Hatsuharu Sohma

Hatsuharu Sohma is one of the recurring characters of the anime Fruits Basket and manga series. He is the Ox of the Chinese Zodiac and has a Yin and Yang personality, usually calm and placid but capable of becoming enraged when provoked. Haru has a reputation in the family for being somewhat stupid, and he blamed Yuki Sohma for it when he was a child. He later starts at Tohru's high school as a first-year student, along with Momiji Sohma.

Quick Facts

Personality trait: Split Personality
Status: Alive and Free from the Curse

Lore & Background

The Sohmas call the two sides of his personality his "white" and "black" sides; his hair is white with black roots, and his zodiac form is a black-and-white spotted ox. As a child he blamed Yuki, the Rat, for his reputation for being stupid, because of the story of how the Rat tricked the Ox to become first in the zodiac; after Yuki asked whether he himself believed he was stupid, he saw the trap and has loved Yuki since.

Reader's Guide

Hatsuharu is in love with Rin Sohma and has an on-again, off-again secret relationship with her. He is protective of those he cares about, especially Rin, Yuki, Kisa and Hiro, and once almost punches Akito for confining Rin. He has a bad sense of direction, and once got lost for three days in another town while looking for Kyo to challenge him.

Did You Know?

He is usually shown wearing jewelry and leather accessories which, according to an author's note, he makes himself.
Natsuki Takaya derived his name from hatsuharu, "new year" or "early spring", the first month of the traditional Japanese calendar and the month of the Ox.
Hiro admires him as a brother figure and calls him Haru-nii, "big brother Haru".