Yoh Asakura
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is a fictional character and protagonist of the
manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Shaman King is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiroyuki Takei. It follows the adventures of Yoh Asakura as he attempts to hone his shaman skills to become the Shaman King by winning the Shaman Fight. Takei chose shamanism as the m ...
'' created by Hiroyuki Takei. Yoh is a shaman with a lazy demeanor who is accompanied by a six-hundred-year-old samurai ghost, Amidamaru. When first introduced, Yoh appears as a young teenager who wishes to become the "Shaman King", the world's ruler, in an attempt to grant his own wish of living a peaceful life. However, as he befriends more people in the shaman fighting tournament to become the Shaman King, it is revealed Yoh has a twin brother named
Hao Asakura The manga and anime series ''Shaman King'' features several characters created by Hiroyuki Takei. As a result of being focused on shamanism the series' cast is divided between humans and spirits, the latter not being able to go the afterlife due t ...
whom he wishes to redeem. Yoh also appears in the prequel ''Shaman King Zero'' and in the sequel ''Shaman King Flowers'', with the former being a story about his childhood and the latter being demoting him to cameo appearances as he travels around the world as his son, Hana, takes the leading role. In the first series, his Japanese voice actress is Yūko Satō, and his English dub voice is provided by Sebastian Arcelus. In the second anime adaptation, Yoh's Japanese voice actress is
Yōko Hikasa is a Japanese voice actress and singer, known for voicing characters such as Yoh Asakura in ''Shaman King'', Atom in Pluto (manga), Kyoko Kirigiri in '' Danganronpa'', Mio Akiyama in '' K-On!'', Rias Gremory in ''High School DxD'', Tomoe Udag ...
with his English dub voice in that series being provided by Abby Trott. He also appears as the protagonist in all the ''Shaman King''
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
s and appears in multiple crossover
fighting game The fighting game video game genre, genre involves combat between multiple characters, often (but not limited to) one-on-one battles. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as Blocking (martial arts), blocking, grappling, counter- ...
s alongside other characters that appeared in the same magazine that ''Shaman King'' debuted. Critical reception to Yoh has been mostly positive, based on his interactions with other characters. The pacifism Yoh displays was praised for giving him a more unique trait as he helps to redeem enemies or avoid violence. Merchandising based on him has also been released.


Creation

For Takei, Yoh was the hardest character to create; Takei explained that it was difficult to develop Yoh's character because of the criteria set by ''
Weekly Shōnen Jump is a weekly Shōnen manga, ''shōnen'' manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the ''Jump (magazine line), Jump'' line of magazines. The manga series within the magazine consist of many Action (fiction), action scenes and a fair ...
''. The engagement between Yoh and Anna being introduced at the beginning of the story has been regarded as unusual for a shonen manga for its maturity and it partly reflects Takei's own personal experience, but it is still an ideal relationship in his opinion. According to Takei, while the protagonist is a projection of himself, Yoh was reenvisioned to make him different. Nevertheless, Takei decided to apply conventions from ''Weekly Shonen Jump'' tropes where Takei creates an axis and Yoh is led to overcome different difficulties. Takei's editor Moriyoshi Yoshida said that Yoh stands out within heroes of the same genre due to his calm personality. This was a surprise to readers at the time. The introduction of a new, never-before-seen type of protagonist grabbed them instantly, and the series quickly became a popular title.


Appearances


''Shaman King''

