Yukiko Kudo

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Yukiko Kudo

Yukiko Kudo Profile.png

Profile
Japanese name: 工藤 有希子
(Kudō Yukiko)
English name: Vivian Kudo
Age: 37[1]
Gender: Female
Date of birth: unknown[1]
Relatives: Yusaku Kudo (husband)
Shinichi Kudo (son)
Conan Edogawa (son)
Occupation: Retired actress
Status: Alive
Nicknames: The Night Baroness
Aliases: Yukiko Fujimine (maiden name)
Fumiyo Edogawa (Fanny Edogawa in the Funimation Dub)
Fumiyo Akechi
The Teitan Princess
Statistics
First appearance: Manga: File 51
Anime: Episode 43
Appearances: Chapters: 91
Episodes: 55
Movies: 2
Episodes: 1
OVAs: 3
Specials: 1
Openings: 12
Closings: 4
Keyhole number: Volume 14
Actors
Japanese voice: Sumi Shimamoto
English voice: Laurie Steele (FUNimation)
Erika Harlacher (Bang Zoom!)

Yukiko Kudo (工藤 有希子 Kudō Yukiko?, née Fujimine (藤峰 Fujimine?)) is the mother of Shinichi Kudo and, along with her husband Yusaku, one of few characters who knows he is Conan Edogawa. She was once a famous actress, but retired after marrying Yusaku. She was also close friends with fellow actress, Sharon Vineyard.

Contents

Background

Yukiko became internationally famous as a talented actress after having played the part of Sakamoto Ryoma's older sister Otome in a historical drama.[2]

Despite her then-tender years as a student at Teitan High, Yukiko had a prospectively prosperous future in the film industry.[3] Thus it came as a major surprise to the world when, practically out of the blue, she married Yusaku Kudo and retired from acting.[4] She still retains good contacts in the acting and film industry, however, and has since become known as the "Night Baroness" (named after one of her husband's characters) after babbling out some clues provided by Yusaku on a live television show which helped solve a criminal case.[5]

During her acting years, Yukiko went to a famous stage magician and disguise artist to learn the finer arts of disguise for a role she was preparing to play. There she met another actress who would become one of her closest friends, Sharon Vineyard. Until Sharon's (supposed) death, the two women stayed in touch, and Yukiko even attended her funeral, but her appearance was overshadowed by a small scandal involving Sharon's 'daughter', Chris Vineyard. Yukiko has since learned from her son about Chris/Sharon's secret life, a revelation which troubles her deeply.[6][7] She has since confronted her former friend with her knowledge, partially to know for sure, but also to save the life of Ai Haibara, who was being threatened by the Black Organization.[8]

Despite a certain rivalry for popularity in their high school years, which had culminated in a Miss Teitan Election, Yukiko is also a close friend of Eri Kisaki, and (unlike Eri) finds her daughter Ran Mouri, a perfect match for her son.[9]

She is closed friends with Keiko Kurachi[10] and childhood friends with Hiromi Yabuuchi.[11]

Personality

Yukiko and her childhood friend, Eri Kisaki.

Despite her adult age, Yukiko still behaves like a teenager. She is bubbly, overconfident and attention-seeking, and prefers to stand in the lime-light (literally) whenever possible. She can be prone to jealousy over Yusaku's occasionally flirtatious behavior, and can demonstrate impulsive tendencies. She is an extremely reckless driver and very sensitive about her age: whenever her son dares to call her "oba-san" in Japanese (in English, the closest equivalent would be "aunt" or "old lady"), she sets up such a furious face that Conan must quickly correct himself by calling her "onee-san" ("older sister" or "young girl"). She is also likes to stay trendy and dresses more youthfully.

Yukiko showing her displeasure at being called "obasan".

However, despite her faults, Yukiko is extremely loyal and cares for both her husband and her son (though a heavy streak of mischief causes her to often tease Shinichi). Her loyalty extends to her friends, as she thinks nothing of flying across the Pacific to help a friend from elementary school.[12] Even though she is retired, she takes pride in being an successful actress, to which, she is also willing to pressure Shinichi to practice his role, so he won't embarrass her reputation.[13]

Appearance

Yukiko is a fairly tall and fair-skinned woman. She has bright-blue eyes long wavy light-brown hair that curls at the ends with shorter bangs that part to the left to frame her forehead. She is slender yet curvaceous and well-endowed in built, she is considered very beautiful and admired by most men. She has been well-known for her stunning beauty since high school, where she was only ever rivaled by in looks by Eri Mouri. A woman who doesn't accept aging gracefully, she will commonly dressed in attire more commonly seen by women in their twenties.

