The young protagonist, Yaiba is a strong-willed, easy-going but often cocky kid who was trained by his father Kenjuuro in order to become a great Samurai. After leavng the jungle and returning to Japan, he starts his adventures and the struggle against the wicked Onimaru. Apparently, Yaiba is the chosen warrior able to wield the Raijin Sword without being zapped. Trained by Miyamoto Musashi and with the help of his friends and various magical powers, he fight off the menaces that threat the Earth. As the series proceed, he slowly matures.
Air Jousting: Whenever he has to face an enemy capable of flight. Usually a courtesy of his pet vulture, Shonosuke
Ancestral Weapon: The swords he use tend to be really old and powerful. In the last arc he's equipped with his father's Bokken (wooden katana)
Chick Magnet: At school he seems to be quite popular with girls...
Combat Pragmatist: He's not above tricking his foes, inventing new techniques on the spot and so on. Justified, since he learned by Musashi himself. And also because his enemies are not nice guys.
Everything's Better with Spinning: His Senpuken (Whirlwind Sword) consist in removing the Thunder Orb from Raijin's Sword and use the hole left to make it spin at great speed. Also the Kazaguruma (Pinwheel) attack is this.
Light 'Em Up: The Supreme King Sword. Apparently the Kusanagi blade in the stinger, which can fly fast enough to reach Mars from the Earth in mere seconds.
Noodle Incident: In the epilogue he and his friends (Musashi, Kagetora and Shonosuke) ended up on Mars where they were attacked by a monstrous demon alien. Oh, and he acquired the Kusanagi sword from Okinawa too.
Made of Iron: Jeez, this boy is really something..
Never Recycle Your Techniques: Whenever his current attack/fighting style isn't good enough, he soon discard it. However he uses his very first technique before dealing the final blow to Onimaru.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: His Jerkassness is the main reason why Onimaru decided to resort to the Fujin Sword to beat him. Also at the end of the Ryuujin Arc.
No Social Skills: He is not good at handling everyday situations. He grew up in a jungle with only his father to learn from. He can however speak with animals.
Sayaka is the daughter of Raizo Mine, an expert kendoka and old rival of Yaiba's father, Kenjuro. At first she sees Yaiba as an annoying brat, but their relationship improves as the series proceed and she travels with the young samurai in his journey to defeat Onimaru. She also carries the Sea-Cucumberman with her. Later in the Kaguya arc, it's revealed that she's the descendant of Taro Urashima and Princess Oto, and thus the new "Dragon Maiden", the Priestess of Ryujin and the key to unleash Kaguya's true form. In the last arc, she manage to wield the Water Demon Longsword and use its powers, and later, in order to stop Orochi's rampage, has Kaguya sealed into her body and manage to restrain her and slowly change her heart.
Distressed Damsel: Happens quite often, but only in the earlier arcs
Heroic Sacrifice: At least Three times, the first one in the fifth trial of Ryujin, the Rope of Fate, in order to show Yaiba the right one. The second time when she decided to go with Gekko in order to save Yaiba's life. Then, she accepted to have Kaguya's Ghost sealed into her body in order to force her to help Yaiba against Orochi and Onimaru.
Paper-Thin Disguise: During the Kojiro arc, in order to escape some Mooks she put on Sunglasses, an earring and a fur hat and behaved like a japanese comedian. It worked even with her mother!
Yaiba's pet Tiger, he's just a fat, gentle tiger and behaves more like a huge housecat than a proper tiger. He carries Yaiba and the others around on his back and sometimes helped him in his trainings. He's also smarter than Yaiba.
Yaiba's pet Vulture follows him around and is used whenever he needs to fly. Also he's responsible for beating Onimaru's pet pidgeons, increasing his hatred towards Yaiba.
