OVA
Description
Kurama, whose true name is Shinjirou, is a crow tengu, a type of supernatural yokai associated with mountains and the sky. He came from Mount Kurama but left his home and family behind due to internal conflicts and harsh traditions, choosing instead to establish himself in the human world as a wildly popular pop idol. His public act is built around the persona of a fallen angel, complete with gothic makeup, punk clothing, and black wings that his human fans assume are stage props. Despite this glamorous and carefully crafted image, his actual nature remains that of a tengu, and his long immersion in human society allows him to move comfortably between the two worlds.
Kurama’s personality is initially defined by the extreme confidence and arrogance that his fame and charming appearance grant him. He is charismatic, dramatic, and used to being adored, which makes him self-centered and, at first, deeply selfish. When he learns that a mortal girl named Nanami Momozono has inherited the position of land god, his ambition takes over. Believing he can obtain her power and claim godhood for himself, he schemes to win her over and devour her heart. This early motivation stems partly from a lingering desire to prove his worth after effectively being exiled from his tengu community. His plan, however, is thwarted by Nanami’s fox familiar, Tomoe, and instead of punishing him, Nanami shows him unexpected mercy and forgiveness. That act of kindness becomes the turning point for Kurama. From that moment, his motivation shifts away from selfish ambition and toward a genuine, protective friendship with Nanami. He becomes one of her most reliable allies and a frequent source of support, even if he never loses his theatrical flair or his penchant for teasing those around him.
In the larger narrative, Kurama serves as a bridge between the human and supernatural spheres. Because he attends the same high school as Nanami, he is uniquely positioned to help her manage the collision of her ordinary teenage life with the responsibilities and dangers of being a land god. He often gives her advice on human customs, romance, and social situations, leaning on his celebrity experience and his knowledge of the mortal world. While he is no longer the antagonist, his personality adds a layer of comedy and lightness to the story, particularly through his flamboyant outbursts, his vanity, and his constant bickering with Tomoe, whom he derisively nicknames fox-face. Beneath the dramatic exterior, however, he is consistently kind-hearted and watches over Nanami with a genuine, if occasionally overstated, devotion.
Kurama’s key relationships revolve around his bond with Nanami and his dynamic with Tomoe. With Nanami, what began as a plot to steal her power matures into a durable friendship built on gratitude and mutual trust. She sees past his idol persona to the person he really is, and he in turn becomes one of her most steadfast protectors. With Tomoe, the relationship is defined by a competitive, often comedic rivalry. The two frequently clash over Nanami’s attention and trade insults, yet they are capable of working together when a common enemy threatens those they care about. On Mount Kurama, he carries a strained connection with his father, the Third Chief of the Kurama Tengu, and a deep respect for his childhood mentor, Suirou, who was the one supportive figure during his difficult early years and whose teachings helped shape his resilient spirit. His history also includes a bitter grudge against the warrior Jirou, who seized control of the tengu clan and represented the rigid traditions that forced Kurama to flee in the first place.
Kurama undergoes significant personal development over the course of the story. He begins as a narcissistic schemer willing to sacrifice an innocent person for power, but Nanami’s forgiveness and the gradual deepening of their friendship cause him to set aside his selfishness. As he becomes more involved in her life and the conflicts surrounding the shrine, he is forced to confront the past he left behind on Mount Kurama. The culmination of his arc comes when he returns to his birthplace to face Jirou and resolve the succession crisis among the tengu. There, he reclaims his heritage not by rejecting his human identity but by integrating it with his birthright, proving that he can honor his tengu roots without abandoning the life he built as an idol. By the end, he has grown into a more balanced individual who can be both the vain, beloved pop star and a dependable friend rooted in his true nature.
Among his notable abilities, Kurama’s tengu heritage grants him flight and a range of innate supernatural powers common to his kind, though he typically keeps these hidden while navigating the human world. His greatest skill, however, is his talent for performance and manipulation of his public image, which he uses to influence situations, gain access where needed, and cheer up his friends. His centuries of living among humans have made him adept at reading social dynamics and blending in, a trait that repeatedly proves useful when supernatural threats appear in mundane settings. Whether using his wings in battle or his charm to defuse a tense situation, Kurama’s powers are as much about spectacle and persona as they are about raw yokai strength.
