Tamahiko Shima

* Anime
* Manga

**Tamahiko Shima** (志磨 珠彦, *Shima Tamahiko*), later known as **Tamahiko Tachibana**, is one of the main characters of *Taisho Otome Fairy Tale* series. He is the second son of the wealthy and calculating Shima family in Tokyo.

## Appearance

Tamahiko is tall and has short brown hair which can be considered as neat. Tamahiko possesses almost grey eyes.

## Personality

Tamahiko starts out as a self-loathing and pessimistic individual. Having been raised in a family devoid of love and was notorious for trampling over people, he was stoic and a loner. He had no reason to get along with his siblings and felt pressure from his father's expectations as the second son. Deep down, he is actually more kind and respectful than he lets on.

As a result of the car accident, he rejected life itself, resigned to his fate to live and die in ignominy. However, his better nature was drawn out when Yuzuki Tachibana comes into his life. Forced to keep her around because she was bought, he tries and fails to retain his pessimistic nature. Through her encouragement, he learns to appreciate life again. As he spends more time Yuzuki, he develops a romantic attraction to her positive outlook and strength against adversity. As his outlook improves, he decides to accept her as bride, but resolves to become a better man first. As his bond with Yuzuki grows, he goes from a downright pessimist to a doting husband and father.

Tamahiko also learns he has a knack for teaching, becoming popular among the children of the nearby village as a excellent tutor.

## Background

Tamahiko was born as the second son to the Shima family, a wealthy family in Tokyo. However, while the family had wealth and privilege, it lacked love, to the point Tamahiko never felt any source of affection from his parents nor was his birthday ever celebrated. As a result of his family’s history of ruthlessness and trampling over people, Tamahiko was isolated among his peers, who bullied him at school.

On his 17th birthday, he and his mother were in a car accident, which killed his mother and left him disabled without the use of his right arm. His father lost all expectations in him and effectively disowned him in shame at having a disabled son. He was then banished to a villa in the countryside of Chiba as his home. After a week of being in exile, a 13-year-old girl named Yuzuki Tachibana was bought by his father to be his caregiver and future bride for ¥10,000.

## Plot

### *Taisho Otome Fairy Tale*

Upon meeting Yuzuki at his villa doorstep, she merrily greeted him as his future bride. However, he realized she had been bought by his father and he felt pity for her, and allowed her inside. He asks how far she traveled to get to the villa (as there was a blizzard outside) and she replies 3 kilometres. He then gives her his coat to keep her warm. The next morning, he is surprised to find her cleaning and doing laundry in full swing. She also prepares him delicious meals, which he takes delight in. When he asks why she is being nice to him, she replies that she was initially afraid at being married off to a stranger but the moment he gave her his coat to warm her up, she saw him as genuine and someone who would cherish her. On New Years Eve (which, unbeknownst to Tamahiko, was also Yuzuki’s 14th birthday), he gets up after not being able to sleep and is given sweet warm milk by a Yuzuki who joins him. He rants on how miserable she must be to be stuck in the mountains with him but she corrects him and sings to him, which he recognizes as Hoshinoyo - a lullaby his mother used to sing. She then suggests they sleep together, which he misinterprets as being intimate and initially panics until he realizes she meant merely sleeping in the same room. She deduces his mistake and tells him that she is a maiden who wants to wait until marriage before losing her virginity before going to sleep.

Tamahiko‘a tendency to stay up late causes him to fall ill with a fever and Yuzuki takes care of him. She allows him to soil her kimono as she comforts him. He feels bad for ruining her kimono (as she had only one pair of clothes) and takes her to Tokyo to buy her a new kimono, although the fanciness of the city dazzles her. She is wary of him buying her expensive clothing whereas he is also embarrassed by her offering to feed him in public. She tells him that she will forever cherish the kimono because it's the first thing he ever gave her. He later receives a letter from his father who has decided to have Tamahiko declared dead in order to protect Tamaki and Tamayo’s marriage prospects. This causes him to fall back into a deep depression and brushes off Yuzuki’s concern for him. He finally begins laughing and suggests that he die because no one will miss him but she scolds him for this and comforts him with how she asked her family to think of her as dead when she was bought by his father. While still troubled, he finds comfort in her words.