Yoh is the protagonist of ''Shaman King'' who befriends a student from school named Manta Oyamada when defeating local delinquents led by "Wooden Sword" Ryu. Yoh reveals himself to be a shaman with the help of a samurai ghost, Amidamaru. Yoh's purpose in coming to Tokyo: he has come to train for the Shaman Fight, an event that where shaman from all over the world will battle to become the god-like Shaman King. In order to ensure the trains properly, Yoh is joined by his fiancée
Anna Kyoyama is a fictional character created by manga author Hiroyuki Takei. She appears in ''Shaman King'' as a primary character, while an alternate character with the same name and similar appearance appears in ''Butsu Zone'', and ''Itako no Anna'', a one- ...
, an itako from Aomori, who drives Yoh relentlessly and brutally so that he may stand up to the powerful opponents he will have to contend with in order to become Shaman King. Despite Yoh's claims that he wishes to become Shaman King merely to live an easy life, his primary motivation is the promise he made to Anna whom he met when he was a child. The spirit of Matamune used his power to help Yoh save Anna when the latter's powers caused the creation of
Oni An ( ) is a kind of ''yōkai'', demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. They are believed to live in caves or deep in the mountains or in hell. Oni are known for their superhuman strength and have been associated with powers like th ...
s. Upon entering the Shaman Fight, Yoh meets a number of the shaman who would become his friends and allies. His mentor Silva teaches Yoh how create an Oversoul, a technique where he merges Amidamaru with his sword Harusame to use it as the main weapon. Upon the second round of the Shaman Fight, Yoh becomes the leader of "Team Funbari Onsen", which includes Ryu and Faust VIII as his teammates. Anna once again trains Yoh to increase his powers, especially to rival the shaman
Hao Asakura The manga and anime series ''Shaman King'' features several characters created by Hiroyuki Takei. As a result of being focused on shamanism the series' cast is divided between humans and spirits, the latter not being able to go the afterlife due t ...
who has once tried to win the tournament in his past life but was betrayed by his only friend, Matamune. Using both Harusame and Asakuras' sword-shaped relic , Yoh creates the giant inspired by Matamune's Oversoul. It is revealed in the series Yoh was born as the younger of a pair of identical twin brothers to Keiko Asakura and Mikihisa Maki. Before Yoh's birth, it had been predicted that the family's progenitor, Hao, would reincarnate himself for the second time as one of Keiko's children and attempt to become Shaman King. The circumstances allowed the Asakuras to spare Yoh as the reborn Hao escapes and Yohmei raised his grandson with the hope that he would be able to defeat Hao. Upon learning of his lineage, Yoh becomes determined not only to stop Hao from realizing his plan to create a shaman only world, but also defeating the darkness in Hao's heart. When briefly training in Hell, Yoh demonstrates a new power known as , which is smaller than his previous Oversouls despite using the same weapons and Amidamaru. In the next round of the Shaman Fight, Yoh convinces his allies to give up and let Hao become the winner. Yoh's group enter the Patch Plants to defeat Hao before he becomes the Shaman King, eventually facing all the Patches. Although Yoh's group is victorious against all Patch Officers, Hao kills them once he absorbs the Great Spirits. Inside the Grade Spirits, Yoh briefly uses one of the elemental spirits, , provided by Sati to battle Hao. When Hao's mind finds peace, Yoh makes peace with his brother and everybody killed by Hao are revived. Several years later, Yoh and Anna have a son named Hana Asakura who is raised by Tamao as the married shamans travel across the world. In the series' finale, Yoh meets with his son for the first time and has a gathering with his friends.


Other appearances

In '' Funbari no Uta'', a series of short stories written by Hiroyuki Takei and set six or seven years after the conclusion of ''Shaman King'', it is revealed that Yoh and Anna had a son named Hana. The child wields Yoh's ''Futsunomitama Sword'' and travels around with Ryu Umemiya in search of the Five Elemental Warriors. An older Yoh and Anna do not appear until the conclusion of the short series, apparently on their way to Funbari Hill, as they have been traveling around the world in order to resolve various conflicts. In their absence, Hana was raised by Tamao Tamamura with no awareness of who his actual parents are, though Tamao intends to tell him when his parents return at last. Yoh and Anna also appear in flashbacks in ''Shaman King Flowers'', the sequel from ''Shaman King'' series set years after ''Funbari no Uta'' with Hana. ''Shaman King Flowers'' also show Yoh alongside and Anna escaping from unknown enemies during the time Hana was a baby. In these flashback, the family was killed and revived by Hao. When Hana dies once again, he meets Hao who creates a replica of teenage Yoh to test Hana's skills. Yoh appears as a playable character for the Nintendo DS titles, '' Jump Superstars'' and ''
Jump Ultimate Stars ''Jump Ultimate Stars'' is a 2006 crossover fighting video game developed by Ganbarion and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS.Tor Thorsen, "Jump! Ultimate Stars details dished", GameSpot, September 28, 2006, It is the sequel to '' Jum ...
''. He also appears as a main character in the various
video games A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
based on the ''Shaman King'' series.


