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Miyafuji Yoshika (宮藤芳佳) is the main protagonist of the Strike Witches anime series. She is a witch of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing whose role within the unit is a combat medic, originating from Fuso, and affiliated to the Fuso Imperial Navy. She is the daughter of Miyafuji Ichiro and Miyafuji Sayaka, and the granddaughter of Akimoto Yoshiko. She is sometimes referred to by the nicknames such as "Little child" (ちびっ子, Chibikko) and "Rug rat" (豆藤, Mamefuji).

Background

The only daughter of Dr. Miyafuji, a researcher renowned as the "Father of Striker Units". Her mother Sayaka and grandmother Yoshiko retain a high magic power even after exceeding their 20s, which makes them an extremely uncommon family lineage. Her grandmother had served in the military and treated hundreds of people, and was even able to treat a critically ill patient in an instant. Yamakawa Michiko does not have a single drop of magic power, but she is Yoshika's closest friend, and the two have been classmates since childhood.

Raised in a mountain village, Yoshika was mostly ignorant about the world's affairs. For the future, she just decided to inherit the clinic run by her grandmother without thinking about other alternatives at all. She hates when people get hurt and has strong feelings of wanting to protect others. The thought of inheriting the clinic also originates from this. As a country-bred, she was somewhat incapable of settling down when going to the city. Yoshika had limited knowledge about Witches and actually could not understand the admiration that other girls have towards them as well. This also stems in part from the fact that she never saw the propaganda film "Flash of the Fuso Sea", which caused many Fuso girls to admire the Witches.

Before enlisting in the 501st JFW, she was a second-year student at the Yokosuka 4th Girls-only Middle School, where her grades were average among the students. After the disband of the 501st JFW due to the liberation of Gallia, she resumed her studies and graduated from middle school.

She was personally scouted by Squadron Leader Sakamoto, who had temporarily returned to Fuso for the sake of supplies. At first, Yoshika did not hide her negative feelings towards Sakamoto for being a soldier, nor did she have any intentions of joining the military. But upon receiving a letter from her father, who she had heard was dead, she went to the Yokosuka Naval District in order to ascertain the truth. Little by little, she would end up embarking on the aircraft carrier Akagi that was going towards Europe. Incidentally, she didn't know anything about her father's work until being told by Sakamoto.

Despite her meager knowledge of magic and having no flight training, Yoshika successfully made her maiden flight during actual combat.

She has been helping with housework since she was on the aircraft carrier Akagi for the first time, and even after joining the 501st, she seems to have been helping if she was available at the time of boarding. Due to the friendliness and protection of Akagi, she was very popular with soldiers of the Fuso Imperial Navy, and she even received a love letter at one occasion.

The type whose body moves faster than the mind, she often acts without thinking of the consequences, especially in order to help others. Yoshika's desire to help others is strong, and she tries her best to be of use to those around her, but there are many occasions in which she is unable to read the feelings of others, mostly due to a wrong idea or wrong impression of them. Her mindset remained that of a civilian, often deviating from the chain of command as she acted in what she thought was the right way. Under the impression that it might be possible to reconcile with the Neuroi, she attempted to communicate with a human-type Neuroi, resulting in Major Sakamoto being shot down and being gravely injured. Due to her stubborn personality, she decided to escape from her confinement to quarters and deserted to once again attempt communication with the Neuroi. This caused the interference of Air Chief Marshal Maloney's party and began the crisis where the 501st JFW risked being dissolved. While often disregarding orders or her own safety, her intuition is usually correct, as her desertion and involvement of Marshal Maloney did lead to the eventual discovery of Maloney's redirection of the 501st's budget, and the destruction of the Warlock project.

She destroyed the large core of the Neuroi Nest that fused with the aircraft carrier "Akagi" thanks to the cleverness of running her own Striker Unit into it.

