Tamamura Tamao (玉村 たまお Tamamura Tamao, 4Kids: "Tamara") is a fictional character in the Shaman King manga and anime series. Tamao is an orphan living with the Asakura Family as the disciple of Asakura Mikihisa.[4]
As an adult, she is the Okami of the reopened Funbari Onsen and made the guardian of Asakura Hana while his parents were traveling the world.[5]
Appearance[]
Adult Tamao as an okami
Tamao is tall for her age and has pink eyes with neck length pink hair. She usually wears a simple white T-shirt, black pants, and a pair of pink and white sneakers, with a pink planchette slung over shoulder and sketchbook in hand.
While training as a shugenja under Asakura Mikihisa, she wore a white suzukake without trousers, a pink yuigesa with white pom-poms on it, a black tokin, white tabi, and geta with pink straps, as well as carrying a pink shakujō and her planchette.[6][7]
While working as a waitress at the Asakura Family's estate in Izumo, she wears a pink kimono, a dark pink obi, a white apron, and white tabi.[8][9]
In her teenage years, Tamao let her hair grow long and began wearing her high school uniform with a yellow sweater vest on top.[10]
As an adult running Funbari Onsen, she wears a white kimono with floral decorations and a green obi. Her long hair is typically pulled back into a loose bun.[11] Her casual outfit is a sleeveless black dress.[12][13] When traveling around town, she wears a T-shirt and capri pants or full-length pants;[14] her bike helmet has a sticker with the kanji 桃色♡天狗 ("Pink Tengu").[15]
When attacking the branch Asakura Family's estate in Kyoto, she dons a black kimono and has most of her hair collected into a ponytail, with some of it pinned into a bun.[16]
Personality[]
Tamao is a pretty shy girl who has a crush on Asakura Yoh,[4] even though she knows that Yoh was engaged to Kyōyama Anna. Despite this, she states that her feelings for him are equal to Anna's.[17] Initially, she is so shy that she prefers to use her sketchbook and pointing to pictures instead of talking.[4] During the Shaman Fight, she steadily gains self-confidence through Anna's influence and fights Team "Hana-Gumi"[18] and even tried to protect the dying Marco Lasso from Anahol Pokki, even though he was clearly stronger than her.[19]
Following the conclusion of the Shaman Fight, Tamao experienced a drastic personality change followed by the stress of running the Funbari Onsen and taking care of Asakura Hana on her own. This coupled with the death of her late teacher Asakura Mikihisa caused her to snap and she ran amok in West Tokyo for three years straight.[10] By the time the Five Elemental Warriors gathers again she has returned to her old senses and now resembles Anna in both appearance and personality to the point where Hana mistakes her for his mother Anna.[5] Her shyness is completely gone, having been replaced with an air of understated authority. while her ability to inspire fear is such that Hana refers to her as a "monster".
Years later, Tamao has gained a calm disposition and only panics when she learns that members of the Asakura Branch Family have arrived in town. Despite her own use of violence to punish people, she often urges people not to fight, especially at the inn. Tamao is fiercely loyal to the Asakura Family and after Asakura Luca and Asakura Yohane attack Hana, she retaliated by crushing the house of the Branch Family with Dai Tengu.[16]
Abilities and Powers[]
As a kokkuri master, Tamao's specialty is her use of a kokkuri board to perform divinations. She has also trained as a shugenja.[20] Tamao showed a lot of potential already at a very young age and as such was made a candidate to become Yoh's future fiancée.
