TV-Series
Description
Ashuraman is a prominent antagonist and later a complex ally in the Kinnikuman series. He is the prince of the Demon Realm and serves as the head chief of the Six Devil Knights, an elite group of powerful demon superhumans known as Devil Chojin. His very name is a direct reference to the Ashura, the warlike deities from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, and he is also named after the professional wrestler Ashura Hara.
Physically, Ashuraman is one of the most distinctive characters in the series, instantly recognizable for his six arms and three faces, which mirror the iconography of his mythological namesake. Each of his three faces displays a different expression: one smiling, one angry, and one cold and neutral. He has blue skin in most depictions, though his anime design changed this to a lighter tan. Standing at 203 centimeters tall and weighing 200 kilograms, he is an imposing figure in the ring.
In his early appearances, Ashuraman embodies the archetypal Devil Chojin, acting with brutal and merciless efficiency. As the prince of the Demon Realm, he was raised to be cruel and to despise weakness, a philosophy instilled in him from a young age. He is a strategic and cunning fighter, not above using psychological warfare alongside his immense physical power. A key example of this cunning is his creation of the Ashura Buster, a modified and arguably more dangerous version of the Kinniku Buster that utilizes his extra arms to prevent traditional counterattacks. His defining and most disturbing ability is his power to steal the arms of other Chojin, severing them and attaching them to his own body to replace any he has lost. This power has a notable weakness: if the original owner of the arm is still alive, they can manipulate their stolen limb, causing it to move against Ashuraman's will.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Ashuraman is not a one-dimensional villain. He possesses a hidden, softer side that he constantly struggles to suppress, viewing such emotions as a weakness unbecoming of a prince of the Demon Realm. This internal conflict is rooted in his past, particularly his relationship with his teacher, Samson. Ashuraman grew to respect the powerful Samson, but despised what he saw as his teacher's only flaw: compassion for others. When Samson ultimately died saving a young Ashuraman from drowning, the prince interpreted this as proof that tragedy and pain are the only results of love and trust, leading him to embrace hatred as a core principle. His loyalty to the Devil Knights is strong, but his most significant relationship is with his tag team partner, Sunshine. The two demons form the Stray Devil Chojin Combo and have a long, famous history of fighting together in Hell. Ashuraman acts as the more hard-hearted of the pair, often scolding Sunshine for showing concern or wavering in his devotion to evil.
Ashuramans role in the story evolves significantly. He is first introduced as a primary antagonist during the Golden Mask Arc, fighting against Terryman in a brutal match within the subconscious of the Chojin Warsman. Following the defeat of their master, Akuma Shogun, Ashuraman and Sunshine later enter the Dream Chojin Tag Tournament with a scheme to steal the Friendship Power of the Justice Chojin. Ironically, it is during this tournament that Ashuraman himself begins to be affected by the power of friendship. He witnesses Kinnikuman and Terryman mend their broken bond and sees Sunshine's genuine care for him, which challenges his long-held beliefs. This leads to a pivotal moment where he starts to question his path, a development that culminates in him joining the team of Kinnikuman Soldier during the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne.
His character development continues as he forms the Chojin Blood Oath Brigade alongside former enemies. During this tournament, he faces his former teacher, who has transformed into the fearsome Satan Cross. In a moment of profound character growth, Ashuraman shows sympathy for his old master, unable to fight him with full force. He later demonstrates a heroic capacity for self-sacrifice, holding up a spiked ceiling trap long enough for his teammates to escape, even at the cost of being impaled. His journey from a merciless devil to an ally who understands friendship and sacrifice is a central part of his character.
Beyond his iconic Ashura Buster and arm-stealing ability, Ashuraman has a wide array of other techniques. These include the Hell's Tornado, where he generates a small cyclone with his arms; the Ashura Izuna Drop, a powerful piledriver taught to him by Samson; and the Ashura Infinity Power, a power-up technique. In later series like Kinnikuman Nisei, he acquires even more abilities, such as the Haramitta Lariat, which fuses three of his arms into one giant limb for a devastating strike. Through his battles, his shifting allegiances, and his struggle against his own nature, Ashuraman stands as one of the most nuanced and memorable characters in the superhuman wrestling saga.
