Koshiro Yakuma (薬馬 小四郎, Yakuma Koshirou) is one of the main protagonists of Itsuwaribito. He is a skilled doctor and is one of Utsuho's companions.
Appearance[]
Yakuma has narrow blue eyes and long black hair, which he keeps wrapped up in a ponytail with bandages. He wears a white hat with a blue sun-like pattern on it. He later cuts his hair up to shoulder-length. It is noted by several that he is quite beautiful and feminine looking, in contrast to his straightfoward and tough personality. While visiting the Village of Brides, he thoroughly refused to disguise as a female with comic results - as it turned out, he didn't even need a disguise. The women of the village mistook him for a woman anyway.
Personality[]
Yakuma is a serious, honest, and trusting person. No matter how many times he is tricked, he still trusts the person he was tricked by. He claims he hates Itsuwaribito, but still thinks they don't deserve to die. He is against lying, and states that he will live a righteous life. As a doctor, he states that it is his duty to examine a person a many times as it is required, and that it didn't matter if he was being tricked or not.
Despite his serious personality, he also has a softer, more joking side to him which he often shows to Neya and Pochi. He is exceptionally perceptive, able to tell that Neya liked Utsuho when she herself had yet to realize it. He once teased Neya about her weight and her feelings for Utsuho, adding that he would always support her. It is hinted that he could tell that Neya was in love with Utsuho because Yakuma himself is in love with somebody from the capital.
A running gag throughout the series is that almost all characters who come in contact with Yakuma at least once refer to him as a mother. He often scolds Utsuho and Pochi, usually accompanied by "And don't get hurt!" Pochi once said, "I lived with Mom in the mountains! Even though she's not around anymore... with Utsuho-san, and Nee-chan (Neya), and another Mom (Yakuma), I'm so happy!" Pochi is the only who Yakuma allows to call him 'Mom' freely.
Yakuma is also used to being hit by others, as his master would hit him with brooms. This has lead him to be passive to abuse as Azako would do the same and he wouldn't retaliate.
Background[]
Born to a single mother with an unknown (white) father he was always fascinated with medicine. He read over books and taught himself. One day his mother falls ill and he almost resorts to treating her himself before a doctor from overseas enters the scene and treats his mother.
After this Koshirou shadowed the man and begged to learn from him, something he always refused. That was until his mother's death when he stowed away on the ship to the Netherlands. He was finally taken on as the apprentice of Yuni Conrad. Due to leaving Japan, he is unaware of the tale of the Kokonotsu treasure.
He was taught by this man and eventually grew into a skilled doctor.
Yakuma's goal is to help the Onkado. He travels to search for a cure to the unknown disease that the person has, and to find others with the same disease. He is very content to saving this person, and he even went to an island of exile simply because there was a small chance a medicine that gave a person eternal life was there.
Abilities[]
Despite his young age, Yakuma is a skilled doctor and is one of the few who is able to perform surgery.
Natural Abilities[]
Yakuma's fighting skills are almost on par with Utsuho's, namely his strength and speed. However, his fighting style is almost ridiculously straightforward as he usually just charges in head-on. Later he adapts to pulling a few tricks (cutting off his hair and attaching it to a log as a decoy) though he hates himself for it afterwards.
Tools[]
- The Sapphire Magata - While in possession of his treasure Yakuma possessed the ability to preform quick surgery. (reattaching limbs in an instant when they had been severed by gin) Though it is revealed to have a great toll on his body.
- Medicine Box - The box contains state of the art western medical tools. It contains a stethoscope, mortar and pestal, pliers and cotton dabber. It is quite sturdy as he has used it for protection many times.
Trivia[]
- Yakuma was ranked 2nd in the character popularity poll.
- He is fluent in dutch.