The BEST episodes of Fruits Basket season 1

Every episode of Fruits Basket season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Fruits Basket season 1!

Tohru Honda is a cheerful 16 year old girl. She was orphaned when her mother was killed in a car accident. Not wanting to burden anyone, she buys a tent and begins to live in a forest. She is determined to finish school in order to fulfill her mother's last wish. It turns out that the land Tohru is living on belongs to the Sohma family. She is quickly invited to live in the Sohma house (all males), as long as she is willing to cook and clean. One of the Sohma's, Yuki, is the most popular boy at Tohru's high school. He is swooned by girls constantly and is even referred to as the "prince" of the school. His cousins Shigure, Yuki's guardian, and Kyo make up the rest of the household. Tohru knows that her living environment is out of the normal, but things turn out to get stranger. The members of the Sohma family are possessed by animals and they turn into their true selves when they are embraced by the opposite sex! You can imagine Tohru's surprise when she witnesses

Last Updated: 9/18/2024Network: Fuji TVStatus: Ended
A Rice Ball in a Fruits Basket
star
8.08
88 votes

#1 - A Rice Ball in a Fruits Basket

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/2/2001

Things are going great at Shigure's house. Just when Tohru feels the days will always be like this, she gets a call from her grandpa. His house is finished, so Tohru can move back with him.

Writer: Mamiko Ikeda
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A Plum on the Back
star
7.99
86 votes

#2 - A Plum on the Back

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/16/2001

It's the cultural festival, and Tohru's class is doing a hit or miss rice ball stand. Yuki is given a special outfit to wear during the festival, which brings in lots of customers. We get to meet Momiji and Hatori, two more Sohma family members! Could they be members of the zodiac as well?

Writer: Rika Nakase
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Invincible Friendship?
star
7.98
85 votes

#3 - Invincible Friendship?

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/9/2001

Tohru is back living with the Sohmas. Tohru's friends just get wind of it and decide to see if the Sohmas are taking good care of Tohru. Will they be able to keep the Sohma family curse under wraps while Uo and Hana stay over?

Writer: Itami Aki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Here Comes Kagura!
star
7.92
92 votes

#4 - Here Comes Kagura!

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/26/2001

Someone visits Shigure's house. It's Kagura who has brought a lot of commotion into the Sohma residence. Can Tohru and Kagura become friends or will they be bitter rivals?

Writer: Rika Nakase
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Don't Cry, For the Snow will Surely Melt
star
7.81
85 votes

#5 - Don't Cry, For the Snow will Surely Melt

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/23/2001

Tohru visits the main Sohma residence for the first time. After the warning Yuki gave her at the festival, she's a bit nervous to talk to Hatori, one of the senior family members. Why is Hatori so insistent that Tohru leave the Sohma family alone?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Strangest Day
star
7.79
140 votes

#6 - The Strangest Day

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/5/2001

Losing Tohru Honda's mother was hard enough, but living in a tent, now that's just crazy! One day, leaving for school, Tohru happens to stumble to the prince of her high school 'Yuki Sohma' at his house. As Yuki and his cousin Shigure finds out that Tohru been living in a tent, Yuki and Shigure lets Tohru live with them as their housekeeper. Trouble starts as soon as Kyo, another member of the Sohma family, messes up Tohru's new room causing her to lose her balance. Grabbing onto the Sohma family for support, they all turn into animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

Writer: Rika Nakase
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A New School Term Starts!
star
7.74
53 votes

#7 - A New School Term Starts!

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/27/2001

Tohru's second year at high school begins, and Yuki is helping out with orientation. It turns out some of the younger Sohmas are entering the same high school. Hatsuharu gets in a conflict with the class president, but a deeper situation occurs when one of the Sohmas unexpectedly shows up and confronts Tohru!

Directors: Akitaroh Daichi
Writer: Mamiko Ikeda
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
True Form
star
7.67
55 votes

#8 - True Form

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 12/20/2001

Kyo's shocking transformation into his true form is finally complete! Unfortunately for Tohru, she witnesses the entire spectacle leaving her disoriented and confused. Kagura comes up with the family's last hope to save him…whether Tohru likes it or not!

