TV-Series
Description
Nezumi Otoko is a 300-year-old half-yōkai, half-human hybrid standing 160cm tall and weighing 49kg. His rodent-like features include prominent whiskers, buck teeth, and a small patch of hair on his head, typically concealed beneath a long brown cloak worn over a loincloth. His body, covered in ringworms and scabs from his professed aversion to bathing, grants him potent abilities: bad breath capable of dropping a fly from 10 meters away and flatulence attacks with rocket-like propulsion, occasionally enabling flight when combined with his spread cloak. He also employs physical slaps, referenced in his nickname "BiBiBi no Nezumi-Otoko," derived from the sound effect for face-slapping.
His origins vary: one account describes his mysterious birth as a human baby on an island inhabited solely by rats; another, from the "Kitarō Jigoku Arc," reveals he hails from a border world between the living and the dead, where "Nezumi-Otoko" is a species designation and his true name is "Peke Peke" (meaning "feces" in the Tolai language). This arc introduces his mother, Mami, later exposed as a disguised minion of the yōkai Nurarihyon. He has a biological sister, Nezumi-Onna, and a nephew, Nezumi-Neko, though familial bonds are rarely sustained. Early mistreatment from humans and yōkai for being a half-breed influenced his later behaviors.
Financially driven and opportunistic, he frequently concocts schemes as a self-proclaimed graduate of "Bizarre University, Filth Department" with a doctorate in "Lazy Studies." He poses as a yōkai researcher, detective, or Kitarō's agent to extort money, sometimes impersonating Kitarō. His plans often involve selling haunted objects or charging exorbitant fees for yōkai extermination, leading to repeated betrayals of Kitarō whenever flattered or bribed by stronger adversaries. He consistently rejoins Kitarō when advantageous, pledging loyalty to the strongest party. Notable betrayals include poisoning Kitarō with Shinigami, severing Kitarō's arm, or releasing sealed yōkai due to his occult fascination. Rare selfless acts temper his treachery, such as refunding stolen money after encountering his long-lost brother or risking his life to save Kitarō from threats like Wanyūdō.
His relationship with Kitarō is complex and enduring. Though he addresses Kitarō casually, he uses affectionate terms like "Kitarō-chan" when seeking help. They share activities like road trips in Nezumi Otoko's antique car and collaborative battles against yōkai like Makura-Gaeshi or Sara-Kozō without financial demands. Kitarō tolerates his betrayals but consistently rescues him. Nezumi Otoko maintains a longstanding acquaintance with the fox yōkai Hakusanbō and a fierce rivalry with Neko-Musume and other cat-like yōkai, whom he considers natural enemies. His death in certain storylines provokes mixed grief, highlighting his role as a "moodmaker" during festivals despite general distrust.
Across adaptations, his character evolves from a purely villainous figure to one with occasional redeeming traits. In the third anime series, he cooperates more frequently with Kitarō to impress the human character Yumeko. Later media depict deeper loyalty, such as aiding Kitarō in Jigoku despite opportunities for personal gain. His loneliness and desire for familial connection surface in arcs involving his mother or brother, though these relationships often end in deception. Creator Shigeru Mizuki utilized him for social satire, contrasting Kitarō's altruism with Nezumi Otoko's pragmatic greed and self-interest.
His origins vary: one account describes his mysterious birth as a human baby on an island inhabited solely by rats; another, from the "Kitarō Jigoku Arc," reveals he hails from a border world between the living and the dead, where "Nezumi-Otoko" is a species designation and his true name is "Peke Peke" (meaning "feces" in the Tolai language). This arc introduces his mother, Mami, later exposed as a disguised minion of the yōkai Nurarihyon. He has a biological sister, Nezumi-Onna, and a nephew, Nezumi-Neko, though familial bonds are rarely sustained. Early mistreatment from humans and yōkai for being a half-breed influenced his later behaviors.
Financially driven and opportunistic, he frequently concocts schemes as a self-proclaimed graduate of "Bizarre University, Filth Department" with a doctorate in "Lazy Studies." He poses as a yōkai researcher, detective, or Kitarō's agent to extort money, sometimes impersonating Kitarō. His plans often involve selling haunted objects or charging exorbitant fees for yōkai extermination, leading to repeated betrayals of Kitarō whenever flattered or bribed by stronger adversaries. He consistently rejoins Kitarō when advantageous, pledging loyalty to the strongest party. Notable betrayals include poisoning Kitarō with Shinigami, severing Kitarō's arm, or releasing sealed yōkai due to his occult fascination. Rare selfless acts temper his treachery, such as refunding stolen money after encountering his long-lost brother or risking his life to save Kitarō from threats like Wanyūdō.
His relationship with Kitarō is complex and enduring. Though he addresses Kitarō casually, he uses affectionate terms like "Kitarō-chan" when seeking help. They share activities like road trips in Nezumi Otoko's antique car and collaborative battles against yōkai like Makura-Gaeshi or Sara-Kozō without financial demands. Kitarō tolerates his betrayals but consistently rescues him. Nezumi Otoko maintains a longstanding acquaintance with the fox yōkai Hakusanbō and a fierce rivalry with Neko-Musume and other cat-like yōkai, whom he considers natural enemies. His death in certain storylines provokes mixed grief, highlighting his role as a "moodmaker" during festivals despite general distrust.
Across adaptations, his character evolves from a purely villainous figure to one with occasional redeeming traits. In the third anime series, he cooperates more frequently with Kitarō to impress the human character Yumeko. Later media depict deeper loyalty, such as aiding Kitarō in Jigoku despite opportunities for personal gain. His loneliness and desire for familial connection surface in arcs involving his mother or brother, though these relationships often end in deception. Creator Shigeru Mizuki utilized him for social satire, contrasting Kitarō's altruism with Nezumi Otoko's pragmatic greed and self-interest.