Sakura Kinomoto : is the heroine of
Cardcaptor Sakura, named after the Japanese word for "
cherry blossom". Her most defining character traits are her unyielding determination, caring nature and loyalty to her friends. Sakura is portrayed as a perceptively sweet, extremely energetic and cheerful character who is well-loved, pretty, cheerful, cute and at times naïve, clumsy, and clueless. Sakura is athletically gifted and skilled in sports at school, being an excellent runner and called the "best baton twirler in school" by her friends. She hates math and is openly
phasmophobic. Sakura maintains a crush on Yukito Tsukishiro for most of the manga and anime, but when she finally confesses to Yukito, she is gently rejected by him. Then, when asked by Sakura, he reveals he has feelings for her big brother, Touya. Eventually, Sakura realizes she is actually in love with Syaoran, but doesn't realize her feelings until he first confesses his love for her. Although she fails to admit her feelings in the final episode, Sakura later manages to finally confess her love to Syaoran when he and Meiling return to visit in the series movie,
Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card. The manga version of the events leading to Sakura and Syaoran's confessions is quite different. Following the duel with Eriol, Syaoran reveals to Sakura his feelings to her one afternoon after school; telling Sakura that he loves her and that she is the one he loves most of all. Taking in Syaoran’s words, Sakura struggles to understand her own feelings for Syaoran before realizing that she feels the same way about him. Before he leaves for Hong Kong, Sakura gives Syaoran a teddy bear she makes for him and tells him that he is her Number One; the person she loves the most. Now knowing that Sakura feels the same way about him, Syaoran promises to return once he’s finished his business in Hong Kong and desperately asks Sakura if she will wait for him, and she promises that she will. Over the next few years Sakura and Syaoran maintain a long-distance relationship (which was the focus of a bonus one-shot Clear Card manga story released only in Japan called “Until We Meet Again”); writing letters and making phone calls. However, he reunites with Sakura when she starts Middle School and reveals to her joy that he is back in Tomoeda for good. The two happily embrace, with a tearful Sakura proclaiming that from now on, they’ll be together forever. Sakura becomes the titular Cardcaptor by guardian beast Cerberus after accidentally opening and releasing the Clow Cards from the Clow Book. Aided by Cerberus, her best friend and cousin Tomoyo Daidouji, and later Syaoran, Sakura successfully captures all the cards and is named the new Clow Mistress by the cards' second guardian Yue (Yukito's true form). In the second half of the manga and anime, Sakura must use the power of her own star to transform the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards, or else the cards would lose their powers. In the beginning of the
Clear Card arc, all the Sakura cards suddenly turn blank, losing their powers and while looking for a way to restore them, Sakura must capture new cards of an unknown origin that started appearing around town. She later learns that Syaoran was responsible for the Sakura cards' disappearance in a move to protect her, as her own power had grown too strong for her to control, leading to the creation of the Clear cards. For all Japanese-language productions of the anime (including movies, audio CDs, and video games), Sakura is voiced by
Sakura Tange. In the Animax English dub, she is voiced by Andrea Kwan. In the English dub of the
second movie, she is voiced by
Kari Wahlgren. In the English dub of the
Clear Card arc, she is voiced by
Monica Rial, who reprised her role as Sakura from
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle. In the Nelvana English dub
Cardcaptors, she is known as
Sakura Avalon, though her given name is repronounced as "Sa-KU-ra" instead of "SA-ku-ra". She is voiced by
Carly McKillip. In this version, she is portrayed as a more thick-skinned character than in the original anime, her initial romantic feelings for Yukito and fear of ghosts are removed, and later in the series she and Syaoran never developed their romance as it was heavily edited out. The decision to have Sakura and Syaoran become a couple at the end of the series was popular amongst fans, with
Nanase Ohkawa noting in a February 2001 interview that she was glad that the readers were happy that Sakura and Syaoran got together. During a CLAMP Twitter Space discussion in April 2024, which took place a month after a special chapter of Clear Card was published in Japan (which was the last story reprinted in the final volume of Clear Card), CLAMP were asked if they had plans for another
story arc, perhaps one about Sakura and Syaoran's wedding. Responding to the question,
Nanase Ohkawa expressed her view that "it’d be best for everyone to imagine Sakura and Syaoran’s wedding in their own hearts," but did not rule out a continuation of the story after the final volume of Clear Card.
