TV-Series
Description
Nezumi Otoko is a 300-year-old half-human, half-yōkai with prominent rodent-like features, including buck teeth and whiskers. He has a small patch of hair on his head and wears a long brown cloak over a loincloth. His body is covered in ringworms and scabs, a condition he attributes to never bathing, though bathing has been depicted. Standing 160 cm tall and weighing 49 kg, his abilities center on his filth: foul breath capable of dropping a fly from 10 meters away and rocket-like propulsion flatulence, occasionally enabling flight with his spread cloak. He also favors slaps, earning the nickname "BiBiBi no Nezumi-Otoko" from the sound of face-slapping or whisker trembling.
His origins vary. One depicts his mysterious birth as a human baby on a rat-inhabited island. In the *Kitarō Jigoku Arc*, he originates from a border world between the living and the dead, where "Nezumi-Otoko" is a species name. His true name is "Peke Peke" – "pekepeke" meaning "feces" in Tolai, an in-joke by creator Shigeru Mizuki. This arc introduces his mother, Mami, later exposed as Sasori-Onna in the anime. He has a sister, Nezumi-Onna, and a nephew, Nezumi-Neko, though these ties rarely impact the main story.
He debuted as Dracula IV's unnamed minion in the 1960 manga "The Boarding House," cooking Medama-Oyaji in tempura. His official introduction as "Nezumi-Otoko" occurred in "The Strange Fellow," presenting himself as a "Yōkai Professor" to Kitarō and Medama-Oyaji. Alternatively, a first meeting involves him stealing fish from Neko-Musume in the novel *GeGeGe no Kitarō*.
His personality revolves around greed for money and food, laziness, and an interest in the occult. He claims a doctorate in "Lazy Studies" from "Bizarre University's Filth Department," though its validity is dubious. He frequently devises get-rich-quick schemes, posing as a researcher, detective, or Kitarō's agent to sell fraudulent services or exploit humans. He habitually betrays Kitarō for flattery or profit but consistently realigns when advantageous. This opportunistic loyalty stems from pre-Kitarō mistreatment as a half-breed, fostering loneliness and a desire for family bonds, exploited by villains like Shinigami posing as his brother. He occasionally shows genuine concern for Kitarō, risking his life against Wanyūdō or scolding humans who harm him. He participates in yōkai festivals as a self-appointed mood-maker.
His relationship with Kitarō is contentious yet enduring. He self-identifies as Kitarō's "best friend," engaging in shared activities like drives or drinks, yet frequently betrays him. Kitarō repeatedly rescues him and tolerates his behavior but forces restitution for scams. Nezumi Otoko harbors natural enmity towards cat yōkai, especially Neko-Musume, whom he regrets never slapping. His interactions with other yōkai, like the long-known Hakusanbō, are often transactional, though his temporary death prompted a funeral with grieving yōkai, including a distraught Neko-Musume.
Mizuki considered Nezumi Otoko his favorite character and a narrative essential, stating Kitarō's "foolish" altruism required Nezumi Otoko's self-interested schemes to drive stories and inject social satire, especially after editorial pressure shifted the series towards heroic battles. This role extended to Mizuki's non-*Kitarō* works like *Nezumi-Otoko no Bouken* and his autobiography *Showa: A History of Japan*, where Nezumi Otoko narrates.
His portrayal fluctuates across adaptations. Early in the first anime, he demonstrated loyalty to Kitarō under duress, but subsequent series amplified his betrayal tendencies. The third anime softened his villainy, showing consistent cooperation to impress the human Yumeko. The fifth series featured him receiving an antique car from Hakusanbō and experiencing mutual romantic interests, typically short-lived deceptions. The 2018 series highlighted moments of genuine sacrifice, such as aiding Kitarō against Wanyūdō.
His origins vary. One depicts his mysterious birth as a human baby on a rat-inhabited island. In the *Kitarō Jigoku Arc*, he originates from a border world between the living and the dead, where "Nezumi-Otoko" is a species name. His true name is "Peke Peke" – "pekepeke" meaning "feces" in Tolai, an in-joke by creator Shigeru Mizuki. This arc introduces his mother, Mami, later exposed as Sasori-Onna in the anime. He has a sister, Nezumi-Onna, and a nephew, Nezumi-Neko, though these ties rarely impact the main story.
He debuted as Dracula IV's unnamed minion in the 1960 manga "The Boarding House," cooking Medama-Oyaji in tempura. His official introduction as "Nezumi-Otoko" occurred in "The Strange Fellow," presenting himself as a "Yōkai Professor" to Kitarō and Medama-Oyaji. Alternatively, a first meeting involves him stealing fish from Neko-Musume in the novel *GeGeGe no Kitarō*.
His personality revolves around greed for money and food, laziness, and an interest in the occult. He claims a doctorate in "Lazy Studies" from "Bizarre University's Filth Department," though its validity is dubious. He frequently devises get-rich-quick schemes, posing as a researcher, detective, or Kitarō's agent to sell fraudulent services or exploit humans. He habitually betrays Kitarō for flattery or profit but consistently realigns when advantageous. This opportunistic loyalty stems from pre-Kitarō mistreatment as a half-breed, fostering loneliness and a desire for family bonds, exploited by villains like Shinigami posing as his brother. He occasionally shows genuine concern for Kitarō, risking his life against Wanyūdō or scolding humans who harm him. He participates in yōkai festivals as a self-appointed mood-maker.
His relationship with Kitarō is contentious yet enduring. He self-identifies as Kitarō's "best friend," engaging in shared activities like drives or drinks, yet frequently betrays him. Kitarō repeatedly rescues him and tolerates his behavior but forces restitution for scams. Nezumi Otoko harbors natural enmity towards cat yōkai, especially Neko-Musume, whom he regrets never slapping. His interactions with other yōkai, like the long-known Hakusanbō, are often transactional, though his temporary death prompted a funeral with grieving yōkai, including a distraught Neko-Musume.
Mizuki considered Nezumi Otoko his favorite character and a narrative essential, stating Kitarō's "foolish" altruism required Nezumi Otoko's self-interested schemes to drive stories and inject social satire, especially after editorial pressure shifted the series towards heroic battles. This role extended to Mizuki's non-*Kitarō* works like *Nezumi-Otoko no Bouken* and his autobiography *Showa: A History of Japan*, where Nezumi Otoko narrates.
His portrayal fluctuates across adaptations. Early in the first anime, he demonstrated loyalty to Kitarō under duress, but subsequent series amplified his betrayal tendencies. The third anime softened his villainy, showing consistent cooperation to impress the human Yumeko. The fifth series featured him receiving an antique car from Hakusanbō and experiencing mutual romantic interests, typically short-lived deceptions. The 2018 series highlighted moments of genuine sacrifice, such as aiding Kitarō against Wanyūdō.