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| Tomo of Fushigi Yuugi. He is based off of characters and plots from films like "Farewell My Concubine" and "M. Butterfly" (both from 1993). Both with LGBT themes. |
Yuu Watase had the hardest time creating Tomo in the first place. She wanted someone to be a foil to Chichiri, someone who is mysterious. She already had the military man (Nakago), the woman (Soi), the twins (Amiboshi and Suboshi), the beast (Ashitare), and the child (Miboshi) for the Seiryu warriors, but couldn’t think of the last person. It also didn’t help that the manga deadline was getting close. She needed to think of something quick.
Eventually she found her inspiration for Tomo when she spotted a Beijing opera mask hanging in front of a Chinese restaurant. The mask was the first step to his creation, hence we only see his face in the shadows when he was introduced in the manga.
Shortly after she drew Tomo, Watase watched “Farewell My Concubine,” which is about two male Beijing Opera actors and their unbreakable friendship despite their personal and political struggles. The actor who plays as the Dan (woman character) is in love with his friend who plays as the Jing (painted face). The friendship is strong, but the romantic love is not reciprocated. Watase also watched David Cronenberg's “M. Butterfly," which is about a French diplomat (played by the amazing Jeremy Irons) that falls in love with an "actress" who is actually a male spy for the Chinese government (yes, he plays the Dan). Because of these two films, Yuu Watase decided to make Tomo gay and in love with Nakago. Like the characters in both “Farewell” and "M Butterfly," the love is not returned.
Thus, Tomo is an opera actor and has the look of the “Jing" and the personality of the “Dan” characters. Remember the scene where Tomo poses as a woman (or androgynous person) and spies on the Suzaku team in his mirage city? There's your "M. Butterfly" moment where he acts as a spying woman.
After watching these films, Yuu Watase viewed gay love to be the same as straight love. She believes that the idea is more like love between persons rather than by the sexes.
For an evil villain like Tomo, the inspirations that created his character were actually quite beautiful. I can definitely see why Yuu Watase loved him.
Wow, I never thought I'd write Fushigi Yuugi, Tomo, Jeremy Irons, and David Cronenberg all in the same post!
Sources:
- Fushigi Yuugi manga, author's commentary. Volume: 10, Chapter 58. Volume 12, Chapter 70.
- Fushigi Yuugi TV Series, Episode 37 "Bewitched Warmth"
- Farewell My Concubine IMDB
- M. Butterfly IMDB
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