Yuko Ichihara

Yuko was the first character created for xxxHolic;{{cite AV media|title=xxxHolic: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Clamp interview|publisher=Shochiku|year=2005}} Clamp wanted to create a character who was aware of the multiple fictional universes they have created during her career, and would act as a bridge between xxxHolic and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle as the latter's cast travels across worlds and remain in contact with Yuko.{{cite web|title=Interview with Ageha Ohkawa and Mitsuhisa Ishikawa|author=Chang, Chih-Chieh|publisher=Anime News Network|date=March 2, 2006|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2006-03-02/7|access-date=November 11, 2010|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628231001/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2006-03-02/7|url-status=live}} Clamp thought that Yuko was so "special" that she could have been the series' main character. After deciding it would be more entertaining to have a character who would be interested in Yuko's past, Clamp created Kimihiro Watanuki, both of whom they compared to Doraemon and Nobita Nobi, respectively, from the manga series Doraemon, with Yuko as the lead and Watanuki the audience surrogate.

Yuko's character was not finalized until Clamp met the model they used as the basis for her. As a result, the group gave Yuko their beautician's strong personality. They had problems designing the character, as it took them a long time to design her facial expressions.{{cite book|title=Clamp no Kiseki, Vol. 10|publisher=Tokyopop|page=5|year=2005|author=Clamp}} Clamp artist Mokona said drawing Yuko was challenging due to the character's proportions, something she planned to change with their next work, Kobato.{{cite web|url=http://www.amgakuin.co.jp/contents/?p=13675|title=CLAMP先生 スペシャルインタビュー|publisher=Amgakuin|accessdate=November 24, 2021|archive-date=December 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229224030/https://www.amgakuin.co.jp/contents/p=13675|url-status=live}}

Clamp looked for a voice actor who was not heavily associated with another character they created. Sayaka Ohara voiced Yuko for four years, starting with the first Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle adaptation and ending with the xxxHolic original video animation (OVA). Ohara liked Yuko and thought that Watanuki could grow as an individual from her lessons about fate. For Ohara, Yuko was an elusive role she sometimes felt she had not fully grasped, but Yuko's bouts of mischief gave her a more comical characterization rather than her serious persona. Ohara became emotional for her final role in the xxxHolic Rō due to Yuko's death and her final interaction with Watanuki.{{cite web|url=http://gentei.kodansha.co.jp/content/tsubaholi/rou/holic17/special.html|title=Special|publisher=Kodansha|accessdate=November 22, 2021|archive-date=November 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122215450/http://gentei.kodansha.co.jp/content/tsubaholi/rou/holic17/special.html|url-status=live}}

Watanuki's actor Jun Fukuyama was grateful for how Yuko developed in the anime alongside Watanuki. Producer Toru Kawaguchi, who worked in the series' original video animations, said Yuko significantly influenced his work. He was more interested in how the character often appeared in Tsubasa as well as xxxHolic.{{cite web|title =xxxHolic Ro Special Interview|url =http://gentei.kodansha.co.jp/content/tsubaholi/rou/holic/special_interview.html|publisher =Kodansha|access-date =November 11, 2020|archive-date =November 12, 2020|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20201112184952/http://gentei.kodansha.co.jp/content/tsubaholi/rou/holic/special_interview.html|url-status =live}} In the English dubbed series, she is voiced by Colleen Clinkenbeard.{{cite web|title=Tsubasa OVAs English Cast Revealed|date=January 3, 2011|url=http://www.mania.com/tsubasa-ovas-english-cast-revealed_article_127444.html|author=Beveridge, Chris|access-date=January 4, 2011|publisher=Mania Entertainment|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106231756/http://www.mania.com/tsubasa-ovas-english-cast-revealed_article_127444.html|archive-date=January 6, 2011}}

For the mini-series, Anne Watanabe was cast as Yuko,{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/76095|title=CLAMP「xxxHOLiC」がドラマ化、主演は杏＆染谷将太|publisher=Natalie|language=ja|date=September 7, 2012|access-date=November 10, 2020|archive-date=June 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607123549/http://natalie.mu/comic/news/76095|url-status=live|trans-title=CLAMP "xxxHOLiC" is made into a drama, starring Kyou & Shota Sometani}} and Kou Shibasaki was cast as her in the 2022 live-action film.{{cite web|url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20211123-2195858/|title=『xxxHOLiC』蜷川実花監督が実写映画化! 神木隆之介が四月一日、柴咲コウが侑子|date=23 November 2021 |publisher=News MyNavi|accessdate=November 23, 2021|archive-date=November 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123032640/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20211123-2195858/|url-status=live}}

