Nodoka Miyazaki

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Nodoka Miyazaki
Negima! Magister Negi Magi character
Image:Nodoka.jpg
Nodoka as depicted in the manga
Created by Ken Akamatsu
Voiced by Mamiko Noto (Japanese)
Leah Clark (English)
Portrayed by Miyū Wagawa
Profile
Aliases Honya
Age 14/15
Gender Female
Species Human
Date of birth May 10, 1988(1988-05-10)
Height 153cm (5')
Measurements 78cm - 58cm - 78cm
(31" - 23" - 31")
Blood type O
Hair color Purple
Blue (Negima!?)
Eye color Blue
Red-violet (Negima!?)
Class information
Class section 2/3-A
Class student number 27
Preceded by Evangeline A.K. McDowell
Followed by Natsumi Murakami
Negi Love Ranking 1st (Point Total: 57)

Nodoka Miyazaki (宮崎 のどか Miyazaki Nodoka?) is a fictional character from the manga series Negima!: Magister Negi Magi, created by Ken Akamatsu. The 27th student in Japanese alphabetical order of class 2/3-A, this shy, introverted bookworm falls for Negi at first sight after (literally) falling for him and tries to go beyond her emotions to win his heart. Eventually, Nodoka becomes a major ally of Negi's team, gaining a Pactio ability in reading minds and attempting to learn magic all in the name of winning Negi (even at the possible cost of losing her friend, fellow Library Exploration Club member Yue Ayase).

Contents

[edit] Personality

Nodoka is the shy bookworm of the class. Even her own name means "quiet", "tranquil", or "calm".[1] As a member of the Library Exploration Group, she spends plenty of time in the library and helps in the book store. Her involvement with books gives her the nickname of "librarian girl" or "bookshop" (本屋ちゃん Hon'ya-chan in the original Japanese: Del Rey translates it as "librarian girl" or "Librarian-chan", and also by the literal meaning "Bookstore", while Tong Li and Chuang Yi translate it as "Bookshop"). Initially, she uses her hair to cover her eyes completely. As her confidence grew, her hairstyling changed, to the point where both eyes are visible, allowable by a short ponytail. She is among the highest-scoring students in her grade, placing 20th for the entire school at her grade level and fourth in her own class.

[edit] Character Design

Ken Akamatsu occasionally adjusts characters and traits from previous manga and uses for a new character design. Nodoka Miyazaki is stated by him to be similar to Shinobu Maehara[citation needed], the young, shy female from his previous manga Love Hina. Though closer in age to the students in the class, Nodoka is similar with a similar "helmet" hairstyle and shy, insecure personality (without the violent tendencies Shinobu developed later in the series). However, Akamatsu chose to further emphasize this by allowing for her frontal bangs to be much longer to the point of covering her eyes, both to show her shy nature and because he believed it appeared much cuter. Certain sketches also show Nodoka with one of her eyes revealed from under the bangs, a trademark both to show her coming out of her shell as well as a perspective of her own version of eye contact. During development of Negima, her name was originally Meiko Miyazaki.[citation needed]

In the story, Nodoka is almost immediately connected and brought into play with the main character and the magical world surrounding him. Unlike many of the other females whose interest with the new teacher are a superficial crushes or infatuations, Nodoka is the first to hold stronger feelings towards him and attempt to express them, instead of simply being an ordinary student. Through these feelings, she initially discovers magic, by becoming Negi's second Pactio contract and after being thrust into the chaos during the Kyoto Field Trip arc. Her character grows rather significantly compared to many of the characters. Despite the strangeness of magic and her own obsession with Negi, Nodoka shows some adaptability, yet retains some of her initially introverted personality. Aside from Negi, she usually interacts with her fellow Library Exploration Club members, particularly Yue and Haruna. As Nodoka discovers Yue's simultaneous feelings towards Negi, she gives comfort to her emotionally distressed friend.[2]

[edit] Part in the Story

Despite having no interest in the opposite sex, Nodoka developed feelings for Negi after he saved her when she fell down some steps. During the second day of Kyoto field trip, Nodoka, after gaining the courage to do so, eventually confessed her love to Negi. However, due to Negi still being a kid, he didn't know how to properly respond to the confession. So he suggested that they should start off as friends, which Nodoka accepted. Afterwards, Yue tripped her, causing her to fall and kiss Negi, making her the winner of the "Kiss Negi" contest.

