Kimiko Haruno

**Kimiko Haruno** (春野キミ子), also known by her nickname **Kibimama** (キビママ), is a character created by Fujio Akatsuka and originating from the seriesKibimama-chan.

## Overview

Before her series, Kimiko existed in a prototypical form as the nameless "American Maid" in The Replacement Housekeeper; a woman hired by the childrens' father to act foreign and demanding to get them to do their chores. While the character's hairstyle was much different, the style of dress she wore would find itself re-used on Kimiko and the story formula of "a new maid makes children behave and learn lessons" would be carried over to some extent.

Akatsuka relied on his then-wife Tomoko to pitch possible character designs for Kimiko and her fashion. Though none of her draft concepts quite made it to being the character's final look, her fashion sense did carry forth into the title and some clothing designs were even utilized for Tetsuko.

## Physical Appearance

Kimiko is a tall, slender woman with short, black hair worn in a bobbed style. She can usually be seen to wear various types of dresses and aprons, although her initial outfit memorably seen in the series and in some artwork would be a long-sleeved, deep purple dress with a pink apron/facing. At other times, it is common to see her in a polka dot-print dress with a lacy apron.

## Personality

She is a bright, cheerful, dedicated sort of person who will make sure no task is left unfinished and carried out to the best degree. In addition to her quick wit and creativity, she is physically strong and good at judo when it comes to fighting off criminals, and she is also skilled at sports like baseball.

When children may try to disobey or ignore what she sets out for them to do, she will find some way to get them to do the right thing, and will patiently help others through their issues to provide them with the best results. Her magnetic charm and effects she has on others lives leads to them valuing her greatly, to where the Okawa children absolutely cannot stand the idea of her getting married.

## Relationships with Other Characters

### Momotaro Okawa

Kimiko does not leave this father exempt from the house rules she establishes with the kids, ordering him to pick up his clothing or blowing a whistle if she catches him trying to eat before the rest of the family.

### Tetsuko ("Tecchan")

She is the most resistant of the children early in the series, angered at Kimiko's presence and how strict she is with orders. After the burned dress incident in chapter 3, and seeing how helpful and selfless Kimiko is, she starts to regret and show some softening towards the woman, letting her ease into being their maid and replacement mother figure.

As Kimiko was an evolution of the maid from *Replacement Housekeeper*, Tetsuko is a renamed Keiko and bears no real difference in her design or rough attitude.

### Kaoru

He is content and lax to experience Kimiko as his family's new housekeeper, but can show his nervous face when things are at a higher tension. She winds up playing a part in him overcoming his fear of the scary-looking house next door.

Kaoru and his younger brother are both stand-ins for the boy named Ichiro in *Replacement Housekeeper*; Kaoru gaining his glasses and nerdy edge, while Kankichi more appropriately reflects his age and wilder naughty ways.

### Kankichi

Kankichi is the second child that Kimiko meets in the series, who she finds to be responsible for keeping wild animals as pets in his room. He is upset that she makes him wash his hands, as well as releasing his pets. He is the one to ultimately come up with her nickname of "Kibimama" after the others comment on her severe rules and her apparent resemblance to their mother.

He initially pulls naughty pranks on her, like keeping a snake in a pot, but comes to value her help when she protects him from a criminal attempting to rob the Okawa home.

### Toko

The youngest Okawa daughter is the first child that Kimiko meets, after spying her tearing up about her dead mother. She opens up easily to Kimiko and is more immediately appreciative of the help she brings to the household, along with relying on her as both a big sister and mother-like figure. Both she and Kimiko cry at sad movies; in Toko's case, a scene of a dying mother only reminds her of how she no longer has one.

### Noda-kun

Although Noda quits as Momotaro's regular housekeeper, Kimiko comes into contact with him various times to help him when it comes to solving problems for him, down to a fever. He helps the family play a part in getting in the way of Kimiko's matchmaking date in the final chapter, as to prevent her from leaving them. However, the problem solves itself when the prospective lover turns out to be a great prankster type.

### Aunt

Momotaro's younger sister, a classy-looking woman seen twice in the series. She is the one who delivers the news of the matchmaking meeting in the last round.

## Trivia

* Although Kimiko herself has never quite been adapted to animation, the Akebono reprint of Kibimama-chan did appear as a book read by Totoko in Bakabon: The 3000 Mile Quest for Osomatsu's Curry
* Kimiko would also be one of the lesser-exposed Akatsuka characters utilized in Kimi Izumihara's short-lived manga **Fujio Akatsuka Dream Times**, appearing as a maid.
* The various early concept sketches of Kimiko would appear to depict her as a blonde, unless Tomoko had opted to leave her hair uncolored as to show its contours. Her polka dot dress was the most evident fashion that survived the transition to the series.