Cerberus : (
Kérberos ), nicknamed
Kero by Sakura; is the appointed guardian of the book which holds the Clow Cards, as well as the series' provider of comic relief. He is one of two magical creatures created by Clow Reed along with the Clow Cards. Before his death, Clow appointed Kero as the one to select the potential candidate to be the next master of the cards, Cerberus himself, and his "brother" and fellow guardian, Yue. After Sakura accidentally releases the cards, Cerberus chooses her to be the candidate and teaches her the basics of capturing the cards. Throughout the series, he displays an extensive knowledge of mysticism. After Sakura passes the Final Judgment to become the Clow Cards master, Cerberus remains with her as a friend, companion, adviser, and protector when new threats appear. Having spent a lengthy amount of time in the book while it was in
Osaka, Cerberus speaks with a pointed
Osakan-accent. Unlike Yue, Cerberus' magical powers are like the sun, and thus largely self-sustaining, and he is subsequently not as dependent on his master's power to support his life as is Yue. However, his master must have control of the Firey and Earthy cards in order to power his true form, a large-
winged mountain lion. In the anime adaptation, the Light card is changed to the Earthy card to delay his obtaining his true form. Cerberus appears in Episode 44 of
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle in his borrowed form, although in the parallel world he dwells in it appears to be his singular body. Cerberus (using "Kero" as a nickname) guards the Country of Kero, and has a prophetic dream of Syaoran, Sakura, Fai, Kurogane and Mokona, the protagonists of
Tsubasa, arriving in his world and recruits Mokona to climb up a mountain to retrieve one of Sakura's memory feathers which shrinks down the protagonists in size. Aya Hisakawa reprised her role as Cerberus for this character appearance, while
Chris Cason provided his English voice.
Tomoyo Daidouji : is the best friend and primary assistant of
Sakura Kinomoto, and her second cousin on their mother's sides. The daughter of the president of
Daidouji Toy Company, Sonomi Daidouji (Sakura's aunt), Tomoyo is a person of good breeding and dignified bearing. She is svelte, sophisticated, and
ladylike, and lives a life of wealth, watched over by a team of female maids and bodyguards. She has access to a variety of
state of the art prototype technological gadgets from her mother's company, and supplies Sakura and Cerberus with different
mobile devices throughout the series. Her most defining character traits include her attentiveness, integrity and selflessness towards Sakura's welfare, and her love of spoiling her friends. Tomoyo initially comes off as a stereotypical "Ojou-san": a demure, wealthy, upwardly-mobile high-class female
stock character, especially one with ancestry in the
nobility or
gentry. However, she is depicted as having exceptional emotional maturity. Tomoyo is hard-working, highly motivated, compassionate, intelligent, meticulous, giving her a unique air of cultured politeness, deportment, refinement, and etiquette amongst the cast. Tomoyo regularly speaks using more formal verb
conjugations and expressions than normally seen among elementary students. She uses , a first-person pronoun which, when used outside of formal situations, makes a character seem either "prim and proper," "cultured," or "snobby." Tomoyo is artistically gifted, having displayed talents as an amateur fashion designer, beautician, cinematographer, seamstress, choreographer, pianists and vocalist. Tomoyo is shown announcing, performing, or costume designing in various school events. In the anime, her musical ability causes her to be targeted by both the Voice and Song cards. When needed, Tomoyo can exhibit considerable perceptiveness, cunning and resourcefulness, most prominently displayed in
The Sealed Card film. Because Tomoyo lacks magical powers and athletic abilities, Sakura takes on a proactive protective responsibility most times when capturing or transforming cards. If Tomoyo is ever in danger (or missing), Sakura will be the one concerned for her most, and her focus changes from that of the Card at hand to prioritize Tomoyo's safety. Fortunately, Sakura has always succeeded, and hugs Tomoyo warmly whenever they reunite. Tomoyo states that she has absolute trust in her friend and faith in Sakura's "invincible spell", so she never feels distressed. Starting in
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Tomoyo began using a small camera-equipped drone to remove herself from unnecessary danger while documenting Sakura's exploits, so as not to worry Sakura. Tomoyo is notable for her "
