Nadeko Sengoku (千石 撫子, Sengoku Nadeko) is Tsukihi Araragi's childhood friend and an acquaintance of Tsukihi's brother Koyomi Araragi. She was a victim of a painful curse that caused an invisible snake to coil around her and manifest scars that resemble snake scales. During her attempts to cure herself of the curse, she met Koyomi once again after not seeing him for a long time.
She is the narrator of Otorimonogatari and Nademonogatari, as well as arcs in Yoimonogatari, Amarimonogatari, Ougimonogatari, and Shinomonogatari. She is the titular protagonist of four main arcs: Nadeko Snake, Nadeko Medusa, Nadeko Draw and Nadeko Around, and three minor arcs: Nadeko Pool, Nadeko Mirror, and Kimi to Nadekko!.
Appearance[]
Nadeko is a young girl with dark brown hair (black in the novels) and chocolate brown eyes. She is 153 cm(5'0") and her weight is around 38 kg. During the times when she was still cursed by the jagirinawa, her outfit consisted of a waist pouch, an orange newsboy cap, a pink blouse, an orange jacket and a pair of baggy denims — all of which were designed to hide the scars that covered her body. She also always casts her eyes downward, with long fringes covering her eyes. It can be assumed that her newsboy cap represents the "snake" that cursed her, as its shape resembles a snake's head.
She later changes her to a more comfortable set of clothes after being relieved of the curse, and she shows a preference to wearing skirts.
Later in the series, she cuts her hair short.
Personality[]
Nadeko has a shy personality, and can be easily amused. She's quite protective of her hair (particularly her forelocks) as she relies on it for a sense of comfort and security, averting her eyes from the gaze of others. She commonly refers to herself in the third person, often considered a child-like tendency in Japanese. In combination with this, she also uses a lower case "i" as her first person pronoun in the English localization of the Otorimonogatari novel as a means to emphasize her childish manner of speaking. She often spells words incorrectly, and has a simplistic vocabulary - indicating her emotional and learning growth may have been somewhat stunted due to her sheltered childhood. She likes to create puns with her name.
Nadeko hates the feeling of direct physical contact with other people, specifically the feeling of transmitting heat, even from her own parents.
She develops a dependence towards Koyomi (whom she calls "Koyomi-onii-chan") which slowly intensified as the events relating to the snake curse puts a pressure on her.
Background[]
Nadeko has been familiar with the Araragi family as Tsukihi (whom Nadeko affectionately calls "Rara-chan"[ララちゃん]) had played with her when they were small. During one of those days, she meets Tsukihi's older brother Koyomi, then a sixth-grader, and would also soon become one of her friends when he fixed her bike. She began to call Koyomi "Koyomi-onii-chan" since then. Her visits to their house soon ended about six years ago and, unfortunately for Nadeko, Koyomi appears to have forgotten about his first encounter with her.
During middle school, she rejected the feelings of a classmate of hers, causing her to be targeted by the jagirinawa, which came in the form of a charm handed over by a mysterious person.
Plot[]
Nadeko Snake[]
Sengoku running pass Araragi from the North Shirahebi Shrine.
This section contains content from Bakemonogatari.
Nadeko has been visiting the North Shirahebi Shrine, where she sacrifices live white snakes in an attempt to cure a curse that has been tormenting her for some time. In one of her visits to the shrine, she encounters Koyomi and Suruga Kanbaru, who were en route to the shrine to place an ofuda (a kind of Shinto amulet) to the ruins of the shrine. The two later discovered her practice of slaughtering white snakes upon arriving at the shrine grounds, although they were unable to talk to her about it. Nadeko was also seen by Koyomi and Tsubasa Hanekawa the day after that in the local bookstore, reading books about the occult, which further intensified Koyomi's curiosity of her condition.
Nadeko was later taken by Koyomi and Suruga to the Araragi residence for some questions. There, she reveals that she was put under a curse, more specifically the jagirinawa (蛇切綯), and was going to die if the curse is not lifted soon.
Prior to initiating the ritual. The Jagirinawa can be seen constricting around Sengoku legs.
With some help from Meme, Koyomi and Suruga perform a ceremony which aims to release the snake curse from Nadeko's body, with Nadeko willingly participating. Although Nadeko was calmed by the presence of her "Koyomi-onii-chan", she soon discovers that there is another curse tormenting her, and it is a second snake curse sent by a classmate which she had rejected before. As she struggles for her life in the hands of two jagirinawa, Koyomi fights the oddities alone in a life-threatening stuggle. His intervention, although at the cost of a broken leg and arm, releases the jagirinawa from Nadeko's body.
After the encounter with the jagirinawa, Nadeko, Suruga and Koyomi stay over at Meme's place to rest.
Tsubasa Cat[]
Nadeko visits Koyomi at his school the day after she becomes cured of the curse of the jagirinawa to personally thank him and Suruga for their efforts the night before. She was only able to meet with Koyomi because Suruga sprinted her way out of the school gates by school's end, and ends up handing to Koyomi the school swimsuit Suruga lent to her for the ceremony the night before. During their conversation, she notes how different Shinobu looks at her and Suruga compared to how she does at Meme or Koyomi.
