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Chizuru Yoshida

Chizuru Yoshida (吉田 千鶴, Yoshida Chizuru) is a key character in Kimi ni Todoke.

She attended Kitahoro High School, where she studied alongside her childhood friend, neighbor, and later fiancé, Ryu Sanada. Chizuru is also close friends with Sawako Kuronuma and Ayane Yano. Her friends affectionately call her “Chizu.” While she is part of Kitahoro’s basic school program, Chizuru stands out as the tallest and most athletic of the main heroines. In middle school, she earned an impressive reputation, having won 99 matches in wrestling against boys.

Although not particularly interested in traditional femininity, Chizuru enjoys wearing miniskirts and sports shorts to highlight her legs. Her tomboyish style has led many to mistakenly think she was a former Yankee, a stereotype she has dealt with since childhood.

If someone cares that much about you, you should be grateful. People like that don’t come around too often.
— Chizuru Yoshida

Appearance

Chizuru is a high school student with shoulder-length brown hair and dark brown eyes, often sporting a bright and cheerful smile. She is the tallest among her female friends, with a lean build and a more understated figure. Chizuru is typically seen in her school uniform, which consists of a white button-up shirt paired with a yellow vest, a blue skirt, and black knee socks. Outside of school, she favors casual attire, often wearing a red and white long-sleeved shirt with denim jeans, showcasing her laid-back yet stylish nature.


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Personality

Chizuru is known for her fearless and hot-blooded personality, characterized by her strong sense of duty and justice. Unlike her friends Sawako and Ayane, she’s loud, brash, and talkative, never hesitating to speak her mind. Always cheerful and full of energy, Chizuru has a remarkable amount of fortitude, allowing her to face adversity head-on without hesitation.

Though her tough exterior often intimidates others, Chizuru also has a surprising sentimental side. She’s quick to cry—whether from fear, frustration, anger, humiliation, or sometimes even in comical situations. Academically, Chizuru isn’t the brigh student, and a running gag in the series is that she often finds herself attending school during breaks to catch up on missed assignments. She can also be oblivious to her surroundings, at times unaware of the feelings of those around her.

Chizuru has a deep love for ramen, a fact she openly admitted when she listed it as a career interest in her school questionnaire. Her friends even joke that she must have been ramen in a past life. Her favorite ramen shop,Tetsuryuken, is run by her childhood friend and neighbor, Ryu Sanada’s father, and she eventually takes a job there, further cementing her passion for the dish.

Relationships

Ryu Sanada
Ryu is Chizuru’s childhood friend, next-door neighbor, and later fiancé. They’ve been inseparable since they were toddlers, with their relationship initially resembling that of siblings. Their bond was ed after Ryu’s mother passed away in a car accident, leading to a period of depression for him. Chizuru, unable to understand his silence, showed her care by leaving his favorite food, Onigiri, at his door. This simple act brought Ryu to tears and marked the beginning of their deeper emotional connection.

Over time, Chizuru promised Ryu that she would always be by his side, but their relationship shifted when Ryu confessed his romantic feelings for her at age 16. Although initially caught off guard, Chizuru eventually realized that she had feelings for Ryu too. Despite struggles with their evolving relationship and Chizuru’s past feelings for Ryu’s older brother, Toru, they eventually began dating. Chizuru supports Ryu in his baseball aspirations, and they agree to maintain a long-distance relationship when Ryu goes to university. Chizuru works at his father’s ramen shop, confident that they will start a family and continue the business together in the future.

Ayane Yano
Chizuru and Ayane initially had a rocky relationship due to their rivalry in middle school, but things changed after Chizuru defended Ayane from some boys. Their friendship blossomed when they challenged each other in P.E. class. Though they still have minor quirks that cause friction, like Ayane’s obsession with her weight and Chizuru’s aversion to ghost stories, they have come to respect each other deeply. They are now good friends, often supporting each other, especially in times of personal struggle.

