Tsukino Usagi Who is Tsukino Usagi? Who is this young odango-haired teenager who presumes to be a hero? Why is she as she is? All of these are good questions, and they go to the heart of Usagi's soul. They tell us why so much is put on her shoulders. Usagi lives in the Minatoku ward of Tokyo, in the neighborhood of Azabu Juuban. This neighborhood is not far from the famous Tokyo Tower, the replica of the Eiffel Tower. She lives in an upper middle-class home and goes to the Juuban Junior High School and attends eighth grade at the beginning of the series. Usagi's father Kenji is a photographer who is often invited to elite social gatherings and receptions. He is very protective of his children, especially Usagi, and he has risked his life to keep Usagi from harm. Usagi's mother Ikuko is a homemaker who keeps the Tsukino home running smoothly. She often proves to be the buffer between Usagi's desires and her father's protectiveness. For example, while Kenji is shouting about how Usagi is too young to date, Ikuko whispers to her to bring Mamoru by to meet them. Usagi's younger brother Shingo is a twelve-year old kid who seems quite normal for his age. He enjoys video games, and he is fond of teasing and practical jokes. He is initially afraid of Luna, having been bitten by a cat when he was younger. (This particular episode was not dubbed by DiC.) Tsukino Usagi is not perfect by any sense of the word. She is ditzy, klutzy, she gets barely passable grades in school, and her time is often occupied with video games, food, or guys. In short, she is a regular teenage girl. Other things which could describe Usagi, if you wanted to pile on a bit, would be: lazy, clumsy, gluttonous, and apathetic. These are hardly the things that would make a good hero. However, there are other aspects of Usagi that outweigh her faults. Usagi has a purity of heart that shows itself in many ways. She stands by her friends and supports them when they need it. She shows the purity of innocence, protesting to Luna that she simply wants to be a normal teenage girl. In fact, it was this innocence that at one point endangered her role as a hero. In "Cherry Blossom Time", Usagi's desire to remain a normal girl obscures her role as a hero. She then begins to lose that facet of her persona, and only after she is reminded of her duty to protect the ginzuishou does she accept her responsibilities again. Tsukino Usagi Statistics Name: Tsukino Usagi NA Name: Serena Tsukino Translation and meaning: Literally: "Rabbit of the Moon", where "usagi" = rabbit, "tsuki" = moon, and "no" - of. In this case, both the NA dub name and the original name point to about the same meaning. Serena is similar to Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon, and therefore may explain this particular name. The use of the name "Usagi" refers to a Japanese legend about a rabbit who lives on the moon. Birthdate: June 30, 1978 Astrological Sign: Cancer Blood Type: O - Strengths: Crying, Loyalty, spirit Weaknesses: Tardiness, school performance Dislikes: Thunderstorms Navigation Silent Serenity Home Sailor Moon