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I don't think everyone has to like something before giving it a try. I don't think you need an unwavering will or lofty motive just to get started. Sometimes, things that you start on a whim end up becoming very important to you, too. To get started, I think you just need a little bit of curiosity.
Kiyoko Shimizu to Yachi[1]

Kiyoko Shimizu (Japanese: 清水 (しみず) 潔子 (きよこ) Shimizu Kiyoko) was a third-year student at Karasuno High, as well as one of the managers for the Karasuno boy's volleyball team for majority of the series.

As of November 2018, she is married to Ryūnosuke Tanaka and has changed her name to Kiyoko Tanaka (Japanese: 田中 (たなか) 潔子 (きよこ) Tanaka Kiyoko). She currently works as a sports store employee.

Appearance[]

Kiyoko is a very beautiful girl who stands at above average height.

She has shoulder length, raven black hair that she tucks one portion behind her left ear, whereas the rest hang freely on the right side. She has grey colored eyes with visible long lashes, a beauty mark on the left side of her chin, and thin framed glasses with baby pink rims and bridge.

Because of her attractive appearance, followed by the amount of attention that she garners, Karasuno is generally known as the team with the beautiful manager.

In her first appearance of the anime, she was seen wearing the girl's uniform for Karasuno High. Following the second episode of the anime, she's shown to be wearing a lavender colored tracksuit with a single lilac colored stripe that runs down on both sides for the sleeves and the pants. Moving onwards, she's most commonly seen wearing the volleyball manager's uniform.

During her days as a track athlete, as shown in a middle school flashback, she was shown wearing a sky-blue colored tracksuit with purple colored tennis shoes and cyan blue accents. She was not seen wearing the glasses she commonly wears, and she had her hair tied up in a ponytail.

At the point when Daichi had first recruited Kiyoko into being a team manager during their first year in high school, after she decided to retire from track, she was seen wearing her hair in two pigtails. Following her third year of high school, she would be seen to occasionally wear her hair loose or up in a ponytail.

In the post-timeskip, Kiyoko has chin length hair with bangs swept to the right side and she no longer wears her glasses or leggings.

Personality[]

Quiet and reserved at first glance, Kiyoko is generally known for her strict and straightforward disposition due to the simple fact that she's serious and passionate about her position as the volleyball club's team manager.

Although she appears aloof for the most part, she is shown to care a lot about the team members in the volleyball club. Even going as far as to fix and wash up Karasuno's banner in order to boost up the team's morale. Surprisingly enough, she's shown to be extremely shy, especially when it comes to giving a speech of encouragement, such as when she wished the volleyball team to do their best.

After Kiyoko recruits Hitoka Yachi as manager and that she later joins the volleyball team, she begins to open herself up a lot more and is seen smiling and talking more often, even cracking jokes to let Yachi ease up whenever the latter feels anxious.

It can also be noted that Kiyoko is surprisingly strong and capable, as she was quick enough to knock a ball flying towards Yachi without flinching, which more than likely may be due to her past as a track athlete.

Background[]

Kiyoko was previously a member of her middle school's track and field team, and her specialty was jumping over hurdles. As a result, she would injure her legs quite often, which would result in several scars. Because of the team's large size and her inability to talk to others, she wasn't necessarily close to any of the other members on the team. Moving onwards, she eventually decided to retire from the sport for unknown reasons.[2]

At the start of her first year at Karasuno, after retiring from track, she was soon recruited by Daichi to become the manager for the boys' volleyball team. Because she didn't know anything about volleyball, especially prior to becoming the manager, she mostly taught herself about everything involved with playing volleyball, such as the rules, regulations, referee signals, etc.

Plot[]

Karasuno High Team Formation Arc[]

On the first day of school, Kiyoko's shown handing the first-years' registration papers to Daichi.[3]

3-on-3 First Years Match[]

In the anime,[4] Kiyoko fully appears after Hinata and Kageyama are kicked out of the gym. In the manga,[5] she only appears on the day of the first-years match. Kiyoko later brings in the uniforms for the first-years.

At the end of the match, Daichi notes that he's glad things have finally been resolved. He thanks Sugawara and Kiyoko shares a look with the setter before they both place their hands on Daichi's shoulders, surprising him.

Aoba Johsai Practice Match[]

At Daichi's request, Kiyoko attempts to encourage Hinata right before the match, hoping to ease the first-year's anxiety. However, this only makes things worse after Hinata short-circuits.[6]

Nekoma Practice Match[]

Kiyoko joins the team in attending the practice match against Nekoma. Although she was unaware of it, she was the one who caused Yamamoto to lose his bet with Shibayama and Inuoka when he wagered his Häägen-Dazs ice cream (Yakisoba bread in the anime) on whether or not Karasuno had a female manager. Even though Yamamoto lost the bet, he still became infatuated with Kiyoko though she only acknowledged him in a greeting. During the match, she took careful notes of the scoring and things the team needed to work on.