fangirling", crafty streak, and obsession of documenting every single detail of Sakura's adventures and personal life on video as much as possible, much to Sakura's discomfort. When she learns of Sakura's new role as a Cardcaptor, she becomes her personal cheerleader, insists that Sakura must wear "special outfits", is responsible for choreographing Sakura's new action poses, and begins providing Sakura with the various "magical girl" protective costumes she wears during her captures, as well as accompanying her on magical (and non-magical) endeavors to record the events with her video camera. This "art project" seems to serve Tomoyo's personal benefit and enjoyment rather than improving Sakura's performance. However, she doesn't let her own desires supersede Sakura's needs and wants; she just wants to help Sakura and see her be happy. Tomoyo faithfully assists Sakura, keeps her new identity secret, and often covers for her in times of need. In both the manga and anime adaptations, Tomoyo admits that she loves Sakura, but Sakura replies innocently, "I love you, too," in the platonic sense. This is emphasized using manga conventions: Tomoyo declares her love against a romantic background of
language of flowers, while Sakura replies against a blank white background. In the manga, some scenes give the appearance that Tomoyo has a crush on Sakura's brother Toya; however, according to Volume 1 of
Clamp no Kiseki: The Ultimate Collection, and an interview in the
Cardcaptor Sakura Memorial Book, this was an error caused by one of the finishing artists not being aware that CLAMP intended for Tomoyo to have romantic feelings for Sakura. Later scenes show that Tomoyo recognizes that Toya and Sakura, being brother and sister, have the same ears, and that Tomoyo secretly blushed over Toya because his ears reminded her of Sakura. Although she loves Sakura, she encourages Sakura's love of Yukito, and later becomes Syaoran's confidante and
wingman when he begins to fall in love with Sakura. CLAMP stated that the reason that Sakura does not return her friend Tomoyo's feelings is not because Tomoyo is another girl, as Sakura does not consider sex or gender a barrier for her romantic attraction. She simply does not have romantic feelings for Tomoyo in particular. Although not the actual character, two of Tomoyo's alternate forms make appearances in
Cardcaptor Sakuras spiritual successor
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, and three in the animated version. In the anime adaptation, the character is voiced by
Junko Iwao. In the Animax dub, she is voiced by Sarah Hauser for the first season, and later by Claudia Thompson. In the English dub of
Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card, her voice is supplied by
Michelle Ruff. In the English dub of the
Clear Card arc, Tomoyo is voiced by
Natalie Hoover.
Touya Kinomoto : is Sakura's older brother. His birthday is February 29. Though he teases her frequently, he cares a great deal for her and works to protect her. He is fully aware of what she is doing as a Cardcaptor, and regularly takes on several part-time jobs that put him in a position to be nearby when she is working on capturing a card. He is also known for being a
chick magnet, a status only reinforced by the fact that he never dates or actively shows romantic interest in anyone. He disliked Syaoran and often holds a grudge against him, but deep down he thought to himself that if there was someone Sakura should be with it would be Syaoran. Touya possesses several magical powers, including the ability to see ghosts and other non-humans, the ability to sense when Sakura is in danger, and mild
precognition. He has an extremely close relationship with and love for his best friend
Yukito; as the series progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that he is aware that Yukito is Yue's alter ego. To save both Yukito and Yue, Touya becomes a normal human being after he gives all of his magical powers to Yue, making him promise to protect Sakura in his stead as well as himself (and, by extension, Yukito). However, it has been revealed in Volume 2 of
Clear Card arc that he is gradually regaining his magic and seems to be developing new and greater abilities that he shall reveal when the time is right. It is also hinted in the
Clear Card arc that Touya and Yukito are now in a relationship, which was confirmed by a member of CLAMP in 2022. In the Japanese anime adaptation, Touya is voiced by
Seki Tomokazu. In the English manga his name is spelled "Toya". In the Animax dub, he is voiced by Darren Pleavin for the first season. In the English adaptation
Cardcaptors, his name is changed to
Tori Avalon and he is voiced by
Tony Sampson. In the English dub of the second film,
Kirk Thornton takes over the voicing role. In the English dub of the
Clear Card arc, Touya is voiced by
Clifford Chapin. : is the one of two Guardians of the Clow Cards, along with Cerberus. His name, which is written in
kanji rather than
hiragana is the
Mandarin Chinese word for "moon". Whereas Cerberus is the elector of the new Clow Card Master, Yue is the judge who is allowed to test the candidate for their worthiness. He spends most of the series in his temporary form,