Reception

He has been featured various times in the ''
Animage is a Japanese anime and entertainment magazine published by Tokuma Shoten since July 1978. Notable works serialized in the magazine include Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist. He co-founded Studio Ghibli a ...
s
Anime Grand Prix The is an annual Japanese anime awards giving to recognize the best in anime of the previous year, decided by the votes of readers of entertainment magazine ''Animage'', published by Tokuma Shoten since July 1978. The Anime Grand Prix started i ...
polls, ranking as one of the most popular male anime characters. Merchandise based on Yoh have been released, including action figures, key chains, and plush toys. In a ''Shaman King'' popularity poll from 2018, Yoh's first appearance was voted as the series' most popular character. Critical reception to Yoh's character has been both positive and negative. Justin Freeman from
Anime News Network Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and ot ...
qualified Yoh as an "easy-going" person. He criticized the fact that "Yoh is a vessel for his ephemeral allies, but in reality, they up end being a vessel for him, to the benefit of no one."
Den of Geek ''Den of Geek'' is a UK and US-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a biannual magazine. History ''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ' ...
commented that Yoh's actions in the first chapters of the manga where he meets spirits in one-shot formats were pointless as it might be the reason why both anime adaptations of the manga removed them in favor of the more important fights he has against Tao Ren and Tao Jun regardless of rushed pacing. Writing for Mania Entertainment, Eduardo Chavez commented that Yoh is "such a laid back casual character", and that "Yoh's attitude to not go beyond his own abilities might be a little lazy" but he thinks that is "a smart approach to conserve mental and physical strength." Chris Beverdige also from Mania said Yoh is "very much a laid back slacker." Alexander Hoffman of Comics Village declared "in this first novel, letting the relationships between Yoh, Amidamaru, and Manta flesh out is more important that developing every spiritual entity that shows up." Active Anime's Holly Ellingwood praised the Yoh's "much more idealistic and noble ositionthan that of his rivals." While reviewing the manga's twenty-second volume, Margaret Veira from Active Anime remarked the scenes in which Yoh starts feeling rage to the point she said "you can feel the anger emanating from the page! It feels so real!" In the book "Summoning the Spirits: Possession and Invocation in Contemporary Religion", author Andrew Dawson called Yoh the "Japanese Shaman" as he is not based on any religion unlike other characters appearing in the series despite noting some his relationship with the spirit of Amidamaru who is closed on Buddahood. Dawson also praised Yoh's character for being relatable with most of the readers of the series. In the book, "A Gathering of Spirits: Japan's Ghost Story Tradition: From Folklore and Kabuki to Anime and Manga Edición Kindle", Yoh's encounter with Faust VIII is compared with a folklore tale about how Buddhists have to accept death to properly appreciate life in contrast to Faust's desire to revive his wife. This fight takes place in a Western graveyard unlike previous graveyards shown in the manga which are more Eastern. Yoh's pacifism was compared with that of the ''
Rurouni Kenshin is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The story begins in 1878, the 11th year of the Meiji era in Japan, and follows a former assassin of the Bakumatsu, known as Hitokiri Battosai. After his work against ...
'' lead
Himura Kenshin is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga ''Rurouni Kenshin'' created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Kenshin's story is set in a fictional version of Japan during the Meiji period. Kenshin is a former legendary assassin known as , more ...
due to Takei having worked as an assistant to manga author
Nobuhiro Watsuki , better known by his pen name , is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his samurai-themed series '' Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story'' (1994–1999), which has over 70 million copies in circulation, and a sequel he is cur ...
before he started writing ''Shaman King''. Anime News Network praised Yoh's pacifism for often helping to redeem villains like the cruel Tokageroh who did horrible actions in past life as well as Tao Ren in later episodes as he changes into a more caring person due to Yoh's laidback attitude. IGN also enjoyed Yoh's laidback attitude especially during fight scenes as tries to avoid harming to avoid his enemies in the process. A reviewer for '' The Star'' also noted that Yoh's pacifism often leads to his former enemies to become kinder as well as become his allies as a result of interacting with them which makes his quest memorable. While criticizing the series for relying on powers in a similar way to the brute force employed in ''
Dragon Ball Z ''Dragon Ball Z'' (''DBZ'') is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. Part of the ''Dragon Ball'' media franchise, it is the sequel to the 1986 ''Dragon Ball'' television series and adapts the latter 325 chapters ...
'', Yoh was noted to be an exception to these types of battles as Yoh's pacifism leads him to understand his enemies and defeat them without hurting them in the process. Youko Hikasa and Abby Trott's performances as Yoh's Japanese and English voice actors, respectively, were also the subject of praise.


Notes


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asakura, Yoh Shaman King characters Anime and manga characters who use magic Anime and manga characters introduced in 1998 Fictional characters with anti-magic or power negation abilities Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities Fictional exorcists Fictional Japanese people in anime and manga Fictional knife-fighters Fictional shamans Fictional swordfighters in anime and manga Male characters in anime and manga Martial artist characters in anime and manga Teenage characters in anime and manga Twin characters in comics pt:Anexo:Lista de personagens de Shaman King#Yoh Asakura