Kanichi Yodayama, also known as Kan or Kan-chan, served as the original protagonist in the 1969 *Hakushon Daimaō* series. As a timid second-grader plagued by perpetual bad luck and academic struggles, often failing tests, his kind-hearted nature coexisted with a crush on classmate Yuriko, which his timidity prevented him from expressing effectively. Discovering a magic jar in his attic, Kanichi learned it released the genie Hakushon Daimaou upon a nearby sneeze and his daughter Akubi upon a yawn. He frequently carried pepper or koyori to intentionally trigger their appearances, becoming their primary summoner.

Fifty years later, in the 2020 sequel series *Hakushon Daimaō 2020*, Kanichi appears as an elderly man and grandfather to the new protagonist, Kantarō Yodayama. Drawing on his experiences with the genies, particularly his regret over youthful timidity hindering his feelings for Yuriko, Kanichi advises Kantarō on embracing chances for connection. His brief appearances in episodes 1, 14, 16, and 20 establish him as a familial figure offering wisdom that contrasts his past hesitations with Kantarō's journey.

Information regarding Kanichi Yodayama's involvement in franchise movies, OVAs, or spin-offs is absent.