Naoko Yoshioka is the mother of the protagonist, Haru Yoshioka, in the Studio Ghibli film The Cat Returns. She is a calm and even-tempered woman who shares a warm and affectionate relationship with her daughter. Unlike Haru’s somewhat chaotic and hesitant nature, Naoko is grounded and relaxed, often playfully teasing Haru about her scatterbrained habits. She has short brown hair, brown eyes, and wears glasses. Her role in the story is primarily that of a supportive parent in the human world; she provides a stable home environment and serves as a gentle anchor for Haru as the heroine becomes entangled in the affairs of the Cat Kingdom. Naoko is perceptive enough to notice when Haru seems distracted or troubled, but she does not pry, trusting her daughter to handle her own problems. She has no extraordinary abilities or involvement in the fantasy plot, but her steady presence underscores the contrast between the ordinary human realm and the whimsical dangers of the cat world.