When writing Yuko, Clamp placed emphasis on the importance of words. Yuko's conversations always affect the other characters due to how direct and secure she is when speaking. In early chapters, while Yuko works with a woman addicted to the internet by labeling her husband and child as "other people", Yuko emphasizes individualism and the power her client has.{{cite book|title=Clamp no Kiseki, Vol. 10|publisher=Tokyopop|page=15|year=2005|author=Clamp}}{{cite book|title=Manga Cultures and the Female Gaze|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|author=Hemmann, Kathryn|isbn=978-3030180942|year=2020|page=56}} Kathryn Hemmann argues that Yuko is not depicted as a sinister character: she displays a childish persona, though she sometimes comes across as manipulative and selfish. Her appearances evoke a sex appeal common in seinen manga, making her appear to be the protagonist of the adult-aimed series. Yuko's adulthood is not only referenced by her sexuality, but also by her smoking and drinking habits. Her philosophy in regards to destiny or inevitability can be seen as a parallel to bad luck in her customers. Her deals with customers and cruel fates in some cases serve to show the readers the harsh reality of the real world which contrasts the shojo manga centered around a more optimistic view.{{cite book|title=Manga Cultures and the Female Gaze|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|author=Hemmann, Kathryn|isbn=978-3030180942|year=2020|pages=57–58}}

As the story progresses, Yuko forms a deep bond with Watanuki, who wants to grant her wish. After she dies, Watanuki starts acting like her and decides that he will wait for her inheriting his unpaid price from the series' beginning as a magic that heavily slows his aging. The bond between both of them was claimed to be toxic due to how Watanuki becomes obsessed with waiting for Yuko but Clamp claimed it was the character's ideal happy ending in response.{{cite web |title=CLAMP ：「想像以上に大変でした」"×××HOLiC""ツバサ"異例の並行連載7年を振り返る|language=ja|publisher=Mainichi Shimbun|date=March 5, 2011|url=http://mantan-web.jp/2011/03/05/20110305dog00m200014000c.html|trans-title=CLAMP: "It was hard to imagine more "×××HOLiC" "Tsubasa" looking back on an unprecedented 7 year simultaneous serialization|access-date=March 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307223025/http://mantan-web.jp/2011/03/05/20110305dog00m200014000c.html|archive-date=March 7, 2012}}

Yuko is introduced in xxxHolic as a witch who runs a shop. She grants wishes to customers in exchange for something of equal value, which can range from precious objects to abstract concepts. At the beginning of the series, she hires Kimihiro Watanuki as her assistant in exchange for protecting him from yōkai.{{cite book |title= xxxHolic, Volume 1 |year= 2004 |author= Clamp |publisher= Del Rey Manga |chapter= Chapter 1 |isbn= 978-0-345-47058-4 |url= https://archive.org/details/xxxholicvol1400clam }} She constantly speaks of inevitability and how nothing is a coincidence while dealing with several of her guests.

Across both xxxHolic and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Yuko remains in contact with Syaoran and his companions. To grant him the ability of travelling across dimensions and save his friend Sakura, Yuko uses a pair of creatures named Mokona Modoki that are able to cross worlds. Yuko created these creatures alongside the sorcerer Clow Reed in anticipation for the series' events.{{cite book |title= xxxHolic, Volume 2 |year= 2004|author=Clamp |publisher= Del Rey Manga |chapter=Chapter 9|isbn= 978-0-345-47119-2}} During Tsubasa it is revealed that Yuko was once going to die but Clow Reed accidentally used his powers to freeze time for her. After her time is frozen, she becomes the enemy of sorcerer Fei-Wang Reed who is manipulating Syaoran's group.{{cite book |title=Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Volume 9 |year= 2006|author=Clamp |publisher= Del Rey Manga |chapter=Chapitre 64|isbn= 978-0-345-48429-1}} Near the end of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Yuko is revived by Fei-Wang in order to prove his superiority to Clow.{{cite book |title=Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Volume 27 |year= 2010|author=Clamp |publisher= Del Rey Manga |chapter=Chapitre 215|isbn= 978-0-345-52071-5 }} She then gives up her life as the price for Fei-Wang's two creations, the clones Syaoran and Sakura, to be reborn as normal humans in compensation for how they were used by the sorcerer because of her.{{cite book |title=Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Volume 28 |year= 2010|author=Clamp |publisher= Del Rey Manga |chapter=Chapitre 220|isbn= 978-0-345-52164-4}}

