Shinobu Miyake

Shinobu could be described as a petite, wide-eyed school girl. Very thoughtful, romantic and often full of melancholy. Shinobu is usually very sweet and kind, that is until you cross her. Like Lum, Shinobu has quite a jealous streak and a quick temper. Shinobu really has a tendency to over-react to the littlest things and goes into a conniption fit whenever things get too weird. Anytime Shinobu becomes angry, frightened or excited, she seems to gain infinite strength. She then goes into a screaming berserker rage, most often throwing desks and other types of furniture. This power stems from her jealousy of Lum when she was going out with Ataru, but it stuck with her long after she lost all romantic interest in him. This strength is one example of how Lum's presence effects Tomobiki. Thanks to Lum, Shinobu is one of the most physically powerful characters in Urusei Yatsura.

Shinobu is really a sweet girl, but she has just about the worst luck in the world with men.

At the very beginning Shinobu was Ataru's girlfriend. Ataru and Shinobu had been together since they were kids. She stuck by him, despite his horrible behaviour.

Early on in the series, Shinobu finally begins to lose interest in Ataru. There are mainly three reasons for this. She got tired of Ataru constantly jilting her, Lum was constantly causing aggravation for Shinobu, but mostly because Shutaro Mendo came along. Shinobu was immediately captivated by this suave and handsome rich boy. Throughout the whole series Shinobu persues Mendo's love but with only moderate success. It's obvious that Mendo has some feelings for her, but Shinobu knows that he wants Lum more. It takes her a while, but soon Shinobu gets over Mendo since she begins to see how Mendo isn't much different from Ataru. Even after all that Shinobu still likes Ataru and Mendo, but only as friends.

As Shinobu searches for love it starts to look like the only guys who have any interest in her are creeps and weirdos. Near the end of the series when Shinobu loses all hope along comes a bumbling but kind-hearted young man in a rabbit costume named Inaba. He loved her from the moment he met her and soon Shinobu begins to learn to let go and falls for the earnest young man.

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The Meaning Behind the Name - 三宅しのぶ

Shinobu (しのぶ) is a common Japanese name that means "to endure" (忍ぶ) and she truly has endured a lot. However her first name is not written with any kanji so that would be implying a term simply from the sound. Miyake (三宅) means "three residences" which has no particular meaning in the case of the character, its simply a common Japanese name.

Voices: Saeko Shimazu Saeko has a good range and distinctive sound. She has played the voice of Kuroki in Maison Ikkoku, Kodachi Kuno in Ranma 1/2, Abi in Inuyasha, Yuri from The Dirty Pair and other roles in such anime as El Hazard and All Purpose Cultural Cat-Girl Nuku Nuku.

Maaya Uchida In the 2022 version of Urusei Yatsura Shinobu is played by Maaya Uchida. Best known for her roles as Yuki Yoshino in Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Lilliluka Arde in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Hitomi Tadano in Komi Can't Communicate and Kaguya Yamai in Date A Live.

Cat Thomas In the 2022 version of Urusei Yatsura Shinobu is played by Cat Thomas (pictured), who has portrayed Itsuki Sumeragi in Kakegurui, Faputa in Made in Abyss, Anne in Food Wars!, Yui Yuigahama in My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU and Shalamy in Helck. In the films Shinobu was portrayed by Danielle Sullivan and in Beautiful Dreamer she was played by Jeannette Ann Wallace.