Hero of the Week: Ryunosuke Umemiya

This week brings us the 20 year old pompadour sporting shaman that hits on 15 year olds. I could probably think of a better introduction than that, but I'd say it works. I could only be talking about one character (I think); Ryunosuke Umemiya, AKA Wooden Sword Ryu.


















Originally seen as a villain delinquent, Ryu quickly becomes one of the more likable characters in Shaman King. With his optimistic attitude and desire to find his "best place", Ryu becomes a strong factor in affecting the overall morale of the group.

In addition to his great personality, Ryu is one of the more important figthers in the series. Despite not being one of the chosen 5, very few characters outclass him in strength and shaman powers. With his spirit Tokagero, he can recreate the mythcial beast, Yamato no Orochi, an 8-headed snake. Along with his sword that shoots insects, Ryu can make interesting combo attacks that make him incredibly deadly. He is an asset to Yoh's team as displayed numerous times during the shaman tournament.

While he and Faust VIII are far outclassed by the chosen 5, Ryu is not a liability by any means. Even though his role in battle dwindles by the end of the series, he acts as a mode of transportation for the group before they face the dreaded Shaman King, Hao. The group owes him their lives.

My opinion of Shaman King as a whole might be mediocre-average, but if there's one character I'll remember, Ryu will be that character. Let's hope he finds his best place.