Yaeko Nishimiya

Yaeko Nishimiya (西宮 八重子, Nishimiya Yaeko) is a supporting character in the Koe no Katachi series.

Yaeko is the daughter of Ito Nishimiya and the mother of Shōko Nishimiya and Yuzuru Nishimiya.

Personality
Although Yaeko is very strict and harsh, she has a soft side. In her younger years, she is seen as a considerate daughter while trying to bake a cake for her mother's birthday.

Physical appearance
Yaeko is an older woman who has visibly been through lots of stress throughout her life. She's seen to not smile often and is usually caught frowning. In the film adaptation, she has gray eyes and the same sherbet pink hair that Shōko Nishimiya has.

Volume 01

 * Side Story — "7 Months Earlier"
 * Chapter 03 — "Hahahahaha"

Friends

 * Miyako Ishida: According to the Side Story, Yaeko distrusted Miyako for giving her daughter the wrong haircut, and asked if if there is something wrong with her hearing. After that, she never went to the salon again. However, over time, she reconciled with Miyako after Ishida fell from the balcony in Chapter 43 and has seen his actions have changed.


 * Shōya Ishida: Due to Ishida's previously bullying her daughter, Yaeko is mistrustful of their recent relationship and wants very little to do with him. In one scene, after Yuzuru ran away from her apartment and Ishida walked her back to her apartment area, Yaeko is seen walking towards the group and slapping Ishida and told him to leave her family alone. She also instructs her daughter to stay away from him. Later on, on her 44th birthday, her two daughters prepared a cake with the help of Ishida, even though Yaeko disliked his presence. After arriving, she demands Ishida to leave but is calmed down by her daughters who request him to stay. Eventually, Yaeko and Ishida's relationship improves to the point that she even allows him to go to the fireworks with her family. Later on after Ishida stops Shōko's attempt to commit suicide, Yaeko confronts Ishida's mother and bows down before her, begging for her forgiveness and that she is grateful for Ishida saving her daughter.

Family

 * Ito Nishimiya †: Yaeko loves her mother very much as she was there for her when her husband abandoned her. Ito helped raise her daughters and even learned sign language so she can communicate with Shōko. She was devastated when Ito died suddenly.


 * Shōko Nishimiya: When Yaeko is seen with Shōko, she acts rather cold and forceful. Deep inside, however, she cares for her daughter very much. This is evident from Yaeko telling Yuzuru to act the role of a "boyfriend" in order to protect Shōko. This shows that she cares for the safety of Shōko. After the passing of Ito, Yaeko tries to get closer to Yuzuru and Shōko.


 * Yuzuru Nishimiya:


 * Ex-husband and In-Law's: Not much is known about Yaeko's marriage besides her husband and in-laws leaving the Nishimiyas, but they blamed her for Shōko's hearing impairment. Her ex-husband and in-laws made pejorative remarks towards Shōko while Yaeko desperately stated that an illness caused Shōko's disability and caught it from her ex-husband. After Yaeko's father-in-law accused her and Ito of lacking knowledge in the world and claiming that Shōko would turn out the same way, Yaeko tearfully demands what right they have to "decide what's right and wrong". Showing their true colors, the ex-family's prejudice would psychologically damage Yaeko and leave her alone to provide for her family.

Etymology

 * The name Yaeko means "eight" (八) (ya), "overlap"(重) (e) and "child" (子) (ko).
 * Yaeko's surname Nishimiya means "west" (西) (nishi) and "temple, shrine, palace" (宮) (miya).