Yukito Tsukishiro, who initially has no memory or knowledge of his other self. Unlike Cerberus, Yue's powers are heavily dependent on the power of his master. Sakura's power is not yet strong enough to sustain him after he awakens, particularly after she begins transforming the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards. Yue's growing need for power is reflected in Yukito's ravenous appetite and later constant sleeping. Similarly, the deficit affects Yue himself in instances such as the blatant failure of his magic which causes Sakura and him to fall out of the sky during one of Eriol's synthesized 'situations'. Eventually, Sakura's brother Toya reveals that he knows Yue and Yukito are not human and gives his power to Yue to sustain his existence so he does not lose Yukito. :As with
Ruby Moon, Yue's "true form" has no biological sex or gender; though not "human or male", Yue has the appearance of a
sexless /
non-binary beautiful "
angelic-
bishōnen" young man (male pronouns used) with long, silver, braided hair, silver-purple feline eyes, and a pair of white angel wings which he uses for flight. Yue sports a white suit and spats-like coverings on his feet. His personality is depicted as serious and aloof in contrast to both Kerberos's and Yukito's, and while those two are very fond of Sakura, Yue is reluctant to accept her. Similarly, Yue displays no hint of Yukito's fondness for Li or his love for Touya. As the series progress, he comes to respond to Sakura's request that rather than being his master, she wants to be his friend. Yue has jurisdiction over the elements wind and water, as well as any cards that can be said to have a connection to the moon, wind or water. This includes the Wood, Time and Dark cards. :Unlike Kerberos, Yukito and Yue are usually voiced by the same actor, albeit with slightly modified performances. In the Japanese anime adaptation Yukito/Yue is voiced by
Megumi Ogata. In the Animax dub, Yukito/Yue is voiced by Candice Moore. In
Cardcaptors, Yukito's name is changed to
Julian Star, his love for Touya is removed, and he is voiced by
Samuel Vincent. In the English dub of the second movie, he is voiced by
Steve Staley. In the English dub of the
Clear Card arc, Yukito/Yue is voiced by
Justin Briner. Cantonese Jyutping:
lei5 siu2 long4), is the
love interest of the Japanese manga series Cardcaptor Sakura, created by
CLAMP. A member of the Li clan of sorcerers from Hong Kong, whom are distant relatives of Clow Reed, the creator of the Clow Cards, he initially rivals against Sakura because he believes that he should be the one to inherit the Clow Cards and tries to capture the cards for himself. As the series progresses, however, Syaoran comes to respect Sakura and becomes her friend and ally. He eventually falls in love with her, though she is slow to realize it due to her own feelings for Yukito. Originally, Syaoran appeared
smitten with Yukito, but later revealed that the attraction was due to high moon power inside of Yukito. Eventually, in the beginning of the third season, Syaoran finally begins to realize he has deeply fallen in love with Sakura, as he constantly blushes whenever he is around her. In the manga, Syaoran begins to develop feelings for Sakura around the time of the Erase Card's capture. Once Syaoran realizes his feelings, he tries to admit his love for Sakura several times, but is both too nervous to confess his feelings while also being constantly interrupted. Syaoran also becomes extremely jealous whenever he sees Sakura spending time with Eriol, believing he harbours romantic feelings for Sakura and considers him a rival. Syaoran's love for Sakura is proven to be really strong as he thinks strongly of her well-being and needs before his own as shown when after Yukito rejects Sakura's feelings, Syaoran comforts her even though Sakura is still unaware about his own romantic feelings towards her. Nearing the end of the series, Syaoran finally confesses his feelings to Sakura, but decides to return to
Hong Kong, since Sakura has now become the new master of the cards. In the series movie,
Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card, he and Meiling return from Hong Kong a few months later to visit. Throughout the movie, Syaoran waits for Sakura to reply to his confession, but as Sakura constantly keeps trying to tell him how she feels, they are repeatedly interrupted. Syaoran and Sakura work together to defeat the Nothing Card that has been secretly stealing the Sakura cards while making parts of Tomoeda disappear. Eventually at the end of the movie, they manage to defeat the Nothing Card, which becomes the Hope Card and Sakura finally confesses her love for Syaoran and jumps into his arms. Two years later, Syaoran returns to Tomoeda and enrols at the same middle school as Sakura and most of her friends. However, part of his reason for returning is to watch over Sakura and help her with the mystery surrounding the Clear Cards. He also keeps contact with Eriol, who instructs him to not interfere until the time is right. Later he reveals to Sakura that he was the one who took away the spirits contained within the Sakura Cards in order to protect herself