Asakura Yoh

Asakura Yoh, (麻倉 葉 ) is the main character in the anime and manga Shaman King. In the original Japanese anime, his name is sometimes romanized with a circumflex as Yō but is typically romanized as You, or Yoh--the common literation in the English adaptation.

Appearance
Yoh is a normal size guy. He normally wears black pants, sandals and a dress shirt that was open. He also wore a normal school uniform during his school hours. In a battle he wore a black vest with shorts trimmed with orange, then baggy black pants for the later chapters, and wrap-up sandals. The new chapters depict him wearing a shirt with a symbol on it and sweat pants with sandals.

Personality
A slacker by nature, Yoh maintains a carefree, laid-back attitude about everything, even with achieving his goal of becoming Shaman King. Because he was alienated by everyone outside of the family he instead chose to bond with spirits and has decided that anyone who can see spirits cannot be evil. He has even gotten a signature phrase: "everything will work out" as a way of seeing things. He is rarely on bad terms with anyone and always decides to make friends with the people he meets. He is deeply caring for his friends and is even ready to die for them or give up his dreams as seen when Ren was killed and would be revived by Iron Maiden Jeanne, only if Yoh dropped out of the tournament.

Even though it is rarely seen, Yoh truly loves Anna with all of his heart and has decided that when he become Shaman King he will make her life easy.

Abilities and Powers
Ever since Anna became his fiance Yoh has constantly been submitted to exhausting training which in turn has caused him to gain a tough and strong body.

Shamanic Spells
As a shaman, Yoh has learned many techniques, amongst others from his grandfather, Anna, the cat spirit Matamune and the Gandhara teams.,

This is one of the Asakura clan's onmyôji magic. With this magic, an onmyôji can summon shikigami -- familiar spirits -- from leaves or bits of paper to do their bidding. They are most useful, from anything from household chores to assassinations. Yoh never truly mastered Shikigami magic, but displayed the capacity to use it at age 10, under tutelage of his grandfather, Yohmei Asakura. At best, he could only invoke three Shikigami from the leaves. Overall, however, this is a minuscule technique compared to Yoh's more advanced shaman magic.
 * Ko-Oni Strike(小鬼ストライク):

A sutra taught to him by Anna. It is a Buddhist exorcism chant of the Sankiraimon, or the Three Refuges that would send any spirit with knowledge of Buddhism who hears it to the hereafter. However, as it is a written language media, the sutra mainly works on spirit whom identify with the culture of eastern shamanism, which Yoh eventually discovered during his entry exam against Silva; almost sending Amidamaru to heaven.
 * Okyō(御経):

This shamanic technique enables the shaman to integrate spirits into their body, forming a "unity" of both, their spirit and that of the ghost. The shaman would enter a special trance which enables them to synchronize their spirit with that of the ghost; allowing the ghost to possess their body and enabling the ghost to interact with the physical world. Furthermore, once integrated, the shaman takes on the knowledge & wisdom of the ghost as well as their personality. Though it is unknown when Yoh learned this technique.
 * Spirit Integration(憑依合体Hyōi Gattai,Spirit Unity:

Initially, Yoh learns how to create the magical Over Soul indirectly during his battle with the Shaman Fight officiant, Silva. By integrating Amidamaru's spirit with that of his sword, Harusame, and subsequently, the heirloom antiquity, the Futsu-no-Mitama no Tsurugi, Yoh forges the ethereal Over Soul. This shamanic technique quickly becomes Yoh's quintessential mode of shamanic combat and his most versatile tool.
 * Over Soul(オーバーソウル):

One of many spells Yoh learned from the contents of the Ultra Senji Ryakketsu that Anna brought to him from Master Yohmei. Using this spell enables one to read the flow of furyoku and determine its course. Effective use can render most magical attacks ineffective.
 * Chō Senji Ryakketsu - Fumon Tonkou(超占事略決 - 巫門遁甲):

