Dandadan: Who Is Ken Takakura to Momo Ayase?

Key Takeaways

Momo adores the famous Japanese actor Ken Takakura and uses him as a role model.
Okarun shares the same name as Ken Takakura by mere coincidence.
Dandadan introduces another “Ken” character, showing a pattern of Kens being admired in the series.

As a long-time fan of anime and a connoisseur of all things quirky and unexpected, I must say that the world of Dandadan has truly captivated me with its intricate web of “Kens”. It’s as if the creator, Yukinobu Tatsu, took a magnifying glass to my own life and magnified the coincidences to epic proportions!

Note: The information below includes mild spoilers from the third episode of ‘Dandadan’, titled “A Battle Between Grandmothers!”, which is currently available on Crunchyroll.

In the quirky and enigmatic world of Dandadan, one character stands out as peculiar – a name without a face: “Ken Takakura”. Towards the end of the initial episode, the glasses-wearing UFO enthusiast, our male protagonist, unveils his identity as Ken Takakura. Momo Ayase, the female lead, expresses shock with a look of disbelief, while the exploded UFO behind her resembles fireworks. It’s apparent that Momo has an entirely distinct Ken Takakura in her mind. However, who could this other Ken Takakura be?

In the final scene of the first episode, the name in question wasn’t making its debut within the series Dandadan, as it had already been referenced a couple of times at the start. Momo expresses her dream man as being “Ken Takakura,” lamenting over the likelihood of never encountering someone similar to him.

Momo’s Ideal Man, the Famous Japanese Actor

It’s a Celebrity Crush. Go Figure

In the series “Dandadan,” it’s clarified that Momo’s admiration for Ken Takakura isn’t for the character portrayed in the show. Instead, Momo adores a renowned Japanese actor, famous for his roles from the mid-late 1900s. Known affectionately as “Ken-san” by fans, Ken Takakura is highly respected in Japan and is often cited among their greatest actors. He’s an extraordinary figure with four Japanese Academy Awards for Best Actor to his name, making him the only individual to have received this prestigious award so many times.

Momo had such strong feelings for Ken-san from the beginning of the series that her attraction stemmed primarily from the boy’s resemblance to Ken-san. Unfortunately, when she discovered he lacked Ken-san’s charming personality and turned out to be quite boorish, she promptly ended their relationship with a powerful roundhouse kick.

Momo views Ken Takakura as an inspiration for her actions, using him as a guide to do what’s right. In the third episode of Dandadan, titled “Granny vs. Granny Clash!”, Momo’s grandmother, Seiko Ayase AKA Santa Dodoria, urges Momo to abandon Okarun and concede that they can’t beat Turbo Granny. Yet, Momo remains resolute, asserting that Ken-san wouldn’t retreat from a predicament like this, so neither will she.

It’s not surprising that when Momo discovers the man she’s been battling aliens and ghosts alongside shares her companion’s name, Ken Takakura, she is left stunned. Subsequently, she becomes adamant about giving him a pet name, ultimately choosing “Okarun,” as he has an interest in the supernatural. In fact, she demands that no one should ever use Okarun’s real name again.

Why Does Okarun Have the Same Name as Ken Takakura?

Believe It or Not, There Might Not Be One

It appears that Okarun sharing the same name as Momo’s idol, the actor Ken Takakura, seems to be nothing more than a remarkable coincidence. Despite how unbelievable it might seem, Momo’s schoolmate just happens to have the same first and last name as her beloved celebrity. The anime and manga have not provided any hints suggesting that Okarun is actually related to Ken Takakura in any physical sense.

While there may not be an in-story explanation for Yukinobu Tatsu naming the character Okarun, it might stem from a real-life reason. Similarly, Granny Turbo’s host doesn’t resemble the actor, but they share a similar personality trait. Like Ken Takakura who often portrayed strong, selfless, and silent characters, Okarun exhibits these same characteristics.

Okarun displays selflessness in the first episode when he insists on going to fight Turbo Granny alone because he doesn’t want to put Momo in any danger.
Okarun is also the silent type, even though it’s mostly because of shyness rather than stoicism.
Lastly, Okarun imitates Ken Takakura’s iconic line: “Bukiyou desukara” (I’m an awkward fellow) near the end of the first episode, which is what sets Momo off balance and desperate to change subjects, leading her to ask Okarun his name. The line originated from a 1980s commercial and became iconic because Ken was often shown to have trouble expressing his feelings properly.

Miss Ayase, I’m afraid I can no longer draw you into this any further. I’ll summon all my determination to reach that tunnel, and once there, I’ll find a way to make things function somehow.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but ponder over the fact that the manga is still unfolding, which might mean that Yukinobu Tatsu has some intriguing plans to connect the two Ken Takakuras in a more tangible way. It’s quite peculiar that Okarun hasn’t referred to his silver-screen counterpart yet. Perhaps it’ll remain an unusual coincidence, but stranger things have happened and will continue to in the captivating world of Dandadan.

There’s Another “Ken” The Ayase Family Loves

Loving Kens Must Run In the Family

Hey there fellow gamer! If you found it mind-blowing that two Ken Takakuras existed, just wait until you dive into ‘Dandadan’. In episode 3, “Granny vs. Granny Showdown”, Santa Dodoria is revealed to be a massive fan of the show ‘Shimura Ken no Bakatonosama‘, which is quite something! Here’s the twist – the actor playing the lead character in this show is none other than the famous Japanese comedian, Ken Shimura. Guess what? Granny Ayase seems to have inherited her tastes from her ancestors!

As a fan, I can’t help but point out an interesting connection: The voice actor for Okarun in this show is none other than Natsuki Hanae, who also voices Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul. So, it seems another character named Ken is now connected to Dandadan!

Right now, you can stream the anime series “Dandadan” on Crunchyroll, Netflix, Muse Asia, and various other streaming services. The fifth episode of “Dandadan,” scheduled for release, is set to air on October 31, 2024, at 9:00 AM Pacific Time.

2024-10-28 22:35