Tamako Shima uninvitedly arrives at the villa to stay for a vacation. Tamayo is hostile towards Yuzuki and shows contempt for Tamahiko, who begins to sink back into his depression. Yuzuki takes him out on a walk to show him the beauty of the natural scenery around the home. Yuzuki later falls ill from overworking herself leaving Tamako and Tamahiko to nurse her back to health. Tamahiko summons a local doctor to tend to her and the doctor criticizes him for taking her for granted, as she overworked herself like a maid to please him. This causes Tamahiko to feel guilty. During the night, Tamahiko goes to check on Yuzuki, finding her struggling to breath under some tightly wrapped bandages and he reluctantly cuts the bandages to help her breathe but this reveals her ample breasts. She is embarrassed that he saw her such a state but he tries to brush it off despite his embarrassment. He tells her that he is no good for her and says he will ask his father to send her away but she embraces him and assures him that she isn't going anywhere. The next morning, Tamahiko is caught off guard when Tamako announces she is going to stay with their uncle so she can learn to become a doctor. He tries asking her why her sudden interest in being a doctor but she refuses to tell him. Later that night, the siblings sit in the porch. He realizes she came to his house because of their similar problems with the family and he tells her that he doesn't hate her - she is actually the sibling he loves the most. Tamahiko, Tamako, and Yuzuki later sleep in the same room. The next morning, he bids his sister farewell.

On Tamahiko's birthday, Yuzuki goes to buy supplies and Tamahiko follows her to protect her from the villagers' slander. She takes note of his fondness for books. After making dinner, she gives him a bookmark with a kikyou flower pressed on it as a present, which deeply touches him as she is the first person to give him a gift on his birthday. However, he finds a girl, Ryō Atsumi, in his room and accidentally steals the bookmark while she steals his wallet. He chases after her but sees that she steals money to support her family and is slapped by her father, though he decides not to intervene, as the abuse she is enduring reminds of how cruelly his own family treated him. He returns the next day to ask for the bookmark back and accidentally sees her bathing. They start to get into an argument over the return of the bookmark until she blackmails him into turning her siblings, which starts to draw in more local children. She kicks him out of the house when her father returns home. The next day, Ryo appears at his house and flaunts the bookmark in front of Yuzuki while fibbing that she is having an affair with Tamahiko, who denies it all. Yuzuki doesn't believe Ryo but her jealousy is shown when she tears the bookmark to pieces and walks away, which alarms Tamahiko. She acts normal around Tamahiko, who sees that she is hurt from him not being honest with her and he repairs the bookmark to make things right with her, and she apologizes for her behavior. On New Year's Eve, Tamahiko helps Yuzuki with cleaning and falls asleep. He later sits outside with Yuzuki who reveals she turned 15 and she is now legally old enough to be his wife. Tamahiko says he wants to grow as a person before marrying her, as he believes he is still no good, but she assures him that he makes her happy. This leads to him impulsively kissing her, which leaves them both embarrassed.

