TV-Series
Description
Ebisu is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune, specifically the god of fishing and commerce. Among his divine peers, his appearance is notably plain, designed to resemble a typical Japanese salaryman. He is almost always seen in a dark suit, a grey vest, and a blue tie, with short, neatly combed black hair. His most distinctive feature is his green eyes, which are usually drawn with an opaque, pupil-less quality that contributes to his initial enigmatic and stoic demeanor. Following his reincarnation as a young child, his appearance softens; he wears a sweater vest and shorts, and his eyes become more lively and expressive.
Initially, Ebisu presents himself as a highly pragmatic and resourceful figure, speaking in a reserved, polite, and aloof tone. His early actions, such as attempting to purchase the blessed regalia Yukine for an exorbitant sum, suggest a cold, business-like disposition. However, this facade masks a more complex and surprisingly endearing personality. He is, in truth, an incredibly silly and clumsy individual, unable to perform simple tasks like tying his own shoelaces. This clumsiness extends to his curiosity, as seen when he constantly gazes into the eyes of dangerous phantoms in the underworld, forcing Yato to repeatedly defend him. He also has a habit of taking jokes literally, often missing social cues entirely.
The core of Ebisu's character is defined by a profound kindness and a deeply ingrained sense of purpose. His seemingly reckless project to gain control over phantoms, a severe taboo in the eyes of the heavens, is not born of ambition but of a genuine desire to alleviate the suffering these creatures cause humanity. He came to understand that money alone could not guarantee human happiness and sought a more direct solution. This mission is a burden passed down through his incarnations. Because, as a major god, he is destined to reincarnate upon death, Ebisu was always taught that his individual life was ultimately unimportant. This conditioning led him to devalue his own existence, viewing each incarnation as merely a vessel to carry on the work of his predecessors. He envied Yato's fierce will to live, believing he himself lacked such a drive.
In the story, Ebisu serves as a central figure in the second major arc of Noragami Aragoto. He is the conjurer the heavens are hunting for his illegal experiments, but also the individual Yato is sent to rescue from the underworld, Yomi. His goal in descending to Yomi is to retrieve a mystical tool known as the Locution Brush, which would allow him to finalize his project of naming and controlling phantoms. His most critical relationship is with Yato. What begins as a transactional acquaintance in the underworld deepens into a genuine friendship. Yato’s persistent efforts to save Ebisu and his words about the preciousness of one’s current, unique self fundamentally change Ebisu, giving him the will to fight for his own life for the first time.
Ebisu’s development is tragic yet poignant. After gaining the will to live and realizing the value of his own identity, he is killed by the heavens’ punishers, who see his actions as unforgivable. He reincarnates as a cheerful, innocent child with no memories of his past life. However, Yato observes that the child’s immediate love for the world and desire to bring happiness to humans are the core traits that define all of Ebisu's incarnations. This new Ebisu retains certain inherent traits, such as a strong instinct for business, a furious reaction to economic downturns, and a remarkable talent for fishing.
Another consistent trait across his incarnations is his sympathy for stray shinki, divine weapons used by multiple gods. This sympathy stems from his own origin story, as he was initially rejected by his mother, the goddess Izanami, before being named. This connection to Izanami, whom he addresses as "Mother," is a key element of his background and explains his unique perspective.
As a god, Ebisu possesses the standard abilities of his kind, including the use of shinki who transform into items like his white gloves and coat. His most notable capability, however, lies in his acquired skills. He is a talented conjurer, having developed a method to name and control phantoms, though this process risked corrupting him. His most significant achievement is successfully stealing the Locution Brush from Izanami, a tool with the power to create and control phantoms. Despite his legendary clumsiness, he is also an exceptionally skilled fisherman, a talent that reflects his domain as the god of fishing.
Initially, Ebisu presents himself as a highly pragmatic and resourceful figure, speaking in a reserved, polite, and aloof tone. His early actions, such as attempting to purchase the blessed regalia Yukine for an exorbitant sum, suggest a cold, business-like disposition. However, this facade masks a more complex and surprisingly endearing personality. He is, in truth, an incredibly silly and clumsy individual, unable to perform simple tasks like tying his own shoelaces. This clumsiness extends to his curiosity, as seen when he constantly gazes into the eyes of dangerous phantoms in the underworld, forcing Yato to repeatedly defend him. He also has a habit of taking jokes literally, often missing social cues entirely.
The core of Ebisu's character is defined by a profound kindness and a deeply ingrained sense of purpose. His seemingly reckless project to gain control over phantoms, a severe taboo in the eyes of the heavens, is not born of ambition but of a genuine desire to alleviate the suffering these creatures cause humanity. He came to understand that money alone could not guarantee human happiness and sought a more direct solution. This mission is a burden passed down through his incarnations. Because, as a major god, he is destined to reincarnate upon death, Ebisu was always taught that his individual life was ultimately unimportant. This conditioning led him to devalue his own existence, viewing each incarnation as merely a vessel to carry on the work of his predecessors. He envied Yato's fierce will to live, believing he himself lacked such a drive.
In the story, Ebisu serves as a central figure in the second major arc of Noragami Aragoto. He is the conjurer the heavens are hunting for his illegal experiments, but also the individual Yato is sent to rescue from the underworld, Yomi. His goal in descending to Yomi is to retrieve a mystical tool known as the Locution Brush, which would allow him to finalize his project of naming and controlling phantoms. His most critical relationship is with Yato. What begins as a transactional acquaintance in the underworld deepens into a genuine friendship. Yato’s persistent efforts to save Ebisu and his words about the preciousness of one’s current, unique self fundamentally change Ebisu, giving him the will to fight for his own life for the first time.
Ebisu’s development is tragic yet poignant. After gaining the will to live and realizing the value of his own identity, he is killed by the heavens’ punishers, who see his actions as unforgivable. He reincarnates as a cheerful, innocent child with no memories of his past life. However, Yato observes that the child’s immediate love for the world and desire to bring happiness to humans are the core traits that define all of Ebisu's incarnations. This new Ebisu retains certain inherent traits, such as a strong instinct for business, a furious reaction to economic downturns, and a remarkable talent for fishing.
Another consistent trait across his incarnations is his sympathy for stray shinki, divine weapons used by multiple gods. This sympathy stems from his own origin story, as he was initially rejected by his mother, the goddess Izanami, before being named. This connection to Izanami, whom he addresses as "Mother," is a key element of his background and explains his unique perspective.
As a god, Ebisu possesses the standard abilities of his kind, including the use of shinki who transform into items like his white gloves and coat. His most notable capability, however, lies in his acquired skills. He is a talented conjurer, having developed a method to name and control phantoms, though this process risked corrupting him. His most significant achievement is successfully stealing the Locution Brush from Izanami, a tool with the power to create and control phantoms. Despite his legendary clumsiness, he is also an exceptionally skilled fisherman, a talent that reflects his domain as the god of fishing.