The world of anime features a dazzling variety of characters who come from all walks of life. From lovable shonen protagonists to complex seinen antiheroes and heartfelt shojo heroines. Typically, these characters are unmarried and single, so they are free to explore the world and discover themselves. Although, older characters are more likely to be married.
Not all married anime characters are living in happy matrimony. But there are plenty of marriages where only death itself can split the loving couple apart. Tragically, anime has many examples of a marriage that ended with a spouse's demise. On the plus side, those two spouses truly loved one another right until the end.
10 Soichiro & Sachiko Yagami Defied Kira Together (Death Note)
Light Yagami's father, Soichiro, is the chief of the NPA and a sworn defender of justice and law. Unlike his son, Soichiro will never compromise on his principles for his own gain. He was ready to lay down his life to capture Kira and eventually, lost his life in the line of duty in Death Note.
Soichiro perished after fighting Mello's goons in a secret base. But until then, he and his wife Sachiko were happily married, and they both wanted Kira's head. Despite the constant stress and danger, Sachiko made it clear that she would stay by Soichiro's side until the end.
9 Isshin Kurosaki Still Misses Masaki (Bleach)
Ichigo Kurosaki's parents are both involved in the world of Hollows and spirits, but for years, he had no idea. Captain Isshin Shiba saved Masaki's life after an artificial Hollow attacked, and Isshin gave up his powers to save Masaki from the Hollow's lingering powers. Then, they married.
For years, the Kurosaki family was a happy one. Tragedy struck when King Yhwach of the Quincy Empire stole Masaki's powers so he couldn't fight back when Grand Fisher attacked. Masaki died, and Isshin has been in mourning ever since.
8 Kyoko & Katsuya Honda Took Pride In Their Daughter (Fruits Basket)
During the main events of Fruits Basket, Tohru Honda (the shojo heroine) is an orphan who dearly misses her parents. Kyoko and Katsuya both died before their time, but they were both madly in love during their limited time together.
Kyoko was a troubled delinquent until Katsuya met her. When Kyoko was older, they married, and had a wonderful daughter together. When Tohru was a toddler, Katsuya died of an illness. Years later, Kyoko died in a traffic accident. They never stopped loving each other, though, until the very end.
7 Thors Gave His Life For His Family (Vinland Saga)
Years ago, the mighty warrior Thors belonged to the fearsome Jomsvikings. Eventually, he grew weary of war and faked his death to start a new life on Iceland's shores. He wasn't alone, though. Thors ran away with his new bride Helga, the daughter of the Jomsviking chief.
Thors and Helga married, and had a daughter, Ylva, and a son, Thorfinn. When Thorfinn was a boy, he tragically witnessed Thors' demise during his battle with the cunning Askeladd, leaving a huge hole in the family. Helga was devastated, but she had the inner strength to move on and keep the family running. Thors will be missed.
6 Trisha & Hohenheim Elric Had A Relatively Normal Family (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Van Hohenheim is no ordinary man. He is a few centuries old and is a living Philosopher's Stone, and that warped his self-perception. He thought himself a monster, until a girl named Trisha Elric accepted him for who he was. When Trisha was old enough, they married, and had two sons, Edward and Alphonse.
Trisha Elric never once saw Hohenheim as a monster, and she chastised him for calling himself that. Hohenheim was moved to tears, and no doubt he loved Trisha more. Unfortunately, Trisha died of an illness while Hohenheim was away, and Hohenheim longed to join her in death. Eventually, he did.
5 Jonathan Gave His Life Protecting Erina (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Jonathan Joestar was the first Joestar hero in JoJo, and he soon grew close to Erina Pendleton. Jonathan risked his life to save her and defeated his nemesis Dio Brando - so the two married. All seemed well when the Joestars boarded a steamship headed to the U.S.
That was when Dio struck, and the ship was on fire and overrun with zombies. Jonathan gave his life to stop Dio once again, and Erina only narrowly escaped the wreck and was rescued later. She had little left of her beloved husband except for their unborn child, the future George Joestar II.
4 Joichiro & Tamako Yukihira Cooked For Love (Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma)
Soma Yukihira learned some vital lessons about food and love from his parents, who both worked at the family diner. Tamako may have been a lousy chef, but her enthusiasm and optimism were infectious. Her husband and son both followed her example.
When Soma was around 12 years old, his mother collapsed and soon died of a heart defect. Joichiro and Soma were heartbroken, but they honored Tamako's legacy by always cooking for the people they love. Tamako would be proud.
3 Maes & Gracia Hughes Were Inseparable (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Hohenheim and Trisha aren't the only tragic spouses in the story of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. There's also the Hughes family, consisting of husband/father Maes, the charming wife/mom Gracia, and their young daughter, Elicia. For years, this was the perfect happy family.
Not long after Elicia's third birthday, Maes was killed at the hands of the shapeshifting Envy. Gracia was devastated, and poor little Elicia barely even understood what was happening during the funeral. Colonel Roy Mustang, meanwhile, was determined to avenge his fallen friend.
2 Minato & Kushina Died Together Defending The Leaf Village (Naruto)
Naruto Uzumaki never met his parents when they were alive, but through flashbacks, Minato's and Kushina's relationship came to light. Minato once saved Kushina's life, and they later married. Kushina was soon pregnant with their son. That was when Obito Uchiha struck.
On the night of Naruto's birth, Obito and the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked the Hidden Leaf Village, and Kurama was sealed inside the newborn Naruto Uzumaki. Minato and Kushina both gave their lives to save the village and their son in the line of duty. Sure enough, only death and an Akatsuki-level threat could part them.
1 Byakuya & Hisana Kuchiki Were Soon Torn Apart (Bleach)
The Kurosaki family isn't the only one torn apart by death in the story of Bleach. Years ago, Rukia Kuchiki's big sister, Hisana, ran off and married into the noble Kuchiki family. Byakuya broke family law by marrying a commoner like her. Despite that, the two of them were happy together for about five years.
Hisana fell deathly ill, and on her deathbed, asked her husband to find and adopt the little sister she abandoned. Byakuya did as his late wife asked of him, but this tragic loss shook him, and affected his character arc greatly.