Discovering a knack at tutoring, Tamahiko writes to his father for permission to return to school but receives no response. Yuzuki decides to go to Tokyo to visit Midori after the latter announces via letter that she is pregnant by her fiancé. Tamahiko takes her to a shrine and gives her a well wish charm for Midori. When Yuzuki expects a goodbye kiss, Tamahiko refuses because they are in public but promises to give her a kiss when she returns. He is kept accompanied by Ryo and Ryotaro while Yuzuki is away and he starts to miss her. However, the Great Kanto Earthquake occurs, although the Chiba region suffers little damage. Tamahiko tries to help the villagers but many of them push him away and refuse his help, causing him to become depressed again. He goes home and keeps to himself in his room as he starts to fear for Yuzuki's well being. He finds a scarf and pair of mittens embroidered with kikyou flowers as a birthday present. fearful of losing her and realizing how precious she truly is to him, he realizes that he truly loves her. He decides to walk all the way to Tokyo, accompanied by Ryo, to find Yuzuki and make sure she is safe. After crossing the border between Chiba and Tokyo, and seeing the destruction, he holds onto his belief that Yuzuki is alive. Upon reaching Tokyo, he meets with his uncle, Tamasuke Manabe, and Tamako who was volunteering at their uncle's hospital. The two then search for Yuzuki but as he sees the destruction, he starts to fear Yuzuki is dead and tells Tamako that he will die if Yuzuki is dead. When they finally find her and Midori, whom she had saved but was left injured, Tamahiko carries her to the hospital despite his disabled arm and stays by her side throughout her treatment. When she finally wakes up, she unknowingly professes her love to him. His father and older sister Tamayo unexpectedly arrive to have Tamasuke treat his Older brother who has been injured. Tamayo mocks Yuzuki as a choice for Tamahiko's bride while Tamahiko guards Yuzuki from her and Yuzuki is shocked by Tamayo's contempt for everyone. Tamahiko is most hurt when his father is shown to be annoyed of his presence and says a 'dead man' should stay dead but Tamasuke defends him. After recovering, Yuzuki asks Tamahiko that they stay to help the survivors for a few days. Tamahiko helps with the children by reading to them. The two then return to Chiba and he fulfills his promise to Yuzuki by kissing her.

After finishing the summer cleaning, Tamahiko, Yuzuki, Tamako, and Ryo go to the nearby hot spring with Tamahiko, Tamako, and Ryo. At his 19th birthday party, Yuzuki sings a song for him. Their friends then deliberately leave them alone but the two decide to go for a walk. Tamahiko says he can't marry her yet because he wants to go back to school and utilize his skills so he can support their future family, which makes her happy. They then discuss how many children they want in the future. He begins studying for the entrance exams to the point of exhausting himself. Upon learning Kotori Shiratori will be in Chiba performing, Yuzuki, who is a fan, goes with Ryo and Tamahiko to see her sing on the street. Hearing her music, he finds himself impressed and takes a liking to her music. Tamahiko learns that his father has picked out a high school for him to attend, which makes him suspicious as to why his father would suddenly take an interest in his 'dead' son's education, but he obliged to his father's demands. As Tamahiko stresses himself from studying for the entrance exams, Yuzuki tends to him and asks him if he wants to sing with her. He requests *Moon Night Kotori* and they sing until he falls asleep. After Tamahiko passes the entrance exam, he attends school but finds it socially awkward due to the other boys bullying him and himself being out of place due to his disability. He befriends Kotori's twin brother Hakaru Shiratori who is in the same class as him. Upon learning Kotori and Hakaru are siblings, he is surprised. He and Hakaru get in trouble when they fail an art assignment and go to Tamahiko's villa to redo their work. When asked by Yuzuki how his first day at school went, Tamahiko lies that it went well and everyone was nice to him. Hakaru criticizes Tamahiko for lying but understands his reason was noble. When Hakaru calls Tamahiko his friend, Tamahiko is touched because Hakaru is the first person to call him a friend.

When Hakaru introduces Kotori to Tamahiko and Yuzuki, both are shocked to meet her but then she asks them for love advice so she can write a love song. She asks advice from them because of their relationship, which embarrasses them. They also help Hakaru and Kotori reconcile.

