Akuma, known in Japan as Gouki, is a fearsome and nearly supernatural force defined by his unwavering dedication to the Satsui no Hadou, also called the Surge of Murderous Intent. He first appeared as a secret fighter in Super Street Fighter II Turbo before becoming a central figure in the Street Fighter Alpha series. His background is rooted in the assassination art of Ansatsuken. He is the younger brother of Gouken, and both learned this martial art from their master, Goutetsu. While Gouken reformed the style into a non‑lethal discipline, Akuma embraced its original, deadly purpose, believing that lethal power holds the true key to victory. Driven by the Satsui no Hadou, Akuma killed his master Goutetsu using the forbidden Raging Demon technique. He took Goutetsu’s prayer beads as a trophy and then confronted his brother, rejecting Gouken’s philosophy.

Akuma’s personality is defined by a chilling absence of emotion. He exists to perfect his power by battling and destroying the strongest possible opponents, showing only occasional bursts of anger or rare glimpses of respect for a worthy rival. Despite his ruthless nature, he refuses to engage with helpless individuals. He lives a spartan, ascetic life, training in seclusion and occasionally working as a fruit seller. His primary motivation is to find a fighter who can push him to his absolute limit, and he often serves as a dark catalyst, provoking younger fighters like Ryu to embrace their own violent nature and the Satsui no Hadou. He is less interested in world domination than in a single opponent who can bring him to the brink of defeat.

In the story of Street Fighter Alpha, Akuma operates from the shadows. After murdering Gouken—or, as some believe, only confronting him—he travels the globe searching for worthy challengers, secretly observing tournaments and street fights. His most significant relationship is with Ryu, his brother’s former student, whom he sees as a potential successor to the Satsui no Hadou. He seeks to awaken this dark power within Ryu, believing it is the key to their future battles. Another crucial relationship is with the assassin Gen, who sought out Akuma for a fight to the death. Gen survived Akuma’s most powerful technique, the Shun Goku Satsu, by emptying his soul, but Akuma realized Gen was terminally ill and refused to deliver the killing blow, an act that infuriated Gen. After Ryu finds Akuma’s secret island and fights him to a draw, Akuma is impressed, telling Ryu to find him again once he has embraced the Satsui no Hadou before destroying his own island and disappearing to train in a desolate cavern.

Akuma’s notable abilities are a hallmark of his terrifying power. He is a master of Ansatsuken with physical strength, speed, and resilience far beyond most fighters. His signature techniques include the Gou Hadouken, a powerful purple energy blast; the Gou Shoryuuken, a devastating rising uppercut; and the Tatsumaki Zankuukyaku, a spinning kick also performed in mid‑air. Unique abilities include the Ashura Senkuu, which lets him phase through space and become intangible, and various attacks from his Hyakki Shu aerial approach. His most infamous technique is the Shun Goku Satsu, or Raging Demon, a supernaturally fast dash that delivers a series of invisible, inescapable blows; a successful knockout is marked by the kanji for Heaven appearing on his back. Within the Street Fighter Alpha series, a more powerful version called Shin Akazu appears, representing Akuma fighting without restraint and unleashing the Satsui no Hadou to its maximum potential, allowing feats such as launching two Gou Hadoukens at once. In the anime Street Fighter Alpha: Generations, his very presence feels like a natural disaster, capable of causing explosions and massive environmental destruction with his bare hands. After a final confrontation where Ryu briefly taps into the Satsui no Hadou but ultimately rejects it, Akuma scolds him for holding back and departs, cursing Gouken for training such a restrained student.