I have reached the end of another anime. I was introduced to Shaman King through a friend’s recommendation. Actually, my friend used the name of the protagonist, Asakura, as a nickname in some games, so I found the name of the anime by searching “Asakura” on Google. It was 64 episodes in total.

To briefly touch upon the plot, it focuses on a community of Shamans—people who can see spirits—organizing specific battles with the goal of establishing their own king. Of course, it’s not just about that; various different themes are explored within the anime. But the most important theme, as I know from most anime, is the bonds of friendship, mutual trust, and the mindset of never giving up.

Actually, this is my favorite part about anime. I mean, think about what children and young people watching this in Japan can achieve with the motivation and hype they get from these shows. Because for a person to take action, they sometimes need to find an energy or a purpose that snaps them into gear. And anime can powerfully instill this into people.

Another aspect I loved about Shaman King is that Asakura Yoh has a seriously laid-back personality; no matter what happens to them, he believes it will be resolved somehow and tells his friends not to worry. Even when facing an enemy, he treats them with kindness. Because the situation is essentially a reflection of the proverb, “Kind words can lure even a snake out of its hole.” Honestly, I think this way too. And finally, there’s his smile. Smiling is good, believe me. You can win a person’s heart with even a small smile.