Abilities

Intelligence

While not nearly on the same level as her husband or son, Yukiko has commonly shown herself to be a very insightful and methodical person, able to notice details that most would miss. She is also likewise very knowledge about the distinct differences of various cultures, including how things are refered to and how their gestures work. A very composed and creative person, she excels in making up lies on the spot with well-thought out backstories, able to constantly adapt to situations to continue the deception and likewise remember her deceptions for later usage. Very persuasive, she as a talent for reading a person's nature and adapting her nature to make them more compliment.

Disguise

Sharon Vineyard with Yukiko while under Toichi's tutelage

Yukiko is an exceptional actress, having earned world-wide fame and various prestigious awards when only a teenager. Showing her talent since high school for it, Yukiko has an uncanny ability to perfectly adapt herself to what ever character she chooses. She can effortlessly change her mannerisms and speech-patterns, as well as accent and dialect, to suit the situation. Expanding upon this and learned from Toichi Kuroba, she became a master of disguise. Much like her former friend, Vermouth, with only minimum preparation required, she can perfectly change her appearance or that of others to perfectly look like virtually anyone. Her performance is able to easily fool even close friends and family. At the same time, her skill in disguise is limited vocally, as she is unable to mimic male voices. As such, she normally takes on personas of non-existent people or simple cover-ups to conceal her identity, which her son usually is able to see through.

Other Skills

Yukiko is an accomplished driver, able to perform daring stunts behind the wheel. She is also a highly skilled cook.

Plot overview

Conan Edogawa Kidnapping Case (Manga: 049-050-051, Anime: 043)

Yukiko first appearance was disguised as Fumiyo (Fanny in the Funimation Dub) Edogawa, a woman claiming to be Conan's mom. She and Yusaku pulled a con upon their son to convince him that his hunt for the organization is too dangerous and tried to convince him to come with them abroad. But Conan refuses, and they agree to let him deal with this case. Yukiko (as Fumiyo) brings Conan back to the Mouris and give Kogoro a bank book with money to care for Conan with.

The Cornered Famous Detective! Two Big Murder Cases (Manga: 131-138, Anime: 096)

After having a quarrel with her husband, Yukiko secretly returned to Japan. She then meets Ran and Conan in front of her house. She successfully covered for Conan who Ran suspected at that time. In the Manga she gives the explanation that Conan is "the nephew of the grandfather of the cousin of the daughter of the brother of my uncle," which produces a long and complicated family tree showing that conan is in fact her son.

Desperate Revival: Shinichi's Return and The Promised Place (Manga: 258-260, Anime: 192-193)

The North Star No.3 Express (Manga: 215-218, Anime: 144-145)

Shinichi Kudo's New York Case (Manga: 350 and 351-354, Anime: 286-288)

The Similar Princesses (Manga: 413 and 414-416, Anime: 333-334)

Secret of the Tohto Film Development Studio (Manga: 417-419, Anime: 335-336)

Halloween Party Case (Manga: 429-434; Anime: 345)

Heiji Hattori vs. Shinichi Kudo: Deduction Battle on the Ski Slopes (Manga: 518-521 and 522, Anime: 490)

Shinichi's Childhood Adventure (Manga: 570-573, Anime: 472-473)

Holmes' Revelation (Manga: 743-751, Anime: 616-621)

Knowing that Conan(Kudo Shinichi) is going to take the antidote for apotoxin 4869 that is intended for his return trip, Yukiko Kudo and Yusaku Kudo were asked by Haibara to go to London and bring a spare antidote.

Bell Train arc (Manga: 818-824, Anime: 701-704)

Yukiko turns out to be the lady who had been visiting Subaru Okiya at the Kudo house. On the Bell Tree express, with Conan and Subaru's help, she foiled Bourbon and Vermouth's plans to capture and kill Shiho Miyano respectively while also tricking the Black Organization (except for Vermouth) into thinking Sherry died. Her part of the plan involved removing Haibara from danger when she tried to run away, and then challenging Vermouth in order to draw her attention. Yukiko then kept Vermouth occupied, so that she was unaware that she was being tricked until it was too late. At the same time, Yukiko also extracted a promise from Vermouth that she would truly give up on trying to kill Sherry.

