Tomoya is a young man with striking blue hair that complements his somewhat rebellious look. His hairstyle and casual expression often give others the impression of a delinquent, adding to his tough exterior. However, despite this rough demeanor, Tomoyo remarks on his good looks, noting that he is surprisingly handsome beneath his aloof appearance.

At the start of the series, Tomoya Okazaki is a 17-year-old third-year student at Hikarizaka High. He harbors a deep resentment toward his hometown, as the place is filled with painful memories from his past.

After his mother, Atsuko, tragically passed away in a car accident during his childhood, Tomoya was left to live with his father, Naoyuki Okazaki, a man who has struggled with alcoholism. Their strained relationship is marked by constant arguments, and Tomoya shares a striking resemblance to his father, from their tan skin to their spiky blue hair and intense blue eyes.

In his middle school years, Tomoya was once a passionate basketball player, but an injury he sustained in a violent confrontation with his father ended his athletic career. The brutal incident, in which his right shoulder was dislocated when slammed into a wall, left him with permanent damage, making it impossible to raise his arm above his shoulder. This event not only took away his dreams of continuing basketball but also deepened the emotional distance between him and his father. As a result, Tomoya developed a cynical outlook on life and began to embrace a delinquent persona, frequently seen as an outsider at school.

Despite his troubled past, Tomoya has a close-knit group of friends. His best friend is Youhei Sunohara, and he’s also known as a childhood friend of Kotomi Ichinose. As the series progresses, he meets a variety of new people, such as Kyou, Ryou, Tomoyo, Fuko, and of course, Nagisa.

Tomoya’s behavior often reflects his cynical and sarcastic nature. He is notorious for being late to school, skipping classes, and spending his nights hanging out with Sunohara. He enjoys the company of others, often playing harmless pranks on his friends, especially Sunohara and Fuko. He is also known for teasing Nagisa and the Fujibayashi twins from time to time.

Though Tomoya may appear aloof and detached, he is actually a deeply caring and protective friend. He is particularly fond of Nagisa, going out of his way to help her and his other friends with their problems. While he is often oblivious to the attention some of the girls at school give him, it’s more likely that he simply chooses to ignore it. Tomoya’s inner thoughts are often left unsaid, but it’s clear that he frequently contemplates the direction of his life.

Though he embraces his delinquent image, Tomoya doesn’t actively seek conflict. He tends to remain quiet and approachable, which makes him less threatening than typical delinquent archetypes. However, when the situation calls for it, Tomoya is shown to be a formidable fighter, capable of handling himself in physical confrontations.

The main storyline of Clannad revolves around Tomoya Okazaki’s emotional journey as he learns the value of family and friendship, gradually transforming his cynical outlook on life.

In the first episode, “On the Hillside Path Where the Cherry Blossoms Flutter”, Tomoya meets Nagisa Furukawa, a fellow third-year student, while walking to school. Their chance meeting sparks the beginning of Tomoya’s personal growth and the unfolding of the series’ events.

As Tomoya gets to know Nagisa, he also becomes involved with other classmates, including Kyou, Ryou, Tomoyo, Fuko, and Youhei, forming meaningful connections with each of them. Tomoya uncovers their pasts, while also confronting his own forgotten memories. Along the way, he meets Nagisa’s parents, Akio and Sanae Furukawa, who run a small bakery called Furukawa Bread. He eventually develops romantic feelings for Nagisa, which become more apparent by the end of the first season.

Tomoya’s relationship with Nagisa deepens as the series progresses. In both the Clannad visual novel and anime, Tomoya ultimately ends up with Nagisa, and they get married. The couple also shares the joy of raising their daughter, Ushio. However, alternate routes within the visual novel allow for Tomoya to form romantic relationships with other characters, such as Tomoyo, Kyou, Fuko, Kotomi, and Yukine. Each of these alternative storylines presents a different version of Tomoya’s journey and relationships.

In the After Story arc, Tomoya helps several people, including Sunohara, Misae, and Yukine, resolve their personal issues as he nears graduation. His love for Nagisa continues to grow stronger throughout this time. After they both graduate, Tomoya marries Nagisa, and with the help of Yusuke Yoshino, he starts working as an electrician. Not long after, Nagisa becomes pregnant with their child, Ushio.

However, during her pregnancy, Nagisa falls seriously ill. She gives birth to Ushio, but tragically dies shortly after the delivery. This loss sends Tomoya into a deep depression that lasts for five years. He isolates himself, barely interacting with Ushio, who is cared for by Akio and Sanae. After a series of emotional arguments with Akio and receiving encouragement from Sanae, Tomoya takes Ushio on a trip to visit his grandmother. There, Tomoya learns of his father’s struggles after the death of his own wife and realizes that he is repeating the mistakes of his past relationship with his father.

Tomoya vows to become a better father to Ushio. When they return to Hikarizaka, Tomoya apologizes to his father and introduces him to Ushio. His father accepts the apology, and Tomoya receives an orb of light, seen only by Ushio.

Tomoya begins to make happier memories with Ushio. Eventually, Ushio returns to school and reconnects Tomoya with his old friend, Kyou, who dreams of becoming a kindergarten teacher. However, just as things seem to be improving, Ushio is struck by the same mysterious illness that claimed Nagisa’s life. Despite Tomoya’s efforts to care for her, Ushio’s condition worsens.

As winter sets in, Tomoya continues to look after Ushio. She requests a trip to the field of flowers they visited before, and although Tomoya is hesitant due to her fragile state, he agrees. During their journey to the northern field, Ushio collapses. Tomoya holds her close as she dies in his arms, her final words being “Daddy, I love you.” Stricken with grief, Tomoya falls into the snow, and it is implied that he dies shortly after, overwhelmed by the loss of both Nagisa and Ushio.

Afterwards, it is revealed that Ushio is the girl from the Illusionary World. The robot assisting the girl is revealed to be a different version of Tomoya. With enough orbs of light, Tomoya is transported back to the day he first met Nagisa under the cherry blossoms. At first, Tomoya hesitates, believing that it was his fault that both Nagisa and Ushio died. However, in a moment of realization, he runs to Nagisa, determined not to let her walk past him. Nagisa, too, remembers everything they shared. She tells him to never regret their time together, no matter what happens, and they embrace one final time before Tomoya fades away.

In this new timeline, Tomoya’s wish changes fate. Nagisa survives childbirth, and Ushio is born healthy, free from the illness that once claimed her mother. Tomoya and Nagisa raise Ushio together, leading to a happy and peaceful life for their family.

In the final episode of After Story, which takes place in an alternate timeline where Tomoya never meets Nagisa, he becomes involved with Ryou, who sets him up with her sister, Kyou. Tomoya eventually realizes he does not share Ryou’s feelings, and he comes to terms with his love for Kyou. Though Kyou initially struggles with her emotions, she admits her feelings for Tomoya, and they begin a relationship. The episode ends with a kiss between Tomoya and Kyou, as they look forward to the future together.