Kitarō/Abilities and Weapons

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Kitarō
2018 anime art
Name
Japanese	鬼太郎
Alias	GeGeGe no Kitarō (ゲゲゲの鬼太郎)
Profile
Species	Yōkai
Gender	Male
Birth Date	February 30, 1954
Height	130cm
Weight	30kg
Home	GeGeGe Forest
Affiliation	Ghost Tribe Kitarō Family
Family	Medama-Oyaji (father) Iwako (mother)
Powers
Abilities	Hair Needles Finger Guns Yōkai Antenna Regenerative powers Electrical powers
Weapons	Chanchanko Remote Control Geta Yōkai Ocarina
Super special power	Tolerating Nezumi-Otoko more than most others
First Appearance
Manga	The Birth of Kitarō (1960)
Anime	Series 1 Episode 1 (1968)
Portrayals
see Cast
[v · t · e]

Powers and Abilities

As the last descendant of the prestigious Ghost Tribe, Kitarō uses several items handed down from his ancestors and relies on the help of numerous powerful yōkai across Japan. He has an assortment of strange powers at his disposal, but his most bizarre is his tremendous life force and regenerative powers, powers most yōkai do not have. He can regurgitate his stomach acid and carry creatures such as snakes inside his body, which allows him to turn the tables in tricky situations. For example, if he is swallowed by an enemy he can use his stomach acid to melt them from the inside or he can send creatures into his enemies through their pores in order to find their weaknesses. Because he has so many all-purpose abilities (see below), there appears to be no situation he can't handle and no trap he can't escape from. In essence, Kitarō has no true weaknesses.

On top of all of this, he has a tremendous amount of Yōkai Energy. In the fifth series, because of his frequent work with Jigoku, he has been granted even more Yōkai Energy. However, he is known to immediately weaken if he is deprived of his tools or hair, making the true source of his power hard to figure out.

Kitarō vs. Backbeard in Episode #38

In the sixth series, Kitarō's Yōkai Energy increases tremendously whenever he becomes infuriated. This ability is first shown in episode #3. While in this state, he appears to be consumed by dark flames. In episode #27 of the series, Kitarō is angered to the point where he can destroy Adél's barrier with one Finger Gun, though he wasn't angered to the point where the dark flames appear. In episode #28, Agnès uses magic to forcibly boost Kitarō's Yōkai Energy, which causes the dark flames to appear and makes Kitarō suffer. Later, Kitarō is filled with enough rage to control the power that was forcibly enhanced and running wild. Agnès is also surprised by this ability that was able to control her strong magic. In episode #38, the dark flames appear again when Kitarō believes Mana has been killed. His energy increases again after listening to Backbeard's cruel words to the point where Kitarō was able to defeat him. When his rage reaches its max, his anger seeps into his Chanchanko, which then becomes red and black.

In addition to the powers listed below, Kitarō has also shown the ability to stretch his limbs, expand his body at will, instantaneously sink into the ground, drain someone's blood or life force, fire off foul odors, and even use telekinesis. He is also good at disguises and will sometimes pose as an old man or to trick enemies.

Kitaro fighting Dark Kitaro

His eyes can see all the way to Mars from Earth. His heart will never stop beating and his lungs work even underwater or in a vacuum. His lungs also have the ability to suck in enough air that his body inflates like a balloon and he can float on water or in the air. Furthermore, even if he is crushed thin while in this balloon form, his body will be fine afterwards. He can shrink his body down to a speck or into a part of his body (such when he shrunk into his own ankle in Oritatami-Nyūdō), though exactly how he returns to normal is never shown. Even when he was transformed into the Yōkai Cloth, he was able to move on his own to wrap around and put out Qi's fire attack.

He can understand and speak the language of many small creatures and insects, although he cannot learn the cricket language. However, by the fifth anime he seems to have learned to speak cricket. He has three pet fleas who live on his body and a pet snake who lives in his stomach (mentioned above). In the manga, several chapters end with the bugs of the forest singing Kitarō's praise.

He is practically immortal, and as long as he builds up and stores energy within his body, he can go a month without food and still be just as powerful as normal. In Kitarō Kunitori Monogatari, it is implied he and Medama-Oyaji can even go ten years without food or drink.

