Fruits Basket Analyzed: Momiji Sohma
I’ve been avoiding this last one for a while now, and I think it’s because this is because this final character is the character by far the most like me. I may understand why the others made the choices they did, but this kid is the one who feels and acts the way I do. I saved this character for last because he is my favorite by far-Momiji Sohma. The rabbit of the Zodiac is a very cute little boy who seems like the perfect little angel when he’s introduced [1]. Torhu assumes he’s a fifth grader and develops a closeness with him before learning he is only a year younger than her-and not so naïve as she once believed [2].
The childish behavior is somewhat absurd in normal circumstances, but so many abuse survivors I know have chosen that route, as I did. It comes down to a simple fact-people protect cute kids. There’s a certain pout adults seem to respond to in children, and men often respond to in women. One might call it manipulative, but I can’t remember ever using this to get people to buy me things or even do anything for me besides express concern. After the hell I went through under my family’s nose, I needed to know that someone cared about my pain.
Likewise, Momiji rarely references his true pain-a broken family-but he often cries about “Kyo’s hurting me [3]!” When I’m in tears, it’s probably over something trivial. When I complain it’s going to be the “epic tale of woe about the time the store didn’t have my flavor of ICEE” (to be fair, that did make me pretty sad.) It probably will not be about the loved one dying of cancer-that’s too close to home. What we need is to know is that someone would care if we did talk about it. I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve woken from a horrible nightmare in tears and contemplated calling a friend. I have yet to do it, but I get peace from knowing that I could and they would be willing to help.
I also understand Momiji’s need to hide behind the cuteness. I wish I could have confronted the person that was bringing the pain on myself and my family, but I still can’t. The only difference between then and now is that I could protect certain people if I needed to-that's where my line is. Momiji couldn't stand up for his cousins directly for fear of drawing Akito's wrath, but he could stand up for Torhu at a point. I swear if it was one of my nieces or (someday) daughters being hurt I would not let it happen, but there are certain people I still can't stand up for. Momiji’s inaction when Akito confronts Torhu in the school hallway [4] makes his actions at the summer house all the more heroic [5]. Shigure and Hatori even say that he was more composed than them.
I’ve often felt that the greatest fear on earth is the fear of the unknown. Momiji is not afraid of the pain of others because he understands it [6]. Akito’s wrath, on the other hand, is something he has no experience with and so he shies away from it. I love working with victimized children because I can go into their world and show them what’s outside it. Working with the elderly is much harder for me because I’ve never been elderly. For Momiji to take that first taste of being hit must have been at least equally scary, yet he did it [7].
Momiji is my favorite because he is exactly like I was-the happy bouncy kid with hidden pain to fuel his strength [8]. Though Momiji acts the part of the child, he is really the most understanding and empathetic character of the series (in my unbiased opinion.) When the others question Torhu’s generosity, Momiji is the one to relate the story of the “Foolish Traveler” so that the others can understand where she’s coming from [9]. Similarly when Kisa’s problems come to light, Momiji is the one to help the others look through her eyes [10].
Likewise the pain I’ve suffered has opened my eyes. I’m not saying I see past every false smile, but when people put on the same mask I wear, I see it for what it is. I am a master of spotting Momijis in the classroom and always have been-the ones who are cheery, but just a hair too young-until they show wisdom far beyond their years. That child persona isn’t exactly an act, but it is an incomplete picture. What we all seem to have in common to chose this method is that we were traumatized young. I bet Momiji's child persona is still pretty close to what he was like the day he lost his mother. My child persona is pretty close to when my abuse was uncovered-the list goes on and on. I have no scientific backing for this thought, but I think part of you gets stuck in that moment, hence a child persona.
Most of Momiji's family became numb-Hatori, Shigure, Kyo, and Rin to name a few. Momiji rejects this and choses his emotions. It's harder for me to connect to my emotions than it used to be, but I admire those who chose to not block off life, even when it hurts. Without this, empathy and connection would be impossible. I mention this because I was always touched at how emotional Momiji became when he defended Kisa’s choice-he could recognize her pain [11].