In her adult years, she is the full-fledged okami (女将 "proprietress") of Funbari Onsen and is well-versed in Japanese etiquette, including dressing, tea ceremony, flower arranging, calligraphy, and poetry.[21] Thanks to the training by Asakura Yohken and Sati Saigan, she has become a Kami Class shaman,[13] increasing her Furyoku level to 410,000.[2]
Tamao learned the Cloud technique from Anna Y. Kyouyama. With the technique, she can access the Great Spirit's data and either summon or connect with herself from 26 different dimensions, and temporarily increase her Furyoku up to 11,070,000; Shiva noted that if her power increases even more, it would be a "disaster".[2]
Spirits[]
- See More: Ponchi and Conchi | Dai Tengu | Imari and Shigaraki
Her first two Guardian Ghosts are the kitsune Conchi and the tanuki Ponchi. She can create two different Over Souls by channeling the spirits through her planchette: With Conchi, she creates a crossbow that can shoot guided arrows,[17] while with Ponchi, she creates a heart-shaped shield that can expand at will.[18]
After undergoing intense training under Asakura Yohken and Sati Saigan, Tamao obtains the ability to summon and control Dai Tengu, a Kami-class shikigami.[13][16] Using Harusame as a medium, she can combine Dai Tengu with Imari and Shigaraki, another pair of kitsune and tanuki spirits, to create a transforming Over Soul.[22]
History[]
Past[]
Tamao was born on June 17, 1988[3] in Saitama, Japan.[1] Orphaned at a very young age, she was 4 years old when Asakura Mikihisa found her and brought her to the Asakura Family. He intended for her to train with him and become a shugenja, while also training under Asakura Yohmei to learn divination.[4] At the Asakura household, Tamao was also taught how to take care of the housework and helped out by working as a maid.[8]
Shaman Fights in Tokyo[]
Tamao and Mikihisa, along with Ponchi and Conchi, watch the passing of Ragoh, signaling the beginning of the Shaman Fight.[23]
Tamao attacks Ryu and Manta when they come to Izumo.
Weeks later, while Asakura Yoh is travelling through the Cavern of Shamans, Tamao tries to divine his status. Although she receives a positive answer, she also foretells that a short person and a tall person will endanger Yoh. Tamao warns Yohmei about her foretelling, but he dismisses her concern. Tamao is then convinced by Ponchi and Conchi to fight these people who threaten Yoh.[4] She tracks down Oyamada Manta and Umemiya Ryunosuke and demands that they leave. When Ryu asks her out on a date instead, Tamao freaks out so Ponchi and Conchi attack him, cutting off the tip of his pompadour and kicking him in the groin. After the spirits introduce themselves and Tamao, Ponchi restrains Manta while Conchi pees on him, which deeply embarrasses Tamao. Manta demands to know how she knows Yoh, so she explains her history with the Asakura Family and her affection for Yoh. She then Over Souls Conchi into her planchette and threatens to shoot Manta. but he refuses to leave and abandon Yoh.
Before Tamao can kill him, Kyōyama Anna orders her to stop and forces Ponchi and Conchi to release Manta and reveal their deception. Tamao is saddened that she failed to see through her spirits' lie, but Anna still thanks her for looking out for Yoh.[17] After suggesting that they all go to greet Yoh, Anna encourages Tamao to divine his status and orders Ponchi and Conchi to find Yoh. The group gathers at the cave exit near Hinomisaki lighthouse. While they wait, Tamao sits poised with her planchette to communicate with her spirits. The group is shocked to learn how close Yoh is to the exit, and then delighted once Yoh finally arrives.[24]
The group visits the Asakura estate in Izumo, and Tamao prepares dinner for everyone. After dinner, Tamao explains to Manta and Ryu the history of the family's estate, as well as informing Yoh where his grandfather and mother are. She accidentally expresses her disappointment that she was not chosen to marry Yoh. She hides her face in embarrassment and ushers Manta and Ryu to a guestroom.[8]
Tamao accompanies the others as they return to Funbari Hill. On the evening of Yoh's match against Tao Ren, Tamao frets over Yoh's safety and questions why Anna did not go to cheer on Yoh, to which Anna responds that Yoh is stronger now. She then explains that they should prepare for his return and hands Tamao a grocery list.[25] They end up monitoring the fight through divination; Yoh and Ren's match ends in a draw, with both allowed to progress in the competition. After the opening ceremony, Yoh returns to the Flame Inn along with Ren, Usui Horokeu, and Pirica. Tamao prepares the meals and baths for everyone.[26]
Ryu saves Yoh and Tamao from BōZ.
