Yuko Ichihara | |
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xxxHolic and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle character | |
First appearance | xxxHolic chapter 1 |
Created by | Clamp |
Voiced by | Sayaka Ohara (Japanese) Colleen Clinkenbeard (English) |
Portrayed by | Anne Watanabe (drama) Kou Shibasaki (film) |
In-universe information | |
Alias | The Dimension Witch |
Yuko Ichihara (Japanese: 壱原侑子, Hepburn: Ichihara Yūko) is a fictional character in the manga xxxHolic, which was created by the artist group Clamp. Yuko is a witch who owns a shop where people come to have their wishes granted, and most of her jobs involve dealing with supernatural beings. At the beginning of xxxHolic, she meets Kimihiro Watanuki, who becomes her assistant in exchange for removing spirits that follow him. Yuko also appears in the crossover manga Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, where she assists the main characters in their journey across the multiverse, and is known as the "Dimension Witch" (次元魔女, Jigen Majo). She has also appeared in animated versions of the two series, as well as in other media.
When creating Yuko, Clamp wanted to have a character who is aware of the multiple fictional universes they had created in their career. Her personality was inspired by the authors' beautician. Yuko is voiced by Sayaka Ohara in Japanese and Colleen Clinkenbeard in English in the animated adaptions of xxxHolic and Tsubasa. Anne Watanabe portrays her in the xxxHolic mini-series, and Kou Shibasaki played her in the live-action xxxHolic film.
Critics praised Yuko for her personality and role in the series, as well as her connections with Watanuki, while the mystery surrounding her saw mixed response. She has also been popular with xxxHolic and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle readers.