The anime Dandadan, which premiered in the fall 2024 season, is based on the popular battle manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, serialized on the Shonen Jump+ app. The story follows Momo Ayase, a high school girl born into a family of spiritual mediums, and Ken Takakura, nicknamed "Okarun," a boy with a deep passion for the occult. Their adventure begins when they both encounter bizarre supernatural phenomena.

In this article, we will dive deep into the profile of "Okarun (Ken Takakura)", exploring his abilities, personality, and relationships with other characters. Don’t miss the dynamic interactions and unique character setups that make Dandadan a standout series!

About Dandadan

Dandadan combines thrilling battles against terrifying supernatural entities and aliens with the sweet, youthful romance of its high school protagonists. Its unique pacing and striking manga visuals have captivated fans and earned multiple awards. In the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2022 ranking by Takarajimasha, Dandadan placed fourth in the male category, following Look Back, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, and Kaiju No. 8.

The anime adaptation retains the intensity of the original manga, further enhanced by a stellar voice cast and captivating theme songs.

Dandadan Character List

Momo (Ayase Momo)
Okarun (Takakura Ken)
Seiko
Aira (Shiratori Aira)
Jiji (Enjoji Jin)
Turbo Granny
Serpoians
Acrobatic Silky

Okarun's Plofile

■Official Profile
A high school boy obsessed with the occult. He doesn't believe in ghosts but does believe in aliens. He ends up in a chase to break a curse cast by Turbo Granny.

■Okarun Overview
Okarun is one of the main protagonists of Dandadan. He is a bespectacled high school boy who is fascinated by the occult, particularly UFOs and aliens.

His real name is Ken Takakura, which is also the name of a legendary Japanese movie star who was a prominent figure in post-war Japanese cinema. While this reference may not be easily understood in English, Okarun uses a specific Japanese first-person pronoun, often associated with the stoic and rugged characters portrayed by the actor Ken Takakura. This choice of pronoun reflects a reserved, serious personality, mirroring the iconic roles played by the actor.

Momo Ayase, the female lead, dislikes calling him by his real name, as her ideal male type is modeled after the actor Ken Takakura. Instead, she gives him the nickname Okarun, which is short for "Occult-kun" in Japanese. Throughout the story, this nickname is primarily used.

Okarun believes in aliens but not in ghosts. During his lonely childhood, he thought that aliens might befriend him, so he spent time looking up at the sky, trying to call UFOs. However, no aliens ever appeared, and he faced bullying at school for his strange behavior.

One day, Okarun was being teased by his classmates when Momo, a girl from the same grade, happened to pass by and stepped in to help him. Hoping to become friends with her, he approached Momo.

While Momo believes in ghosts and yokai, Okarun firmly believes in UFOs. Due to his lack of social skills and his awkward way of communicating, he ended up arguing with Momo. This quarrel led them to visit a haunted spot, where Okarun encountered a terrifying spirit known as Turbo Granny and ended up being possessed by it.

Once cursed, Okarun’s powers went out of control, causing him to attack anyone, whether human or alien. In Episode 2, however, Momo manages to suppress the curse with her psychic abilities, allowing Okarun to fight effectively.

In the original manga, Okarun is depicted as a first-year high school student. However, in the anime’s first episode, he is seen being bullied near a classroom labeled “2-D,” suggesting he might be a second-year student in the anime adaptation.

■Why Did Okarun’s Hairstyle Change?
When Okarun first appears in the story, he has a bob haircut. However, in Episode 2, after being set on fire by the protective wards in Momo’s house, his hairstyle changes.

Later, when Okarun gains the ability to transform using Turbo Granny's powers, his hair stands up and turns white during the transformation. Following this, even in his normal state, his hair takes on a quirky center-parted style.

Okarun's Personality

Okarun is a nerdy, socially awkward boy with thick round glasses—a personality that’s both his strength and weakness.

He firmly believes in UFOs and aliens and is a devoted reader of the occult magazine Poh (a reference to Japan’s real-life magazine Mu, which covers supernatural phenomena). However, he doesn’t believe in ghosts. When he first hears that Momo’s grandmother is a psychic, he becomes skeptical. And during a test of courage at an abandoned tunnel haunted by Turbo Granny, he gets so scared that he starts singing to distract himself. At this point, he has no mental defenses against the supernatural. However, after being cursed by Turbo Granny, he starts believing in ghosts and goes on to encounter many other strange beings.

He generally struggles to initiate conversations and has a hard time forming relationships. But once he becomes close to someone, he suddenly becomes very open and speaks without holding back.