One day, Yoh accompanies Tamao on her grocery shopping trip. As Tamao and Yoh take a shortcut through a shrine on their way back home, Ponchi and Conchi tease her about her crush on Yoh and then demand rewards before they tell her important information. Irritated, she thumps their heads until they admit that the kids are being tailed, but it is too late as BōZ drive up in their hearse. Tamao and Yoh are confused by the monks but grow concerned when the monks sing "Joh! Butsu: Sankiemon" and send Ponchi and Conchi to the afterlife. The monks then reveal that they are also competitors in the Shaman Fight and are targeting Yoh before he can grow stronger. The monks use a swarm of Chimimoryo to steal Amidamaru's tablet, disarming Yoh. Without spirits of her own, Tamao can only watch as Yoh fights and is overwhelmed by the monks' Over Souls. Fortunately for Yoh, Umemiya Ryunosuke had been sleeping in the shrine, so he emerges and slices through the monks' Over Souls and hearse, which scares the monks into fleeing.[27] The three then return to the Flame Inn. While the others celebrate that Ryu has joined the competition, Anna remarks that none of them have time to play or date, the latter for which she glares at Tamao and Yoh (Ponchi and Conchi snitched after they had somehow returned from the afterlife).[28]
The day before Yoh leaves for the Shaman Fight, Tamao prepares dinner while talking to Anna.[29]
Travel Through America[]
Tamao accidentally removes the seal holding Zenki and Goki.
When Yohmei calls Anna to Izumo, Tamao accompanies her. After receiving confirmation from Mikihisa that Asakura Hao is indeed competing, Yohmei leads Anna to a hidden temple built to Hao, and Tamao follows and spies on them. Tamao listens in shock as Yohmei recounts the history of the Asakura Family. When Yohmei mentions that it is Yoh's task to bring down Hao, Tamao bursts out of hiding and declares that it is unfair for Yoh to face such a powerful opponent without knowing the truth. Anna slaps Tamao for doubting Yoh's strength. Yohmei suggests that the spells from the Chō-Senjiryakketsu could help Yoh, so Tamao picks it up and is pleased to deliver it to Yoh. However, Yohmei warns that it is protected by Hao's shikigami pair, Zenki and Goki. Before Tamao can put the book down, the seal falls off, releasing the shikigami. Despite the threat, Anna quickly reads the Chō-Senjiryakketsu and successfully subjugates the shikigami. When Anna explains that without her 1080, the shikigami would have killed them, Tamao questions if Anna is exaggerating, but Yohmei and the others assure Tamao that the shikigami are indeed that powerful. With the seal broken and Anna's skill, Yohmei asks her to deliver the book to Yoh and to teach him, as well as to take Tamao with her. Anna initially refuses but quickly accepts, though Tamao notes that Anna had been wanting to see Yoh. Tamao then rushes after Anna who had sped away.[30]
With assistance from Manta and his father's company resources, Tamao, Anna, and Manta, along with Tamurazaki Midori, fly to America and then take a helicopter to Duringo, Colorado.[31] After meeting with Mikihisa, they fly to Mesa Verdede, where they encounter Hao. Tamao is shocked and confused that Hao encourages Anna to make Yoh more powerful for Hao's benefit. When Anna attempts to slap Hao, he catches her hand and pushes her against a wall, but she catches him with her Phantom Left. Anna then leaves with Tamao and Manta.[32]
Mikihisa leads Tamao, Anna, and Manta down to the Patch Village.[33] After the sight of the Great Spirit overwhelms Tamao and Manta, Mikihisa brings them to a room where they can rest. Mikihisa then leaves on his own, and Anna heads out to find Yoh. Once Tamao and Manta are awake, Ponchi and Conchi encourage her to make a move on him, which embarrasses Tamao and drives Manta to go look for Yoh.[34]
Shaman Fights Second Round[]
Two months later, Tamao, along with Anna and the Asakura Family, travels to the island Tokyo for the Shaman Fight tournament. She sits with her friends during the first match, Team "The Ren" vs. Team "Tsuchi-Gumi". When Anna has Goki strike Yoh's head for laughing at Radim's antics, Tamao rushes over to check on Yoh's injury. As the match begins, Tamao is confused by Chocolove McDonnell's O.S. "Black Jaguar", so Anna explains how the special Over Soul works.[35] After Team "The Ren" wins, Ren calls out Yoh, declaring this his team, not Yoh's, will win the block. Yoh is amused by this, so Goki strikes him again and Tamao rushes to check on him.[36]
That evening, Yoh and his friends retire to the competitors' inn for dinner, with Tamao serving food and drinks. When the group learns that Lyserg Diethel is fighting alongside the X-Laws, they all rush back to the stadium for the match between Teams "X-I" and "Niles". Anna suspects that the X-Laws did something to Lyserg, the idea of which frightens Tamao and Manta.[37] During the match, Tamao and the others are stunned at the sight of Marco throwing Jeanne's Iron Maiden at Lyserg after the boy hesitated to kill Anatel Pokki. As the iron maiden opens, Yoh exclaims that Jeanne is hot, for which Tamao glares at him. Tamao is then overwhelmed by the sight of Jeanne executing the members of Team "Niles", and Anna consoles Tamao.[38]
Tamao later joins Yoh and Anna for a meal at Corn King. When Yoh announces that he will defeat the Icemen—his opponents for his first match—with one attack, the whole cafeteria is stunned and Tamao warns him about saying such things aloud.[39]
Tamao and Jun fight Team "Hana-Gumi".
