Akira Yuki
- "Akira" redirects here. For other uses, seeAkira (disambiguation).
| Akira Yuki | |
|---|---|
  Official render of Akira fromVirtua Fighter. | |
| Universe | Virtua Fighter |
| Debut | Virtua Fighter (1993) |
| Smash Bros. appearances | SSB4 Ultimate |
| Most recent non-Smash appearance | Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (2025, cameo) |
| Console/platform of origin | Arcade |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Created by | Yu Suzuki |
| Designed by | Seiichi Ishii |
| Voice actor | Shin'ichirō Miki |
| Article on Wikipedia | Akira Yuki |
Akira Yuki (結城 晶,Yuki Akira) is the main protagonist and mascot of theVirtua Fighter universe.
Origin[edit]
Akira Yuki is the mascot of theVirtua Fighter series. He is the grandson of the man who invented a unique version of the Bājíquán martial art for Japanese soldiers to use during the Second World War. In the original game, he serves as the assistant instructor at his family's dojo, Yuki Budokan. When he learns of the first World Fighting Tournament at age 23, he decides to enter not for glory, but to further hone his Bājíquán techniques and to understand what "true fighting" is about.
The plot ofVirtua Fighter 2 elaborates that, during the first World Fighting Tournament, his overly enthusiastic attitude was met with disapproval by the fellow tournament entrants. He was defeated and humiliated by the ninja Kage-Maru, whom Akira now holds a grudge against. After putting himself through rigorous training, he attends the second World Fighting Tournament and wins. When he shows the trophy to his grandfather, the old man simply replies, "Don't flatter yourself. You haven't mastered anything yet."
Believing he had not found his true strength yet, Akira attends the third World Fighting tournament and loses. After some encouragement from his grandfather, Akira secludes himself in the mountains to train more, still attempting to figure out what "true fighting" is. While training, he receives an invitation for the fourth World Fighting Tournament. He enters and loses to Kage again. Returning to the mountains, he trains even harder. Akira then attends the fifth World Fighting Tournament; his results are currently unknown.
Akira is the typical traditional martial artist common in fighting games. His preferred style of Bājíquán relies heavily on using parts of the upper body, like elbows, hips and shoulders, to forcefully push an opponent. Most of the damage comes from quick acceleration of the body from a short distance. Akira is the only playable character that uses this technique, with the only other canonical user being his grandfather.
Akira does not seek money or glory from fighting and entering tournaments. He instead fights simply to test himself and his abilities. Akira also seeks to learn the meaning of "true fighting," something that his grandfather assures he will learn in time. Akira is usually seen wearing a traditional sleeveless fighting Gi, either white or black, and a headband around his spiky hair.
InSuper Smash Bros. 4[edit]
As aMii Costume[edit]
Akira serves as the basis of the Akira Wig and OutfitDLCMii Costume for theMii Brawlers. The Akira set was released alongside the otherWave 2 Mii Fighter costumes on June 14th, 2015. Nintendo also released aQR code for those who wish to have the exact Mii used in the costume's advertising. The costume is similar to his debut appearance in the originalVirtua Fighter, where graphical limitations had him appear in a blocky and polygonal form.
During the reveal trailer, the Mii Brawler representing Akira is first seen on theWuhu Island stage's Swordplay Colosseum layout, referencing the small stages in theVirtua Fighter series. Next, the Mii Brawler is seen battlingLittle Mac in his wireframe form, referencing the polygonal aesthetic ofVirtua Fighter, on theBoxing Ring stage, referencing the ground-based fighting style and stage shape in theVirtua Fighter series. Finally, the Mii Brawler is seen battling the Mii Brawler representingJacky Bryant, anotherVirtua Fighter character on theGarden of Hope stage'sΩ form, referencing the forest stage inVirtua Fighter.
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
As anAssist Trophy[edit]
| “ | From the original Virtua Fighter game, Akira joins the battle with the same graphic style as his original appearance. He has a wide variety of attacks at his disposal, but none represent him better than his Tetsuzankou. When he leaves the fight he says his signature line! *By the way,Bayonetta's forward throw is also based off of Tetsuzankou. | ” |
| —Super Smash Blog,Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Official Site | ||
Akira makes his debut as an Assist Trophy. He was revealed during theSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct on November 1, 2018.
During the reveal trailer, Akira is first seen battlingZero Suit Samus on theTemple stage's Ω form, with Zero Suit Samus referencingSarah Bryant. Next, he is seen battlingWolf on thePirate Ship stage's Ω form, referencing Wolf Hawkfield.