The Scarlet Return (Manga: 891-898, Anime: 779-783)

Yukiko helping Shuichi disguising as Subaru.

Yukiko disguised as Yusaku to attend Macademy Awards. After finishing the job, she returned home to meet Shuichi Akai and disguise him as Subaru Okiya once more. Shuichi had learned to how to apply the disguise himself satisfactorily, which makes Yukiko a little disappointed since she has no reason to meet Shuichi anymore. Conan becomes annoyed that Yukiko liked seeing Shuichi a little too much. Yukiko nearly outed Conan's secret identity as Shinichi in front of the three FBI agents.

Ran GIRL/Shinichi BOY (Manga: 921-924, Anime: 853-854)

Crimson School Trip Case (Manga: 1005, Anime: 927-928)

The Missing Maria Higashio Case (Manga: 1008, Anime: 942)

Yukiko and Yusaku have returned to Japan and reveal to Conan that they convinced the blog owner to retract her claim in exchange for their autographs. They decide to remain in the country for the foreseeable future, in light of Yusaku's interpretation of Koji Haneda's dying message, which leads them and Conan to believe that Renya Karasuma is connected to the organization.

Black Bunny Club Murder Case (Manga: 1012, Anime: 954)

Yusaku and Yukiko interrupted Amuro's confrontation with Akai for infiltrating the Kudo house. They invite him to have a tea.

Shogi Player Serial Murder Case (Manga: 1045, Anime: 1034)

Yusaku Kudo's TV Show Case (Manga: 1058-1060, Anime: 1071-1072)

Yusaku decide to solve a serial murder case in a TV show but both Yusaku and Yukiko got food poisoning before the TV shoot. Later on, Kaitou Kid appears as Yusaku to return a favor for him of clearing his crime and cooperate with Conan to join the TV shoot. After the case, Conan realizes that the fake Yusaku is not Kid, but rather Vermouth to investigate Yusaku. However, Yusaku and Yukiko pretended to have food poisoning, as they saw through the Black Organization attempt to take them out. They plan with the FBI and pretended to get the symptoms of food poisoning to fool the Black Organization. Yusaku and Shuichi mention the only things left is to prepare the Black Organization's big move.

FBI Serial Murder Case (Manga: 1061-1066, Anime: 1077-1079)

Non-canon plot overview

Home of Beika's Grenier (Anime: 418)

Plot exposition

List of disguises used

Appellations

Relationships analysis

Family

Yusaku Kudo

Not much is known about Yusaku and Yukiko's backstory before they get married. The most notable scene was from 20 years ago, when Yusaku and Yukiko met in a high end restaurant. Yusaku observed a murder crime, quickly solved it and suddenly proposed to a startled Yukiko, which she accepted. Yukiko can be really angry with Yusaku if he has flirtatious behavior, but they truly love each other.

Conan Edogawa / Shinichi Kudo

Shinichi is her son. When Shinichi was shrunk into Conan, Yukiko staged a fake kidnapping scheme with Yusaku and Professor Agasa to make Shinichi realize the danger of the organization he was trying to investigate. As a mother, she truly cares for his wellbeing (sometimes too much, much to Conan's annoyance) and assisted him when it comes to cases. Nevertheless, their relationship is quite dynamic: Yukiko enjoys teasing Shinichi/Conan; in addition, she sometimes disguises to fool him. In return, Conan often makes sarcastic remarks about Yukiko being old (obasa-san) and retired for many years, which earned him death glares and even physical blows from Yukiko.

Friends

Eri Kisaki

20 years ago from the current timeline, she and Eri were rivals in Miss Teitan, a beauty contest that shook the country. Yukiko had a charming beauty that attracted men, while Eri had a more bookish look, relying her advantage on academic talents. The vote was split at 20000 votes for each before the competition was canceled, with Mouri Kogoro having the last uncounted ticket.

In later years, despite their previous intense competition, the two are actually in good terms with each other, supporting the other party emotionally. On relationships of their children, Shinichi and Ran, Yukiko shows her full support, at one point even calls Ran her future daughter in law; however, Eri is more reluctant. Eri doesn't like Yukiko's hand off approach with Shinichi and constantly reminds Ran to be beware of Shinichi, remarking on her rocky marriage as reference. After leaving Kogoro Eri hasn’t seen her friend Yukiko for 10 years up until the Eri vs. Yukiko Murder Case and after the case they went out to eat but it’s unknown if they kept in contact with each other now.

