Takashi Yamazaki

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Takashi Yamazaki and Chiharu Mihara

is a fictional character in CLAMP's anime and manga series Cardcaptor Sakura.  He is known as Zachary in the English adaptation Cardcaptors.

Name

Takashi is almost always referred to by his family name, Yamazaki, as he is addressed as such by every character in the series. This is an example of common courtesy in Japanese culture, where individuals are addressed by their family name, until close familiarity allows the use of the given name. As such, all the girls in the series address each other by their given names because of their close friendship.

Character and Role

Yamazaki is one of Sakura Kinomoto's (Sakura Avalon in Cardcaptors) classmates in school. He is the only named male classmate in the series besides Syaoran Li (Li Showron) and Eriol Hiiragizawa (Eli Moon). He often appears alongside Sakura at school and during school events.

Yamazaki's defining trait in the series is his ability to fabricate highly detailed stories and histories about practically any subject. His inspiration is usually what he sees in front of him or the topic of the current conversation.

The series (especially the anime) uses Yamazaki's stories as a primary element of humor during school scenes. When he speaks, everyone listens, and the background music changes appropriately.

Yamazaki's stories do not last very long, as he is usually very promptly interrupted by classmate Chiharu Mihara (Chelsea). Chiharu is one of the very few classmates who never get fooled by Yamazaki's stories, and she disciplines his misleading of other students (especially Sakura and Syaoran) often by strangling his neck until he stops talking. Oddly, she is sometimes still unsuccessful and then resorts to dragging him away (by the collar).

Yamazaki gains a storytelling ally in Eriol when he joins the class in the second arc of the series. He and Eriol respond to each other's cues perfectly and can together enforce the false validity of their story by both appearing to have detailed knowledge of the subject. Here, Eriol's presence sometimes prevents Chiharu from effectively intervening and saving her classmates from a long-winded lie.

Another notable trait of Yamazaki is that he never opens his eyes (except for one time in Episode 64). This trait is identified by Meiling Li (Meilin Rae) in the third episode of Tomoyo's video diary specials (titled You're great, Sakura-chan! Tomoyo's Cardcaptor Sakura Action Video Diary 3) when Yamazaki mysteriously has his eyes open on occasion. Meiling's hypothesis is that Yamazaki's eyes are open only when he is telling the truth. This turns out later not to be the case.

Despite her rough-handling of him, Chiharu and Yamazaki are very fond of each other. They never show direct affection in the series, but subtle comments and thoughtful looks (from closed eyelids) implies a deep relationship between the two.

In Cardcaptors, to justify the random acts of strangling as mere sibling rivalry, Chelsea is written to be Zachary's cousin.

Yamazaki's birthday is 1 June.

NOTES:

It is said in the manga that Yamazaki and Chiharu are actually a couple or in some sort of puppy love mutual relationship. Often times, you will see Chiharu (even in the anime) giving chocolates to Yamazaki on white valentines day, baking for him, or bringing him lunch. In the manga Chiharu and Yamazaki go on dates and hold hands. Even though Yamazaki often jests, he cares very much for Chiharu and company. In season 3, he even tries to save Rika from drowning in fierce waves, another of Eriol's little tests for Sakura.

An act that Yamazaki in rare occasions can be sensitive and serious was in the manga when Sakura was down in regards to her feelings toward Syaoran, Yamazaki left for Chiharu and Sakura to talk, thus Chiharu explaining to Sakura the depth of her relationship with Yamazaki and him understanding that Sakura needs Chiharu's guidance and counseling thats why he left them two to talk rather than amuse them with his fictional stories.

Takashi in Tsubasa

Yamazaki makes an appearance in another of CLAMP's manga series in Piffle Country.

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