Yuria (Fist of the North Star)

is a fictional character in the "Fist of the North Star" manga series by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara. She is the first introduced as the missing fiancee of protagonist Kenshiro, who was taken away from him by a jealous rival. Later in the series, it is revealed that she is part of the Nanto Seiken bloodline and resurfaces as the "Last General of the Nanto Roku Seiken". Although she is Kenshiro's fiancee, Yuria has been desired by other male characters in the series such as Kenshiro's brothers Raoh and Toki, Ken's rival Shin and Yuria's half-brother Jyuza.

Yuria is a major character in most incarnations of the "Fist of the North Star" metaseries and is the main character of her own single-volume spinoff manga, "Yuria Gaiden: Jibo no Hoshi" by Akimi Kasai.

In the original manga

outhern Cross arc

Yuria is introduced in the series as the missing fiancee of Kenshiro. One year prior to the present events of the manga (after the death of Kenshiro's father, Ryūken), Kenshiro was challenged by his former friend Shin, of the Nanto Seiken school, who also desired Yuria. After Kenshiro was defeated, Yuria was blackmailed into becoming Shin's lover under the condition that Shin would spare the defeated Kenshiro, an event which left Kenshiro with his characteristic seven scars on his chest. The story arc following the first chapter of the manga centers around Kenshiro's quest to defeat Shin's army, who has assumed the identity of King. Kenshiro infiltrates the city of Southern Cross, where he confronts and defeats Shin. After, the battle he finds not the real Yuria, but a mannequin constructed in her likeness, prompting Shin to reveal the truth. After Shin had taken Yuria away from Kenshiro, Shin expanded his reign of power and wealth in an effort to win over Yuria's affections, eventually constructing the city of Southern Cross for Yuria. Unable to tolerate the cruelties Shin committed in her name, Yuria took her own life by jumping off the roof of Shin's palace. Following this revelation, Shin does the same.

After the Southern Cross arc, Yuria only appears in a couple of flashbacks involving Toki and Raoh before her reappearances. Toki mentions that not only Kenshiro and Shin desired Yuria, but also Toki and Raoh. Likewise, Yuria's brother, Ryuga, challenges Kenshiro in honor of his (thought to be) deceased sister.

Last Nanto General arc

After the deaths of the other five members of the Nanto Roku Seiken, as well as Toki and Ryuga, the Last General of the Nanto Roku Seiken surfaces and orders the Nanto Goshasei to attack Raoh, including Yuria's half-brother, Jyuza of the Clouds. The Last General's identity, which is initially concealed in a helmet, is revealed to be none other than Yuria. Retconning her previous death, Yuria was safely caught after she fell from Shin's palace by the Nanto Goshasei. The Goshasei revealed that Yuria is descended from the Rightful Nanto Bloodline and that they, as sworn guardians of the Nanto Bloodline, came to protect Yuria from Raoh, who was approaching Southern Cross to seize her. Shin entrusted Yuria to the protection of Nanto Goshasei and agreed to tarnish his reputation by pretending that Yuria had died.

Kenshiro and Raoh eventually learn of the Last General's true identity and they both race over to the Nanto Capital to get to Yuria. Eventually Raoh reaches her first and fleets with her to his castle as his captive. Learning that Yuria is dying from the same radiation poisoning that killed his brother Toki, Raoh places Yuria in a false state of death and takes her body to the Hokuto Renkitōza, using her as bait to lure Kenshiro for their final battle. Kenshiro defeats Raoh and sets off with Yuria, whose life expectancy was briefly extended thanks to Raoh, to live their last remaining years together.

In anime

TV series

Yuria was voiced by Yuriko Yamamoto in the "Fist of the North Star" animated TV series which aired between 1984 and 1988. She was voiced by Melissa Williamson in Manga Entertainment's English dub of the first 36 episodes. The TV series differs slightly from the manga, as the early episodes of the series expands Yuria's role in the initial Southern Cross story arc, fleshing out her captivity in Shin's palace. She does not jump off Shin's palace until sometime prior to episode 22 (the final battle between Kenshiro and Shin), a scene which occurs while Shin's city has been set ablaze. Her role later in the series does not deviate much from the original manga. Her hair color in the series changes from auburn prior to been captured by Shin, to pale purple when she's with Shin and to golden when she shows up as the Last Nanto General.

1986 animated movie

In the 1986 animated movie, Yuria was once again played by Yuriko Yamamoto and by Melodee Spevack in Streamline Pictures' English dub version. Like in the original manga and TV series, Yuria is forced to become Shin's lover following Kenshiro's defeat by Shin at the start of the film. The movie deviates from its source material as the story progresses: instead of attempting to take her own life, Yuria is captured by Raoh after he invades Southern Cross and defeats Shin. Raoh imprisones her in the Dungeon of Cassandra, using her as bait to lure Kenshiro. She manages to free herself during the final battle between Kenshiro and Raoh, but disappears shortly afterwards (she is last shown with Bat and Lin). Kenshiro sets out to find her after the battle and her ultimate fate is left ambiguous to the viewer.

"Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu" series

Yuria is portrayed by Yuriko Ishida in the five part "Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu". She first appears in the 2007 OVA "Yuria Den", where she is the central focus. "Yuria Den" tells the story of how Yuria became the Last Nanto General. She also appears in the theatrical movie "Raoh Den: Gekitō no Shō", a modified retelling of Kenshiro's final battle with Raoh from the original manga and has a bit role in the 2008 OVA "Toki Den".