Azumanga Daioh/Characters

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


The Girls. From left to right: Yomi, Osaka, Chiyo-chan, Sakaki-san, Kagura, Tomo

A character sheet for the comedic slice-of-life anime and manga series, Azumanga Daioh.

The Girls

Chiyo Mihama (Chiyo-chan)

Voiced by: Ayaka Saitou (JP web short), Tomoko Kaneda (JP series), Jessica Boone (EN)

The youngest and cutest of the girls, with a high-pitched voice that makes ears bleed. A ten-year-old child prodigy who transfers to Yukari's class and always seems to get the highest scores and is the go-to person for questions but is (almost) bottom in sports. She comes from a rich family, with a large house in town and a summer house by the beach, but her (human) parents are never seen. Rather than being spoiled, some characters think she turned out to be the perfect child (from a parent's perspective) as she is extremely intelligent and responsible, making her own breakfast and lunch, waking up her parents, taking care of her dog, etc.

Sakaki

Voiced by: Yuu Asakawa (JP), Christine Auten (EN)

The quiet, tall girl who sits in the back of the class. At first, people think she's mean because of her looks, but nothing could be further from the truth. Has extreme Cuteness Proximity bordering on Osaka-level daydreaming, especially with animals (and especially kittens) and Chiyo. Too bad her mother is allergic to cats. Exceptionally athletic (all the sports clubs want her to join), she wins her sports festival events by talent and determination rather than training. Also gets good grades. These last two seem unfair to Kagura.

Tomo Takino

Voiced by: Chieko Higuchi (JP), Mandy Clark (EN)

The extremely-energetic member of Yukari's class who likes to make everything into a competition. Failing that, her default behavior is to annoy others or cause a commotion, though not out of malice (well, not more than any other teenager). Is best friends with Yomi, though it's unclear how the two of them manage to stand each other.

  • A-Cup Angst: She's nowhere near the flattest character on the show, but Yomi's always mocking her breast size anyway. She does start quite a number of perverted jokes though (more in the manga). A few of them are about Sakaki's, Kagura's, and Yomi's breasts. Maybe she's envious? She jokes that she'd do better in sports like the aforementioned if she had Kagura's figure.
    • Tomo's definitely jealous, particularly of Sakaki's size, as she laments being in the same "group" as Osaka, and is ecstatic whenever her own size increases. She's also obsessed with Kagura's large bust.
    • In the dream episode, you can quite clearly see that in her dreams, she's a lot bustier than normal.
    • Her personal idol: Fujiko Mine.
  • Alliterative Name
  • Baka: Is at times the recipient of this insult, except, in one amusing case, where she is the one screaming it with glee in response to one of Yomi's annoyed remarks.
  • Berserker Tears: When Yomi manages to eat curry noodles without splattering it all over herself, Tomo is pushed over the top and goes on a rampage in the lunchroom with tears in her eyes until she accidentally hits Yukari. Yukari's subsequent reaction must be seen to be believed.
  • Big Bra to Fill: Discussed in regards to her desire to be like Fujiko Mine. Tomo believes the only thing lacking is her chest size...
  • Book Dumb
  • Brilliant but Lazy: Normally low-scoring and rarely saying anything intelligent, when she applies herself she can pass exams — and even maxed out her mark in a health exam when she specifically studied for it. She seems to pick and choose what she studies for. Tomo also seems to act bone-headed as much as actually being stupid.
  • Cosplay: As a giraffe, much to the annoyance of Yomi and Minamo.
  • Expository Hairstyle Change: Every school year.
  • The Friend Nobody Likes
  • The Gadfly: Kagura even asks: "Why do you put so much energy into pissing people off?". See It Amused Me.
  • Generation Xerox: She's a Yukari Jr down to her Jerkass tendencies and lack of any skills.
  • Genki Girl: The current page image.
  • Giver of Lame Names: She dubbed Ayumu "Osaka" because she came from Osaka. In the manga, it is revealed that she gives pets equally generic names.
  • Gratuitous English: Like Yukari, inconsistently dubbed into Gratuitous Spanish.
  • Image Song: Sora wa Tobikiri Paradaisu and Poi Poi Peace. Also shares one with Yomi, and another with Kagura and Osaka.
  • Important Haircut: They mean nothing, and Yomi cracks up at the prospect, since the most common reason for this in Real Life Japan is getting a new boyfriend.
  • It Amused Me: This seems to be the motivation for her behavior, given that she decided to study hard for a test with no other reason than to spite Yomi.
  • Large Ham
  • Mega Manning: An Imagine Spot shows the viewers what might happen if Tomo copied Sakaki's athleticism, Chiyo's book smarts and Osaka's strangeness.
  • Not So Different/Expy/Counterpart Comparison: Her and Yukari.
  • Odd Couple: With Yomi.
  • Pet the Dog: At the graduation ceremony, after years of teasing Chiyo, Tomo stands up and leads the crowd in a round of applause for her.
    • Another noteworthy moment was when her teasing actually managed to get under Kagura's skin and hurt her feelings, and Tomo's reaction makes it clear that it was unintentional. Tomo being Tomo, she decides to cheer Kagura up by annyoing her so much that she quickly forgets to be upset by a little teasing.
  • The Rival: She tries to antagonize and compete with everyone, just for the hell of it — especially Chiyo and Sakaki. She was also Osaka's Unknown Rival on Osaka's first day.
  • Screwy Squirrel
  • Standing in the Hall: Self-inflicted.
  • Too Dumb to Fool: Of all people, Osaka finds this out in her one attempt to prevent the "Osaka" nickname from spreading. She points out how little time she's lived in Osaka as a reason to not call her that. A smart person would note that all of the locales listed are just suburbs of Osaka. Tomo just gets too confused by all the places and sticks with the one she can remember.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: With Yomi.
  • Weight Woe: Although she constantly teases Yomi about her figure, Tomo at least once lamented her own, claiming that whilst calories go to Sakaki's height and chest, hers go straight to her stomach. Perhaps she pesters Yomi about it out of insecurity.

