Yuki Sohma

is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya, and is one of the three protagonists of the story. He is depicted as a popular high school student despite severe self-doubts, and is president of the student council. He is sometimes called "Prince Yuki" by his fans. When Yuki is hugged by the opposite gender or if his body is under a great deal of stress, he transforms into the rat of the Chinese zodiac.According to the anime, when he turns into the same animal, he's revealed to have light gray fur.

Creation and conception

Although the rat is the twelfth month in the Japanese lunar calendar, unlike the other zodiac characters, his name is not derived from it. Natsuki Takaya claimed in an author's note she used "Yuki" because "nothing sounded good." can also mean snow in Japanese, corresponding with "Ice Prince," one of Yuki's nicknames, although the kanji in his name mean and , or "a reason to hope".

In an interview, Takaya said that when she was developing the series, Yuki was one of the first three characters she developed, after Tohru. According to the Fruits Basket Character Book, she had him dress in Chinese-style clothes because she likes them. She added that she believes they suit his androgynous nature, and...
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