As a result of winning the "Kiss Negi" contest, Nodoka became the second student to make a probationary contract with Negi, if inadvertently. Actually, she would have been the first person to make a contract to Negi (thanks to Chamo's scheme, telling Negi that she was being kidnapped after putting a fake love letter from Negi in her locker) but was interrupted by Asuna after she discovered Chamo's true intention. Her magical artifact is the "Diarium Ejus", a diary that shows the thoughts of any person she speaks the name of. A humorous joke concerning her artifact is that her fantasies about Negi are also shown, including thoughts of French-kissing him. During the first day of the festival, she invited him to a date where she gained enough courage to kiss him a second time, after some very unfortunate yet insane events (of which including Negi becoming possessed with the power of the World Tree, followed by fighting and kissing Asuna). Negi was surprised, but he seemed to have enjoyed the kiss, thinking later that Nodoka's lips were soft and that it was very different from his Pactio kisses.

Nodoka decides to start partaking in magical studies after her friend Yue discovers Negi's secret and decides to take magic lessons with him. Although she wants to learn it for her own interest and defense, it is possible she chose to take part to do the lessons due to jealousies of Yue's blossoming feelings for Negi. Using the abilities of Evangeline's resort (where they are able to partake a day's lessons in one hour normal time), Nodoka becomes able to use magic on her own sufficiently, but she even admits that Yue is more skilled and further ahead in magical proficiency.

During the Wilhelm incident, Nodoka was one of many girls who were initially kidnapped by Wilhelm and the Slime sisters, only for them to escape and assist Negi in the battle. For Nodoka, she and Yue used the sealing jar that Kotarou gave to Negi to seal away Wilhelm's henchmen, the Slime Sisters.

During the third day of the Mahora Festival she was part of the group that was caught in the time-trap set by Chao, along with Negi. After escaping from an alternate future she became part of the group fighting Chao's robot army in the Mars Attacks Vs Mage Order 'game'. As they made their way towards Chao, Negi was nearly struck by the time-warping bullets fired from a Tanaka robot. Nodoka saves Negi by pushing him out of the way and taking the hit. Immediately, Negi tries to use the Cassiopeia, which is the only thing that can cancel the effect of the bullets, but she pleads with him to go on because she believes that she can't be of any help to the situation. She disappears, but Chamo assures a stunned Negi that she is safe and will be waiting for him 3 hours in the future, which she does at the end of the battle.

Following the events of the Mahora Festival, Nodoka becomes concerned about her relationships with both Negi and Yue. Thanks to an incident that took place during the second day of the Festival, she has become aware that Yue also has feelings for Negi, but is afraid that these feelings will tear apart her friendship. As a result, Nodoka wants to avoid a bitter love triangle situation and wants to be sure that both she and Yue can be in love with Negi while still being able to remain friends. Unfortunately, after seeing Yue understand the problems that Negi's having during the festival, Nodoka becomes jealous of Yue and begins to question what her true desire is when it comes to Negi. After confessing to Misora about this situation, Nodoka uses the Diarium Ejus to discover what she really wants, and is shocked to see that the first solution that comes to mind is her and Yue being part of a threesome with Negi. However, she immediately rejects this possibility.