Hair Manipulation

Kitarō has a number of techniques that utilize his hair.

His hair is a source of power for him, and if he loses it he can become weaker. He was unable to fight Kamanari because he was missing his hair at the time. In the fourth anime, episode #95, when his hair was stolen by Kamanari he became so weakened that he was bedridden with a fever. In the second anime, he says that removing his hair makes him as weak as a human child. His hair can be removed clean off like a wig. When he removes his hair himself, he can remote control it like his geta. By attaching his hair to another person's hair, he can speak to or control them telepathically.

Kitarō using his Yōkai Antenna in the 5th anime

• Yōkai Antenna (妖怪アンテナ Yōkai Antenna): A hair which can serve as an antenna for detecting spirit activity. When Kitarō detects spirit activity, the hair will stick straight up on the top of his head. It can tell him how close a yōkai is and how powerful they are. It is usually a single hair, but he can also use three hairs to measure distance, direction, and movement all at once. During the fight with Backbeard, where Kitarō had to close his eyes in order to avoid his hypnosis, he used the antenna to locate and attack Backbeard.

Kitarō using Hair Needles in the sixth anime.

• Hair Needles (髪の毛針 Kami no Kehari): Kitarō will make each of his hairs as hard as steel and fire them out like bullets at enemies. He frequently uses this ability to stick enemies to a surface or attack their eyes. There are many times where he'll use this at the start of a fight in order to evaluate an enemy's strength. In early manga stories and the live-action films, if he uses up his hairs and goes bald they will simply grow back (in the films it took two hours to grow back). He cannot grow his hair back if it is stolen, though. This ability was first used in the story The Great Yōkai War.

Kitarō using the Hair Spear in the fifth anime.

• Hair Spear (髪の毛槍 Kami no Keyari): Appearing the second and fifth and sixth anime, Kitarō will transfer spirit energy into a single hair, which will then grow longer and can be thrown like a spear. It is more powerful than the Hair Needles. In Kitarō Kunitori Monogatari, he can twirl a bunch of hairs still on his head into a giant spear. This version was also used in episode 53 of the 2007 anime and in the 2018 anime. He will also hold a Hair Spear between his fingers and launch them with his Finger Gun (see below). In episode #91 of the fifth anime, he had Hitotsume-Kozō write the character for "fire" on his spear and defeated Kyōrinrin with a flaming spear.

Kitarō using the Hair Sword in the fifth anime.

Kitarō infused the Hair Sword with electricity in the fifth anime.

Kitarō using the Hair Rope Against Bake-Zōri in the forth anime.

• Hair Sword: Used in the fifth anime. Like the Hair Spear, Kitarō will transfer spirit energy into a single hair and enlarge it, but instead of throwing it he uses it as a sword. He can adjust the length of the hair at will. With this weapon he left a permanent scar on the forehead of Nurarihyon. In episode #18, during the fight with Mokumokuren, Kitarō used the Hair Sword as a dagger.
• Hair Net/Hair Rope: Kitarō can grow his hairs out like a rope or a net to restrain enemies. He sometimes uses this technique to test the strength of an opponent. He is capable of flowing electricity through it, too. In The Great Yōkai Trial, he was able to tie up the legs of several yōkai simultaneously. It was the first ever-used technique in the manga.
• Hair Radio: Kitarō can use the Yōkai Antenna to communicate with his allies over spiritual waves. Other yōkai can also use parts of their body as an antenna to communicate back, such as Medama-Oyaji's fingertip or Ittan-Momen's tail. In the story Ubume, he uses a similar technique called Summoning Hair to summon a flock of crows.
• Remote Controlled Hair: Used in the second anime. Kitarō will take out a hair and send it out to spy on enemies. In episode #91 of the fourth anime, he sends out a hair to seek help.
• Nose Hair Missle: Kitarō can fire long-range Hair Needles from his nose. Its flying speed is the fastest among Kitarō's attacks in the manga. Used in the story Geta Battle.

• Dowsing Hair

Internal Electricity

Much like an electric eel, Kitarō has a special sac in his body that can store electricity, which he can use to shock and numb enemies.

