Within the realm of mysteries waiting to be unraveled in Yukinobu Tatsu’s Dandadan, one conundrum stands out, revolving around the lead character, Ken “Okarun” Takakura. While details about his co-protagonist Momo Ayase have surfaced sporadically, Okarun’s history before the storyline begins remains largely unexplored.
This enigma has captivated the manga community from the start, with fans meticulously searching for clues about his origins. Recently, a theory has emerged among the Dandadan fanbase suggesting that Okarun might actually be an alien, a notion that could potentially clarify many of his peculiarities.
Understanding Okarun’s Alien Origins: Insight into His Abilities and Name
It’s important to note that Dandadan has, thus far, shared minimal information about Okarun’s personal history or background. This lack of detail extends to aspects like his family, upbringing, and even his residence when not accompanying Momo and Seiko Ayase. Unlike Momo, who has received at least some background narrative, Okarun’s character development remains conspicuously absent.
This mystery surrounding Okarun’s background becomes more pronounced considering his prolonged stays at the Ayase household and during various escapades. If he indeed has parents, they appear unconcerned with his late nights and days spent away. This stands in stark contrast to the characters of Jin Enjoji and Aira Shiratori, whose familial obligations are depicted as restricting their freedom, highlighting an inconsistency in the storytelling.
Essentially, the series hints at Okarun’s parents—if they exist—being indifferent toward his whereabouts. This notion gains traction when recalling that Okarun referenced Project Pegasus during his introduction. This project, notorious for its connection to leaked information through a malware trojan—akin to the mythological Trojan Horse—draws an intriguing parallel.
Interestingly, during the Space Globalists Arc, Reiko Kashima showcased her prowess against invading extraterrestrial foes as a singular yokai, possibly indicating the superiority of yokai over aliens. This interpretation reframes Okarun’s introduction, suggesting he embodies a Trojan Horse concept among aliens.
However, one must ponder why the Space Globalists would perceive him as a threat. The Kur, seeking total domination and knowledge across the galaxy, seemingly overlook races and information they haven’t yet uncovered. It could be that if Okarun lacks any memory of his alien identity and appears human, the Kur may be ignorant of his true nature.
The notion that Okarun is unaware of his extraterrestrial lineage aligns with a reference in Dandadan’s opening chapter discussing regressive hypnotherapy. This therapy aims to unearth past memories, yet apart from a singular desire to summon an alien to Earth, Okarun’s past remains largely unexamined.
This plea—we could interpret it as mere loneliness—now seems more purposeful, leading to the hypothesis that Okarun might be instinctively reaching out to his extraterrestrial kin. It’s reasonable to suspect that his calls would go unanswered, given that a response could threaten his race’s strategy for conquering Earth.
The significance of Okarun’s name, Ken Takakura, deserves some skepticism too, particularly in relation to Momo’s admiration for the actor Ken Takakura. For years, Takakura’s life insurance advertisements featured the memorable phrase, “I’m an awkward fellow,” which endearingly resonates with Momo. It’s plausible that alien entities, wishing to give their Trojan Horse a relatable identity on Earth, would choose to name him after the actor.
Okarun’s skills in Dandadan further reinforce this theory, as he emerges as one of the strongest figures in the series despite perceived limitations on his capabilities. Additionally, the pursuit of his “family jewels” throughout the narrative may stem from the unique alien powers he harbors.
This theory gains further credence from his ability to traverse empty space, a realm often wielded by aliens to ensnare spiritually gifted humans. This tactic has been employed against some of the strongest fighters within the series as recently as chapter 171. Nevertheless, Okarun points out an inconsistency in why he can access this dimension after losing Turbo Granny’s capabilities.
While residual energy could be one explanation, it raises significant concerns. Count Saint-Germain recently attempted to absorb Okarun’s power, successfully meeting the criteria, only to find that Okarun had no powers left. If any residual energy existed, it should have been seized during that confrontation.
Thus, this presents another compelling argument suggesting that the protagonist of Dandadan is indeed an alien. It satisfactorily addresses numerous lingering questions about his origins, powers, and abilities that continue to unfold. Fans can both anticipate greater clarity regarding Okarun’s role within the narrative and further exploration of this intriguing theory.
Concluding Reflections
Although the hypothesis regarding Okarun’s alien status remains speculative, a wealth of evidence supports its plausibility. By bridging narrative gaps and unveiling the secrets surrounding Okarun’s origins, it’s increasingly likely that the manga may eventually verify this theory.
Image Credits: Sportskeeda.com
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