Koyomi ("Yomi") Mizuhara

Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino (JP web short), Rie Tanaka (JP series), Nancy Novotny (EN)

The most normal member of Yukari's class, and also the most focused. Best friends with Tomo, and has a surprisingly-high tolerance level for her shenanigans. Often plays the Straight Man and becomes stern or angry when others cross the line. Enjoys food and, as a result, always seems to be on a diet.

Ayumu ("Osaka") Kasuga

Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi (JP web short), Yuki Matsuoka (JP series), Kira Vincent-Davis (EN)

As her (forced) nickname suggests, Ayumu Kasuga is a transfer student from Osaka. It's not actually her real name and she lived there for only one year, but she was no match for Tomo's enthusiasm and thick-headedness. Sometimes lapses into non-sequiturs when speaking, and often gets lost daydreaming. Isn't the sharpest crayon in the box and is even beaten by Chiyo at sports, but has a knack for puns and riddles and pun-based riddles. Without question, one of the most popular characters in the show.

Kagura

Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga (JP web short), Houko Kuwashima (JP series), Allison Sumrall (EN)

A tanned girl who joins the core class in Second Year (because Yukari wanted to win the Sports Fest). Like Sakaki, she's very athletically inclined. She is the only main character not in the Go Home Club, spending a lot of time training for the swim team (which makes Kurosawa her coach). She becomes very good friends with Sakaki. Sideburns never looked so cute.

The Teachers

Yukari Tanizaki

Voiced by: Akiko Hiramatsu (JP), Luci Christian (EN)

The girls' homeroom teacher throughout all three years of their high school career and also teaches English. She tries to act as a teacher and "best friend" to them. Not the most responsible of teachers, she is often late because she wanted to buy a video game or wanted to sleep in, and has been known to cancel class to do P.E. instead. Is fiercely competitive with phys-ed teacher and long-time friend Minamo Kurosawa. She is an absolute terror behind the wheel, and has traumatized more than one student with her crazy driving (Tomo is the only one who approves of her style of driving... due to her being three fries short of a Happy Meal™, too).

Minamo ("Nyamo") Kurosawa

Voiced by: Akiko Hiramatsu (JP web short), Aya Hisakawa (JP series), Monica Rial (EN)

The school's phys-ed teacher and swim team coach. A very diligent and caring teacher (especially in contrast to Yukari), and many students look up to her. She's been friends with Yukari since at least college (high school in the manga). Given Yukari's personality, one wonders how they stayed friends so long.

Mr. Kimura

Voiced by: Kouji Ishii (JP), Andy McAvin (EN)

The only male teacher on the campus who appears most of the time. Wears short-rimmed glasses and almost always has an open-mouthed stare. Has a thing for HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS! (Especially Kaorin.) Has a beautiful, loving waifu, a cute daughter, gives to charity, picks up garbage, and loves peeping.

