History Characters / Toradora

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: Invoked. In spite of her confrontational attitude and unapproachable tendencies, everyone in class genuinely like her and are fond of her. Even [[spoiler:Ami]] ends up being her friend. [[spoiler:They are all markedly distraught when she transfers schools]].

%%* MaybeEverAfter: With Hisamitsu.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: Whether she and Noto end up together is left very ambiguous by the end of the series, though considering the positive note the series ends on with the characters, it's possible TheyDo.

* FashionModel: She works as a fashion model and is very famous. We see her featured in magazines.

* TownGirls: The Femme to Taiga's Butch and Minori's Neither. Ami is flirty, vain and works as a FashionModel, in contrast with the friendly, but athletic Minori and the brash and violent Taiga.

* AuthorityEqualsAssKicking: She's the StudentCouncilPresident and her fight with [[spoiler:Taiga]] shows she can kick major ass.

* MistressAndServantBoy: How Taiga sees their relationship because Ryuji volunteered to clean her house. More exactly, she says Ryuuji's [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero her dog]].

* MistressAndServantBoy: Like [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero Louise]], she says Ryuuji isn't just her servant; he's her dog.

* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: She deconstructs the ShanaClone archetype of the small, flat-chested and childlike {{Tsundere}}. Part of the roots of her short temper stems from lack of social skills and having to deal with a broken family instead of mere immaturity towards romance. Not to mention that to get and keep Ryuuji's affection, Taiga has to tone down her attitude. Also, her body issues due to her looks are portrayed in a more realistic way (i.e. she uses her temper as a cover for deep-seated insecurities over her lack of height and curves).

* ShanaClone: She's a childlike {{Tsundere}} who's [[OlderThanTheyLook older than she looks]], has long hair and Grade A ZettaiRyouiki, comes from a wealthy family, is voiced by Creator/RieKugimiya, and pretty much quotes [[Literature/ShakuganNoShana Shana]] and [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero Louise]] by shouting [[CatchPhrase "Urusai!"]] or referring to Ryuuji as a dog.

* GagBoobs: Taiga even picks them!

* BareYourMidriff: Only in the beach episode.

* BareYourMidriff: Happens in some episodes; besides the episode where she wears a bikini at school and the beach episode, she sometimes wears a belly shirt.

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/HirofumiNojima (Japanese), Creator/JohnnyYongBosch (English)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Alessandro Vanni (Italian)[[/note]]

* NonconformistDyedHair: Briefly played for laughs. After being rejected by Sumire, Kitamura dyes his hair blonde to rebel. One smack from his father (off screen) he's dyed it black again and is back to being a model student.

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/YuiHorie (Japanese), Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos (English)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Ludovica Bebi (Italian)[[/note]]\\\

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/EriKitamura (Japanese), Creator/ErikaHarlacher (English)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Elena Liberati (Italian)[[/note]]\\

* CassandraTruth: As her CharacterDevelopment takes off she begins to genuinely care about and try to give sound advice to Ryuuji, Minori & Taiga. Unfortunately, her initial impression as a ManipulativeBitch mean all of them are suspicious and reluctant to listen to her if they don't just ignore her outright.

* GoodIsNotNice: She ultimately ''is'' a nice person, but after her CharacterDevelopment, she's also become BrutallyHonest towards the ones she cares about. Even though she drops the {{Kawaiiko}} attitude, Ami tends to proceed with a caring interest and earnest desire to make good for her friends, only that she doesn't sugarcoat a damn thing. This confrontational attitude rubs them off wrong, making them not heed to her advice even when it's sound. Whereas any other person would try to approach the subject in hand with an utmost care, Ami would rather directly ''force'' her friends to confront their problems.