After the disbanding of the 501st JFW, Yoshika returned home, where she was seemingly treated as part of the military reserve force. However, although she herself was unaware of the truth, Yoshika had actually been dishonorably discharged after her meritorious war service was weighted against the series of military laws violations caused by contacting the Neuroi. Even after her retirement, she continued to supply the Yokosuka Base with things such as home-made pastries and became popular with the maintenance crew because of that. She didn't aspire to be a soldier, she aimed to become a doctor, so she didn't really care about her military retirement. Nevertheless, she was very concerned about the friends she made in Europe, and gathered information from there.

In spite of the half year gap since retiring from the military, she piloted a Striker Unit and caught up with a Large-sized Type-2 that took flight from the Yokosuka Base.

At one point, the currently existing Type 0 Striker became incapable of bearing her magic power, which caused it to automatically engage its limiter and go in disorder. Later, she almost perfectly mastered the Shinden - a prototype of a new model of Striker Unit whose test-flight was not even done - in its maiden flight. Then, out of anger from her friend, Lynne, being hurt, she freely used a multi-shield not shown even in training to invade the interior of a super-large Neuroi, easily destroying it single-handedly.

In the decisive battle against the Neuroi's nest that appeared in Romagna, Squadron Leader Sakamoto ended up being absorbed by a giant Neuroi's core. In order to save her, Yoshika used Sakamoto's Reppumaru to invoke a Reppuzan that had her entire magic power poured into it. As a consequence, Yoshika lost all her magic power, but she herself said that such loss didn't matter if it was for the sake of saving someone important to her.

After returning to Japan in 1945, she decided to study in a prestigious medical school in Helvetia and traveled to Europe again.. Sergeant Hattori, a Fuso rookie, was assigned to protect and guide her. After the Akagi boarded in Gallia, they visited Flying Officer Clostermann, Lynne, and Sergeant Planchard at Perrine's castle. During the trip, they were attacked by a large-type underground Neuroi. Yoshika attempted to combat the Neuroi on her own, despite no longer having any apparent magic, but ultimately was knocked out. By some miracle, Yoshika would soon regain her magic power once again; described as being the result of the voices of her companions from the 501st reaching out to her, heard through her transceiver. After being supplied a Striker Unit from Sakamoto, she fought the Neuroi alongside the rest of the 501st that hurried to Gallia to save her. Afterward, Minna announced that the 501st JFW would be reformed once again.

At the start of Road to Berlin, plans had now been put in place for the 501st JFW to reform and return to action. Meanwhile, Yoshika decided to resume her studying in Helvetia - as originally intended - while waiting for the official reforming process to finish. Throughout most of the events of the 3rd season, Yoshika would continue to have difficulties with using magic. But after witnessing the "death" of Shizuka during the final battle for Berlin, her feelings of helplessness and intense emotional agony caused her power to increase more than ever before, which then allowed Yoshika to fully heal her friend's mortal wounds. She then drew the attention of most of the Neuroi, allowing the combined efforts of the 501st to lure out the core and destroy the Neuroi's control over Berlin once and for all.

Personality

Her personality is pure, straightforward, earnest and always energetic, but also surprisingly stubborn. With a strong sense of duty and thoughtful of her friends, she works vigorously towards her aims without giving up and always facing forward, possessing a brashness of spirit strong in crucial moments. Due to her nature of not being timid or fearful of strangers, Yoshika has friendly relations with everyone in the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, without exceptions, in spite of being the last member to join in. Particularly, she displays an excellent combination with her close friend Lynette, and with Perrine, who she had many opportunities to work together with.

She has a physiological revulsion towards wars and guns that injure people, and losing the father that she loved only encouraged her hatred against war. However, that dislike is based not on knowledge but on emotions and, in the bottom of her heart, she thinks that fighting for the sake of the promise she made with her father ("Using that power for the sake of protecting many") is unavoidable.

