Yuki grew up in a childcare facility for orphans and the only clue for her biological family is the wooden cross necklace she has had since birth. She is an active tomboy but is also kind-hearted. She is adopted by the Iwabuchi family and becomes friends with their only daughter, Sanae. When Yuki becomes too happy, she accidentally hits people. 

Yuki is a 10-year old girl living in an orphanage, until she is adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Iwabuchi. Yuki's new stepsister Sanae is a nice girl who has a heart disease.


This pilot is remembered, really, for one notable reason: this is Miyazaki's first time as a solo director. He teamed up with Takahata for the later episodes of the 1971-72 Lupin III series, but Yuki's Sun marked his first time solely in the captain's seat.<br><br>
Yuki's Sun was based upon a popular shoujo manga (girls' comic) by Tetsuya Chiba which was serialized in 1963. It involves a 10-year-old orphan girl who is adopted into a family. The storyline is somewhat complex, and seems to play out like grand melodrama. Chiba's stories were more sophisticated and grown-up than, say, Osamu Tezuka, who of course was the godfather of postwar Japanese manga.<br><br>
(Source: TheGhibliBlog)

Yuki Iwabuchi