* MsFanservice: She usually fills the role of the sexy and/or glamorous one aside from Ryuuji's own mom, Yasuko. She's a fashion model, after all, so she knows how to play the role.
* MutualDisadvantage: With Taiga. Ami feels that she has to compete with her because Taiga is very well liked by everyone regardless of what she does, though she doesn't let anyone near her; Ami in turn has to make an effort to put up a facade for people to like her because she thinks that her true personality is detrimental to her having a firm footing. Funny thing is, [[spoiler:they end up being fond of each other in the end once they tear down their walls]].

* ProudBeauty: She knows she's very attractive and likes to use her looks to get others' attention.

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/SayakaOhara (Japanese), Creator/KarenStrassman (English)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Eleonora Reti (Italian)[[/note]]\\

Yasuko is Ryuuji's 33-year-old single mother, though she refers to herself as eternally 23. Soon after Ryuuji was born, her husband died, leaving her to raise him by herself. She works as a hostess at the "Bishamonten Kuni" bar, where she goes by the name "Mirano" and singlehandily supports her family financially. However, she is also childish and, due to her job, entrusts household chores to Ryuuji since she's usually too hungover from her job to do much during the day. She instantly takes a liking to Taiga and already regards her as a member of her family.

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/RieTanaka (Japanese), Creator/CarrieKeranen (English; credited as Elizabeth Thomas)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Gilberta Crispino (Italian)[[/note]]

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/YukoKaida (Japanese), Creator/WendeeLee (English)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Micaela Incitti (Italian)[[/note]]

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/KazuyukiOkitsu (Japanese), Creator/MaxMittelman (English; credited as Jason Baker)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Stefano Billi (Italian)[[/note]]

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/HiroyukiYoshino (Japanese), Creator/BrianBeacock (English)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Emiliano Reggente (Italian)[[/note]]

->'''Voiced by''': Momoko Ishikawa (Japanese), Creator/KarenStrassman (English)[[note]]'''Other languages''': Barbara Sacchielli (Italian)[[/note]]

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/NobuhikoOkamoto (Japanese), Ben Giroux (English)

* SempaiKohai: She's Yuusaku's superior.

* ShanaClone: She's a childlike {{Tsundere}} who's [[OlderThanTheyLook older than she looks]], has long hair and Grade A ZettaiRyouiki, comes from a wealthy family, is voiced by Creator/RieKugimiya, and pretty much quotes [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana Shana]] and [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero Louise]] by shouting [[CatchPhrase "Urusai!"]] or referring to Ryuuji as a dog.

* {{Expy}}: She bears a passing resemblance to [[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Kaname Chidori.]]

* AdaptationalComicRelief: In the light novels, she can act as a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and while her status as a ChristmasCake is referred to, it isn't played up as her main character trait. In the anime, she's a complete ButtMonkey who gets little to no respect from her students and she talks about being a ChristmasCake to herself constantly.
* ButtMonkey: Her students have little respect for her and enjoy mocking her ChristmasCake status to no end. They even go so far as to write a play in which her RedStringOfFate was to be cut, causing her to go berserk.
* CharacterExaggeration: In the anime, her status as a ReasonableAuthorityFigure got toned way down and her status as a ButtMonkey and ChristmasCake way up. Consider some of the things in the novels that were changed or dropped outright:

* ChristmasCake: Since her twenties are almost over, Yuri is in a hurry to get married soon and she even tries to dress well so as to be able to get into a relationship quicker. After she becomes thirty without getting married, she develops a twisted and depressed personality, which does not help that when Taiga talks about her, she emphases her single status (and single home and single possession etc.

* SenseiChan: She's an attractive teacher who's frequently referred to by her students as "Yuri-chan" and she often laments about [[ChristmasCake her lack of success in love and her age]].

Yasuko is Ryuuji's 33-year-old single mother, though she refers to herself as eternally 23. Soon after Ryuuji was born, her husband died, leaving her to raise him by herself. She works at the "Bishamonten Kuni" bar, where she goes by the name "Mirano" and singlehandily supports her family financially. However, she is also childish and, due to her job, entrusts household chores to Ryuuji. She instantly takes a liking to Taiga and already regards her as a member of her family.

