List of xxxHolic characters

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This is a list of characters in the manga and anime series xxxHolic.

[edit] Main characters

Kimihiro Watanuki (四月一日 君尋 Watanuki Kimihiro?)
Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama (Japanese), Todd Haberkorn (English)
An orphaned boy cursed with the ability to see yōkai (spirits), Watanuki entered into an agreement with Yūko to work for her in exchange for the fulfillment of his wish–to never see spirits again. However, despite the fact that he hates his ability, Watanuki often goes out of his way to help people that he comes into contact with because of his power, even when he is not required to do so by his job. He is also very independent, because he has had to live alone for most of his life, and is an excellent cook and housekeeper.
Watanuki is infatuated with his classmate, Himawari, and frequently tries to impress her in any way he can. He looks on his other classmate, Dōmeki, as a potential rival for Himawari, even though the other boy has never really expressed an interest in her. Because of Dōmeki's ability to repel spirits, Watanuki must spend increasingly more time in his presence, and this has begun to alter their relationship to a sort of grudging friendship. Despite this, Watanuki outwardly reacts in a very hostile way towards Dōmeki, though his actions towards him often speak differently than his words.
Even though Yūko is strikingly beautiful, seductive and often a tease, Watanuki seems to be unfazed being around her and his romantic attention still revolves around Himawari. In fact, Watanuki seemed to be more irritated than anything else when Yūko teases him. But, further, it seems that they develop a very strong and affectionate relationship.
When Watanuki was critically injured in the manga, forcing Himawari and Dōmeki to make a wish of Yūko to save his life and make payments for her services (Himawari by accepting Watanuki's scars & Dōmeki by giving an equivalent amount of his lost blood); a Syaoran from Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, whom Watanuki saw briefly when he arrived to make a wish, also paid for his life in advance. Watanuki's relationship with this Syaoran has not been revealed yet.
Yūko Ichihara (壱原 侑子 Ichihara Yūko?)
Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara (Japanese), Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)
Being one extremely experienced in her industry, Yūko is not foolish enough to give away her real name like Watanuki. That aside, Yūko has served as a major catalyst for Watanuki's transformation, acting somewhat as his mentor. She loves to drink and eat Watanuki's wonderful cooking and dragging Watanuki on crazy outings at the drop of a hat.
Despite this immature and free-spirited attitude, Yūko has been known to be sage-like and serious when the time calls for it. Yūko seems to know the true hitsuzen that Watanuki will follow, and has often offered cryptic messages to warn him of impending danger or a folk tale that he should take a bit more seriously. She also seems to truly care about him, making sure he is safe at night, sending the Kudakitsune (pipe-fox) with him for extra protection, or calling Dōmeki when he needs saving.
Yūko is very powerful when it comes to magic and knowledge and is highly respected within the spirit realm. However, she doesn't often appear to get directly involved in things beyond whatever contact she has with those making wishes. Sometimes, she sends Watanuki to do jobs for her, such as when she granted a wish from Himawari. Yūko seems to take the role of someone playing chess when it comes to the big picture of things that are going on.
Shizuka Dōmeki (百目鬼 静 Dōmeki Shizuka?)
Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai (Japanese), J. Michael Tatum (English)
Dōmeki is Watanuki's classmate and one-sided rival. He is part of the school's archery club and often participates (and tops) school competitions. He lives by a shrine owned by his late grandfather.
Dōmeki's personality is a total opposite that of Watanuki's. He has a cool, calm and often sarcastic character. Much to the annoyance of Watanuki, he seems to hang around him especially when Watanuki gets a chance to be alone with Himawari.
While Watanuki is monster bait, Dōmeki is monster repellant, due to his grandfather's exorcism abilities that were passed down to him. The fortune teller from volume 2 foresees Dōmeki's arrival into the story, stating that Watanuki will gain a friend that he'll constantly fight with, but their relationship will "run deeper".
Yūko advises that Watanuki stay close to Dōmeki because his very presence drives away the spirits that attack Watanuki, but Watanuki's jealousy and general annoyance with Dōmeki's mellow, laid-back demeanor keep him from liking Dōmeki–or at least admitting that he does. The fact that on several occasions Dōmeki has had to come to Watanuki's rescue doesn't help, especially since most of these situations involve Watanuki passing out and Dōmeki having to carry him somewhere to rest, or Watanuki falling from a building just to have his wrist caught by Dōmeki at the last second. As payment for his services, Watanuki makes him bento lunches (sometimes with Yūko's nudging, sometimes without), and Dōmeki often demands really difficult or impossible lunch requests for the next day just to irk him.
According to the way he holds his bow, Dōmeki is right-handed. Also, after having his right arm injured while saving Watanuki from falling off of a building, Himawari comments on this being a shame, considering he's right-handed.