This was a secret exorcist magic left to Yoh by Matamune, to help vanquish the Oni that Anna created. However this magic depleted the reserve furyoku within Matamune, and as a result, sent him to the hereafter.
 * Chō Senji Ryakketsu - Mikazuka no Harae(超占事略決 - 三日月ノ祓):

Spirit

 * See More: Amidamaru|Spirit of Earth



Amidamaru is a 600 year old samurai that is the spirit ally of Yoh Asakura. He was born on January 6, 1385, and died at the age of 24, by exhausting his body. After having his tomb stone broken by Ryo he was rising to the other world, he saw Manta being beaten up by Ryo, who was enraged because he was beaten by a mere teenager. Amidamaru decided to join Yoh and become his guardian ghost, after defeating Ryo Amidamaru was prepared to go to heaven once more but he still couldnt. Yoh was the first one who trusted Amidamaru and didn't judge him based on his reputation in the past because he knew that there was always two sides to the story, and because of that he decided to help him. Always sticking by Yoh's side, he is loyal and trustworthy and can enter Yoh's body through integration (spirit control in the English anime). Amidamaru is very powerful but quite taciturn and extremely devoted to "Master Yoh" ("Yō-dono" in Japanese).

Harusame
The English anime initially refers to the Harusame(春雨) as the Sword of Light and states it is the last sword ever forged by Mosuke. When the sword is stolen from the museum and Amidamaru and Mosuke's childhood is revealed, the dub refers to the same sword as "Spring Rain" (Harusame) and the first true sword Mosuke has forged for Amidamaru. As a result, Amidamaru refers to Spring Rain as Mosuke's first sword and the Sword of Light as his last when originally the swords were one and the same in the original and translated versions of the manga and the Japanese version of the anime.

Futsu-no-Mitama no Tsurugi
The, Futsu-no-Mitama no Tsurugi(or antiquity in the english dubbed anime) is a red knife shaped rock that has been owned by the Asakura Family ever since the time of Hao. According to Hao it was once owned by a sword god and even though it's only made of rock, it is the perfect medium to create a sword oversoul. That sword which slumbers in a storage room of the Asakura Family, always creates a stir in the world when surfaced since it's a national treasure.

Past
Yoh was born May 12, 1985 to Asakura Mikihisa, an ascetic monk, and Keiko Asakura, a miko. He spent most of his early childhood living in Izumo with his mom and grandfather, Yohmei and his apprentice, Tamao, who helped raise him in the family ways of shamanism. For the most part, his childhood was rather lonesome, having virtually no friends outside his family and spirits because of his shamanic heritage. Yoh was regularly outcasted by normal people, alienated because of his powers so he spends most of his time listening to music by his favorite artist, SOUL BOB. However, he always envisioned better life for himself; this became his motivation to become Shaman King. Yoh’s ambitions to become Shaman King began at age 4,when his grandfather told him of the Great Spirit. And Yoh being the slacker that he was saw the possibility of the easy life and, from that day, decided to become Shaman King. His training progressed slowly, but at age 10, Yoh was told of his engagement to the young itako, Anna Kyōyama. It was at this time that he also gained his first Guardian Spirit, Matamune of the Cats--a cat spirit who had served the Asakura house for over a thousand years. At Yoh's grandfather's request, Matamune returned from underworld to escort Yoh to Ozorenzan, where he was to meet Anna, who had just finished her itako training with Yoh's grandmother, Kino Asakura. On his first day in Ozorenzan, Yoh encounters a young girl who receives him in a cool reception, leaving Yoh reeling. Awhile after, he was attacked by an Oni on the streets, only to be saved by Matamune. Despite this, the two would eventually arrive at Yoh's grandmother's home and was properly introduced to his fiancée who turned out to be the girl from earlier, much to Yoh's shock and surprise. Though upset at first, Yoh slowly uncovers the mystery behind Anna and her powers as a Reishi. During a battle with an Oni, Yoh bravery coaxed emotion from Anna, whose negative emotions formed the Oni, and dissolved it.