  • Cloudcuckoolander: Is shown to occasionally have moments that call his clarity into question.
  • Dirty Old Man: And we repeat, he became a teacher CUZ HE LIKES HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS AND STUFF.
  • Ephebophile: Not lolicon...most of the time. See below.
  • Evil Laugh: If he's not evil, then he sounds freaking maniacal.
  • Fetish: For high-school uniforms, apparently.
  • Gonk
  • Gratuitous English: Mai waifu.
  • Hot for Student: Poor Kaorin...
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Well, disgusting pervert who is otherwise a kind, model citizen anyway.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: One of his lines can be paraphrased as "Well, now that I donated $100 to the orphanage, let's go for some peeping!".
  • Lolicon: "High school is high school." In other words, Kimura's joshikousei fetish ignores any and all age restrictions. In the manga, there's a point where the teachers wear high school uniforms for a costume race and Kimura hands Yukari a love letter ("Senpai, read this.").
  • Loveable Sex Maniac
  • Nice Guy: If you can look past his crazy love of high school girls, you'll see he is a kind man.
  • No Accounting for Taste: His wife loves him unconditionally and finds him quite handsome. No, really. To be fair, as noted above Kimura really is a nice guy for all his perversion. He apparently donates to charity frequently, and is shown using his New Year's wish on world peace (with a 10,000-Yen note).
  • The One Guy: Technically, there are two or three other recurring guys. However, they don't have names. He's also the only male character who appears in the opening, besides Chiyo's dad.
  • Scary Shiny Glasses
  • Stealth Hi Bye
  • Ugly Guy, Hot Waifu: And an Adorable Daughter only seen in a photograph.

Other Characters

Kaori ("Kaorin")

Voiced by: Sakura Nogawa (JP), Tiffany Grant (EN)

A girl who sits in the background most of the time. Is friends with a girl named Chihiro, but really adores Sakaki.

The manga hints that her family name might be "Aida".

Chihiro

Voiced by: Akane Omae (JP), Hilary Haag (EN)

Another girl who sits in the background most of the time. Kaorin's closest friend, and is embarrassed about having to get homework help from Chiyo.

Chiyo's Dad (Chiyo-chichi)

Voiced by: Norio Wakamoto (JP), Jason Douglas (EN)

A giant floating orange-yellow cat...thing that sometimes pops up in Osaka's and Sakaki's dreams. Believed to be Chiyo's father, but it's hard to understand why he's never at the house.

Osaka: You look like Mori, the previous Prime Minister!
(cue Chiyo-chichi shaking with rage)

    • Don't show anything red around him. Don't tell him you have a "Cat's Tongue" either, or he'll rip it out.
  • Gratuitous English: "HARRO, EVERY-NYAN!! HOW AH YOU! FAIN SANKYUU!!" "AH, I WISH I WERE A BIRD!"[context?]
  • Large Ham: Duh! He's played by Norio Wakamoto; what did you expect?
  • Mega Neko
  • Mind Screw: We really have no idea who or what Chiyo-chichi is supposed to be, but Sakaki and Osaka have seen him independent of each other's description. Furthermore, plush toys exist of him in-universe (much to Sakaki's surprise the first time it's brought out), and Sakaki's smaller one proceeded to glow when she stopped paying attention to it...
  • One-Scene Wonder: Shows up in maybe five skits total. Everyone that knows this show will remember him without fail.
  • Or Was It a Dream?
  • Parental Abandonment
  • Slasher Smile: The smile(?) on his face never changes, even when he's angry.

Kamineko

A grey cat that Sakaki often tries to pet, only for him to run away or, more often, end with her hand clenched in his bear trap teeth. Eventually, he goes out of his way to make Sakaki's life a living hell.

  • Achilles' Heel: Mayaa is the one other cat that manages to scare him off. He was even about to bite Tomo's hand, but she had just been scratched by Mayaa, he smells it, and runs off.
  • Cats Are Mean
  • Cheshire Cat Grin
  • Cowardly Lion: He works entirely on intimidation. If you manage to scare him like Mayaa, or even just hit him on the head like Kagura, he'll run off.
  • Fragile Speedster: He shows how fast he is when Sakaki just tries to take a photo of him. He literally bounces off of the walls in an ally in order to ruin her photography attempts. He can't take a hit to the head before being scared off, though. Played straight in the fan-made fighting game.
  • Gang Up on the Human: Kamineko's biggest jerkass moment is when he assembles a gang of all the other neighborhood cats to attack Sakaki, and possibly Chiyo by association. Luckily, Mayaa was able to put a stop to it.
  • Jerkass: Probably the biggest in the show. Not that it stops Sakaki.
    • During the last episode, Sakaki walks up and apologizes to him for trying to pet him when he didn't want her to. She walks off and he follows her. She notices him following her, and it looks like he'll finally let her pet him. CHOMP!
  • Meaningful Name: Kamineko, meaning "Biting Cat" (噛み猫).
  • More Teeth Than the Osmond Family
  • Names to Run Away From Really Fast
  • Ridiculously Cute Critter: When he's sleeping or when he just has a normal Cat Smile.
  • Slasher Smile: Especially when he's approaching Sakaki and Chiyo with his newly formed gang.
  • Use Your Head: He once headbutt Sakaki straight in the gut, stunning her, before latching onto her hand.

Tod (Male Student #1)

Voiced by: Greg Patton (EN)

Short for "That One Dude". You know, that one male student that shows up, sometimes in the background? He's fixed Yukari's bike and is seemingly thrown into the series whenever they need a male student? Don't blink, or you might miss him!

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