Interhigh Arc[]

Karasuno vs Date Tech[]

Kiyoko helps the team during their pre-game warm-ups. Although she does not appear much during the first set, she is seen clapping when Asahi is able to get an attack in after Aone jumped to block Hinata when it looked like the middle blocker would get the set.

Karasuno vs Aoba Johsai[]

Before the match is about to begin, Takeda and Kiyoko are watching the warm-ups and Takeda notices that Oikawa takes good care of his teammates, which confuses Kiyoko. During the third set, Yamaguchi helps Kiyoko get towels for Karasuno.

Tokyo Expedition Arc[]

With the third-years deciding to stay on the team until the Spring Tournament, Kiyoko took it upon herself to find someone who would be interested in becoming the new manager for the volleyball team. Even with Hinata's help, she was unsuccessful in finding someone until she came across Yachi. Although Yachi had absentmindedly agreed to become a manager on a trial basis, Kiyoko was grateful and introduced Yachi to the team later, where she would reveal to them that she wanted to find someone who would continue to help the team grow once she had graduated.

Managers Group S2 E11

As she mentors Yachi, Kiyoko is noted to be more cheerful and relaxed. She is seen smiling and talking more often, to the joy of Tanaka and Nishinoya. During the training camps at Nekoma High and Shinzen High, Kiyoko continues to help Yachi gain more knowledge about volleyball by explaining technical terms and playing techniques. They both are seen helping the Karasuno players with team or individual practices and interacting with the managers of the other teams during the barbeque.

Spring High Preliminary Arc[]

Karasuno vs Johzenji[]

For most of Karasuno's matches to qualify for the Spring Tournament, Kiyoko is mostly seen carrying out her tasks as the manager by taking notes and helping the players with things they need. She did have one run-in with Johzenji captain Terushima who wanted her phone number but was saved by Hinata when he stepped in to help her when Tanaka and Nishinoya were not present. During the match, she mostly appears to take notes but at one point helped Kageyama when his nose began bleeding from having been hit by the ball when trying to block.

Karasuno vs Aoba Johsai[]

Kiyoko Yachi 1 s2 e20

Prior to the match starting, Kiyoko hears Yachi voice how she notices the team seems more quiet and serious than ever before. Kiyoko agrees with the younger girl and suspects it's due to the team preparing for their match against Seijoh and explains how Karasuno had previously lost to the during the Interhigh Tournament and the loss heavily weighed on many of them. When Karasuno was about to face Aoba Johsai in their second match against each other, Kiyoko protected Yachi from a ball that nearly hit her at the same time that Yahaba attempted to flirt with the first-year girl.

Karasuno vs Shiratorizawa[]

Trying to make Daichi feel better about having cried in his sleep on the bus home, Kiyoko admits that she once did that herself while mourning for the loss of her pet bird. During the fifth and final set, Kiyoko sees that Sugawara is nervous to play in as Karasuno's starting setter so she holds the outside of his hands to comfort him. As Kiyoko escorts Tsukishima out of the court to get his hand treated, Tsukishima is worried about how the game is going to turn out and Kiyoko assures him that the team won't have lost by the time he gets back.

Tokyo Nationals Arc[]

Kiyoko assists in helping gather the measurements of each individual player for the Spring Tournament pamphlet. She is so impressed at hearing Kageyama was invited to attend the All-Japan Youth Camp that she is rendered nearly speechless. For majority of the time before the Spring Tournament, Kiyoko is mostly seen fulfilling her duties as manager. She would later join Daichi, Sugawara, and Asahi in a visit to a local shrine for New Years. At hearing how the three men were asking the greater forces for luck during the tournament, Kiyoko is able to inspire them to have faith in their own abilities.

When the team arrives in Tokyo, Kiyoko is able to bond more with Yachi; revealing to the younger girl that she was a track athlete in middle school but had never been close to anyone on the team. From having gotten scars from jumping hurdles, Kiyoko began wearing leggings in order to cover them but got so use to wearing leggings that she continued wearing them even during the summer. From having such fun talking with Yachi, Kiyoko encourages them to spend more time together after the team claims their first victory.

Karasuno vs Tsubakihara[]

When a young boy had mistakenly taken Hinata's bag containing his sneakers, Kiyoko volunteered to go meet the boy and his mother at the gym the team had previously been practicing at and get the bag back. Yachi had offered to go instead but Kiyoko decided against it. She instead appoints Yachi to take her place as the team manager for the game as it would give the younger girl the chance to get used to being the team manager.

