![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/25/Hotaru_Tomo_of_Sailor_Moon.png)
Hotaru Tomoe (土萠ほたる Tomoe Hotaru) is a character in the Japanese manga and anime Sailor Moon. She is the only Sailor Senshi whose name was not actually modified in the English dub; although some fans cited an oft held rumor, it was because she debuted as an apparently evil character (In the Mixx (now TokyoPop) manga, she was once named Jenny; Mixx later admitted this was a mistake and changed her name back to "Hotaru".). She is also notable for carrying the Silence Glaive (contrary to the name, it is neither), often playfully referred to by fans as resembling a giant can opener.
Adding to the mystery, her violet-clad, Sailor Saturn persona is also rarely seen in the series, and she has no proper henshin sequence.
She lives with her demon-possessed father (who is depicted as genuinely malevolent in the manga) while her mother is deceased. Hotaru is known for her extreme shyness, and weak constitution. She is also known for occasional abnormal body growth after her (supposed) temporary death, which makes her actual age moot. She is usually depicted as younger than the current run of typical senshi.
In the manga, the threat of Saturn actually doing damage is more overtly implied and she is frequently cited as able to destroy the world (and in fact destroyed the leftovers of the ruined Silver Millennium kingdom). Based on this somewhat disturbing information the "Outer Senshi", who are only somewhat aware of her reawakening, consequently make it part of their mission to 'deal' with her, causing the initial friction between them and Sailor Moon, who resolutely believes Hotaru can be saved.
The anime is slightly vaguer in its allusions, largely due to the darker aspects of Hotaru's personality being affected by an evil entity. Sailor Saturn herself (who unlike other senshi, often is depicted as a completely different aspect) describes the position as the 'Senshi of Death and Rebirth'.
Hotaru herself dresses predominantly in black and much art of her features a superficial gothic style. In the manga this was explained as disguising the extensive prostethics her father implanted to keep her alive. They later disappear after her rebirth but she (or the mangaka) seems to have kept the habit.
She also enjoys poetry and collecting lamps ("hotaru" means firefly in Japanese). After her father's death in the manga (the anime is somewhat contradictory about later aspects) she essentially becomes the adopted daughter of Haruka Tenoh and Michiru Kaioh, an atypical situation enjoyed by several fanfiction writers.
Because of her rather ignoble and sympathetic treatment in the series, Hotaru has few detractors in fandom, though ironically her best friend (and in certain fanfics occasional girlfriend) is Chibi-Usa, one of the most disliked characters in the show's American fandom.
Note on the Moon Kingdom
It must be pointed out that while the other senshi (soldiers) had a life during the time of the Moon Kingdom, Saturn did not. Her coming had always been prevented by the outer senshi (Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Pluto) in addition to their duty of being the first line of defense for the solar system. It was thought that allowing her to come into existence would mean the destruction of their worlds.
Profile
- Birthday: January 6th
- Astrological Sign: Capricorn
- Blood Type: AB
- Hobbies: Reading, and collecting lamps
- Best Friend: Chibi-Usa
- Favorite Animal: Panther
- Favorite color: Violet
- Favorite Subject: World History
- Worst Subject: Physical Education
- Favorite Food: Japanese Buckwheat noodles
- Least favorite Food: Milk
- Has trouble with: Marathons
- Strong Point: Injury Treatment
- School: Mugen Gakuen
- Dream: To become a nurse
- Favorite Gemstone: Fluorite
Powers
Silence Wall (Romanizatiion: sairensu vooru) is first used in anime episode 172, and is created using her Silence Glaive. Its basic purpose is to create a barrier to protect herself or her fellow senshi (soldiers).
Silence Glaive Surprise (Romanization: sairensu gureibu sapuraizu) was first used in episode 172 as well, and again uses the Silence Glaive. She used it in order to distract Queen Nehelenia so she could bring her glaive down.
Bringing Ruin to the World (No Romanization, there are no words spoken.) All she needs to do is bring her Silence Glaive down, and the world would be destroyed. (Thus why she is the most feared of the soldiers, and Uranus and Neptune fought to keep her from awakening.)
"Death Reborn Revolution"
Romanization: desu reboon reburyuushon
Description: This power was used to drain the energy from Pharaoh 90. The kanji used with this manuver means 'death world change' but the furigana shows that it should be spoken as Death Reborn Revolution
File:SilenceGlaive.jpg The Silence Glaive