Asakura Anna

Kyōyama Anna (恐山アンナ Anna Kyōyama) is a fictional character created by manga author Hiroyuki Takei. In Shaman King, Anna is the fiancé of Asakura Yoh, and is an itako - a traditional Japanese shaman. Her specialty is channeling, and she can summon a spirit from anywhere, even from heaven where normal shamans can't reach. In the English anime, she is called a "Spirit Medium".

Appearance
Anna is a pretty dark blond haired girl. Her eyes are black in the anime and amber in the manga. She is almost always seen with a red bandana tied around her head. Anna wears a jet black dress and around her neck she wears a rosary (blue bead) necklace used for her Itako rituals. She wears wooden sandals with red straps and around her right wrist she wears a black bead bracelet. She has a slender body that is often described as small and fragile.

While traveling to the Patch Village in America she wore the bandana tied around her neck, like a scarf, and used a pair of sunglasses.

When attending the Shinra Private School, she wears a traditional white dress shirt tucked into a dark green skirt, black stockings and a pair of brown leather shoes. All of this is part of the Shinra Private School Summer Uniform.

Personality
Aggressive and decisive as she is beautiful and shrewd, Anna is a pragmatic person who appears cold and harsh. However, she has shown that she genuinely cares for those important to her, especially Yoh, and merely is dedicated to be "The Ultimate Shaman Queen" and wife to Yoh, the first true friend that she ever had in her life. She firmly believes that Asakura Yoh is destined to become the Shaman King, and thinks that it's her duty as his fiancé to make him train hard for it.

Anna and Asakura Hao seem to have an odd relationship of their own - Anna hates Hao and even slapped him once. Surprisingly, he was not angry, but actually seemed amused, saying that she was truly suited to become the wife of the Shaman King. It has also been hinted that Anna is the reincarnation of the original Asakura Hao's mother from 1000 years ago, Asano-Ha; others think that Hao possibly had feelings of his own for Anna and wanted her for himself.

It is obvious that Anna loves Yoh, despite how badly she seems to treat him - she even said it once to his friend Manta Oyamada, and again to Silva, a commissioner for the Shaman Fight. She broke down crying when she thought that Yoh was about to be killed while being possessed by Tokagero. Anna can be extremely possessive of Yoh, beating him up once when she thought that the Oracle Bell he brought home was an another woman's pager.

Before Yoh left to America for the shaman fight it appears that she asked Yoh if that night she could sleep with him, and to everyone's surprise Yoh said yes. Interestingly enough, mostly everyone (Amidamaru and Ren mainly) know about this. Also at one point when Yoh talked to Asakura Yohken he asked "Yoh do you have children too?" and Yoh just blushed and said "No...well how can I say that?" hinting that he and Anna really did have their night before America.

Abilities and Powers
Anna is an Itako, a person capable of summoning spirits from the other side. She was trained by Yoh's grandmother who was also an Ikato. She uses her 1080 beads to enter a trance and then summon the spirits.

Anna is unusually very strong physically, something that most people do not suspect from her appearance. She has demonstrated several times that she is not afraid to use her fists to subdue anyone, making her "right hand slap" and "phantom left hand slap (幻の左)" (or "Legendary Left") somewhat infamous among Anna's group of friends, especially Manta and Tamao Tamamura

Anna's spiritual strength is immense since she was able to seal Hao Asakura's guardian spirits (called as shikigami)- Zenki and Kouki, and to be able to control them, by just reading how to, in a few seconds.

Spirits

 * See More: Zenki and Kouki

Zenki and Kouki(前鬼 &amp; 後鬼; Literally meaning Front Demon and Rear Demon) are two Shikigamis (ogre-like spirits) once owned by Asakura Hao during his first life. When she was to bring them to Yoh, she broke its seal and released these two demons. However, she quickly learned how to bind them and made them into her guardian ghosts.

