TV-Series
Description
Medama Oyaji, also known as the Eyeball Father, is the father of Kitarō in Gegege no Kitarō. He began as a fully grown adult member of the Ghost Tribe, a once-dominant race of yōkai. After his wife became pregnant, he contracted an incurable disease known as the melting disease, which slowly decayed his body. Both he and his wife eventually died, but his deep concern for his unborn son caused his consciousness to reanimate from his own left eyeball, which sprouted tiny limbs and became a sentient, anthropomorphic eyeball. This transformation left him with a diminutive form measuring about 9.9 centimeters in height and weighing roughly 33.25 grams.
His personality is defined by a sharp intellect and a profound paternal devotion. He possesses encyclopedic knowledge of yōkai from around the world, having traveled extensively before Kitarō's birth, and often serves as an adviser and strategist during conflicts. Despite his small and fragile appearance, his spirit is strong and his love for his son is unwavering. He can be fiercely protective and doting, sometimes to the point of being overbearing, but he also knows when to be stern, scolding Kitarō when he acts irresponsibly. His motivations are centered on ensuring Kitarō's survival, preserving the legacy of the Ghost Tribe, and maintaining peace between the human and yōkai worlds.
Within the story, Medama Oyaji acts as Kitarō's primary guardian and mentor. He typically resides in Kitarō's empty left eye socket or perches on his shoulder, offering guidance and crucial information about the yōkai they encounter. He also participates directly in battles, using his tiny size to infiltrate the bodies of enemies and attack them from within, or employing his supernatural abilities in creative ways. He is a respected figure in the yōkai community and counts even the great Enma Daiō among his acquaintances.
Key relationships include his bond with his son Kitarō, which is the emotional core of the series; his frequent exasperation with the untrustworthy Nezumi-Otoko, whom he finds bothersome but occasionally useful; and his warm, paternal affection toward Neko-Musume, whom he often encourages as a future daughter-in-law. He also shares long-standing friendships with other yōkai such as Sunakake-Babaa and Konaki-Jijii.
Across different anime adaptations, Medama Oyaji's characterization has evolved slightly. Early series depict him as more cantankerous and openly worried, while later versions emphasize his comical, often overly doting nature. The sixth series portrays him as more curious about modern human inventions like smartphones and more open about his emotions. In the 2023 prequel film Kitarō Tanjō: GeGeGe no Nazo, his original humanoid form is shown—a tall, silver-haired man with a strong build—highlighting the tragedy of his transformation.
Medama Oyaji's notable abilities include extraordinary vitality: he can survive being crushed flat, burned, or dismembered, and regenerates over time. He can enter a creature's body through any orifice and manipulate or damage it from the inside, a technique he uses to subdue far larger foes. He can summon the Phantom Train (Maboroshi no Kisha), a time-reversing spectral locomotive, though using it drains his life force. Another technique is the Reverse Mochi-koroshi, where he transforms sticky rice cakes into countless eyeballs to smother an enemy. In some anime versions, he can emit beams of light or illusory visions from his pupil. His favorite pastime is bathing in a small teacup of hot water, a ritual he performs to relax and sometimes to hide his tears. Despite his size, he is a force to be reckoned with when his son is in danger, combining his knowledge, cunning, and supernatural resilience to protect those he cares about.
His personality is defined by a sharp intellect and a profound paternal devotion. He possesses encyclopedic knowledge of yōkai from around the world, having traveled extensively before Kitarō's birth, and often serves as an adviser and strategist during conflicts. Despite his small and fragile appearance, his spirit is strong and his love for his son is unwavering. He can be fiercely protective and doting, sometimes to the point of being overbearing, but he also knows when to be stern, scolding Kitarō when he acts irresponsibly. His motivations are centered on ensuring Kitarō's survival, preserving the legacy of the Ghost Tribe, and maintaining peace between the human and yōkai worlds.
Within the story, Medama Oyaji acts as Kitarō's primary guardian and mentor. He typically resides in Kitarō's empty left eye socket or perches on his shoulder, offering guidance and crucial information about the yōkai they encounter. He also participates directly in battles, using his tiny size to infiltrate the bodies of enemies and attack them from within, or employing his supernatural abilities in creative ways. He is a respected figure in the yōkai community and counts even the great Enma Daiō among his acquaintances.
Key relationships include his bond with his son Kitarō, which is the emotional core of the series; his frequent exasperation with the untrustworthy Nezumi-Otoko, whom he finds bothersome but occasionally useful; and his warm, paternal affection toward Neko-Musume, whom he often encourages as a future daughter-in-law. He also shares long-standing friendships with other yōkai such as Sunakake-Babaa and Konaki-Jijii.
Across different anime adaptations, Medama Oyaji's characterization has evolved slightly. Early series depict him as more cantankerous and openly worried, while later versions emphasize his comical, often overly doting nature. The sixth series portrays him as more curious about modern human inventions like smartphones and more open about his emotions. In the 2023 prequel film Kitarō Tanjō: GeGeGe no Nazo, his original humanoid form is shown—a tall, silver-haired man with a strong build—highlighting the tragedy of his transformation.
Medama Oyaji's notable abilities include extraordinary vitality: he can survive being crushed flat, burned, or dismembered, and regenerates over time. He can enter a creature's body through any orifice and manipulate or damage it from the inside, a technique he uses to subdue far larger foes. He can summon the Phantom Train (Maboroshi no Kisha), a time-reversing spectral locomotive, though using it drains his life force. Another technique is the Reverse Mochi-koroshi, where he transforms sticky rice cakes into countless eyeballs to smother an enemy. In some anime versions, he can emit beams of light or illusory visions from his pupil. His favorite pastime is bathing in a small teacup of hot water, a ritual he performs to relax and sometimes to hide his tears. Despite his size, he is a force to be reckoned with when his son is in danger, combining his knowledge, cunning, and supernatural resilience to protect those he cares about.