Dramatis Personae: Shaman King Characters in a Nutshell

Yoh Asakura (麻倉 葉 Asakura You) is a 15-year-old shaman—a medium through which spirits can physically interact with the living world. Trained since infancy (against his will) to effectively channel the power of such spirits, Yoh yearns for the power of the Shaman King so that he may someday achieve the slacker’s ultimate dream of the effortless life. Until then, however, Yoh must face the wrath of the throng who would also vie for the title, not to mention the smarting slaps of…

Anna Kyoyama (恐山 アンナ Kyouyama Anna), Yoh’s 16-year-old fiancée, and a powerful shaman in her own right. Their betrothal was arranged by Yoh’s family in order to preserve the famous Asakura shaman bloodline. She lost her family—and, for a time during her childhood, her own free will—to a malicious demon, and as a result is afraid to get too close to anybody, lest she lose them like her parents. She has thus adopted a perpetually cold demeanor and austere style of dress. Despite this, she cares deep down for those close to her, although she’d sooner die than admit it…

Horohoro (ホロホロ) and Tao Ren (道 レン) are teenage shamans—one an Ainu from Hokkaido, the other from China—who initially opposed Yoh, but grew to respect his happy-go-lucky, laid-back attitude and easy personality. Ryu (木刀の竜 Bokutou no Ryuu, “Wooden Sword Ryu”) is a recent high school graduate, reformed bad seed, and perpetual wanderer who admires Yoh and taps into his latent shamanic power to help with his dream of finding his “happy place”. Manta (小山田 まん太 Oyamada Manta), Yoh’s first true friend, is by far the shortest tenth-grader you’ll ever see—but his heart is big enough to make up for it. Tamao is in training from Yoh’s father; she and Yoh grew up together, but since he moved away for high school, they rarely meet, and certainly she’s never admitted having a crush on him…

Amidamaru (阿弥陀丸) is Yoh’s spirit ally, a samurai who was betrayed by his own feudal lord 600 years ago. Like any samurai worth his salt, Amidamaru is fiercely loyal to Yoh, although the latter regards him as a friend and equal rather than a subservient bodyguard. Only 23 at the time of his death, Amidamaru nonetheless possesses great insight, an asset that Yoh liberally uses when he’s in need of advice.