He first meets Momo when she steps in to help him while he’s being bullied. Mistakenly thinking she’s interested in UFOs and aliens, he assumes they’re kindred spirits and tries to talk to her. This leads to an argument due to his poor communication skills. His sense of personal boundaries is a little off. (Eventually, they end up challenging each other to a test of courage, which becomes the catalyst for their developing bond.)

Okarun is aware of his shortcomings and is often shown struggling with how to interact with Momo and others. Despite this, he is fundamentally serious and responsible. When he is cursed by Turbo Granny, his first concern is Momo’s safety, and he tries to resolve the issue on his own.

In the early part of the story, he relies heavily on Momo’s psychic powers. Hoping to handle the curse on his own someday, he secretly takes on Seiko’s intense training regimen: 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats daily—without telling Momo.

The story also includes romantic comedy elements. At one point, an accidental embrace with Aira Shiratori causes Momo to explode with jealousy, highlighting the complex relationship dynamics.

Okarun is earnest and sincere—and surprisingly popular. In the manga, he defeats the popular boy Hase in a sports test and, thanks to his personal growth, begins to attract the attention of other female students.

Interestingly, while characters like Momo, Aira, and Jiji have had some of their family backgrounds revealed, almost nothing has been disclosed about Okarun’s own family situation in the story.

What Are Okarun’s Superpowers?

Okarun’s transformed state is the result of a curse from Turbo Granny. In this form, his hair turns white and stands on end, while his limbs become slightly elongated.

He is always barefoot when transformed because his feet also grow longer and larger. Initially, Turbo Granny’s curse took full control of his body, but thanks to Momo’s psychic abilities, he is now able to retain his human mind while only his body transforms, allowing him to harness Turbo Granny's powers.

During the transformation, Okarun’s speech changes dramatically. He goes from his usual polite and meticulous tone to a more rough and casual language, reminiscent of a Japanese delinquent. He even starts addressing women by their first names, adding the suffix "-chan."

While transformed, Okarun gains super speed, derived from Turbo Granny’s abilities, and his overall physical capabilities are greatly enhanced.

However, since Okarun has no experience in fighting, his combat style relies less on punches and kicks. Instead, he uses headbutts, tackles, and an upward strike powered by a squatting motion.

Who is Okarun's Voice Actor in the Dandadan Anime?

The voice of Okarun is voiced by Natsuki Hanae, born June 26, 1991, in Kanagawa Prefecture. Hanae has portrayed many characters in popular works, including Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul and Tanjiro Kamado from Demon Slayer.

Okarun and Momo’s Relationship

Momo, who stood up for Okarun when he was being bullied and became his first real friend, holds a special place in his heart. Initially, Okarun was simply excited to have his "first friend," but he gradually realizes that Momo is more than just a friend to him.

However, since this is his first experience with love, Okarun struggles to express his feelings. He often acts awkwardly around Momo and even feels jealous of her close relationship with Jiji. Despite this, Okarun shows his devotion by training hard to become stronger and protect Momo, putting her well-being above all else. His love for Momo is a source of his strength, making him both loyal and gentlemanly in his actions.

Okarun and Aira’s Relationship

Aira is a popular girl at school due to her cute looks. When she first meets Okarun, she secretly looks down on him, thinking he has a "dumb face" and calling him a "loser" in her mind. However, after Okarun saves her during the battle against Acrobatic Silky, her opinion changes, and she develops strong feelings for him. Following this, Aira begins to actively pursue Okarun, even attempting to kiss him.

Despite Aira’s advances, Okarun has feelings for the main heroine, Momo Ayase. As a result, he does not reciprocate Aira’s affection, leaving her in a one-sided crush for the time being.

Okarun and jiji’s Relationship

Jiji is Momo’s childhood friend and her first love. When Jiji transfers to their school, Okarun sees him as a rival in love and initially puts up emotional barriers against him.

However, after they fight together against the Evil Eye, the two begin to acknowledge each other’s abilities and personalities, gradually forming a friendship. Jiji becomes Okarun’s first male friend, playing a significant role in Okarun’s growth and development.

While their relationship started with the tension of being love rivals, it has since evolved into a deep friendship forged through their shared battles.

Okarun and Turbo Granny’s Relationship

Early in the story, Okarun visits the haunted Seino City Tunnel, where he encounters Turbo Granny. After losing a game of tag against her, Okarun is cursed, and Turbo Granny steals his “manhood.” To lift the curse, Okarun is forced into a rematch with Turbo Granny.

In the rematch, Okarun absorbs Turbo Granny’s spirit, gaining her supernatural powers. Her consciousness is then sealed into a maneki-neko (lucky cat statue), and she begins to accompany Okarun and his friends. In this new state, Turbo Granny provides advice and assists in fighting against supernatural threats, transforming their relationship into a cooperative one.

Source : Dandadan Official