Before dying, Yuko finds Watanuki and tells him her wish is for him to continue existing.{{cite book |title= xxxHolic, Volume 15 |year= 2010|author=Clamp |publisher= Del Rey Manga |chapter=Chapter 95|isbn= 978-0-345-52112-5}} Over a hundred years after her death in the ending of xxxHolic, Watanuki owns her shop. In the end, Watanuki has a series of dreams where Yuko gradually reveals herself to him; finally, she tells him that he has stayed in her shop for a long time and now has the power to leave it.{{cite book |title= xxxHolic, Volume 19 |year= 2011|author=Clamp |publisher= Kodansha|isbn= 978-4-06-376039-2}}

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Outside the manga series, Yuko has appeared in the animated movie xxxHolic: A Midsummer Night's Dream, where she visits a mansion whose owner is collecting the hearts of its visitors, and in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle the Movie: The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom, where she contacts Syaoran's group once again.{{cite AV media |date = February 2008 |title = Clamp Double Feature: Tsubasa Chronicle and xxxHOLiC|medium = DVD |publisher = Funimation Entertainment}} In the xxxHolic Rō OVA, which takes place after her death, Watanuki receives a recorded tape from a girl that has Yuko saying "I'm home".{{cite AV media |date = June 2010|title = xxxHolic Rō|medium = DVD |publisher = Kodansha}} In xxxHolic: Rō Adayume, Watanuki finds Yuko in one of Shizuka Dōmeki's memories.{{cite AV media |date = March 2011|title = xxxHolic Rō Adayume|medium = DVD |publisher = Kodansha}} Anne Watanabe plays Yuko in the live action TV series. In the audio drama CD series Holitsuba, she appears as a teacher from the titular school.{{cite AV media notes |trans-title=Private High School Holitsuba Episode 2: Heartpounding Preparation for the Holitsuba festival!|title=「私立堀鐔学園」第2話･堀鐔祭準備中にドッキドキ! |others=Clamp|year=2006|publisher=Kodansha}}

Yuko is also in the video game xxxHolic: Watanuki no Izayoi Sowa and in the book Soel and Larg: The Adventures of Mokona Modoki.{{cite book |author=Clamp|title=ソエルとラーグ―モコナ=モドキの冒険|publisher=Kodansha |year=2004 |isbn=978-4-06-364595-8|trans-title=Soel and Larg: The Adventures of Mokona=Modoki}}{{cite web|url=http://www.maql.co.jp/special/game/ps2/xxxholic/chara.html#chara02|title=Characters|publisher=Marvelous Entertainment|language=ja|access-date=November 9, 2013|archive-date=November 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109203227/http://www.maql.co.jp/special/game/ps2/xxxholic/chara.html#chara02|url-status=live}} The latter event is retold in the drama xxxHolic Kei.{{cite AV media notes |trans-title=xxxHolic Kei Part One|title=xxxHOLiC◆継」第一巻|others=Clamp|year=2006|publisher=BMG JAPAN }} She is also a prominent character in the novelization Another Holic by Nisio Isin.{{cite book|title= xxxHolic ANOTHERHOLiC Landolt-Ring Aerosol|year= 2008|author1= Isin, Nisio|author2= Clamp|publisher= Del Rey Manga|isbn= 978-0345505187|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/anotherholicland0000nish}} In December 2015, Clamp made a collaboration with Victor Entertainment to create a music video involving a theme by Shikao Suga, a singer who performed multiple themes for the xxxHolic animated adaptations.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-23/clamp-xxxholic-shikao-suga-collaboration-music-video-streamed/.96808|title=CLAMP xxxHOLiC/Shikao Suga Collaboration Music Video Streamed|date=December 13, 2015|access-date=November 13, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115035807/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-23/clamp-xxxholic-shikao-suga-collaboration-music-video-streamed/.96808|url-status=live}}