Kurama’s personality is initially defined by the extreme confidence and arrogance that his fame and charming appearance grant him. He is charismatic, dramatic, and used to being adored, which makes him self-centered and, at first, deeply selfish. When he learns that a mortal girl named Nanami Momozono has inherited the position of land god, his ambition takes over. Believing he can obtain her power and claim godhood for himself, he schemes to win her over and devour her heart. This early motivation stems partly from a lingering desire to prove his worth after effectively being exiled from his tengu community. His plan, however, is thwarted by Nanami’s fox familiar, Tomoe, and instead of punishing him, Nanami shows him unexpected mercy and forgiveness. That act of kindness becomes the turning point for Kurama. From that moment, his motivation shifts away from selfish ambition and toward a genuine, protective friendship with Nanami. He becomes one of her most reliable allies and a frequent source of support, even if he never loses his theatrical flair or his penchant for teasing those around him.
In the larger narrative, Kurama serves as a bridge between the human and supernatural spheres. Because he attends the same high school as Nanami, he is uniquely positioned to help her manage the collision of her ordinary teenage life with the responsibilities and dangers of being a land god. He often gives her advice on human customs, romance, and social situations, leaning on his celebrity experience and his knowledge of the mortal world. While he is no longer the antagonist, his personality adds a layer of comedy and lightness to the story, particularly through his flamboyant outbursts, his vanity, and his constant bickering with Tomoe, whom he derisively nicknames fox-face. Beneath the dramatic exterior, however, he is consistently kind-hearted and watches over Nanami with a genuine, if occasionally overstated, devotion.
Kurama’s key relationships revolve around his bond with Nanami and his dynamic with Tomoe. With Nanami, what began as a plot to steal her power matures into a durable friendship built on gratitude and mutual trust. She sees past his idol persona to the person he really is, and he in turn becomes one of her most steadfast protectors. With Tomoe, the relationship is defined by a competitive, often comedic rivalry. The two frequently clash over Nanami’s attention and trade insults, yet they are capable of working together when a common enemy threatens those they care about. On Mount Kurama, he carries a strained connection with his father, the Third Chief of the Kurama Tengu, and a deep respect for his childhood mentor, Suirou, who was the one supportive figure during his difficult early years and whose teachings helped shape his resilient spirit. His history also includes a bitter grudge against the warrior Jirou, who seized control of the tengu clan and represented the rigid traditions that forced Kurama to flee in the first place.
Kurama undergoes significant personal development over the course of the story. He begins as a narcissistic schemer willing to sacrifice an innocent person for power, but Nanami’s forgiveness and the gradual deepening of their friendship cause him to set aside his selfishness. As he becomes more involved in her life and the conflicts surrounding the shrine, he is forced to confront the past he left behind on Mount Kurama. The culmination of his arc comes when he returns to his birthplace to face Jirou and resolve the succession crisis among the tengu. There, he reclaims his heritage not by rejecting his human identity but by integrating it with his birthright, proving that he can honor his tengu roots without abandoning the life he built as an idol. By the end, he has grown into a more balanced individual who can be both the vain, beloved pop star and a dependable friend rooted in his true nature.
Among his notable abilities, Kurama’s tengu heritage grants him flight and a range of innate supernatural powers common to his kind, though he typically keeps these hidden while navigating the human world. His greatest skill, however, is his talent for performance and manipulation of his public image, which he uses to influence situations, gain access where needed, and cheer up his friends. His centuries of living among humans have made him adept at reading social dynamics and blending in, a trait that repeatedly proves useful when supernatural threats appear in mundane settings. Whether using his wings in battle or his charm to defuse a tense situation, Kurama’s powers are as much about spectacle and persona as they are about raw yokai strength.