Writer: Mamiko Ikeda
Watch Now:Amazon
A Solitary New Year
star
7.63
52 votes

#9 - A Solitary New Year

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/30/2001

Tohru and the Sohmas are cleaning house with the help with Uo and Hana. Shigure's assistant Mi is pressing Shigure to finish his 500-page novel. Later on, the Sohmas are supposed to visit the Sohma House for their annual celebrations. But that means Tohru will be alone for New Year's?

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There Are No Memories It's OK to Forget
star
7.63
51 votes

#10 - There Are No Memories It's OK to Forget

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 10/11/2001

It's been a year since Tohru's mom passed away, and the gang visits her grave. Uo and Hana speculate on whom Tohru will fall in love with. Then Tohru discovers Momiji in the building she works in. What is he doing there? And where are Momiji's parents?

Directors: Akitaroh Daichi
Writer: Rika Nakase
Watch Now:Amazon
The Curse of the Cat
star
7.62
50 votes

#11 - The Curse of the Cat

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 12/13/2001

It's a rainy day. Tohru and Yuki don't mind much, but Kyo is in down spirits. Things just keep getting worse for Kyo. Kagura makes a surprise visit. We learn why Kagura loves Kyo so much. Kyo's teacher, Kazuma Sohma, also makes a visit. Kazuma seems to have a reason for his visit, but could it break the wonderful world that Tohru lives in?

Directors: Akitaroh Daichi
Watch Now:Amazon
The Adult's Episode - Ayame's a Messed Up Snake!
star
7.62
55 votes

#12 - The Adult's Episode - Ayame's a Messed Up Snake!

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 10/4/2001

Tohru and Yuki are tending the vegetable garden, when Tohru finds a set of clothes lying on the ground. Could this be a new Sohma? According to the title, it is! Not only is the new Sohma awfully friendly, it has a few surprising secrets to reveal about its relationship to Yuki and the others.

Watch Now:Amazon
The Strongest Tag - The Cursed Electric Wave Brother and Sister
star
7.55
53 votes

#13 - The Strongest Tag - The Cursed Electric Wave Brother and Sister

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 11/1/2001

The Prince Yuki Fan Club takes center stage in this episode, where they plot to break up the friendship between Tohru and Yuki. They use a school newspaper interview visit to Saki Hanajima's house to search for Hana's weaknesses. But even with their trusty camcorder, the fan club is in for some freaky and some normal surprises as they tour Hana's home.

Directors: Akitaroh Daichi
Writer: Mamiko Ikeda
Watch Now:Amazon
White Day
star
7.53
57 votes

#14 - White Day

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/13/2001

Momiji invites Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki to a relaxing weekend at the Sohma Hot Springs. Tohru even brings her mom along. Yuki has a chance to give Tohru a gift for White Day. But Momiji has an even bigger surprise!

Directors: Akitaro Daichi
Writer: Rika Nakase
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
It's Because I've Been Loved That I've Become Stronger
star
7.52
52 votes

#15 - It's Because I've Been Loved That I've Become Stronger

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 10/25/2001

Hatsuharu introduces a new Sohma to Tohru. It's a tiger cub named Kisa! But when Tohru reaches out to her, Kisa bites her! Can Tohru befriend this wild yet timid girl?

Directors: Akitaroh Daichi
Writer: Itami Aki
Watch Now:Amazon
Let's Go Home
star
7.50
54 votes

#16 - Let's Go Home

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 12/27/2001

Tohru pushes her relationships with the Sohmas to the limit as she tries to reach out to Kyo in love, which proves to be troublesome since Kyo is in his wild monster cat form. And if that wasn’t enough, she confronts Akito to tell him how she feels about all the abuse. Akito isn’t pleased with any of her interactions, and feels like it’s time for Tohru’s memories to be erased once and for all. Friendships will be tested in the exciting finale to the TV series.