Shortly after, Tamahiko learns his older brother passed away and goes to Tokyo for his funeral. There, he seemingly reconciles with his father who apologizes for how horribly he treated Tamahiko. Before returning to Chiba, he meets with Kotori while he looks for a birthday present for Yuzuki and defends her from some reporters. He is embarrassed when Kotori tells him that Yuzuki wants him as her present. Upon returning home, he celebrates Yuzuki's birthday alone with her. He gives her a compact engraved with a Lily of the Valley, and reads out a letter he wrote expressing his affection for her and of his desire to see her happy. Tamahiko tells her that he loves her for the first time and asks her to be his wife. Yuzuki is so overcome with happiness that she kisses him and they almost succumb to their passion for each other before stopping, as they agreed to wait on consummating their relationship until marriage.

The next day, Yuzuki is missing and has left behind a letter bidding Tamahiko goodbye. Two days pass with no word from Yuzuki. Tamahiko gets Ryo to tell him that while he was at his brother's funeral, Tamayo came to his house and asked that she leave Tamahiko or else her family and unborn sibling would be harmed if she refused. Yuzuki reluctantly accepted and begged Ryo to keep it a secret from him. Enraged, Tamahiko goes to the Shima household and confronts Tamayo, who says a more suitable wife will be chosen for him, as he is the new heir to the Shima family, and he needs to stop living in a fairy tale with Yuzuki. At that moment, Tamahiko decides to cut off all ties to the Shima family and elope with Yuzuki. As Yuzuki is considered property for being bought by his father, he knows she is being kept inside the Shima household. He is met by Tamao Shima, who takes him to Yuzuki in a room. He begs for Yuzuki to return to him and tells her that he is leaving the Shima family but she refuses to return to him not only to protect her family but because she hurt him to where she thinks she can't be forgiven. Tamahiko tries to tell her that her family isn't important, as they allowed her to be sold, but she doesn't budge. He decides that he'd rather kill himself since he has nothing left to live for, and tries to persuade Tamao to stab him. Yuzuki stops them and admits she wants to be with him. When Tamayoshi comes in, Tamahiko announces he is leaving the Shima family and will marry Yuzuki. His father refuses to accept this, as Tamahiko is the new heir and shouldn't throw away all the wealth and privileges that come with it. Tamahiko replies that if he hadn't gotten into the accident and met Yuzuki, he would've succeeded as head of the family and ended up just like his father. Tamayoshi agrees to let him leave the family but refuses to hand Yuzuki over as he bought her and offers to let him keep her as a concubine if he agrees to be the next head of the family and marry a more appropriate bride. Disgusted, Tamahiko makes a contract that he will repay the money in exchange for Yuzuki staying with him. Before leaving, Tamahiko thanks his father for sending him away because he was able to meet Yuzuki and make friends. As he can't return to school and can't live in the villa anymore, Tamahiko promises to Tamako that he will go Kobe to stay with their uncle once he meets Yuzuki's parents. As they head to Iwate to meet her parents, Yuzuki still feels guilty for hurting him and asks him to forgive her but he says there's nothing to forgive.

They arrive at Iwate and meet Yuzuki's parents to get their blessing for marriage. He announces his intent to marry her because he loves her and assures them that he will adopt her family name as proof he is not part of the Shima family anymore. Her parents accept him as their future son-in-law. Later that night, Yuzuki asks Tamahiko to sleep with her and admits she can't wait anymore. Tamahiko is hesitant at first but after some persuasion, they finally consummate their relationship. A week later, they arrive at Kobe to stay with Tamasuke until they can live on their own. They get married but due to the debt, they have no wedding ceremony. Yuzuki works as a waitress and Tamahiko as an elementary school teacher, and eventually move into an apartment.

A year later, during Tamako's birthday party, when their lack of a wedding ceremony is mentioned, Yuzuki shows how badly she wants one but says just being his wife makes her happy. Tamahiko feels guilty they can't afford a ceremony but tells her that her being his wife makes him happy. Two months later, Tamako invites them to an hanami. But it is revealed to be a surprise wedding ceremony their friends pitched in for them. The ceremony goes splendidly for them and, during a short walk, they reminisce how things changed for them.