Physically, Ashuraman is one of the most distinctive characters in the series, instantly recognizable for his six arms and three faces, which mirror the iconography of his mythological namesake. Each of his three faces displays a different expression: one smiling, one angry, and one cold and neutral. He has blue skin in most depictions, though his anime design changed this to a lighter tan. Standing at 203 centimeters tall and weighing 200 kilograms, he is an imposing figure in the ring.
In his early appearances, Ashuraman embodies the archetypal Devil Chojin, acting with brutal and merciless efficiency. As the prince of the Demon Realm, he was raised to be cruel and to despise weakness, a philosophy instilled in him from a young age. He is a strategic and cunning fighter, not above using psychological warfare alongside his immense physical power. A key example of this cunning is his creation of the Ashura Buster, a modified and arguably more dangerous version of the Kinniku Buster that utilizes his extra arms to prevent traditional counterattacks. His defining and most disturbing ability is his power to steal the arms of other Chojin, severing them and attaching them to his own body to replace any he has lost. This power has a notable weakness: if the original owner of the arm is still alive, they can manipulate their stolen limb, causing it to move against Ashuraman's will.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Ashuraman is not a one-dimensional villain. He possesses a hidden, softer side that he constantly struggles to suppress, viewing such emotions as a weakness unbecoming of a prince of the Demon Realm. This internal conflict is rooted in his past, particularly his relationship with his teacher, Samson. Ashuraman grew to respect the powerful Samson, but despised what he saw as his teacher's only flaw: compassion for others. When Samson ultimately died saving a young Ashuraman from drowning, the prince interpreted this as proof that tragedy and pain are the only results of love and trust, leading him to embrace hatred as a core principle. His loyalty to the Devil Knights is strong, but his most significant relationship is with his tag team partner, Sunshine. The two demons form the Stray Devil Chojin Combo and have a long, famous history of fighting together in Hell. Ashuraman acts as the more hard-hearted of the pair, often scolding Sunshine for showing concern or wavering in his devotion to evil.
Ashuramans role in the story evolves significantly. He is first introduced as a primary antagonist during the Golden Mask Arc, fighting against Terryman in a brutal match within the subconscious of the Chojin Warsman. Following the defeat of their master, Akuma Shogun, Ashuraman and Sunshine later enter the Dream Chojin Tag Tournament with a scheme to steal the Friendship Power of the Justice Chojin. Ironically, it is during this tournament that Ashuraman himself begins to be affected by the power of friendship. He witnesses Kinnikuman and Terryman mend their broken bond and sees Sunshine's genuine care for him, which challenges his long-held beliefs. This leads to a pivotal moment where he starts to question his path, a development that culminates in him joining the team of Kinnikuman Soldier during the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne.
His character development continues as he forms the Chojin Blood Oath Brigade alongside former enemies. During this tournament, he faces his former teacher, who has transformed into the fearsome Satan Cross. In a moment of profound character growth, Ashuraman shows sympathy for his old master, unable to fight him with full force. He later demonstrates a heroic capacity for self-sacrifice, holding up a spiked ceiling trap long enough for his teammates to escape, even at the cost of being impaled. His journey from a merciless devil to an ally who understands friendship and sacrifice is a central part of his character.
Beyond his iconic Ashura Buster and arm-stealing ability, Ashuraman has a wide array of other techniques. These include the Hell's Tornado, where he generates a small cyclone with his arms; the Ashura Izuna Drop, a powerful piledriver taught to him by Samson; and the Ashura Infinity Power, a power-up technique. In later series like Kinnikuman Nisei, he acquires even more abilities, such as the Haramitta Lariat, which fuses three of his arms into one giant limb for a devastating strike. Through his battles, his shifting allegiances, and his struggle against his own nature, Ashuraman stands as one of the most nuanced and memorable characters in the superhuman wrestling saga.