Before chapter 119 of the manga, Dōmeki could only see a vacant lot where Yūko's store was supposed to be. Yūko explains in volume 8 of the manga that since Dōmeki does not need anything from her, the shop does not physically or visually exist to him. However, after Watanuki falls out of a window in chapter 117 and is seriously injured, Dōmeki is able to enter Yūko's shop in order to wish to save Watanuki's life (because Dōmeki and Himiwari now have a "need" for the shop.)
Himawari Kunogi (九軒 ひまわり Kunogi Himawari?)
Voiced by: Shizuka Itō (Japanese), Cherami Leigh (English)
Watanuki's main love interest. He has been infatuated with Himawari ever since the beginning of the series and even some cryptic remarks from Yūko like "are you sure she's good luck?" haven't deterred him.
Himawari is caring and kind towards Watanuki, but she has her own reasons to avoid him to become closer to her, as for some reason she was born with the power to cause serious misfortune (although unintended) to those around her, an issue that even brought death to her grandmother and sometimes put her friends in trouble.
All who have been close to her have had some kind of misfortune befall them (except her parents - for if they did have bad luck - she would have never been born.) This is why she always tried to avoid walking home with Watanuki ("I have errands to run"), not wanting to cause him any more bad luck.
In chapter 117, Himawari touches Watanuki's shoulder, and thus indirectly causes him to nearly fall to his death from a window. Not wishing to cause him any more harm, she tries to say a final goodbye as Watanuki is recovering, but when he finally confesses his feelings for her, she finally begins to open up.
She used to wear her hair in loose ponytails, but now after the wish - she changes her hairstyle to cover the scars now covering her back.

[edit] Secondary characters

Zashiki-warashi (座敷童?)
Voiced by: Sumi Mutoh
A spirit girl (Vestal sprite) who has a crush on Watanuki. In the manga, the Zashiki-warashi first appears at Valentine's Day determined to give the perfect chocolate to Watanuki, which nearly results in the death of Dōmeki. She next appears when Watanuki is sent by Yūko to a place of pure chi to return the Kudakitsune to its normal small size. While there ("there" being a mountain named reisan), he finds the Zashiki-warashi on a small rock where he gives her a White Day present (a pair of hairpins with an angel wing design) as a token of appreciation for the Valentine's Day chocolate (even though he couldn't eat it). Her third appearance is when Watanuki agrees to go rescue her from the evil Jorō-gumo. She was captured when she attempted to recover Watanuki's eye from the Jorō-gumo. Her fourth appearance is when she and the Ame-warashi come to visit Watanuki, who'd recently been severely injured.
Zashiki-warashi are prone to mischievous thoughts, though this one is actually quite shy and sweet and very prone to crying (those who make her cry will be attacked by her guardians, a group of tengu-karasu). She lives on a mountain with pure spiritual energy and, as a result, is vulnerable to evil energy.
In the anime, Zashiki-warashi's first appearance was during Ochugen (a Japanese festival), which she misunderstood for Valentine's Day. Events similar to Zashiki-warashi's first appearance in the manga with Dōmeki nearly dying ensue and at the end it is revealed the sprite confused the festival for Valentines day (as so politely pointed out by the Rain Sprite). Watanuki visits her to thank her for the aburage (deep-fried tofu) which she gave to him to help him with the Kudakitsune.
Later in the manga Watanuki notices the change in her voice, identifying it as more grown up. The Ame-warashi explained that this was the effect of the Zashiki-warashi's feelings for Watanuki, causing her to change and grow-up.
She is based on a spirit from Japanese folklore, the zashiki-warashi, accounting for her childlike naiveté and innocence.
Ame-warashi (雨童女?)
Voiced by: Akiko Yajima (Japanese), Kate Oxley (English)
The Ame-warashi is also known as a rain sprite or rain maker. She is a proud, high ranking spirit/sprite who has a very hostile attitude toward humans due to the fact that "humans have no care or regard whatsoever with living nature". She comes to Yūko to ask for the service of Watanuki to save someone at a park containing hydrangeas. In the anime, she is portrayed as a good, protective friend of the Zashiki-warashi.
She also has the ability to detect differences in characters and likely special abilities, as implied by her ill feeling of Himawari and the "refreshing" or "pure" scent she detects emitting from Dōmeki. She appears again with the Zashiki-warashi to see Watanuki and remains hostile towards him, though she also makes a cryptic remark as to Watanuki's true nature.
Her hair in the anime is red, however there are colored Clamp pieces that show her hair as blue. The concept of an Ame-warashi is based on a spirit from Japanese folklore.
