Kasumi Nomura
Kasumi Nomura |
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| Kanji: | 野村 香純 |
| Romaji | Nomura Kasumi |
| Statistics | |
| Gender: | Female |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Portrayed by: | |
| Japanese: | Konomi Kohara |
| English: | None |
Kasumi Nomura (野村 香純, Nomura Kasumi), is one of the main characters of the comedy anime and manga series Asobi Asobase. A classmate of Olivia and Hanako Honda, Kasumi is known for her reserved and soft-spoken demeanor, though this personality masks a sharp tongue, intense reactions, and a surprisingly dark side when provoked. She is a founding member of the school’s Pastimers Club, a joke club with no real activities aside from absurd games and chaotic antics.
Often portrayed as the most serious of the trio, Kasumi becomes the straight-laced foil to her more eccentric friends, although she regularly gets drawn into their antics. Her dry wit and sudden mood shifts add to the series’ unpredictable, over-the-top humor.
Background
Appearance in Anime
Kasumi is a second-year middle school student at an all-girls school, where she keeps to herself until she becomes involved with Olivia and Hanako Honda. The three bond over a shared desire to create a fake club the Pastimers Club as an excuse to goof off. Despite her initial reluctance, Kasumi is frequently swept up in the group’s surreal and nonsensical adventures.
While she appears calm and shy, Kasumi harbors a deep hatred for games she loses, and her pride often gets the better of her. She’s also very self-conscious about her appearance and social interactions, leading to exaggerated emotional breakdowns or outbursts that contrast heavily with her usual quiet persona.
Appearance
Kasumi has straight dark hair cut in a bob and wears round glasses that contribute to her quiet and bookish appearance. She typically wears her school uniform neatly and is rarely seen without a serious expression unless she’s spiraling into a comedic meltdown.
Her design reflects her “ordinary girl” role, but her exaggerated reactions, glowing eyes, and horror-style facial shifts during emotional extremes make her one of the most expressive characters in the series.
Personality
Kasumi is typically introverted, logical, and level-headed, often playing the “straight man” (tsukkomi) in the trio’s comedy routine. However, she has a short fuse, a competitive streak, and a tendency to spiral into violent or obsessive behavior when stressed.
Despite her mature front, Kasumi is deeply insecure, especially about her lack of experience with English and relationships. She often pretends to be more knowledgeable or emotionally stable than she actually is, only for her composure to collapse in dramatic, humorous ways.
Her biggest weakness is games and challenges she cannot stand losing, and her entire personality can shift when her pride is on the line.
Role in the Story
Founding the Pastimers Club: Kasumi, Olivia, and Hanako create the Pastimers Club as a way to enjoy freedom at school. While the club is supposed to be inactive, it becomes a hub for their daily antics, pranks, and bizarre competitions.
Victim of Chaos and Source of It: Though she often complains about Olivia and Hanako’s behavior, Kasumi frequently initiates or escalates the group’s madness. Her extreme reactions and spite-fueled decisions make her both a victim and perpetrator of chaos, contributing heavily to the series’ dark comedy tone.
The “Straight-Laced” Sidekick: Kasumi frequently delivers deadpan commentary and sarcastic remarks in response to her friends’ absurdities. Her serious demeanor makes her the perfect foil to Hanako’s hyperactivity and Olivia’s fake foreigner routine, grounding the trio while also highlighting the ridiculousness of their situations.
Relationships
Olivia: Kasumi initially believes Olivia is a foreigner who doesn’t understand Japanese and becomes her language tutor. Upon learning Olivia was faking it, she’s both embarrassed and furious but the two remain close, often clashing over games and petty rivalries.
Hanako Honda: Kasumi and Hanako are complete opposites Kasumi reserved, Hanako chaotic but they share an underlying competitiveness. Kasumi is often overwhelmed by Hanako’s energy but sometimes joins her in escalating antics. Their dynamic fuels much of the series’ slapstick and satire.
Student Council: The Pastimers Club is constantly monitored by the student council due to its strange and unapproved activities. Kasumi often ends up caught in their attempts to shut the club down or restore order.