Shamanic Spells and Techniques
The ability to summon a spirit anytime and anywhere, given that she knows something about who she is summoning.
 * Kuchiyose (口寄せ-Invoction)

She used this technique to gain control over Asakura Hao (Zeke Asakura)'s shikigamis: Zenki and Kouki. She also uses the shikigamis as something like her guardian spirits, and they have great power.
 * GoumaChoubuku (降魔調伏)

The ability she was born with, which enables her to read the hearts and minds of others. After the Oh-Oni was killed she apparently lost this ability.
 * Reishi (霊視)

This is a prayer used by Anna to banish spirits to heaven or hell ( Based entirely on the fact who or what she's banishing). Yoh even used this prayer against the Silver Arms but it didn't affect them because, as Silva says it, those who doesn't understand it is unaffected.
 * The Prayer

"I AM GOD, FLAWLESSLY BORN LEADER OF MEN, SAVIOR OF WORLDS! I AM THE THE LAW, FLAWLESSLY KEPT, POWERFUL SCRIPT, HARSHLY ENFORCED! I AM A SOUL, FLAWLESSLY SAVED, NOWHERE TO GO, OUT OF MY PLACE!" -The Incantation

Past
Anna was abandoned as a very little girl because she was born with the ability to unwillingly see into other people's minds. She was found and raised by Yoh's grandmother, Asakura Kino. Anna's ability to master the arts of the Itako, even though fully sighted, is a testament to her power. Because of this, Yoh's grandparents paired them up in an arranged marriage in order to keep the family bloodline strong.

Before meeting Yoh, Anna's mind reading power known as reishi (soul sight) was one that she could not even control. She couldn't help but pick up the negative emotions of others every time she was around other people; because of this, she began to hate others, and this hatred would involuntarily manifest itself as an Oni (demonic ogres, akin to boogeyman in Western cultures). Thus she tried to avoid going out as much as possible, usually confining herself to her room.

Meeting her Fiancé
Anna and Yoh met when they were ten years old in the year 1995 at Mt. Osore (The kanji for "Mt. Osore" is the same as the kanji for Anna's family name, Kyōyama (恐山)). Yoh was traveling with Matamune to visit Kino, but then he saw Anna on the stop after going out of a store to run after Matamune. He ran into an oni on his way home, and if Matamune didn't arrive in time, Yoh would have been hurt. The oni itself actually came from Anna.

Yoh eventually learned that Anna does not release the oni intentionally; it comes out of its own will. Anna seems to have gotten used to the oni, saying that it won't return unless it destroys something. The second time that the oni came out in front of Yoh, it was an oni which was bigger than the previous oni, it was now called the Naka-Oni. Yoh tried to fight the Naka-Oni just to protect the people from destruction; Anna, seeing Yoh's determination, was able to subconsciously call back the oni.

They arrived home after the Oni ordeal and Yoh made a promise to her that they will go to the temple shrine to make a promise that he will free Anna from the demon. Anna agrees reluctantly, fearing the worst possible outcome.

The worst arrives then when they were at the temple. When Matamune arrived to check up on Yoh and Anna, he sees the Naka-Oni out once again. He knocked it down and went to Yoh who was supporting Anna who seemed to have a hard time breathing because of the Oni using a lot of spirital power. Since they were at the temple, a lot of people visited, therefore, Anna could not control her power to read other peoples thoughts especially during the new year, when they speak their thoughts out loudly to make a new year's wish. The demon eventually grew into an Oh-Oni, by absorbing the power of the nearby Onis.

This Oni could now talk, which was unique because onis typically do not possess the ability to speak. In order to have more power, the Oh-Oni kidnapped Anna and took her to Mount Osore to help it absorb the power of the lurking spirits. Yoh and Matamune realized that there are many spirits in Mount Osorezan, if the Oh-Oni used Anna's power there, she could die of exhaustion or loss of Furyoku.

Upon arriving at Mount Osore, the Oh-Oni grew into a Powered-Up Oh-Oni; he seemed to have Anna go under a trance after using her to absorb power. Yoh decided that this had to end once and for all, so using Matamune's necklace as a medium, Matamune was sacrificed and he became a sword (similar to the final form of the merged Harusame and Futsonomitama). Yoh was able to beat the Oh-Oni easier when Anna was finally able to overcome it.