Miyamoto Musashi is a 400 years old man who lived as a hermit on Mount Tengu, where the Raijin Sword is kept. After witnessing Yaiba pulling the sword out of the ground he agreed to become his master and teach him the way of the sword. Despite the age he's still a powerful warrior and more than capable of kicking some ass. He also know a lot of techniques and strategies, and he can be very wise.
Genius Bruiser: He's really wise and smart, expecially in the Ryujin's Trials.
Glass Cannon: Sadly, his age and frequent backaches weaken his stamina
Implausible Fencing Powers: When he was young, he and Kojiro managed to slice a huge wooden beam into a bunch of chopsticks with their names carved on!!
A Former Hakki, Gerozaemon is the first of them, and he's a Frogman. He was sent by Onimaru to kill Yaiba, but he got defeated and joined his group. Despite being a Oni, he's a really good fellow and a good chef. He often fights alongside Yaiba and the others with his trusty hatchet and his tongue. After Onimaru and Orochi's defeat he turned back into a frog.
Musashi's old rival, this master swordsman was resurrected by the Spiderman in order to become Onimaru's servant. Bent on taking revenge on Musashi, he later sees a new rival in Yaiba who manage to beat him with the power of Raijin. He the decide to follow Yaiba in order to steal his magical sword, but ends up as a stationary member of the group. He wields a magical Katana named Monohoshizao (lit. Laundry Pole), and its blade can stretch at will on command. He joins the Oda Nobunaga Tournament in the last arc but is defeated along the way by Onimaru.
Time Master: It's revealed that his sword can create portals through time, but he keep this power sealed within the handle using wrappings made from a lion's mare.
One of the Seven Swordsmen revived by Lord Onimaru, Jubei is a wandering Ronin and pupil of Musashi himself. He's a man of honor and a very serious samurai, and a skilled swordmaster. However when he gets drunk he turn into a violent Wolfman who attacks anyone in sight. He's also prone to try to commit Harakiri quite often. He's last seen in the Oda Nobunaga Tournament where he fight Yaiba for one last time. Three years later, he's Walking the Earth.
A mysterious hooded girl appeared in the Pyramid Arc. She saves Yaiba and heal him with her powers. Later she guides Yaiba&co inside the Pyramid (which she seems to know quite well) and help Yaiba against the various foes inside. She's actually revealed to be the Barrier Soldier, one of the four top class Soldiers, ans a Cyborg, created to lure Yaiba inside the Pyramid. However for some reason she sides with Yaiba instead of betraying him. She's blasted into pieces by the Pyramid Core's Lasers defending Yaiba.
Face Heel Turn: Briefly, then after Jewel's death she's "good" again.
Laser-Guided Amnesia: a quite complicated one: She had her memories about being a Soldier removed, so she only remember the Pyramid and how to stop it. It backfires against her masters in the end.
A mysterious and very rich girl who appears in the last arc and introduce herself as Yaiba's little sister. She tells Yaiba about his "impostor" father Kenjuuro and state that he'll meet him in the Oda Nobunaga Tournament. She later follows Yaiba on Yoroi Island and witness his battles in the Tournament.
Aloof Little Sister: Despite being his little sister, she basically plays this role
The Big Bad of the series, Onimaru was just a student and a really skilled and no-nonsense kendoka. Eventually, Yaiba manage to humiliate him in an attempt to challenge him and eventually they become bitter rivals. Obsessed with beating Yaiba, Onimaru discovers in a secret cellar of his house the Legendary Fujin Sword, and attempt to master it, turning himself into a powerful and large Oni bent on killing Yaiba and conquering the whole World. He has displayed many powers, and has attempted many plots to Take Over the World. During the Kaguya arc he was forced to join forces with Yaiba. After getting the Devil King Sword he starts his plans of destruction by tricking the Underworld people and awakening the legendary dragon Orochi but eventually is vanquished once and for all by Yaiba who cut off his horns. He was then Put on a Bus, that came back just in time to put him as Final Boss of the Oda Nobunaga Tournament.
