Asakura Yoh

Yoh Asakura, (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.

Background
Yoh was born May 12, 1985 to Mikihisa Asakura, an ascetic monk, and Keiko Asakura, a miko. A slacker by nature, Yoh maintains a carefree, laid-back attitude about everything, even with achieving his goal of becoming Shaman King. 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 [ 1 ]. 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 Mochirei (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.

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Shamanic Spells & Techniques

 * 小鬼ストライク Ko-Oni Strike


 * 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.


 * 御経 Okyō


 * 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.


 * 憑依合体 Hyōi Gattai


 * Translation: VIZ "Spirit Integration", literally "Spirit Unity"


 * 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.


 * オーバーソウル Over Soul


 * 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.


 * 超占事略決 - 巫門遁甲 Chō Senji Ryakketsu - Fumon Tonkou


 * 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.


 * 超占事略決 - 三日月ノ祓 Chō Senji Ryakketsu - Mikazuka no Harae


 * 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.


 * '''阿弥陀流 真空仏陀切り Amidaryū: Shinkuu Buddha-giri


 * Translation: VIZ "Amida-Style: Shockwave Buddha-Slash", literally "Vacuous Buddha-Slash"


 * Amidamaru's signature technique developed when he was still alive. Its principal use is to strike at adversaries outside of his sword's range. Essentially, it breaks the air with a slash and forces out a powerful shockwave at the adversary. Through constant "Spirit Integration" Yoh learns this technique, albeit through muscle memory. With the introduction of the Over Soul, this technique has been somewhat modified, instead expanding the Over Soul over a distance, rather than a shockwave slash. The name of this technique was changed to "Celestial Slash" in the English dub, possibly to avoid religious implications.


 * '''阿弥陀流 後光刃 Amidaryū: Gokōjin


 * Translation: literally "Amida-Style: Halo Blade"


 * Amidamaru's most revolutionary technique. It is a dual-sword battō-jutsu technique executed from his unique and legendary fighting stance, called Tathagata. During execution, both swords are unsheathed at incredible speed at dead-range of the adversary, unleashing a strike with enough power to bust an adversary to shreds. Since then this technique has been modified for use in Over Soul mode; instead using the magical power of the Over Soul to cut the enemy to pieces in one swift sword-draw.


 * '''阿弥陀流 大後光刃 Amidaryū: Dai Gokōjin


 * Translation: literally "Amida-Style: Grand Halo Blade"


 * The advanced form of the normal Gokōjin. Using the normal, 'Over Soul'-ed Gokōjin as a primer, and powered by Amidamaru's newly-acquired seirei-class powers, this high-level technique focuses furyoku and destroys anything with a decisive strike of cutting furyoku waves using his Over Soul "Spirit of Sword".


 * 阿弥陀流 無無明亦無 Amidaryū: Mu-Mu-Myou-Yaku-Mu


 * The ultimate technique of Yoh's "Byakkou" Over Soul, conceived during his venture into the underworld. In essence, it's a powerful thrust of the Over Soul's sword which "purifies the very soul". The configuration of the OS and mana released during this technique resembles that of swan taking flight.


 * Over Soul Manipulation


 * Not necessarily an ability, but rather creative use of currently-existing ability. Before the time at Amidamaru evolved into a seirei-class spirit, and his Over Soul was still immature, it fell upon Yoh's talent of a shaman to fully utilize the abilities of his Over Soul. To that end, on various occasions, Yoh has altered the shape and formation of his Amidamaru Over Soul. Such formations include a defensive Amidamaru Shield (阿弥陀丸シールド), which makes use of the Over Soul's armor for protection. As the Over Soul evolved, the Amidamaru Shield was incorporated thusly, eliminating the need to alter its shape for protection.


 * Also, though canon only in the anime, was the 'Over Soul Missile', which induces an explosive thrust of his Over Soul to launch himself at his target. He makes use of this method during his final battle with Hao in the anime.

Over Soul Overview

 * Initially, Yoh "learns" of the magical Over Soul when he was 10 years-old from his first spirit ally, Matamune. Using Matamune's remaining furyoku and bear talon necklace as a medium, Yoh was able to wield the gigantic ""Over Soul Oni-Goroshi (オーバーソウル・鬼殺し)" to rescue young Anna from the Oh-Oni. However, because it was Matamune's furyoku being used, Yoh never adapted this technique until later, when he learn the magic indirectly during his battle with the Shaman Fight officiant, Silva. By integrating Amidamaru's spirit with that of his sword Harusame, Yoh forges the "Over Soul Amidamaru (オーバーソウル・阿弥陀丸)". The fundamental purpose of this Over Soul is to augment the properties of his blade. Essentially, the more furyoku Yoh pumps into it, the greater the Over Soul sword becomes. The basic characteristics of this O.S. (Over Soul) bare similar resemblance to Amidamaru's Spirit Flame form, with the samurai's shoulder guard present while effigy of Amidamaru burns over Harusame. As Yoh progressed, the Amidamaru O.S. was able to materialize on a higher plane of existence; in a sense, evolving into what could be called "Over Soul: Amidamaru V.2". This progression allowed Amidamaru's shoulder guard and arm shield to materialize over Yoh's right arm, providing more protection. At this phase, Amidamaru could speak freely, even while in O.S. mode, being that Yoh unconsciously made this O.S. as manifestation of his will as well. However, the final progression of the Amidamaru O.S. came in complete materialization of Amidamaru, as witnessed during Yoh's final qualifying match with Tao Ren. This O.S. enabled Amidamaru to wield Harusame as he seen fit, as well as other capabilities.


 * Yet, even though the Amidamaru O.S. would serve as Yoh's primary O.S. for the majority of the story, after studying the Chō Senji Ryakketsu with Anna, Yoh was able to forge his most revolutionary OS; Making use of the antique Futsu-no-Mitama no Tsurugi and the Amidamaru Over Soul (by this time, a seirei-class spirit), to create a double medium O.S., the gigantic "Spirit of Sword (スピリット・オブ・ソード以降)." In essence, the "Spirit of the Sword" is a sword-shaped, weapon-type Over Soul which hardens Yoh's furyoku into the shape of a blade and explosively increase its lethality, enabling it to cut through any form of mana. Yoh can also shoot the blade of the O.S. in accelerated length by infusing more furyoku into it.


 * But over time, Yoh would once again improve his O.S. during his trials in the underworld. There, he revised his double-medium "Spirit of Sword" and forged a new one made in homage to Yoh's childhood affinity to the white swan and formally named it "Spirit of Sword: Byakkou (スピリット・オブ・ソード以降: 白鳥) ". It's comprised of various, interchangeable panels of armor, which orbit Yoh for protection; responding in concert to every one of his movements. Much different from the normal Spirit of Sword still is how Yoh makes use of Harusame and the Futsu-no-Mitama no Tsurugi; creating the large Shirasaya sword weapon with Harusame, and the armor-like manipulator with the Futsu-no-Mitama no Tsurugi. The unique construct of this O.S. creates a tremendous concentration of mana, giving the OS undeniable power. The panels of armor can also rearrange themselves, using the bridging flow of mana as a manipulator, of sorts. At times of attack, the sheer force of its mana causes it to resemble a swan.

Funbari no Uta

 * Following the conclusion of Shaman King, Yoh and Anna have left on home leaving behind their son, a little boy named Hana Asakura 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 Ryu and together they set out to reunite the five legendary warriors: Tao Ren, Chocolove, Horohoro, and Lyserg Diethel.