Sengoku assisting in the search for Shinobu.
Later, Tsubasa suddenly appears, causing a flustered Nadeko to run as fast as she can away from the two, possibly out of embarrassment. The conversation Tsubasa and Koyomi had afterwards talks a bit about what happened to Nadeko, although the topic is quickly changed to Hitagi's relationship with Koyomi.
During the sudden disappearance of Shinobu Oshino from the ruins of Eikou Cram School, Nadeko was one of the people Koyomi called for help in finding Shinobu.
Nadeko Pool[]
This section contains content from Bakemonogatari Anime Complete Guidebook.
Nadeko goes to the public pool with Koyomi so he can teach her how to swim, on account of her hearing that he's supposedly a good swimmer. Nadeko wore a very revealing string bikini with her bangs, which normally covered her face, tied back, claiming she wanted to try being more "adventurous." Everyone at the pool, including Koyomi, felt uncomfortable about her outfit, trying their hardest to avert their eyes. Starting to feel anxious, she looked as if she was on the verge of tears. Thinking back to when she was hiding the scars of the invisible snakes, Koyomi figured it was a good thing she felt willing to actually show off so much skin and praised her for it, cheering her up.
After that, Koyomi embarrassed himself in front of her when getting in the pool as he found out vampires can't swim.
Karen Bee[]
This section contains content from Nisemonogatari.
During summer vacation, Nadeko decides to invite Koyomi over to her house, taking the opportunity while both of her parents are out for work. Working up some confidence for the visit, Nadeko has abandoned her "mostly-covered" style of clothing, and wears a comfortable set of clothes with her forelocks combed back. Upon leading Koyomi into the Sengoku Residence, they play a few games, including Twister and The Game of Life with the intent of attracting him with her loose attire, having learned in Nadeko Snake that he is attracted to her physically. Meanwhile, they talk about several things, especially about rumors that a certain charm that resembles the one used to curse her is still spreading within her school. Nadeko's mother arrives home earlier than expected, causing them to disperse.
Koyomi commented that she has a glare just like a serpent.
Sodachi Lost[]
Nadeko Medusa[]
A few months have passed since the end of Deishuu Kaiki's swindling activities in Nanahyakuichi Public Middle School, and Nadeko's classroom finds itself tearing at the seams as the conflict and emotional turmoil arising from Kaiki's actions has left everyone bitter and spiteful towards one another. As class representative, Nadeko is unwillingly assigned the duty of relieving this tense atmosphere.
On Halloween, Nadeko encounters a high-school girl introducing herself as Ougi Oshino, who suddenly presses Nadeko about her tendency to use her innocent charm to escape responsibility. Shortly thereafter, Nadeko begins to see white snakes throughout the day in various locations. She calls Koyomi for advice, and after which, a bigger serpent, which introduces himself as Kuchinawa, tells her to go to North Shirahebi Shrine, where she is confronted for her killings of the white snakes that had caused her original curse.
In order to atone for her actions, Kuchinawa asks her to find its remains. She tries not to involve Koyomi, but he manages to find her at night and takes her to his house out of concern.[1] While left alone, Shinobu tears into Nadeko, disgusted by her cutesy, childish demeanor and dependence on others, leaving her shaken. The next morning, she reunites with Tsukihi and the latter presses the topic of Nadeko's personality and Koyomi's girlfriend, which ends with Tsukihi cutting away her forelocks in irritation towards Nadeko's indecisiveness.[2]
Due to extreme turmoil of having her psyche confronted by Ougi, Shinobu, and Tsukihi in a short span of time, and suddenly losing her protective shield - her hair, Nadeko is very unstable and ends up snapping at her teacher and to her class before leaving early from school. Feeling hopeless, Nadeko resigns to Kuchinawa's request and returns to Koyomi's house, where Kuchinawa's body is stuck between the pages of Koyomi's adult magazines in the form of a talisman. Kuchinawa urges Nadeko to eat the talisman in return for getting her forelocks back, as well as her wish of having her love with Koyomi be requited.[2] However, Koyomi catches her in the act and tries to talk her out of it, assuring her that things are okay and warning her of the dangerous consequences. Tensions are extremely high, and Nadeko is sent fully over the edge after Shinobu appears and provokes her further. She downs the talisman and is instantly transformed into an Oddity and escapes.