Ran Mouri

Yukiko treats Ran like her own daughter in law, and often teases her about her romantic relationship with Shinichi. She is also able to read through her thoughts; in episode 96, when Ran suspected that Conan is Shinichi. Despite that Yukiko covered for Conan telling Ran that Conan is a smart kid who learnt deductive skills from Shinichi, Yukiko found the last smile that Ran made was a bit weird, realising that the girl wasn't convinced about Yukiko's answer; which turned out to be true in the Desperate Revival arc.

Shuichi Akai

Yukiko helped Shuichi Akai go into hiding after he faked his death. She taught him how to disguise himself and cooking. While faithful to and in love with her husband, she has openly commented on finding Shuichi very handsome, to which she likes visiting him every week.

Hiroshi Agasa

One of Yukiko Kudo's Friend. In the past few years, the Kudo Family grew closer with their neighbor, Professor Hiroshi, who is making fancy gadgets and inventions. After Shinichi shrunk into Conan, Yukiko entrusted him the task of looking after her son for the meantime while they work overseas.

Kogoro Mouri

One of Yukiko Kudo's Friend. In High School, Yukiko and her childhood friend Eri Kisaki were involved in a "Miss Teitan High School" Pageant where the winner gets determined by the number of their votes. However, due to the carelessness of Kogoro, he had forgotten to vote thus tying the two contestants. It was later discovered that due to his clumsiness, Kogoro thought that the "Miss" meant "Mistake" and was going to vote for Eri as a result of that misconception, much to Eri's anger later on. When Ran questioned his father about the individual he would vote for, Kogoro, despite knowing the true nature of the pageant, still voted for Yukiko and complimented her as "pretty", making Eri and Ran upset and angry.

Character popularity

  • eBookJapan held a character popularity poll from April 12, 2011 to May 12, 2011 in which readers of Detective Conan (international included) could vote for their favorite character. Yukiko placed 17th in the poll with 37 votes out of the 5,883 that were cast.[24]
  • In honor of the release of the 800th manga chapter, Shonen Sunday held a popularity poll/contest containing 91 Detective Conan characters to choose from. Yukiko placed 20th overall with 34 votes.[25]

Name origin

The name Yukiko Fujimine (藤峰) name comes from Lupin III character Fujiko Mine and actress "Yukiko" Nikaido (the original voice of Fujiko). Her alias, "Fumiyo" (文代), comes from Fumiyo Akechi, wife of Rampo Edogawa's Kogoro Akechi.

Different looks

Episode 96
Episode 418
Episode 621
Episode 1077
Magic Kaito 1412 (episode 11).

Quotes

Hey, you may be looking at my future daughter-in-law.

— Referring to Ran, Episode 286

There's only two reasons for a girl to look at a boy like that: he has something on his face or she likes him.

— Talking to Conan about Haibara, Episode 335

Trivia

  • Aoyama has stated in Super Digest Book 10+ that Yusaku and Yukiko met because Yukiko had been chosen to play the main character of a drama based on one of Yusaku's books.
  • In Episode 286, it is revealed that Yukiko has (or had) a California Driver's License. Her ID is 471108628. This would seem to be inconsistent with the actual ID number system used by the State of California in issuing driver's licenses, in which only eight digits are used.
  • Yukiko's voice actress also starred a role as wife alongside Hideyuki Tanaka in Rumiko Takahashi's work as Kyoko Otonashi in Maison Ikkoku.
  • According to Love Conan Interview Yukiko was modelled after Fujiko Mine, and Gosho borrowed her hair style.

In other languages

Language Given Name Family Name
Flag of Japan Japanese 有希子 Yukiko 工藤 Kudō
Flag of Arab League Arabic يوكيكو Yūkīko كودو Kōdo
Flag of Indonesia Bahasa Indonesia Yukiko Kudo
Flag of Catalonia Catalan Yukiko Kudo
Flag of China Chinese (Simplified) 有希子 Yǒuxīzǐ 工藤 Gōngténg
Flag of US English Vivian Kudo
Flag of Finland Finnish Yukiko Kudo
Flag of France French Yukiko Kudo
Flag of Germany German Yukiko Kudo
Flag of Italy Italian Yukiko Kudo
Flag of North KoreaFlag of South Korea Korean 하연 Ha Yeon Lee
Flag of Russia Russian Юкико Yukiko Кудо Kudo
Flag of Thailand Thai ยูกิโกะ Yū-ki-koa คุโด้ Khu-dô
Flag of Vietnam Vietnamese Yukiko Kudo

Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b Conan Drill page 58
  2. ^ Manga Chapter 733: Kaitou Kid and Ryoma's Gunbelt
  3. ^ Manga Chapter 414: Mama's Rival!?
  4. ^ Manga Chapter 260: The Memorable Place
  5. ^ Manga Chapter 342: Golden Apple 2
  6. ^ Manga Chapter 341: Golden Apple 1
  7. ^ Manga Chapter 433: The Truth Behind The Mask
  8. ^ Manga Chapter 818-824: Mystery Train
  9. ^ Manga Chapter 342: Golden Apple 2
  10. ^ Crimson School Trip Case
  11. ^ Suspicious Uncle Case
  12. ^ Aoyama, Gosho (1997-03-18). "File 4" (in Japanese). Detective Conan. 14. Tokyo: Shogakukan. ISBN 4-09-125044-0. 
  13. ^ Episode 896
  14. ^ a b Volume 14, File 8
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Volume 14, File 4
  16. ^ a b Volume 14, File 7
  17. ^ Volume 78, File 5
  18. ^ a b Volume 78, File 6
  19. ^ Secret of the Tohto Film Development Studio
  20. ^ Episode 621
  21. ^ a b File 898 (Volume 85)
  22. ^ File:Postcard2016 18.jpg (Yukiko calls him "Shu-chan")
  23. ^ a b Volume 14, File 6
  24. ^ "『名探偵コナン』 人気投票結果". eBookJapan. 2011-05-12. http://www.ebookjapan.jp/ebj/special/conan/vote_kekka2.asp. Retrieved on 2011-05-15. 
  25. ^ "Shonen magazine detective conan official poll results published [magazine pic"]. eva. 2012-02-28. http://forum.dctp.ws/index.php?topic=8024.msg651566#msg651566. Retrieved on 2012-02-29. 

See also

Main Characters
Protagonists Shinichi KudoConan EdogawaRan MouriKogoro Mouri
Detective Boys Ai HaibaraAyumi YoshidaMitsuhiko TsuburayaGenta Kojima
Family & Friends Hiroshi AgasaSonoko SuzukiEri KisakiYusaku KudoYukiko KudoHeiji HattoriKazuha ToyamaYoko OkinoSumiko KobayashiTomoaki AraideMakoto KyogokuShizuka HattoriJirokichi SuzukiEisuke HondouAzusa EnomotoSubaru OkiyaMasumi SeraShukichi HanedaSakurako YoneharaRumi WakasaMomiji OokaMuga Iori
Tokyo Metropolitan Police District Juzo MegureWataru TakagiMiwako SatoNinzaburo ShiratoriYumi MiyamotoKazunobu ChibaNaeko MiikeKiyonaga MatsumotoInspector YuminagaShintaro ChakiHyoue KurodaKenji HagiwaraJinpei MatsudaWataru Date
Osaka Police District Heizo HattoriGinshiro ToyamaGoro Otaki
Nagano Police District Kansuke YamatoYui UeharaTaka'aki Morofushi
Other police districts Sango YokomizoMisao YamamuraJugo YokomizoFumimaro Ayanokoji
NPA and Public Security Bureau Rei Furuya (Bourbon)Hiromitsu MorofushiYuya Kazami
FBI Shuichi AkaiJodie StarlingJames BlackAndre Camel
CIA Hidemi Hondou (Kir)Ethan Hondou
MI6 Mary SeraTsutomu Akai
Black Organization The BossRumGinVodkaVermouthChiantiKornShiho MiyanoAkemi MiyanoElena MiyanoAtsushi MiyanoTequilaPiscoCalvadosRikumichi KusudaKi'ichiro Numabuchi
Magic Kaito Kaito KurobaKaitou KidAoko NakamoriGinzo NakamoriToichi KurobaChikage KurobaKonosuke JiiKeiko MomoiAkako KoizumiSaguru HakubaSnakeRose (OVA only) • Saguru's HousekeeperSpider (TV special only)
Others "The Criminal"Hideo AkagiRyusuke HigoTakahiro SanadaScar AkaiKohji HanedaKamen YaibaAmanda Hughes