Sumiko Kobayashi

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Revision as of 17:58, 24 May 2011 by 70.230.165.105 (talk) (Relationships analysis)
Sumiko Kobayashi

Sumiko Kobayashi Profile.jpg

Profile
Japanese name: 小林 澄子
(Kobayashi Sumiko)
English name: Liz Faulkner
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Nicknames: Kobayashi-sensei
(formerly) Oni-baba ("old demon hag")
Statistics
First appearance: Manga: Chapter 154
Anime: Episode 112
Appearances: Chapters: 62
Chapters: 1
Episodes: 42
Movies: 1
OVAs: 3
Openings: 6
Movies:1
Keyhole number: Volume 50
Actors
Japanese voice: Yuko Kato
English voice: Stephanie Young

Sumiko Kobayashi (小林 澄子 Kobayashi Sumiko?), also known as Liz Faulkner in the Funimation dub, is a character in the manga and anime franchise Detective Conan. She is the homeroom teacher of Conan Edogawa and the girlfriend of Ninzaburo Shiratori. She is also the self-appointed (and somewhat unwelcome) "manager" of the Detective Boys.

Background

Sumiko Kobayashi attended Teitan elementary and was in the 18th graduating class, two classes above Officer Chiba. She became the new class teacher of Conan and the Detective Boys after their previous teacher had married and retired. Her harsh behavior towards her charges had earned her the nickname "oni-baba" (hag) amongst her students.

One night, the Detective Boys came into the school to investigate strange occurrences involving busts from art class and an anatomy model from the sick room, which had been mysteriously moved around, and the mysterious absence of the vice principal. The busts and the model had actually been used by Kobayashi for a rehearsal for the next parent-teacher conference. Kobayashi is in fact very fond of children, but her kindness had caused her to have very little control over her class at her previous school, resulting in a disastrous parent-teacher conference. To fix this, she had forced herself to be strict and harsh when she transferred to Teitan Elementary, but after the Detective Boys discovered her nicer side, she decided to be herself again and has become very popular with her students ever since.[1]

On one occasion, she accompanied Conan and the Detective Boys to an interview which became a murder investigation as they found the reporter slain. After witnessing Conan in action, she announced her desire to join the Detective Boys and become their manager - a decision which was immediately vetoed[2] and is commonly neglected in the field.[3]

As it turned out later, when Kobayashi was still a small child, she had confronted two no-good juveniles attempting to steal mangas from a bookshop. When the culprits contemptuously shoved her aside, a young boy intervened on her behalf, cooly citing a paragraph from Japanese law concerning theft. As a sign of gratitude, Kobayashi bought her rescuer a drink ornamented with a circle of sakura flowers made from the straw wrapper, as a symbol of goodness and justice (referring to the sakura shaped Japanese police badges). It would not be until many years later that she would encounter him again as a member of the police force, under the name of Ninzaburo Shiratori.[4]

Because Shiratori first wanted to win Kobayashi's affection and then tell her about what he viewed as the hand of fate, he kept silent about their first encounter - a scheme that backfired when she found out that she had a dead lookalike in the police department whom Shiratori had once pursued romantically. Thinking that he considered her a mere replacement for Sato, Kobayashi was understandably hurt and started distancing herself from him, even after Shiratori personally confessed their common past to her - a move which came at a bad time, because she had become an unwitting (and the sole) witness to a murder and the murderer would therefore try everything to silence her.[5] When the culprit was apprehended, Kobayashi did indeed remember Shiratori as her childhood savior, and the relationship was reaffirmed.[6]

Personality

Kobayashi is very kind and fond of children, considering them the most wonderful thing in the world. Kobayashi is also quite timid and sensitive. Even though she has appointed herself the manager of the Detective Boys, the kids often leave her out of case or ignore her warnings. She was also quite hurt when she believed Inspector Shiratori was only interested in her because of her resemblance to Miwako Sato - a resemblance so striking it even fooled her close associates Chiba and Yumi.[7][8]

Kobayashi loves mystery novels, particularly the works of Edogawa Rampo. Because of this, Ai Haibara suggests that she and Shiratori would work well together because Kobayashi would enjoy hearing about cases from him.[9]

In contrast of her striking appearance to Sato, they both have almost entirely different personality traits. While Sato is reckless, outspoken, daring, and impulsive somewhat, Kobayashi is more gentle, softspoken, cautious, and careful in any situation given.

