Noboru Yoshikawa (吉川 のぼる 昇, Yoshikawa Noboru) is a student of Holy Forest Academy belonging to the infamous Class 3-4.
DOB: December 22
Appearance[]
Yoshikawa is somewhat sluggish and weak having no muscle whatsoever. He is a bit short for his actual age which makes him also appear younger than he actually is, this was noted even by Anko's "friend" (Rika Morishita) boyfriend, Mah. Throughout the series Noboru hangs around with a quite untidy bowl cut haircut style, his hair is black while his eyes are brown shaded. He usually looks as if he's half asleep, though this changes sometime during the manga.
History[]
Noboru had quite a rough past as he was bullied multiple times due to his weakness, in fact apparently he is so weak that even he himself tells Onizuka that he wouldn't be able of fighting girls such as Anko. He got repeatedly beaten by Anko and her two friends (Izumi Naoko and Asano Mayuko), until his whole body was covered with sore spots and bruises, on addition to this they would even draw and write comments over his body and most notably his genitals with permanent black markers.
Personality[]
Noboru is a quite introverted person as he tends to keep his feelings for himself. Shortly after he gets to know Onizuka and starts to place his trust on him, he gets bullied one more time by Anko and her friends, this caused him great frustration, so much that he even tried to commit suicide a second time by jumping off the roof of the school. Only when Onizuka directly asked him what happened he explained his situation, nevertheless, as he demonstrated Anko he is very brave, it is implied that meeting Onizuka and tagging along with him allowed Noboru to gain the confidence he was missing and finally stand up as a man.
When Anko fell off the Cliff into the sea he jumped in without thinking twice over it and dragged her unconscious body through sheer willpower to the surface. For all the time that the two of them stayed inside the cave he gave Anko words of comfort and search by himself for a hidden escape route until he found it. It is to note that he did not show any sign of fear throughout their performance in the cave that could have lead to their death any minute then.
He is very skilled when it comes to games, and that does not include only videogames but any types of games. He is resourceful, demonstrated by his building of impromptu bottle rocket launchers and outmanoeuvring even Kikuchi and Urumi in a game of paintball.[1] He was able of winning any prize that Anko wanted during the Kitamachi Shrine summer festival while effortlessly defeating any challenge thrown at him by Rinka's boyfriend, Mah.
He is also a very loyal friend as he demonstrated when Onizuka was an inch from being fired. In order to save him from resignation he undressed in front of a massive crowd and provided the evidence, which was needed as proof of his bullying by Anko and her friends. In addition to this, when Eikichi desperately needed money he readily sold all of his gaming software and the earnings that he profited from them. In addition he offered all of his life savings to Onizuka, although he promptly rejected the money.
Relationships[]
Onizuka in Yoshikawa's room
Eikichi Onizuka[]
He shares a very strong friendship with Onizuka as he was the one that gave him enough courage to rebel to the atrocities to which he was subjected to.
Yoshito Kikuchi[]
He and Kikuchi seem to have been friends for quite a long time, though it's unknown why. Both enjoy video games.
Anko Uehara[]
Anko and her two friends used to bully him non stop. It is to be noted that she did so due to having been treated similarly poorly by her brother in the past. Later in episode 41 of the anime Anko admits that she is in love with Yoshikawa.
They eventually go on a date.[2]
Yuuki Miyamori[]
Noboru realizes that the hikikomori Yuuki Miyamori is a train otaku, and bonds with him over this subject. He is Yuuki's first real friend, and this encourages him to return to school after a two year absence. He, Yuuki, and Sho Shibuya go shopping in Akihabara at one point.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- During episode 38, Onizuka is the one that makes the deal regarding giving back the camera containing Anko's group's naked butt pictures - while in the anime Noboru gives them back the camera with their pictures regardless of the fact that they still hold his pictures.
- So far the only one that can beat Onizuka at videogames.
- Yoshikawa has good knowledge of Japanese train routes and schedules— This is due to him having an obsession with trains when he was in grade school.[3]
Manga and Anime Differences[]
- In the anime, while they were in Okinawa Noboru and Anko go through the sugar canes and find Onizuka diguised as a gangster, shortly after he gets knock out after he tries to defend Anko from Onizuka. However in the manga, he recognizes Onizuka, but before he is able to tell anything he gets quickly knocked out by him to avoid spoiling Onizuka's plan of making Anko confess her love for Noboru.
Quotes[]
- "Actually I'm kinda good at this, too. I'm just good at games".
- "Don't worry. A real man finishes what he starts. Just watch".
- "There's only so much bullying one man can take. And I'm sick and tired of it".
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