Kiyoko s4-e10-3

Kiyoko is able to meet the boy and his mother and get Hinata's shoes but misses the bus to return to the stadium. Because of this, Kiyoko is forced to run back to the stadium but knew she would make it back thanks to the speed and stamina she had accumulated from being a track athlete in middle school. Kiyoko is able to make it back to the stadium just as the team is about to go onto the court for the game and tosses Hinata's bag to Yachi. Hinata and Yamaguchi thank Kiyoko for her efforts. After the match, Kiyoko reunites with a relieved Yachi.

Karasuno vs Inarizaki[]

While Kiyoko is not shown much during the match, she does notice how some of the players are struggling against Inarizaki. During the first set, she sees how Tanaka is greatly affected from being repeatedly blocked and denied sets but showed support when he was finally able to make his cross-shot work; revealing to Takeda that she is fully aware of how strong Tanaka really is.

Tanaka and Kiyoko s4-e16-1

It would be during a flashback that her first encounter with Tanaka was revealed when she arrived in the gym and Tanaka, as a first-year, immediately fell in love and proposed to her only for Kiyoko to reject him.[7] When Tanaka was finally able to perform the cross shot and win the first set, Kiyoko confesses that she knows Tanaka will always be able to make it through things just fine. Kiyoko later is seen happily celebrating the team's victory when they won the match.

Karasuno vs Nekoma[]

As Karasuno plays against their fated rival, Kiyoko notices how stressed the Karasuno players become as the first set goes on due to Nekoma's great defense making Karasuno feel like they are unable to properly score.[8] After Asahi attempted a feint shot, Kiyoko feels confident that Karasuno will not give up attacking no matter how many times Nekoma is able to dig their spikes; acknowledging that the players of Karasuno have great pride and actually become more fired up when playing against a team with a strong defense.

When Kenma was able to use Karasuno's rotation and positions against them to win the first set, Kiyoko silently expresses her fear of knowing how their opponent was able to manipulate them so easily.[9] In the second set, Kiyoko notices how the team is not letting their exhaustion wear down their focus but also that Hinata in particular seems to be the most affected in the game thanks to Nekoma's tactics.

When Karasuno eventually won the match, Kiyoko is shown bowing in respect.

Karasuno vs Kamomedai[]

As Karasuno's match against Kamomedai is about to start, Kiyoko notices Kageyama writing something and Hinata explains how he keeps a volleyball journal, which surprises Kiyoko at and admits that she'd expect Kageyama to be more of a player that didn't think before he acted. During the game's third set, Hinata turns out to have a fever and Kiyoko rushes to get him medical aid. Tanaka asks Kiyoko if he could carry the medics aid bag and, after hesitating, she accepts. When they walk away together, Tanaka comments that the bag is surprisingly light, and Kiyoko reminds him that it's what she always says.

Shortly after the tournament, the third-years officially retire from the team and graduate high school. They are seen leaving while happily thanking their team and Ennoshita, in return, thanks them for all they did.[10]

Final Arc[]

Kiyoko is revealed to currently be working as a sports store employee and to have married Tanaka. She and Tanaka go to the Jackals and Alders game and reunite with several of their former teammates. She shares a look of surprise when seeing Hinata receive Kageyama's first serve. She and the former Karasuno players then proceed to welcome him back.

During the first set of the game, Kiyoko notices that Hinata's form has improved so well that she comments he looks similar to Ushijima and Asahi when they were at the peak of a game. After the game, Kiyoko is seen to no longer wear leggings and instead has embraced the scars she had received during her time as a track athlete; noting Yachi having once called scars badges of honor.

Later, Kiyoko and Tanaka watch the Olympic women's volleyball match and proudly support Kanoka during the game. With Daichi and Sugawara, they then watch the men's volleyball match and also receive a photo of Asahi and Nishinoya in Egypt.

Statistics[]

High School Statistics
Power
 
1/5
Jumping
 
4/5
Stamina
 
4/5
Game Sense
 
3/5
Technique
 
2/5
Speed
 
5/5

Being a former track member, Kiyoko has impressive speed, jumping, and stamina where she has fast reflexes that enable her to stop stray volleyballs from hitting her or Hitoka Yachi. As she did not know much about volleyball prior to joining the club, Kiyoko studied the sport mainly on her own and became incredibly knowledgeable on things such as the rules, referee hand signs, strategies, etc.

