Every Yokai In Dandadan With A Real-Life Counterpart

Summary

All the spirits in Dandadan are inspired by real-world myths and legends, adding depth and creativity to the story.
Turbo Granny, Earthbound Spirit Crab, and Reiko Kashima are some of the supernatural beings based on existing Japanese folklore.
Evil Eye, Acrobatic Silky, and Umbrella Boy are other characters in Dandadan drawn from urban legends and folklore all around the world.

As someone who has delved deep into the realms of Japanese folklore and anime, I must say that the creators of Dandadan have truly outdone themselves in weaving together such intricate connections between traditional yokai and their modern interpretations. It’s fascinating to see how these ancient stories continue to inspire contemporary works like this manga.

What particularly caught my attention is the way the Onbusuman was crafted from a fusion of Konaki-jiji and Obariyon, two yokai I hold dear in my heart (and nightmares) as avid players of Nioh 2 and Shin Megami Tensei. It’s always a delight to see these creatures I once feared in the dark corners of my bedroom now take center stage in such an entertaining series.

And let me tell you, it seems that Yukinobu Tatsu has taken a liking to the Kasa-obake as well, turning Futa Zuma into one of the most powerful characters in Dandadan. I must admit, I found myself chuckling at the irony – once a creature that would sneak up and lick people with its long tongue, now a formidable force to be reckoned with.

All jokes aside, I truly appreciate the attention to detail and passion put into Dandadan, and I eagerly await each new chapter to uncover more connections between these ancient spirits and the captivating world of this manga.

In a nutshell, “Dandadan” is an extraordinary manga that revolves around the clash between yokais/spirits and extraterrestrials, with humans finding themselves caught in the crossfire. Although the talented author Yukinobu Tatsu may have created the storyline, each supernatural character that interacts with Okarun, Momo, and their companions isn’t entirely original. Instead, they are inspired by various well-known fictional tales.

In Dandadan, many of the potent yokais, whether they stem from traditional Japanese folklore or modern urban legends in Japan, seem to have their roots in our everyday reality. So far, these yokais are undeniably among the most intriguing characters I’ve come across.

7. Turbo Granny

Based On The Urban Legend Of The Same Name

First Appearance: Chapter 1 (Manga) Episode 1 (Anime)

Turbo Granny, the mythical creature, is the source of Okarun’s extraordinary abilities and serves as the emblem of the entire Dandadan. Consequently, it’s not surprising that this elderly woman who can run at breathtaking speeds originates from a true-life urban legend bearing the same name, which has been spreading in Japan over the past couple of years.

Based on the tale known as Turbo Granny, it is said that motorists passing through Hyogo Prefecture might occasionally see a strange elderly woman seemingly sprinting at extraordinary speeds, even keeping pace with their own vehicles. Some variations of this story go so far as to suggest she’ll eventually overtake these drivers and cast a lasting curse upon them. Notably, Dandadan isn’t the only modern anime or manga series to allude to this well-known urban legend; viewers may recall the Season 2 appearance of Dash Granny in Mob Psycho 100.

6. Earthbound Spirit Crab

Based On The Myth Of The Heikegani Crabs

First Appearance: Chapter 5 (Manga) Episode 4 (Anime)

During Turbo Granny’s initial storyline, her primary companion is a colossal spirit crab, named Earthbound Spirit Crab, which carries the spirits of the girls tragically killed in Shono City’s tunnel. This potent yet heartrending character is inspired by one of the most intriguing tales linked to a creature found in reality.

The Heikegani, a crustacean indigenous to Japan, boasts an unusual shell design that strongly resembles a human face. Legendarily, as depicted in “The Tale of the Heike,” Heikegani crabs are believed to be the spiritual successors of the Heike Warriors who perished during the Battle of Dan-no-ura in the Genpei War. However, the Crab from Dandadan’s Earthbound Spirit possesses a distinct narrative, one that is more contemporary and arguably more tragic.

5. Acrobatic Silky

Based On Acrobatic Sara Sara And La Llorona

First Appearance: Chapter 13 (Manga) Episode 6 (Anime)

In the anime titled Dandadan, not all spirits are derived solely from a single real-life myth. One spirit that stands out as particularly infamous is Acrobatic Silky. This yokai bears striking resemblance to two separate urban legends featuring enigmatic female figures: the Acrobatic Sara Sara of Japan and La Llorona from Latin America. The most sorrowful yokai in the series draws its inspiration from these two tales centered around mysterious, feminine beings.

