Yoko
Girl who lost speech and leg functions due to pollution disease
A girl who lost the ability to speak and walk due to pollution disease from factory wastewater. She recovered through Black Jack's treatment and became temporarily independent, but met a tragic end.
Trivia
- Yoko is a character who, as a girl who lost her speech and leg functions due to pollution disease, evoked particularly deep sympathy among Black Jack's patients.
- In the OVA version, her name is given as 'Tsukiko'.
- After treatment, she recovered to the point of being able to write katakana, but the tragic episode of her subsequent drowning remains in the hearts of many fans.
- Her model is inspired by real pollution victims at the time when pollution issues were becoming social problems.
Alternate names
Tsukiko
Profile
- Species
- Human
- Gender
- Female
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Young girl. Has disabilities in parts of her body due to illness, but has black hair and the appearance of an ordinary Japanese girl.
- Hair color
- Black
- Distinguishing features
-
- Unable to speak due to speech disorder
- Unable to walk due to leg dysfunction
- Iconic items
-
- None
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Kind
- Detailed personality
- Innocent and kind girl. Despite suffering from pollution, she possesses purity and earnestness. A poignant existence that evokes sympathy from those around her.
- Keywords
-
- Innocent
- Kind
- Pure
- Suffering
- Frail
- Talents
-
- Strength to live
- Motivation
- Wish for recovery from suffering and a normal life
History
- Backstory
- Due to pollution disease, she lost her language function and ability to speak, as well as her leg function. Having no relatives, even the public health doctor trying to expose the factory's wrongdoing initially did not act. She underwent surgery and treatment by Black Jack, gradually recovering her speech until she could write in katakana. However, after recovery, she drowned while going to catch fish in the sea, meeting a tragic end.
- Debut date
- circa 1973
- Work title
- Black Jack
- Media type
- Manga
- Episode or chapter
- The Sinking Woman
Onset of pollution disease
- Significant event
- Onset of pollution disease
- Description
- Lost language function and leg function due to beryllium poisoning from factory wastewater.
BJ's treatment
- Significant event
- BJ's treatment
- Description
- Received treatment from Black Jack, recovering language function.
Drowning
- Significant event
- Drowning
- Description
- After treatment, went to the sea to catch fish, drowned, and met a tragic death.
Relationships
Black Jack
Doctor
The doctor who treated her for free and led her to recovery
Media appearances
Black Jack
Manga / Supporting
Serialization started in 1973
Black Jack OVA
Anime / Supporting
OVA 'The Sinking Woman'
Voice cast and creators
Tomieko Orikasa
- Voice actor
- Tomieko Orikasa
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- OVA
Tomieko Orikasa
- Voice actor
- Tomieko Orikasa
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- TV anime
Osamu Tezuka
- Creator name
- Osamu Tezuka
- Role
- Original author