ONA
Description
Ohma Tokita, known by the epithet the Ashura, is the main protagonist of the anime Kengan Ashura. He is a rookie fighter in the Kengan Association's underground matches, first representing the Nogi Group and later the Yamashita Trading Company. His nickname reflects his extraordinary combat ability and the ruthless, violent atmosphere that surrounds him. He is a young martial artist of notable physical presence, and his reputation as a devastating fighter draws the attention of influential business figures early in the story.
Ohma's background is marked by hardship. He was abandoned as an infant and grew up alone in a lawless territory known as the Inside, where he survived by stealing and fighting. Because he had no friends and no one to care for him, he learned from an early age that strength was the only thing that mattered. His life changed when he was found and adopted by Tokita Niko, a master of a martial art called the Niko Style, who took him in and trained him. Niko became both a father figure and a mentor, and Ohma's devotion to him runs deep. After completing his training, Ohma left the Inside to seek out powerful opponents and test his strength against the wider world.
In terms of personality, Ohma is initially blunt, arrogant, and overly confident, with a combative nature and an intense love of battle. He derives genuine joy from facing strong opponents and frequently dismisses those he considers weak. He is introverted and keeps his emotions to himself, rarely sharing his thoughts or feelings with others. Despite this rough exterior, he is not cruel for its own sake; his behaviour is shaped by a survival-driven upbringing rather than malice. Over the course of the story, he becomes noticeably more sensible, composed, and strategic, gradually letting go of the arrogance that defined him early on.
Ohma's motivations centre on becoming stronger and proving his worth through combat. Fighting is not merely a means to an end for him but a way of living and improving himself. Beneath his warrior-driven goals lies a quieter longing for meaningful connection, something he never experienced as a child. His mysterious past also weighs on him throughout the story, and recovering his memories and understanding his origins become part of his personal struggle.
His role in the story is that of the central fighter around whom the Kengan matches and the Kengan Annihilation Tournament revolve. After defeating a fighter in a street brawl, he is scouted by Nogi Hideki, the CEO of the Nogi Group, who recruits him into the world of corporate-sponsored gladiatorial combat. Kazuo Yamashita, an ordinary salaryman, is assigned as his handler and employer. During the Kengan Annihilation Tournament, Ohma fights under the Yamashita Trading Company and defeats a string of formidable opponents, including Inaba Ryo, Kure Raian, Imai Cosmo, and Wakatsuki Takeshi, before ultimately facing the assassin Kuroki Gensai.
Ohma's most important relationship is with Kazuo Yamashita. Despite their very different personalities, the two develop mutual respect and loyalty, with Kazuo acting as a grounding presence and guide through the political and social complexities of the Kengan Association. His relationship with his mentor Niko Tokita is equally central, as Niko's teachings and memory shape nearly everything Ohma does. He also forms meaningful rivalries and friendships, most notably with Kure Raian, whose brutal fight forces Ohma to evolve beyond his original style, and with Kuroki Gensai, whose precision and mastery challenge Ohma to confront his own weaknesses. His bonds with fellow fighters he meets during the tournament, such as Wakatsuki Takeshi, show his gradual growth from a lone survivor into someone capable of trusting and being trusted by others.
Ohma's development is one of the core arcs of the anime. He begins as an instinct-driven fighter who relies on overwhelming offense and his natural combat instincts, but the tournament teaches him the value of strategy, patience, and self-awareness. His battle with Kure Raian marks a turning point, as he is pushed past his limits and forced to accept that raw aggression alone is not enough. His later fight against Kuroki Gensai serves as the culmination of this growth, where he finally embraces the deeper essence of fighting rather than simply trying to overpower his opponent. By the end of his journey, he has transformed from an arrogant brawler into a respected and composed warrior.
In terms of abilities, Ohma's fighting style is the Niko Style, a hybrid martial art created by synthesizing elements from numerous other fighting systems. It is built around four main katas, or forms. The Flame Kata focuses on footwork and explosive movement, allowing Ohma to close distance instantly, confuse opponents, and attack from unexpected angles. The Adamantine Kata focuses on hardening the muscles to create iron-like defense and devastating striking power, with techniques such as Indestructible and Iron Smash. The Redirection Kata, sometimes called the Flowing Water type, involves reading and manipulating the flow of the opponent's force to neutralize attacks, throw them off balance, and turn their own power against them. The Water Kata focuses on grappling, joint locks, and submissions, allowing Ohma to control and finish opponents on the ground. These forms can also be combined into more advanced techniques that blend speed, power, and redirection.
Ohma also possesses a secret technique known as Advance, or Possessing Spirit. This technique accelerates his heartbeat to dramatically increase his energy output, granting him enormous boosts in speed, power, and destructive force. However, using it comes at a cost: his movements become less precise, and the strain it places on his body makes prolonged or repeated use dangerous. In addition to the Niko Style, Ohma has exceptional physical strength, speed, reflexes, and agility, as well as a powerful instinctive ability to read his opponent's movements and adapt his approach mid-fight. His combat instincts are so refined that they are considered part of what makes him deserving of the title Ashura.