She and the other members of the Library Exploration Club were invited to travel with Negi to Wales (with them finding out about it when they overheard Negi offering the invitation to go to Wales, with Nodoka and Yue mistaking it for a love confession). She furthered her studies in magic along with Yue in Evangeline's Resort in preparation for the trip. There, she, Yue and Konoka practiced simple telekinetic exercises, which include pushing over pencils and erasers from a distance using psychic waves. Negi applauded the three in their progress and predicted they will be ready to begin casting magical arrows within 78 hours. With the trip scheduled to begin within 2 weeks, Nodoka and Yue decide to tour the summer festival. However they were both the primary targets of Yuna, Ako, Makie and Akira in Evangeline's Badge Collection game, since they were seen as the weakest of Negi's group to England. Thanks to some fancy magic tricks from Yue the two of them manage to give Yuna and the other sports girls the slip. Nodoka then invokes a new variation of her Pactio artifact. Her Diarium Ejus split apart into 4 smaller, notebook versions of itself, allowing her to read the thoughts of Yuna, Makie, Ako and Akira simultaneously. This allowed them to stay several steps ahead of their pursuers.

During an outing to the beach, she and Yue are present when Negi's old friend Anya makes a sudden appearance, with Anya later befriending the two after she joins them at a hotel hot spring and noticing their chest sizes are similar to hers (even though she was initially unaware of how both girls not only have romantic feelings for Negi, but have also made Pactios with him). When last seen, she and the rest of the White Wing club have just entered the Magic World, with her (and a few other students) watching from a nearby terrace the fight between the "fighter" members of the White Wing and Fate's group. However she could do nothing but watch as Fate succeeded in destroying the gateway, causing a massive explosion of displacement magic, which in turn scattered her and the rest of the White Wing members all across the magic world. She is currently the third-most wanted person for questioning in Negi's group (after Negi and Asuna) for the attack on the gatepost. Currently, she is with a group of treasure hunters, who value her experience in detecting hidden traps. Nodoka received a ring that shows her the name of anyone, during the group's most recent expedition. She then later sends a letter to Ako and the other girls telling them that she will be meeting up with them soon. Later on she acquired an item called a "reading ear", which resembles a hearing aid and actually recites the words that appear in her artifact when using it so she doesn't have to actually read them, allowing her to focus her attention elsewhere.

[edit] Abilities

Official Pactio of Nodoka Miyazaki
  • Pactio: Diarium Ejus: Nodoka gained a picture diary that can read the inner thoughts of people, and prints those thoughts into words and images. This is very useful in a variety of situations, including combat and information gathering, (especially for interrogations, though Nodoka is reluctant to forcibly read the inner thoughts of others - she always apologizes afterwards). This artifact is considered to be very powerful and its potential for misuse is considerable. However, the reason why Nodoka received the book may be because her innocent personality prevents her from abusing it. There are two drawbacks to take note. First, is that in order to read the thoughts of a person, she needs to know his/her name and second, the person's mind that the she wishes to read has to be within a 5-point radius of her. Its range might be further now, since Nodoka was able to read Yue's mind when she went chasing after her in the lower levels at Library Island. If she does not use the diary or not call a name, it will read her mind automatically by default, much to her embarrassment.
  • As a note, Nodoka does not have to meet a person to read their mind. In volume 9, chapter 74, Nodoka uses her book to read the mind of Sayo Aisaka, seat number one and resident ghost of class 3-A. Since Nodoka had never actually met Sayo we can say that she just needs to know the name of who she is contacting, or at the very least, just need to know what they look like (which is possible in Sayo's case since her photo is in the class register).
  • The images that appear in her diary are usually simplistic with very poor details. Evangeline even commented that the pictures were not very realistic. Whether this is a property of the artifact or based on Nodoka's perceptions is unclear, but these depictions have led to some misunderstandings (such as the case of Sayo Aisaka, in which the bad drawings depicted her as some kind of blood-thirsty spirit).
  • The fact that Nodoka was unable to use the book to read the minds of some robots that Negi and his crew confronted during the third day of the School Festival suggests that the book's mind-reading abilities can only be used on non-artificial beings (either living or ghosts). Whether it can work on artificial beings powered by magic like Chachamaru or Chachazero is unknown.
  • While she is reading the book, Nodoka becomes unaware of anything happening in her surroundings (when she was reading Negi's thoughts during the fight with Kotaro at the Shinto gates, she was completely oblivious to the fact that said battle was occurring directly behind her). This could be due to her being so engrossed in what is occurring in the book, she forgets about everything else. Though later it appears that she has mostly gotten over this weakness, as seen when she used her multi-version of the Diarium Ejus to get away from the sports girls and when trying to read Sayo's mind.
  • A new power is revealed in chapter 177 when Nodoka and Yue were pursued by the Sports Girls during the Badge Collection game. The book can be split into several smaller, notebook versions of itself. By doing so, Nodoka could read the thoughts of more than one person simultaneously, though only words can be printed, not images. This gives her a tactical edge against multiple opponents.
  • When in use, the book levitates and turns its own pages as the thoughts of the target person are read. Normally, the pages are blank until the thoughts of the target person are read and displayed. Closing the book automatically stops the mind-reading process. Nodoka can also edit the words and images that appear, as if she were using a word processor. So far, it has been shown that she can delete text and images in the book, simply by pointing with her index finger and using the proper incantation, (Deletus). The total amount of information that can be stored is unknown, though Nodoka has been using her artifact to record her own thoughts like a regular diary. It is possible that the book has other abilities that have yet to be shown, as Nodoka continues to learn about magic and her artifact.
  • When it comes to the origins of the Diarium Ejus, the following passage appears (in Japanese) as part of the instructions on how to use the book (as seen in volume 5, chapter 38):