### *Shōwa Otome Otogi Banashi*

Three years into their marriage, Yuzuki becomes pregnant and gives birth to their son, Tsukihiko. Around this time, Tamayoshi passes away, and as they are no longer obligated to repay their debt, Tamahiko and Yuzuki move into a larger, though old and run down, house with their son.

Tamahiko is mentioned several times by Yuzuki while teaching Tokoyo Kurosaki household chores, and Tokoyo notices how cheery Yuzuki gets when mentioning her husband. Once they learn the extent of Tamayo’s crimes from Jintaro, Tamahiko, Tamako, and Tamao go to the authorities. The Shima siblings help Jintaro and Tokoyo stage their suicide in order to escape from Tamayo and turn over Jintaro's camera to the police, as it contains evidence of her crimes. After Tamayo is arrested and Tamako confronts her, Tamahiko meets with Tamako to pick her up and understands how hard it was for Tamako to stand up to their sister. They then leave, as Tamahiko says Yuzuki is waiting for them.

Tamahiko and Yuzuki's second son, Haruki is born a few months later. Yuzuki sends a photograph of herself with Tamahiko, 6-year-old Tsukihiko and 1-year-old Haruki to Jintaro. He is also briefly seen tutoring his sons.

When World War ll breaks out, Tamahiko, Yuzuki and their sons are forced seek refuge in Iwate. There, their daughter Tamami is born. The family is shown when the war ends, still living in Iwate. Tamahiko calls out for Tsukihiko to come help him and Yuzuki with the chores. He later calls Tamako to inform her that he and his family are safe.

## Relationships

### Yuzuki Tachibana

Initially, Tamahiko views her as someone to tolerated as a servant and pitied for her situation, only to be surprised by her positive and loving nature. He is also taken aback by her eagerness to please him, though he grows to appreciate her. As she draws him out of his shell, he comes care deeply for her but still considers himself unworthy to be her husband. Her devotion to him touches him so much to the point of impulsively kissing her at one point. He doesn't fully understand the strength of his feelings for her until he fears for her safety after an earthquake, and acknowledges that he truly loves her. From then on, he begins doting on her and decides to officially make her his wife. His love for her is so intense that he admits he can't live without her, to the point he would rather be dead if she isn't with him and he abandons the only world he has ever known as long as they are together. He was always respectful of her wish to remain a maiden until marriage, but when she asks him to break their promise and sleep with her, he does so. After getting married, they have three children.

### Tamako Shima

Tamahiko had a strained relationship with his younger sister, who is open about her contempt for him. However, due to Yuzuki's influence, the two begin patching things up, especially after they both nurse Yuzuki from a fever. Tamahiko is supportive of Tamako’s dream to be a doctor. The two later search for Yuzuki after she is presumed missing following an earthquake and Tamako comforts Tamahiko. According to Tamahiko, out of all his siblings, he loves her the most and was very happy when she was born.

### Tamayoshi Shima

Tamahiko has a very negative relationship with his father, who was disappointed at having a son with a disabled right arm and preferred him as dead. Tamahiko yearned for his father’s attention despite the mistreatment and hoped to make his father proud by returning to school. However, their familial relationship is severed for good when Tamahiko cuts off the Shima family upon learning his father intended to forcibly break off his relationship with Yuzuki. However, Tamahiko thanks him for sending him away because he was able to meet Yuzuki before father and son part ways.

### Tamaki Shima

Tamahiko rarely saw his older brother, who was the heir to the family. However, he recalls Tamako being sad as a child and loyal to their father as an adult. After Tamaki was injured in an earthquake, Tamahiko hoped he would recover but he was secretly poisoned by Tamayo. Tamahiko later attends his funeral and feels pity for his late brother.

### Tamayo Shima

He has a very bad relationship with his older sister due to her callousness towards everyone and everything. Like with Tamako, Tamayo bullied Tamahiko during their childhood, though to a lesser degree. He kept his distance from her until he learned she blackmailed Yuzuki into leaving him and he angrily confronted her, but she brushed him off. According to Tamayo, she and Tamahiko are similar in nature: both will do anything to achieve their goals and he can be ruthless like her.