The manga xxxHolic Rei features Yuko as the shop owner as Watanuki realizes that he is in parallel world and that Yuko of that world is a fake.{{cite book |title= xxxHolic Rei, Volume 1|year= 2013|author=Clamp |publisher= Kodansha|isbn=978-4-06-376897-8}} Anne Watanabe plays Yuko in the 2012 live-action TV series,{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-06/clamp-xxxholic-gets-live-action-tv-adaptation|title=Clamp's xxxHolic Gets Live Action TV Adaptation|date=September 6, 2012|access-date=September 6, 2012|publisher=Anime News Network|archive-date=September 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908002201/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-06/clamp-xxxholic-gets-live-action-tv-adaptation|url-status=live}} while Kou Shibasaki was cast for the role in 2022 live-action film.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-22/clamp-xxxholic-manga-gets-live-action-film-next-april/.179876|title=CLAMP's xxxHOLiC Manga Gets Live-Action Film Next April|publisher=Anime News Network|date=November 22, 2021|access-date=November 22, 2021|archive-date=November 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123003914/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-22/clamp-xxxholic-manga-gets-live-action-film-next-april/.179876|url-status=live}}

Yuko's character has been well received by Japanese readers of the series. In two popularity polls held by Weekly Shōnen Magazine, she placed seventh among all the characters in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle.{{cite book |last=Clamp |author-link=Clamp (manga artists) |others=translanted and adapted by William Flanagan|title=Tsubasa CHARACTer GuiDE |publisher=Del Rey Manga |year=2005 |location=New York |page=151 |isbn=978-4063720013}}{{cite book |last=Clamp |author-link=Clamp (manga artists) |others=translanted and adapted by William Flanagan|title=Tsubasa CHARACTer GuiDE 2|publisher=Del Rey Manga |year=2006 |location=New York |page=147|isbn=978-4063722161}} In a xxxHolic poll, Yuko was featured as the third most popular character from the series.{{cite book |last=Clamp |author-link=Clamp (manga artists) |others=translanted and adapted by William Flanagan |title=The Official xxxHOLiC Guide |publisher=Del Rey Manga |year=2009|location=New York |pages=139 |isbn=978-0-345-51000-6}} In Animage{{'}}s Anime Grand Prix poll from 2007, she was voted as the thirteenth most popular female anime character.{{cite journal | journal=Animage | publisher=Gakken |issue=6| title=Anime Grand Prix 2006-2007| date=May 2007 | language=ja}} NTT customers voted her as their fourteenth favorite black-haired female anime character.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-05-05/japanese-fans-rank-their-favorite-black-haired-anime-characters|title=Japanese Fans Rank Their Favorite Black-Haired Anime Characters|date=May 5, 2014|author=Dong, Bamboo|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=May 5, 2014|archive-date=May 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506213212/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-05-05/japanese-fans-rank-their-favorite-black-haired-anime-characters|url-status=live}} Both World Cosplay Summit and Animate Times noted she was a highly popular character in Japan based on the several cosplay created by fans.{{cite web|url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1606675457|title=――かなえましょう アナタの願い。『xxxHOLiC』より、妖艶な美女「壱原侑子」のコスプレ特集！ コスプレで再現されるミステリアスな世界をご覧あれ！|publisher=Animate Times|access-date=November 24, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124204430/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1606675457|url-status=live}}

