Young, free, single and gothic?

Hotaru has long been a subject of debate amongst Sailor Moon and Sailor Saturn fans. The question is: Is she a goth? I do not believe that she is but there are plenty who would disagree. So, here is the argument.

She dresses in black - Black is not purely the colour of gothica. Many people wear black. Also it may be that Hotaru is in mourning for her mother and thus dresses in dark colours.

She has a strange power - Goths have strange powers? If only i had known that growing up...Hotaru was born with the power to heal people simply by touching them. This does not make her a goth.

She is the Senshi of death - Actually the mythology of Pluto and Saturn are mixed up in the Sailor Moon saga. However, this does not alter the fact that Hotaru is the Senshi of death and destruction. This too however does not make her a goth as even Hotaru reminds us that with death and destruction come hope and life. Hope and life are not gothic ideals and Hotaru merely represents the passage of living.

Pale with black hair - Hotaru is Japanese. Most Japanese people have black hair. Also, due to her disability she spends alot of time in the house meaning that she is pale. Neither of these factors are purposeful.

She is depressed - Everyone who is depressed is not gothic in the same way that everyone who is gothic is not also depressed. Hotaru is a sad character, but let's examine why. Her mother is dead and she is very ill. Her father works all day and she is lonely. I think that these four things would be enough to make anyone depressed and depression with so much cause is not a gothic trait.

I feel that it was never Naoko Takeuchi's intention to write Hotaru as a goth although there are gothic aspects to her character and the story around her. Either way, Hotaru is a much loved character who draws the audience in by being so different to the personalities that surround her.