In his human form, Yukine appears as a young teenager with short, messy hair that is colored gold in both the anime and manga. His eyes are reddish-orange in the anime and yellow-amber in the manga. The name given to him by Yato (雪ゆき) is located on his left collarbone, while the one given to him by Father (莠はぐさ) is found on his upper right arm.

Yukine is shorter than both Yato and Hiyori, standing at 147.4 cm (or 4’10”) according to the Animation Visual Book released for the anime. Despite being physically 14, he often appears younger than his age, as noted by Hiyori’s shock upon realizing he was only a year below her in school and his previous neighbor’s remark that he was small for his age in middle school. This is likely attributed to malnutrition and stress resulting from his father’s abusive treatment.

Upon his first summoning, Yukine wears a simple white robe resembling a Japanese shinishozoku (死に装束). He later dons a blue hoodie, loose grey jeans, and a teal patterned knit cap. As the manga progresses, his outfits vary widely, but he is often seen in a white T-shirt, dark blue jeans, and a green knee-length jacket with a fur-trimmed hood.

Yukine was originally known as Haruki Tajima. During his childhood, he lived with his unnamed mother, older sister Yuka Miyaike, and his father, Naomichi Tajima. The family dynamic was dysfunctional, primarily due to Naomichi’s violent behavior. Despite the abuse, Haruki and Yuka remained close, often avoiding home until late at night. Their neighbors frequently saw them together.

As the abuse escalated, Yuka contemplated suicide, but Haruki intervened, physically restraining her and encouraging her to look toward the future. Eventually, Yuka persuaded their mother to divorce Naomichi, who agreed only if one child remained with him. To decide, Haruki and Yuka played rock-paper-scissors, resulting in Haruki staying behind with Naomichi while Yuka left with their mother.

Haruki frequently returned home with bruises, leading to his ostracization by friends at their parents’ insistence. Despite the mistreatment, he managed to send letters to Yuka expressing his desire to escape their father. In his last letter, he questioned why she hadn’t replied and expressed his wish to see her. Unbeknownst to both children, their mother and Naomichi intercepted and destroyed their correspondence, returning Yuka’s letters torn apart.

When Haruki turned 14, Naomichi confronted him about the letters and, in a fit of rage, beat him nearly to death. He then trapped Haruki in a refrigerator in the mountains, leaving him to die. Before closing the fridge, Naomichi tore up the letters and scattered them around Haruki’s body, declaring it divine punishment for his disobedience.

The exact cause of Haruki’s death remains unclear; he may have succumbed to his injuries or suffocated. He died clutching the final letter intended for Yuka. Following Haruki’s murder, Naomichi falsely claimed that his son had run away, though at least one journalist suspected foul play.

At the time of his death, Haruki lacked a solid belief in the afterlife, causing his spirit to wander the mountains, likely retaining his memories. Eventually, his spirit became a sudama. Instead of returning to the mountains, Haruki’s spirit recalled his intention to send a letter to Yuka and drifted to a mailbox in the city, where he was later found and named by Yato. Haruki’s body remained in the refrigerator for approximately thirty years until Yato discovered it and buried him beneath a cherry blossom tree near Yuka’s current residence.

Spells

• Borderline (境界線 Kyoukaisen):Like all shinki, Yukine can create a boundary that prevents ayakashi from crossing through. This ability also allows him to useLance (矛 Hoko)for offensive attacks andShield (盾 Tate)for defensive maneuvers.

• Bakufu (縛布 Bakufu):Yukine has the ability to cast a binding restraint on a target, rendering them immobile.

Songs

• Counter-songs (呪歌 Juka):Through training with Kazuma, Yukine can construct counter-incantations that negate the effects of another individual’s song.

• Firefighting Incantation (火伏せの呪歌 Hifuse no juka):Yukine can extinguish flames created by ayakashi or shinki.

Vessel Techniques

As Yato’s shinki, Yukine’s vessel name isSekki (雪器).

• Vessel Transformation:Sekki initially takes the form of a bare blade with a bandaged hilt. As a blessed vessel, he can transform into two bare blades—one resembling a standard katana and the other a wakizashi.

• Rend (斬 Zan):As Yato’s divine weapon, Yukine can exterminate ayakashi using this technique, which is named in the anime but exists in the manga.

• Sunder (絶 Zetsu):Yukine gains this skill as Yato’s divine weapon. When Yato uses Sunder, he can sever emotional ties between individuals; this technique is named in the anime but also exists in the manga.

As Father’s shinki, Yukine is known asHagusa (莠はぐさ), with the vessel nameYuuki (莠器). According to Father, Hagusa evolves over time, becoming stronger when confronted with an enemy.

• Vessel Transformation:Yuuki can switch between two forms: one as a black staff with a twisted blade end and the other as a fully mobile human (albeit with black hair instead of Yukine’s typical blonde). This transformation is unusual for a shinki; Kazuma initially believes it to be impossible. In this form, Yuuki maintains control over hisGoodness Netand exhibits increased mobility compared to his regular form as Hagusa/Yukine.

