Tohru Honda (本田 透, Honda Tōru) is the main protagonist of the Fruits Basket anime series. She is voiced by Manaka Iwami in Japanese and by Laura Bailey in English. Tohru is a high school student who has recently lost her mother in a car accident and is forced to live in a tent in the woods due to various circumstances. She is a kind-hearted and optimistic person who tries to see the best in everyone, even those who have hurt her in the past.
Despite her difficult situation, Tohru remains positive and determined to make the best of her life. She is a hard worker and takes on multiple part-time jobs to support herself. Her life takes a turn when she meets the Sohma family, who are cursed to turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac when hugged by someone of the opposite sex. Tohru becomes involved in their lives and helps them overcome their personal struggles, while also learning more about herself and her own past.
Contents
1. History
Tohru Honda is the main protagonist of the Fruits Basket anime. She is a kind-hearted, optimistic and hardworking girl who lost her mother in a car accident and was forced to live in a tent due to her grandfather’s house being renovated. She is determined to take care of herself and not be a burden to anyone. One day, she stumbles upon a house owned by the Sohma family, where she meets Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure. She soon discovers that the Sohma family is cursed, and certain members of the family turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac when they are hugged by someone of the opposite sex. Despite this, Tohru becomes friends with the Sohma family and tries to help them break the curse.
Tohru’s mother, Kyoko, was a former member of a biker gang who loved her daughter deeply. After Kyoko’s death, Tohru was left alone and struggled to make ends meet. She kept her struggles hidden from her friends and classmates, always putting on a brave face. Tohru’s kindness and positive attitude earned her the love and respect of the Sohma family, who welcomed her into their home. She quickly became a source of comfort and support for them, helping them overcome their fears and insecurities. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Tohru remained determined to help the Sohma family break the curse and find happiness.
2. Personality
Tohru Honda is known for her kind and caring personality, which is evident from the very beginning of the series. Despite being an orphan and facing numerous hardships, she remains optimistic and always tries to help those around her. She is selfless and puts the needs of others before her own, often sacrificing her own happiness for the sake of others. Her positive attitude and determination to persevere through tough times make her an inspiring character.
Tohru is also known for her empathetic nature and her ability to understand and relate to others. She has a deep understanding of the pain and struggles that others go through, which allows her to connect with them on a deeper level. She is able to offer comfort and support to those who need it, and her kind words and actions often have a profound impact on those around her.
Despite her gentle nature, Tohru is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in and fight for those she cares about. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and will go to great lengths to protect them from harm. Her unwavering strength and determination are a testament to her character, and make her a beloved character among fans of the series.
3. Appearance
Tohru Honda is a petite and slender girl with short brown hair that falls just above her shoulders. She has large brown eyes that are often described as warm and kind. Tohru is known for her simple and modest fashion sense, often wearing plain blouses and skirts. She also wears a red and white hair tie that was given to her by her mother before she passed away.
Tohru’s appearance is often contrasted with the Sohma family, who are known for their beauty and elegance. Despite this, Tohru’s natural charm and kindness make her stand out and endear her to those around her. She is often described as having a calming presence and a gentle aura, which is reflected in her appearance.
In the anime adaptation of Fruits Basket, Tohru’s appearance is brought to life with soft colors and a gentle art style. Her expressions are often subtle but convey a depth of emotion, which is a testament to the skill of the animators. Overall, Tohru’s appearance is an important part of her character, as it reflects her kind and gentle nature.
4. Relationships
Tohru Honda is well-liked by many of the characters in Fruits Basket, and she forms close bonds with several of them. Her relationship with the Sohma family is particularly important, as she becomes involved in their family curse and helps them to break free from it. She forms a strong bond with Yuki Sohma, who she initially admires from afar before getting to know him better. They become close friends, and Yuki even develops feelings for her. Tohru also becomes close with Kyo Sohma, who initially resents her for her kindness and positive attitude. However, they eventually become friends and he develops romantic feelings for her as well.
Tohru also forms close relationships with her classmates at school, including her best friends Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima. Arisa and Saki both become like sisters to Tohru, and they support her through the challenges she faces with the Sohma family. Tohru also forms a close bond with her grandfather, who she lives with after her mother’s death. He is a source of comfort and wisdom for her, and she values his advice and guidance.
Overall, Tohru Honda is a character who is deeply connected to the people around her. She forms close bonds with many of the characters in Fruits Basket, and her kindness and compassion make her a beloved figure in their lives.
5. Role in the Story
Tohru Honda is the main protagonist of the Fruits Basket anime. Her role in the story is to bring healing and love to the Sohma family, who are cursed with the zodiac animal spirits. Tohru’s kindness and empathy are what make her stand out as a character. She is always willing to help others, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness.
Throughout the story, Tohru’s relationships with the members of the Sohma family grow stronger. She becomes a close friend to Yuki and Kyo, the two male leads, and helps them come to terms with their own personal struggles. Tohru also becomes a mother figure to the younger members of the family, such as Momiji and Kisa, who are struggling with their own traumas.
Tohru’s presence in the Sohma family is what ultimately brings about change and healing. Her love and acceptance of the cursed members of the family help them to break free from their past and move forward. Without Tohru, the Sohma family would have continued to suffer in silence. Tohru’s role as a healer and friend is what makes her a beloved character in the Fruits Basket anime.
6. Trivia
- Tohru Honda’s zodiac animal is the cat, but in the Chinese zodiac, there is no cat. This is because in the legend of the Chinese zodiac, the cat was left out of the race to determine the order of the animals in the zodiac because the rat tricked the cat into oversleeping.
- Tohru’s last name, Honda, is a reference to Honda Tohru, a character in the manga and anime series YuYu Hakusho. Fruits Basket’s author, Natsuki Takaya, is a fan of YuYu Hakusho and has referenced it in her works.
- Tohru’s character design was inspired by the author’s own appearance and personality. Takaya has stated that Tohru’s hair color and style are based on her own, and that Tohru’s kind and caring nature is similar to her own personality.
- Tohru’s voice actress in the Japanese version of the anime, Yui Horie, is also known for her roles as other beloved anime characters such as Naru Narusegawa from Love Hina and Tsubasa Hanekawa from the Monogatari series.
- Tohru’s character has been praised for her positive portrayal of mental health and her ability to overcome trauma. Her story arc involves dealing with the loss of her parents and the emotional scars that come with it, but she is able to find happiness and healing through her relationships with others.