Momo Ayase from Dandadan is a pretty charismatic character because of her bold personality and strong spirit, which is becoming more and more common among female characters in anime. She’s a high school student, probably between 16 and 17 years old. At this age, she’s discovering what she really likes and values, setting aside others’ opinions and seeking validation from within. She has a strong sense of justice and would do anything to protect the ones she loves.
Momo has a crush on the actor ken takakura, which happens to be the name of her best friend, whom she nicknames Okarun, as a way to avoid admitting her love for him, because deep down on her mind this coincidence meant they were meant to each other.
Momo’s Powers and How She Got Them
Momo didn’t start out with any special abilities. She was just a regular high school girl who had been trained throughout her life by her grandmother, Seiko Ayase, so she could one day see spirits and everything else. But this process takes a huge step forward when she’s abducted by aliens. Because of the desperate situation, she has a big awakening, and after this, it’s just a matter of training to reach her full potential.
Her exposure to this otherworldly energy starts to build up, eventually transforming into raw, usable power. It starts small: she notices she can sense spirits around her. But before long, she realizes there’s more to it.
Momo’s Abilities
Superhuman Strength
Her spiritual energy flows into her punches, letting her hit way harder than you’d expect from someone her size. On the surface, she looks like any ordinary teenage girl, but when she swings, even the biggest spirits go flying. This strength becomes her main weapon in battles. She doesn’t need a fancy sword or a complex spell; a well-aimed punch, backed by her energy, is often enough to take down whatever stands in her way. It’s raw, straightforward, and perfect for her fighting style.
Spirit Awareness
Another key part of Momo’s abilities is her heightened awareness of spirits. She has this sixth sense that lets her feel when something supernatural is nearby, even if it’s trying to stay hidden. This sense is invaluable, it keeps her one step ahead, helping her avoid ambushes and know when danger is lurking.
Spiritual Energy Manipulation
As Momo gets more comfortable with her powers, she learns that she can actually control her spiritual energy. Since she can sense the aura of living and non-living things, she can also control them with psychokinesis, moving them at will. Additionally, she can create two large hands that she can control, which are very useful in combat. It’s established that if she doesn’t have full control of her arms, having them tied, for example, she will also have a hard time controlling those hands.
Momo’s relationship with her grandmother
Momo moved in with her grandmother, Seiko Ayase, at a young age, where she quickly formed a childhood friendshipand eventually developed a crush, with a boy named Jiji. Every day, Seiko would insist that Momo perform a ritual meant to bring her good luck, a practice Momo found embarrassing.
Unfortunately, this ritual became a source of teasing, with Momo’s peers, including Jiji, ridiculing her openly, which led to hurt feelings and resentment. Frustrated, Momo began to resent her grandmother, even questioning her legitimacy as a Spirit Medium.
Over time, however, Momo’s perspective shifted. She recognized that her real frustration stemmed not from the ritual itself but from how the bullying reflected on her grandmother, whom she deeply cared for.
With this realization, Momo let go of her anger and found a new appreciation for her grandmother, understanding that her actions were rooted in love and tradition, even if they weren’t always easy to endure.
Momo and Okarun
Momo’s relationship with Okarun, the other main character in Dandadan, is complicated but charming. They didn’t exactly start out as best friends, Okarun was skeptical of her beliefs in the supernatural, while Momo didn’t buy into his theories about aliens. But as they got to know each other, their friendship deepened, and they became an unstoppable duo in their adventures.
It’s clear that Momo cares about Okarun. There are moments when her actions hint at something deeper than friendship, but she’s not the type to openly express romantic feelings. Their relationship is built on loyalty and mutual respect, and that’s what makes it feel real. Whether they’re fighting side by side or sharing a quiet moment, there’s a warmth between them that fans can’t help but notice. Will they end up together? Dandadan leaves it ambiguous, letting readers wonder if their bond will evolve into something more. It’s one of those slow-burn dynamics that keeps people hooked, always looking for the next hint of affection.
