Ashitaka The hero of this story. He is a member of the Emishi clan who hide from the Shogun and the samurai of the Yamato regime. He was destined to become leader of his people. He is extremely skilled with the bow. One day he killed the Tatari Gami to save Kaya and two other girls of his clan but was affected by the Curse which slowly kills him. With Yakkuru as his only companion he leaves his village in search for a cure, knowing that he can never return. His only leads are the bullet that was found in the body of the Tatari Gami and the advice of Hii-sama to head for the West. He has a strong sense of justice and tries to stop the war between humans and forest gods.