Following Silva's warning, Anna, Tamao, and Tao Jun step in to protect Redseb and Seyrarm Muntzer from Team "Hana-Gumi", three followers of Hao who want to steal the children's souls.[40] Anna orders Tamao to stand back because she wants to see Jun's skill and Lee Pyron's power. During the fight, the Jiang Shi breaks apart Ashcroft's suit of armor, but Ashcroft pulls the armor back together, which perplexes Tamao until Anna reveals that he is using ectoplasm. As Jun and Pyron look at each other lovingly, Tamao believes they make a cute couple but is devastated when Anna points out that he had a wife and child.[41] While Anna escorts the Muntzer siblings to the stadium for their match, Tamao and Jun stay behind to fight the three witches. Tamao fires the arrow of O.S. "Cupid" to stop Matilda Matisse's Jack from attacking Anna and then switches Over Souls to "Angel", blocking the bullets from Marion Phauna's Chuck. Kanna compliments Tamao on her skills, and Tamao declares that as Mikihisa's disciple, she will defend his teammates. Ponchi and Conchi then make their own threats against the witches, which embarrasses Tamao.[42]
The witches ultimately prove too much for Tamao and Jun and defeat their Guardian Ghosts. Although the witches were planning to continue their pursuit of the Muntzer siblings, Marion suggests killing Tamao and Jun before they leave, with Ashcroft targeting Tamao. Conchi screams for Tamao and Jun to run, but the two are transfixed by the witches' deeply sad furyoku. Before the witches' attacks land, however, Mikihisa arrives and stops all three Guardian Ghosts. After scolding and slapping the witches, Mikihisa does the same to Tamao and Jun, lecturing them for risking their lives. He then shocks them all with a warning about the terrible power lurking within the Golem. The Patch Officiant Magna then calls the witches away.[43]
Invading the Plants[]
While Yoh and his friends were transported to the Continent of Mu, Tamao had an outdoor grill feast, with the Asakura Family, the Tao Family, the Usui Family, and Hao's followers.
She and the rest of the Asakura Family board the train in the Great Spirit in support of the Five Elemental Warriors.[44]
Funbari no Uta[]
Tamao with Ryu during her high school years
After the Shaman Fight had ended, Tamao was left to bring up Asakura Hana and oversee the construction of Funbari Onsen while attending high school. During this time, both Yoh and Anna were away and Hana believed that Tamao is his real mother.[5] Under tremendous pressure, Mikihasa's death finally caused her to snap. She ran amok and dominated West Tokyo for 3 years straight with Harusame in hand.[10] It was at this time that she gained the training to become an okami and obtained the Furyoku necessary to summon Dai Tengu.[13] According to Ichihara Ryuji, she together with Umemiya Ryunosuke became legendary thugs for uniting all the gangs in West Tokyo. During this time, she also gained the nickname "Metal Sword" Tamao-San for wielding a real katana.[45]
Six years after the tournament, Tamao has graduated from high school and is preparing Funbari Onsen for its grand opening, as well as the reunion of the Elemental Warriors. At 19 years of age, Tamao's appearance and personality heavily resemble Anna; she has grown her hair out and wears a simple black dress reminiscent of Anna's. She is seen constantly carrying a meat cleaver and has just released her first doujin album.