After her enlistment in the 501st JFW, Yoshika developed a flat-chested complex. She does not actively make a move, but does brings her face and hands near towards the breasts of others with quite natural movements or sends an intense gaze to their chest areas. Whenever doing joint training or collapsing after a mission with Flight Sergeant Bishop, she always brings her face or hands near the other's breasts. In occasions like during the aquatic training, bathing and Flight Lieutenant Barkhorn started up the Jet Striker, she naturally gazed intently at someone's chest area. A smile of pure bliss surfaced when she got a hold of Flight Lieutenant Yeager's breasts, burying her face on them when she collapsed after a collision. Also, her eyes unconsciously sparkled when Flight Lieutenant Yeager and Flight Lieutenant Marseille disputed over the size of their breasts. Due to not watching where she was going, she ended up grabbing Squadron Leader Sakamoto's breasts in a straightforward manner. Later, upon meeting Sakamoto in the bath, she ended up suffering from dizziness caused by a prolonged hot bath after thinking too much about the same breasts. Yoshika has been known to sleep beside Flight Sergeant Bishop from time to time, and often places her hand (or head) on her breasts whilst sleeping.

Maybe because she has no immunity to celebrities as someone comparatively more inexperienced than others, Yoshika has a tendency to desire autographs in a lowbrow-manner. During a re-supply stop at Los Angeles, she took a picture and got an autograph from Elizabeth Taylor, a well-known child actress at the time who would later become a great actress, without really knowing who she was - for no better reason than the fact that people formed a crowd. She also desired an autograph from Hanna-Justina_Marseille upon learning that she was a world-famous Witch, despite not knowing anything about her until she visited their base.

A small glutton, Yoshika is well versed in housework - especially cooking. Though only capable of preparing Fuso cuisine, she has a fixation with nattou to the point of making it herself. She actually dislikes Britannian cuisine.

Abilities

Yoshika's inherent magic is Healing Ability (治癒能力, Chiyu Nōryoku). Classified as a variety of the telekinesis-lineage, it puts a living thing back to how it was by means of magic and is effective not only against external wounds but also diseases. At first, she became fatigued upon treating a single person, so consecutive use was difficult. However, she underwent a huge growth through practice and actual combat, to the point of being capable of fighting without problems even after continuously applying treatment to over 10 people.

One of her remarkable abilities is the strength and size of her shield, and it can be used for both attack and defense. Another ability of note is a multi-shield that raises the power of the magic shield, the generation of a gigantic shield and the capacity to use them properly for offense and defense. Her latent magic power and growth width are by far the greatest.

By granting her own magic power, Yoshika can increase the magic power of a targeted Witch, drastically increasing both her inherent magic and physical abilities.[2]

Yoshika had once invoked True Reppuzan, a type of telekinesis magic attack consisting in releasing a magic blow by pouring magic into a sword.

She seems to have a good sense of combat, such as firing at enemies in irregular manoeuvres or mimicking Sakamoto's special technique, the left twist (左捻り込み, Hidari hineri-komi), just by having seen it. She also used the rolling scissors (ロール旋風, Rōru senpū, lit. "Roll whirlwind") against the Warlock without training.

She also has confidence in her health and boasts never having catch a cold before.

Striker units

Miyabishi Type 0 Carrier-based Fighter Legs Model 22 (No. V-139)
Type 0 Model 22 Miyafuji SW1
A spare striker unit for Squadron Leader Sakamoto that was loaded on the Akagi, it was later used Miyafuji by Yoshika as a dedicated machine.
Miyabishi Type 0 Carrier-based Fighter Legs Model 22 Kou (No. V-128)
Type 0 Model 22 Miyafuji SW2
Yoshika's Type 0 (V-139) striker, used in 1944, was destroyed in the last battle of the first season. When she returned to the military, she used Mio's old Type 0 (V-128) unit that had been replaced by a Shiden.
Tsukushi Shinden
Yoshika's Shinden is a prototype that was completed based on the engine design drawings left by Dr. Miyafuji, which can withstand Yoshika's enormous magical power.

Equipment

Yoshika uses a Type 99-2 Model 2 Kai heavy machine gun in combat. Some works also display her using a Mauser M712 Schnellfeuer as a sidearm. She was also issued a Walther PPK upon joining the 501st, however she immediately returned it, stating a dislike for firearms. In the last episode of the second season, Yoshika used Mio's Reppumaru to perform the Reppuzan. In the movie, Yoshika borrowed Barkhorn's MG42 general-purpose machine gun to fight againts a Neuroi mothership and its drones. During the last wave of Operation Southwind, when her magic powers were temporarily vanished, Yoshika picked an MP40 submachine gun from a wounded soldier and used it to shoot at Neuroi.

