Kazuma Sohma
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| Fruits Basket character | |
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| Kazuma Sohma | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Age | Around 40 |
| Height | N/A |
| Blood Type | N/A |
| Sign | N/A |
| Occupation | Karate teacher at a dojo located at the Sohma estate |
| Animal | N/A |
| Seiyū | Norihiro Inoue |
| Voice Actor | Dameon Clarke |
Kazuma Sohma (草摩 籍真 Sōma Kazuma) is a fictional character in the manga and anime series entitled Fruits Basket. He is a Karate teacher at his own dojo at the Sohma main house and is part of the "inner clan" of the Sohma family.
Kazuma has taught martial arts to Kyo, Yuki, Kagura, and Hatsuharu. Kazuma, who raised Kyo and is his adoptive father, has an especially strong bond with Kyo. He thinks of Kyo as his son, and Kyo likewise views him as a father. Kyo holds him in high regard, calling him shishō, or "master", rather than simply "teacher". His exact age has not been given, but Natsuki Takaya once wrote in a sidebar that although she draws him young, he's almost forty. In that same sidebar, it was revealed that Kazuma was once in a relationship with a woman, but had to break up due to their many disagreements (referring to his content for Kyo). He is also "clumsy with his hands and has no sense of flavor".
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[edit] Role in story
Despite being a relatively seldom-seen character, Kazuma has an important role as a surrogate parent and father figure to several members of the Sohma family. Along with teaching several of the younger members of the zodiac martial arts, he has sheltered Isuzu Sohma when her family life became too stressful and dangerous. Kazuma's kind and understanding nature make him someone Shigure Sohma seems to trust greatly, as it is implied the two have close relationship. Despite being a non-cursed member of the Sohma family Kazuma seems to have quite a bit of influence in matters such as Kyo's future and is well respected among the Jyunishi.
[edit] Kazuma's grandfather
Kazuma's grandfather, before Kyo, was the cat of the Chinese Zodiac. Like all of those possessed by the cat in the Sohma family, he was kept isolated from the world in a small cell (aka. The Neko Room, The Cat Room) once he was finished with his schooling. He lived there for the rest of his life.
While imprisoned he had a female servant who catered to him and kept him company. She stayed with him even to the point of bearing his child. When asked why, she remarked that Kazuma's grandfather was "just too pitiful" (Chapter 114). Kazuma is afraid that something like this may be occouring between Kyo and Tohru, a thought he greatly dislikes. However, despite his grandmother's cruel attitude and Kazuma's displeasure at her reasoning, Kazuma confirmed that she made his grandfather happy. Kazuma's grandmother bears a resemblance to an elderly servant that caters to Akito and Ren and makes frequent appearances in the manga.
Kazuma met his grandfather only once as a child. At that meeting, his grandfather offered Kazuma a candy (possibly a daifuku bun). Kazuma coldly refused, telling his grandfather that he couldn't accept the candy because it was cursed. However, his grandfather just kindly smiled at him, Kazuma believes this was as if to say "I forgive you" (Chapter 34).
Kazuma's grandfather died soon after (indicated by Kazuma's remark in Chapter 34 "My grandfather died, and I grew up"). Because he was the Cat, Kazuma's grandfather was not allowed to be buried within the Sohma grounds. As far as Kazuma is concerned this is just as well because his grandfather finally got to be free of the Sohmas (Chapter 66). He was buried far enough away from the Sohma Complex that Kazuma actually had to go on a journey to go visit his grandfather's grave. After Kyo's birth Kazuma began to see what his grandfather had gone through from a different perspective and started to feel guilty about the way he had treated his grandfather as a child, which eventually lead to him adopting Kyo.
[edit] Relationship with Kyo
After Kyo's mother had committed suicide, Kazuma took him in and began to raise him as his own son. The other members of the Sohma clan looked down with pity upon Kazuma for raising him, saying that Kyo could not even be disciplined by his own father and that it wasn't fair to Kazuma. However, when he heard them say this, he lifted Kyo up and told him "From now on, you will breathe the air of higher places."
Though his first intention of raising Kyo was to make amends for the way his grandfather was treated, he actually began to form a bond with Kyo, and the two became like father and son. As Kyo grew, he began to resent the way the other Sohmas pitied Kazuma for raising him, and began rejecting Kazuma as his father. While Kyo's intent was to keep Kazuma's feelings from being hurt by what the other Sohmas thought, Kazuma still wanted to be Kyo's father. As a result, he began to distance himself from Kyo, not wanting to force his feelings upon him. It wasn't until after Kazuma revealed Kyo's true form to Tohru Honda that Kyo once again began to call him his father.
Kyo had been living with Kazuma until he was ready to enter high school. It was then decided that he would reside at Shigure Sohma's house. Kyo still visits Kazuma at the dojo three times every week for training.
[edit] Relationship with Isuzu Sohma
When Rin (Isuzu Sohma) was a child, she was abused by her parents when she innocently questioned why they appeared to love her so much. Under the strain of her abusive parents and her sparse eating habits, Rin fainted. Hatsuharu, unable to carry her himself, brought Kazuma to take Rin to the hospital.
Kazuma learned that Rin, like Kyo, was unloved by her family, who refused to see her any longer. When she awoke, Kazuma greeted her and offered her the opportunity to live at his house any time she wished. Rin occasionally has taken up his offer when she does not feel like returning the main house, though she tends to be impolite (Kazuma's assistant, Kunimitsu, has noted she always drops her bag at the door and walks in without taking off her shoes). During her stays, she and Kyo would not get along, frequently glaring at each other without moving for as long as ten minutes while an amused Haru would watch them. Rin and Kyo eventually grew out of the habit, though Kazuma still jokes about it whenever both Kyo and Rin happen to be staying with him.
After an incident involving Haru, Hiro Sohma, and Akito Sohma (see Relationship with Haru in Isuzu Sohma), Rin has been living and recovering in the care of Kazuma until the present date.
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| Tohru and Friends |
| Tohru Honda | Kyoko Honda | Arisa Uotani | Saki Hanajima |
| The Sohmas |
| Akito Sohma | Yuki Sohma | Kyo Sohma | Shigure Sohma | Kisa Sohma | Hiro Sohma | Hatori Sohma | Ayame Sohma | Kazuma Sohma | Ritsu Sohma | Isuzu Sohma | Kureno Sohma | Momiji Sohma | Hatsuharu Sohma| Kagura Sohma | Ren Sohma | Akira Sohma | Momo Sohma | Satsuki Sohma |
| Others |
| Mayuko Shiraki | Mine Kuramae | Kakeru Manabe | Machi Kuragi | Kimi Toudou | Naohito Sakuragi | Mitchan |
