Movie
Description
Nurarihyon recurs as an antagonist throughout the GeGeGe no Kitarō franchise, his role and characterization evolving significantly across adaptations. Introduced in the 1968 anime using the alias "Yamada," he moved among affluent humans while orchestrating destructive acts like bombing locations across Japan. His reputation solidified as the "Yōkai Supreme Commander" starting with the third anime series (1985), becoming Kitarō's primary adversary. There, he frequently employed deception, manipulating other yōkai into aiding schemes against Kitarō and humanity. This series established his backstory: banished to prehistoric times by Kitarō via a magical millstone, he endured millions of years, forging a deep-seated vengeance.
The fourth anime series (1996) offered a more comedic portrayal, despite depicting him temporarily conquering Japan as the "Yōkai King" in a distinct armored form featuring green battle armor and a spiked appearance. His fifth series incarnation (2007) emphasized menace and legitimacy; sustaining a forehead scar from Kitarō during their first clash, he vowed not to heal it until achieving victory. This version committed random terrorism against humans, operated from diminishing hideouts, and declared intent to kill Kitarō and his allies. The sixth series (2018) depicted him as a yōkai supremacist posing as a human millionaire, wielding political and economic influence to advance his agenda of restoring yōkai dominance, including orchestrating violence like rigging a politician's car with bombs.
In specific film appearances, *GeGeGe no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu!!* (2008) showed him attending the Evil Yōkai Summit alongside subordinates Shu-no-Bon and Jakotsu-Babaa. While powerful yōkai like Backbeard remained indifferent to Japan's potential destruction by Yato-no-Kami, Nurarihyon supported Kitarō's efforts to prevent it, marking a rare situational alliance despite their enmity. Earlier, in the fourth movie of the third series, he concealed his identity as the "Yōkai Emperor" behind a mask while leading an army to conquer Tokyo, ultimately revealed when Kitarō shattered the mask during their final battle.
Nurarihyon's abilities primarily revolve around commanding vast numbers of yōkai rather than personal combat prowess, though some adaptations depict skills like iai swordsmanship. His relationship with Shu-no-Bon remains consistently contentious, featuring betrayals like Shu-no-Bon tackling him into the Blood Pond during the Jigoku Arc. Legends surrounding his origins vary, including interpretations as an octopus-derived entity or an Umibōzu variant, though Shigeru Mizuki's popularized version established him as an affluent, intrusive old man leading the Hyakki Yagyō.
The fourth anime series (1996) offered a more comedic portrayal, despite depicting him temporarily conquering Japan as the "Yōkai King" in a distinct armored form featuring green battle armor and a spiked appearance. His fifth series incarnation (2007) emphasized menace and legitimacy; sustaining a forehead scar from Kitarō during their first clash, he vowed not to heal it until achieving victory. This version committed random terrorism against humans, operated from diminishing hideouts, and declared intent to kill Kitarō and his allies. The sixth series (2018) depicted him as a yōkai supremacist posing as a human millionaire, wielding political and economic influence to advance his agenda of restoring yōkai dominance, including orchestrating violence like rigging a politician's car with bombs.
In specific film appearances, *GeGeGe no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu!!* (2008) showed him attending the Evil Yōkai Summit alongside subordinates Shu-no-Bon and Jakotsu-Babaa. While powerful yōkai like Backbeard remained indifferent to Japan's potential destruction by Yato-no-Kami, Nurarihyon supported Kitarō's efforts to prevent it, marking a rare situational alliance despite their enmity. Earlier, in the fourth movie of the third series, he concealed his identity as the "Yōkai Emperor" behind a mask while leading an army to conquer Tokyo, ultimately revealed when Kitarō shattered the mask during their final battle.
Nurarihyon's abilities primarily revolve around commanding vast numbers of yōkai rather than personal combat prowess, though some adaptations depict skills like iai swordsmanship. His relationship with Shu-no-Bon remains consistently contentious, featuring betrayals like Shu-no-Bon tackling him into the Blood Pond during the Jigoku Arc. Legends surrounding his origins vary, including interpretations as an octopus-derived entity or an Umibōzu variant, though Shigeru Mizuki's popularized version established him as an affluent, intrusive old man leading the Hyakki Yagyō.