While she was visiting Yohmei in Izumo, he warned her about the secret branch of the Asakura Family and tasked her with protecting Hana from them.[46]
Flowers[]
After Hana returned home from fighting Ichihara Ryuji and his gang, Tamao punished Hana for fighting with his spirit and forbade him from using spirits at all. Later that night, she and Ryu visited Yasu's oden bar, where Amidamaru and Tokageroh were sitting. She warned the spirits about a strange presence that had arrived in the city.
The next day, Ponchi and Conchi reported to Tamao that the strange presence was Asakura Luca and Yohane, members of the branch Asakura Family, and that the siblings were planning to kill Hana. Tamao and Ryu drove off to find Hana but got stuck in traffic. When she sensed Hana and Asakura Yohane's clashing furyoku, Tamao ran toward the cemetery and, along the way, ran across Hana, who pretended like nothing had happened. Seeing that Hana was unharmed, she took Ryu's motorcycle and drove off on her own to investigate in Kyoto.[47]
Tamao destroys the branch family's house.
Tamao visited the branch Asakura Family's estate and summoned Dai Tengu to destroy the entire house. Asakura Yohkyo emerged from the rubble and tried to fight back, but Tamao easily overpowered him and his Giong and forced him to agree to a truce between the families.[16]
When Tamao returned to Tokyo and found that Hana was late returning from school, she sent Ponchi and Conchi to track him down. Ryu drove them to riverbank where Hana and Alumi were arguing. Tamao invited them all, including Luca, Yohane, and Ichihara Ryuji, back to the Onsen for dinner; however, Alumi was the only one to refuse the offer since she was going to be dining with the Muntzer siblings. During the feast at the Onsen, Hana stormed off since he was still in a foul mood from the day's events, and Tamao advised Ryu to let Hana be. When Luca offered an apology for her actions, Tamao began questioning her about Team YVS.[48]
Anime/Manga Difference[]
In the 2001 anime series, Tamao is not nearly as shy as her manga counterpart: She actually talks as opposed to drawing pictures and pointing things out, albeit with noticeable stuttering.
Tamao gets somewhat less character development in the 2001 anime series, as her other Over Soul, Angel-san, and her fight with Team "Hana-Gumi" are omitted entirely.
The 2021 anime instead however follows the events of the manga, and so she does draw pictures.
Trivia[]
- Anna once stated that Tamao would most likely have married Yoh if she were not there.
- A running gag in the Japanese version of the anime series features Tamao as the protagonist in a Magical Girl type show titled "Kokkuri Angel Cupid Tamao", a show based on an Omake Chapter of the same name.
- Tamao's hobbies are cleaning, laundry, and cooking.[49]
- As an adult, she picks up enka singing as a hobby.[13]
- Tamao's favorite food is furofuki daikon, boiled or steamed radish served with hot miso.[49]
- In the character popularity polls, Tamao ranked #16 in the first and #17 in the second.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shaman King Guidebook - Mentalite (p.74)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Shaman King Manga - The Super Star Chapter 28
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Shaman King Manga - Volume 6, Character File No.27
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 49
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Shaman King Manga - Funbari no Uta Chapter 4
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 164
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Kang Zeng Bang Vol. 16 Extras; Shaman File 224
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 52
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Kang Zeng Bang Vol. 5 Extras, Shaman File 53
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Shaman King Guidebook - Mentalite Extras, Shaman File 373
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Flowers Chapter 1
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Funbari no Uta Chapter 1
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Shaman King Manga - Kang Zeng Bang Vol. 27 Extras, Shaman File 349
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Flowers Chapter 11
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Flowers Chapter 3
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Shaman King Manga - Flowers Chapter 6
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 50
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Shaman King Manga - Chapter 157
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 241
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 49-50
- ↑ Shaman King Guidebook - Mentalite Extras, Shaman File 372
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - The Super Star Chapter 32
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 26
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 51
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 55
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 65
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 66-67
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 68
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 77
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 89-91
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 96-97
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 105-106
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 108
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 110
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 113-116
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 117-116
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 120-122
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 123-125
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 126
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 149
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 154-155
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 157-158
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapters 159-161
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Chapter 299
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Flowers Chapter 12
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Flowers Chapter 2
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Flowers Chapters 1-3
- ↑ Shaman King Manga - Flowers Chapters 11-12
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 Shaman King Guidebook - Mankin Book (p.58)
External Links[]
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