### Tamao Shima

Tamao hated Tamahiko for surviving the accident that killed their mother and held a grudge against him for a long time. Tamao entertained the idea of killing Tamahiko in revenge but when Tamahiko offered him to stab him, Tamao realized he couldn't do it. Although not close, the two later become civil with each other as they leave the Shima family together.

### Tamasuke Manabe

Tamahiko has a good relationship with his uncle, who is very supportive of his nephew after Tamahiko is exiled by his father. Tamasuke often gives his nephew advice and, in the anime, even agrees to sponsor him so he can return to school. He even asks Tamahiko to live him more than once so that he won't be alone.

### Tsukihiko Tachibana

Tsukihiko is the son and first child of Tamahiko and Yuzuki. In contrast to how his parents treated him, Tamahiko is a doting father towards his son and loves Tsukihiko very much.

### Ryō Atsumi

Tamahiko and Ryo initially did not get along due to Ryo causing trouble to him and Yuzuki. However after he learns of her abusive home life, he feels sympathy for her (as it reminds him of his own cruel family) and allows her to visit his house and tutors her brothers. They gradually become friends, though he gets annoyed with her at times. Although Ryo has secret feelings for him, he considers her a close friend.

### Hakaru Shiratori

When they first met, Tamahiko was a bit hesitant to hang out with Hakaru due to him being bullied by his classmates but he allowed Hakaru to hang around him. He was deeply touched when Hakaru called him his friend. Overtime, they two become close friends and Hikaru eventually becomes Tamahiko’s brother-in-law when he marries Tamako.

### Kotori Shiratori

Tamahiko knew Kotori was a famous singer but never heard her music until he saw her perform and he instantly took a liking to her music. The two quickly befriend each other as he helps her with writing song lyrics and she helping him with relationship matters regarding Yuzuki.

### Ryotaro Atsumi

Tamahiko tutored Ryotaro and offered the boy advice after Ryotaro was indecisive about going to Tokyo for an apprenticeship by telling him the good things about Tokyo.

### Yamato and Keita Atsumi

Tamahiko tutors Yamato and Keita, who refer to him as Botchan (meaning young master/ son of a high class family).

### Midori

As she is Yuzuki's friend, Tamahiko shows compassion for Midori by praying for her to have a healthy baby, buying an orimori for Yuzuki to give to her, and searching for her and Yuzuki after the Great Kanto Earthquake.

## Etymology

* The name **Tamahiko** means "bead, pearl, gem, jewel" (珠) (**tama**) and "boy, prince" (彦) (**hiko**).

## Trivia

* Tamahiko's 19th birthday is the same date in which the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred.
* Tamahiko and his son, Tsukihiko, share the same birthday; Tsukihiko was born on Tamahiko’s 22nd birthday (September 1, 1927)
* Tamahiko is fond of books and has a secret collection of pornographic magazines.
	+ Tamahiko also has a fondness for music, especially by Kotori, as he enjoys the song *Moon Night Kotori*. His favorite song is *Hoshinoyo,* which is what his mother used to sing.
* Tamahiko can play the piano, a trait he inherited from his mother, and is skilled in fishing.
* Tamahiko enjoys Yuzuki's cooking, though the one thing he hates is pumpkin.
* Tamahiko used to dislike sweets but starting liking them due to Yuzuki’s cooking.
* During a conversation with Yuzuki, Tamahiko says he wouldn't mind having two children. He ends up becoming a father to three children.
* Despite being an honor student, Tamahiko is shown to be terrible at drawing and cooking; he can't even make something simple like rice balls.
* Tamahiko is near-sighted.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 10
2. ↑ Chapter 24
3. ↑ Chapter 38
4. ↑ Chapter 1 (Shouwa Otome Otogibanashi)
5. ↑ Anime Official Website
6. ↑ Chapter 29