Relationships[]

Karasuno High[]

  • Shōyō Hinata: While Hinata is often flustered around her, Kiyoko usually is easy going around the first-year. She gratefully accepted his help when she was looking for a new manager and encouraged him to pass his classes as Karasuno needed their greatest decoy.
  • Hitoka Yachi:
    Kiyoko and Yachi s4-e10-1
    When Yachi becomes part of the team, Kiyoko is shown taking on a protective and mentoring role toward her. Kiyoko occasional uses jokes to try to relax the first-year manager although they tend to have the opposite effect due to Yachi's anxious nature. While they have not known each other long, Kiyoko and Yachi have developed a great friendship. Kiyoko has even shared her history in middle school to Yachi and enjoys having conversations with her.
  • Karasuno High: While she does not often state so, Kiyoko acknowledges how strong the Karasuno team is and that they are fully capable of anything they attempt. She shares in their disappointment when they were unable to defeat Seijoh during the Interhigh as well as their determination to become stronger, wherein she decided to find a new manager to continue helping the team once she graduated. She often does what she can to help inspire them, such as finding the previous team banner and helping gather information on opposing teams so that Karasuno will be as prepared as possible. When Karasuno was able to defeat Shiratorizawa, Kiyoko is seen crying in joy.
  • Ryūnosuke Tanaka:
    ImageShimizuTanaka

    Kiyoko and Ryūnosuke together

    The two first met when Tanaka was first trying out for the volleyball team in his first year. He had immediately proposed to Kiyoko when she had entered the gym and got rejected[11]. He continued to tirelessly pursue her throughout their time in high school, but Kiyoko repeatedly turned him down. Even though Kiyoko found Tanaka to be a bit much at times, she has stated that she knows how strong he can be and that he wouldn't let certain situations get him down. Kiyoko goes on to marry Tanaka sometime in the future after high school, which is revealed in the Final Arc when they went to see the Schweiden Adlers vs. Black Jackals game together.

Quotes[]

  • (To Yachi) "I think our team [Karasuno] is among the best in the prefecture."[13]
  • (To Yachi) "This time, we're [Karasuno] going to stand on the national stage."[13]
  • (To herself) "I may not stand on the court... I may not wear the uniform... But, right now, at this very moment... I stand with them on the front line of the battlefield."[14]
  • (Meaning that he behaves like a monkey; To herself) "A banana suits Tanaka."[15]
  • (To herself) "You train, keep training, then train some more. The countless hours you put in, the progress made... All of it can come to a screeching halt in the blink of an eye... So what if it does, though?"[14]
  • (To herself) "I cannot say that we will be the ones defeated, nor can I say with any certainty that we will stand victorious. All we can do is simply rise to the challenge."[14]
  • (To Asahi, Daichi and Sugawara) "You aren't going to win any games just because you prayed to the gods for it. It's going to be alright. Even if the gods aren't in your favor, you've got nothing to worry about."[16][17]

Trivia[]

  • Current Concern: Whether to have Jagarico (Japanese: じゃがりこ Jagariko) or Jagabee (Japanese: ジャガビー (じゃがびー) Jagabī) for her snack.
  • Star Sign: Capricorn.
  • In middle school, Kiyoko used to get cuts and bruises on her legs from running into hurdles. To hide them, she would wear black tights. Even after retiring from the sport, she continues to wear them out of habit.
  • Tōru Oikawa's high school concern lists Kiyoko as having ignored his advances before ("But she must just have been shy, and it's not like he's all that bothered by it, not even a little bit, not at all," Oikawa said to himself).
  • Furudate gave her this name because "I like the way 'Kiyoko' sounds. I managed to name her without much trouble."[18]
  • In Haikyuu's first popularity poll, Kiyoko ranked 13th with 2,460 votes.[19] In the second popularity poll, she dropped to 21st with 2,640 votes.[20] In the Takara Tomy Character Poll, she ranked 8th with 9,290 votes.
    • Likewise, the fake version of herself (Kiyoko Honda) was included and ranked 44th in Haikyuu's first popularity poll.[19] However, she did not rank in the second popularity poll.
  • Kiyoko owned a pet bird, but it is unknown if she still has it.[21]
  • When included with the other third-years, she is the youngest third-year on the team and is five days younger than Asahi.
  • Nomenclature:
    According to Taketora Yamamoto in Rival, he comments that her name means "clear spring water".
    • Kiyoko
      • 潔 (kiyo) – Virtue, Undefiled, Pure, Clean, Righteous, Gallant
      • 子 (ko) – Child
    • Shimizu
      • 清 (shi) – Clear, Pure, Clean
      • 水 (mizu) – Water
  • Her married name, Tanaka (Japanese: 田中), means "Ricefield Middle".

References[]

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