Oh my, a list of top anime Mom’s just in time for Mother’s Day, how deeply original Irina… Well pshaw! I’m a classic, I don’t need to hide behind the imaginative!
A very long time ago, I did a list of top anime dads and I had a great time. I realized though that parents in general are few and far apart in anime and mothers seem to get the worst of it. When their not quickly ushered offscreen to presumably cook and be generally harmless, they tend to be killed off just to give our heroes some motivation. Sheesh, that’s just harsh. You’d think that motherhood pretty much ended with getting the kid out. That’s where it starts!!!!
But these fine ladies remind us that being a mother is difficult, delicate and truly something to be proud of. Even though I bristle when Shoka calls me mom, I wouldn’t mind so much if these were the ladies he had in mind.
5. Takasu Yasuko – Toradora
Yasuko proved that great moms make great kids. Traditionally, a character like Yasuko would have been looked down upon. Consuming alcohol and entertaining men is considered highly inappropriate in the strict and traditional views of Japanese culture (actually pretty much everywhere, to be honest). But Yasuko is portrayed as a cheery and pleasant young woman doing everything she can to provide for her son, and succeeding.
Not only is she making sure that Ryuuji doesn’t want for anything, but she is always there to listen and support her son. Never once has she let him get so much as a whiff of regret or bitterness at a life that slipped out of her control for a second. She has always acted like both he and his questionable father were the best things to ever happen to her and as a result, she raised a young man with a healthy respect for women, himself and really anyone who deserves it. Ryuuji is growing up to be a caring and responsible young man who any mother would be proud of and guess who gets credit for that! 
4. Kobayashi – Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
I think we’re all past thinking that a mother is an ovary donor at this point. But if you still had some doubts, look no further than Miss Kobayashi. You have got to admire this woman’s coping mechanisms. Admittedly some of them appear to be sake which is also my coping mechanism, but in general, Kobayashi knows how to go with the flow.
However, when she accepts Kanna in her life, she does not take the responsibility lightly. Rearranging her entire lifestyle to meet the young dragon’s needs. She makes herself available for school events, picks up supplies and even moves to a bigger apartment to give Kanna the best possible life she can. And she does it all as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Who cares if they’re not the same species, if this isn’t what being a mom is all about, I don’t know what is.
3. Tōsen Shimogamo – The Eccentric Family
When Soichiro left his family behind (in his defense, he was killed not exactly his choice…) he believed that his four children were ready to live on without him. And they were, but only thanks to their mother. Tosen took on the burden of grieving for her lost mate and raising her children on her own, with dignity and tenderness. She had to bring her sons t accept a loss just as it was tearing her own heart apart.
The ghost of Soichiro is ever present in their lives. Had they ever intended to forget him, it would not have been possible as everyday bring a reminder of their lost father. He was highly respected and credited with great deeds within their society and those expectations trickle down on his kids as a constant reminder. But their mother has never allowed them to feel the weight of it. She held them together through sheer strength of will and that in turn, kept her from falling apart. At the end of episode 2 Yasaburo seems to think that the boys will never live up to their great father, however he caps it off by saying no matter how great their father was, so was their mother. I agree.
2. Touko – Natsume
I mean c’mon…
There are those softer traits we associate with motherhood. Gentleness, infinite patience, boundless love and understanding. Touko may as well be the personification of these things. It’s one thing to be able to accept the differences in your own kid, it’s another to do so in a boy who is essentially a stranger. Yet Touko never once saw Natsume as anything other than a young boy in need of love and occasional discipline.
Her ability to take in a lost little soul and create a real home for him clearly saved Natsume. It may have taken some time but he finally found a fantastic mother. Touko is that great thing worth waiting for. I’m sure that if you asked her, she thinks the same about Natsume, as any true mother would.
1. Sachiko – Erased
I mention Sachiko any chance I get. I have mixed feeling about Erased. Some elements I loved, others I thought missed the mark. However, I was always dumbfounded (no I’m not just generally dumbfounded) by the intricate and balanced portrayal of a mother son relationship. I went on about it in my review, but that aspect made the show for me and propelled it to one of my favorites of the season and a generally memorable series.
This is helped by the fact that Sachio is an astounding character all around. The unapologetic moma bear – you Do Not Mess with Sachiko’s kid. In fact, you better avoid messing with any kids if Sachiko’s around t because she will tear you a new one.
A force to be reckoned with, throughout the course of the series we see Sachiko showing some though love while trying to prod a grown son out of inertia, displaying apparently infinite strength and compassion while defending not only her own child, but a little girl clearly in trouble, while raising a kid on her own, and finally being the epitome of sacrifice and devotion as she forgoes her own life to take care of a comatose son without ever complaining or giving up hope. Might I add that she does most of this after getting murdered. A little dying is never going to keep a good mom down!
These are all great moms. I’m lucky, I can recognize them because I had a great mom too. So, if I missed any, please let me know and don’t forget to get your mom something nice. She loves you!