Living in Tokyo
Yoh moved to Funbari Hills to participate in the Shaman Fight in Tokyo and to find a ghost of his own. There he met his close friend Manta Oyamada and soon enough Amidamaru. They have many adventures together like freeing a evil spirit from a billboard, rescuing children from a fire, and stopping a bully from throwing his life away.

Shaman Fights in Tokyo First Round
Shaman Fight Test

Silva from the Patch tribe encounters yoh at Amidimaru's grave site and challenges him to a test to gain entry to the fight. Yoh accepts the and the battle commences. Yoh quickly integrates Amidimaru into himself and goes in to strike. Yoh hits the oversouled silver shield and wonders what happened. Silva explains the oversoul concept and strikes back with both Silver horn and Silver tail. Silver rod slams Yoh into the ground and silver wing makes Silva fly. The silver arms taunt Yoh. Yoh figures out how to use oversoul and does so. Silva swaps the silver arms to his totem pole cannon formation and fires a blast of Furioku. Yoh uses a muscle memory budda-giri and hits Silva. This act earns him the oracle bell and the right to be in the shaman fight. When Yoh returns home Anna chastises him for the pager and the hair on him. The bell beeps and Yoh is given his first match against Horohoro.

Yoh is put up against Horohoro in the very first match of the shaman fight. Yoh is given a battle costume from Anna and Horohoro drops sixty stories and attacks Yoh to get his oversoul working. The fight begins with Horohoro attacking. Horohoro dominated the match for a while and Yoh asks him what his dream is, to which Horohoro tells him his dream to create a massive field of butterbur. Yoh cries for him, and in a comic scene considers forfeiting, but Anna gets Yoh back to his senses.

The battle resumes and Horohoro attacks head on but Yoh is ready for him. Yoh quickly counters everything Horohoro can dish out to the point where Yoh mows down all of the musso kurppe Horohoro had. Horohoro uses his most powerful attack of an massive avalanche. It worked to a point but yoh busted through it and struck horohoro ending the match and allowing Yoh to win his first match.

Yoh is put up against Faust VIII in his second match of the Shaman fight. Yoh ends up in Yokohama for his next match in the foreigner's cemetery. Anna left with Silva to do something. Faust came and gave greetings to Yoh, and then proceeds to enthralls both Manta and Yoh with his history. He then pulls out Eliza and Manta runs. Manta is however easily captured by Faust and is cut open.

Yoh goes through summoned skeletons to hit Faust upside the head and rescue Manta. The Bell beeps announcing the start of the fight. Yoh is worried about his friend but can not do anything but wrap a jacket around manta's wound. Yoh fights Faust's skeletal soldiers but burns through most of his furioku. Sivla finally shows up and can not interfere because of the rules of the fight.

Anna comes back and explains why Yoh is so lonely and finally rescues Manta. Faust narrows his spiritual focus and fights with Eliza breaking three ribs and puncturing Yoh's left lung. Yoh then uses Faust's strategy against him and but can not fight off Faust's full power. Faust finally charges all of his furioku into Eliza and charges straight at Yoh. Yoh is able to cut down Eliza's legs and defuse Faust's anger. Yoh is unable to win and runs out of power losing his oversoul. Amidimaru gives Yoh advice and Faust attacks again but this time with a twenty two ton skeletal beast. Ren saves him and tells Yoh to train since they both will fight once more in three months.

Yoh winds up at the hospital after the fight to treat his injuries. Manta went to his room and yoh said that he was wasn't manta's friend any more. Manta runs away. Yoh explains to anna that he really did not want to do that but had to since he did not want to put manta in more danger.

Yoh goes back home to Izumo the next day. Yoh meets his grandfather at the family mansion and tells him what he needs to do. His grandfather explains that Yoh must die and leads him to the Yomi hole. Yoh enters with the reason to be shaman king. He would wander the cave for seven days and nights. He emerges seven days later to see anna, Tomao, Manta, Ryu, and Amidamaru. Yoh is his usual self after emerging and anna asks why he is not half dead to which Yoh answers it does not matter. They all head to Yoh's house and eat a big dinner. Everyone goes to bed after it. Yoh sits up and finds manta wide awake. Manta explains his story and Yoh grandfather shows up. Yomei Gives yoh one last test to strike down all his shikigami. Yoh does so in one hit and gains a new oversoul. Amidamaru starts talking out of nowhere and yoh is panicked. Yomei explains that his oversoul is on a much higher plane than before so Amidamaru can talk in oversoul form. Yoh leaves Izumo the next day full of confidence that he would win.

