Name:
Kazuma Sohma Name:
Kazuma Sohma
Zodiac Animal: None
Age: around 40
Hair: silver/gray
Eyes: olive green
Family: the Sohma clan, grandfather (deceased)
Status: Karate teacher at the dojo on the Sohma estate
Anime: Fruits Basket
Voice: (English) Dameon Clarke (Japanese) Norihiro Inoue
History and Personality: Kazuma is the karate teacher or "sensei" at the Sohma estate. Though he is not a member of the zodiac he is allowed into the "inner clan". This is most likely because he already knows about the curse due to the fact that his grandfather was the cat before Kyo. He taught all of the cursed children martial arts, but spent most of his time with Kyo. When Kyo's mother died Kazuma took him in and raised him. Kazuma is the only one who truly accepts Kyo. He sees Kyo as a son and Kyo sees him as both father and master.
Kazuma is soft spoken, gentle, kind and good humored, but he is also strong. He will stand his ground even when all the rest of the family is against him.
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 (the cursed).
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 occurring 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 granfather died, and I grew up"). Because he was the Cat, Kazuma's grandfather was not allowed to be burried within the Souma 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. 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.
Relationships: 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 be breathing air from a higher place". 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 lived 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.
Kazuma also took in Rin Sohma after she was injured by Akito.
Techniques: He is a master martial artist, but I don't know what style he practices.
Why we love him: He's so sweet and kind and mild mannered, and yet so strong. He is willing to take care of Kyo no matter what anyone else says, even at the risk of displeasing Akito (who is very violent). And through it all he smiles and seems to think that it is no big deal. He would do anything to rescue Kyo from the fate of his grandfather. Long silver hair doesn't hurt either...
All information from wikipedia is used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License and can be copied/altered and redistributed under the guidelines of this license.