Regenerative Powers

Kitaro regenerating himself from an liquid form and fleeing from Sazae-Oni's body through pores

Kitarō's body is capable of recovering from any wounds. Even if he is crushed, chopped up or melted, his body can pull itself back together over time. The only wound he has never healed is his missing eye, although, depending on the adaptation, this could be because he was born without it or he was too young at the time he lost it to understand and use his powers. Even when he was turned into a tree by Nobiagari (Vampire Tree), while he couldn't move around in tree form, he forced himself to grow a fruit which is original body grew into and escaped from. If he is eaten by an enemy he is capable of escaping through their pores as sweat. Because of these powers, Kitarō shows little concern in situations where most heroes would be destroyed. Even when an enemy cooks him he seems to react like it were any other injury.

On the rare occasions when his healing abilities are not enough to save him, he is brought to the Mount Osore Yōkai Hospital.

Body Part Attacks

• Remote Controlled Hand

Kitarō can freely control his hand when severed. He can also remove it himself, which he does to send it for reconnaissance missions. He can even control it when the rest of his body has been destroyed. It first appeared in the story Hand.

Because of the grotesque nature of the ability, it's only anime appearances were in Daidarabotchi (second anime) and The Strangest Showdown (Hakaba Kitarō). In the first anime adaptation of Hand, Kitarō's remote control geta took the hand's role in the story. Kitarō used Oshiroi-Babaa's face-removing powder to remove his face and send it to her in order to learn the location of her hideout.

• Kitarō Possession

Kitarō's can pass his remote control abilities on to other people by shaking their hands. He can use this ability to control an enemy's hand and make them attack themselves. It first appeared in the story Yōkai Nurarihyon.

• Finger Guns

Kitarō fires either his fingers or energy bullets from his fingers.

• Teeth Machinegun

Kitarō fires his teeth out like machinegun bullets. He used this ability to defeat Iyami.

Digestive Fluids

• Stomach Acid

An internal acid that can melt anything. Only the snake living in Kitarō's stomach can survive it. It was first used in the story The Great Tanuki War. When the Kōryū stepped on him it burst his stomach open, causing the acid to melt them both. In most versions Kitarō was later revived with Resurrection Powder, but in the fourth anime Kitarō revives himself.

• Balloon

Kitarō mixes his stomach acid and saliva to create a soap bubble-like barrier. He can enter it and float around or use it to repel attacks. It first appeared in the story Ōkubi.

In Tsukimono, he used the ability to help expel the titular human-possessing yōkai. After Kitarō caurght the host body in the bubble, Tsukimono was in such pain he left on his own.

In the third anime it was replaed with a tool called the Yōkai Bubblegum, which Kitarō would use to transport the human Yumeko to other worlds, such as Limbo or the hidden Kappa village.

In the fourth anime, he trapped Kyūso's yōkai energy inside the bubble, causing it to become voided.

Other abilities

Kitaro digging to escape Tantanbo's phlegm attack in the sixth anime.

• Mole Technique (モグラの術 Mogura no Jutsu)

Kitarō can escape enemy attacks suddenly sinking into the ground. It was first used in Neko-Sennin to escape the cat army. He later used it in Yōkai Castle to escape Tantanbō's phlegm attack.

• Fire Burst

Fire breath with Bake-Bi's assistance within Kitarō's body in the third anime.

Fire breath with his internal radiation in the first anime.

"Kitarō Flame" (鬼太郎火炎 Kitarō Kaen) in Saishinban GeGeGe no Kitarō.

Kitarō can directly emit fire/fireballs or swallow fire and then breath it out like a flamethrower. He can use his yōkai energy to double the power. He can also swallow Bake-Bi in order to perform double team attacks, such as spitting out fireballs and generating heat. He is able to endure the heat because the inside of his body is as solid as steel. In the 5th anime, he could also let out a huge breath on Tsurube-Bi to create a power fire attack.

• Yōkai Radiation

Internal radiation in the fourth anime.

Heat ray in the fourth anime.

Kitarō can raise his body temperature and emit enough heat to melt his surroundings. He can also breath out a hot breath, or shoot heat waves/heat rays from his hands. This ability was used in the stories Dorotabō and Yukinko. In the third anime, Medama-Oyaji had Bake-Bi enter a weakened Kitarō's body and raise his temperature to the absolute limit he could withstand, allowing him shoot out a beam of intense heat to dry up all of the Dorotabō.

