Yasuko Kusakabe, mother of Satsuki and Mei, resides in a rural hospital while undergoing treatment for tuberculosis. Her family moves to the countryside near her medical facility, seeking fresher air to support her recovery—a situation mirroring Hayao Miyazaki’s own childhood experience, as his mother similarly endured the illness.

Warm and attentive, Yasuko masks her struggles with bright smiles during her daughters’ visits, shielding them from worry. When the girls excitedly share tales of forest spirits, she playfully vows to meet these beings herself upon returning home, nurturing their wonder. Her closeness with Satsuki shines through their mirrored traits: a blend of spirited optimism and perpetually tangled hair.

Her prolonged hospitalization strains the family’s morale, culminating in Mei’s desperate solo trek to the hospital after a postponed visit. This crisis underscores Yasuko’s irreplaceable presence in their lives. The story concludes with her triumphant homecoming, now healthy and clad in a vivid blue kimono as the family rejoices.

Beyond the central narrative, Yasuko’s role remains confined to brief mentions, such as in *Mei and the Kittenbus*, where she is referenced but absent. Her arc stays focused on her recovery’s ripple effect on her daughters, untouched by expanded lore in subsequent works.