They were able to beat the Oni and Anna was free from the curse; unfortunately, Matamune was gone and the only thing remaining was a necklace with three black claws. Anna then grew to love Yoh because he was able to free her from the darkness that haunted her everyday. From there on, she constantly trained him to become a better and stronger shaman as a gratitude, and almost never gave him any reprieve. From the corpse of the Oh-Oni, Anna's main weapon the 1080 beads was forged by Asakura Kino.

Coming to Tokyo
Anna is first seen carrying a bag entering Yoh's hospital room. Anna is there to train Yoh and get him up and running for the Shaman fight. Yoh refuses but Anna makes him see it her way. Yoh leaves to go the bathroom and explains why he is so scared of Anna. Anna reveals that the Shaman fight is in Tokyo this time and proceeds to torture Yoh all summer.

Anna is next seen at Yoh's school and Yoh is scared out of his wits. During Yoh's battle with Tao Jun Anna decides enough is enough and summons Lee Pailong's master. Anna summons a rickety old man and worries about Yoh but The master quickly surprises everyone by easily defeating Pailong. The gang watches Pailong and Jun leave as friends.

When Tokagero possesses Yoh, Anna is seen crying for the first time and when the ghost thanks Yoh, Anna goes back to her scary self and adds more training onto Yoh. When "Wooden Sword" Ryu gets up the next morning Anna announces that Ryu is a shaman. Anna summons Mosuke, into Ryu's body to reforge Harusame, and says that Ryu's debt it settled.

Shaman Fights First Round
When the destiny star comes Anna explains what it means and triples Yoh's training. Anna goes home while Yoh is doing his test and forces Manta to cook. She explains why Yoh could be Shaman King and why she loves Yoh so dearly. When Yoh comes home he has a pager(in reality an Oracle Bell) and a hair on his body. Anna beats Yoh senseless since she thinks they are from another woman. Yoh tries oversouling to show Anna what he has learned but realizes he has no more Furyoku and all he has to show for it is Amidimaru in a rather explicit position. Anna beats him more and the beeper rings giving Yoh his first match, against some guy named Usui Horokeu(碓氷ホロケウ), nicknamed Horohoro(ホロホロ).

Anna goes shopping when Yoh is training for his first match. She tells him to go inside because she is tired from shopping and she has something to do. The rest of the time flies by and the day of the battle arrives. Anna gives Yoh a new battle outfit and Yoh complains how it looks like the one he wore while he was four years old. Anna reveals that she had sewn it personally as Yoh should not embarrass the Asakura Family, while fighting in the tournament and is ready to bust their heads in. Yoh, however, quickly change opinions and now likes the costume. Horohoro then calls from above drops sixty stories and makes fun of the costume. Anna punches Horohoro in the mouth and reveals that she is Yoh's fiancé. The battle begins and for awhile Yoh is losing. Later Horohoro reveals his dream and Yoh considers forfeiting. Anna smacks him back to normal and the battle resumes. Anna then watches Yoh win and they all head home.

When the next match is announced Yoh, Anna, and Manta go to Yokohama for the match at the Foreigners Cemetery. Silva of the Ten Patch Officiants appears and makes fun of Anna for a bit. Silva and Anna leave to go do something while Yoh waits for the fight. Anna and Silva go to a restaurant and they talk for a bit. Silva explains that a shaman killed another during a different fight and that is Yoh's opponent today. Anna is unmoved by it and continues eating. Silva then tells Anna that the shaman is a necromancer. Anna is now worried and knows exactly what these kind of shamans can do in a cemetery like this one. Anna leaves refusing to forfeit the match. Anna goes to town and buys a raincoat. When she goes to the match location she rescues Manta but watches Yoh lose.

When Faust uses his twenty two ton skeleton, both Anna and Silva rushes in to save Yoh but Tao Ren suddenly appears on his horse and defeats it. He excuses his actions by saying that he could not let his next opponent die like that.

