Okarun's true origins in Dandadan may be yokai-related

One of the most confusing and intriguing aspects of mangaka Yukinobu Tatsu’s Dandadan manga series is the origins of protagonist Ken “Okarun” Takakura. While Momo Ayase’s backstory and family life are at least given some acknowledgement, fans have been given essentially no information on Okarun’s origins.

While this is heavily documented, the larger Dandadan fandom has yet to agree on what his origins possibly could be considering all of the issues surrounding his character. One of the most popular theories pegs him as an ubume yokai, or more specifically, paints him as the child of an ubume yokai.

Okarun’s lack of backstory in Dandadan may be explained by a yokai raising him

One of the biggest reasons why fans are so curious about Okarun’s backstory in Dandadan is that, on the surface, there’s nothing shady about his upbringing or life. He can afford food, school clothes, weights to workout with, and equipment for school. Generally speaking, his life appears to be normal from the outside since he can procure things his fellow students with family lives would also have.

There are also other suspicious aspects of Okarun’s character, such as his apparent talent for dealing with yokai curses. Turbo Granny’s words early on in the series highlight that this is a unique talent, especially considering he was able to force himself to transform and maintain control at times. There’s also the situation where he used astral projection, and only Seiko Ayase could see him when using her powers to do so.

The Dandadan manga makes it clear that this isn’t an aura or sensing issue either, as the others in Okarun’s group can sense yokai without issue. It’s also worth emphasizing that of all the characters in the series, Turbo Granny (a powerful yokai) was the one to understand his situation and help him. This is understandable, as he still had her powers by this point and could have been able to do all of this as a result.

Okarun's origins are one of Dandadan's biggest mysteries (Image via Science SARU)

Yet the Pygmy Princess Arc has thrown a major wrench into this machine, revealing that Okarun can still enter Empty Space without Turbo Granny’s powers. This is where the issue with figuring out Okarun’s origins lies. While family is a major theme of Tatsu’s manga, it’s incredibly curious that Okarun’s has yet to be touched on despite his protagonist status. While many argue aliens as an answer given his obsession with them, there’s something else that makes sense.

In Chapter 1, Okarun specifically says that “humans bullied [him] just for kicks” and that “no one would acknowledge [his] existence.” Surely, if he had a set of loving parents, he wouldn’t have phrased this sentence in this way. One answer which satisfies this issue, all of those above, and makes sense thematically, is that Okarun’s mother is an ubume yokai. The ubume is essentially a mother who died in childbirth, with some having successfully given birth first.

While not all ubume have their children survive, those lucky enough will do anything to secure their child’s safety. This includes stealing food and stealing from temples to give their child whatever they need. While the yokai’s top priority is to deliver their baby to a safe place or home, there’s no guarantee one is ever found. This answers significant questions, the first being why he doesn’t talk about his parents.

Firstly, he likely never brought up his own family life after hearing that Momo fully lost her parents, since Okarun still somewhat has a mother in his life. Even if he was adopted, this would only serve as more motivation to avoid discussing either his birth mother or his adoptive parents. Okarun’s exposure to constant yokai spirit energies throughout his life as he clings to his mother would also explain how he’s able to enter Empty Space and Astral Project.

The legend of the ubume also states that their children aren’t always fully welcomed in the living world. For him to have absorbed this aura and faced discrimination and hate from his fellow man and intergalactic neighbors as a result would be a perfect explanation. This would also explain his obsession with aliens; since clinging to his ubume mother didn’t get him any friends, maybe looking for aliens will.

Final thoughts

Okarun may soon get yokai powers back, but not Turbo Granny's (Image via Science SARU)

While the above is fully speculative, it certainly does make sense thematically and narratively as an explanation of Okarun’s origins. However, fans will have to wait and see what the official explanation is as the Dandadan manga continues, starting with chapter 177’s release on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, in Japan.