Shaman King: Flowers Review: Hana Asakura Carries On the Shaman Fight
by Hiroyuki Takei
Read the first volume. If it doesn't hook you, put it down. It'll hook you.
Buy Shaman King: Flowers on Amazon →*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Take
- Hana Asakura is a different protagonist from his father Yoh — more abrasive, less immediately likeable
- The sequel dynamic works better for readers who loved the original series
- 8 volumes complete; a satisfying follow-up for Shaman King fans
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who completed Shaman King and want more of that world
- Anyone interested in next-generation sequel manga
- Fans of Takei's art and supernatural battle style
- Readers looking for complete sequel series
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Shaman battles and supernatural combat; some violence; sequel series assumes familiarity with original
T rating — appropriate for most readers familiar with the original.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★☆☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
- The Shaman King tournament was fought and won by Yoh Asakura. His son Hana Asakura is now in high school — and the shaman world has new conflicts developing that will require the next generation to handle.
Hana is not his father. Where Yoh was easygoing and warm, Hana is combative and easily annoyed. His relationship to the legacy he inherited is complicated.
The series follows Hana as he's pulled into new shaman conflicts, accompanied by new and returning characters from the original series.
Characters
Hana Asakura — A protagonist whose abrasiveness is his character trait rather than his flaw; watching him develop his own identity separate from his famous parents is the series' character arc.
Returning Characters — Appearances from original Shaman King characters add resonance for existing fans; the new supporting cast serves its role.
Art Style
Takei's art has developed from the original series while remaining recognizable — the spirit designs and combat sequences maintain the visual style Shaman King readers expect.
Cultural Context
Shaman King: Flowers ran in Jump X as a direct sequel. The original Shaman King's complicated publication history (the original ending was controversial) makes this sequel's existence notable. Flowers addresses some of what the original's rushed ending left unresolved.
What I Love About It
Seeing what became of the original cast's world. The sequel's best moments are when familiar characters from the original appear in their post-tournament lives — the glimpse of what happened after is rewarding for original series readers.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Shaman King: Flowers as a solid sequel that rewards original series fans — specifically noted for the next-generation dynamic being interesting, for Takei's art remaining strong, and for the series being better appreciated by readers who finished the original than by newcomers. Recommended for Shaman King completionists.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The moments where the weight of Yoh's legacy becomes visible — when Hana's inheritance of both the shaman world and his parents' reputation creates specific pressure — are the series' most resonant.
Similar Manga
- Shaman King — The original series; read this first
- Naruto: The Next Generations — Similar next-generation sequel dynamic
- Dragon Ball Super — Continuation of a completed major series
- Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World — Continuation in different format
Reading Order / Where to Start
Read Shaman King (72 chapters / original series) first, then Volume 1 of Flowers.
Official English Translation Status
Kodansha Comics published the complete 8-volume English series.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Rewarding for original series fans
- Takei's art remains strong
- Next-generation dynamic is interesting
- Complete at 8 volumes
Cons
- Requires original series familiarity
- Hana less immediately likeable than Yoh
- Lower accessibility for new readers
- Some continuity questions from original's complex history
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Kodansha Comics; complete 8 volumes |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Read the first volume. If it doesn't hook you, put it down. It'll hook you.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.