Ryuji Ichihara

Ryuji is violent, hot-headed and eager to establish himself as a major delinquent. He models himself after the legendary Wooden Sword Ryu, adopting both a pompadour and a wooden sword as visible signs of that admiration.

His aggression is balanced by an unexpected sympathy for people he perceives as isolated or bullied. That instinct can make him easy to manipulate when he believes someone vulnerable needs his protection, but it also shows that his delinquent persona is not synonymous with cruelty.

Ryuji begins as an ordinary human rather than a trained shaman. He is nevertheless physically formidable and a capable swordsman. His wooden sword, Red Hare, is a Kamakura souvenir that he repainted and named after the legendary horse associated with Lü Bu.

His signature Spine-Cracker is a powerful overhead strike capable of fracturing a human skull.

Ryuji possesses latent shamanic sensitivity. After nearly killing Hana and witnessing supernatural attacks against members of his gang, his spiritual perception awakens sufficiently for him to see spirits and Over Souls.

Ryuji and his gang first approach Hana at the cemetery because they want to take the title of Funbari's strongest fighter. Hana defeats the entire group, establishing the considerable gap between an ordinary delinquent and someone raised in the shamanic world.

While recovering, Ryuji encounters the original Wooden Sword Ryu and is stunned to discover that his idol addresses Hana as "Young Master." The encounter makes him increasingly curious about Hana's background.

Ryuji later becomes infatuated with Luca Asakura when she transfers into his class. Believing her claims that Hana is bullying her, he agrees to confront him. After Luca removes Amidamaru from the fight, Ryuji strikes Hana in the head hard enough to inflict a mortal injury. Luca then pressures him to finish Hana off, but Ryuji hesitates. The resulting supernatural violence awakens his ability to see spirits and reveals that he has become entangled in a conflict far beyond ordinary gang rivalry.

Ryunosuke Umemiya is Ryuji's idol. Ryuji consciously models his delinquent identity after the original Wooden Sword Ryu and is delighted to meet him.

Hana Asakura begins as Ryuji's rival for the title of Funbari's strongest. Their confrontations eventually expose Ryuji to the shamanic world.

Luca Asakura becomes the object of Ryuji's affection after transferring into his class. She manipulates his protective instincts to make him attack Hana.

Yohane Asakura is present during Ryuji's later confrontation with Hana and Luca and recognizes that the situation is spiraling beyond an ordinary fight.