This book was created in 1459, the masterpiece of (blocked) Shantoto. Its purpose was to act as an aid to (blocked) and his magi, and can also be used as an art (blocked) in the hands of one who would abuse the power.[3]
  • Along with the Diarium Ejus, Nodoka is also able to use her Pactio card to summon books that relate to the Artes Liberales. So far, these books have only been used by Nodoka as an offensive weapon (more specifically, to drop on Haruna when she used her Pactio item to make "dark" and "ero" versions of Nodoka). However, it is possible that these books, along with the Kinder- und Hausmärchen book that also appears on her Pactio card, may have unique powers of their own.
  • Magical Abilities Though she has yet to demonstrate any proficiency with spell-casting, she has claimed that she had completed the studying portion if not the practical portion. She is also currently carrying a training wand, though she is only using it for practice to cast spells.
  • Encyclopedic Knowledge As she is among the highest test-scoring students in Negi's class, plus being a member of the Library Exploration Club, Nodoka possesses a wide range of knowledge over a variety of subjects (such as knowing the 5-second rule in dodgeball).
  • Hidden Trap Detection Due to her membership in the Library Exploration Club, Nodoka is experienced in spotting the signs of booby traps and such. This skill comes in handy with the group of treasure hunters she is currently traveling with.
  • Comptina Daemonia To offset the weakness of having to know the target person's name, in order to read his/her mind with the Diarium Ejus, Nodoka has a magic ring which will show the name of any person she encounters.
  • Aurisu Recitansu To amplify her mind-reading abilities, Nodoka receives an earpiece that serves as a Bluetooth device for the Diarium Ejus. By putting a clip on the Diarium Ejus, Nodoka can use the earpiece to listen in on the thoughts of others. Along with a clip for her book, Nodoka received a few more clips as well, although their purpose is yet to be known.

[edit] Nodoka in Other Media

[edit] Mahō Sensei Negima! (1st Anime)

Although she gains the same Pactio as the manga, she becomes the third student in the class to gain it and the first of the infamous "Mass Pactio". Like the Manga, during the dodgeball game with the high school girls she is saved from being hit by Asuna. However unlike the manga she turns around and gets hit a little later in the head and is knocked out of the game, which is considered an illegal hit in the official dodgeball rule book. She was also slightly haunted by Sayo before her discovery. Also, she initially has a mild case of androphobia (fear of men) in this series.

[edit] Negima!?

Nodoka showing off Library Island in "Negima!?"
Nodoka showing off Library Island in "Negima!?"