Calling Your Attacks: Rarely, including the Fujin Ha (Wind Devil Wave), the Tornado attack and all the Devil King Sword attacks.
Charles Atlas Superpower: Even before becoming a demon, he was strong enough to crush concrete pipes with a bamboo sword. Afte Kenjuuro's training he can put all his power in a single slash, resulting in a swordstrike capable of flattening a steel armor and everything around it.
Laser Blade: Eventually his Devil King Sword turns into one after going all out.
Made of Iron: When still human he was really resilient, even after falling into a deep hole and having several balls and later iron gym tools dropped on him.
Villain with Good Publicity: The Japanese people aren't really worried about having a demon as leader. Ok, they attempted an Air Raid on his castle, but..
Worthy Opponent: Considers Yaiba this. Until the Orochi Arc, at first.
The Spiderman
voiced by: Tetsuo Sakaguchi
The third of Onimaru's Eight Great Oni, he's a antropomorphic spider with Kansai accent who apparently came from Osaka. It serves mainly as Onimaru's righthand man and henchman, but is quite clumsy and incompetent. He briefly sides with Yaiba during the Kaguya Arc when his master is sealed in Carbonite.
A Mad scientist with awful teeth and a penchant for creating really dangerous Stuff. He's hired by Onimaru and provdes him weapons and advice. He also repaired the Fujin Sword and built the Onimaru Cannon, a Flying Submarine and the Furai Bazooka.
Humongous Mecha: The last evil King is actually a Mecha Turtle run on by the Spiderman.
Killer Rabbit: Dry Dry the Supergorilla is tiny, but super strong!
MacGuffin Guardian: Guarding places and rooms rather then a specific item.
Made of Iron: Dry Dry again, who had a wall tossed on him and survived.
One-Winged Angel: Sort of: After Super Gorilla is defeated, he turn back to normal.... that means a giant, strong and rampaging gorilla. Thankfully, Yaiba manage to tame it.
The warriors from the past summoned by Onimaru in order to kill Yaiba, they include:- Miyoshi Seikai, a monk and member of the Ten Sanada Braves- Fuuma Kotaro, shinobi and fifth head of the Fuuma Clan- Amakusa Shiro Tokisada, sorcerer and a christian Samurai- Ishikawa Goemon, rogue and former ninja- Yagyu Jubei, ronin and master swordsman- Musashibo Benkei, a Yamabushi (warrior priest)- Matsuo Basho, poet and former warrior
Car Fu: Taken to Beyond the Impossible levels during the battle between giant Yaiba and Goemon inside the Osaka Castle, where the latter used a whole train as a Nunchaku.
The last group of Onimaru's servants and probably the strongest of them all. It's composed by four demons with elemental powers and magical swords. At first they're a bit of a Giant Space Flea From No Where
And I Must Scream: Dark's Dark Pyramid: Delta Zone attack can send any hit opponent into another dimension forever.
Awesome, but Impractical: Rain's longsword can stretch itself and pass through any substance, cutting only flesh. Seems cool? Try to use it to parry an incoming sword strike....
BFS: Their swords are Tachi (Longsword), and they tend to be quite long and broad
Blade Below The Shoulder: Unlike the other demons, Plasma has two blades on his forearms, that look like the "wings" of a Manta Ray.
Dark Is Edgy: Dark has total control of the Darkness and can use it in many ways.
Elemental Powers: Each of them, namely Water, Fire, Darkness and Light.
Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: Yaiba managed to beat Rain by using the wind to wash away all the water in the battlefield, but she just make more of it out of her sword. Also Sayaka tries this while wielding the Water Demon Longsword against Burner, but it's not enough.
Furthermore, Yaiba manage to escape Dark's Dark Zone by shattering it with the light of his sword. And also Plasma, whose illusions are stopped as Yaiba use the Supreme King Sword to cover the sky with dark clouds.
Fireball: Burner's main tactic consist in tossing a large number of these at his target. Or a single big one.