File:ColleenClinkenbeardHeadshot.jpg

Critical reception to the character's role in the story and traits has been positive. Carlo Santos of Anime News Network liked the character's philosophies about fate and realism as she manages to explain multiple aspects from the series "like a brilliant university professor."{{cite web |first=Carlo |last=Santos |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic/gn-12 |title=xxxHOLic GN12 |date=September 26, 2008 |publisher=Anime News Network |access-date=February 12, 2010 |archive-date=February 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225095913/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic/gn-12 |url-status=live }} Megan Lavey from Mania Entertainment enjoyed how Yuko interacts with her clients and her sense of humor which involves multiple references.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/xxxholic-vol-12_article_83873.html |title=XXXHolic Vol. #1 |work=Mania Entertainment |author=Lavey, Megan |date=June 23, 2004 |publisher=Demand Media |access-date=November 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105160051/http://www.mania.com/xxxholic-vol-12_article_83873.html |archive-date=November 5, 2013 }} Across the series, Yuko grows close with Watanuki, and their development has been praised by Matthew Alexander from Mania Entertainment as Watanuki starts caring about Yuko's true desire as he realizes how much she cares for him.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/xxxholic-vol-12_article_83873.html |title=XXXHolic Vol. #12 |work=Mania Entertainment |author=Alexander, Matthew |date=September 6, 2008 |publisher=Demand Media |access-date=November 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105160051/http://www.mania.com/xxxholic-vol-12_article_83873.html |archive-date=November 5, 2013 }} Johanna from Comics Worth Reading agreed with Alexander, while Ed Sizemore from the same site admitted having taken a liking to her due to her personality and the fact that she has "the wonderful sensuality of a Hollywood femme fatale from the 30s and 40s".{{cite web|url=http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/11/17/xxxholic-book-1/|title=xxxHOLiC, Vol. 1|author=Johanna|publisher=Comics Worth Reading|date=November 17, 2006|access-date=November 4, 2013|archive-date=August 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817145602/http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/11/17/xxxholic-book-1/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/11/xxxholic-book-12/|title=xxxHOLiC, Vol. 12|author=Sizemore, Ed|publisher=Comics Worth Reading|date=August 11, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105155236/http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/11/xxxholic-book-12/|archive-date=November 5, 2013}} Her death scene has been referred by Active Anime{{'}}s Holly Ellingwood as "tragic, inspiring, and beautifully, breathtakingly sad" for its presentation.{{Cite web |last=Ellingwood |first=Holly |url=http://activeanime.com/html/2010/03/18/xxxholic-vol-15-advance-review/ |title=XXXHOLIC VOL. 15 (ADVANCE REVIEW) |work=Active Anime |date=March 18, 2010 |access-date=November 18, 2010 |archive-date=December 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208235058/http://activeanime.com/html/2010/03/18/xxxholic-vol-15-advance-review/ |url-status=live }} Santos noted that while the loss of Yuko could have negatively affected the series due to her impact, it managed to retain the same quality, as Watanuki inherited most of her distinctive traits.{{cite web |first=Carlo |last=Santos |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic/gn-16 |title=xxxHOLic GN 16 |date=November 4, 2010 |publisher=Anime News Network |access-date=November 18, 2010 |archive-date=November 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107030005/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic/gn-16 |url-status=live }} The character's role in xxxHolic Rei was the subject of mystery due to her supposed death but reviewers still felt this incarnation of Yuko appealing.{{cite web|first=Rebecca|last=Silverman|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic/rei/gn-1/.74870|title=xxxHOLiC: Rei GN 1|date=June 26, 2014|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=May 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527221715/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic/rei/gn-1/.74870|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Matthew|last=Alexander|url=https://www.fandompost.com/2014/06/05/xxxholic-rei-vol-01-manga-review/|title=xxxHolic Rei Vol. #01 Manga Review|work=The Fandom Post |date=June 5, 2014|publisher=Fandom Post|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=May 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505152621/https://www.fandompost.com/2014/06/05/xxxholic-rei-vol-01-manga-review/|url-status=live}} The designs of the character were found memorable and compared to Princess Hinoto from X.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/arts/design/28clam.html|title=Four Mothers of Manga Gain American Fans With Expertise in a Variety of Visual Styles|date=November 28, 2006|access-date=December 29, 2020|work=The New York Times|archive-date=January 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109035723/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/arts/design/28clam.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://comicsworthreading.com/2014/05/04/xxxholic-rei-book-1/|title=xxxHOLiC Rei Volume 1|date=June 5, 2014|publisher=Comics Worth Reading|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807131620/https://comicsworthreading.com/2014/05/04/xxxholic-rei-book-1/|url-status=live}}{{cite book|title=Manga: The Complete Guide|year=2008|isbn=978-0-345-48590-8|author=Thompson, Jason|publisher=Viz Media}}{{Cite web |last=Polley |first=Dan |url=http://www.mangalife.com/reviews/xxxHOLiCv1.htm |title=xxxHOLiC v1 |work=Manga Life |publisher=Silver Bullet Comics |access-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011234025/http://www.mangalife.com/reviews/xxxHOLiCv1.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

