Yukari Tanizaki
Encyclopedia
, also known as "Miss Yukari" (ゆかり先生 Yukari-sensei, lit. "Teacher Yukari"), is a character from the manga
and anime
series Azumanga Daioh
.
and homeroom teacher (class 3), but a teacher with very unconventional methods and a rather close relationship with the class. Her students are casual enough to call her by her given name (Yukari-sensei in lieu of Tanizaki-sensei, with a few, mostly Tomo, addressing her as the extremely informal Yukari-chan). Depending on the day, time, and her mood, she can be either a horrible tyrant or one of the sweetest, most touching teachers ever. Her behavior ranges from mercilessly teasing Chiyo
and hitting students with blunt objects to kind and gentle words and simple, encouraging notes on tests telling students she believes in them. She is often selfish, irresponsible, miserly, and generally dysfunctional, and shamelessly expects her friend and fellow teacher, Minamo Kurosawa
("Nyamo"), to not only tolerate all of this, but to enable it. She becomes jealous when Nyamo receives nicer birthday presents from her students, and will even give her students study hall so that she can ditch them and go swimming at the school pool. In one episode, when Yukari is in a terrible mood about the lack of birthday presents, Tomo complains it's simply because Yukari's birthday is during spring break.
Off the job, she frequently drags Nyamo out on extensive drinking parties, which Nyamo usually has to pay for. She is very fond of Korean barbecue
, which becomes the object of many of her extravagant wagers involving the class. She even becomes incredibly jealous whenever anyone has eaten expensive food, such as snow crab or Matsusaka beef, which Yomi and Chiyo both are assaulted for. She is also a huge fan of video games, and becomes angry when the store runs out of the newest game.
Yukari and Nyamo are alumnae of the school the girls attend, and has even appeared at a Sports Festival in her old uniform (which led to a prostitution
joke from Tomo
in the manga).
Both Yukari and Tomo have similar obnoxious personalities: they are both boastful, jealous, delusional, lazy, and selfish. Rather than being hateful, though, they are amusing and likeable - one can see why their friends like them, even as they are annoyed by them. The balance between the dual natures of Yukari and Tomo's characters is a unique achievement of the author, and one of the peculiar charms of Azumanga Daioh.
Yukari can speak English fluently, and uses this ability to claim intellectual superiority over Nyamo. (Though the anime treats her speech as fluent, she has a very strong accent.) At one point in the manga, however, she tells her class that the only true purpose for studying English is to pass tests.
Yukari's given name means 'related to (some place).'
film. Even a photo or the mere mention of the Yukari-mobile can cause terror and flashbacks for those who have ridden in it—though said survivors sometimes claim they no longer fear roller coasters. Chiyo in particular goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid riding in it or any other vehicle Yukari might possibly be driving. However, Tomo enjoys riding in it, showing she has some similarities to Yukari.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Azumanga Daioh
Azumanga Daioh
is a Japanese comedy manga by Kiyohiko Azuma. It was serialized by MediaWorks in the shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh from 1999 to 2002 and collected in four bound volumes...
.
Biography
She is the girls' EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and homeroom teacher (class 3), but a teacher with very unconventional methods and a rather close relationship with the class. Her students are casual enough to call her by her given name (Yukari-sensei in lieu of Tanizaki-sensei, with a few, mostly Tomo, addressing her as the extremely informal Yukari-chan). Depending on the day, time, and her mood, she can be either a horrible tyrant or one of the sweetest, most touching teachers ever. Her behavior ranges from mercilessly teasing Chiyo
Chiyo Mihama
, also known as Chiyo-chan, is a fictional character in the manga and anime series Azumanga Daioh. In Japan Chiyo has been voiced by Tomoko Kaneda for the TV series and movie, and by Ayaka Saito for a "Azumanga Web Daioh" short...
and hitting students with blunt objects to kind and gentle words and simple, encouraging notes on tests telling students she believes in them. She is often selfish, irresponsible, miserly, and generally dysfunctional, and shamelessly expects her friend and fellow teacher, Minamo Kurosawa
Minamo Kurosawa
, also known as , normally called Kurosawa-sensei by her students, is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Azumanga Daioh.-Biography:...
("Nyamo"), to not only tolerate all of this, but to enable it. She becomes jealous when Nyamo receives nicer birthday presents from her students, and will even give her students study hall so that she can ditch them and go swimming at the school pool. In one episode, when Yukari is in a terrible mood about the lack of birthday presents, Tomo complains it's simply because Yukari's birthday is during spring break.
Off the job, she frequently drags Nyamo out on extensive drinking parties, which Nyamo usually has to pay for. She is very fond of Korean barbecue
Yakiniku
Yakiniku , meaning "grilled meat", is a Japanese term which, in its broadest sense, refers to grilled meat dishes. The present style of yakiniku restaurants are derived from the Korean restaurants in Osaka and Tokyo which were opened around 1945....
, which becomes the object of many of her extravagant wagers involving the class. She even becomes incredibly jealous whenever anyone has eaten expensive food, such as snow crab or Matsusaka beef, which Yomi and Chiyo both are assaulted for. She is also a huge fan of video games, and becomes angry when the store runs out of the newest game.
Yukari and Nyamo are alumnae of the school the girls attend, and has even appeared at a Sports Festival in her old uniform (which led to a prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
joke from Tomo
Tomo Takino
is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Azumanga Daioh. Tomo is voiced by Chieko Higuchi and by Tomoe Hanba in a Azumanga Web Daioh short episode. In the English version Mandy Clark voices Tomo. Tomo's surname means 'waterfall field.'...
in the manga).
Both Yukari and Tomo have similar obnoxious personalities: they are both boastful, jealous, delusional, lazy, and selfish. Rather than being hateful, though, they are amusing and likeable - one can see why their friends like them, even as they are annoyed by them. The balance between the dual natures of Yukari and Tomo's characters is a unique achievement of the author, and one of the peculiar charms of Azumanga Daioh.
Yukari can speak English fluently, and uses this ability to claim intellectual superiority over Nyamo. (Though the anime treats her speech as fluent, she has a very strong accent.) At one point in the manga, however, she tells her class that the only true purpose for studying English is to pass tests.
Yukari's given name means 'related to (some place).'
Yukari on the Road
Yukari's car, also known as the Yukari-mobile (ゆかり車 Yukari-guruma) sometimes seems to have a personality and history of its own. Technically, it belongs to Yukari's parents. At one time a nice silver Toyota Corolla, Yukari's reckless driving habits have turned it into a scarred, beaten vehicle suitable for a Mad MaxMad Max
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
film. Even a photo or the mere mention of the Yukari-mobile can cause terror and flashbacks for those who have ridden in it—though said survivors sometimes claim they no longer fear roller coasters. Chiyo in particular goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid riding in it or any other vehicle Yukari might possibly be driving. However, Tomo enjoys riding in it, showing she has some similarities to Yukari.
Character songs
- "Otona wo Yasunde Dekakeyou" (Grown-Up's Vacation Excursion) Words by Aki Hata, music by Kosuke Kanai (w/Nyamo)
- "Tenshoku Equal Kaikan No Housoku"" Words by Aki Hata, music by Kosuke Kanai (w/Nyamo)