* LadyDrunk: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] with her job as a late-night bar hostess. She is expected to drink with the customers.

* StatuesqueStunner: Very much so in the novels, where she's described as being the same height as Ryuuji, but in the anime too she's still quite tall.

* ShesGotLegs: A number of characters point out that her long legs are among the best of her features.

* IWillWaitForYou: Invoked. [[spoiler:He tells Taiga that she should reconcile with her parents because they should be part of the happiness he and Taiga found, to which she responds that it could take some time to accomplish. Ryuuji is then caught off-guard when this is the very first thing Taiga does when they return home, as she goes away precisely to accomplish that without telling him. Though shaken by her absence, Ryuuji trusts that she will come back for him, which she does in the epilogue]].

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[spoiler:After finally realizing she loves Ryuuji, Taiga tries to suppress her feelings so he can get together with Minori, even if she's clearly breaking up from the inside. At the end however, Minori doesn't let her do this.]]

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[spoiler:She gives up on pursuing Ryuuji so he can be happy with Taiga and also so her new friend Taiga can be happy with Ryuji.]]

%%* {{Gainaxing}}

* TheRunaway: [[spoiler:In the series finale, it's revealed that she fled her parents' home because she wanted neither to get an abortion nor to give away the baby. It's also revealed that Ryuuji's father left her for another woman]].

* JerkassWoobie: Due to her DarkAndTroubledPast, neglectful father and horrible family situation, she has become a m pretty surly person, though [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold she still does have a good heart deep down]].

* TsurimeEyes: An extreme example. To much of his torment, Ryuuji's eyes are not his best feature because they make him look like a criminal. The guy just exudes intense aggressiveness without actually intending to do so.

* ByronicHeroine: While a good person, she's still moody, troubled, sad inside and tends to be abrasive, angry and violent.

* AdaptationalComicRelief: In the light novels, she can act as a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and while her ChristmasCake is referred to, it isn't played up as her main character trait. In the anime, she's a complete ButtMonkey who gets little to no respect from her students and she talks about being a ChristmasCake to herself constantly.

* SenseiChan: Frequently referred to by her students as "Yuri-chan" and she often laments about [[ChristmasCake her lack of success in love and her age]].

* YamatoNadeshiko: Subverted. She is described as having the looks and elegance, and is the StudentCouncilPresident. However, don't judge a book by its cover. She is far too course in her speech and is not as mature as she appears.

* AmbiguouslyBi: She's [[spoiler:definitely in love with Ryuuji]], but her affection for Taiga is so suspect that Minori herself isn't quite sure if it's platonic or not. She even makes an off-handed comment during the cultural festival wondering if she's more into girls.

** She absolutely ''hates'' to be thrown into situations she cannot control or to be brought into conversation topics she does not want to engage into, as shown when Taiga and Ami do it to her. The latter puts her in conflict with Ryuuji, as she lets her rage overcome her when he brings up the subject of [[spoiler:Taiga's dad]];
** She will never abide to Taiga being hurt;
** She cannot withstand people lying;

* OlderThanSheLooks: She's 33, but still looks like she's in her twenties. She refers to herself as eternally 23.

* PseudoRomanticFriendship: With Taiga The two are forever cuddling and saying how much they care about each other. The first [=OP=] even focuses on Taiga flinging herself into Minori's arms, apparently just because they're that close. That said, Minori herself wonders if her feelings towards Taiga are entirely platonic.

* PseudoRomanticFriendship: With Minorin. The two are forever cuddling and saying how much they care about each other. The first [=OP=] even focuses on Taiga flinging herself into Minori's arms, apparently just 'cos.

* CryCute: She's normally very tough and harsh, so watching cry is always a tender sight.

* GreenEyedEpiphany: On Christmas Eve, after sending Ryuuji off to see Minori, [[spoiler: she tearfully realizes that she has been in love with Ryuuji for a long time, but with him getting a good chance to finally win Minori's heart, she runs outside her house for Ryuuji, and upon not finding him anywhere, [[CryCute she breaks down crying, calling out for Ryuuji]].]]

