Fruits Basket is a popular shojo manga by Natsuki Takaya that has two anime adaptations. The first anime adaptation was released in 2001 and ended before the manga source material was complete. The second anime adaptation ran from 2019-2021 and is three seasons. As it came out after the completion of the Fruits Basket manga, the ending is different from the 2001 anime and true to the source material.

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Fruits Basket follows protagonist Tohru Honda as she discovers the secret curse of the Sohma family. While Fruits Basket may be technically classified as shojo, it incorporates a lot of mature themes, and it could be considered josei. Tohru, along with many of the other characters in Fruits Basket, have to contend with a lot of internal and external struggles during the course of the story. Despite it all, Tohru maintains a positive outlook and showcases how wise she is beyond her years.

10 Adopting Her Father's Mannerisms To Cheer Up Her Mom

Images feature a silhouette of Katsuya Honda and a smiling Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket

Tohru had to grow up when she was still really young. Her father, Katsuya, died when Tohru was three years old. This left Tohru's mother, Kyoko, in a deep depression. Although Tohru was just a child, it didn't stop the adults around her from being vindictive and harsh. Tohru's mother led a wild youth and so it was theorized that Tohru was an illegitimate child and not Katsuya's daughter at all.

In an effort to form her identity as Katsuya's daughter, Tohru adopted his mannerisms in the wake of his death. Katsuya had been known for his polite nature and formal demeanor. When Kyoko saw that her late husband was living on in the form of their daughter, it pulled her out of her despair and helped her to live again.

9 When She Decided To Live On Her Own In A Tent Rather Than Burden Her Grandfather Or Her Friends

tohru honda Fruits Basket

When Tohru was 16, her mother died and Tohru stayed with her paternal grandfather for a while. However, his home needed remodeling and her grandfather went to stay with his daughter's family. Their home didn't have much space, so he asked if Tohru had a friend she could stay with during the remodel. She didn't want her grandfather to worry, but she also knew that her two best friends, Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima, had their own burdens and she didn't want to add to them. This is what fueled Tohru's decision to secretly move into a tent in the woods.

8 The Way She Worked Long Nights As A Janitor To Pay For School

Images feature Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket at her cleaning job

Tohru initially started to work when she moved in with her grandfather. His sole income was from his pension so in order to lessen the burden of taking her in, Tohru got a job to offset expenses. After her tent was discovered by the Sohmas, and she discovered that she had been living on their property without permission, Tohru offered to use her income as rent if they would let her stay there in her tent. However, a storm destroyed her tent which is what led to Tohru moving into Shigure's house.

7 The Way She Insisted On Doing The Cooking & Cleaning When The Sohmas Took Her In

Fruits Basket Tohru Cooking

Shigure and Yuki insisted that Tohru didn't need to pay rent and invited her to live in their home. Tohru was flustered by their generosity and didn't want to be a burden. She insisted that she would do all the cooking and cleaning for the household in order to repay their kindness.

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Throughout Fruits Basket, it was hard for Tohru to let herself be happy as she was always focused on the wellbeing of others. When her grandfather's remodel was finished and she left the Sohmas to go and live with him again, she had a hard time accepting that she wasn't happy there. To make matters worse, her aunt and cousins unjustly criticized her and made no secret about how they thought she was a burden.

6 When She Talked Ritsu Down Off Of A Literal Ledge

fruits basket ritsu sohma

Ritsu Sohma's cursed Zodiac spirit was the monkey. He had a very anxious demeanor, incredibly low self-esteem, and was constantly apologetic for his existence. A series of events involving his clumsiness led Ritsu to perform a suicidal gesture and climb to the roof of Shigure's house.

Tohru followed him up there and explained that although Ritsu might not feel like he has a reason for living, he could find one. She revealed that her reason for living is for the sake of others — for their happiness. Ritsu was inspired by Tohru's words and feeling hope for the first time in his life, he started on the path towards self-acceptance and self-love.

5 Tohru's Steadfast Love Of Her Mother Has Helped Her Cope With Her Grief

kyoko handa fruits basket

When Tohru's mother died, Tohru promised herself that she would keep her mother first in her heart no matter what. Kyoko is responsible in many ways for Tohru's ability maintain positivity throughout her grief. As long as Tohru is able to always remember her mother, then she will still be with her. This belief fuels Tohru through the challenges of being aware of the Zodiac curse and the inner demons that her friends among the Sohma family are dealing with. In the end, Tohru is able to accept that even if she puts the romantic love she has for Kyo first in her heart, it isn't like she's abandoning her mother — Kyoko will always be with her.

4 Her Profound Selflessness Is A Trait Beyond Her Years

fruits basket tohru sick

Tohru constantly put other people's feelings and concerns before hers. Although she later admitted that it was a coping mechanism, it is still a mature quality not found in many people Tohru's age. Tohru was highly perceptive to the moods of the people around her. Their happiness was a priority for her, sometimes to the detriment of her own comfort level.

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Tohru's father died of a cold that had turned into pneumonia, so whenever someone she cared about showed signs of a fever, Tohru instantly urged them to take the time to recuperate. However, when Tohru exhibited the same symptoms of overexertion, she ignored her health to the point where she made it worse.

3 Her Acceptance Of The Sohma Family Without Hesitation After Learning Their Secret

fruits basket tohru yuki kyo shigure zodiac curse

Tohru accepted the realities of the Zodiac Curse with a resiliency not found in many. Even the cursed family members had more trouble accepting themselves than Tohru did. When Tohru accidently discovered the Zodiac Curse, she was more bewildered than anything. While the cursed Sohma family members were mostly self-conscious about their animal spirits, it didn't make a difference to Tohru. More than anything, she just wanted to befriend them and learn more about them.

2 Tohru's Resolve To Befriend Akito Despite The Inherent Danger

Fruits Basket Tohru And Akito

Throughout Fruits Basket, Tohru witnessed the many grievances that the Sohma family had with their Family Head, Akito. Akito was like a god to the cursed members of the Zodiac. Tohru's presence in their lives threatened the bonds they each had with Akito and for that, Akito both feared and hated Tohru. However, Tohru saw past Akito's harsh feelings and god-like status to the fragile young woman underneath. Tohru saw some of herself in Akito because Tohru also feared being abandoned by the ones she loved. Even as Akito was lashing out at Tohru with a knife, Tohru was determined to offer her friendship to Akito.

1 Tohru's Ability To Still Be Positive Even After Falling Off A Cliff

Tohru Honda Smiling Kindly In Fruits Basket

At the end of Fruits Basket Season 3, Tohru and Akito overcame a major conflict: Akito's hatred of Tohru versus Tohru's insistence on befriending her. Just when Akito was about to accept Tohru's offer of friendship, Tohru fell off of a cliff. Tohru didn't blame Akito for this; Tohru knew it wasn't Akito's fault.

However, it was still a traumatic even and Tohru found it difficult to smile afterwards. She even asked her friends, Saki and Arisa, to keep Kyo away from the hospital because she was determined to not see him until she could smile naturally again. Tohru's tenacious personality and ability to see the good in people are her most defining characteristics.

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