Shaman King, a manga series that was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump and is celebrating its 20th anniversary, is about shamans, the link between the afterlife and this world. While the series was discontinued, it has a definitive ending and a sequel, attracting a large core fan base. Shaman King is home to many fascinating characters. This time, we'll take a closer look at the appeal of Shaman King's protagonist, Yoh Asakura.
A laid-back protagonist! About Yoh Asakura
Yoh Asakura is the protagonist of Shaman King and one of the shamans who aspires to become the Shaman King. He is known for his orange headphones and bear claw necklace. He has a very calm and easy-going personality and dislikes conflict. He aspires to become the Shaman King, hoping to make life easier for himself. He trained from a young age as a member of the Asakura family, a family of shamans that has been passed down through generations. He also has a history of being bullied for being able to see spirits.
The Easygoing Protagonist! Asakura You's Spirit
Asakura You's spirit is Amidamaru, a samurai from 600 years ago. He received a certificate from his lord to wait for his friend, and became famous for defeating 1,000 men. He is also a master swordsman. He mainly possesses an Oversoul in the Harusame sword, a sword he wielded during his lifetime. He doubles his Oversoul with the Futsunomitama sword, a sword passed down through the Asakura family, to create a long Spirit of Sword. He also specializes in techniques that nullify opponents' Oversouls by binding it to a sword. In the story, he is given the Spirit of Earth by Sati of Gandhara, and uses it as his spirit.
Characters Closely Related to Asakura You
So far, we've introduced some basic character information about Asakura You. So, what are his relationships with other characters? Let's take a look at his relationships with other characters, as they allow us to see a different side of Asakura You.
Eternal Rival!! Tao Ren
First, let's introduce a character closely related to Asakura You. Tao Ren is a shaman from China, characterized by his sharp, horn-like hairstyle. At first, the two clashed over the nature of their possessed spirits, but as they fought and competed together, they gradually opened up to each other. While Tao Ren's natural abilities are stronger, he grew significantly as he realized the true nature of his strength through Asakura You's unwavering personality. Ren also owes a debt of gratitude to Asakura Youh for allowing Jeanne to revive him after he died once and declined to participate in a Shaman Fight.
Ainu Shaman!! Horohoro
The next character with a close relationship with Asakura Youh is Horohoro. Horohoro is an Ainu shaman from Hokkaido who participates in Shaman Fights with the dream of filling his hometown with butterbur fields. He and Yoh faced off in their first Shaman Fight, and they became kindred spirits and traveled together, becoming longtime friends. His spirit is a Kororo, a Koropokkuru, and he attacks by turning moisture in the air into ice. He is also one of the Chosen Children, like Yoh.
Hao, his ancestor and twin brother!
Hao is also a character with a deep connection to Yoh Asakura. He is a shaman who participated in the Shaman Fight 500 years ago, but was reincarnated and brought back to the present day. His reincarnation gave him incredible spiritual powers and made him the Shaman King. He possesses the Spirit of Fire as his spirit and has killed many shamans. He is the final boss of Shaman King. He is essentially Yoh's older brother and once plotted to recruit him as a ally.
Former Ten Priest Silva
The next character closely related to Asakura Yoh is Silva. Silva is one of the Ten Priests who manages the Shaman Fights and is also Yoh's supervisor. While he is a very kind and intelligent person, he also tends to favor Asakura Yoh. His spirits allow him to fly and move quickly by oversouling five spirits into various parts of his body.
Actually a Kind Fiancée! Anna Osoreyama
The fifth character to be introduced, who has a close relationship with Asakura You, is Anna Osoreyama. Although Anna Osoreyama is a very strong-willed and fearsome person, she is also an Osoreyama medium and can summon spirits who have passed away. As Asakura You's fiancée, she is undergoing intensive training in order to turn Asakura You into the Shaman King. While she proclaims that she wants to turn You into the Shaman King in order to make things easier for herself, she is actually grateful to You for confronting the demons lurking within her, and she truly loves you. He possesses two spirits, Maeoni and Uto, both of which were once controlled by Hao, and possesses exceptional combat abilities.
Funbari Onsen Chef!! Syaman Ryuu
Bokken Ryuu is also one of the characters closely related to Asakura Yoh. Originally a delinquent living in Funbari Hill, he was possessed by an evil spirit named Tokagerou, awakening his shaman skills and participating in the Shaman Fight. He has a long pompadour hairstyle and is seeking a place he feels comfortable in, known as the Best Place. Since Yoh saved his life, he has a deep respect for him and has been fighting alongside him as part of the Funbari Onsen team since the Shaman Fight finals.
Doctor and Teammate! Faust VIII
The last character closely related to Asakura Yoh is Faust VIII. He is a former doctor turned shaman and a member of the Funbari Onsen team, just like Asakura Yoh. He initially competes against Yoh in the Shaman Fight, but after Anna Osorezan summoned his girlfriend Eliza, he feels indebted to her and begins working with her. As a necromancer, he can control spirits using bones as a medium, and his lover, Eliza, is his spirit.
The Easygoing Protagonist!! What's the Appeal of Asakura You?
So far, we've introduced basic information about Asakura You and his relationships with other characters. So, what exactly is it that makes him so appealing? We'll take a closer look at his appeal based on episodes from the original work.
Asakura You's Charm #1: His Unwavering and Unwavering Mental Strength
First, let me introduce Asakura You's charm: his unwavering and unwavering mental strength. He's also known for being always absent-minded and relaxed. At first glance, he doesn't seem like the protagonist of a fighting manga, but that's because he maintains a relaxed mind, allowing him to act rationally in any situation. Since mental strength is a crucial aspect of Shaman Fighting, you could say that Yoh's relaxed side is both a sign of his strength and a cool trait. Furthermore, his calm and relaxed nature as a person also leads to laughs.
Asakura You's Charm #2: The Gap Between His Decisiveness and His Decisiveness
The second charm of Asakura You is the gap between his decisiveness and his decisiveness when it comes to making a decision. Even though Asakura You is usually laid-back, he'll fight desperately when it comes to a match or when his teammates are in trouble. He's usually laid-back and absent-minded, but when it comes to battle, he's unashamedly capable of taking the best possible action for his dreams, and he's cool and unchanging. In fact, in the story, he reluctantly goes through tough training and wins important matches, making him a cool character.
Asakura You's Charm #3: His Kindness, Caring for Allies and Enemies
The last charm of Asakura You is his kindness, caring for allies and enemies alike. Because Asakura You's goal is to live a comfortable life, he hates being hated or resented by others. Therefore, even in matches and serious life-or-death battles, he is often respectful of his opponents' feelings and is full of kindness. Furthermore, he prefers to resolve issues through discussion or to find a mutually satisfactory settlement whenever possible, rather than relying solely on force, which sets him apart from other manga characters and makes him a cool character.
[Shaman King] The laid-back protagonist! A thorough introduction to the charms of Asakura You! Summary
This time, we've introduced the charms of Asakura You, the protagonist of Shaman King. While Shaman King has been around for quite some time since its serialization ended, it's also a work that's garnering attention, with a sequel being serialized in 2018. With Weekly Shonen Jump celebrating its 50th anniversary, it might be interesting to revisit some of its older works.
