"Wooden Sword" Ryu

Umemiya Ryunosuke(梅宮 竜之介 Umemiya Ryuunosuke), 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 1970s fashion: white suits and dark shirts with over sized collars, cuffs and lapels, plus pointy shoes. He has an exaggerated goatee that ends in an spike and sideburns that also ends in a spike. While using his initial over soul, 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 lopped off by Asakura Yoh and others. His hair would eventually change to a boomerang shape, but he changed it back in 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
When he first appeared Ryu acted like a tough person who had no respect for anyone beside himself. However once the series progresses it is seen that he is a very passionate and emotional person who is deeply caring for his friends and is ready to sacrifice himself for them. Amongst others he took a freezing attack for Yoh only to prove that his passion was burning so much that it melted the ice. He once 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 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 shot down in front of them like when he tried to hit on Tamamura Tamao he got hit in the nether regions by Conchi.

Abillities 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 (wooden sword) with him and is quite capable using it, even cleaving a stone in two with one hit. After becoming a shaman, he uses this as his primary weapon while fighting alongside Tokagero. While fighting his way through the Plants, Kyōyama Anna looked through the Furyoku values of Ryu and the others. There it is revealed that his Furyoku is about 85,500.

He is also a very skilled cook, especially when it comes to sushi. He later applies these skills to his personal fighting style.

Spirit

 * See More: Tokagero

While waiting to be trained by Asakura Yohmei, Ryu was met by Tokagero (トカゲロウ Tokagerō) who now had no purpose in life and decided to become Ryu's guardian ghost. Ryu later gains the power to use Over Soul with training from "Master Yohmei", also learning a power called Yamata no Orochi (ヤマタノオロチ), that he would later learn to harness thanks to the training from Anna. Later, Ryu creates a giant Oversoul, called Yamata no Orochi Go and 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 this while fighting Boris Tepes Dracula. It is named Ame no Murakumo.

So far Ryu has shown only two moves. These 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 all in the blink of an eye, like it was sushi he was cutting.

Ryu also creates a "Big Thumb" oversoul, somehow magically calling a trucker named Billy to give the group a ride in the American west. In the Anime, the oversoul is used often, and Billy and Ryu develop a relationship of "Road Brothers". Billy remarks that Ryu resembles the "Legendary Hitchhiker" from local legend.

Meeting with Tokagero
Ryu in the beginning of Shaman King is 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 run down Funbari Bowl, where he breaks down and believes the 'Headphones Kid', is ruining his life. He gets possessed by Tokagero who offers him a chance for revenge and kill Yoh. At the same time, Tokagero is wanting 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. He tricks Amidamaru into attacking Harusame and fights back with a technique called Tokage Kenpo (Lizard Style). After remembering how much Harusame was important, Amidamaru breaks Harusame and Tokagero is surprised. Yoh says that Tokagero had already lost, because of Amidamaru's long life commitment to his friend Mosuke. He tells him that he should rest in peace and move on. Tokagero 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, Tokagero 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 body, he discover that if he doesn't leave Ryu's body than Ryu will die, but Tokagero pretty comfortable with that. Having no other option, Yoh offers Tokagero to possess him, which he does.

Shaman Fights in Tokyo
After Manta wanted to see Yoh, he forgot his money and eventually ran 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 tournament. Nothing is known about Ryu's time in the first round or how he even recieved an Oracle Bell, but he did win two matches and went to the opening ceremony.

Ryu 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 revealed he was a shaman. When Ren was captured he went to china to help free him. He entered the Tao Families home and was immediately taken down by Yuan' 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 killed 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 realised that the big bulking person in front of them was merely an Over Soul and Yúan revealed his real appearance and told his story. After putting all his strenght 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 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 Oversoul Thumb, Billy will appear and pick him up, and they normally share a line of, "Billy.." and "Hey Boy" After which they hug. This happens numerous times in the anime, but certain times Billy is unable to make it, although Billy tries (Being stuck behind a group of cattle for several hours prior to being 'Summoned') They went to a town and found Liliandra and found out about the patch Hao. He later 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 allowed Tokageroh to evolve to a seirei spirit and pulled out the Yamatanto no orochi oversoul and beat back the icemen. Yoh finished the fight with the Spirit of sword and won the fight for Funabari 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 and revealed his Amour Over Soul.

However after striking a mirage he was killed by the real Namari and his spirit Red Rope, although he was later revived by Faust.

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 themself 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 strenght. As Ren questions the responsibility he would suddenly have he says that he wants to be useful too as the seven is currently his best place.

Funbari no Uta
Six years after the tournament, Ryu works for Tamamura 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 resteurant together with Hana and the other four warriors, he recieves a call from them, telling that they are delayed and to meet them at the riverside instead, much to the anger of Ren.

Anime/Manga Difference
The anime generally follows the first part of Ryu and Yoh's first confrontation, but Ryu 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.

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 'Shaman Queen' to call 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 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 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, 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 there 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.