
Sakiko is Maruko-chan's older sister. Sakiko is a sixth grader who is clever, calm and organized, the exact opposite of her younger sister, Maruko. She and Maruko share a room and often fight but they get along. She attends the same school as Maruko. She is afraid of roaches and blame Maruko who always eat snacks in their bedroom.

Momoko Sakura is an elementary school student who likes popular idol Momoe Yamaguchi and mangas. She is often called "Chibi Maruko-chan" due to her young age and small size. She lives together with her parents, her grandparents and her elder sister in a little town. In school, she has many friends with whom she studies and plays together everyday, including her close pal, Tama-chan; the student committee members, Maruo-kun and Migiwa-san; and the B-class trio: 'little master' Hanawa-kun, Hamaji-Bu Taro and Sekiguchi-kun. This is a fun-loving and enjoyable anime that portrays the simple things in life.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

[Wiki (jp)](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/水谷優子)

Wife of [Mizuho Nishikubo](https://anilist.co/staff/102460/).

Passed away due to breast cancer on May 17, 2016.

Sakura Momoko's teacher assigns the third grade to draw an image based on their favorite song to enter a contest. Momoko loves a song she recently learned during her music class and is anxious to make a good drawing based on it. On her way to meet her relatives in Shizuoka, she meets Shouko Kimura, a university student who occasionally draws portraits at the local train station and plans to also participate in an art contest. Fascinated by her illustrations, Sakura meets Kimura once again. Shouko is enchanted by Momoko's sympathy and honesty. They quickly become friends and end up inspiring each other in their own way.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Momoko Sakura is an elementary school student often called "Chibi Maruko-chan" due to her young age and small size. She lives together with her parents, her grandparents and her elder sister in a little town. In school, she has many friends with whom she studies and plays together everyday. This is a fun-loving and enjoyable anime that portrays the simple things in life. 
 
The film will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the television anime's broadcast.

The title character, Maruko, is a nine-year-old third-grade student. She is lazy, disorganized and usually late for school, in strong contrast with her neat and tidy older sister who must share her room with her. Maruko, like many kids, tries to avoid homework and chores, takes advantage of her doting grandfather and squabbles with her sister. Nevertheless, she is a well-meaning child who tries to do good. 
Notes: 
- Won the 13th Kodansha Manga Award for shoujo in 1989. 
- After Sakura-sensei's passing in 2018, the production was taken over by her former assistants at Sakura Production, with irregular serialization continuing in Ribon Magazine.

Sakiko Sakura