As always, Nodoka is smitten with Negi at first sight and coaxed by her Library Club friends to go after him. She finds out about Negi's secret after noticing his removal of some "dark spores". Then she becomes trapped in a hedge maze trap with Negi and Asuna. There, she becomes the second girl to make a Pactio with Negi. After becoming one of Negi's partners, she began assisting Negi in various tasks relating to the search of the Star Crystal (from trying to find information about a crystal that appeared when Negi sealed a plant-like fairy to assisting him in his search for "dark spores").

While Negi and his class was stuck in the ruined version of Mahora, Nodoka, along the rest of the Library Trio, was part of the "research" group that focused on finding a way out of this world, the significance of the three crystals that appeared whenever Negi sealed a fairy, and the connection of the girls that were possessed by the fairies to attack Negi and those students who have made Pactio with him.

When it comes to her Pactio abilities, Nodoka's Cosplay card gives her a similar diary as the manga, yet also gives Nodoka a pair of glasses to enhance her features in this form. Her Armor ability is a more powerful set of books that determine an enemy's weakness, with being somewhat of a combination of her manga Pactio item and Yue's Pactio item in the manga. Finally, she also gains a Suka form that turns her into a seal.

Though she continues her admiration towards Negi, the feelings between her and Yue are briefly explored in this series, both as friends and romantic rivals for Negi. As an added note, her hair color is switched with Yue's with Nodoka having blue hair and Yue having purple hair. Also, her hair is bouncier; and most of the time, both of her eyes are exposed. They are only covered mostly when she looks down or in her Suka form.

As for additional character traits for Nodoka in this series, Shichimi later hangs around Nodoka after she commented on how the cat was very cute. Also, thanks to an anonymous person taking a picture of her during Mahora's School Festival, Nodoka is unknowingly the most popular "web idol" on the Internet, much to Chisame's dismay.

[edit] Reception

In a Ken Akamatsu exclusive, "Who likes Negi the most" poll (similar to the one Chamo had made), Nodoka placed first on the list.[4]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ English to Japanese to English Dictionary. FreeDict.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-17.
  2. ^ Akamatsu, Ken (2006). Negima! Magister Negi Negi Vol 14. Del Ray. ISBN 978-0-345-49614-0. 
  3. ^ A complete, unblocked version of the "history text" is included in the "limited edition" version of the Japanese version of Negima volume 19, which came with a dust jacket that resembles the cover of the Diarium Ejus.
  4. ^ http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/6995/1191474655224jc3.jpg


Negima! by Ken Akamatsu
Series: Negima!: Magister Negi Magi | Negima!?
Characters
Class 2/3-A Roster
(Listed in alphabetical order according to surname. Numbers refer to official student numbers.
Those with links have their own individual articles. For other students, follow the "Students" links below.)

Homeroom Teacher: Negi Springfield
Sayo Aisaka (#1)
Yuna Akashi (#2)
Kazumi Asakura (#3)
Yue Ayase (#4)
Chao Lingshen (#19)
Kū Fei* (#12)
Satomi Hakase (#24)
Chisame Hasegawa (#25)
Ako Izumi (#5)
Asuna Kagurazaka (#8)
Misa Kakizaki (#7)
Chachamaru Karakuri (#10)
Misora Kasuga (#9)
Konoka Konoe (#13)
Madoka Kugimiya (#11)
Evangeline A.K. McDowell (#26)
Nodoka Miyazaki (#27)
Natsumi Murakami (#28)
Chizuru Naba (#21)
Kaede Nagase (#20)
Fuka Narutaki (#22)
Fumika Narutaki (#23)
Akira Okochi (#6)
Zazie Rainyday (#31)
Setsuna Sakurazaki (#15)
Haruna Saotome (#14)
Makie Sasaki (#16)
Sakurako Shiina (#17)
Mana Tatsumiya (#18)
Satsuki Yotsuba (#30)
Ayaka Yukihiro (#29)
 
*Listed between Chao and Satomi because of Pinyin pronunciation of name (Gǔ Fēi).
2/3-A Students 1–15 | 2/3-A Students 16–31 | Kotaro Inugami | Nagi Springfield
Other information
Episode list | Magic | Items and artifacts | Music | Pactio | Shinmei-Ryū