Umemiya Ryunosuke

Umemiya Ryunosuke (梅宮 竜之介 Umemiya Ryūnosuke), usually called "Wooden Sword" Ryu (木刀の 竜 Bokutō no Ryū), is a character in the manga and anime series of Shaman King. In the English anime, his name is Rio. A direct translation of his nickname reads "Dragon of the Wooden Sword".

Appearance
Ryu is a very muscular man with a very unique appearance. He usually wears exaggerated 1970's fashion: white suit while wearing a purple shirt with over sized collars, cuffs and lapels, while wearing a pair white pointy shoes. He has an exaggerated goatee that ends in an spike and sideburns that also ends in a spike. While using his initial oversoul, his collar would grow larger, more rugged and more spiked.

While in battle he wore a pair of black slacks with a purple belt and black leather shoes. He also wears a short cut black vest with a purple lining that is tied together at his midsection with a plate with a cross on it. The vest and slacks was purchased by the Asakura Family and was made by the best tailor of the best tailor's shop in Funbari ga Oka. The design goes with Asakura Yoh's second battle outfit, but Ryu's shamanic powers, chivalry and his sultry and filthy look make him unique. He only wears this suit when he is taking battle serious.

His crowning glory is a foot-long pompadour, which keeps getting cut off by Asakura Yoh and the others. His hair would eventually change to a awkward boomerang style shape, but he later changed it back to its shape permanently, when he faced Boris Tepes Dracula, and it would eventually grow back to its original size. It would seem that the shape of his hair is affected by his emotions, and will fall down and lose it's shape when he is extremely sad or shocked.

Personality
During his first few appearance, Ryu acted like a typical delinquent who had no respect for anyone beside just himself. However, once the series progresses slowly it is seen that he is a very passionate and emotional person who deeply cares for his friends and is ready to sacrifice anything, even himself, for them. Ryu's most commendable trait is probably his sense of loyalty, which once lead him to take an attack for Yoh that completly froze him, only to prove that his passion was burning so much that it melted the ice. At one point, he even cried when talking about his gratitude for Anna`s harsh training.

All of his life Ryu have been searching for a "Best Place" a passion shared by his gang and in the beginning of the series, the group would constantly look for their own best place. His reason for joining Yoh in the Shaman Fights is to find his best place, which he later believes is the world Yoh will create when he becomes Shaman King.

He also has a thing for women but does not know anything about them. He is constantly turned down by them and even attacked because of it as seen when he tried to hit on Tamamura Tamao, which prompted Conchi to strike him in the crouch.

Abilities and Powers
Ryu is a very capable street fighter using both kick boxing, regular boxing, and anything around him to fight his opponent. He is always seen carrying a Bokuto (木刀,Wooden Sword) with him and he is quite capable using it, even cleaving a gravestone in two with one hit. After becoming a shaman. he begins to use a Bokuto carved from holy wood as his new primary weapon and medium for his Over Soul. He is also a very excellent skilled cook, especially when it comes to sushi. He later applies these skills to his personal fighting style.

As he fought his way through the Plants, Kyōyama Anna looked through the Furyoku values of him and the others. There it is revealed that his Furyoku is about 85,500.

Spirit

 * See More: Tokageroh

Ryu initially met Tokageroh (トカゲロウ Tokagerō) in an abandoned Bowling Alley bathroom where Tokageroh possessed him and used his body to get his revenge on Amidamaru, but Tokageroh eventually left on his own after a short fight with Yoh. While waiting to be trained by Asakura Yohmei, Ryu met Tokageroh again who now had no purpose in life and decided to become Ryu's guardian ghost. Ryu later gains the power to use a Over Soul with the training from Yohmei, also learning a technique called Yamata no Orochi (ヤマタノオロチ) that he would later learn to harness, thanks to the training from Anna. Before the second round of the Shaman Fights he creates a giant Oversoul, called "Yamata no Orochi Go" and later an Armor Oversoul, called 'O.S. "Sashimi Bouchou Susanorō" (O.S.刺身包丁スサノロウ. Sashimi Cleaver Susanorou). He also gets a new bokuto carved from the god wood Shin-Boku, while training at the Izumo Mountains and demonstrates his new skills with it while fighting Boris Tepes Dracula. It is named "Ame no Murakumo".