Sawako Kuronuma
Chizuru’s first interactions with Sawako were filled with fear and misunderstandings, but Sawako’s initiative to join the school’s Courage helped break the ice. Despite initial awkwardness and rumors, Chizuru and Ayane gradually became friends with Sawako, realizing her sincerity. Chizuru later confided in Sawako about her feelings for Ryu’s older brother, Toru, and the truth behind her emotional struggles. Sawako was a constant support when Chizuru faced conflicts, including her argument with Ryu. Over time, Sawako’s straightforwardness and their growing bond made Chizuru realize how special her friendships with both Ayane and Sawako were.

Shouta Kazehaya
Chizuru and Shouta were classmates in middle school, but their relationship started off on the wrong foot due to Chizuru’s attempts to set Shouta up with other girls. However, Chizuru was aware of Shouta’s feelings for Sawako and became a mediator between the two. She unintentionally gave Shouta the wrong impression about Sawako’s feelings, which led to some misunderstandings. Nevertheless, their connection remained amicable, especially as Chizuru supported Ryu in his pursuit of Sawako’s friendship.

Toru Sanada
Chizuru has always had a soft spot for Toru, Ryu’s older brother, and even dreamed of marrying him as a child. When Toru revealed that he was getting married, Chizuru pretended to be okay with it but later cried over the realization that she viewed him as an older brother. Toru, however, always saw Chizuru as a little sister, and after admitting this to Ryu, Chizuru came to terms with her feelings. After attending Toru’s wedding as a bridesmaid, she solidified her sibling-like bond with him and his new wife, especially after they had their first child.

Etymology

The name Chizuru is composed of two kanji:

  •  (chi), meaning “thousand,”
  •  (tsuru or zuru), meaning “crane” or “stork.”

In Japanese folklore, there is a legend that anyone who folds one thousand origami cranes within a year will be granted eternal good luck or a single wish. The name Chizuru may be inspired by this belief, symbolizing grace, longevity, and hope.

Her surname, Yoshida (吉田), is also made up of two kanji:

  •  (yoshi), meaning “lucky” or “good,”
  •  (ta or da), meaning “field” or “rice paddy.”

Together, Yoshida could symbolize a prosperous or fortunate field, reflecting stability and good fortune.

Upon marrying Ryu, Chizuru will take the surname Sanada (真田), which consists of:

  •  (ma), meaning “true” or “genuine,”
  •  (ta), meaning “field.”

Trivia

    • Chizuru’s friends often call her “Chizu,” a nickname that reflects their close relationship.
    • Chizuru is the tallest of the four main female characters in Kimi ni Todoke, standing out for both her height and athletic abilities.
    • Chizuru is a big fan of ramen and has even expressed a desire to study it as a career. Her favorite ramen shop is Tetsuryuken, owned by Ryu Sanada’s father.
    • Despite her tomboyish appearance, Chizuru enjoys wearing miniskirts and sports shorts to highlight her legs.
    • As a child, Chizuru dreamed of marrying Ryu’s older brother, Toru, but later realized she viewed him as more of an older brother figure when Toru got married.
    • Chizuru has a fearless, hot-blooded personality and is always ready to speak her mind, with a strong sense of duty and justice.
    • Though tough, Chizuru has an emotional side, often crying out of fear, frustration, or sadness when overwhelmed.
    • Chizuru’s relationship with Ryu Sanada evolved from a sibling-like bond to a romantic one after Ryu confessed his feelings for her when they were 16.
    • Chizuru is not the brigh student, often needing to attend extra classes during breaks to catch up on missed assignments.
    • After Ryu’s mother passed away, Chizuru made a vow to always stay by his side, a promise that deepened their friendship and later led to their romantic relationship.
    • Chizuru’s name, Chizuru (千鶴), means “thousand” (千, chi) and “crane” or “stork” (鶴, tsuru/zuru), symbolizing grace and longevity.
    • Chizuru’s surname Yoshida (吉田) means “lucky field,” while the surname she will take upon marrying Ryu, Sanada (真田), means “true field.”