Tora is a large, tiger-like yōkai with a powerful and intimidating presence. His most distinct features include his massive, muscular build, long orange fur with black tiger stripes, glowing yellow eyes, and an enormous, toothy grin filled with sharp fangs. His wild, fiery mane extends down his back, further enhancing his feral appearance. Long, pointed claws protrude from his hands and feet, and he has a long, flexible tail that he occasionally uses in combat.

Despite his fearsome form, Tora’s design also carries a sense of personality, often displaying exaggerated expressions that range from comically smug to enraged. His eyebrows are thick and angled, contributing to his intense glare, while his sharp, jagged teeth are almost always visible, even when he speaks casually.

Tora’s physical form remains relatively unchanged throughout the series, but he occasionally exhibits demonic features, such as glowing energy or extended claws, when unleashing his full power. In flashbacks, his past self—Nagatobimaru is portrayed in a more shadowy, monstrous form, cloaked in flames and lightning, with a more primal, less expressive appearance than his current incarnation.

In his original human form as Shagakusha, he was shown to be a tall, muscular man with dark hair and stern features, wearing traditional battle garb fitting of an ancient warrior from Tianzhu.

Tora is a complex character who blends ferocity with unexpected charm. Arrogant, prideful, and blunt, he frequently boasts about his immense power and expresses disdain toward humans often threatening to devour them, especially Ushio. Despite his intimidating exterior and brash mannerisms, Tora exhibits moments of childish immaturity and impulsiveness. He is easily amused, often reacts with exaggerated emotion, and can be petulant when things do not go his way.

Initially, Tora appears to be a ruthless and selfish yōkai who revels in fear and destruction. However, as the series progresses, his personality begins to soften, especially due to his exposure to human emotions and relationships through his time with Ushio and his friends. Though he continues to claim that he intends to eat Ushio, Tora repeatedly goes out of his way to protect him and those close to him, often putting himself at great risk in the process.

Tora’s curiosity is another notable aspect of his personality. After being sealed for 500 years, he finds the modern world bewildering and fascinating, taking an interest in its technology, history, and even food culture developing a particular fondness for hamburgers thanks to Mayuko. These lighter moments contrast sharply with his terrifying reputation among yōkai and highlight the layered nature of his character: a feared beast with an unexpectedly human side.

Tora is one of the most powerful yōkai in the Ushio and Tora series, possessing overwhelming demonic energy and a wide array of supernatural powers. His presence alone exudes immense yōki (demonic aura), so potent that after being sealed beneath Ushio’s temple for 500 years, his release attracted swarms of lesser yōkai. This energy also enables those around him such as Ushio to see and interact with spirits and monsters.

Physically, Tora exhibits unmatched strength, capable of holding up a crashing airplane, leveling massive structures with his bare hands, and carrying multiple people without effort. His durability is equally impressive; he has survived severe injuries such as being split in half or decapitated, later reattaching his body parts through sheer willpower. Even when grievously wounded in battle, Tora remains capable of fighting relentlessly, showcasing his immense endurance and pain tolerance.

Tora can manipulate various elemental forces. His lightning abilities are his most iconic, often channeled through his mane or claws, and he can summon devastating storms at will. He can also breathe fire and generate powerful gusts of wind, including slicing air blades and full-scale tornadoes. These elemental attacks make him highly versatile in combat.

Tora also possesses numerous supernatural abilities, such as invisibility and intangibility, allowing him to phase through walls and vanish from the sight of normal humans. However, people with spiritual awareness or children can still see him, and certain materials like glass or concrete occasionally hinder his phasing often for comedic effect. His flight speed is tremendous, reaching up to 300 mph and producing sonic booms when he travels at full speed.

Although he rarely resorts to it, Tora has some shapeshifting capabilities, having taken the form of humans, food, and even fortune slips for comedic deception. He also has precise control over his mane, using it like a weapon to grab, slash, block bullets, or even form human replicas, such as a lifelike clone of Asako. He can imbue his hair with tracking properties, allowing others to summon him by tugging on a strand he left behind.

In battle, Tora combines brute force with agility, reacting fast enough to catch bullets and matching the speed of modern jets. While his intellect may sometimes take a backseat to his pride and impulsive nature, his raw power, mystical abilities, and indomitable spirit make him one of the most formidable beings in the series.

Ushio Aotsuki
Tora’s most significant and complex relationship is with Ushio Aotsuki, the boy who released him from his 500-year imprisonment by removing the Beast Spear. Although Tora often proclaims his intention to eventually devour Ushio, he repeatedly protects him from other yōkai and supernatural threats. While he insists that this is merely to preserve Ushio for himself, his consistent support suggests genuine care. The two develop a bond resembling a combative yet loyal sibling dynamic constantly bickering, yet unwaveringly supportive in battle. Tora once admitted that he stays with Ushio because he’s never bored around him, and despite his threats, he has never made a serious attempt to harm Ushio when vulnerable, indicating a deep-rooted respect and affection.

Mayuko Inoue
Tora first encountered Mayuko Inoue during a battle with the Gamin yōkai and has since developed a unique bond with her. Though he jokingly refers to her as a future meal, he never seriously threatens or attempts to harm her. Mayuko, in contrast, treats Tora kindly and even affectionately calls him “Tora-chan,” often giving him hamburgers, which becomes a favorite food of his. Her kindness gradually wins over Tora, and while he feigns disinterest, he becomes visibly protective of her. This is especially evident when he expresses outrage upon learning that other yōkai intend to use her as a sacrifice to create a new Beast Spear. Tora also vehemently opposes her becoming the next Oyakume, vowing to defeat Hakumen no Mono himself to spare her that fate, revealing the depth of his attachment.