Akira is designed after his appearance inVirtua Fighter 10th Anniversary, a port of the originalVirtua Fighter built on the engine used forVirtua Fighter 4; he appears with his blocky model from the originalVirtua Fighter, and his animations resemble the choppy movements of the original game. Shin'ichiro Miki reprises his role as Akira, with his voice clips being re-purposed fromVirtua Fighter 4.
Akira can use a variety of martial arts attacks fromVirtua Fighter, including his signature move, the Tetsuzanko (where he slams his back into his opponent, launching them forward). He can also block incoming attacks. He can be defeated as well. Before he disappears, he says his famous quote from theVirtua Fighter series, "十年早いんだよ!" ("It's ten years too soon for you to challenge me!", literally"Ten years too early!"). Akira can be attacked, and even KO'd, which earns the player an extra point.
Akira has a spawn chance of38/2086. He can be summoned on all stages in a standard versus match.
As a Mii Costume[edit]
The Akira set fromSSB4 returns as aDLC Mii Costume. It was revealed during theMr. Sakurai Presents "Terry Bogard" presentation on November 4, 2019.
During the reveal trailer, the Mii Brawler representing Akira is seen performing his forward smash on a small platform on theGerudo Valley stage, referencing the small fighting stage sizes in theVirtua Fighter series while the stage background references the desert canyon stage inVirtua Fighter. The Mii Brawler is next seen battlingBayonetta on theGarden of Hope stage, with Bayonetta referencing how she can perform the Tetsuzanko technique for her forward throw, while the stage references the forest stage inVirtua Fighter. The ending image features the Mii Brawler in theTraining stage, likely referencing the polygonal aesthetic ofVirtua Fighter.
Akira was released alongside the otherRound 4 Mii Costumes on November 6, 2019.
Spirit[edit]
Akira appears inUltimate as a Legend-classprimary spirit.
InAdventure Mode: World of Light, Akira is presumably one of the countless spirits captured byGaleem during his takeover of the universe. After Galeem's defeat,Dharkon takes control of Galeem's spirits, including Akira. Akira's spirit is located in theSacred Land sub-dungeon ofThe Dark Realm.
Akira uses aRyu puppet fighter and is fought on theColiseum stage's Ω form. During the battle, Akira appears as a hostile Assist Trophy, while Ryu's attacks have increased power, and the players' jumping power decreases.
| No. | Image | Name | Type | Class | Slots | Base | Max | Base | Max | Base | Max | Ability | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,294 | | Akira |  | ★★★★ | 3 | 3966 | 9918 | 2098 | 5245 | 1716 | 4292 | Fist Attack ↑ | Virtua Fighter Series |
Gallery[edit]
Akira as a Mii Brawler costume
Akira as an Assist Trophy inUltimate.
Akira attackingRyu onUmbra Clock Tower.
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Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
 Japanese | アキラ,Akira |
 English | Akira |
 French | Akira |
 German | Akira |
 Spanish | Akira |
 Italian | Akira |
 Chinese | Akira |
 Korean | Akira |
 Dutch | Akira |
 Russian | Акира |
Trivia[edit]
- Bayonetta's performance of the Tetsuzanko technique for her forward throw and her voice line, "十年早いんだよ!" is a carryover of a similar Easter egg fromBayonetta, and is acknowledged in Akira's blog entry.
- The pose used for Akira's Assist Trophy render is nearly identical to a piece of artwork from the originalVirtua Fighter, which is used for his Spirit.
- InUltimate, Akira,Takamaru,Prince of Sablé,Yuri Kozukata,Cloud,Sephiroth, andKazuya are the only characters who use Japanese regardless of the game's language.
External links[edit]
- Article on theVirtua Fighter Wiki.
| Character Inspirations forMii FighterCostumes inSuper Smash Bros. 4 | |
|---|---|
 Mii Brawler | Akira ·Captain Falcon ·Flying Man ·Heihachi ·Jacky ·King K. Rool ·Knuckles ·Toad |
 Mii Swordfighter | Ashley ·Black Knight ·Chrom ·Dunban ·Gil ·Link ·Lloyd ·Monster Hunter ·Takamaru ·Viridi ·Zero |
 Mii Gunner | Fox ·Geno ·Inkling ·Isabelle ·K.K. Slider ·MegaMan.EXE ·Proto Man ·Samus ·Tails ·X |
| Headgear only | Barbara ·Chain Chomp ·Chocobo ·Daisy ·Inkling Squid ·Luigi ·Majora's Mask ·Mario ·Meta Knight ·Peach ·Red Shell ·Sheik ·Shy Guy ·Spiny ·Super Mushroom ·Waluigi ·Wario ·Zelda |