Bold text==Relationships analysis== Ninzaburo Shiratori- As a child, Kobayashi instantly became Shiratori's true love, and was the very reason why he entered police force. At the end of a case, that gave some of Shiratori's past, who realized Sato wasn't his true love, and the suspect whom he also thought was his love,he thought he would never find her. However, Ayumi helped by saying the exact same lines that the girl from his past said and makining the same wristband she gave him. Shiratori desperately asked who taught her that, Ayumi simply replied her schoolteacher. Then,at that exact moment, Kobayashi came to pick up the Detective Boys who were involved, when Shiratori layed eyes on her, recognizing Kobayshi as his true "woman of destiny", their relationship began to spark. He would always warn her of any dangers nearby where she worked or lived, which caused Kobayashi to form romantic feelings. In fact, his concern over her, constant visits, and kindly words to her, causes her to blush alot.

When she became a star witness in a murder investigation, she learned of her resemblance to Officer Sato, and after hearing about his former crush on her from other policemen, she thought that the only reason he was so interested in her was because of her striking resemblance to Miwako Sato,and was not only shocked, but hurt, thinking he Shiratori didn't have feelings for her. Not knowing the real reason, Kobayashi began to act coldly and harshly toward him,even when he confessed his true feelings to her, she brushed it off, thinking Shiratori confused her with Officer Sato. However, it was all cleared up by the end of the case, when he not only saved her from the culprit, but also cooly said some of the laws of Tokyo, the same way he did as a child, which finally reminded her of their first meeting, and Shiratori romantically told her she was the woman he loved, shocking her to the extent of blushing, then replied with a fast,"Yes!". Afterwards, the two began dating, becoming an official "boyfriend-girlfriend" couple, and every morning, Kobayasshi gives Shiratori bentos for his "energy" demanding work.

Kobayashi would often make bentos for him, after they became an official couple, every morning, when he went work. On White Day, Shiratori was seen with many chocolate, inside his car for her,this is a major hint that earlier, Kobayashi had given him chocolate , to express her feelings , and now his chocolate was to express he reciprocated his love for her. Then, later on, she was shown with all the delicious sweets,from Shiratori's car, at her house or apartment, estactic while at the same blushing, not knowing where to begin. Since, the sweets were seen at her home or apartment, it's very believable that Shiratori was knows her address, and possibly, even visits there frequently.


Main Article: Ninzaburo Shiratori and Sumiko Kobayshi

Name origin

Kobayashi-sensei is named after a friend of Gosho Aoyama's and a junior detective character created by Edogawa Rampo.

Quotes

Becaue the sakura is the symbol of police officers! Determined, kind, and dignified. It's a flower of justice!

Trivia

- In her first appearance, Kobayashi was seen as a brunette, but now is seen with blue hair.

- Despite huge differences in personalities, Kobayashi and Miwako Sato, have some similarities:

     1.Their boyfriends are policemen.
     2.Strikingly similair facial structures.
     3.Friends with the Detective Boys.
     4.Both are 26 years old.
     5.Have been aquaintanced with Kogoro Mouri in a murder case.
     6.Love interests of Shiratori. However, Kobayashi was his real love.
     7.Have helped solve a case with hints.
     8.Shown at one point, to be furious with their boyfriends, prior to even beginning a 
     relationship. 
     9. Both are fond of children.
     10. Similair haicuts.

- Her first name, Sumiko, means "lovely child", while her surname, Kobayashi, means "small grove ".

See also

References

  1. ^ Manga Chapter 155: Is Someone There?
  2. ^ Manga Chapter 517: The Detective Boys
  3. ^ Manga Chapter 691: Conan vs. The Detective Boys
  4. ^ Manga Chapters 687-689: Sakura Girl Case
  5. ^ Manga Chapters 707: The Sakura Girl is...?
  6. ^ Manga Chapters 708: The Sakura in Full Bloom
  7. ^ Manga Chapter 706: Kobayashi-sensei's Misunderstanding
  8. ^ Manga Chapter 707: The Sakura Girl is...
  9. ^ Manga Chapter 690: The Haunted Warehouse