called Yoko & the Gold Bazookas. She lives alone but pays close attention to her curfew. She has a high singing voice and regularly follows new fads. Kitamura is the band's drummer and a sea urchin, specifically Mesocentrotus nudus. She mainly plays with Ink Theory but occasionally freelances percussion for other bands. While her professor recommended she become a music instructor herself, she decided she would rather get experience creating her own music first. She is a sea anemone who joined Ink Theory after graduating from a music academy. In Splatoon 3, Oonie is a member of a new band called Yoko & the Gold Bazookas. She is romantically inexperienced, often falling for self-degrading people. For a short while, she favored bands with a different musical style from her parents, but lately, she has been observing classical music in a new light. She grew up in a strict household with parents who are famous musicians. Oonie, the band's bassist, is a sea urchin, specifically Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. She is a large spender but has never struggled much financially. Fans address her with the Japanese honorific ' -sama', which is used to address those one considers to be on a higher rank than oneself. As a result of this, she gets a lot of attention, often being pulled in front of cameras. She is closer to the public than the other members of the band, and is renowned for her beauty, often being considered the 'flower' of the band. Zuzu, the kazoo player, is an Inkling who graduated from a famous music academy.

She formed Ink Theory after being amazed by Hightide Era's music, specifically by Taka, who was a senior at the same school. She provides the band with a crisp atmosphere, and looks self-assured, though she worries that she is not loved by fans. She has participated in overseas competitions and has won many awards, as well as offering emotional support to the band. Karen, the band's pianist, is a nautilus who graduated at the top of her class from a famous musical university. In Splatoon 3, Yoko is a member of a new band called Yoko & the Gold Bazookas. She also has a weakness to atmospheric pressure on rainy days she is said to have a dead face and while she struggles in sunny weather as well, she is a hard worker and always gives a solid performance. She is described as often getting nervous before large productions. She is an Inkling with a mutation that allows her tentacles to have multiple colors, but it rarely proves useful. Yoko is the band's trumpet player and frontwoman, though she sometimes feels overshadowed by the other members' personalities.

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