from her own power, which is growing out of control, thus leading to the creation of the Clear Cards. Sakura is deeply upset at learning this, due to the fact that Syaoran risked his own life by doing this, and breaks down at the thought of something bad happening to him. She also sadly thinks that this was the reason he came back to Japan sooner than he said he would in a previous letter to Sakura; indirectly saying to Syaoran that she thinks he returned out of a sense of duty and not out of love and wanting to be with her. Knowing what Sakura is implying, Syaoran is taken aback and says to Sakura that his mission was only part of the reason he came back so soon, he just wanted to see her again as soon as possible; leaving Sakura happy and reassured about Syaoran's love for and desire to be with her. Syaoran also intends to reveal the truth about Kaito to Sakura, but he becomes unable to tell her anything about Akiho or Kaito's involvement due to a spell Kaito places on him. Syaoran manages to catch several cards by playing a major role in helping Sakura seal them. He is allowed to attempt the final judgment but fails. Syaoran is shown to have similar powers to Sakura, such as sensing Clow Cards and magical auras, is a skilled martial artist, and wields a sword which he can use to cast spells when equipped with incantation papers. He can also use a device (dubbed a "
lasenboard" in the
Cardcaptors anime dub), which can detect and direct him to magical entities. A
running gag is Kero calling him "kid". Syaoran is voiced by
Motoko Kumai in the Japanese version. In the Animax English dub, he is voiced by Candice Moore. In the Nelvana English dub, he is voiced by
Mona Marshall in the second feature film. In Funimation's English dub of
Clear Card, he is voiced by
Jason Liebrecht, who reprises his role as Syaoran from
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle. In coming to Tokyo, Meiling intends to help Syaoran find and gather the Clow Cards, and actively dislikes Sakura. As the series progresses, Meiling develops a grudging respect for Sakura that turns into a good friendship by the time Meiling returns to Hong Kong in episode 43 by her mother for unknown reasons. During her initial visit, Meiling seemed to recognize that Syaoran was falling in love with Sakura, but it wasn't until she briefly returned in episode 60 that she acknowledges and accepts Sakura as the person Syaoran loves. Wanting to keep her promise, Syaoran attempts to tell her that he loves Sakura, but Meiling interrupts and tells him that she knows because he is now calling Sakura by her first name, something he only does for his sisters and her. She releases Syaoran from their promise, then quickly leaves. Meiling spends the night at
Tomoyo Daidōji's house and releases all of her frustration by crying without burdening Syaoran. At the end of the episode, Meiling returns home and is not seen again in the main series. She returns in the second movie, with Syaoran, to see her old friends, but actually secretly came back to help Sakura finally confess her love to Syaoran. Meiling also occasionally appears in the anime adaptation of
Clear Card, talking to Sakura on the phone and giving her hints at developing her relationship with Syaoran. A running gag is Kero calling her "brat." Along with her temporary stay in Tomoeda and being supportive of Syaoran, Meiling also plays a limited role in the story because, unlike Syaoran, she has no magical abilities, relying solely on her physical fighting abilities and a healthy dose of pride. Her lack of powers and tendency to leap before thinking, however, results in her hindering more than helping Syaoran in most battles against the cards. She challenges The Fight card in episode 20, and was nearly badly wounded and had to be rescued by Syaoran. Recognizing that she was being a burden, Meiling grew upset and lashed out at Syaoran. However, she was then able to be an aid to him while fighting The Twin card, as their years of practicing martial arts together enables them to match the card's synchronized fighting style. In
Clear Card episode 13, Meiling matured and is much less of a brat than she used to be. Even Sakura is amazed to see Meiling speak so politely to Fujitaka, to which Meiling responds, “It’s just good manners,” as if that's how she's always been. Meiling's signature hairstyle is the Chinese
niújiǎotóu (牛角头). In the Japanese version of the anime adaptation, Meiling is voiced by
Yukana. In the Animax English dub, she is voiced by Sarah Hauser. In the English dub of the second movie, she is voiced by
Julie Maddalena. In the English dub of the
Clear Card arc, she is voiced by
Trina Nishimura. In the English adaptation
Cardcaptors, she is known as
Meilin Rae and is voiced by
Nicole Oliver. Her unrequited engagement with Syaoran was omitted along with the fact that she and Syaoran were cousins. Rather she is portrayed as a long time friend of Syaoran and her romantic feelings toward him were watered down but still evident. ==Recurring characters in manga==