Flaming Hair: Burner, of course, while Rain sports a curious case of "'Watering Hair"
Flaming Sword: The Fire Demon Longsword can engulf itself in flames and burn down to ashes everything it touches, even the other swords and their wielder.
Gravity Master: Sort of. Dark's Dark Zone attack can suck inside the shadow projected by his sword everyone standing on it.
Hoist by His Own Petard: Dark falls victim of his own Delta Zone and Plasma has his thunder ray sent back to him.
Horny Devils: Before facing Yaiba, Rain appears to him as a beautiful schoolgirl and invite him on the roof for "giving him something"...
The Moon empress and evil counterpart of Ryujin. Unlike her subjects, she appears as a beautyful woman with a Playboy Bunny -like outfit and wielding a small fan. She's really powerful, and can erase mountains from existance with her Ki-blasts. Furthermore, in order to stay young and powerful she must drain the "Essence of Youth" out of young women. Her goal is to conquer Earth and rule the planet forever. It's revealed that a thousand years ago, she invaded Japan but was defeated by Ryujin and was sealed inside the body of the Dragon Maiden, and in order to return to her original form she needs the essence of Sayaka, the descendant of the Dragon Maiden. She eventually managed to absorb Sayaka's energy and turned into her gargantuan, multiheaded true form, and after a long battle she merged with Earth bu was sealed away by Yaiba's Ultimate attack. She's awakened during the Orochi saga and is sealed in Sayaka's body, who compels her to aid Yaiba against Onimaru. She managed to stop the Leviathan's heart in order to allow Yaiba to beat Onimaru and cut his horn. After Orochi's fall, she leaves Sayaka's body, return to her spaceship and order his subject to return on the moon.
The greatest Moon General, and Kaguya's right-hand man. Is a cold and extremely competent Moon Rabbit and really loyal to her mistress. Apparently, he's Gekko's elder brother, or at least best friend.
One of the Moon Generals, is a thin, weird looking rabbit who serves in Kaguya Army. When Yaiba attacks Kaguya spaceship in order to save the imprisoned girls, he, Tsukikage and Shingetsu attack Yaiba. He uses Gatai on a Shark to fight him underwater, but has his ears cut off and he's blocked in shark form.
Another of the Moon Generals, and pal of Mikazuki. He's an Elder Moon Rabbit with a long beard who fights alongside Mikazuki and Tsukikage to stop Yaiba. He "merge" with a squid, but suffers the same fate of Mikazuki.
A really short and plump Moon Rabbit, he's Kaguya's Advisor. After Yaiba's raid Kaguya's Spaceship, Jubei is left behind, and Mangetsu uses his powers to Merge with Jubei and take over his body. Later he go back to Mine house, kidnap Sayaka and attempt to kill Yaiba but is discovered. Eventually Musashi manage to make him drunk and awake his Wolfman side, who chase away the Rabbit who gets captured. When Gekko storms Mine house later, he kills him by shooting him point blank with his Bazooka.
The only Black Moon Rabbit, Gekko is an insanly powerful warrior who was imprisoned for trying to overtake the Moon. Kaguya free him in order to have him fight Yaiba and kidnap Sayaka. After his first failure, he decide to violate the cell "666" and take the Devil King Sword, which uses to utterly best Yaiba. Eventually, the combined forces of Yaiba and Onimaru manage to defeat Gekko's Sword. After the Orochi Arc he appears along with Tsukikage and the other Moon People when Kaguya "de-merge" herself and return to her "human" form. In the Anime is revealed that Gekko was mistreated and bullied as a child because of his black fur, and only Tsukikage was close to him.
Accidental Pervert: At first Yaiba thinks he want to kidnap Sayaka to make out with her.
BFS: The Devil King Sword is quite large compared to him
Blob Monster: He carries around some strange space monster called Mochi-Ron, who uses to block enemies.
Carry a Big Stick: His Moon club. More of a Bazooka than a bludgeon.
