Touko Shima

* Anime
* Manga

**Touko Shima** (志磨 透子, *Shima Tōko*) was the wife of Tamayoshi Shima and the mother of Tamahiko Shima, Tamako Shima and Tamao Shima.

## Appearance

Touko was an elegant woman with black hair.

## Personality

Prior to being forced into marrying Tamayoshi, she was looking forwards to marrying Tamasuke, whom she deeply loved. However after her forced marriage, she became sad and resentful, to the point of not acknowledging her son and daughter by Tamayoshi but doted on her son with Tamasuke. Despite this, she seems to have had some degree of care for Tamahiko and Tamako; she sang to Tamako as a baby and went out with Tamahiko for his 17th birthday.

## Background

Originally, Touko was the girlfriend of Tamasuke Shima. They loved each other dearly and wanted to get married. However, Tamasuke's older brother Tamayoshi lost his first wife to unknown causes and sought a replacement. Diregarding his brother's feelings, he used his influence to make Touko his new bride, creating a rift between the brothers that was never repaired. Having no choice, Touko married Tamayoshi and bore him a son: Tamahiko.

Three years after Tamahiko's birth, Touko ran away from Tamayoshi and went to see Tamasuke, having a brief affair. When she was forced to return to her husband, Touko learned that she was pregnant with Tamasuke's son, Tamao. To keep Tamayoshi from retaliating against his brother, she never told Tamasuke about his son. Two years after Tamao's birth, Touko gave birth to Tamako. Even though he was the product of adultery, Touko loved Tamao more than her other children, seeing him as her one true child while neglecting Tamahiko and Tamako.

Despite ignoring her children out of spite towards Tamayoshi, Touko decides to go out with Tamahiko to celebrate his 17th birthday, only to get in a car crash as they returned. Tamahiko survives, but loses the use of his right hand. Touko is not so fortunate, and dies in the crash.

## Relationships

### Tamayoshi Shima

The wife of Tamayoshi Shima. Despite loving his younger brother, she was forced to marry him after his first wife passed away. It was a deeply unhappy marriage due to him being cruel towards her. She deeply resented him until her death and he seems to have not mourned her.

### Tamasuke Manabe

Tamasuke was Touko's lover before she was forced to marry his older brother. Touko loved Tamasuke deeply and was looking forward to marrying him, and was horrified when Tamayoshi forced her to leave Tamasuke. After a few years of unhappiness, she ran to Tamasuke and they had an affair, resulting in the birth of their son Tamao.

### Tamao Shima

Her son with Tamasuke. Despite being illegitimate, Touko loved him more than her other two children because she was the child she had with her first love. She made it no secret to him about who his true father was.

### Tamahiko Shima

Her eldest son by Tamayoshi. Despite being her firstborn, Touko refused to acknowledge Tamahiko as her son out of spite towards his father. Despite neglecting him, she was willing to celebrate his 17th birthday with him.

### Tamako Shima

Her only daughter by Tamayoshi. Like Tamahiko, she was neglected in favor of Tamao. Out of hate for her husband father, Touko refused to acknowledge her as her daughter. However, Tamahiko recalls his mother singing to an infant Tamako.

## Etymology

* The name **Touko** means "transparent, permeate, filter, penetrate" (透) (**tou**) and "child" (子) (**ko**).

## Trivia

* The lullaby Touko used to sing to her children *Hoshinoyo* is Tamahiko's favorite song.
* Touko was a music teacher in her youth, a trait she passes down to Tamahiko and Tamako, who are skilled at playing the piano and koto respectively.
* Her name is **Sumiko Shima** under Crunchyroll in English Dub.