Hoshin Engi - Taikobo

 

Taikobo (太公望, Taikōbō)

Voiced by: Hiro Yūki (1st series), Kensho Ono (2nd series) (Japanese); J. Shannon Weaver (1st series), Josh Grelle^[1] (2nd series) (English)

The protagonist of the series. He is a disciple at the Kongrong Mountains and Genshi Tenson's best pupil. He received the Hoshin Project from Genshi Tenson, and became a strategist to defeat the collapsing Yin dynasty and to help King Bu of Zhou. Although he wears very strange clothes, he has the sharpest mind in Kongrong. Taikobo was the son of the leader of the Qiang tribe, and was named Ryobo, but he lost his parents in a Yin human hunt. After twelve years on earth, he became a disciple, and with 30 years of study, attained Senin level power.

Although Taikobo is still an average Senin with a low rank, he is the personal disciple of the leader of Kongrong, Genshi Tenson, so his position in the Sennin World is high. At the beginning of the story, he receives a retractable baton-shaped paope (magic tool) called Dashinben, which grants him the power to create and control wind. Later, because of the Orb of Revival, the Dashinben gets an upgrade, a larger shape and improved abilities. Eventually, his Dashinben is upgraded by fusing with the paope 'Kyokoki' that can absorb the Kongrong Mountains's energy for recovery, and the super paope, 'Taikyokuzu,' that negates all other paope's power, draw magic seals and can heal injuries. Basically, his speciality is fighting by wits, and using cleverness to swindle his enemies, so that sometimes even his allies boo him. His constant companion, main ally, and mode of transportation is the spirit beast, Supushan. Taikobo's real age is at least 72 years old, and contrary to his boyish appearance, love of peaches and sweet things, and dislike of shots and medicine, his speech and mannerisms are that of an old man. His personality is aloof, and he has a strong belief in a peaceful Human World. Additionally, he is left-handed, but during the fight with Inkou (the older), he lost his left arm up to the elbow. Soon after, he received an artificial arm created by Taiitsu Shinjin.

Taikobo is a vegetarian. Although Taikobo is often criticized by other characters for being very 'un-protagonist-like,' he was voted first in a Weekly Shonen Jump character poll twice. Sometimes he's drawn as a cat-like alien creature. The last volume of the Kanzenban came with a limited edition plush toy of this form.