So far Ryu has only shown two moves. The attacks are a powerful sword slash named Hell Dragon, Crimson Lizard which cleaves the opponent in half and Ultra Sabaki(ーウルトラ 捌きーよ): A cutting technique where he slashes his opponent in half vertically then proceeds to slash them several times horizontally as if he was cutting sushi, all in the blink of an eye.

Ryu also creates a "Big Thumb" oversoul, somehow magically calling a trucker named Billy Anderson to give the group a ride in the American west.

History
Little is known about Ryu's early life but he may have been born in the wrong "time"

He met and befriended Blue Chateu when he first came to the same high school as him. At some point during a summer festival, Ryu saved Space Shot from an unknown gang. Later on in life, he met Muscle Punch and Apache. Muscle Punch claims that before they met Ryu, they had no place in society nor purpose, but it was thanks to Ryu that they then found their purpose. The four of them eventually became loyal friends to each other, and it was then they started their gang.

Meeting with Tokageroh
Ryu is seen in the beginning of Shaman King as a gang leader who is always on the lookout for the Best Place.

After trying to "woo" Kyōyama Anna. He goes off to his gang's new "Best Place" which is the abandon Funbari Bowl, where he cries and believes Yoh, is ruining his life. however He gets possessed by Tokageroh who offers him a chance for revenge. At the same time, however Tokageroh wants revenge on Amidamaru. The possessed Ryu breaks into the museum, and steals Harusame, at the same time kidnapping Oyamada Manta.

He confronts Yoh and Amidamaru, and orders Amidamaru to integrate with his master so they can fight. however He tricks Amidamaru into attacking Harusame and fights back with a new technique called Tokage Kenpo (Lizard Style). After remembering how much Harusame was very important. however Amidamaru breaks Harusame and Tokageroh is left shocked. Yoh says that Tokageroh had already lost, because of Amidamaru's long life commitment to his best friend Mosuke. He tells him that he should rest in peace and move on. Tokageroh refuses and says he'll die and Amidamaru with him. Ryu's gang then attack him, and say that they don't want Ryu to become a scumbag, and they'll always be friends with Ryu no matter what happens.

Soon after, Tokageroh pulls out a knife and tries to kill Ryu, but the painful stress of two souls in one body makes him unable to control Ryu's body, however he discover that if he doesn't leave Ryu's body then Ryu will soon die, but Tokageroh felt pretty comfortable with that. Having no other any option, however Yoh offers Tokageroh to take his body. which he does.

Shaman Fights in Tokyo
After Manta wanted to see Yoh, he forgot his money and eventually bumped into Ryu, who in turn drove to Izumo. There they met with Tamao who at first saw them as an enemy, because of a misread prophecy.

Staying in Izumo he convince Yoh's grandfather, Asakura Yohmei to train him so that he can become a shaman and enter the shaman grand tournament. its unknown Ryu's time in the first round or how he received his Oracle Bell, but he did win two matches and went to the opening ceremony.

later on he ended up at a Shinto shrine after his two fights. When the BoZ Brothers attacked he complained that they woke him up and easily defeated them and later he revealed he was a shaman. When Ren was captured he later went to china to help out. to free him. He entered the Tao Families household and was immediately taken down by Yúan's bodyguards. Horohoro took them to safety and defeated one. Ryu stood back up and defeated another. When Yoh left to find Ren. Horohoro and Ryu stayed behind to finish off the last three bodyguards. They managed to defeat two out the three bodyguards and moved on to the third but both where beaten by Shamon and was about to be beaten. if Lee Pyron had not arrived in time to save them.

