Yuko Harada
Shizuku's best friend and a kind, quiet third-year junior high school student
Shizuku's best friend, a kind and quiet third-year junior high school student. She is self-conscious about her freckles. She has a crush on Sugimura, but he is unaware of it, and she is a girl who worries but recovers quickly.
Quotes
- "Yuko Harada is self-conscious about her freckles, but she's a kind-hearted person, right?"
- "Yuko's complex feelings for Sugimura are realistic and relatable."
Trivia
- Yuko's character was created by the original author inspired by Anne Shirley from 'Anne of Green Gables.'
- Maiko Yasuyama voices Yuko in the anime film version.
- Yuko is depicted as a sensitive and compassionate character throughout the story.
- Yuko's freckles are portrayed as a distinctive charm point.
- In the live-action film, Rio Uchida plays Yuko, with Saki Sumitomo portraying her middle school self.
Alternate names
Yuko
Yuko
Profile
- Species
- Human
- Gender
- Female
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Distinctive fluffy short hair and freckles. She exudes a somewhat reserved and quiet atmosphere.
- Eye color
- Brown
- Hair color
- Blond
- Distinguishing features
-
- Freckles
- Quiet expression
- Gentle smile
- Iconic items
-
- School uniform
- Ribbon
- Small bag
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Kind
- Detailed personality
- Quiet and kind personality; understands and supports her best friend Shizuku's literary talent. Quick to recover from setbacks with gentle emotional fluctuations, living positively despite her worries.
- Keywords
-
- Kind
- Quiet
- Sensitive
- Loyal to friends
- Quick to recover
- Shy
- Talents
-
- Empathy
- Caring for friends
- Consideration
- Skills
-
- Listening to consultations
- Sensing friends' feelings
- Gentle communication
- Motivation
- To gradually get closer to Sugimura, her crush, and to cherish her relationship with her best friend.
- Habits
- Occasionally voices weaknesses but quickly becomes positive. Expresses emotions modestly.
- Favorite foods
- Sweets, Snacks
- Hobbies
- Reading (a quiet hobby unlike Shizuku's), Talking with friends
- Disliked situations
- Anxiety in romance, Things not going as planned
History
- Backstory
- Third-year junior high school student and protagonist Shizuku Tsukishima's best friend. Kind and quiet personality. Reserved in emotional expression but rich in heart; supports Shizuku as a best friend while grappling with feelings for classmate Sugimura, her crush. Self-conscious about freckles.
- Debut date
- July 15, 1995
- Work title
- Whisper of the Heart
- Media type
- Anime
First appearance in the movie
- Significant event
- First appearance in the movie
- Description
- Appears in Studio Ghibli's anime film 'Whisper of the Heart' (1995). Portrayed as Shizuku's confidante.
Appearance in the live-action movie
- Significant event
- Appearance in the live-action movie
- Description
- Played by Rio Uchida in the 2022 live-action film 'Whisper of the Heart,' expanding media adaptations.
Depiction of friendships
- Significant event
- Depiction of friendships
- Description
- The story carefully portrays the best friendship between Shizuku and Yuko, as well as Yuko's crush on Sugimura.
Relationships
Shizuku Tsukishima
Best friend
Yuko understands Shizuku's literary talent and serves as her confidante. Characteristic scenes include exchanging lyrics and emotions.
Sugimura
Crush
Struggles over how to respond to a love letter from Sugimura, while her feelings have not reached him.
Media appearances
Whisper of the Heart (1995 Anime Film)
Anime / Supporting
Released July 15, 1995
Whisper of the Heart (2022 Live-Action Film)
Movie / Supporting
Released October 14, 2022
Voice cast and creators
Maiko Yasuyama
- Voice actor
- Maiko Yasuyama
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- 1995 Anime Film
Rio Uchida
- Voice actor
- Rio Uchida
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- 2022 Live-Action Film (voice acting)
Saki Sumitomo
- Voice actor
- Saki Sumitomo
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- 2022 Live-Action Film (junior high school era)
Aoi Hiiragi
- Creator name
- Aoi Hiiragi
- Role
- Original author
Yoshifumi Kondō
- Creator name
- Yoshifumi Kondō
- Role
- Character designer
Studio Ghibli
- Creator name
- Studio Ghibli
- Role
- Animation studio
Hayao Miyazaki
- Creator name
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Role
- Writer
Related goods
Yuko Harada Figure
- Item name
- Yuko Harada Figure
- Category
- Figure
- Availability
- Limited
Whisper of the Heart Related Books
- Item name
- Whisper of the Heart Related Books
- Category
- Stationery
- Availability
- Regular