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The Sohma Curse
star
7.48
100 votes

#17 - The Sohma Curse

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/12/2001

Tohru is quite surprised to see Yuki, Shigure, and Kyo turn into animals. While still in their animal forms, they tell her about the Sohma Family Curse. Whenever a member of the Sohma family is hugged by a member of the opposite sex, they turn into animals from the Chinese Zodiac. Later on at school, Yuki confronts Tohru and tells her that her memory may have to be erased because she found out the family secret. When they return home, Shigure informs them of Akito's decision: Tohru can stay at the house and won't have her memories erased as long as she doesn't tell anybody about the family secret.

Directors: Yoshinori Suzuki
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All Shapes and Sizes
star
7.46
90 votes

#18 - All Shapes and Sizes

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/19/2001

At school, Tohru walks in on Kyo and Yuki fighting. When she tries to stop them she runs into Kyo and he transforms. Kyo gets angry and calls her a stupid girl which makes Tohru think he hates her. Feeling guilty, he decides to pick Tohru up from her job and apologizes in his own way. The next day, on her way home from work, Tohru meets up with Yuki, and they walk home together. After accidentally transforming, Yuki tells Tohru about how he wants to live a normal life.

Writer: Itami Aki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
If We've Three Then We Don't Need To Fear Jason
star
7.44
52 votes

#19 - If We've Three Then We Don't Need To Fear Jason

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 10/18/2001

Shigure invites Tohru and the Sohmas out to a lake in the woods, where not only will they have to contend with Jason, but some other surprises. Also, Tohru worries that Kyo and Yuki don't seem to be their usual selves.

Writer: Mamiko Ikeda
Watch Now:Amazon
Prince Yuki Fan Club
star
7.37
54 votes

#20 - Prince Yuki Fan Club

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 11/29/2001

Yuki starts the semester as the Student Council President, and the Prince Yuki Fan Club is right there with him, except that there's this other girl. Could this be competition? What will Yuki's fan club president do?

Directors: Keiji Gotoh
Watch Now:Amazon
The Source Of Cheer Can Be Affected By Colds, Too!
star
7.35
51 votes

#21 - The Source Of Cheer Can Be Affected By Colds, Too!

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 11/8/2001

Tohru fails one of her midterms and now has just one chance to retake it, and with just a few days before the make-up exam, she is coming down with a cold. What will the gang do now?

Directors: Akitaroh Daichi
Watch Now:Amazon
Everybody Loves Chocolate
star
7.33
54 votes

#22 - Everybody Loves Chocolate

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/13/2001

It's Valentine's Day, and Tohru has given all the Sohma's chocolates. But it seems that after finals, she's also working harder than ever earning money. Could something be the matter?

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Ayame's Secret Life
star
7.33
52 votes

#23 - Ayame's Secret Life

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 11/15/2001

Yuki and Tohru visit Ayame's dress shop. Ayame's assistant Mine Kurame, has grander ideas. Could there be some cosplaying involved? And what is "The Thing"?

Watch Now:Amazon
Is the Rumored Ri That Mother's Daughter?
star
7.33
52 votes

#24 - Is the Rumored Ri That Mother's Daughter?

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 12/6/2001

Shigure's house receives yet another visitor - Ritsu Sohma, the daughter of the Hostess at the hot springs. Whenever Ri's around, it seems to be one mishap after another. But Ritsu's biggest bombshell is yet to come. Tohru is in for the surprise of her life!

Directors: Akitaro Daichi
Writer: Mamiko Ikeda
Watch Now:Amazon
Sophist Boy Has Captured The Prince
star
7.24
55 votes

#25 - Sophist Boy Has Captured The Prince

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 11/22/2001

Someone steals Tohru's purse, and it looks like another zodiac member. He's Hiro Sohma and he's very jealous of Tohru and Kisa.

Directors: Akitaroh Daichi
Writer: Rika Nakase
Watch Now:Amazon