Tamao Shima

* Anime
* Manga

**Tamao Shima** (志磨 珠央, *Shima Tamao*) is the son of Tamasuke Manabe and Touko Shima.

## Appearance

Tamao is average in height. He had black hair and grey eyes.

## Personality

Tamao is initially portrayed as holding a grudge against Tamahiko for surviving the car accident that killed their mother, whom Tamao dearly loved. He seems afraid of Tamayoshi and Tamayo. He is also curious about Tamasuke, his biological father.

He also caused problems for Yuzuki by calling her a 'hand-me down' when Tamayo tried to break off Yuzuki's relationship with Tamahiko and was considering pairing Yuzuki up with Tamao.

However, he is revealed to be a scared boy talking big words. Once he makes amends with his brother, he becomes more friendly.

## Background

Tamao was conceived when his mother fled from Tamayoshi and returned to her former lover, Tamasuke, for comfort. This led to a brief affair before she was forced to return to her husband, keeping from him that she was pregnant with his child.

Since Tamao was born, his mother loved him the most, calling him her 'one true child', and telling him it's because he was the son of the man she loved.

At age 13, his mother was killed in a car accident although Tamahiko survived but was left with a disabled right arm. Tamao blamed Tamahiko for her death for a long time, as she took him out for his birthday.

## Plot

### *Taisho Otome Fairy Tale*

Tamao is first seen attending Tamaki's funeral, where he apologizes to Tamahiko for saying terrible things about him and Tamahiko holds no ill will towards him.

Tamayo blackmails Yuzuki into leaving Tamahiko and keeps her confined in the Shima household, in the company of Tamao, whom Tamayoshi is considering to make Yuzuki's new betrothed. Tamao is not pleased with this possible arrangement, as the fact she is close to Tamahiko disgusts him. He talks with Yuzuki, revealing he is actually Tamasuke's son and he longs to kill Tamahiko in revenge for their mother's death.

When Tamahiko arrives to get Yuzuki, Tamao takes him to her. When Yuzuki refuses to return to him, Tamao mocks Tamahiko for causing her trouble. Tamahiko then dares Tamao to kill him with a knife. However Tamao realizes he can't do it and is stopped by Yuzuki. Once Tamahiko abandons the family and leaves with Yuzuki, Tamao decides to leave the family himself and joins them at Tamasuke's house. He apologizes to Tamahiko for his horrible treatment towards him and admits how much he wants to meet his father. Tamahiko offers to introduce him to Tamasuke. Upon learning they are father and son, Tamasuke immediately has Tamao move in with him. Tamasuke later adopts both Tamao and Tamako.

A year later, Tamao decides to take over Tamasuke's hospital and become a doctor like his father. During Tamako's birthday party, he tells Tamahiko that he went back to the Shima house to get some paperwork and was told not to come back by a gleeful Tamayo, to whom he retorted he never will.

Over the next several years, Tamao follows in his father’s and sister’s footsteps, and becomes a doctor.

### *Shōwa Otome Otogi Banashi*

Tamao lives with Tamako at her house. He is briefly seen when Tokoyo Kurosaki goes to use the washroom for a bath after Tamako saves her from drowning. However, she is embarrassed that Tamao was already bathing in the restroom.

Tamao, along with Tamako, Tamahiko and other relatives, decide to turn Tamayo over to the authorities after learning the extent of her crimes from Jintaro. The Shima siblings help Tokoyo and Jintaro Shima escape from Tamayo. When Jintaro and Tokoyo jump from a bridge to fake their suicide, Tamao helps pull Tokoyo out of the water and tells Jintaro that's she's safe.

## Relationships

#### Tamahiko Shima

Tamao hated his older half-brother Tamahiko for surviving the car accident that killed their mother. Even though it wasn't Tamahiko's fault, the fact that the accident happened while their mother took Tamahiko out for his birthday caused Tamao to blame Tamahiko for their mother's death. He longed to get revenge on him by making him lose everything he ever loved and even talked about killing him. However, when Tamahiko offered him to actually stab him, Tamao was unable to harm him. Overtime, the two brothers reconcile after they leave the family but Tamao still hides his budding affection for his older brother.

#### Yuzuki Tachibana

Tamao initially looked down on Yuzuki for being the girl Tamahiko loved and hated the idea that he may be forced to marry her after his father takes her away from Tamahiko. However, after he reconciles with Tamahiko, Tamao begins treating Yuzuki with respect.

#### Tamako Shima

Tamao and Tamako never got along and rarely interacted. However, they are civil enough to where he attends her birthday party and confides in her about his dream of becoming a doctor.

#### Tamayo Shima

Tamao despises Tamayo, who equally despises him.

#### Tamasuke Manabe

Tamao always knew Tamasuke was his father and longed to meet him. Tamasuke never knew Tamao was his son until he was told this by Tamahiko and immediately accepted him as his son. Inspired by his father, Tamao decides to follow in his father's footsteps and become a doctor.

#### Touko Shima

Tamao loved his mother dearly and he was the only one of her children she doted on and showed love towards, as he was the child of the man she loved. He was devastated when she died from a car accident.

## Etymology

* The name **Tamao** means "bead, pearl, gem, jewel" (珠) (**tama**) and "center" (央) (**o**).

## Trivia

* Unlike his siblings, Tamao is skilled at cooking.