Gojo Wakana [ごじょう わかな] - My Dress-Up Darling

Wakana Gojo is one of the main characters in My Dress-Up Darling. He's a quiet, gentle boy with one big dream — to become a skilled hina doll craftsman, just like the artists he admires.

At the start of the story, Wakana doesn't really have any friends. Kids used to tease him for liking dolls, so he learned to keep to himself and stay quiet about the thing he loves most.

That all changes when a cheerful, outgoing classmate named Marin Kitagawa comes into his life. She doesn't laugh at his hobby — she thinks it's amazing. Slowly, she helps him open up, believe in himself, and finally share his passion with the world.

Appearance

Wakana is tall for his age, with short black hair and gray eyes. He also has a tiny mole near the outer corner of his right eye.

Outside of school, he usually wears a samue — a simple work outfit with a blue jacket and pants over a white shirt. While working, he ties on a white headband and wears wooden sandals. In warmer weather, he switches to a lighter version called a jinbei.

Personality

Wakana used to be very shy and reserved. Because of some hurtful comments when he was younger, he grew up thinking people would find his love for dolls strange, so he kept it a secret and stayed away from others.

He noticed how differently Marin lived — she was open about her hobbies and had lots of friends — and quietly admired her for it. He also tended to let people take advantage of him, like when his classmates left him to do all the cleanup after class. He didn't think much of it, but Marin pointed out that it wasn't fair to him.

Everything changes after Marin finds him working on a hina doll in the school sewing room. Instead of teasing him, she's amazed by his skill and asks him to help her make cosplay costumes. Even though he's never sewn clothes for people before, Wakana agrees to give it a try.

From there, his friendship with Marin helps him come out of his shell. Little by little, he becomes more confident, more open, and more willing to stand up for the things — and the people — he cares about.