Tom Tanaka

**Tom Tanaka** is an old friend and senior of Shizuo Heiwajima in the light novel series *Durarara* and the *Wonderland* series. He works as a debt collector and is Shizuo's current employer.

## Appearance and Personality

### Appearance

Tom is usually seen walking around in a suit, but his striped, unbuttoned shirt and his dyed, dreadlocked hair prevent him from looking too formal. This is probably due to his job as a debt collector, which needs him to look sharp and business-like but not too polite and friendly, as he often confronts people.

### Personality

He generally has a reserved, laid back personality, and as harsh as one might expect an underground debt collector to be, he is usually calm, even when confronted with Shizuo's destructive rampages. He is one of the few able to calm Shizuo down and make him stop fighting without angering him and incurring his wrath.

## Back Story

Tom and Shizuo met when Shizuo was entering middle school. *Dengeki Magazine* included an omake story that expanded on their middle school history. Some older kids tried to pick on Shizuo but were soon beaten up, and Tom approached with the following goals: a.) learn how not to piss Shizuo off (and thus graduate in one piece), and b.) enlist his help in moving the injured seniors to the hospital. Tom bought Shizuo dinner and advised him to dye his hair blond so to help cultivate a reputation and fitting appearance that would keep punks away. Later, the senior delinquents praised Tom for taming "the rabid dog" and asked him to enlist Shizuo as a combatant for them. Tom refused, reprimanding them for calling Shizuo a dog and for disregarding his hatred of violence. After Tom left, the seniors planned to attack him to trap Shizuo; unfortunately for them, Shizuo had been drowsing nearby for the entirety of the conversation and at that point attacked. The seniors cornered Tom, who held his own just barely until Shizuo arrived and took over. When asked by Shizuo why he, who couldn't fight well, didn't just use Shizuo, Tom answered that although he's not good at fighting and Shizuo is, Shizuo hates violence, so he should not fight.

After that, Shizuo dyed his hair and enjoyed a peaceful period as his reputation kept triflers at bay. Tom and Shizuo parted to attend different high schools, and Izaya Orihara undid all of Tom's work. Much later, when both of them were adults, Shizuo was having trouble keeping a job. Tom met Shizuo on the street and decided to hire him as a bodyguard.

Thanks to the fact that Tom is able to control Shizuo, and Shizuo's strength and destructive tendencies are actually a good quality to have in his line of work (instead of problematic like they were for his previous employers), Tom became Shizuo's permanent employer. Shizuo's job is to "basically beat up people who can't pay up," and generally to stay around Tom, protecting him. Tom has also made it clear that Shizuo doesn't need to beat everybody up, the idea being to use Shizuo's name and reputation to scare people into paying their debts. Shizuo, unfortunately, does so anyway.

## Storyline History

### Caged Wonderland

Tom, Shizuo, and Vorona are relaxing in the bar when Tom's phone rings. His boss called him for another job with a man named Kita. Due to Kita insulting Kasuka and Shizuo nearly killing the man, Tom and Vorona leave Shizuo behind at the bar to deal with the job. When Tom and Vorona return, Shizuo is gone. The pair spend all night looking for him. Tom calls up Kasuka and asks if Shizuo was with him. When the younger brother says no, Tom gets worried. Even Celty can't find Shizuo. By the time, Shizuo in found, Tom and Vorona are horrified by the broken state that the body guard is in with a bull head on his head with the body of Dorothea nearby. In "Blackout", Tom and Vorona have lunch in Russia Sushi and decide not to tell Kasuka what happened to Shizuo. When Simon asked about the body guard, the debt collector lies and says that he is just sick.

### The Month of No Gods

It is revealed that Tom told Vorona where Shizuo was being kept.

### Black Swan Wonderland

Tom and Vorona got to collect a debt from a man named Dan. He kicked down the door and finds a horrible smell. Tom manages to convince a little girl to look elsewhere for her scrap metal project. Afterwards, he calls the police. They ask him some questions about the victim and let him go about his day.

### Dark Alice in Dark Wonderland

Tom is being tracked during a job. Someone keeps sending him texts about what he is doing. He tries to get away but the person seems to know where he is. Tom tries to text them back but he gets an error message. He and Vorona end up finding Shizuo in an alleyway. It is Tom who tries to lure him over to him. He managed to get his hands on Shizuo. Vorona runs over to help him. Now, Shizuo is staying in Tom's apartment. Tom and Vorona don't know what to do. With nowhere else to turn, he called Kasuka and told him everything. He lets the idol in and shows him what became of Shizuo.

## Trivia

* Ryohgo Narita once mentioned on his blog that Tom's knowledge of gangs surpasses even Izaya's.
* Tom does not work for a bank, instead owning his own debt collection agency. In the light novels, he collects money for an online dating website.

## Source

* https://durarara.wikia.com/wiki/Tom\_Tanaka