Critics have also commented in regards to the actresses who portrayed Yuko in the anime. Clinkenbeard was praised by writers from Anime News Network.{{cite web|first=Casey|last=Brienza|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic/dvds-1|title=xxxHOLiC DVDs 1–2|date=June 20, 2010|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=November 18, 2010|archive-date=August 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812081400/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic/dvds-1|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Carlo|last=Santos|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic-dvd-box-set-hyb/dvd|title=xxxHolic DVD Box Set (Hyb)|date=August 16, 2009|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=November 18, 2010|archive-date=July 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729110016/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/xxxholic-dvd-box-set-hyb/dvd|url-status=live}} UKAnime News praised both the talents of Clinkenbeard and Ohara when reviewing the anime.{{cite web|url=https://animeuknews.net/2009/04/xxxholic-volume-1/|title=xxxHolic Volume 1|website=Anime UK News|date=15 April 2009 |accessdate=November 24, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124200920/https://animeuknews.net/2009/04/xxxholic-volume-1/|url-status=live}} Richard Eisenbeis regarded Yuko's character as one of the portrayed once in the drama due to his to how faithful is her actress to the concept.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/the-xxxholic-live-action-drama-is-just-plain-beautiful-499373796 |title=The xxxHolic Live-Action Drama is Just Plain Beautiful |author=Eisenbeis, Richard |publisher=Kotaku |date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203070855/https://kotaku.com/the-xxxholic-live-action-drama-is-just-plain-beautiful-499373796 |url-status=live }}

Santos liked the secret talks Yuko had with Sakura on the second half of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, as it gave the 19th volume of the manga one of the most interesting cliffhangers from the series even she is still a supporting character.{{cite web |last=Santos |first=Carlo |author-link=Carlo Santos |title=Tsubasa, RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE GN 19 |publisher=Anime News Network |date=December 16, 2008 |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle/gn-19 |access-date=April 19, 2009 |archive-date=April 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407084249/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle/gn-19 |url-status=live }} He noted that Yuko's words might come across as confusing exposition.{{cite web |last=Santos |first=Carlo |author-link=Carlo Santos |title=Tsubasa, RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE GN 22 |publisher=Anime News Network |date=September 16, 2008 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle/gn-22 |access-date=April 19, 2009 |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922185448/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle/gn-22 |url-status=live }} In the next review, he felt that while the cross-over between xxxHolic and Tsubasa was interesting to see due to the foreshadowing of her role in the latter's story.{{cite web |last=Santos |first=Carlo |author-link=Carlo Santos |title=Tsubasa, RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE GN 26 |publisher=Anime News Network |date=January 25, 2021 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle/gn-25 |access-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123091656/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle/gn-25 |url-status=live }} In the flashback from the Tsubasa finale, Yuko was praised for how she interacts with Fei-Wang and protects Syaoran and Watanuki from the sorcerer.{{Cite web |last=Ellingwood |first=Holly |title=TSUBASA RESERVOIR CHRONICLE VOL. 26 |publisher=Active Anime |date=August 1, 2010 |url=http://activeanime.com/html/2010/08/01/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle-vol-26/ |access-date=December 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124065906/http://activeanime.com/html/2010/08/01/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle-vol-26/|archive-date=November 24, 2011}} As the series reached its climax, Active Anime and MangaNews enjoyed Yuko's development from a supporting character to one of the most important ones in the narrative.{{Cite web |last=Ellingwood |first=Holly |title=TSUBASA RESERVOIR CHRONICLE VOL. 27 |publisher=Active Anime |date=August 9, 2010 |url=https://activeanime.com/html/2010/09/08/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle-vol-27/|access-date=December 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620173403/https://activeanime.com/html/2010/09/08/tsubasa-reservoir-chronicle-vol-27/|archive-date=June 20, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Tsubasa-RESERVoir-CHRoNiCLE/vol-27|title=Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE Vol.27|publisher=Manga News|accessdate=November 24, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124211340/https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Tsubasa-RESERVoir-CHRoNiCLE/vol-27|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Tsubasa-RESERVoir-CHRoNiCLE/vol-28|title=Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE Vol.28|publisher=Manga News|accessdate=November 24, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124142724/https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Tsubasa-RESERVoir-CHRoNiCLE/vol-28|url-status=live}}

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{{Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle}}

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