Asuka

• Name: Asuka Sohryu Langley (惣流・アスカ・ラングレー )
• Date of birth: December 4th, 2001
• Relatives: father, mother (Kyoko Zeppelin Sohryu, deceased)
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Asuka’s ethnicity isn’t explained very well i
• Language(s) spoken: German, English and Japanese
• Blood type: O
• Astrological sign: Sagittarius
• First appearance: episode 08

Personal history

Both Asuka’s parents had a job in the German branch of Nerv; her mother Kyoko was in the research team who tested the very first Evangelion. Unfortunately, Kyoko went insane due to an accident occurred while performing a Contact Experiment i on Unit 02. She was placed in a psychiatric ward, and shortly after Asuka’s father divorced…this mean that a very young Asuka was now alone. When Kyoko committed suicide, Asuka decided to devote all her efforts at becoming the best Evangelion pilot.

With all she has been through, Asuka developed a thick skin that makes it difficult to get close to her. She is extremely self-confident, arrogant, even aggressive at times. She speaks her mind, apparently without caring about what anyone else may think. On the surface Asuka seems very full of herself, but that’s just the first layer of a personality which grows more and more complex as the series progresses.

Nerv history

After being selected as the 2nd child and pilot of Evangelion Unit 02 at the young age of eight, Asuka started her training in Nerv’s German branch. At thirteen years old she was escorted to Tokyo-3 by agent Kaji Ryoji and moved in with Misato and Shinji.

Personality

Asuka’s parents weren’t able to spend a lot of time with their daughter as they were both very busy working for Project E. However, it was her mother’s madness that marked the beginning of a series of difficult events for Asuka. Kyoko wasn’t able to recognize her own daughter, instead she would talk to a doll. Asuka’s father, instead of staying by his family’s side while they were going through hard times, promptly left and remarried.

When Asuka was chosen to be a pilot, she was so happy that she hurried to tell her mother about it. But on opening the door, she saw Kyoko hanging from the ceiling. It was the last straw. At her mother’s funeral, Asuka vowed not to cry any more. If her emotions may well be repressed, she won’t suffer again.

Asuka’s job as a pilot gave her the possibility not to think about the negative events she had to experience. Furthermore, growing up ignored by her parents, drove Asuka to work hard in order to excel in everything she does. While she might come off as selfish and mean, she is also very dedicated to her job.