When Tao Yúan finally showed up everyone of them attacked at once but nothing worked. Ren however realized that the big bulking person in front of them was merely an Oversoul and Yúan revealed his real appearance and told his story. After putting all his strength into one final attack he lost to his son. After a meal and a chat with the rest of the Tao Family Ryu and the others went back to Japan.

Travel through America
Ryu got on the Patch plane and was dumped on route 66 with Yoh and the rest of the crew. There was no town nearby so he used the Oversoul big Thumb, basically making it appear he has a giant hitchhiker's thumb, and manages to get picked up by an American named Billy Anderson. (A running gag in the anime only, whenever Ryu performs the Over soul big Thumb, Billy will appear and pick him up, and they normally share a line of, "Billy" and "Hey Boy" After which they hug). They went to a town and found Lilirara and found out about the patch Hao. He later on met Lyserg and allowed him into the group. He went on to fight Boris near the Patch village and defeated him. Before Ryu fainted he said to Boris that those who choose the path of destruction achieve nothing. The X-Laws killed Boris after all Ryu did. He entered the Patch village later.

Shaman Fights Second Round
Ryu entered the Patch village with a power increase. When he awoke he was screaming for Lyserg. Anna showed up and trained Yoh, Ryu, and Faust giving them new techniques. Yoh, Ryu, and Faust, now known as team Funabari Onsen were paired against the Icemen team in the second round. When the match started the Icemen started with Faust VIII but was beaten back by a gigantic oversoul. The Icemen moved on to Ryu. Ryu used a throw get Pino off balance. Ryu then made Tokageroh evolve to a seirei spirit and pulled out the Yamata no Orochi over soul and beat back the Icemen. Yoh finished the fight with the Spirit of Sword and won the fight for Funbari Onsen.

Invading the Plants
After being transported to the Continent of Mu by the Patch Tribe, Team "Funbari Onsen", Team "The Ren" and Team "X-I" decided to forfeit the tournament saying that none of them was able to face Hao. Luchist and Opacho both agreed to this, thus making Hao the next Shaman King by forfeit.

The three remaining teams watched him walk into the plants led by Lip and Rap, the Ten Patch Priests and Goldva.

When invading the Plants he was deeply concerned that he was too weak to fight the Patch Officiants, however once he met Namari at the first plant, that was the desert, he quickly announced that he would take him out, seeing as Ren and Horohoro were unable to use their powers, and revealed his Amour Oversoul- "Sashimi Cleaver Susanorō", surprising Ren and Horohoro. Yoh reveals that Ryu had intended to use the technique in their battle, but since he lost his arms, he was unable to do so and wishes Ryu good luck. Namari agrees that Ryu shall be his opponent and sends his spirit Red Rope to attack him. Ryu remarks that he doesn't blame Namari for not remembering him, but cites that he is unable to forget it and proceeds to stab Red Rope before slicing it into several pieces. Namari notes the Ryu is good but tells him that destroying his over soul once will not be enough and produces another one. Ryu agrees, saying that his intention was not to slice up the snake, but to defeat Namari, before going to attack Namari's over soul. However, as Ryu travels closer, Namari reveals it to be a mirage, appearing suddenly behind Ryu and attacking him. Ryu reveals his knowledge of Namari's strategy, as the latter only attacked from a distance and wouldn't reveal it until the opponent jumped into his reach. Ryu voices his disappointment in "such a cheap trap" but that he was glad that Namari finally revealed it. He admits that he does not know if he could compete with it but consents with having let everyone know. Namari springs a surprise attack on Ryu but Ryu blocks it with great agility, surprising Namari, who realizes that Ryu had expected a trap since the beginning. Still, being at a disadvantage since his cleaver is unable to attack as he was blocking, Namari kills Ryu, leaving him unconscious until Faust revives him.

Ryu later questions Yoh about the latter's decision in reviving him, knowing well that Faust had little Furyoku left, but Yoh points out that the reason was that Ryu was reliable. Ryu insists that that was impossible but Yoh firmly tells him not to think about it anymore, as "What's done is done,", adding that otherwise, Ryu's heart will lose to the constantly changing circumstances.