• Yōkai Energy Wave

Yōkai Energy Wave attack in the fourth anime.

An example of Yōki powering up against Suiko in the fourth anime.

An example of Yōki blast; Kitaro firing a beam in the third anime.

Yōkai Aura Freeze in the fourth anime.

Kitaro's "comet attack" against Yamata-no-Orochi in the third anime.

A technique that allows Kitarō to save up and fire out Yōkai Energy in various forms. If mastered, the user can not only fire out blasts but also boost the power of their allies by distributing their energy to them. When facing ice yōkai, he can use his energy to keep himself warm and fire a heat beam from his mouth. The heat for this beam gets higher as he becomes angrier, so hot that it melted Yukinko when she checked on Yuki-Otoko after he was hit with it. The technique is powerful enough to defeat Yuki-Onna and Yuki-Otoko and can instantly melt ice attacks and even ice caves. It was used in the 4th anime episodes 56 & 58. In the Series 3 Episode 79, Kitaro engulfed himself into a large ball of yoki with his ocarina sword and crushed into Yamata-no-Orochi from the sky in a manner similar to a comet.

• Yōkai Aura Freeze (妖気冷凍)

A technique where Kitarō absorbs the cold air around him and uses it to freeze enemies. It is useful in dealing with enemies like Suiko who can't be directly attacked, and he can increase the effect by entering their body. In fact, when he used it against Suiko in an underwater battle, he ended up also freezing the river and the village dams. On these occasions, Kitarō is capable of moving freely within the ice.

He can also use this ability to freeze his Hair Needles.

Alternate version well known in the series is the Ice Flow (氷流し) used against Ōnamazu.

• Yōkai Balloon / Air (or Water) Cannon

Flamethrower-like attack by blowing on Tsurube-Bi.

Kitarō sucks in enough air or water that his body swells up like a balloon. He can use it to float around or spit the air or water back out for an attack. The former use was seen in the 5th anime episode 26, while the later was used in episode 75.

• Resonant Reflection Technique(共鳴反射の術)

Resonant Reflection Technique

Kitarō can fire an ultrasonic wave from his mouth, one powerful enough to defeat Noderabō's own soundwave. Medama-Oyaji has told Kitarō to train his throat daily in order to use this technique. It was used in the 5th anime episode 84.

• Water wave and water column

Water wave in the fourth anime.

Water column in the fourth anime.

Blizzard Whirlwind in the third anime.

• Magic

Used in the 4th anime episode 44. Kitarō uses magic circle style spells to counter Belial's own magic. In the fight against a group of Kūko, Kitarō involved boulders and transformed into a large spinning top and attacked the foxes.

• Reverse Magic
• Chameleon Technique

Like a chameleon, Kitarō can use protective coloring to blend in with his surroundings. He can also alter his body shape, such as becoming thin like paper or curling into a ball like a roly-poly. He can attack unsuspecting enemies in these forms, though he is not as powerful as when he is in his normal shape. When he fought the Kusa-Kamaitachi, he made himself invisible in front of a tree and grabbed him with the Yōkai Ocarina's whip.

• Chameleon Tongue

In tight spots, Kitarō can grow his tongue longer and grab enemies with it. Originally it was a defense against enemies stealing his inherited items like his geta, but later he used it more freely. It was first used in the story Makura-Gaeshi.

• Shedding

Kitarō can remove his outer layer of skin in order to escape certain (usually sticky) enemy attacks. He will often follow up with a sneak attack using his Chameleon Technique.

• Binding Apparatus

A device inside Kitarō's arm that tightens his grip whenever he touches an enemy.

• Gas

Used in the 1968 anime, episode #42. Kitarō can use his internal gases to swell up his body and float in the sky like a balloon. In episode #57, he breathed out his gases in order to attract his bug friends.

• Ear Phone

Kitarō can remove his ear and use it as a walkie-talkie to speak to his allies from great distances. Used in the story Daidarabotchi.

• Breathing

Kitarō can breathe fairly normally underwater and even hold a conversation or do battle without choking. He is also shown to be able to breath fine in the stratosphere.