It’s clear that the character Acrobatic Silky was heavily influenced by Acrobatic Sara Sara, not just due to their similar names, but also because they share a common theme: both are acrobatic females with distinctive appearances. The original Japanese urban legend of the early 2000s revolves around a tall, eerie woman in an acrobatic outfit with long black hair and red clothing. On the other hand, when crafting Acrobatic Silky’s backstory, Yukinobu Tatsu seems to have been inspired by the legend of La Llorona, a weeping ghost who searches endlessly for her deceased children. This character might be familiar to some as she was the lead in the 2019 film “The Curse of La Llorona,” which is part of the “Conjuring” movie universe.

4. Evil Eye

Based On The Curse Of The Evil Eye

First Appearance: Chapter 28 (Manga) Episode 11 (Anime)

In the manga, not long after Season 1’s conclusion, Jiji Enjoji experiences a chilling transformation. He becomes host to one of the world’s strongest vengeful spirits – the Malevolent Gaze. In his previous life, the Kito Family cruelly chose him as a sacrifice for the Tsuchinoko. This premature and unjust capture denied him the chance to live a peaceful, ordinary life. As he grew, he harbored feelings of envy and resentment, longing to play outdoors with all the other town children. However, his fate was sealed on the day he died, still nursing those bittersweet wishes.

In everyday life, the concept of the “Evil Eye” is linked to feelings of envy and resentment. Across various cultures in regions like the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond, it’s believed that an envious glare can bring misfortune or severe physical harm upon someone. Yukinobu Tatsu, in the manga Dandadan, personified this curse by giving it a tangible form as its own character, which proved to be a successful approach.

3. Reiko Kashima

Based On The Kuchisake-onna (Or Slit-Mouthed Woman)

First Appearance: Chapter 74 (Manga)

In the manga Dandadan, it’s widely believed that Reiko Kashima is the most fearsome and terrifying evil spirit, given her relentless pursuit of Momo Ayase over a prolonged period and her ability to vanquish an entire alien army using her powers linked to mirrors. Notably, she is also known as the Slit-Mouthed Woman in the manga, which strongly suggests a connection to the Japanese urban legend bearing the same name.

One of the most well-known modern Japanese folktales is undeniably the legend of Kuchisake-onna, which has been featured prominently in numerous anime and manga series such as “Mob Psycho 100”, “Jujutsu Kaisen”, and even a romance manga titled “Even If You Slit My Mouth”. In reality, she is said to be a wicked spirit disguised behind a mask, who queries her victims about her beauty and responds violently based on their answers. The depiction of this character in “Dandadan” generally remained true to the original story despite having a more humorous appearance, yet remains undeniably eerie.

2. Onbusuman / Mai Kawabanga

Based On Two Yokai, The Konaki-jiji And The Obariyon

First Appearance: Chapter 123 (Manga)

Although the Onbusuman may appear as an unusual blend of various urban legends or yokais, it doesn’t stem from any specific concrete tale. Instead, it seems to be a concoction of several yokais, one of them being the Konaki-jiji, a Japanese yokai known for its disguise as an old man with a turtle shell. People are lured into picking it up like a baby, but it becomes unbelievably heavy and crushes them under its weight. The Konaki-jiji has made appearances in popular video games such as Nioh 2 and Yo-Kai Watch.

The Onbusuman strongly resembles and borrows some characteristics from the Konaki-jiji, but it’s also clear that the mischievous spirit known as Obariyon played a significant role in its design. This small creature has a habit of jumping onto people’s backs, making them feel unbearably heavy until they can no longer walk – a trait eerily reminiscent of the Onbusuman’s impact on Rin Sawaki. Notably, the Obariyon has been featured in various Japanese video games, most prominently in the Shin Megami Tensei series.

1. Umbrella Boy / Futa Zuma

Based On The Kasa-obake Yokai

First Appearance: Chapter 152 (Manga)

Initially, when Unji Zuma demonstrated his unique umbrella skills, it seemed strange and unusual. But upon understanding that he received his mystical powers from his late brother, Futa Zuma – who transformed into a Kasa-obake in the afterlife, a renowned yokai figure in Japanese folklore – the concept becomes much clearer and more logical.

In Japanese folklore, it is believed that an old paper umbrella can transform into a creature known as Kasa-obake over time. This creature has a single eye, one leg, and a long tongue. Often portrayed as one of the most ordinary and playful yokai, they are said to enjoy hiding among other umbrellas and surprising people by licking them. However, the ingenious move by Yukinobu Tatsu to reinvent this seemingly feeble creature into one of the most impressive and powerful characters in Dandadan was nothing short of brilliant.

2024-12-30 06:04