[Too wonderful to spoil]To me Momiji is the most healthy of all of them. I bias that statement on how he reacted to the breaking of his curse. Kureno first chose to stay with Akito [12], then ran from her [13]. Momiji saw her with adult eyes and just stopped being bound to her [14]. I like to think he was still afraid-I know I always will be-but I’m like Momiji. When I see my childhood abuser I feel some sadness for him. I may still react to him, but I know he can’t hurt me anymore-I’m not that helpless little girl and I haven’t been for a long time. It is both sad and empowering when you see the weakness of the one that held you captive. I still feel pathetic for submitting to that man (not that I had a choice) but it’s amazing to think of the fear and helplessness I once felt and know that he can’t do that to me ever again.
I think being ready to see Akito as powerless is what precipitated Momiji’s release [15]. The Rabbit grows up a lot after starting high school, and when he was ready to be free he was [16]. Momiji is about 16 when his curse breaks, and I think that is just old enough to let go of the adult authority that held him in place. Before he believed the words of Akito merely because Akito said so, but that will no longer stand. Even though it’s messy, I think Momiji’s story proves growing up is a good thing [17].
That doesn’t mean that everything’s better. His mothers memory is still erased and even though he and his sister are establishing a relationship, he missed her baby years and early childhood. Momiji seems to be in physical pain when Kyo confronts him about his sudden distance from the rest of the family. In typical fashion he understates his case and soon focuses on Torhu’s wants, but he is the only one who expresses any desire to go back to a cursed state [18].
Momiji walked out of Akito's life when he had the chance and yet came back at the right time, just as he promised he would. My all time favorite moment out of all 23 volumes is this page right here [19]:
Momiji comforts and strengthens Akito when she’s at her weakest. He could have so easily told her it was all her fault that two people he cares about are in the hospital, he could have told her he was glad she was suffering for her actions, but he didn’t. Momiji is always lifting others up, no matter who they are. He holds no vitriol for the mother who abandoned him-at least not that we see.
Momiji is the one who gets hurt, yet time and time again returns good for evil. Maybe I’m not as good as I see him as being, but there is something very special about someone who consistently roots for others to find happiness regardless of how they’ve treated him. I want to be like that too, and I intend to keep trying.
[1] Chapter 9
[2] Chapter 18
[3] Chapter 30
[4] Chapter 20
[5] Chapter 65
[6] Chapter 28
[7] Chapter 65
[8] Chapter 23
[9] Chapter 17
[10] Chapter 28
[11] Chapter 28
[12] Chapter 98
[13] Chapter 132
[14] Chapter 116
[15] Chapter 115
[16] Chapter 66
[17] Chapter 116
[18] Chapter 116
[19] Chapter 124
The childish behavior is somewhat absurd in normal circumstances, but so many abuse survivors I know have chosen that route, as I did. It comes down to a simple fact-people protect cute kids. There’s a certain pout adults seem to respond to in children, and men often respond to in women. One might call it manipulative, but I can’t remember ever using this to get people to buy me things or even do anything for me besides express concern. After the hell I went through under my family’s nose, I needed to know that someone cared about my pain.
Likewise, Momiji rarely references his true pain-a broken family-but he often cries about “Kyo’s hurting me [3]!” When I’m in tears, it’s probably over something trivial. When I complain it’s going to be the “epic tale of woe about the time the store didn’t have my flavor of ICEE” (to be fair, that did make me pretty sad.) It probably will not be about the loved one dying of cancer-that’s too close to home. What we need is to know is that someone would care if we did talk about it. I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve woken from a horrible nightmare in tears and contemplated calling a friend. I have yet to do it, but I get peace from knowing that I could and they would be willing to help.
I also understand Momiji’s need to hide behind the cuteness. I wish I could have confronted the person that was bringing the pain on myself and my family, but I still can’t. The only difference between then and now is that I could protect certain people if I needed to-that's where my line is. Momiji couldn't stand up for his cousins directly for fear of drawing Akito's wrath, but he could stand up for Torhu at a point. I swear if it was one of my nieces or (someday) daughters being hurt I would not let it happen, but there are certain people I still can't stand up for. Momiji’s inaction when Akito confronts Torhu in the school hallway [4] makes his actions at the summer house all the more heroic [5]. Shigure and Hatori even say that he was more composed than them.
I’ve often felt that the greatest fear on earth is the fear of the unknown. Momiji is not afraid of the pain of others because he understands it [6]. Akito’s wrath, on the other hand, is something he has no experience with and so he shies away from it. I love working with victimized children because I can go into their world and show them what’s outside it. Working with the elderly is much harder for me because I’ve never been elderly. For Momiji to take that first taste of being hit must have been at least equally scary, yet he did it [7].