• Shadow Cloning

An example of shapeshifting

Kitarō firing darts at Neko-Sennin

Yobuko and fake Yobuko used their Yamabiko technique on Kitarō and can multiply Kitaro. In the Series 3 Episode 79, Kitarō used this technique against Yamata-no-Orochi.

• Ectoplasm
• Lightning transportation

Kitarō and many other yokai can ride on lightning and travel a large distance at once. In the manga, he has used this technique in the battle against Iyami.

• Water Baloon

Kitarō draining the energy out of Grimalkin

• Sucking

Kitarō can drain blood, spiritual energy, and electricity from foes, making him powered up or recovered while making foes weaken.

• Haunting
• Thorns

Kitarō fired thorns from his darts in a dart-like manners against Neko-Sennin in the manga.

• Fourth-Wall Awareness: Exclusive to the 2007 anime, Kitarō is able to break the 4th-wall and interact with the audience during the cold open segments.

• Jigoku's Ultimate Secret Art (地獄究極奥義 Jigoku Kyūkyoku Ōgi): After Miu bestows him the Jigoku Key, he is capable of using powers from Jigoku after gaining permission.
  • Gokuen Ranbu (獄炎乱舞 Gokuen Ranbu): Gaining power from Jōnetsu Jigoku, Kitarō is able to call forth powerful flames from Jigoku, replacing his hair and forms a long trail of red fire. Using these flames he is able to melt a powerful snow Yōkai's ice, incinerate beings, and grapple objects. When not fully activated, he is able to breathe out these flames or engulf himself with them for defensive purposes.
  • Buraishin (武頼針 Buraishin): Gaining power from Jigoku's Needle Mountain, Kitarō's hair becomes long steel-like needles that are capable of penetrating anything. He can wield these needles as swords or spears. If not fully activated, Kitarō can pluck out strands of his hair and transform them into a long needle that can be used as a ranged weapon.
  • Rettō Seiha (烈闘星覇 Rettō Seiha): Kitarō is able to use Jigoku's ultimate technique that utilizes the power of the 47 Yōkai Warriors, where his hair is replaced with large flames that take the shape of Japan. After gathering the collective power from the Yōkai warriors, Kitarō strikes his target with the full .

Weapons

Main weapons

• Chanchanko (ちゃんちゃんこ Chanchanko): A padded, sleeveless kimono vest with a black and yellow striped pattern that is made from the Spirit Hair of deceased Ghost Tribe members.
• Remote Controlled Geta (リモコン下駄 Rimokon Geta): Wooden sandals and part Kitarō's attire, they are controlled by his thoughts.
• Yōkai Ocarina (妖怪オカリナ Yōkai Okarina): An all-purpose tool, use by Kitarō in the 1985 and 1996 animes.
• Reirui Armor (霊類のヨロイ Reirui-no-Yoroi): Kitarō was allowed to use this set of armor by Karura after his primary weapons were stolen.
• Jigoku Key (地獄の鍵 Jigoku no Kagi): A key bestowed to Kitarō from Miu, it allows him to use the Jigoku Kyūkyoku Ōgi after gaining permission from Jigoku.
• Reikai Amulet (霊界符 Reikai-fu): Appears in the 2007 anime, it is an amulet of the Ghost Tribe, it resembles a phone. Made from a shard of a charmed mirror, it can reflect the moonlight to brighten even the darkest night. Apart from Kitarō, others such as Neko-Musume own a Reikai Amulet as well. The Reikai Amulet is used with Kagami-Jijii's powers to save Hana from within Yato-no-Kami.

