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Ami Kawashima

Ami Kawashima (川島 亜美, Kawashima Ami) is the final main character to be introduced in Toradora!. She transfers into Class 2-C at Ohashi High School about a month after the school year has begun.

I, Ami Kawashima, will walk the same path as you. It’s just that I’ll be one step ahead.
— Ami Kawashima

Appearance

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Ami’s full appearance.

Ami Kawashima’s appearance reflects her role as a model—she’s tall with waist-length blue hair that frames her face with parted bangs. Compared to other characters her age, she has a more developed bust, though it’s also mentioned that she carries some extra weight around her stomach. Her eyes are violet, but in the original light novels, they are described as a rich, hazel brown.

Ami is typically seen in her standard Ohashi High School uniform, though she sometimes dresses in outfits that maintain her image as a model. On occasion, she opts for less revealing clothes and wears sunglasses to conceal her identity, helping her avoid unwanted attention from strangers.

Personality

At first glance, Ami Kawashima comes across as sweet, generous, and occasionally clumsy. However, her clumsiness is actually a facade, used to disguise her arrogance and self-centered nature. Yusaku Kitamura, a childhood friend, is aware of Ami’s true personality and prepares Ryuuji Takasu to see through her manipulative behavior when they first meet.

Over time, particularly through her interactions with Taiga Aisaka, Ami finds the strength to face the stalker she had been avoiding—one of the reasons for her transfer to Ohashi High School. After dealing with this issue, Ami chooses to stay at the school and begins to genuinely care for Ryuuji, Taiga, and her classmates in 2-C. By the series’ end, she sheds her false “cute girl” persona and becomes more authentic.

Though she quickly forms friendships at school, especially with Nanako Kashii and Maya Kihara, Ami is often seen retreating to a quiet spot between two vending machines in the school corridor. This spot becomes the setting for several important conversations between the main characters.

Background

Ami Kawashima hails from a prominent background, being the daughter of renowned actress Anna Kawashima. She shares a long-standing friendship with Yusaku Kitamura, who has known her since they were children. Before joining Ohashi High School, Ami was immersed in the modeling industry as a full-time model. After her transfer, she chose to step back from her modeling commitments, opting to pursue these opportunities only during her school vacations.

Relationships

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Ryuuji and Ami.

Ryuuji Takasu
Before Ami transfers to Class 2-C, Yusaku warns Ryuuji about her true nature, leading him to view her advances with skepticism, even as her feelings for him deepen. After inviting Ryuuji, Taiga, and Minori to her beach house, Ami becomes aware of the complicated love triangle among them and decides to step back from her own feelings for Ryuuji. As the Christmas party approaches, she observes the dynamic between Ryuuji and Minori, noting that their role as stand-ins for Taiga’s parents feels unnatural and could lead to emotional turmoil.

When Ami contemplates leaving Ohashi High School following the tension with Minori during the ski trip, Ryuuji persuades her to stay. In the story’s later stages, after Taiga’s departure, Ami confesses to Ryuuji that witnessing the class’s interactions with Taiga allowed her to be more authentic.

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Taiga and Ami.

Taiga Aisaka
Ami’s relationship with Taiga begins on a rocky note, as she bullies Taiga for her height during their first encounter at a restaurant. After transferring to Class 2-C, Ami manipulates Taiga into believing that Yusaku no longer has feelings for her, leading to a swimming race for Ryuuji’s affection. Ami claims victory when Taiga dives back in to rescue Ryuuji from drowning. Even after returning from the beach house, their rivalry persists, but things shift when Taiga returns from suspension with a new attitude. Their former animosity fades, culminating in Taiga expressing gratitude when Ami brings a Christmas tree to school, and the two perform a song together during the holiday party.

Taiga initially refers to Ami as “baka-chi” (translated as “dumb chihuahua” in the dub) in a derogatory manner, but this gradually evolves into a term of endearment.

Minori Kushieda
Ami’s early interactions with Minori are limited. Minori acts as a referee during the swimming race between Ami and Taiga and later joins them at Ami’s beach house. Initially unimpressed by the antics of Minori and Yusaku, Ami later tells Minori that she shouldn’t feel guilty about her feelings for Ryuuji, mistakenly assuming that Taiga still has feelings for Yusaku. This inadvertently complicates Ryuuji’s attempts to connect with Minori, a fact that Ami realizes during the ski trip.

When Taiga informs Ami that Ryuuji was allegedly rejected by Minori on Christmas Eve, Ami passes this information on to Minori, leading to an angry confrontation between them. The next day, when Taiga and Minori collide with Ami while sledding, tensions escalate into a physical altercation. Following this incident, Ami distances herself from Minori at school, despite Minori’s attempts to reach out.

Eventually, after Minori accepts Ryuuji and Taiga’s decision to elope, she begins to reconcile with Ami, breaking down in front of her in a moment of vulnerability.

Yusaku Kitamura
Ami and Yusaku share a long-standing friendship, and he is already aware of her true personality. Yusaku demonstrates his concern for Ami by encouraging Ryuuji and Taiga to treat her kindly and support her in being her authentic self. However, despite their close bond, Ami disapproves of some of Yusaku’s choices, such as when he bleached his hair to skip school.

Trivia

  • Ami Kawashima shares a striking resemblance with Sumire Kano:
    • Both have blue hair.
    • Both are close to Yusaku Kitamura.
    • Both exhibit a standoffish personality.
  • Ami also bears a resemblance to several characters from other series, including Ryoko Asakura from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya , Kaname Chidori from Full Metal Panic, and Momoko Kibitsu from Ookami-san and Her Seven Companions.
  • Ami, Taiga Aisaka, and Minori Kushieda make cameo appearances inOokami-san and Her Seven Companions.
  • Ami has a preference for spicy foods, reflecting her bold personality.
  • Her choice of a modeling career may stem from her desire to escape the pressures of her mother’s fame, seeking her own identity.
  • Ami’s initial behavior often masks her true feelings, showcasing her complex nature as she navigates friendships and rivalries.
  • The nickname “baka-chi” given by Taiga not only serves as an insult but evolves to represent their unique bond as they grow closer throughout the series.