Shaman King is a shaman-themed series that was previously serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the series is once again garnering attention and a loyal fanbase. Shaman King is home to a diverse cast of fascinating characters. This time, we'll introduce the charms of Horohoro, one of the shamans who has worked alongside protagonist Yoh Asakura since the series' early days.
Horohoro, the Hot and Ice Shaman!
Horohoro is a shaman from Hokkaido, and a member of the Ainu tribe. His real name is Usui Horokeu, but he is nicknamed Horohoro, which he hates. He has light blue, spiky hair and is usually hot-headed and fiery. He also plays the straight man role in the story, making comments to various characters. Horohoro's motto is survival of the fittest, which is heavily influenced by his past experience surviving in the harsh Hokkaido. His goal to become the Shaman King is to create a large butterbur field, and in doing so, protect the home of his spirit, Kororo, the Koropokkuru.
The Fiery Ice Shaman!! Horohoro's Possessive Spirit
Horohoro's possessive spirit is Kororo, a koropokkuru. He primarily fights using his snowboard as a medium, spitting ice while gliding through the air and transforming moisture in the air into ice. He can also create ice blades to attack using a traditional Ainu wooden stick called an ikupasui. In fact, Kororo, a koropokkuru, was a former classmate of Horohoro's who died in an accident and was nicknamed Damko. Horohoro himself was unaware of this until halfway through the story, but it is revealed in the complete version. Additionally, she possesses the Spirit of Rain, a gift from Gandhara, allowing her to freely control the water in the atmosphere. She can also freeze anything, making her a powerful character with both strong offensive and defensive capabilities.
Characters Closely Related to Horohoro
So far, we've introduced the basic characters of Horohoro. So, who are the characters most closely related to Horohoro? Learning about their relationships with other characters will allow us to see a different side of Horohoro, so let's take a look.
First Opponent and Rival!! Asakura You
First, let's introduce a character closely related to Horohoro: Asakura You. Asakura You is the protagonist of Shaman King and is characterized by his orange headphones. He has a laid-back personality and dislikes conflict. However, he aims to become the Shaman King and create a world where people can live comfortably. He was Horohoro's first opponent in a Shaman Fight, and Asakura You won. Since then, they have worked together on various occasions, and they are good rivals who have grown together as shamans.
Teammate and Comrade in Arms!! Tao Ren
The next character closely related to Horo Horo is Tao Ren. Tao Ren is a shaman from China who possesses the spirit of a military commander named Ma Sun. He is characterized by his sharp, horn-like hairstyle and has a selfish, egotistical personality. While Horo Horo and Tao Horo often fight, they also trust each other due to their frequent activities together. At first, Ren welcomes him into the group casually, but
A fellow companion who overcame the same predicament! Chocolove McDonnell
Chocolove McDonnell is also a character closely related to Horohoro. Chocolove is a shaman and comedian from America. He possesses the spirit of a jaguar named Mick, and by using his oversouls in his eyes and claws, he can launch attacks with great speed. Through his training in hell, he has acquired the spirit Pascal Abafu and an oversoul called Jaguar Man. She's a teammate of Horohoro, and is often the source of comedy, often responding to Chocolove's jokes.
Cute Little Sister!! Pirika
Pirika is Horohoro's younger sister. She has long light blue hair and a strong personality. Although she lacks the skills of a shaman and possesses no spirit, she is a caring brother who crafts traditional Ainu tools called ikupasui as weapons for her brother. She has no sense of humor, and is the only character in the anime who bursts out laughing at Chocolove's jokes.
Shamans from the Same Cold Climate! The Ice Men
The Ice Men are shamans from Iceland, born and raised in the same frigid region as Horo Horo. They are also shamans who control ice. The Ice Men are the names of the members, and they consist of blonde leader Pino, the hulking Kajima Hide, and the lone female member, Zolya. In the Shaman Fight finals, the Ice Men faced off against the Funbari Onsen team led by protagonist Yoh Asakura, but were sadly defeated. However, they are a highly skilled team with outstanding teamwork. Horohoro is indebted to Icemen for saving him from being attacked by Hao's gang when he was returning home, and they are close friends, having grown up in the same cold region.
The Fiery Ice Shaman!! The Charm of Horohoro
So far, we've introduced Horohoro's basic abilities and characteristics. Also, by looking at his relationships with other characters, you should now have a better idea of what kind of character he is. So, what is Horohoro's appeal? We'll introduce it based on an episode from the series.
Horohoro's Charm #1: His Passionate Personality
First, let me introduce Horohoro's charm: his passionate personality. Despite being an ice user, Horohoro is also a passionate and high-energy character. As such, he is the team's livener, good at making jokes, and a mood-maker. He often complains about his teammates but ends up using his powers or stepping in to help them, making him a charming supporting character.
Horohoro's Charm Part 2: His Secretive Side
While Horohoro dreams of creating a huge butterbur field, he also has a secretive side and doesn't talk much about himself. This is especially evident when it comes to his past, which he won't even discuss with his friends. In the complete version, it's revealed that this is actually because he caused the death of a girl he loved, but his passionate personality is actually a forced one. And perhaps the contrast between his cool and mysterious inner self and his true personality contributes to his charm.
Horohoro's Charm #3: His Lone Wolf Behavior
The last charm of Horohoro is his lone wolf side. As mentioned at the beginning, Horohoro's real name is Usui Horokeu. Horokeu means wolf in the Ainu language. True to its name, Horohoro is a character who often acts alone, both intentionally and unintentionally. He's usually a passionate, high-energy character who seems to enjoy having fun with his friends, but he also often faces problems alone. Even in America, he gets separated from his friends and helps a bear named Apollo. In addition, he generally enjoys acting alone, as seen in his battle with Brocken, making him a solitary figure. The lesson he learned from his parents, "survival of the fittest," is also a manifestation of his cold-heartedness, as the strong dominate the weak in the face of nature.
[Shaman King] The Fiery Ice Shaman!! A Comprehensive Introduction to the Charm of Horohoro
This article introduces the charm of Horohoro, one of the main characters of Shaman King. Since the truth about Horohoro is only revealed in the complete version, only the most dedicated fans know his deeper side. However, he is actually a cool and stylish character, and although it is an older work, Weekly Shonen Jump is celebrating its 50th anniversary, so why not take a look at his past works as well?