Kudakitsune (管狐?)/ Mugetsu
The Kudakitsune, a pipe fox spirit, later named Mugetsu by Watanuki, was the payment given to Yūko by the Ame-warashi for Watanuki's help. It became attached to him right away and often accompanies him on trips of the more dangerous type, but will go with him anywhere if he lets it. It used to annoy him at first, but Watanuki has warmed up to the wormy furball. The Kudakitsune has two forms: a snake-like mini version, and the traditional Kyūbi when it reveals its true power. It is able to create gigantic fireballs, also known as Foxfire or streams of fire, and can detect evil beings like the wing parasites and the spider lady in volume 8. It takes a large amount of pure spiritual energy to revert the traditional kyūbi back into its portable snake-like form. When that happens, Watanuki is forced to take the Kudakitsune to Zashiki's mountain. Watanuki later names it Mugetsu (無月? lit. moonless or no moon) for the way its eyes seem to disappear when it transforms, because the Kudakitsune became upset that Watanuki named Himawari's bird but left the Kudakitsune unnamed.
In the anime the Kudakitsune's favorite treat is deep-fried tofu, but too much of it is bad for him. If he eats too much in his larger form the markings on his head will disappear one by one and soon he would not be able to return to his pipe form, as Yūko informed Watanuki.
Tanpopo (タンポポ?)
A cute yellow bird hatched from an egg Yūko gave Watanuki while he was recovering from a near fatal injury as payment for retrieving water from a well. Actually that was the same egg that Sakura got from their visit to Kamui's world in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. According to Yūko, the bird was born for the sake of Himawari, and after Watanuki gives it to her, they are always seen together. Watanuki, at her request, names it Tanpopo (タンポポ? lit. dandelion).
He was introduced in the last chapter of volume 10 of the manga. His name was given to him by Watanuki in volume 11. Tanpopo is unaffected by Himawari's unlucky jinx and thus can keep her in good company.
Maru & Moro (マル＆モロ?)
Maru voiced by: Voiced by: Kazuko Kojima (Japanese), Leah Clark (English)
Moro voiced by: Voiced by: Hisayo Mochizuki (Japanese), Brina Palencia (English)
Maru and Moro (short for Maru-dashi and Moro-dashi) are the two girls that led Watanuki into Yūko's shop. It isn't stated whether they were created by Yūko, Clow Reed, the both of them, or someone else entirely, but since they have no souls and cannot leave the shop, it can be assumed that they were created there.
Possible Powers-In chapter 126, Yūko explained why Maru and Moro are required to stay inside the shop. The shop itself is not seen by anyone unless they are fated to do business with Yūko. Maru and Moro's concentration is what is keeping the shop in existence. As a side-effect, they have long deep bouts of sleep.
They help out around the shop, but mostly act as the cheering squad. They almost always speak in unison, or close to it. Watanuki seems to get along with them most of the time, at least when they are not dragging him into one of Yūko's plans.
It is noted that Maru and Moro's full names are both words which mean "exposing oneself in public" – similar to "flashing" and "streaking" in English, and something that is quite possibly a pun on the 'xxx' part of xxxHOLiC. Even though the 'xxx' are intended to act as a variable in the title, their appearance resembles the 'XXX' which is synonymous with pornography. Given the target seinen audience, this double meaning is probably intentional.
There are very few instances that Maru and Moro are in serious scenes. In the parasite angel chapter, Watanuki invited them to join him in the festival, however Maru and Moro said in unison (in a rather dazed look) "those without souls cannot leave this place... for their bodies will disintegrate."
They also show some concern not only for Yūko but also for Watanuki despite the fact they always annoy him. In volume 6 of the manga, when Watanuki came home from visiting the "lady in the park", Maru and Moro immediately sensed that something was wrong with Watanuki. When Watanuki finally collapsed, the two dragged Watanuki as far as the store's gates, saying "This is as far as we can go" before tossing Watanuki out to a waiting Dōmeki. In the anime, Watanuki also shows signs of slight affection to the two; in episode 18, when Dōmeki read a letter to Watanuki written by Mokona and Maru/Moro, Watanuki was somewhat pleased to see that they thought of him.
Mokona Modoki (モコナ＝モドキ?)
Voiced by: Mika Kikuchi (Japanese), Carrie Savage (English)
While the white Mokona left to travel the worlds with the Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle group, the black Mokona stayed behind to act as a liaison between the Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle group and Yūko. Mokona likes to be around Yūko, drink with her and eat the meals that Watanuki has made, and mostly chirps in with Maru and Moro. Yūko has mentioned that the Mokonas were created a very long time ago by herself and Clow Reed, in preparation for a future event–the arrival and subsequent journey of the Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle group–as well as to stop Fei Wong Reed's plans and save "two futures". Yūko and Clow also fashioned the ear accessories of the two Mokonas, possibly separately from the Mokonas themselves. In the manga, Yūko explains that the White Mokona's accessory (the red one) amplifies magic powers, while the blue accessory of the Black Mokona seals magic powers. The specific effects of the accessories and how they work are unclear.