Ohma's background is marked by hardship. He was abandoned as an infant and grew up alone in a lawless territory known as the Inside, where he survived by stealing and fighting. Because he had no friends and no one to care for him, he learned from an early age that strength was the only thing that mattered. His life changed when he was found and adopted by Tokita Niko, a master of a martial art called the Niko Style, who took him in and trained him. Niko became both a father figure and a mentor, and Ohma's devotion to him runs deep. After completing his training, Ohma left the Inside to seek out powerful opponents and test his strength against the wider world.
In terms of personality, Ohma is initially blunt, arrogant, and overly confident, with a combative nature and an intense love of battle. He derives genuine joy from facing strong opponents and frequently dismisses those he considers weak. He is introverted and keeps his emotions to himself, rarely sharing his thoughts or feelings with others. Despite this rough exterior, he is not cruel for its own sake; his behaviour is shaped by a survival-driven upbringing rather than malice. Over the course of the story, he becomes noticeably more sensible, composed, and strategic, gradually letting go of the arrogance that defined him early on.
Ohma's motivations centre on becoming stronger and proving his worth through combat. Fighting is not merely a means to an end for him but a way of living and improving himself. Beneath his warrior-driven goals lies a quieter longing for meaningful connection, something he never experienced as a child. His mysterious past also weighs on him throughout the story, and recovering his memories and understanding his origins become part of his personal struggle.
His role in the story is that of the central fighter around whom the Kengan matches and the Kengan Annihilation Tournament revolve. After defeating a fighter in a street brawl, he is scouted by Nogi Hideki, the CEO of the Nogi Group, who recruits him into the world of corporate-sponsored gladiatorial combat. Kazuo Yamashita, an ordinary salaryman, is assigned as his handler and employer. During the Kengan Annihilation Tournament, Ohma fights under the Yamashita Trading Company and defeats a string of formidable opponents, including Inaba Ryo, Kure Raian, Imai Cosmo, and Wakatsuki Takeshi, before ultimately facing the assassin Kuroki Gensai.
Ohma's most important relationship is with Kazuo Yamashita. Despite their very different personalities, the two develop mutual respect and loyalty, with Kazuo acting as a grounding presence and guide through the political and social complexities of the Kengan Association. His relationship with his mentor Niko Tokita is equally central, as Niko's teachings and memory shape nearly everything Ohma does. He also forms meaningful rivalries and friendships, most notably with Kure Raian, whose brutal fight forces Ohma to evolve beyond his original style, and with Kuroki Gensai, whose precision and mastery challenge Ohma to confront his own weaknesses. His bonds with fellow fighters he meets during the tournament, such as Wakatsuki Takeshi, show his gradual growth from a lone survivor into someone capable of trusting and being trusted by others.
Ohma's development is one of the core arcs of the anime. He begins as an instinct-driven fighter who relies on overwhelming offense and his natural combat instincts, but the tournament teaches him the value of strategy, patience, and self-awareness. His battle with Kure Raian marks a turning point, as he is pushed past his limits and forced to accept that raw aggression alone is not enough. His later fight against Kuroki Gensai serves as the culmination of this growth, where he finally embraces the deeper essence of fighting rather than simply trying to overpower his opponent. By the end of his journey, he has transformed from an arrogant brawler into a respected and composed warrior.
In terms of abilities, Ohma's fighting style is the Niko Style, a hybrid martial art created by synthesizing elements from numerous other fighting systems. It is built around four main katas, or forms. The Flame Kata focuses on footwork and explosive movement, allowing Ohma to close distance instantly, confuse opponents, and attack from unexpected angles. The Adamantine Kata focuses on hardening the muscles to create iron-like defense and devastating striking power, with techniques such as Indestructible and Iron Smash. The Redirection Kata, sometimes called the Flowing Water type, involves reading and manipulating the flow of the opponent's force to neutralize attacks, throw them off balance, and turn their own power against them. The Water Kata focuses on grappling, joint locks, and submissions, allowing Ohma to control and finish opponents on the ground. These forms can also be combined into more advanced techniques that blend speed, power, and redirection.
Ohma also possesses a secret technique known as Advance, or Possessing Spirit. This technique accelerates his heartbeat to dramatically increase his energy output, granting him enormous boosts in speed, power, and destructive force. However, using it comes at a cost: his movements become less precise, and the strain it places on his body makes prolonged or repeated use dangerous. In addition to the Niko Style, Ohma has exceptional physical strength, speed, reflexes, and agility, as well as a powerful instinctive ability to read his opponent's movements and adapt his approach mid-fight. His combat instincts are so refined that they are considered part of what makes him deserving of the title Ashura.