Yoshika's Comments On Other Characters

Chara05 1 On Minna

"Wing Commander Minna? Yes, she's a fantastic person! She's always smiling... and she feels like a very mature woman. I wish I could be more like her. She somewhat reminds me of a mother."

7e76a6de6c77f06f0411243096a766fc On Lynne

Other members of the unit? Lynne was the first friend I made after coming here to Britannia. She showed me around in the base and was very kind! That made me happy... And... that big bosom.... wah! Nothing! It's nothing!"

E14538eb81bf8236ee742a8aa76241ac On Sakamoto

"Sakamoto-san? She's kind, but can be pretty strict sometimes. She told me about the work my father had done, and I'm very grateful for that. Although it surprised me when we met for the first time and she told me that “I would come to her sooner or later”!"

Chara07 1 On Perrine

"Perrine? Yes, it feels like she's always mad at me. I wonder why...? I know I make a lot of mistakes all the time, but I still don't think she has to be that hard on me... Sakamoto-san told me being strict on someone is a way to show you have hopes for them, but I wonder..."

35e6a0bfafdefcbb99c934cfba34f23e On Lucchini

"Lucchini always eats the things I cook with a smile on her face. Things like that makes me happy! But it feels like she's always sleeping in some odd place... is that really okay?"

C1be48c1f27bce67edbf28f2a92a719c On Shirley

"Shirley is a really kind person! She seems kind of slack, but I think she actually really looks after everyone. She's bighearted and broad-minded... What? I'm not talking about her breasts! But... well... they sure did feel nice..."

Chara06 1 On Barkhorn

"It feels like Barkhorn is always mad at me too. But well, compared to her, I'm still just an inexperienced little duckling, so I guess it's only natural."

Chara04 1 On Erica

"I don't really understand Hartmann. Everyone says she's an excellent witch, and she is amazing even in small-scaled battles, but in her everyday life she is... how should I put it... umm... sloppy?"

Chara11 1 On Sanya

"Sanya is a really kind girl! She's a little shy and quiet, but she's good at singing, and I think it's really great how she always does her best for all of us during the nights!"

Chara10 1 On Eila

"Eila is quite mysterious. But at least I've come to understand that she cares a lot about Sanya. Seems like she almost never has used her protective shield during battles since she can predict the enemy's attacks. According to herself, she does it without thinking, “by intuition”, but... Isn't it amazing?"

Strike Witches "What If" — 1947

1947 Yoshika With Striker and Ether Projection Cannon

Seen here is Yoshika in jet strikers powered by 4 engines, equipped with an Ether Projection Cannon.

"Super Miyafuji-san. Her magic is too much for just two engines, so here she has 4. I had a dream where she was the strongest witch who was able to use weapons that turned her magic directly into beams of light..."[3]

This shouldn't be considered entirely canonical, because it was only tweeted by Humikane. In addition, two alternate versions of 1947 Yoshika, tweeted by Humikane, can be found within the gallery below as well.

Appearances

Anime

Audio Media

Light Novels

Manga

Video Games

Trivia

  • Yoshika is based on Japanese flying ace Muto Kaneyoshi, who was called by his fellow pilot, Sakai Saburou, a genius in the air.
    • Althought Yoshika and Mio's relationship is between a student and a teacher, but the relationship of their archetypes, Kaneyoshi and Saburou, was possibly between friends, close friends, or colleagues.
  • Yoshika's familiar is a Mameshiba (a sub-species of Shiba Inu) called Kuji Kanesada.
  • While Miyafuji is a Surgeon Pilot Officer (軍医少尉, Gun'i shōi) in the Fuso Navy, she holds the rank of Flight Sergeant within the 501st.

Gallery

References

  1. Strike Witches Official Fanbook Complete File, page 35
  2. DS game (Iyasu, Naosu, Puni-Puni suru)
  3. Twitter / Humikane
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