Both Mokona are based on the character of the same name from Magic Knight Rayearth. It is one of a few of the crossovers that show up in holic.
Note: In the xxxHolic anime, the Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle crossover so far is not mentioned. Even Mokona's introduction to the story is altered, since he is not brought by Watanuki to assist the Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle group; rather, he is found by Watanuki when asked by Yūko to bring one of her "drinking buddies" for a party.
Kohane Tsuyuri (五月七日 小羽 Tsuyuri Kohane?)
Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
A young girl about age 11 with exceptional exorcism powers. Because of this she has been featured on Ghost and Supernatural TV shows. She is introduced volume 9 in the manga. Her mother at first seems to be very overprotective of her, but in later chapters it is revealed that the mother is clearly more interested in profiting from her daughter's supernatural abilities, than caring for her daughter as a person.
She mentioned to Watanuki that she hasn't been called by her first name as far as she can remember, marking Watanuki calling her "Kohane-chan" as a first. Her first name in kanji is translated as "small feathers" and her last name literally means May 7.
She and Watanuki seem to share a bond, likely because, due to their spiritual abilities, they have both been exposed to the occult at a young age. However her mother is vehemently opposing to their friendship, dragging her away any chance she sees Kohane with anyone especially Watanuki and company.
After an incident of a live TV show where in she and other mediums were asked if they sense different spirits of a haunted place, Kohane's deductions of another spirit present was different from all the other mediums who sensed the same thing. This caused her to be labeled as a hoax, even as far having her house vandalized. In chapter 137 she was seen by Watanuki covered in wounds and bandages after "falling" down the stairs on her way home (she suspects she was pushed, though seems indifferent).
Haruka Dōmeki (百目 鬼遥 Dōmeki Haruka?)
Dōmeki's grandfather and the Shinto priest of the shrine where Dōmeki now lives. He died sometime ago but he is always mentioned in Dōmeki's stories. The reason for his death hasn't been mentioned yet. Haruka looks strikingly like Dōmeki, but he has a somewhat more cheerful and outgoing personality than his grandson. He seems to have taught Shizuka a lot of stories regarding folklore, mythology and shrine practices. He has also an immense library that now Dōmeki uses and keeps.
As the priest of that shrine, he had the power to exorcise spirits and see them as well, an ability passed on to Dōmeki (although Dōmeki could not see spirits). His style of exorcising spirits, like Dōmeki, was shooting a bow and arrow made of chi. When Yūko saw the wards Haruka had made for the library she indicated that they were of high quality, attesting to his skill and knowledge of the occult.
Volume 9 of the manga marks his first appearance: in a dream provided by the Yumenai's balloons, which were originally Haruka's. He acts like a guide to Watanuki as Yūko does, asking him why he really likes Himawari and pointing out that since he met Himawari, things have gone bad for him, as well as asking why he found Shizuka Dōmeki irritating. When Watanuki fell from the school window, he entered a dream-like state in his near death condition. It was Haruka who crossed into this dream-like state and brought Watanuki back to consciousness.
Watanuki continues to see Haruka in his dreams. In chapter 127 Haruka has been shown to have the power to not only enter Watanuki's dreams, but can also bring him "across" to another person's dream. He acts as a guide to him as well in explaining things or warning him of danger like the time Kohane's mother splashed Watanuki with hot water. His statement that this is because all dreams are "connected" and thus it is possible to travel between dreams, is an idea that has been shown in other CLAMP works, notably in X. Haruka's ability to "cross" dreams and perhaps using them to sense certain knowledge is one that is characteristic of the yumemi from X.
Syaoran and the Tsubasa characters
Since xxxHolic and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle's plots are intertwined, the characters sometimes appear in each other's series, acting out the same event only from different perspectives. Watanuki has only met the group once, but said he felt as if he knew Syaoran for a very long time. He is sometimes around when Yūko talks to them through Mokona, but for the most part they do not communicate much. This relationship isn't closely stated or revealed in the anime (this is largely due to their connection with Mokona which has been removed), although in episode 8, Morodashi can be seen using Fay's staff as a carpet beater.
The real Syaoran of Tsubasa visits Yūko's shop in volume 9 of the manga. Yūko grants him the wish to go where his other eye is. In chapter 119 of the manga, it is revealed that he also paid a part of the price of saving Watanuki's life. Yūko was wearing the same clothes she wore when the Tsubasa cast visited her first.
Sakura appears in the Watanuki's dreams after being stabbed by Fai and transported into the "world" of dreams. Note: Sakura is wearing the clothes she was wearing in the first pages of Tsubasa hinting that the scene was a vision of the future. When Watanuki falls in bouts of dream modes he gets to meet Sakura in that state and often talk.
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