Fujiko Mine
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character
created by Monkey Punch
, for his Lupin III
series. Fujiko is a professional criminal, burglar and "confidence trickster".
In The Castle of Cagliostro
Fujiko states that she and Lupin had been lovers, but also that she ended the relationship .
Her name means "mountain peaks of Fuji".
She routinely makes deals with Zenigata or Lupin's current enemy in an attempt to gain freedom or loot. While Lupin normally is able to outsmart Fujiko, she is able to make off with some or all of his loot on occasion.
par excellence she exclusively works to serve her own interests, which usually conflict with Lupin's.
Frequently, these schemes involve her betraying Lupin to get close to the enemy, whom she intends on double-crossing at a later time as well (and sometimes, though rarely, help to extricate Lupin and the gang for the trouble she put them into, as if to atone for her misdeed). This never seems to bother Lupin, however. In the 2004 TV special, Stolen Lupin, he remarked, "Betrayal is the exclusive right of women." In the 1995 movie Farewell to Nostradamus
, he told Fujiko (who had lost her memory) he almost looks forward to her betraying him.
Jigen
despises Fujiko, and sees her showing up as a sign of rough times ahead, although originally, all three of the men were after her. Goemon
has been known to work with Fujiko on capers when it is to his benefit, but can be equally distrustful of her when he thinks she is manipulating Lupin.
Lupin is completely infatuated
with Fujiko, and will do anything for her. While Fujiko uses this, she never gets Lupin into any trouble he cannot get out of. The creator of the series has said that the two "enjoy each other", and are quite content with their bizarre yet amicable relationship, comparing it to his own marriage.
Fujiko does exhibit feelings of love for Lupin, but usually only if she thinks one (or both) of them are dying. On occasions where Lupin appears to have died, she grieves and has even stated that her life has no meaning without him. However, her attitude always reverts at once when she finds him alive.
Her hobbies seem to be sunbathing, dancing, travel, shopping, swimming, other water sports, and hobnobbing with the rich and famous. An excellent shot, she usually outfits herself with a Browning M1910. Like the other members of Lupin's team, she is able to pilot virtually any land, sea, and air vehicle, with her personal preference being a Kawasaki
motorcycle. Fujiko's preferred drink is champagne; she occasionally smokes cigarettes and on rare occasions a bamboo kiseru
.
, as hinted by the Lupin III TV episode, "An Assassin Sings the Blues".
During the episode, Lupin's sidekick Jigen recalls a story of the Golden Couple; a partnership formed between a mysterious female assassin and the notorious Killer Pun. The couple was famous for carrying out contract killings without failure.
However, the partnership ended abruptly when Pun's employer ordered the woman's execution. Pun failed to kill the woman, due to emotional attachment, and she disappeared.
Furthermore, Lupin and Jigen were led to believe that Fujiko suffers from amnesia
. Fujiko claims not to remember anything prior the three years she first met Lupin. The timing of her memory loss coincided with the disappearance of Pun's partner. Her connection with Pun was later confirmed in the episode.
Fujiko invests a lot of time in get-rich-quick schemes, some of which fail miserably and inevitably leads her to manipulate Lupin for help.
She is also proficient in disguise, handling of firearms, martial arts and professional theft. All of these aforementioned attributes portray Fujiko as a stereotypical femme fatale
.
In Azumanga Daioh
, Tomo Takino
is a fan of the anime series Lupin III and says that she admires Fujiko. She constantly makes references to herself as Fujiko Mine, despite the fact the two are totally different in looks and personality.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by Monkey Punch
Monkey Punch
Monkey Punch is the pen name of Japanese manga artist Kazuhiko Katō , creator of the successful Japanese manga series Lupin III...
, for his Lupin III
Lupin III
, also known as Lupin the 3rd, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiko Kato under the pen name of Monkey Punch. The story follows the adventures of a gang of thieves led by Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of...
series. Fujiko is a professional criminal, burglar and "confidence trickster".
In The Castle of Cagliostro
The Castle of Cagliostro
is a 1979 Japanese animated film co-written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is one of the films featuring master thief Arsène Lupin III.The second animated Lupin III movie and arguably the best known, Castle of Cagliostro was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, who also co-directed the first...
Fujiko states that she and Lupin had been lovers, but also that she ended the relationship .
Her name means "mountain peaks of Fuji".
She routinely makes deals with Zenigata or Lupin's current enemy in an attempt to gain freedom or loot. While Lupin normally is able to outsmart Fujiko, she is able to make off with some or all of his loot on occasion.
Personality
Fujiko is not part of Lupin's gang, but often participates in Lupin's exploits. However, as a grifterConfidence trick
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
par excellence she exclusively works to serve her own interests, which usually conflict with Lupin's.
Frequently, these schemes involve her betraying Lupin to get close to the enemy, whom she intends on double-crossing at a later time as well (and sometimes, though rarely, help to extricate Lupin and the gang for the trouble she put them into, as if to atone for her misdeed). This never seems to bother Lupin, however. In the 2004 TV special, Stolen Lupin, he remarked, "Betrayal is the exclusive right of women." In the 1995 movie Farewell to Nostradamus
Farewell to Nostradamus
, sometimes also referred to as To Hell With Nostradamus, was a 1995 movie. It is the fourth feature film in the Lupin III franchise. The North American release was done by FUNimation; it was released individually and later made a part of the "Final Haul" box set.-Plot:A simple diamond heist leads...