Dangerous Forbidden Technique: The Devil King Sword's Fullmoon Blast can easly turn Earth into a dead wasteland, just like the Moon
These are the lesser minions from the Underworld Kingdom who defend the Pyramid. Despite being the lowest class soldiers, they're still really resilient and more than a match for the young samurai. They include the Rock Soldier, the Sugi (A Japanese conifer tree) Pollen Soldier and the Snowman Soldier
Dual Wielding: The Mushroom Soldier uses his scimitar and Yaiba's Raijin Sword to fight him.
Face Heel Turn: Happens to those who eat the mushrooms in the Mushroom Soldier's Room. It can be reveserd.
Hoist by His Own Petard: The Grapefruit Soldier falls off the Pyramid when Yaiba hit his arm, making him fire his Kyohou Blast right next to him.
Ignored Enemy: The poor little Ant Soldier gets this treatment
Informed Ability: The Ant Soldier is said to have the hardest and strongest body, and able to pick up items several times his size. He's actually Ant-Sized too, and so said giant boulder is revealed to be a normal sized stone.
Ki Attacks: Budou can shoot purple "grapefruit-like" Ki Blasts
Mega Manning: Sort of: Mushroom Soldier can pick up and use the Raijin Sword because his masters built him with this ability. Considering that one of his makers may be Onimaru, who possessed the Fujin Sword, another demon katana, it's quite Fridge Brilliance.
These are the top fighters of the Pyramid, and really powerful. They all look like twins girls, and each of them is specialized into a particular branch of fighting.They are Ruby, the Stong Soldier, Sapphire the Skilled Soldier, Diamond the Genius Soldier and Emerald the Barrier Soldier. They can also merge together to form Jewel, the Perfect Soldier.
The Mysterious leader of the Underworld Kingdom, he's always seen sit on his throne behind a waterfall, and he's the one behind the Pyramid and hold a huge grudge against humanity, accusing them of spoiling the Earth with wars and pollution. We find out that he was misguided by Onimaru and has one of his super Warriors turned against him and his kingdom, but is saved by Yaiba. He appears later to help Yaiba and Sayaka against the Yamata no Orochi. He also looks likeKami.
Informed Ability: When he finally appears before our heroes, he stated that noone of Yaiba's group (minus Yaiba) could even hope to hurt him. Yet, in the Orochi Arc he's stopped by a Kaguya-Possessed Sayaka with ease.
Kill Them All: After Yaiba destroys Tokyo's Pyramid he reacts by sending tons of laser-shooting black pyramids all over the world.
What an Idiot: Come on, distrusting humans... but trusting an evil Oni!?
Gold&Silver
The Super Warriors of the Uderworld Kingdom, they're two black giants with a single eye each. They're really powerful and strong, but not very smarts. eventually Onimaru reveal himself, and use the powers of the Devil King Sword to turn Gold into a Oni, and orders him to destroy the whole underground realm, but Yaiba kills him in time with the Supreme King Sword and full power.
Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!: When Gold is about to finish Yaiba, the cheering Underworld people attract his attention, and he unleash several deadly attacks on them.
Breath Weapon: As Oni, Gold can shoot a devastating laser out of his maw.
Slasher Smile: Sometimes they do this. Perpetual on Oni Gold's face.
Spikes of Villainy: After being turned into a demon, Gold grow a single large horn.
The Oda Nobunaga Tournament Participants
Unnamed Samurai
The first fighter met by Yaiba, is a stern looking samurai who uses a peculiar sword style involving water. Despite having no name, he serves to prove how hard this tournament will be.
Tear Jerker: His defeat leaves a sour taste in Yaiba's mouth, and he even cried out of desperation as he was defeated.
Frederick Luther III
A French GermanEuropean Knight, and Yaiba's second opponent. Despite his noble and proud appearence, he's a slimy, dirty cheater who's not above using vile tricks to win the Tournament and 10% of the final prize which amounts to 100000 millions Yen!