As the group finally arrives at the 10th and final "Plant of the Universe" they realize that there is no oxygen and no gravity and begin to wonder how they are supposed to fight in there. At first Lyserg suggest that they all protect themselves with their own personal O.S. but Ryu suddenly interrupts and suggest that they all use the heads of his O.S. Yamato No Orochi so that the rest can fight at full strength. As Ren questions the responsibility he would suddenly shoulder, Ryu says that he wants to be useful too as the seven is currently "his best place". Yoh finally agrees with Ryu and warns him "not to die".

Funbari no Uta
According to Ichihara Ryuji he and Tamamura Tamao eventually became legendary thugs for uniting all the gangs of Nishitōkyō with Ryu as their leader. Six years after the tournament, Ryu works for Tamao at the Funbari In as a chef. He also accompanies Asakura Hana to look for the Five Elemental Warriors, which amongst others have brought him in jail, and forced him to travel through China in a small rowboat. Ryu now has a full beard and his hair have grown somewhat longer and no longer wears his exaggerated 1970s suit. Instead he wears a white muscle shirt, a pair of purple pants and a pair of sunglasses.

As the warriors slowly arrive at the train station he calmly watches their antics and is not even shocked when Ren arrives in a Horse Carriage. While waiting for Yoh and Anna at the restaurant together with Hana and the other four warriors, he receives a call from them, telling that they are delayed and to meet them at the riverside instead, much to the anger of Ren. He later prepares at feast the Inn when everyone return.

Anime/Manga Difference
The anime generally follows the first part of Ryu and Yoh's first confrontation, but Ryu later becomes friends with Yoh after he saves his life from Tao Ren, then repays the debt by taking him to the hospital to treat his injuries. Ryu then later moves in to Yoh's home, and starts doing chores for Anna. After seeing Yoh train so hard, Ryu thinks to himself that he isn't worth much to the house, and leaves the place. In the same scene in the abandoned bowling alley, he is possessed by Tokageroh, who offers to help him become a better shaman. The confrontation is the same in the manga, with some scenes toned down and changed a little.

In the manga, Ryu is also a smoker. In the anime, he doesn't smoke.

Ryu comes off as being not too bright, and really thinks more about girls and his "'do" than anything else however, he is quite deep and philosophical and turns out to be a magnificent shaman after awakening his latent abilities. He later gets a spirit ally, Tokageroh. Ryu's goal in the English anime is to be Shaman King so he can get a "First Lady" or a "Shaman Queen" to call for his own. In the manga and the Japanese anime, Ryu's goal is simply to support Asakura Yoh in becoming the Shaman King. He also has affection towards the young Lyserg Diethel, always looking out for him even after he leaves Yoh's group to join the X-Laws. In the English anime, he has a heavy Hispanic accent.

Trivia

 * A running gag in the first part of the series is that he constantly gets his hair "amputated". In the manga it becomes five times before he combs it back to his original style.
 * By Yoh during their fight in the cemetery
 * By Ren to scare him away.
 * By a Jiang Shi cleaving it in half midway
 * By Horohoro, taking of the top, to awake him while dropping down over America
 * By Boris, taking of more of the top, a surprise attack
 * The same gag appears in the anime though different people amputate his hair though some are exactly the same as the manga
 * By Yoh during their fight in the cemetery
 * By Conchi to protect Tamao (despite the fact that Ryu was just showing his attraction to her)
 * By a Jiang Shi cleaving it in half midway
 * By Ren for swimming in his drinking water


 * Also in the anime, when Ryu is attracted to someone, his hair and his eyes become heart-shaped. On one occasion, Ryu's hair changed to a heart shaped hair permanently until it was amputated again. Also, when he was sad (because of Lyserg's betrayal) his hair fell until he finally cheered up by Oyamada Manta.


 * In the Japanese anime Ryu has his own theme music called Best Place!(メラ最高!,"Mera Saiko!").