山村貞子
is a colleague and close friend of Kazuyuki Asakawa. A 35-year-old journalist, Yoshino works in the company's branch office in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, where Kazuyuki also worked in until he was promoted to the head office in Tokyo. He helps Kazuyuki and Ryuji investigate the origins of the cursed videotape and Sadako Yamamura, following Kazuyuki's instructions, but refuses to watch the tape. In "Spiral", he helps Ando to solve Ryuji's case, handing him files pertaining to Kazuyuki's search. In "Birthday", Yoshino meets with Hiroshi Toyama, who dated Sadako as a young man, intending to learn more about her past and informing him about his potential fate.