Combat Pragmatist: Using an insidious sword? Check. Pretending to be wounded? Check. Disarm your opponent with a pendulum and handshackles? Check. Concealing a Zweihander in the back of your cloack? Check!
A mighty warrior whose body was powered up thanks to "microunits" which turns him in a restless, powerful fighter who feels no pain and can increase his speed and strenght as he fights. He's the champion of the Platina leader Gakuso Shirogane and fights Yaiba in an elettrified ring.
Artificial Human: Partially averted, he's fully human with "microunits" planted in his muscles.
BFS: His weapon of choice is a very large scimitar.
Hoist by His Own Petard: Gakuso orders him to absorb more and more energy from the elettrified barrier, causing him to overload and frying all his microunits.
Noble Demon: Despite his appearance, he's quite noble and even wait for his opponent to stand back on his feet before launching the last blow and give him back his sword.
Shock and Awe: Can feed on electricity in order to increase his speed and strenght.
Sixth descendant of the legendary Shinsengumi ''Kensei'', he's a young and powerful swordsmaster. Extremely good naturated and kind, is also a fearsome opponent with an amazing skill. Wields the famed Kikuichimonji katana.
Curb-Stomp Battle: An interesting variation: physically, he totally owned Yaiba, but Yaiba's tenacity totally caught him by surprise and pushed him to withdraw.
I Let You Win: After noticing that Yaiba's assaults grow stronger and stronger as he gets up and surprised by the Toujin technique, he decide to quit. Also done in order to avoid to kill Yaiba of course.
Kid Samurai: He's slightly older than Yaiba himself.
Nice Guy: Also one of the nicest guys in the whole manga.
Oh Crap: Despite his superior skills, he's often surprised and caught off-guard, expecially when Yaiba manages to unclock the Tojin (Battle Blades) attack on him.
Yaiba's father and master, is a happy-go-lucky, lazy man who wanders around the world, but is well known for his skill with the sword. He rarely appears, and he's often shown to be drunk. In the last Arc, is revealed in the beginnging that he might be an impostor who killed Yaiba's true father and kidnapped him. Yaiba will eventually meet him at the Oda Nobunaga Tournament. He actually Is his true father, (his mother lied to Moroha out of despair) who abandoned his wife in order to become a master samurai. In order to test Yaiba's skills, he trains Onimaru untill the latter become as strong as himself and let him fight with Yaiba. He eventually makes peace with Yaiba's mother.
A small nerdy kappa who inhabits the Darkness Orb. After witnessing Yaiba's strong will, he manage to leave the orb as well, but gets captured by Onimaru. He's later fred by Yaiba.
The Mighty Dragon God, he appears as an old samurai wielding a katana. He's duty is to protect the Earth from Kaguya and other evil threats. After surviving his tasks, Yaiba is allowed to take his power, the Ryujin Orb. Is also reveald that a thousand years earlier he defeated Kaguya and Gekko. After Kaguya's second defeat, he goes away with the Orb. He reappers during the Orochi Arc to stop Onimaru, and in order to protect Yaiba he's hit by Dark's Delta Zone, and he manage to drag the Darkness Demon with him as he's sent to another dimension.
A Beautiful lady-warrior who appeared in a really short filler story, she wants to marry Yaiba and she's ready to fight for Mine's Dojo. It's revealed that it was a huge misunderstanding...
Accidental Marriage: When she was really younger, Yaiba saved her from a leopard and she fell in love with him and asked if she could "Cook for Him". And Yaiba accepted.. (granted, he thought she was a chef).
Blade on a Stick: She uses the "Shinai" version of a naginata. That means, a naginata with a bamboo curved blade.
Designated Girl Fight: With Sayaka, but only because she had already bet the crap out of Kojiro and Musashi. And no, no Fanservice for you.
Heroic BSOD: She took a huge shock when Yaiba instantly recognized her as "The Girl who likes cooking!". Poor lad.