, he told Fujiko (who had lost her memory) he almost looks forward to her betraying him.
Jigen
Daisuke Jigen
is a fictional character in Monkey Punch's Lupin III series.-Abilities:Jigen is master thief Arsène Lupin III's marksman. He can perform a 0.3-second quick-draw and has an accuracy that borders on superhuman; he can shoot skeet with a handgun, explode a missile before it hits by targeting the...
despises Fujiko, and sees her showing up as a sign of rough times ahead, although originally, all three of the men were after her. Goemon
Goemon Ishikawa XIII
is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his Lupin III series. Goemon is the thirteenth generation of renegade samurai, a descendant of the historical figure Ishikawa Goemon...
has been known to work with Fujiko on capers when it is to his benefit, but can be equally distrustful of her when he thinks she is manipulating Lupin.
Lupin is completely infatuated
Infatuation
Infatuation is the state of being completely carried away by unreasoned passion or love: 'expresses the headlong libidinal attraction' of addictive love...
with Fujiko, and will do anything for her. While Fujiko uses this, she never gets Lupin into any trouble he cannot get out of. The creator of the series has said that the two "enjoy each other", and are quite content with their bizarre yet amicable relationship, comparing it to his own marriage.
Fujiko does exhibit feelings of love for Lupin, but usually only if she thinks one (or both) of them are dying. On occasions where Lupin appears to have died, she grieves and has even stated that her life has no meaning without him. However, her attitude always reverts at once when she finds him alive.
Her hobbies seem to be sunbathing, dancing, travel, shopping, swimming, other water sports, and hobnobbing with the rich and famous. An excellent shot, she usually outfits herself with a Browning M1910. Like the other members of Lupin's team, she is able to pilot virtually any land, sea, and air vehicle, with her personal preference being a Kawasaki
Kawasaki
-Places:*Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japanese city**Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, a ward in Kawasaki, Kanagawa***Kawasaki Stadium, a multi-sport stadium***Kawasaki Station, a train station***Keikyū Kawasaki Station, a train station*Kawasaki, Fukuoka, Japanese town...
motorcycle. Fujiko's preferred drink is champagne; she occasionally smokes cigarettes and on rare occasions a bamboo kiseru
Kiseru
is a Japanese smoking pipe traditionally used for smoking kizami, a finely shredded tobacco product resembling human hair.The word kiseru comes from the Khmer word "ksher"....
.
Background
Fujiko's professional background is most likely connected with Japanese organized crimeOrganized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
, as hinted by the Lupin III TV episode, "An Assassin Sings the Blues".
During the episode, Lupin's sidekick Jigen recalls a story of the Golden Couple; a partnership formed between a mysterious female assassin and the notorious Killer Pun. The couple was famous for carrying out contract killings without failure.
However, the partnership ended abruptly when Pun's employer ordered the woman's execution. Pun failed to kill the woman, due to emotional attachment, and she disappeared.
Furthermore, Lupin and Jigen were led to believe that Fujiko suffers from amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
. Fujiko claims not to remember anything prior the three years she first met Lupin. The timing of her memory loss coincided with the disappearance of Pun's partner. Her connection with Pun was later confirmed in the episode.
Abilities
Fujiko is intelligent, crafty and often uses seduction as a tool for getting what she wants from unsuspecting men; usually men with influence and wealth.Fujiko invests a lot of time in get-rich-quick schemes, some of which fail miserably and inevitably leads her to manipulate Lupin for help.
She is also proficient in disguise, handling of firearms, martial arts and professional theft. All of these aforementioned attributes portray Fujiko as a stereotypical femme fatale
Femme fatale
A femme fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art...
.
Origins
In the manga, Fujiko originally arrives in the third chapter of the first volume, thus being the first of Lupin's three associates to arrive. She initially appears as a con woman attempting to worm her way into the fortune of a rich family, whose heir has hired Lupin as security. Immediately upon arriving, she recognizes Lupin through his disguise somehow, and by the end of the arc, Lupin has sided with her to rob the entire family.Popularity
In 2007, Oricon magazine polled readers on which characters they would most like to see in their own series. Fujiko appeared in the seventh position on the female polls, and fifth place overall. The magazine company also asked their readers in the very same year who they believed is the most beautiful woman in manga. Fujiko Mine was crowned the title by scoring first place overall with high rankings from both male and female voters. She was voted as the 2nd most iconic anime heroine from Mania.comIn Azumanga Daioh
Azumanga Daioh
is a Japanese comedy manga by Kiyohiko Azuma. It was serialized by MediaWorks in the shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh from 1999 to 2002 and collected in four bound volumes...
, Tomo Takino
Tomo Takino
is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Azumanga Daioh. Tomo is voiced by Chieko Higuchi and by Tomoe Hanba in a Azumanga Web Daioh short episode. In the English version Mandy Clark voices Tomo. Tomo's surname means 'waterfall field.'...
is a fan of the anime series Lupin III and says that she admires Fujiko. She constantly makes references to herself as Fujiko Mine, despite the fact the two are totally different in looks and personality.
External links
- Fujiko Mine in the Lupin III Encyclopedia