* CryCute: Though she portrays herself as a pillar of self-determination, Minori is very much affected by the stuff happening around her, so the sporadic instances where she cries mark the seriousness of the situation. [[spoiler:Her breaking down in front of Ami in the end is what endears Minori to her as confidants]].

* CryCute: In the final volume of the light novels, she breaks down crying after [[spoiler:she realizes that Taiga has gone with her mother. Ami confesses that she wanted to keep her friends close to her]]. This served as the climax of her CharacterDevelopment in the novel.

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/JunjiMajima (Japanese), Creator/ErikKimerer (English)

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/RieKugimiya (Japanese), Creator/CassandraLeeMorris (English)

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/HirofumiNojima (Japanese), Creator/JohnnyYongBosch (English)

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/YuiHorie (Japanese), Creator/ChristineMarieCabanos (English)\\\

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/EriKitamura (Japanese), Creator/ErikaHarlacher (English)\\

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/SayakaOhara (Japanese), Creator/KarenStrassman (English)\\

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/RieTanaka (Japanese), Creator/CarrieKeranen (English; credited as Elizabeth Thomas)

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/YukoKaida (Japanese), Creator/WendeeLee (English)

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/KazuyukiOkitsu (Japanese), Creator/MaxMittelman (English; credited as Jason Baker)

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/HiroyukiYoshino (Japanese), Creator/BrianBeacock (English)

->'''Voiced by''': Creator/AiNonaka (Japanese), Creator/MelaLee (English)

->'''Voiced by''': Momoko Ishikawa (Japanese), Creator/KarenStrassman (English)

Ryuuji is a seventeen-year-old high school student in Class 2-C. Due to biological inheritance, [[FaceOfAThug his face makes him look like an intimidating delinquent]] and causes many misunderstandings. Since he lives in a fatherless family with just his mother and their pet parakeet "Inko-chan" ([[ADogNamedDog ''inko'' literally means parakeet in Japanese]]), Ryuuji learned to be a good cook, tailor and overall house husband. He holds a crush on Minori, a girl his age in his class, and has made a pact with his neighbor, Minori's best friend Taiga, to help him win her over, even as he also helps Taiga with domestic chores.

* RapunzelHair: It reaches her waist, which is not that long considering her tiny frame. Comparatively, it's about as long as Ami's, though the latter is considerably taller than Taiga. Is it a young lady's beauty or a vicious tiger's mane? You decide.

* ShanaClone: She's a childlike {{Tsundere}} who's [[OlderThanTheyLook older than she looks]], has RapunzelHair and Grade A ZettaiRyouiki, comes from a wealthy family, is voiced by Creator/RieKugimiya, and pretty much quotes [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana Shana]] and [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero Louise]] by shouting [[CatchPhrase "Urusai!"]] or referring to Ryuuji as a dog.

* ShanaClone: A [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] one. She's a childlike {{Tsundere}} who's [[OlderThanTheyLook older than she looks]], has RapunzelHair and Grade A ZettaiRyouiki, comes from a wealthy family, is voiced by Creator/RieKugimiya, and pretty much quotes [[LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana Shana]] and [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero Louise]] by shouting [[CatchPhrase "Urusai!"]] or referring to Ryuuji as a dog. However, part of the roots of her short temper, besides issues with her small body, flat chest and childlike appearance, stems from lack of social skills and having to deal with a broken family. Also, her body issues due to her looks are portrayed in a more realistic way (i.e. she uses her temper as a cover for deep-seated insecurities over her lack of height and curves).

* {{Tsundere}}: Deconstructed. Her mood swings and anger seem to stem more from familial than romantic issues, not to mention that [[spoiler:to get and keep Ryuuji's affection, Taiga has to tone down her attitude and rebuild her family]]. This aspect of hers is also much less prevalent in both the novels and the manga adaptation.