Konaki-Jiji is an elderly yokai originating from the Awa Province of Tokushima Prefecture. He has a distinctive appearance, combining a face that evokes a crying infant with the weathered features of an aged man, and he is typically dressed in a traditional bellyband and a straw coat. His age is frequently stated to be well over three thousand years. In personality, he is characterized as a comic, absent-minded, and heavy-drinking figure. He can be lazy and is often deceived or led into trouble by others, yet at his core he remains a gentle and benevolent creature. His primary motivations are rooted in loyalty to the protagonist Kitaro and a strong desire to protect the peaceful coexistence between humans and yokai, as well as his immediate community of supernatural allies. Within the story, Konaki-Jiji acts as a core member of the Kitaro family and serves as one of the group's most physically formidable heavy hitters in battle. He frequently works alongside Sunakake Babaa, sharing a deep and long-standing relationship with her that is heavily implied to be romantic, marked by constant bickering and unwavering mutual support. He is also a trusted old friend of Medama Oyaji and acts as a protective, if often grumbling, elder figure for the younger yokai. In terms of character development, the series consistently highlights a sharp contrast between his usual slothful and drunken behavior and his hidden veteran combat prowess. When a serious threat emerges, he can set aside his vices to train and fight, revealing a disciplined, powerful warrior whose effectiveness against Western monsters has earned him a reputation as a dedicated and dangerous fighter. His defining ability is the power to petrify his own body. By clinging to an opponent and crying out, he turns to stone, drastically increasing his weight from a normal of roughly twenty-five kilograms up to several tons, allowing him to crush or completely immobilize his targets. His stone form provides immense durability, easily withstanding firearms and heavy impacts. He can also selectively harden parts of his body, such as his fists or his walking staff, for close-quarters combat, and he can generate sharp stone spikes to enhance his offensive power. When fighting at his full potential, his agility and raw strength allow him to match powerful adversaries, utterly subverting his typical portrayal as a simple, drunken old man.