Kitaro is a yōkai boy, the last known survivor of the Ghost Tribe (幽霊族, Yūreizoku). His unusual origins trace to a cemetery, born from his mother Iwako's grave after her death during pregnancy. This establishes his deep connection to both the spirit world and the living. He typically appears as a pre-adolescent with silver-gray hair covering his missing left eye; earlier portrayals depict him losing the eye to injury after birth. His stated age fluctuates across adaptations, sometimes cited as 350 years old. He lives in GeGeGe Forest within a modest treehouse with his father, Medama-Oyaji, a sentient eyeball who reincarnated from his decayed body. Their relationship is central, with Medama-Oyaji offering guidance and historical yōkai knowledge. Kitaro dons a signature black-and-yellow striped vest (Chanchanko), woven from the hair of his Ghost Tribe ancestors. This vest is the source of his supernatural abilities and enables travel between the human world and the afterlife. Without it, his powers are inaccessible. His core mission involves mediating conflicts between humans and yōkai, frequently protecting humans from malicious spirits. Though generally compassionate, his approach varies: later adaptations show him mercilessly punishing irredeemable humans or yōkai, reflecting a "Good Is Not Soft" ethos. He enforces consequences for evil acts, such as condemning humans to hell or destroying harmful yōkai. He maintains alliances with yōkai like the cat-girl Neko-Musume, who harbors unreciprocated romantic feelings, and the opportunistic rat-man Nezumi-Otoko, whom he tolerates despite frequent betrayals. Kitaro's abilities include remote-controlling his detachable limbs or footwear, firing hair needles as projectiles, regenerating from injuries, and sensing spiritual energy via a hair antenna. His Finger Gun technique manifests differently across media—earlier versions involve physically shooting fingers that regrow, while later iterations depict energy blasts. He strategically uses technology when necessary but generally disdains modern conveniences. In *Gekitotsu!! Ijigen Yōkai no Daihanran* (1986 movie), Kitaro confronts interdimensional yōkai rebellions, utilizing his standard powers and weapons. His role aligns with his established function as a peacekeeper between realms. His character evolved significantly from early portrayals. Initial *Hakaba Kitarō* manga and anime depicted him displaying greed, indifference to human suffering, and manipulative tendencies. Later adaptations recast him as a more altruistic figure, though some works retain his capacity for ruthlessness against evil entities.