Girls und Panzer is a series filled with unique characters. Among the members of Team Anglerfish, to which protagonist Nishizumi Miho belongs, there is one girl named Akiyama Yukari who loves tanks and has a great admiration for Miho. Always following Miho and always being on her side, she has been called a "loyal dog" by fans. However, we would like to introduce the charm of Akiyama Yukari, whose loyalty is also adorable.
Yukari Akiyama's Profile
Height: 157cm
Birthplace: Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture
Birthday: June 6th
Vehicle/Position: Panzer IV (Anglerfish Team), Loader
Favorite Tank: 7TP Twin Turret
Favorite Flower: Dandelion
Daily Routine: Weight Training
Voiced by: Ikumi Nakagami
Focus on what you love! Military Enthusiast Yukari
She's a girl with short, curly black hair and curly ends. She serves as the loader for Oarai's Anglerfish Team's commander's vehicle. She has a wealth of knowledge not only about tanks but also about the military, and her room is filled with military posters, plastic models, and other merchandise. When she first appears, she timidly follows Nishizumi Miho and seems shy and unwilling to talk to anyone, but in fact she was just nervous in front of Miho, whom she admires. She easily gets excited when talking about tanks, and when Takebe Saori says, "Tanks all look the same," she responds, "They're all unique." However, she never forces her interests on others, and when she realizes that she's talking too passionately and putting others off, she's able to quickly come to her senses. She also always carries survival gear in her backpack, so she's equipped to camp out anytime, anywhere. When she comes to visit Miho's house, she takes out a rice cooker even though they're indoors. She always has emergency supplies on hand, such as a sewing kit and a portable shovel that she pulls out "out of thin air."
Yukari's Unstoppable Love for Tanks
Neck-rubbing a Rusty Tank
In episode 2, when he found an abandoned 38-ton tank, he enthusiastically shared trivia about it while nuzzling it, even if it meant getting dirty. Saori was a little taken aback by this.
Yay, this is awesome!
In Episode 2, this is Yukari's soulful cry upon riding in a Panzer IV tank for the first time and hearing the engine noise. She's already going wild, but when she notices Saori's disgust, she shrinks back and says, "I'm sorry."
Excited Even During the Match
While everyone was nervous as it was their first match, one girl was incredibly excited, saying, "I'm so happy just to be able to see the British tanks in action." Even in the finals, Kuromorimine's mouse appeared and put their teammates in a major pinch, but they made insensitive comments such as "This is the first time I've seen a mouse move" and "It's amazing how hard it is, both in front and behind."
Yukari's High School Debut: Few Friends in Elementary and Middle School
As mentioned above, her hobby was military, something most girls wouldn't be interested in. She didn't have any friends with similar interests, and it seems she spent most of her time alone during elementary and middle school. (In reality, people around her may have been put off by her permed, curly hair from elementary school.) This was the first time the Anglerfish Team had actually come over to her house to hang out. Also, when she first met Miho, Saori, and Hana, whenever they all seemed to be hanging out, she would raise her hand as if to ask, "Can I join in?" Yukari's face, looking delighted when Miho and Saori replied, "Of course," was incredibly adorable. Also, the nickname "Yukarin" given to her by Saori was the first one she'd ever been given, and she seems to like it. Outside of the Anglerfish Team, she seems to be very close with the history-loving Hippo Team, especially Erwin, as they share a common interest in military matters. Her eyes lit up when Erwin gave her the soul name "Guderian" (a famous German Army general). Incidentally, she didn't seem to like "Montgomery" (a British Army commander), which Caesar, also from the Hippo Team, called her.
You can even scout enemy territory. Yukari, the Action-Driven One
Despite being outnumbered in experience, number of vehicles, and performance, Oarai's success in the national tournament was due solely to their "information." It was none other than Yukari who gathered that information. In the first match against Saunders, he sneaked alone onto a convenience store liner and infiltrated the Saunders Academy ship. He disguised himself as a Saunders student and infiltrated the tank warehouse and strategy meetings, obtaining operational information from participating vehicles. In the second match against Anzio, he infiltrated Anzio High School before the match and successfully retrieved information on the rare P40 tank, which is rarely seen and about which little information is available. (He also appears to be highly skilled with computers and transfers, as he edited the video he filmed while infiltrating the school battleship himself.) Without this advance reconnaissance, Oarai would not have been able to win. Furthermore, during the match against Pravda, he went on a reconnaissance mission with Erwin during the truce, making contact with Pravda student Nina. While pretending not to reveal his true identity, he obtained information on the enemy's positions. He also showed his quick footwork by getting out of his tank and scouting alone under Miho's orders to find the missing enemy flag vehicle. Without Yukari's information, the team would not have won the national championship. He is truly a behind-the-scenes hero.
Yukari is actually good at being considerate.
She's often known for her love of tanks and military nerdery, but she also has a keen eye for others and is good at being considerate, as seen when she comes to her senses after seeing Saori in awe of her passionate speech. Seeing Miho struggling with the pressure of winning, she went on a reconnaissance mission to Saunders by herself to help her. Also, seeing Miho struggling under the pressure of the Nishizumi style, saying "There's no point if we don't win," she told her that practice, practice matches, and detours on the way home from school were fun, making Miho realize that there are things more important than winning, and there is no doubt that she was a source of emotional support for her. After failing in last year's tournament, Miho wondered, "Was my choice right?" and "What is my tank art?", and she wondered, "The choice I made back then was not wrong," and this must have been a guidepost for Miho, who was troubled by her own tank art.
Yukari is Miho's right-hand man
Yukari loves the military and never wavers from that passion. Having never had friends before, her lack of familiarity with friends is also endearing. However, she is very considerate of those around her and has been a source of emotional support to Miho, who has often struggled with her tankery. Furthermore, with her natural knowledge of tanks and overflowing vitality, she has supported Miho's strategies by scouting before matches and even jumping out of her tank to scout during matches. While the members of the Anglerfish Team are important allies to Miho, Yukari in particular has become a significant presence for her, as she always follows Miho, supporting her strategies and providing emotional support. She is truly worthy of being Miho's right-hand woman.
