Dandadan chapter 176: A way to turn Momo back is teased as Seiko is under attack
Dandadan chapter 176 was expected to focus on Momo Ayase, Ken “Okarun” Takakura, and the others’ sustained interactions with Kouki Yukishiro to find Count Saint-Germain. Officially released on Monday, December 9, 2024, the issue did indeed see Yukishiro stay in the fold, and in the way fans primarily expected her to.
However, Dandadan chapter 176 also threw some unexpected curveballs, specifically via Seiko Ayase’s activities throughout the issue. These actions both seemingly fully wrap up the Danmanra Arc beyond any doubt, while also setting up an action-packed follow-up. Excitingly, it seems that the path Seiko is now on for the series’ near future may finally lead to Momo returning to her normal size.
Dandadan chapter 176 sees Seiko encounter jiangshi as Momo uses Kouki to catch Count Saint-Germain
Dandadan chapter 176: Surveillance on Saint-Germain begins
Dandadan chapter 176 begins with Kouki lamenting her outfit being turned white by the fire extinguisher, while Aira says her depressing face is still the same. Kinta Sakata then explains he made Kouki’s hair ornament out of nanoskin, allowing it to function as a surveillance camera despite looking like an ordinary hair ornament.
The others are sure that whoever gave Kouki the knife, all but confirmed to be Count Saint-Germain, should make contact with her again.
This will allow the group to discover their identity via the hair ornament camera, with Kouki seemingly looking nervous. Jin “Jiji” Enjoji then comments on how Sakata’s face looks better after being caved in.
He explains that “one touch from Queen,” the school nurse, made the pain go away, with Jiji theorizing she has some kind of power. This would also explain why Queen was in Empty Space with the others as seen and confirmed in chapter 174.
Dandadan chapter 176 then sees Momo and Okarun’s friend group agree not to speak with Yukishiro until their target takes the bait. Okarun, holding the still tiny Momo in his hands, explains that he’s upset they still haven’t found a way to turn her back to normal.
Okarun then apologizes for not being of any use, asserting he needs to become better since he was dependent on her in the end, even though he should’ve been protecting her.
A blushing Momo tries to play this cool but quickly suggests that her grandmother Seiko Ayase train him. This prompts a shift in focus to a restaurant, where Seiko is sitting down with two men.
She comments on how one of them has a “black” aura around him, prompting him to explain he’s a cursed object collector and attributing his aura to this. He adds that a new cursed painting he bought has been starting fires around the house every day.
Dandadan chapter 176 sees him add that even when parts of the house burn, the cursed objects do not. As if smitten with the objects, he calls them all “cutie patooties,” while the other man questions how come he doesn’t burn up.
Now angry, the man responds that he loves those cursed objects, questioning why he’d burn up. The other man asks why he’s getting so emotional, but Seiko interrupts, calling the cursed object collector Payase.
Seiko then hands Payase the cursed trunk from the Danmanra Arc, asking him to hold onto it since he can be trusted with it. She adds that there isn’t much mystical power left in it, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
Payase counters that it appears to be a “motherlode of curses,” while the other man asks what the trunk’s story is. Seiko briefly explains that it was let out into the world by “some idiot” and is related to the recent incident at the Renjaku apartments.
Dandadan chapter 176: A new threat
Dandadan chapter 176 then sees Seiko call the other man Kashimoto, asking him if he’s done a lot of research into tiny old men. She then explains Momo’s current status, asserting her desire to turn her back to normal.
She asks him for anything at all, even rumors, prompting him to immediately say he does know of a way. Payase ridicules him for not just saying it, but Kishimoto adds that Seiko would know more about it than him.
Kashimoto then brings up the uchide-no-kozuchi magic hammer, citing the tale of Issun–boshi, the inch-high samurai. Apparently, after the hammer was dropped by a demon, Issun-boshi swung it and grew in size. Kashimoto explains that it’s now said to be the deity Daikokuten’s possession, whom he says is the same as the “great god Okuninushi.” A shot of a massive shrine-like building where Okuninushi is worshipped then appears.
Dandadan, in chapter 176, sees Seiko thank Kashimoto, saying he’s been a huge help and that she’ll go check it out right now. He adds that he’ll do some digging too, beginning to promise something about Momo before he’s suddenly kicked in the face, sending him and Payase flying across the restaurant.
The issue ends with Seiko being confronted by what appear to be spirits based on jiangshi, a type of undead creature in Chinese folklore.
Dandadan chapter 176: In summation
Chapter 176 does a fantastic job of moving both of the series’ major plots forward, the first to get this focus being Momo and Count Saint-Germain. With Kouki seemingly a confirmed ally now, she’ll likely comply with Momo and the others rather than be manipulated by Count Saint-Germain again upon their next meeting. This is further supported by the fact that Kouki’s personality already seems to have changed in chapter 176.
The second major plot point is turning Momo back to normal, which will seemingly be isolated to Seiko’s focus for the time being. However, before any progress can be made on that front, she must first deal with the horde of what appears to be jiangshi that appeared before her.
Assuming she’s still in Kamigoe City, she should be able to use her powers to secure victory, setting up a rare fight scene focusing on Seiko and Seiko alone.
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