75 Motoko Naniwa

## Motoko Naniwa(Moko)

**Moko** (モコ) is a character created by Fujio Akatsuka, appearing in Akko-chan's Got a Secret! and a member of Akatsuka's Star System.

She is alternatively known by her full name of **Motoko Naniwa**(浪花元子 *Naniwa Motoko*), or initially as **Tomoko Ina** (伊奈トモ子 *Ina Tomoko*) in stories of the first run of *Akko-chan*.

## Overview

As Akko's best friend, Moko appears to be a furthering of Akatsuka's "best friend" type of character which was usually more tomboyish than the lead heroine, down to her braided hairstyle.

Her original given name of Tomoko is briefly given in the second chapter of the first run by her mother, and her surname mentioned later by Moriyami-sensei, with her full name being inspired by that of Akatsuka's first wife at the time, **Tomoko Inao** (稲生登茂子). It is uncertain why her name was changed for the Toei anime, other than to perhaps lessen the awkwardness of such a direct reference, but it was imported back to the manga for the second run and further work. Other than the possible kanji used for both entirely different names, it can be noted that "Motoko" can be a phonetic anagram of the original name as well.

## Physical Appearance

Moko is a taller, slender girl around the same size as Akko. She has long black hair tied back into a pair of braids (one often only seen from profile view), with large bows at the ends. She is often seen wearing various types of dresses, long socks, and black "Mary Jane"-style shoes.

Her eyes are black and monochromatic with a shiny style to them, later also seen in characters such as Bakabon's Mama. However, in the very first manga chapter, the anime adaptations, and some redrawn chapters of the second Ribon run, her eyes are depicted with sclerae and in a more standard style. The Nakayoshi run of the manga and the "Young version" one-shot keep her eyes in the original appearance.

## Personality

Moko is a energetic, friendly but stern and loud young girl who often quarrels with Akko and can become jealous very abruptly, but can reconcile just as easily. Between the two, she is the more tomboyish character, even more so when Akko is depicted with such a trait.

She scolds her younger brother Kankichi for his cowardice and often punishes him by hitting him in the head for that or for him being disobedient, but the behavior of a gentle sister can also be witnessed.

She is not very good at math or cooking, to the point where she even scored a total of 0 points on a math test. Her strengths come in fighting, whether her opponent is a guy or not.

## Appearances in other works

*See also: Akatsuka's Star System*

* *Osomatsu-kun*
* *Jajako-chan*
* *Extraordinary Ataro*
* *Nyarome's World Expo Surprise Surprise Surprise Guide*
* *Run Away Run Away*
* *What Will Fujio Akatsuka Do!?*
* *Japan Laughter Story*

## Appearances in Animation

### Osomatsu-kun (1966)

Moko briefly appears at the end of the adaptation of the hat story, as she did in the manga. She and Totoko are both shown to be horrified when Chibita's hat blows off, and are angrily chased down the street by him.

Unlike the manga, Chibita does not manage to beat up Totoko; his hat blows onto a baby and causes him to become violent, lashing out at his own mother and then at Chibita.

### Furious Ataro (1969)

Moko makes a single appearance in the adaptation of her story from the manga, along with her brother, although her name was changed to **Miko**.

### Furious Ataro (1990)

Moko technically does not exist in the series, as her original cameo was removed and altered. However, the character of Himeka Ayanokouji does stand in as a counterpart for her and has a younger brother named Kankichi.

## Portrayals

### Voice Acting

* Osomatsu-kun (1966)- Unknown/uncredited
* 1969 series- Sumiko Shirakawa
* Ataro (1969)- Akiko Tsuboi
* 1988 series- Kazuko Sugiyama
* 1998 series- Kikumi Umeda

The replacement character of Himeka in the 1990 Ataro is voiced by Michie Tomizawa.

## Trivia

* At the time of the first serialization, the "Tomoko" name was also used in one of the protagonists of *O-chan's Eleven Friends* and may have also provided inspiration for the name of "Totoko". The name would later find itself used on one of the protagonists of 3cm Boy as well.
* Moko can be seen in the audience in episode 4 of the 1988 Osomatsu-kun series, depicted more faithfully to her manga design in comparison to how it was interpreted for each Akko anime (other than her hair being colored light brown instead of black).
* Potential concept art of an early Moko can be seen in Tomoko's sketches in *Shojo Manga-ka: Fujio Akatsuka*, with her next to Tomoko's take on Akko (which by that point resembled the finalized design that Akatsuka picked a little more). This heroine still had braids, but the tops had the large bows around them and she had somewhat of a bouffant going on in the rest of her hair.

## External Links

* Moko profile at Koredeiinoda (Japanese)