Momiji is my favorite because he is exactly like I was-the happy bouncy kid with hidden pain to fuel his strength [8]. Though Momiji acts the part of the child, he is really the most understanding and empathetic character of the series (in my unbiased opinion.) When the others question Torhu’s generosity, Momiji is the one to relate the story of the “Foolish Traveler” so that the others can understand where she’s coming from [9]. Similarly when Kisa’s problems come to light, Momiji is the one to help the others look through her eyes [10].
Likewise the pain I’ve suffered has opened my eyes. I’m not saying I see past every false smile, but when people put on the same mask I wear, I see it for what it is. I am a master of spotting Momijis in the classroom and always have been-the ones who are cheery, but just a hair too young-until they show wisdom far beyond their years. That child persona isn’t exactly an act, but it is an incomplete picture. What we all seem to have in common to chose this method is that we were traumatized young. I bet Momiji's child persona is still pretty close to what he was like the day he lost his mother. My child persona is pretty close to when my abuse was uncovered-the list goes on and on. I have no scientific backing for this thought, but I think part of you gets stuck in that moment, hence a child persona.
Most of Momiji's family became numb-Hatori, Shigure, Kyo, and Rin to name a few. Momiji rejects this and choses his emotions. It's harder for me to connect to my emotions than it used to be, but I admire those who chose to not block off life, even when it hurts. Without this, empathy and connection would be impossible. I mention this because I was always touched at how emotional Momiji became when he defended Kisa’s choice-he could recognize her pain [11].
[Too wonderful to spoil]To me Momiji is the most healthy of all of them. I bias that statement on how he reacted to the breaking of his curse. Kureno first chose to stay with Akito [12], then ran from her [13]. Momiji saw her with adult eyes and just stopped being bound to her [14]. I like to think he was still afraid-I know I always will be-but I’m like Momiji. When I see my childhood abuser I feel some sadness for him. I may still react to him, but I know he can’t hurt me anymore-I’m not that helpless little girl and I haven’t been for a long time. It is both sad and empowering when you see the weakness of the one that held you captive. I still feel pathetic for submitting to that man (not that I had a choice) but it’s amazing to think of the fear and helplessness I once felt and know that he can’t do that to me ever again.
I think being ready to see Akito as powerless is what precipitated Momiji’s release [15]. The Rabbit grows up a lot after starting high school, and when he was ready to be free he was [16]. Momiji is about 16 when his curse breaks, and I think that is just old enough to let go of the adult authority that held him in place. Before he believed the words of Akito merely because Akito said so, but that will no longer stand. Even though it’s messy, I think Momiji’s story proves growing up is a good thing [17].
That doesn’t mean that everything’s better. His mothers memory is still erased and even though he and his sister are establishing a relationship, he missed her baby years and early childhood. Momiji seems to be in physical pain when Kyo confronts him about his sudden distance from the rest of the family. In typical fashion he understates his case and soon focuses on Torhu’s wants, but he is the only one who expresses any desire to go back to a cursed state [18].
Momiji walked out of Akito's life when he had the chance and yet came back at the right time, just as he promised he would. My all time favorite moment out of all 23 volumes is this page right here [19]:
Momiji comforts and strengthens Akito when she’s at her weakest. He could have so easily told her it was all her fault that two people he cares about are in the hospital, he could have told her he was glad she was suffering for her actions, but he didn’t. Momiji is always lifting others up, no matter who they are. He holds no vitriol for the mother who abandoned him-at least not that we see.
Momiji is the one who gets hurt, yet time and time again returns good for evil. Maybe I’m not as good as I see him as being, but there is something very special about someone who consistently roots for others to find happiness regardless of how they’ve treated him. I want to be like that too, and I intend to keep trying.
[1] Chapter 9
[2] Chapter 18
[3] Chapter 30
[4] Chapter 20
[5] Chapter 65
[6] Chapter 28
[7] Chapter 65
[8] Chapter 23
[9] Chapter 17
[10] Chapter 28
[11] Chapter 28
[12] Chapter 98
[13] Chapter 132
[14] Chapter 116
[15] Chapter 115
[16] Chapter 66
[17] Chapter 116
[18] Chapter 116
[19] Chapter 124