Yukie (ゆきえ) is Kumiko's aunt and the former girlfriend of Mr. Miyagi. Yukie is a secondary protagonist in The Karate Kid Part II.
Yukie was portrayed by the late Nobu McCarthy.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Yukie probably born in 1925, in the village of Okinawa, her family was the poorest in the village. As a teenager, she was best friends with Mr. Miyagi.
In 1940, Miyagi fallen in love with Yukie who was betrothed to his best friend, Sato. Mr. Miyagi talks about how he was young and foolish and had told the entire village that he was going to marry Yukie despite her parents wishes. Sato, whose karate teacher was also Mr. Miyagi's father, challenged his friend to a duel to the death. Mr. Miyagi chose to leave rather than fight his best friend.
The Karate Kid Part II[]
Yukie is happy to see Mr. Miyagi and reveals that after Miyagi had left, she hadn't married Sato. Mr. Miyagi reconciles with Yukie in 1985, saying he's sorry for leaving her. She tells him that she'd never married because of Mr. Miyagi's conflict with Sato. Daniel and Kumiko later see Mr. Miyagi and Yukie engaged in an ancient tea ceremony where they declare their love for each other.
The Karate Kid Part III[]
Yukie did not end up accompanying Mr. Miyagi back to the United States, possibly because she was Kumiko's legal guardian and Kumiko had to stay in Japan so she could focus on her dance career. It is possible that Mr. Miyagi did rekindle his relationship with Yukie in the decades before he passed away, though this is just speculation.
Cobra Kai[]
In season 3, it is revealed that Yukie had gotten ill when Kumiko came home to Okinawa after her years of performing abroad and Yukie had passed away. Her letter which she received from Mr. Miyagi was read by Kumiko to Daniel and learned that if a person does good to someone else, good will return to you.
Behind the scenes[]
The character of Yukie was a last minute addition to the film. Originally the love interest of Nariyoshi Miyagi was intended to be a woman born to a Japanese mother and a British father, and the producers had in mind British actress Lynne Frederick. The script for the second film would have had Mr. Miyagi fleeing over the stigma of his younger self professing his love for a hapa, or half-Japanese woman. Frederick, who had retired from acting in 1978, expressed interest in the part, but ultimately decided against coming out of retirement as she had a small daughter to care for.
Trivia[]
- Yukie and Miyagi's song was the same song that Mr. Miyagi shared with his wife.