Hi, I’m KENTA, a manga enthusiast from Japan! In this article, I’ll be focusing on the past lives of the yokai from Dandadan, delving into their heartbreaking pasts and emotions. I hope you enjoy these thought-provoking insights that are sure to tug at your heartstrings!
1. Turbo Baba’s Past Life: The Cry of a Rejected Life
When you think of Turbo Baba, you might imagine a terrifying yokai brimming with speed and confidence. Her nickname, “100 Kilometer Baba,” only amplifies the fear, with her quick movements and relentless pursuit. However, beneath this fearsome exterior lies a past full of profound sadness, far beyond mere resentment or anger.
In her past life, Turbo Baba was a puppy abandoned in the mountains during a time of poverty, meant to be discarded as part of a “population control” plan. Desperate to survive, the abandoned puppy chased after a young man who entered the mountains, ultimately taking his life. This tragic past shaped her current form as a yokai obsessed with chasing others.
Turbo Baba’s incredible speed and relentless pursuit stem from a deep, desperate desire to never be abandoned again. Even in the harshest conditions, she continued to chase after others, yearning to be loved. The terrifying act of taking someone’s life once she catches up resonates with a sad empathy—her desire for connection gone horribly awry.
2. Jyu-Baku Reigar’s Past Life: The Regret of Girls Who Couldn’t Die
Next, we have the eerie and massive crab-like yokai, Jyu-Baku Reigar. His back is covered with the faces of many people, a grotesque reminder of his tragic origins.
Jyu-Baku Reigar’s past life was that of a group of young girls who met untimely deaths. These girls, filled with regret, were unable to pass peacefully and instead left their souls lingering in the world. Eventually, their souls merged, forming the powerful and terrifying yokai known as Jyu-Baku Reigar.
Their unresolved regrets and sorrow turned into the grotesque form of Jyu-Baku Reigar, a tragic manifestation of their unfinished lives. The image of these girls unable to rest in peace, continuing to suffer even after death, is incredibly painful. Why couldn’t they find peace? Their tragic fate makes us wonder.
3. Acrobatic Sarasara’s Past Life: The Tragedy of a Single Mother
Next up is Acrobatic Sarasara, a yokai with remarkable agility who displays her acrobatic skills in combat. Her unsettling movements and appearance leave a strong impression on anyone who encounters her.
In her past life, Acrobatic Sarasara was a single mother working tirelessly to raise her beloved daughter. She worked day and night, struggling to provide for her child, but eventually, overwhelming debt led to the tragic loss of her daughter, which ultimately transformed her into a yokai.
Her fierce desire to protect her daughter and cherish even the smallest moments of happiness is reflected in her current form as a yokai. It’s heartbreaking to think that even after death, she continues to search for her daughter’s spirit, unable to find peace. One can only hope that her soul finds rest.
4. Jassy’s Past Life: A Lonely Boy’s Despair
Jassy is a yokai with a terrifying appearance—towering at 222 cm, with his eyes slanted and menacing. His appearance alone instills fear, but his abilities to implant suicidal thoughts and eventually take lives are even more chilling.
Jassy’s past life was that of a young boy sacrificed to a great serpent in a village to ensure its protection. This boy, presented as an offering, was left to die, filled with resentment at the harshness of his fate. His despair turned him into the terrifying yokai Jassy.
His tragic death, filled with unresolved anger, gave birth to Jassy’s terrifying power. The boy’s isolation and the bitterness of his fate transformed him into a cruel, merciless being. His unhealed hatred made him stronger, and his lonely despair led him to become a yokai of fear.
5. Kashima Reiko’s Past Life: The Souls of War-Torn Girls
Next is Kashima Reiko, a particularly powerful yokai who hunts her targets to curse them. Her unsettling appearance, with a wide mouth and flamboyant makeup, makes her an especially eerie figure. If cursed, her victims will inevitably fall into her grasp within a week.
Kashima Reiko’s past life is tied to the spirits of girls who were caught in the horrors of war. These young girls, born during a time of devastation, lost their lives too soon. Their unresolved regrets coalesced into the yokai known as Kashima Reiko.
Her terrifying transformation is rooted in the tragic past of war, a force that robbed these girls of their lives. Kashima Reiko’s curse seems to embody the deep hatred and sorrow left by the ravages of war, an intense and painful reflection of their lost lives. The anger and grief they felt before their deaths live on in her cursed form.
6. Ombusman’s Past Life: The Lonely Soul of Being Ignored
Ombusman is a terrifying yokai with the ability to curse and kill those who ignore others. His appearance, with a baby’s body and an old man’s face, is chilling in its unnaturalness. Many Ombusmen are the spirits of children, and their existence stems from the profound loneliness of being ignored.
Ombusman’s past life was that of a girl named Kawaban ga Mai. She died holding onto regrets about a childhood friend, Sawaki Hayashi, and her spirit transformed into the Ombusman yokai. Her unresolved feelings of regret and abandonment persisted even after her death, turning her into this sorrowful and vengeful being.
Her regret and loneliness manifested into the Ombusman, who now has the power to crush those he attaches himself to. The deep loneliness and regret that led to her transformation are heartbreaking, and it’s painful to imagine how she suffered before becoming this cursed entity.
7. Conclusion: The Deep Human Emotions Behind the Yokai’s Past Lives
The yokai of Dandadan each have tragic past lives filled with harsh fates and deep emotions. Their abilities and personalities are all deeply connected to these past experiences. What they chase after and the regrets they carry reflect human struggles—anger, sorrow, and pain.
By understanding these yokai and their backstories, we can see them not just as terrifying entities, but as beings carrying the emotional weight of their past lives. This is why their fearsome nature is also laced with sadness and empathy.