After defeating Koyomi and Shinobu with ease, Nadeko comes to realize that Kuchinawa was nothing more than a delusion the entire time, triggered due to her previously shattered sense of self and security after having been confronted by Ougi earlier, and her sub-sequential search for Koyomi's comfort via making him worry for her; a hallucination designed to protect her from the guilt of her actions by laying the blame elsewhere. She then goes to finish off Koyomi, but Hitagi interferes through a phone call and asks her to wait until after graduation, to which Nadeko complies.[3]
Hitagi End[]
Nadeko willingly let herself be "tricked" into reverting to a human by Deishuu after he told her that love and happiness aren't the only aspects of life, and that she needs to try pursuing a dream like her secret manga drawing hobby. Deishuu then told Koyomi Araragi to stay out of Nadeko's life from then on for her own sake since Koyomi's continuing presence in Nadeko's life would only hurt and weaken her, not help her.
Koyomi Dead[]
Nadeko makes a brief visual cameo in the anime adaptation of Koyomi Dead, depicting her with short hair drawing manga.
Ougi Dark[]
Koyomi Reverse[]
Tsukihi Undo[]
Nadeko Draw[]
Mayoi Snake[]
Yotsugi Shadow[]
Ougi Fright[]
Nadeko Around[]
Trivia[]
- Nadeko's first name is the alternate reading of the name nadeshiko (撫子), which is derived from a flower of the Dianthus species. The word "nadeshiko" is also used to denote a perfect woman under Japanese standards. Literally, the name means "lovable, caressable girl".
- Meanwhile, Nadeko's surname means "sieve", with the literal meaning of "a thousand stones". It is also a period in Japanese history marked by mass civil warfare and various smaller states vying for control of Japan.
- Nadeko is the 2nd most frequent narrator behind Koyomi, having narrated six main series arcs.
- Nadeko's favorite things are the following:
- Food: Salisbury steak and yakisoba
- Manga: Any manga from the 80s
- Game genre: Retro
- Music genre: Folk songs
- Color: Purple
- Favorite Older brother: Koyomi Araragi
- In the official guidebook, series author Nisio Isin did an interview with all of the voice actors, and asked Kana Hanazawa on what character she would like to play, in which she replied that she'd like to play an evil character, possibly becoming the inspiration for Nadeko Medusa.
- It seems Hitagi and Shinobu both dislike Nadeko. At the end of Nadeko Draw, however, Shinobu seems to begin to like Nadeko more.
- After the events of Hitagi End, Nadeko and Koyomi do not meet or interact with each other for the rest of the series. However, years later in Shinomonogatari, Koyomi reveals that he finally made amends with Nadeko and she told him she was in Tokyo.
Appears In[]
Main Series[]
- Bakemonogatari
- Nisemonogatari
- Otorimonogatari
- Koimonogatari
- Koyomimonogatari
- Owarimonogatari
- Zoku Owarimonogatari
- Orokamonogatari
- Nademonogatari
- Yoimonogatari
- Amarimonogatari
- Ougimonogatari
- Shinomonogatari
Short Stories[]
Manga[]
Other[]
Gallery[]
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References[]
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| Characters of the Monogatari Series
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Araragi Family | Koyomi Araragi • Karen Araragi • Tsukihi Araragi • Araragi Matriarch | |
| Heroines | Hitagi Senjougahara • Mayoi Hachikuji • Suruga Kanbaru • Nadeko Sengoku • Tsubasa Hanekawa/Black Hanekawa • Shinobu Oshino • Sodachi Oikura • Ougi Oshino | |
| Oddity Specialists | Meme Oshino • Deishuu Kaiki • Yozuru Kagenui • Yotsugi Ononoki • Izuko Gaen • Tadatsuru Teori • Seishirou Shishirui | |
| Hearsay Police Department | Zenka Suo • Nozomi Kizashima • Mitome Saisaki • Tsuzura Kouga | |
| Vampire Hunters | Dramaturgy • Episode • Guillotine Cutter | |
| Other Characters | Hitagi's Father • Hitagi's Mother • Tsunade • Mayoi's Father • Tooe Gaen • Suruga's Father • Suruga's Grandmother • Nadeko's Parents • Tsubasa's Parents • Mizudori • Rousokuzawa • Seiu Higasa • Rouka Numachi • Sasayabu • Komichi Tetsujou • Deathtopia Virtuoso Suicide-Master • Tropicalesque Home-A-Wave Dog-Strings | |
| Oddities of the Monogatari Series
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Types | Vampire • Sawarineko • Heavy Stone Crab • Lost Cow • Rainy Devil • Jagirinawa • Flame-Wreathe Bee • Shide no Tori • Tsukumogami • Slug Tofu | |
| Oddity Inflicted Characters | Koyomi Araragi • Tsubasa Hanekawa • Hitagi Senjougahara • Suruga Kanbaru • Nadeko Sengoku • Karen Araragi | |
| Oddity Characters | Shinobu Oshino • Mayoi Hachikuji • Black Hanekawa • Dramaturgy • Episode • Yotsugi Ononoki • Tsukihi Araragi • Ougi Oshino • Kako • Kuchinawa • Rouka Numachi • Seishirou Shishirui • Zenka Suo • Nozomi Kizashima • Mitome Saisaki • Deathtopia Virtuoso Suicide-Master • Tropicalesque Home-A-Wave Dog-Strings | |