Movie
Description
Kitarō is a yōkai boy born in a cemetery after his pregnant mother Iwako died and was buried, crawling from her grave three days later. His father Medama-Oyaji exists as a sentient eyeball, reincarnated after his body decayed. As the last known descendant of the Ghost Tribe—supernatural beings rather than literal ghosts—Kitarō appears as a young boy standing roughly 130 centimeters tall, with brown hair covering his missing left eye socket. He typically wears a black and yellow striped chanchanko vest over a navy blue school uniform and wooden geta sandals. Some adaptations, particularly live-action films, show him taller or with both eyes intact, though his hair still obscures one eye area.
His abilities include firing hair needles as projectiles, generating "finger gun" energy blasts, sensing supernatural activity via his "yōkai antenna," and regenerating from severe injuries. Magical items enhance his powers: his chanchanko offers protection, his geta sandals fly when controlled remotely, and a yōkai ocarina summons other spirits. He also wields electrical powers and exhibits tolerance toward troublesome allies like Nezumi-Otoko. Kitarō mediates conflicts between humans and yōkai, protecting humans from malicious entities while advocating coexistence. This mission takes him across Japan and internationally, confronting traditional yōkai and beings from other cultures.
Kitarō’s age varies across media. Some sources cite a 1954 birth year or elementary school attendance in 1961, while others establish him as centuries old. The 2007 live-action film specifies he is 350 years old, aligning with depictions placing him in historical events like the Edo period. He resides in GeGeGe Forest, often in a dilapidated treehouse with Medama-Oyaji, living simply despite occasional wealth opportunities. He shows limited interest in modern technology but uses it pragmatically when needed. In *Gegege no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu!!*, he responds to a plea from human girl Hana Kazamatsuri after her capture by the yōkai Kagami-Jijii.
His family includes deceased mother Iwako and spectral father Medama-Oyaji, with occasional references to sister Yuki-Hime and wife Mary in specific continuities. One storyline reveals Mary became pregnant; after Kitarō lost his physical form, his spirit possessed the unborn child to reincarnate. He attended Yōkai Elementary School alongside Neko-Musume and later Yōkai Study Hall. Briefly cared for by human Mizuki in childhood, he ran away at age six to wander with Medama-Oyaji.
His abilities include firing hair needles as projectiles, generating "finger gun" energy blasts, sensing supernatural activity via his "yōkai antenna," and regenerating from severe injuries. Magical items enhance his powers: his chanchanko offers protection, his geta sandals fly when controlled remotely, and a yōkai ocarina summons other spirits. He also wields electrical powers and exhibits tolerance toward troublesome allies like Nezumi-Otoko. Kitarō mediates conflicts between humans and yōkai, protecting humans from malicious entities while advocating coexistence. This mission takes him across Japan and internationally, confronting traditional yōkai and beings from other cultures.
Kitarō’s age varies across media. Some sources cite a 1954 birth year or elementary school attendance in 1961, while others establish him as centuries old. The 2007 live-action film specifies he is 350 years old, aligning with depictions placing him in historical events like the Edo period. He resides in GeGeGe Forest, often in a dilapidated treehouse with Medama-Oyaji, living simply despite occasional wealth opportunities. He shows limited interest in modern technology but uses it pragmatically when needed. In *Gegege no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu!!*, he responds to a plea from human girl Hana Kazamatsuri after her capture by the yōkai Kagami-Jijii.
His family includes deceased mother Iwako and spectral father Medama-Oyaji, with occasional references to sister Yuki-Hime and wife Mary in specific continuities. One storyline reveals Mary became pregnant; after Kitarō lost his physical form, his spirit possessed the unborn child to reincarnate. He attended Yōkai Elementary School alongside Neko-Musume and later Yōkai Study Hall. Briefly cared for by human Mizuki in childhood, he ran away at age six to wander with Medama-Oyaji.