Yoh prepares for his fight against Tao Ren and heads out to the location which is Mata Cemetery in West Tokyo. He waits with manta at the location. Ren shows up with grand entrance and taunts yoh. Amidamaru and Bason attack each other and ren dismounts his horse. The bell rings and the match begins with ren attacking Yoh. Yoh oversouls and Ren comments that he has a new oversoul. Ren throws himself at yoh and strikes. Ren attacks Yoh from a blind spot but Amidamaru not yoh blocks. Ren powers up his oversoul and throws Yoh into the sky. Ren attacks again but the first attack is blocked but bason grows arms and slams Yoh into the ground. Yoh lose his oversoul but quickly recovers. Ren furiously attacks yoh and manta tries calling anna but realizes she has no phone so he goes to yoh's house.

Yoh realizes that Ren is using more furioku in his oversoul than he is. Amidamaru says Yoh must power up but Yoh says that he will stay as he is now and trust in Amidamaru. Ren seizes the opportunity and strikes but Yoh gets through it and destroys Ren's big oversoul forcing him to lose one hundred units of furioku in one shot. Ren is furious about the power loss and attacks again but does not know his attacks are landing. Yoh loses four oversouls but stays calm. Ren has had enough and uses his horse and Bason at full power and goes in for the kill. Yoh Counters with his own powered up oversoul and they both clash. Both ren and yoh's oversoul are destroyed at the same time and the match ends in a draw. Silva appears and tells them they have both passed to the second round. Yoh is elated that he has passed and does not have to be punished by Anna. Yoh and ren go to the open ceremony and take a much deserved break from fighting.

The Travel Through America
Yoh and his companions get word of a new area they must travel to. Dobie village, an area where past shamans have either cross paths with or came close to death. Before traveling to America, Yoh encounters Asakura Hao(Zeke Asakura in the english anime), a Shaman he is not familiar with. Hao tells Yoh that he must be prepared or fail like other shamans.

Invading the Plants
Yoh, Ren, Horo horo, Ryu, Lyserg, Faust, Opacho, Chocolove and Jeanne entered the Patch Plants in hopes of stopping Hao from becoming Shaman king. Yoh and company entered the doors of the plants and encountered Silva. Yoh fought Silva with his second oversoul and Yoh nearly won when Silva used the Patch song to increase his power and ignore wounds. Yoh had to use his newly learned armor oversoul and knocked out Silva. Sivla awoke and wondered why he was not dead.

Yoh managed to convey his desire not to kill unless he had to and Silva let them go into the plants. Yoh does not have much of a role in the plants until the grassland plant when he heals Horo Horo of his injuries by placing the spirit of the dead Faust in his body.

Funbari no Uta
Following the conclusion of Shaman King, Yoh and Anna have left on home leaving behind their son, a little boy named Asakura Hana who begins scouring the countryside in search of his parents, Yoh and Anna Asakura. With only his family's Futsu-no-Mitama no Tsurugi antiquity in his possession, he parties-up with "Wooden Sword" Ryu and together they set out to reunite the five legendary warriors: Tao Ren, Chocolove, Horohoro, and Lyserg Diethel. In the last page of the manga someone looking like Yoh with longer hair is seen walking together with Anna towards the Funbari Hills.

Trivia

 * His orange headphones were actually "stolen" or at least, took it without getting permission from his father, Asakura Mikihisa. This child-like behavior signifies his loneliness, or the feeling of wanting to meet his father, who is, actually didn't grew up with him.
 * In regards to Anna, he is actually "love at first sight" to her. Simply by seeing her face for the first time (when they were ten) and think about her makes him blush a lot.