Kami-no-Sei (紙の精 Kami-no-Sei, lit. Paper Spirits) are spirits summoned through Paper Magic.[1]
Contents
Description
The Kami-no-Sei take on the form of whatever their summoner desires.
In the manga, they took the forms of several Japanese Yōkai including Iso-Onna, Ippon-Datara, Umi-Nyōbō, and Kanayama-Sama or Kainan-Hōshi.[1]
In the 1971 anime, Qi made them take the forms of generic monsters. The first one has a face of a man with light blue skin, pointy ears, wild black hair, and a teal fish body. The second has a vulture head with a yellow beak, light blue skin, white neck feathers, and a gray serpent body. The third is a large, dark magenta reptilian creature, with clawed hands, hoofed-feet, and a light blue underside. The last is a large spherical being with black hair covering its body, leaving its eye exposed.[2]
Since the 1985 anime movie GeGeGe no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nippon Jōriku!!, Yōjin has appeared as a prominent example.
Behavior
They are loyal to their summoners.
History
Manga
Qi creates them to chase after Kitarō and his allies, making them take the forms of Japanese Yōkai. However, they are soon defeated as Kitarō burns them.[1]
1971 Anime
Witnessing Kitarō and his allies approaching his castle, Qi summoned the Kami-no-Sei to attack them. Kitarō's Hair Needles passed right through them, forcing him and the others to flee the Kami-no-Sei and retreat into a cave. When Nezumi-Otoko mentioned that they used to be paper drawings, Kitarō realized that's why his Hair Needles had no effect on them and summoned Tsurube-Bi to incinerate them.[2]
1985 Anime
In the trailer and a poster for the movie, some of the paper spirits seen in the manga were seen as well.
1996 Anime
2007 Anime
In 2007 anime, Gahi creates three to take on the form of Kitarō. They nearly defeat him, but Neko-Musume douses them with water, dissolving them.[3]
Powers and Abilities
Paper Physiology: They are spirits summoned through paper drawings, as such they are unaffected by Kitarō's Hair Needles. However, they are also easily susceptible to burning from fire[1] and dissolving from water.[3]
Flight: No matter what form they take they are able to fly above the ground.[1][2]
Hair Manipulation: The Kitarō copies are able to use hair-based techniques much like the original.
- Hair Needles (髪の毛針 Kami no Kehari): Gahi's Kitarō copies are able to use the Hair Needle technique, making their hair as hard as steel and firing the strands out like bullets from a machine gun.[3]
Equipment
Remote Control Geta (リモコン下駄 Rimokon Geta): Each of the Kitarō copies possesses their own pair of Geta, able to kick them off to send them flying at their target.[3]
Chanchanko (ちゃんちゃんこ Chanchanko): The Kitarō copies also have their own Chanchanko, which they use to bind their target.[3]
List of Notable Paper Spirits
References
| Classes | Akuma • Ghost • Gods • Tsukumogami • Vampire • Yōkai |
| Animal-Based | Kappa • Karasu-Tengu • Werewolf |
| Animals | Bat • Dragon • Bake-Garasu • Gaikotsu-Garasu • Iyake-Mushi • Kōmori-Neko • Kitsune • Maken • Nekiri-Mushi • Neko-Mata • Tanuki • Whale |
| Element-Based | Dorotabō • Mabi • Yuki-Onna • Yuki-Otoko |
| Humanoid | Kinoko • Witch • Zashiki-Warashi |
| Undead | Dorotabō • Funa-Yūrei • Mōrei-Yassan • Mummy |
| Forest Spirits | Kijimuna • New Guinea Forest Spirits |
| Object-Based | Kami-no-Sei • Shikigami • Tsukumogami |
| Plants | Mammoth Flower • Pumpkin • Yōkai Cactus • Yōka |