Other weapons and tools

• Ittan-Momen
  • Ittan-Momen Whirlwind Slash (一反木綿旋風斬 Ittan-Momen Senpūzan): Kitarō uses Ittan-Momen to slash his opponent in a whirlwind motion.
• Snake Handcuffs: Kitarō dispatches the Stomach Snake he keeps in his stomach to tie up enemies. Used in the story Yōkai Castle. In the 1968 anime, a normal snake was used to tie up Nezumi-Otoko for Kitarō.
• Yōkai Ball: Appears in Obake Nighter and goes with the Yōkai Bat. The name comes from the first anime. Similar to the Yōkai Bat, the ball will always avoid the bat and strike someone out.
• Yōkai Glasses: Special glasses that allow Kitarō to see invisible Yōkai, such as Buru-Buru. In the 1968 anime they are made of ice from the moon. He also uses the glasses to locate a girl trapped inside a doll.
• Hell Fire (地獄の炎 Jigoku-no-Honō): After his father begged Enma-Daiō to borrow the flames of Jigoku, under the condition that he return it afterward, lest Medama-Oyaji be punished eternally in Shōnetsu Jigoku. Kitarō is able to manipulate and control said fire, which is hot enough to counter the ice and cold winds of powerful snow Yōkai. With this flame he is able to perform various techniques such as breathing out fire, releasing blasts of fire, using it to protect himself, or to engulf himself and charge at his opponent. He can also increase its firepower by pouring the power of his soul. He returned what was left of the flame, saving his father from being punished.
• Kitarō Flute
• Yōkai Glove
• Ghost Armor
• Yōkai Ointment
• Father's Bones
• Giant Armor
• Gyogangan (魚眼丸 Gyogangan): A small transparent red sphere, Kitarō swallows one to turn into a fish along with Nezumi-Otoko to find Tatsuya.
• Kaifukugan (回復丸 Kaifukugan): While stuck in Mizu-Sennin's stomach, Kitarō and Nezumi-Otoko were able to turn back to normal after the Water Hermit swallows a Kaifukugan for them.

Techniques

An energy attack against Kasha's Spirit Electricity in the 1971 anime

Flying as a fireball by absorbing Penanggalan's fire in the 1985 anime

Kitarō as a menko creating a whirlwind in the 1985 anime

• Cruise to Hell
• Ice Cruise
• Sealing Techniques
• Soul Binding Money
• Hypnotism
• Air Pump
• Poison Manju: After storing toxins within his body for a year, they combine together and become a poisonous manju. Kitarō can only make one once per year.
• Compacting: Kitarō can constrict his body in order to protect himself, compacting himself down to his foot when he sensed he was in danger.
• Poisonous Acid Bubble
• Reverse Magic
• Kobu-Otoshi
• Hair Beam
• Yōkai Tornado
• Ultimate Dango
• Chops
• Heretic Seal
• Water Column
• Maneki-Neko
• Flight: In several conditions, Kitarō can maneuver in the air and fly.
• Chanchanko Saw (ちゃんちゃんこぎり Chanchanko-Giri): By hardening the edge of the Chanchanko, Kitarō uses it to cut through objects by throwing it at his target. He can also spin it like a circular saw to slash his opponent.
• Yawata Coiling (八幡まき Yawata-Maki): Using the Chanchanko, the user turns their body into a long strip, allowing them to coil around their target and bind them. It can only be performed once a year.
• Kitarō Knot (鬼太郎結び Kitarō-Musubi): A secret knot that only Kitarō knows how to tie, as well as to solve it. In the 2018 anime, he uses his Chanchanko to tie Tsuchi-Korobi's whiskers together.

Transformations

Throughout the franchise, whether voluntarily as part of a plan or forcibly by an enemy, Kitarō has been transformed into various yōkai and creatures (and even inanimate objects) on a number of occasions. His wide variety of transformed forms include the Dai-Kaijū, a Bake-Neko, the Gyūki, a vampire, a dinosaur, a fish, a ghost, a frog, a tanuki, a baby, an old man, a rat, a girl, a mummy, a Yōkai Cloth, a stone, a pearl, a plate, a card, coal, food, a doll, a bug, plants, liquids, and dried squid. The Dai-Kaijū is the largest form Kitarō has ever taken. Against Sakasa-Kubi, Kitarō directly transformed into a girl by changing his skill cells with psychokinesis.

When transformed Kitarō will usually lose his regular powers, though he often gains special powers for that form, such as the Dai-Kaijū's hair-growing beam. In the 2007 anime, he kept his hair needles and electric powers as Gyūki, while whoever wore him as a Yōkai Cloth gained his abilities.

Other specialties

• Zoolingualism: Kitarō can understand a number of small animals, ranging from various insects, small lizards like geckos, and even snakes.
• Ge-Tap