• Goodness Net (善網 Zenmō):In his vessel form, Yuuki can create a net used for various purposes, including offensive and defensive actions, entrapment, and influencing humans.

• Flight:In staff form, Yuuki serves as a mode of flight for his master.

• Ayakashi Transformation:As a shinki named by the Word, Hagusa can adopt an ayakashi-like form without harming his master. In this form, he exhibits more feline features, particularly in his ears and extremities, as well as pronounced claws and canine teeth for offensive use.

Yato
Yukine is Yato’s regalia, initially finding him creepy, annoying, and self-centered. However, after receiving praise from Yato for his skills, Yukine feels a surge of happiness, despite not openly showing it. This recognition leads him to become a bit friendlier with Yato. However, upon encountering Nora, Yukine struggles with feelings of inadequacy, believing he is not truly special to Yato. This insecurity drives him to engage in reckless behavior, including stealing and rebelling against Yato. At one point, Yukine expresses a desire to leave Yato and work for Tenjin instead, but Yato refuses, warning him that he would become a Nora if he accepted a new name.

Yukine’s turbulent feelings result in significant conflict, leading to a moment where he stings Yato multiple times, putting Yato’s life at risk and prompting the need for an ablution. During this process, Yukine must confront the consequences of his actions. As he nears the brink of turning into an ayakashi, Hiyori reminds him that Yato has treated him like a father would, deeply touching Yukine.

Following the ablution and Hiyori’s encouragement for Yato to treat Yukine with compassion, their relationship strengthens, although Yukine still finds Yato annoying. As the series progresses, it becomes evident that Yukine cares deeply for Yato. This is notably illustrated when he sacrifices himself to protect Yato from Bishamon’s attack, transforming into a hafuri, the most loyal type of shinki. Yukine expresses a willingness to sacrifice his name for Yato and vows to become stronger to protect him. Yato recognizes their similarities, both having issues with their “fathers.”

After Yato instructs Yukine to help him on his path to becoming a God of Fortune, Yukine wholeheartedly agrees, committing to ensure Yato never takes a life again. When Kazuma betrays Yukine’s trust, he warns Yato to stay away from him, prioritizing Yato’s safety over everything else. Yato admits to having fallen for Yukine “at first sight,” viewing him as “his one and only” and a source of pride.

Hiyori Iki
Initially, there appeared to be romantic potential between Yukine and Hiyori, but their relationship evolved into a close friendship. Yukine sees Hiyori as a valuable ally and a dependable friend, often borrowing her old textbooks and workbooks for study. Although he finds Hiyori somewhat strict when it comes to schoolwork, he appreciates her support.

While less emphasized inNoragami Aragato, hints of a lingering crush on Hiyori remain, especially when he blushes and experiences a nosebleed after she hugs him upon remembering Yato and the others. Hiyori plays a crucial role during Yukine’s ablution, providing him with words of encouragement that prevent his transformation into an ayakashi. Grateful for her support, Yukine begins to see her as a more significant presence in his life. He frequently worries about her well-being, expressing concern over her safety, particularly when she engages in dangerous activities, fearing that she might forget about him and Yato.

Kazuma
While Yato was away, Yukine trained with Kazuma, developing a friendship that felt more like a peer relationship than mentor-apprentice. This connection contributed to easing the tension between Bishamon and Yato. However, when Kazuma attempts to coerce Yukine into revealing the Sorcerer’s location, Yukine becomes enraged, leading to a cold and distant demeanor toward Kazuma, ultimately severing their friendship. Yukine even goes so far as to advise Yato to avoid Kazuma.

Suzuha
Upon meeting Suzuha, Yukine quickly becomes friends with him, despite their masters being adversaries. After spending time together, Yukine runs to visit Suzuha as soon as he finishes working with Yato. Suzuha’s death profoundly impacts Yukine, plunging him into a deep depression and causing him to revert to his original, more vulnerable self.

The Stray
From the outset, Yukine feels jealousy toward Nora, believing that her longer tenure as Yato’s regalia makes her more valuable to Yato than he is. This jealousy initially causes tension between him and Yato, although it soon shifts to focus solely on Nora. When Yato releases Nora, Yukine feels a sense of relief. However, he is taken aback when she kisses him in Chapter 74, indicating that she may have developed feelings for him. In Chapter 75, it is revealed that Yukine accidentally stings Yato due to Nora’s kiss, leading to an ablution for him. After confessing his sin, Yato forbids Yukine from reciprocating any feelings for Nora.

After being discarded by Father, Nora seeks Yukine’s help, having lost her name among the other gods. Currently, Yukine is providing her shelter at Kofuku and Daikoku’s home, unbeknownst to them. During this time, their dynamic softens; Yukine expresses frustration when Nora dismisses the importance of learning, while she reacts negatively to Yukine’s interest in history, knowing the dangers of her own past. Yukine also confronts Fujisaki, defending Nora and expressing his anger at how she has been treated.