Anna then watches Yoh lose Manta at the hospital and travels with him to the Asakura Family Inn in Izumo were Yoh wants more training from his grandfather. Anna later appears and stops Tamamura Tamao from killing Manta and Ryu. They head to the Yomi hole and wait for Yoh's return. Yoh comes out and is exactly the same. Anna asks why Yoh is not half dead which Yoh says it does not matter.

Anna shows up a bit later on Yohmei's request bringing Amidamaru and Harusame. Anna watches Yoh easily defeat the Shikigami Yohmei uses. they head back to Tokyo the next day. Anna does not go to Yoh's final match saying there is is no point in stopping fights between men. Anna asks Tamao to go grocery shop and relax. Anna knows Yoh tied with Ren since she used Ponchi and Conchi to watch the entire fight. The next day people show up at Yoh's door for a party which they happily oblige.

The night before Yoh leaves for the second round Anna alongside with Tamao prepares a meal for Yoh, but as he spends time with Manta, he never arrives home to eat, and when he finally comes home Anna is apparently half asleep. However Anna goes to Yoh and delivers him his new battle uniform, plus a package sent by Yohmei. As she is about to leave she talks about Yoh being away for a long time and ask if she could sleep with him just for that one night, to which Yoh says yes. Yoh leaves and Anna is left alone for awhile.

Travel Through America
She tags a ride to America by asking Manta to help her get there. She brings the Ultra senji ryakettsu, Tamao, and her newly aquired shikigami(which were said to be difficult to catch although she does this with ease.). As soon as she arrives she is attacked by Hao who is very interested in her. She is then shown to be a little frightened when he closes in on her only for her to retaliate with her Phantom left. Which had sent him flying. When she finds Yoh she tells him pationately which to everyones surprise he responds with the same level of intensity. She then teaches Yoh's team the Ultra senji ryakettsu. Later within the month timespan they both are told of Asakura Hao.

Shaman Fights Second Round
Anna during the month timeskip has taught Yoh's team funbari ousen the ultra senji ryakettsu. She has also been shown perfoming several abilities that would increase Yoh's chances of winning. She has developed a more serene and caring attitude as she is seen counseling Tamao when Lady Jeane killed the Egyption team. She has also improved her slap as when she hits Yoh after he quits the shaman fight a murderous sound is heard and we see Yoh laying in his own pool of blood. Her bravery has also been shown to increase as instead of showing distress when attacked by Hao as she did in his first attempt she insteads kicks his genitals.

Funbari no Uta
During the timeskip between the main series and Funbari no Uta, Anna has given birth to a boy named Asakura Hana. She has been away for a long time and Hana has come to believe Tamao is his real mother.

Anna was only seen in the Funbari no Uta walking with an adult Asakura Yoh, from the Funbari Hill station back to the Inn.

Anna was also seen in the final chapter of the series wearing a dress styled in striped hearts. She is quite the same person as before except a little more loving towards her son.

When the program from the Shaman fight is shown anna is back to her old self training Yoh and his friends like mad. She says that the next fight may be five centuries away but wants one of the Asakura desendants to take the shaman king crown.

Anime/Manga Difference
The story of Yoh and Anna's past cannot be seen in the anime, maybe the reason for that is that their past was too dark for a show which has been a target for audiences probably between 8 and 14. However, the story has been released as two drama CD's.

The origins of the 1080 beads are different in the manga and anime. In the manga, the 1080 beads were forged from the corpse of the Oh-Oni that was released during the New Year's Festival on the night that Yoh and Anna met, while in the anime, it was forged by an Unnamed Asakura, containing the spirits of all 1080 members of the Asakura clan.

Trivia

 * Her favorite singer in the manga, Ringo Awaya, is a reference to Japanese singer and guitarist Shiina Ringo.
 * In the English Anime she says "I can read minds too you know!" hinting that she did not lose her ability to perform Reishi. This might however also be untrue as the english dub of anime is known to contain many canonical errors.